This episode features Dr. Gian Varbaro, Chief Medical Officer at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center; Asst. Professor Rutgers NJMS; Chief Medical Advisor to Bergen County, NJ. Here, he discusses the role of a hospitalist, his focus on turning challenges into opportunities, the importance for emerging leaders to be empathic, and more.
Summary
Dr. Gian Varbaro Discusses Hospitalist Role and Leadership
Introduction
Dr. Gian Varbaro, Chief Medical Officer at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, shares his insights into the role of a hospitalist, his leadership philosophy, and the importance of empathy for emerging leaders. He is also an Assistant Professor at Rutgers NJMS and serves as the Chief Medical Advisor for Bergen County, NJ.
The Hospitalist Role and Leadership
Dr. Varo began his career as a hospitalist, providing care for inpatients. He now focuses on integration of care and making healthcare more accessible and equitable for patients. As a physician leader, he recommends being empathetic to others, pushing for change without making people defensive, and using the skills one has as a physician to identify issues that need to be addressed in a leadership role. He also encourages leaders to be honest with themselves about their strengths and weaknesses, and to look for opportunities to grow.
Continual Learning and Growth
Dr. Varo believes that leaders should recognize their weaknesses and continue to learn, emphasizing that it's more important to learn than to have a name brand education. She believes that leaders should be honest with themselves about what they are not good at and strive to improve. Dr. Varo even went back to school to obtain an MBA to gain financial skills that she didn't possess. She encourages emerging leaders to look for opportunities to learn and develop new skills throughout their careers.
Rebuilding Reputation and Leverage Lessons Learned
Dr. Varo is working to rebuild the reputation of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center and leverage the facility's success during the pandemic to create a new identity for the facility. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on challenges and turning them into opportunities. By creating a new vision for the facility, she aims to foster a culture of teamwork and collaboration that will benefit the patients and staff at the center.
Note: This is an AI generated transcript, not edited by a staff writer and is solely intended for educational purposes. If you have any questions/concerns, reach out to podcasts@beckershealthcare.com
This episode aired on 10/03/2022 and can be listened here.
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