To be recognized by peers is an honor; to be asked to take on a position of leadership is humbling. I felt both emotions strongly in 2019, when, after three years of serving on ACHE’s Board of Governors, I was elected a Chairman Officer.
As a believer in lifelong learning, I also felt fortunate. ACHE offers a perfect environment to network and learn, and I learned an incredible amount from this organization.
In early 2020, readying for the annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership and my installation as Chairman, I watched the COVID-19 epidemic in China metastasize into a global pandemic, spreading through Europe and then the United States. It hit a nursing home in Washington, and then, as fate would have it, the first hospitalized East Coast patient was admitted to my hospital in New York.
Given the virus’ rapid spread, we held an emergency meeting of the ACHE Board of Governors on March 6 and cancelled Congress for the first time ever. This was the right decision. It was out of the question to attempt clustering several thousand healthcare executives in one location and risk spreading the virus, not to mention pulling them out of their communities, hospitals and healthcare facilities during a massive healthcare crisis when they were needed most.
Was I disappointed? Certainly. I had anticipated honoring my predecessors as well as the opportunity to engage with, inspire and be inspired by my colleagues. But there was little time for regret, as my attention quickly focused on the rising tide of COVID-19 patients presenting at our hospitals and on doing everything possible to help them.
2020 will be remembered, not fondly, as one for the history books: global pandemic, civil unrest, riots, financial recession, epic weather-related disasters and a contested presidential campaign.
But 2020 also drove home the idea that whatever the threat, hospitals, physicians and healthcare workers are a key component of America’s infrastructure. We are a trusted community resource, a place to go in times of need, whether for shelter, food or healthcare. We stand by, always ready to help the individuals, families and communities we serve.
And throughout 2020, ACHE was a source of leadership, a conduit for vital information and a means of connection for members adjusting to a changed healthcare landscape. We launched creative new methods for sharing information, like our COVID-19 webinar series with front-line leaders. I was delighted to host an early episode with Steve Corwin, MD, CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian, to share what we were learning about the disease in one of the areas hit earliest.
Working with the ACHE management team, the Board pivoted as necessary. We adjusted time frames for educational credits and credentials, and we developed and trialed Virtual Face-to-Face Courses as test runs for conducting the first virtual Congress, which will occur March 22–25.
I will leave you with this thought. Early in the pandemic, when things were rough, my son, Christopher, wrote the following text to our family: “If you are ever upset about how things are going right now, remember that the end of the bubonic plague gave rise to the Renaissance, one of the greatest periods of art, literature, forward thinking and scientific discovery in human history. History likes to repeat itself, so that is something we have to look forward to.”
He is right; we have a bright future ahead of us. It has been an honor to serve as your Chairman and lead through a turbulent year. Our field and our professional association adapted to each challenge and established a new foundation for a bright future. I hope you are as proud of that as I am.
Michael J. Fosina, FACHE, is president, NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital, and on March 11 becomes the 2021–2022 Immediate Past Chairman of ACHE (mfosina@nyp.org).