Jessica Wells, Assistant Vice President, Education and Research, Graduate Medical Education, HCA Healthcare
What led you to join LHC?
While I was with Saint Thomas Health, our CEO was a board member of the Nashville Healthcare Council. He encouraged me to join LHC and attend a few of the events. I found the educational offerings to be hugely beneficial and was able to meet new colleagues with whom I would not have had the opportunity to cross paths. That was almost ten years ago, and I am thankful for the encouragement to join LHC.
What has been the most rewarding part of being a member of LHC?
One of the most important and rewarding aspects of LHC is the ability to broaden one’s perspective of the health care industry, which is facilitated through the learning opportunities and expanded professional networks. In any year, an LHC member can attend up to 14 events with over 1,400 colleagues from across Nashville’s diverse health care landscape. This type of local access to experts is unparalleled in other markets. While I can expound on the professional advantages of investing time in LHC, I would be remiss in leaving out the personal relationships that I have developed at LHC. I have been fortunate to get to know some phenomenal people that I would have otherwise never met.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
In one of my early leadership roles, I was reminded that the work of a leader is not described as a sprint but a marathon. The nature of the work environment today has shifted due to globalization, organizational efficiency metrics, and technology advancements enabling a 24/7 workplace. The pressures and demands of a leader’s work can negatively impact the office and home reciprocally, requiring a focus on one’s well-being. Taking the time to get to know the people you are leading can help alleviate the demands of the job as well as giving you a support system that provides insight that can keep the pressures at home to a minimum. I was offered this nugget of wisdom when I was early in my career, but I am finding that this advice is more important now than ever.