Leadership, confidence and accountability have been among the most prominent topics of advice from retiring and long-tenured CEOs.
Here is what four healthcare CEOs want to pass down to future leaders.
1. "Have courage to look at what we have to do differently."
Rod Hochman, MD, CEO of Renton, Wash.-based Providence will retire at the end of the year after 45 years in healthcare and nearly 20 years with Providence.
He also encouraged the next generation of leaders to "be bold enough to look at new things, challenge the status quo to change healthcare, and keep focused on the fact that we serve people and communities every day."
2. Find a mentor and believe in yourself.
Christine Schuster, who has served as president and CEO of Concord, Mass.-based Emerson Health for 19 years, is the longest-serving healthcare leader in the state. For women striving to become healthcare CEOs, she told Becker's self-confidence is key.
"You have to believe you can do it," she said. "You're going to hit a lot of obstacles on the way. Regroup, find a mentor and really work toward achieving your goals."
3. Leaders determine culture.
Thomas Priselac, who has served as president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Health System in Los Angeles for 30 years, will retire in October.
"Always remember that the leaders of the organization play a critical role in determining the culture of the institution, and in that regard, it's critically important that the leaders of the organization focus on making sure the values of the institution come to life," he said. "And they do that by virtue of the decisions they make and the messages and messaging that the organization undertakes."
4. In a victim mindset? Do this instead.
Rob Allen, president and CEO of Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Health, wrote in a July LinkedIn post that a victim mindset creates immobility for the leader and those who follow them.
Mr. Allen served as CEO of two other hospitals earlier in his career and has led Intermountain since 2022. He said those who are tempted to feel like a victim should become problem solvers and focus on motivation instead of limitation.
"Leading healthcare can be difficult," he wrote. "We continually face critical decisions. But the challenges don't need to negatively influence our mindset. As leaders, we can choose to rise above, take responsibility for our actions and the actions of others, and choose to lead."