Brad Pitt

Hello All,

I bet that title grabbed your attention! LOL! You will see how Brad ties in at the end of the blog. You may skip ahead!

In last week’s PhylPhacts I shared that soft skills included innovation and creativity are needed. This is especially true for the different solutions that will be required for improving the health of our communities. It is true that each individual is responsible for their own health; however, we all play a part in ensuring that each individual can be responsible.

In HealthLeaders Analysis from December 2, 2019, author Mandy Roth reported on the results of discussions with “innovation experts” and the “remarkable perspectives” heard. This is a wonderful document that outlines ideas and work across the United States and the world.

One such new approach is in our backyard at The Wake Forest Center for Healthcare Innovation in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, funded by Wake Forest Baptist Health and the Wake Forest School of Medicine. The Center “invites anyone affiliated with the Wake Forest system to become a voluntary member of the innovation team.” This model brings together people with different backgrounds, educational levels, professions and experiences to create, test and evaluate creative solutions, finding ways to bring these new ideas to life. Every member contributes – every member is valued.

Another which drew my attention was devoted to “building bridges” . Rich Roth, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategic Officer for CommonSpirit Heath, is quoted:

“Historically the community health world and the medical world have would have been disparate and different. To succeed in taking care of the community, we have to link these resources.”

CommonSpirit Health was formed by the alliance of Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health to advocate for societal change. They recognize the importance of social determinants of health – food, hosuing, education, money, support systems, literacy – and that we know all influence the health and success of both the individual and the community.

How can we begin to rethink our work? How can we begin and/or continue to reach out to community resources in a different way? How do we coordinate to avoid duplication and extend our collective reach? How do we care coordinate……on steroids?

I know, nothing like me dreaming big, huh? I would challenge each of us though to begin to think broader, to dream big. We can start with baby steps! By thinking about who are partners could be. Recognizing that we are all finite people resources, how could we support each other and help increase our collective impact and outcomes?

Ideas? Feedback?

Okay! Enough of my soapbox for the day. Onto Brad Pitt!

I think the universe is helping to keep me on track with my 2020 vision to be kinder every day. And, as usual, my inspiration comes from unique events. This time it is from Brad Pitt’s acceptance speech for winning the Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture category at the recent Golden Globes Award Ceremony. (You know I love a good acceptance speech!) Brad’s acceptance speech was both touching and funny. And he ended it by saying this:

“If you see an opportunity to be kind to someone tomorrow, take it. I think we need it.”

I like getting my reminder from Brad Pitt!

Take your opportunity!