I never imagined my clinical career trajectory in Surgical Critical Care and Trauma Surgery would eventually wind its way to becoming CEO for an international, non-clinical, medical association focused on leadership. And yet, on reflection, it should be of no surprise either – Critical Care Medicine is really all about leadership!
Regardless of our individual clinical backgrounds and disciplines, being involved with CCM teaches us, engages us, and consolidates us in the art and practice of leadership. At our home institutions the focus on optimal patient care, multi-disciplinary teams, and organizational efficiencies are all of the highest importance in helping lead health care improvement. Being involved with SCCM provides additional opportunities to be part of a broader community that is similarly focused on leveraging leadership opportunities to help make important refinements to health care outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic response by SCCM being a most obvious current example.
When one further reflects on their career path, CCM is foundational in developing individual leadership skills – regardless if one is in an organized, formal administrative role or not. Every clinical day in the ICU is a leadership day. Every day interacting with one’s peers to create change and improvement is a leadership day. And every day as a CCM practitioner is another day of maturing one’s own leadership talent…and you never know where the following days are going to lead. For certain, however, one will have become a better leader as a result of being engaged with CCM and SCCM.
My own time on the SCCM Council, and then as the 2005 SCCM President remains, to this day, some of the most significant time personally in having developed interest and aptitude for leadership as a discipline. My sincere thanks to all who directly, or indirectly, influenced my path in CCM.
Most certainly, SCCM can also take credit for its influences on the career of countless others over its 50-year journey.
Most importantly, patients and families all around the world have benefited from SCCM.
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