Former Leadership Institute scholar, Hannah Gordon.
When Hannah Gordon became the Assistant Medical Director of the International Clinic at International Community Health Services (ICHS) in the fall of 2022, she knew she wanted to improve her leadership skills. She had heard about the Northwest Public Health & Primary Care Leadership Institute from peers and conferences, and her managers at ICHS encouraged her to apply.
“Becoming Assistant Medical Director was a great step for me, but it was also the first time I’d ever been in charge of other providers,” Hannah explained. “I’m a primary care provider by training, and I was really interested in how primary care intersects with public health. I found myself wondering, ‘Why don’t these two fields talk to each other more?’ I wanted to learn more about that while also giving myself the skills needed to be a great leader.”
Once the program began, Hannah was immediately drawn to its emphasis on systems thinking and adaptive leadership. “I’m a systems person, and I’m always trying to figure out how various pieces of a puzzle work together. The program had dynamic teachers and speakers from various fields, and they brought so many diverse perspectives that truly opened my eyes. Being able to back up and see how systems function allowed me to understand where I fit in and helped me identify areas where I could make a positive impact.”
Hannah began to implement her classroom learning in her work right away. “My goal with each of my providers was team development. I believe that every person in an organization is a leader within their role, and I wanted us to tap into a lateral hierarchy while also appreciating the value of the existing vertical hierarchy. I’ve found this approach empowers people at every level of our organization to be more invested. It also helps get better buy-in as we introduce new programs.”
“I was immensely influenced by the Five Why’s,” Hannah noted. “Learning to ask more questions has led to bigger conversations and created more trust. I use this approach to draw input from staff across every layer of our organization because to my mind, that’s how you go about solving big problems and challenges.”
“I love teaching and development. I’m really drawn to helping people become better leaders. I’ve implemented a user manual for our providers that has helped us explore our leadership styles. We’ve begun using a more systems-level approach with the goal of increasing exposure to tools so individuals can become better leaders, no matter where they fit into our organization.”
“I had a great experience in the program,” Hannah said. “I learned so much about myself and was exposed to so many amazing peers who are changing how we do medicine across the Northwest. I came away with the skills and tools needed to become a better leader, and I’m also able to help everyone I work with excel.”
The Leadership Institute’s next cohort will begin in spring 2025. Learn more about the program and apply for next year’s cohort.
