I have seen Christian start in a staff nurse role and rapidly advance to a challenging multi-site leader. He cares deeply about the patients and families we serve and about his staff. Although he is stretched in many directions, he always stops and takes the time to listen, empathize and problem solve. He fosters an amazing team culture by giving people autonomy and freedom to get the work done within a framework rather than a rigid plan. His staff love working for him. He exemplifies a leader who has created an environment of compassion and trust. Many an employee has left our clinic only to end up asking to come back because of Christian's leadership skills and style. Even an employee who came back requesting a job anywhere in Christian's cost center after spending two years abroad!
Christian fosters a safe and just work environment. He thinks creatively about staffing and has shown great flexibility in working with staff experiencing hardship, loss, or need for a better work-life balance. He has changed the culture in this clinic dramatically over the years he has been leading it. We operate very much like a family. We hold each other close during trying times with potlucks, cards, flowers, money collections and the occasional pizza order. Christian has helped staff move, fix decks and install windows. He has skills! He also supports our team members in their educational journey. There are many of our current employees seeking continuing education as well as many of our former staff members who have moved on to nursing school. He is also well versed in all roles in this clinic and has been known to jump in to room a patient, answer an advice call or explain an EPIC workflow.
There are so many programs, grants, collaboratives and projects Christian has been a part of. One I believe he is most proud of is our Foster Care Medical Home program. Although a collaboration with many individuals, this is Christian's baby. He also set up from scratch the Forest Heights pediatric practice, has been instrumental in our clinic's Medical Home program and more recently our National Committee for Quality Assurance certification (NCQA). He has been integral in the Keizer/Salem startup and has championed The Fit Project, Connect Forum, The Heller Foundation cardiac screenings for teen athletes and has pursued numerous grants and funding opportunities for the sites he manages. At Randall Children's clinic, Christian supported the development of a monthly debrief for staff to have dedicated time to discuss difficult topics, team build and have a safe space to cry, vent and hug. This has been an amazing forum for our team that honors the hard work we do. Did I mention he has done all this while obtaining his Baccalaureate and working on his Master's? It's been such an interesting journey watching the development and growth of not only an amazing nurse but also an awesome leader. Here's to you Christian Huber, for all the hard work you do. Thank you for caring for your employees, our patients and families.