In Response to Reich and Weiner's Recent Article on Leadership in Cardiac Anesthesiology

Abstract

Dear Editor We read with interest Drs. Weiner and Reich's editorial regarding the importance of developing anesthesiologists as physician executives leading healthcare organizations in the November issue.1 They reference studies that suggest that physician-led healthcare organizations have better outcomes. Other studies have suggested that physician-led healthcare organizations have improved operations and ratings in the US News and World Report annual rankings.2 While physician-led healthcare organizations clearly add value, Weiner and Reich point out many of the reasons why anesthesiologists and especially cardiovascular/thoracic anesthesiologists are well-positioned to lead clinical, operational, and financial efforts beyond what other specialties can provide. More frequently than ever, anesthesiologists can be found leading efforts in our operating rooms, Intensive Care Units, endoscopy and ambulatory suites, and cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology laboratories, all areas that represent a major source of revenue for most institutions and healthcare systems. Moreover, anesthesiologists are increasingly extending their leadership experiences within the perioperative space to add value across entire healthcare systems suggesting that anesthesiologists are incredibly well positioned to lead at all levels of healthcare. Beyond the experiential opportunities described above, where can anesthesiologists find formal educational opportunities for leadership development? In fact, it has never been easier for physicians to gain access, virtually or otherwise, to formal leadership development opportunities in the form of Master's Degrees in Business or Healthcare Administration or certificate programs (e.g. T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard). Increasingly, academic centers are offering leadership training programs for physicians, and even more recently, medical and subspecialty societies are offing formal leadership programs with opportunities for funding. The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) has been an early pioneer in recognizing and supporting formal leadership development for their members, an effort that has most likely resulted in many of its members being named to prestigious leadership roles around the country. There have been at least 7 cardiovascular/thoracic anesthesiologists who have become Deans of medical schools while others have taken on executive roles in healthcare organizations including Chief Medical Officer, Vice-President of Perioperative Services, President and Chief Operating Officer not to mention Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Anesthesia Departments in the United States and beyond. In 2012, Dr. Joel Kaplan, a pioneer in the field of anesthesiology who has served in countless leadership roles including Dean at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, had the vision to create the Kaplan Leadership Development Award within the SCA through an endowment that remains in place and strong to this day. The mission of the award “is to assist cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesiologists in their careers by granting funding to further their focus on leadership opportunities and development through course work and leadership specific studies.”3 To date, 17 recipients have received funding to pursue certificate and advanced degrees that have benefited their leadership career development and furthered our specialty's leadership footprint from the perioperative space to across entire healthcare systems. The authors, both who have served as Chairs of the Kaplan Leadership Development Award believe firmly in the value of formally developing leadership skills and applying those skills to improve healthcare delivery for all. We share Dr. Kaplan's vision that cardiothoracic and vascular-trained anesthesiologists are uniquely positioned to lead and how imperative it is that we continue to offer the mentorship, sponsorship and formal opportunities necessary to maintain the leadership trajectory on which we find ourselves. We are sure that the Kaplan Leadership Development Award offers the opportunity for SCA members to successfully answer Drs. Weiner and Reich's call to action and mutually invest in our most valuable resource: our next generation of leaders. Sincerely,1https://www.jcvaonline.com/article/S1053-0770(22)00854-0/fulltext2Tasi MC, Keswani A, Bozic KJ. Does physician leadership affect hospital quality, operational efficiency, and financial performance? Health Care Manage Rev. 2019 Jul/Sep;44(3):256-262. doi: 10.1097/HMR.0000000000000173. PMID: 28700509.3https://scahq.org/fellowships-and-career-development/funding-opportunities/kaplan-leadership-development-award/. Accessed Dec 4, 2022 Relevant Disclosure: Current Chair, Kaplan Leadership Award Committee, Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Relevant Disclosure: Past Chair, Kaplan Leadership Award Committee, Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, Past Recipient Kaplan Leadership Award