ACHE 2025 Congress on Healthcare Leadership

Join ECG's Kimberly Adelman and Lindsley Withey at the ACHE 2025 Congress on Healthcare Leadership in Houston, TX.

Workshop:  

Managing in the Middle While Mastering the Matrix (02X) 

Monday, March 24

10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (CT)

Kimberly will take part in a workshop to discuss today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. The pace of change and necessity for continuous innovation are unprecedented. This heightened demand has significantly increased pressure on organizations, particularly within matrixed structures where responsibilities and reporting lines are multifaceted. Many healthcare executives find themselves in the challenging position of leading from the middle, navigating complex environments, while striving to balance the expectations of senior leadership with the operational realities faced by front-line staff. Middle managers have one of the toughest yet most critical roles in organizations, as they serve as advocates for their employees, translators of organizational priorities, and partners to other departments to get vital work done. Additionally, highly matrixed organizations can often lead to confusion and conflict due to dual reporting lines and competing priorities.

Amid this turbulence, supporting employees' well-being and addressing burnout has never been more critical. The combined challenge of maintaining high performance while ensuring the health and resilience of the workforce underscores the importance of robust support systems and proactive management strategies. According to a recent Gallup poll, managers account for 70% of the variance in their teams' engagement. Another Gallup poll reports that middle managers experience more stress and burnout than the people they manage.

This session will address these challenges by providing practical strategies to manage complexity, enhance communication, and ensure strategic alignment. Participants will gain tools to mitigate burnout and foster a balanced, productive work environment. This session will equip healthcare executives with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate and excel in complex matrix organizations. Participants will be prepared to lead their teams with confidence, foster collaboration and drive their organizations toward sustained success.

Workshop includes:

• Caroline S. Russell, FACHE, Mayo Clinic in Florida
• Adia K. Ross, MD, Advocate Health-High Point Regional Hospital

Learning objectives:

• Define the challenges that being a middle manager presents, and discuss how to reframe these challenges into opportunities for growth and success.
• Discuss the mindset and skill set required to manage effectively in the middle in a matrixed organization, including how to manage vertically and laterally while still being your authentic self.

Education Session:  

Designing the Future: Physician Collaborations Advance Clinical Standardization While Optimizing Organizations and Networks (52X)

Tuesday, March 25

9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (CT)

Along with Amanda Trask and Dr. Nezar Falluji, Lindsley will co-lead an education session to discuss today's rapidly changing healthcare landscape, emerging trends, and strategies for healthcare leaders. This session will focus on how strong physician and clinician relationships affect clinical standardization, organizational optimization, and network development while addressing the challenges posed by financial pressures, competition for talent, and industry disruptors. We aim to equip participants with the knowledge and tools needed to excel in this dynamic environment. This session will highlight the importance of the integration of physician leadership into operational improvements and the adoption of innovative care models spanning various settings, from acute to home-based care. Through an interactive discussion led by industry experts, including insights from CommonSpirit Health, participants will gain practical strategies applicable across the continuum of care, with a focus on cardiovascular service line opportunities. Experts will explore best practices and market-specific considerations for optimizing services, drawing from experiences across diverse healthcare markets. From rural healthcare to competitive metropolitan settings, participants will learn how to tailor strategies to local contexts while navigating industry disruptors. Attendees will be provided take-home tools, methodologies and case studies to support implementation in individual markets, with ample opportunity for interactive engagement and Q&A throughout.

Session includes:

• Amanda Trask, FACHE, FACMPE, SFHM, System SVP, Clinical Institutes & Service Lines, CommonSpirit Health
• Nezar Falluji, MD, MPH, MBA, FACC, FSCAI, System Physician Vice President National Cardiovascular Service Line, CommonSpirit Health

Learning objectives:

• Execute effective techniques to advance physician collaboration, encompassing clinical standardization and optimizing healthcare organizations and networks to effectively respond to shifting external pressures while maintaining alignment with localized strategic objectives.
• Deploy strategies to integrate key physician engagement and stakeholder leadership throughout the planning process, leading to a higher probability of success.

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