Leadership in Healthcare

Book excerpt: Leadership in Healthcare opens up the world of leadership studies to all healthcare professionals. Physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals spend thousands of hours studying the science and technology of healthcare, and years or even decades putting into practice recent findings in molecular biology, clinical diagnostics, and therapeutics. By contrast, the topic of leadership and the traits of effective leaders tend to receive remarkably little attention. Yet no less vital than an understanding of how to interpret diagnostic tests and design care plans is a grasp of healthcare's organizational side, including the operation of multidisciplinary care teams, academic departments, and hospitals. If patient care, education, research, and professional service are to thrive in years to come, we must do a better job of preparing healthcare professionals to lead effectively. Composed of insightful and thought-provoking essays on the key facets of leadership, this book is designed to meet the needs of several important constituencies, including educators of health professionals who wish to incorporate leadership into their educational programs; health professional organizations seeking to enhance their members' leadership effectiveness, and individual health professionals who wish to embrace leadership in their personal and professional lives. This book represents a vital resource for health professionals who wish to enhance the quality of leadership in health professions education, practice, and professional development. In addition to regularly caring for patients, Richard Gunderman, MD PhD MPH brings to this discussion a wealth of personal experience in professional and organizational leadership.