Reflections on my first 90 days
I loved giving Medicine Grand Rounds this past Friday, where I had the chance to speak on our clinical and research program in rare lung disease with my former scientific colleague at UCLA, Dr. Liz Tarling. At the end, I also had the opportunity to reflect on my first 90 days here. Thank you to everyone who was able to join, both in-person and via zoom!
For those who were not able to join, here were my top ten reflections about my time at UW so far (in no particular order!)
1
It was a strategic (and brilliant!) move to relocate to Seattle in the summer. Everyone is so friendly and outdoorsy!
2
The academic mission here is felt very deeply, and the faculty here are incredibly talented. I recently attended the annual professors’ meeting to hear about ~30 faculty members being proposed for academic promotion and was beaming with pride hearing about our faculty's accomplishments. You all have also taught me that the “why” is the most important factor when I speak about the need to do things a bit differently in the current landscape of academic medicine and the UW DOM.
3
It is such an exciting time to be working in UW Medicine - there is a new office of clinical transformation that I'm helping to create, a new chief data officer, and a new chief ambulatory officer (among other exciting new changes). We continue to have a robust DOM research grant portfolio and generous donors who are actively contributing to our department. In other words, there is a ton of positive momentum.
4
It is concurrently a stressful time to be a leader in academic medicine, but the camaraderie of fellow UW Department Chairs and UW Medicine allies has been comforting i.e. we are all in this together.
5
The UW DOM has countless ideas and opportunities to turn things around financially and protect the academic mission that we hold so dear.
Opportunities
Some of these opportunities include:
Clinical efficiency
Capacity management, patient access/experience, space utilization, throughput, data access + integrity, clinical incentives, and willingness for on-site assessments (Matt Satre and I are more than happy to round in your clinic and want to see both high-functioning clinics and ambulatory spaces that have areas for improvement.
Financial optimization
Not leaving money on table/billing optimization, payor mix, philanthropy, clinical expansion, new agreements.
Research + educational infrastructure
Better integration across divisions and functioning more as one DOM with access to shared resources. I think we have a real opportunity to find the "bright spots" in the divisions and take these best practices to the rest of the department.
Quality metrics and rankings
Pivoting our wonderful QI scholarship + education to quality operations and a learning health system.
Strengthening our core DOM + division team structures
Being more data-driven in hiring and staffing with the goal of improving efficiency. In some areas this will translate to staffing that is less lean. There will also be ample opportunity for new leadership roles for both faculty and staff.
Breaking down silos to become a more unified system
This includes ensuring that the DOM is always at the table in high-level strategic discussions with the SOM and UW Medicine leadership.
6
People seem to like my weekly communications although when I ask them why, it is mostly about the dog pictures.
7
Change is hard for everyone, and it will take all of us to help turn and steer this large ship.
8
In UW DOM, we are fortunate to have a wonderful crew at the helm of this ship.
9
At the end of the day, I still think of academic medicine as such a beautiful thing and that means that we have one of the best jobs in the world.
10
The patients in this community are wonderful and should always motivate the drive and focus – it is, after all, why we are all here.
I want to thank you all for a wonderful first 90 days and for the opportunity of a lifetime...
PS: We had friends in town this weekend from LA and one is a UW alum so we went to my first Husky game! 
P.P.S. I also got a chance to attend the UW Transplant Summer Picnic on Sunday where I had the opportunity to meet transplant leadership, physicians, and staff, and most importantly the transplant patients themselves. What an inspiration to hear about their courageous journeys and also honor the many generous living donors that made their transplants possible. ❤️