It takes a lot to work in Army Medicine. Soldiers must be compassionate, caring and understanding during care of patients. In particular, Soldiers in Army Medicine, just as in any other unit, must be leaders.
In helping to understand what it means to be a leader, William Beaumont Army Medical Center held a leadership and mentorship session titled "The Heart and Tenacity of a Leader" at WBAMC, March 15.
During the day-long session, leaders in different roles within the William Beaumont Army Health System shared their experiences as leaders through anecdotes regarding decisions and conflicts they have faced.
The Army's field manual for leadership, FM 6-22, establishes leadership doctrine and fundamental principles for all officers, noncommissioned officers, and Army civilians across all components. In it, leadership is defined as, "anyone who by virtue of assumed role or assigned responsibility inspires and influences people to accomplish organizational goals. Army leaders motivate people both inside and outside the chain of command to pursue actions, focus thinking, and shape decisions for the greater good of the organization."
While the definition leaves much room for interpretation, experience speaks heavily for the four WBAMC leaders who presented at the session.
"It definitely gives you a better perspective on your own leadership because hearing everyone else's leadership style makes you self-reflect on your own," said Pfc. Robert Ozaeta, 19, laboratory technician, WBAMC, one of the youngest and most junior members of the audience at the session. "It's very easy to get lost in the busyness of the hospital, it's important to stop and think about your team as a unit instead of just yourself."
The session welcomed Col. Gayla Wilson, chief nursing officer, Lt. Col. Christopher Lindner, deputy commander for inpatient services, Lt. Col. Steven Knapp, commander, Troop Command, and Capt. Blake Busey, officer in charge, Spc. Hugo V. Mendoza Soldier Family Care Center (one of Department of Defense's largest outpatient clinics).
Throughout the session leaders emphasized the importance of unity as an organization and what it means to be a leader at every level.
"It's the experience and how effective someone is in their position that makes them leaders," said 2nd Lt. Ashley Jeter, 23, staff nurse, Surgical Ward, and native of Auburn, Alabama. "Don't be afraid to show flaws and ask questions. How else would you grow and help those around you?"
According to Maj. Tanisha Currie, officer in charge, Surgical Ward, WBAMC, the session was held to provide a different forum to engage with leaders and staff.
"We wanted this session to be purposeful and take an opportunity to reflect on our own leadership with self-assessments in areas we need to grow in," said Currie, a Chicago native. "(In the session) we went on a journey from learning to follow to the disciplinary responsibilities of a leader."
The interdisciplinary approach to leadership steered the conference from motivating staff and self to lead, to ethical and legal duties as leaders.
Another key takeaway from the session for Ozaeta, a native of Long Island, New York, included challenges leaders face with determining strict yet humane consequences for wayward subordinates.
"You have to make tough decisions. That's what makes you a leader," said Ozaeta, a native of Long Island, New York. "Leading comes with responsibilities that you may not have thought it came with."
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