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For the past 2 decades I have worked with physicians and healthcare leaders to help them solve their most pressing problems and achieve their personal and professional goals. I have worked with clients in major medical centers affiliated with regional and national health systems, community hospitals and small rural (critical access) hospitals. Along the way, those I have partnered with have achieved success in launching new service-lines, improving financial performance, and improving clinical quality and patient safety. I have worked with physician leaders to improve team communication, to transition from clinical care to physician executive roles and advance in their careers. I have worked extensively with physicians labeled as “disruptive.” Using my proprietary framework, I have helped them understand the impact of their behavior, and modify their interactions to become constructive communicators, with resultant high performance in the clinical and administrative arenas. 

 

I completed my undergraduate degree at DePauw University and my medical degree at Wayne State University School of Medicine. Following an internship in Internal Medicine at University of Iowa, I completed a residency in Anesthesiology and fellowship in Pediatric Anesthesiology at University of Iowa. I taught at University of Iowa for 2 years rising to the rank of Associate Professor before transitioning to private practice in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  For more than 20 years I provided direct patient care to surgical patients in Grand Rapids, while also serving in multiple leadership and executive roles, including Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, President of the Medical Staff, Perioperative Medical Director, Vice President for Quality and Safety, and Chief Medical Officer. In 2012 I left Grand Rapids to serve first as the Chief Medical Officer for 2 hospitals within the Ascension Health System and later as the CMO for 2 hospitals within CommonSpirit  Health. Most recently, I have worked for the American Council for Graduate Medical Education as a CLER site visitor helping teaching hospitals across the United States improve the clinical environment, focusing on health care quality, patient safety, professionalism, well-being and health care disparities.  I earned my Masters of Medical Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University.  I completed training in negotiation at the Harvard School of Public Health and am a certified Crucial Conversations trainer.  I am a certified executive coach through the Center for Executive Coaching, an ICF approved training program.  I am the founder and President of Probitas Healthcare Advisors LLC and Compass Executive Coaching.  I have authored multiple book chapters and peer reviewed articles. I have lectured nationally and internationally. My most proud achievement has been the development of the teams I have led, with well over 75% of my direct reports going on to serve in roles of greater accountability and responsibility.

 

In my spare time, I enjoy raising bees, bicycling, hiking, camping, boating and fishing with my wife and children. I also enjoy spending time on and managing my ranch in Southern Colorado.

 

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