Turn Conferences Into Catalysts
Conference season is in full swing — from the annual meetings of ASSH, OTA, AAHKS, and SRS to regional summits and more (so many acronyms!) Many of us return from these meetings with full notebooks, buzzing energy, and a sense of renewed purpose. But here’s the challenge: how do we keep that momentum alive once…Read More
Courage Over Comfort
If there was ever a moment for courageous leadership, it’s now. Across hospitals, professional societies, and industry companies, I see a growing temptation to do what feels safest—wait, pause, hunker down until the storm passes. I call this the “frozen zone”—that place where uncertainty, risk, and fear can quietly stop progress in its tracks. The…Read More
The Final V.A.L.U.E.™ Move That Makes it Last (Part 5 of 5)
E: Embed and Engage Context is a Compass – Are You Reading It Right? Over the past few weeks, your messages, stories, and examples have poured in — demonstrating how ODLC members are not only learning these V.A.L.U.E. framework principles but also living them. We’ve entered this new phase of leadership with clarity, conviction, and…Read More
Leading with V.A.L.U.E.™ Requires Receipts (Part 4 of 5)
Recently, we introduced the ODLC V.A.L.U.E.™ Framework — a strategic lens to help leaders navigate today’s complex health equity landscape with purpose and clarity. This week’s V.A.L.U.E.™ Insight is about “U”: Understanding the Moment. In this season of complexity, change, and recalibration, this might be the most important step of all. U: Understand the Moment…Read More
The Leadership Move We Forget (Part 3 of 5)
Recently, we introduced the ODLC V.A.L.U.E.™ Framework — a strategic lens to help leaders navigate today’s complex health equity landscape with purpose and clarity. This week’s V.A.L.U.E.™ Insight is about “L”: Lead from Your Lane, a reminder that small steps from where you stand can have outsized ripple effects when rooted in intention and connected…Read More
Leading with V.A.L.U.E.™ Requires Receipts (Part 2 of 5)
Recently, we introduced the ODLC V.A.L.U.E.™ Framework — a strategic lens to help leaders navigate today’s complex health equity landscape with purpose and clarity. Each week, we’re unpacking a letter of the framework, offering real-world insights and tools to help you lead with greater alignment, evidence, and impact. A: ANCHOR YOUR EVIDENCE If you’re leading…Read More
Lead With What You Know—And Who You Know
Why sharpening your skills (and your circle) matters more than ever. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the past year is this: coalition building is more than collaboration—it’s a survival strategy. As a surgeon and senior health equity leader, I used to think strategic planning was mostly about aligning people around the…Read More
Stay Visible. Stay Valuable. (Part 1 of 5)
Why Visibility and Value Are the New Metrics for Leadership There have been moments — especially lately — when I’ve felt the weight of all this work. When I’ve looked around and seen roles disappear, committees restructured, and priorities quietly pulled back. In spite of this, ODLC continues to grow, build, and move forward with…Read More
Your Mission is Clear. Is Your Message?
Recently, we introduced the ODLC V.A.L.U.E.™ Framework — a strategic lens to help leaders navigate today’s complex health equity landscape with purpose and clarity. Each week, we’re unpacking each letter of the framework, offering real-world insights and tools to help you lead with greater alignment, evidence, and impact. This week, we start with “V: Voice…Read More
It’s Juneteenth! What does that mean to you?
On June 19th, 1865, the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were notified that they were free, more than 2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Over 150 years later, one way we commemorate this event is through our continuous journey toward equity. For some, Juneteenth represents a time to celebrate and uplift African-American…Read More