Accepted Type
Dedicated Poster
Code
LP6 - 05
Acceptance Declaration
Accept
Additional Information
I declare I have no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this program.
Was this work accepted for CCME 2020?
no
Category
General Call (Workshop, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation)
Type
Poster
Sub Type
Education Research
Will the presenter be a:
Student
Affiliation
Title
Exploring the experiences of healthcare leaders from diverse professional backgrounds
Length of Presentation
Background/Purpose
The professional profiles of senior healthcare leaders have grown increasingly diverse in recent years. However, research in other domains has shown that diversifying membership does not necessarily address equity and inclusion. Our intent was to understand the experiences of leadership executives that come from professional backgrounds other than medicine and nursing.
Methods
We conducted a phenomenographically informed qualitative study, interviewing 14 participants. Inclusion criteria included 1) holding a senior leadership position in an Ontario hospital and 2) having a professional background outside of nursing or medicine.
Results
Common identities and journeys to leadership were identified as three overlapping categories: the emancipatory journey of the champion leader, the unexpected journey of the discovered leader, and the practical journey of the utilitarian leader. Participants had diverging perspectives on the importance of clinical knowledge, and felt their individual expertise contributed to their success. Generally, participants with healthcare experience tended to disregard their previous identity, while those possessing business backgrounds embraced theirs.
Conclusion
If health sciences genuinely value professional diversity, opportunities to support experiences of professionals with non-health and allied health backgrounds in hospital settings need attention. Mentorship supports focusing on individuals are required, but this isn't enough. To promote unique and diverse perspectives in healthcare leadership spaces, cultural and structural changes must lead the way. Leadership programs may need to attend not only to developing diverse teams but also to genuinely embracing this diversity in hospital settings.
Keyword 1
diversity
Keyword 2
leadership
Keyword 3
phenomenology
Level of Training
Undergraduate
Abstract Themes
Faculty Development
Additional Theme (First choice)
Leadership
Additional Theme (Second Choice)
Professionalism
Additional Theme (Third Choice)
Inter-professional Education
Authors
Presenter
Alannah Mulholland
Term 1
Yes
Term 2
Yes
Term 3
Yes
Term 4
Yes
Term 5
Yes
