Log in

OPENING AWARENESS As we gather, we may find it difficult to find the words that resonate with a meeting agenda, time of year, or the things happening in our neighborhoods or worldwide. We humbly acknowledge the seemingly unending pressures faced by health care leaders today:

When I came to CHA in 2010, one of my first projects was to research the state of in-kind donations — or "medical surplus recovery" — from Catholic health care to organizations in low- and middle-income countries. The resulting research study conducted by Accenture Development Partnerships that year showed that while donations were happening, there was significant room for improvement to ensure our efforts had a positive impact in meeting the needs of people and communities.

In a rapidly evolving health care landscape, almost all health care organizations reported an increased need for regulatory compliance in recent years. To navigate these turbulent waters, a powerful alliance between health care compliance and leadership is not just a choice — it's a necessity.

As Catholic health leaders, we believe in the power of transformation to bring ourselves and our ministries more fully to life. Yet seemingly never-ending and accelerated change wearies us.

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris readies for its grand reopening on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in December. Following the devastating fire in 2019 that engulfed its nave, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to reopen it within a few years. No doubt the ritual will unfold with great fanfare and throngs of believers and onlookers alike.

There is an often-told story about a little boy who wakes up in the middle of the night from flashing lightning and booming thunder, terrified and crying out for his dad. His dad comes in and reassures him, "God is always here to take care of you." Clinging on to his father, the boy blurts out, "But Dad, I need a God with skin on."

Organizational ethics guides institutional decisions to align them with organizational values and is a fundamental component of institutional integrity. Although these principles dovetail closely with those in compliance, legal, human resources and other areas, it is its own distinct area of work. However, since organizational ethics is still an emerging field, it is often unclear what it actually entails, especially in health care.

Physicians are at the core of what it means to be health care — essential leaders of care teams and clinical initiatives who represent the deep purpose of the organization. They are called to heal, and the practice of medicine is the core of their work. Yet, operational leaders often hear physicians say they feel disconnected from much of the organization's decision-making and strategy discussions. For the Catholic health ministry, this gap is worth exploring, especially to sustain our identity, mission and values, as it represents dissonance in a sense of meaning and purpose.

The Catholic sisters who were the primary founders of health care in the United States — for Providence, the Sisters of Providence and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange — were courageous, pioneering women. They did not hesitate to brave the unknown to serve those in need and be a source of healing and love in the world. When our founding sisters arrived in the American West, it was still a rugged and harsh frontier. Through discernment and determination, they built hospitals, orphanages and schools.

This past year, CHA introduced a new vision statement: We Will Empower Bold Change to Elevate Human Flourishing. It's an aspirational call to each of us in the Catholic health ministry. With just nine words, CHA's vision statement makes it clear that the health systems of tomorrow must be innovative and courageous, while embracing a mandate to further extend ourselves into all aspects of human flourishing.

As an emergency room physician, Dr. Nicholas Testa saw plenty of pain, suffering and cosmic injustice. "You have moments where you question where is the spirit in this, how is this fair?" he said. But even in the hardest moments, he is apt to think about the many orders of sisters who made grueling treks far from their homes to create hospitals from the ground up. "When I think about what they did with zero money and little support, it reminds me that this hard work is worth it."

In Catholic health care, leadership includes a deep understanding of Catholic identity and a pledge to thoughtfully steward organizations to emulate the healing mission of Jesus.

"Human dignity is the basis of justice, while the recognition of every person's inestimable worth is the force that impels us to work, with enthusiasm and self-sacrifice, to overcome all disparities."

This meditation is inspired by those working to ease the transition of individuals who have recently arrived in this country, usually from places where they are escaping violence, unrest or unjust conditions. The Catholic health care ministry includes community health workers — like those described in this issue's Mission column at Avera Health in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (see pages 61-63) — who are already serving as leaders in their communities. They work tirelessly to draw from their expertise and experiences — some as immigrants and refugees themselves — to build trust between their communities and health care systems. Through the power of their relationships and community building, they help to create an environment where human flourishing is possible.

In 2020, the Catholic health ministry was moved to respond to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on racial and ethnic communities through the renewal of our commitment to equity, justice and the dignity of all persons.

I accompanied my daughter and her husband to a toddler's birthday party so I could keep an eye on their son while they mingled with other parents. When we opened the gate to the backyard, the host greeted my grandson and his parents. I was right behind them and held out my hand, but he had turned his back and was leading them to the party. I am invisible, I realized. I am a professional with interesting ideas, but the dynamics at play seemed tied to the number of my own celebrated birthdays. Ageism.

A global health care worker shortage — worsened by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, burnout, violence and an aging workforce — is the focus of a recent report. Its intent is to initiate meaningful dialogues among ministry leaders as they grapple with persistent workforce challenges within the context of the ministry's deep-rooted tradition of global solidarity and the common good.

Death accompanies our living.1, 2 We know this, yet death is often pushed back from the daily routine of our lives. And then, when death happens, it may take us by surprise or feel unanticipated. Despite the mental hurdles, taking time to think about choices related to our death and dying may allow us to better prepare for it.

Catholic hospitals and health systems have been leading the way in community health for many years — ever since the women religious who pioneered the Catholic health ministry in the U.S. first adapted their care to address the needs of the communities they worked in.

This past October, more than 350 delegates from the Catholic faithful worldwide gathered in the Paul VI audience hall at the Vatican over the course of three weeks. The diversity of individuals included bishops, lay faithful, and women and men from all walks of life and every region across the globe. Together, they listened. They told and received stories from around the world, and each carried the joys and hopes and the griefs and anguish of the people of God. This Synod on Synodality reflected Pope Francis' vision for being Church.