Lily Henson – Transitioning from Clinician to Executive

Transitioning from Clinician to Executive

A big challenge for me transitioning from being a physician to a health care leader is to stop trying to fix things myself. Physicians are trained to be autonomous and to make quick decisions in order to save lives. As a healthcare administrator, I work in a team. I do not always have the right answers, nor am I expected to. I have learned to collaborate with others so that we can come up with a plan that is sound and sustainable. I have also learned that what appears to be a simple problem frequently is just the tip of the iceberg, and as I try to make changes, there are impacts elsewhere that may or may not be intended or predicted. I actually have enjoyed making this change, as I feel supported and comfortable that a solution may be better thought out with the help of others.