According to the Oxford Dictionary, a leader, "is a person who is followed by others". There are certain distinct markers that determine a great leader: honesty, empathy, integrity, respectfulness, accountability, problem-solving skills, adept communication and ability to inspire others. Unequivocally, John displays these characteristics and so much more!
He is an assistant director of a high volume and fast-paced division in our large hospital. In order to meet the healthcare needs and provide service to our surgical population, it is critical that each case is processed flawlessly and efficiently. To ensure a successful outcome, he must juggle the needs of staff, surgeons, anesthesiologists, pharmacists, students, volunteers, patients and families. A truly formidable task considering all the other distractors, such as major operating room construction, mentoring, committee participation, hospital fiduciary responsibilities, employees from other departments seeking assistance, etc. NCH has earned a solid reputation for a reason, and I credit John for much of this. Can you imagine the widespread reaction in our community if surgical patients left dissatisfied and reported negatively to their neighborhoods? Yikes, thank goodness, this is not the case with our hospital! Our unit has turned to this assistant director for help in issues, not just once, but multiple times. Why bother a leader not in charge of your department? The answer is simple, when all other avenues have been exhausted, one has a tendency to turn to resources that can make a difference for our patients. Reaching out to this leader will ensure that results and change will happen. Fully aware that our unit is not in his jurisdiction does not make a difference to him. He is committed to a positive patient experience at NCH. In response to a staff question, "Am I catching you at a bad time?", his reply was, "there is no such thing as a bad time". There has not been one single time that our problems (minuscule or immense) haven't been ameliorated. From allaying fears with nervous patients/families to finding equipment on scavenger hunts to solving Medicare reimbursement issues to seeking legal input on forms to developing solutions guaranteeing staff compliance, ahh, the list continues. And yes, he delivers pizza and sandwiches too (even before it became an NCH weekly occurrence). I liken this person with a classic television celebrity (same surname) with the cardigan and sneakers. Similarly, he is kind, soft-spoken, friendly, goal driven and effective in getting his message across. Thank you, John, for always "making it a beautiful day" in our NCH neighborhood!