Blogs

The following is a transcript of the new AUPHA Board Chair’s address at the 2020 Annual Business Meeting. 


Good morning and thank you, Leigh. Dr. Cellucci is a truly exemplary colleague to me and many others, and she has served AUPHA with energy, commitment, and distinction.

As I assume the mantle of Chair for a short season, I am mindful of the talented and devoted leaders who have preceded me. But more importantly, I am mindful of the rank and file members of our association—of your talent, of your willingness to serve, and of your many important contributions to the advancement of healthcare management and health policy education and research.

In recent weeks, our country has been compelled to reflect again on what it means to be an American and to pledge allegiance to a Republic that promises liberty and justice for everyone. I deeply appreciate the many persons and organizations who are raising their voices in a spirited, mature, and responsible way. It behooves each of us to do whatever we can in our respective spheres of influence to protect and promote the safety, dignity, and respect every person deserves.

Annual Meeting and Conference Theme:
This has been a wonderful and unique Annual Meeting. While the COVID-19 pandemic has separated us physically, in an odd way it has brought us closer together in new and different ways.

Before the pandemic, this Annual Meeting was to be held in the tops of the Rocky Mountains in beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah—in the middle of the year 2020. It seemed only appropriate that our conference theme should reflect those two facts. And so, Sharpen your 2020 Vision and Elevate your Performance became our theme—our invitation, not only for this conference, but going forward. And let us sharpen our vision and elevate our performance in ways that matter most—like being more kind and less critical, more generous and less judgmental, more inclusive and less divisive.

The great philosopher Plato said: “That life not worth examining is not worth living,” so let’s examine our personal and professional lives—our attitudes and biases, our words and behaviors—and find bold new ways to improve.

AUPHA Vision
Our newly restated vision for AUPHA is “To be recognized as the global leader in advancing higher education and scholarship in healthcare management and health policy.” Think of that! There is no reason why AUPHA should not be widely recognized and appreciated as the global leader in our professional and academic space.

Our association is really nothing more nor less than the collective words, actions, and leadership of our people. I sincerely hope that we can and will be consummate academic professionals, and that our great association will be that beacon—that light on the hill—that motivates us, and inspires those around us, to be good and better people.

Begin with the End in Mind
One of my university professors was Dr. Stephen R. Covey. Well before he was famous, he taught me to “put first things first” and to make it my practice to “begin with the end in mind.” He encouraged me to imagine attending my own funeral and to carefully consider those things I hope people might say in memory of my life.

Teach and foster Powerful Ideas
I recently attended the funeral of a remarkable woman. One speaker described three of her great qualities: loyalty, kindness, and generosity. As she elaborated on her life, I thought how appropriate it was to speak of such powerful qualities in a funeral tribute. A life is not a trivial thing, and its passing should not be memorialized with trivial things. A funeral service is a time to speak of powerful ideas—ideas that can appropriately stand beside the importance of life—ideas that are powerful in their influence on those who remain behind.

Likewise, the college classroom and overall university experience is a precious experience that should not be cluttered by trivial or insignificant things. The classroom is a place to speak about and teach powerful ideas—ideas that can appropriately stand beside the importance of a university or professional degree.

I often reflect on my college days at Brigham Young University, the Medical College of Virginia, and Arizona State University. Not surprising, what I remember most are those professors who were compelling and inspiring examples of what they taught. These same professors taught and modeled powerful principles and ideas that have remained with me to this day.

Today I wish to share four simple messages that exemplify the “powerful ideas” that should prevail in our programs and classrooms:

1. One of my former university presidents taught me that “love is the most powerful influence in the world.” We don’t often use the word “love” in business circles. But the professors I remember best—professors who exerted the most persuasive influence over my thoughts and actions—were the ones who loved me enough to correct me—and to teach me correct and powerful ideas.
   1. Arthur Henry King has said, “Love is not … just an intense feeling. It is a driving force. It is something that carries us through our life of joyful duty” (The Abundance of the Heart, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1986, p. 84).
   2. By the way, these same professors, through their examples taught me that love and service to your student does not end at the hooding or graduation ceremony; rather, your role as mentor, teacher, and friend never ends!
2. The second powerful idea I wish to share is the simple leadership model I learned from Jack O. Bovender, Jr., former Chairman and CEO of the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). “In my 35 years as a healthcare executive, the best career advice I received was from someone early on who told me that goal of the usual leader is to make him/herself into more of a leader; (but) the goal of an exceptional leader is to get others to believe in themselves.” What a powerful idea for us to consider as we teach and model principles of leadership!
3. The third powerful idea was shared with me thirty years ago by Donald Snook, another mentor and great friend to the ACHE and AUPHA community. On one occasion Don said, “If you really want to succeed and do well in this complex world of hospital and healthcare administration, you must develop competency and skills across three broad domains: Conceptual, technical, and human relations—and the latter is most important!” What a powerful mental model for a young person to consider when navigating the substance and complexities of a healthcare management education.
4. Earlier this year—following his untimely passing—we celebrated the life of Dr. Clayton Christianson, one of the world’s most recognized and influential business professors and management consultants. In his book “How Will You Measure Your Life?” Clayton urged young people to 1) “get your roots down” (mission, vision, values); 2) Get all the formal and informal education you possibly can; and 3) let the winds of opportunity blow! (doors will close but windows—many windows will open). What a great reminder to early, middle, and end-of-season careerists alike!

These are powerful ideas—powerful lessons which, when combined with others like them, can transform a young person’s university experience.

Recently, I read the story of a herd of deer that, because of heavy snowfall, was trapped outside its natural habitat and faced possible starvation. Some well-meaning people, in an effort to save the deer, dumped truckloads of hay around the area—it wasn’t what deer would normally eat, but they hoped it would at least get the deer through the winter. Sadly, most of the deer were later found dead. They had eaten the hay, but it did not nourish them, and they starved to death with their stomachs full. (Boyd K. Packer, restated from Steven B. Owen, Oct. 2019 LDS General Conference address).

Some students graduate from college full of knowledge but with very little nourishment. Some even graduate bereft of a moral compass, and still lacking those core principles, values, and ethics needed to lead and serve healthcare organizations and communities. Some professors would fill their students’ minds with endless theories, facts, and figures while neglecting the weighty matters.

Conclusion
Among the many other remarkable books authored by Dr. Clayton Christianson was a little gem titled: “Why I believe, Why I belong.” In reflecting on this book, it occurred to me that I believe and belong in AUPHA because it is my home—my professional home; my academic home. And like any good home, AUPHA is a place I come to be nourished, fed, and taught—to be challenged, corrected, and encouraged—and to be fully and properly supported, motivated and inspired. I call AUPHA home because it’s also a place I feel needed, wanted, respected, and appreciated. I sincerely hope each of you feel the same way.

Today, I earnestly invite both current and prospective members to more fully embrace AUPHA as your professional and academic home, and to help us more fully realize our vision “to be recognized as the global leader in advancing higher education and scholarship in healthcare management and health policy.”