These hospital CEOs delivered college or medical school commencement speeches, offering their best counsel and encouragement for the graduates beginning their own journeys.
1. Donna Sollenberger, executive vice president and CEO of Galveston-based University of Texas Medical Branch Health System, delivered the commencement speech at University of Illinois Springfield's 2016 graduation.
"The choices you make become the story of your life. As your story unfolds, define who you are."
Ms. Sollenberger emphasized the graduates should follow their hearts as they embark on their career paths, noting that passion is the key to success.
2. Richard Gilfillan, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Newtown Square, Pa.-based Trinity Health, gave Georgetown University Medical Center's 2015 commencement speech.
"Be humble. Be curious. Be bold. Laugh a lot, enjoy your work, and celebrate your team. And remember that listening well to your patients is the starting point of great patient care."
During his address, Dr. Gilfillan offered advice on how to create a healthcare industry positioned around people, in order to achieve better outcomes and enhanced efficiency. He pointed out that the graduating physicians were the first generation of post-Affordable Care Act practitioners, thus positioned to make impactful change.
3. Christina Ryan, CEO of Newburgh, Ind.-based The Women's Hospital, delivered the 2015 commencement speech at Elmhurst (Ill.) College.
"Ask yourself, do you seek success or significance?"
Ms. Ryan tasked the graduates to focus on impacting the world and others, as opposed to just striving for personal success.
4. Donna Hyland, president and CEO of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, delivered University of Georgia's 2015 fall commencement address.
"I asked our college interns at Children's what they would like to hear…From the majority I heard consistent themes — 'Tell us it's going to be ok. Tell us we are good. Tell us it's ok if we fail a few times along the way. Tell us about the things that have helped you in life.'"
Ms. Hyland offered the 2015 fall Athens-based University of Georgia graduates three key lessons her career had taught her throughout the years.
• "Put people first."
• "Everyone makes mistakes."
• "Take care of you."
5. Chris Van Gorder, CEO of San Diego-based Scripps Health, gave the keynote address at the 2014 University of Southern California Price School of Public Policy commencement.
"Our lives are a blank canvas. Life is wonderful, and very unpredictable. None of us knows where we will be in 30 years, what we will experience, how our education will come into focus and how many people we will have a chance to help."
During his address, Mr. Van Gorder acknowledged life will never stop changing and the graduates should think clearly about how they will respond to presented opportunities — for those choices will shape their careers.