Healthcare Economics Interest Group

November 12, 2020

EVENT: Virtual Leadership in Medicine: Career Path Options with Ora Pescovitz

  • Thank you, Kevin, and thank you to the Healthcare Economics Interest Group at OUWB for the invitation to be with you today.

  • On behalf of Oakland University, I want to take a moment to extend my gratitude and appreciation to the many physicians and healthcare workers who, day after day, demonstrate their commitment to providing excellent care.

  • The paramount importance of healthcare to assuring the quality of our personal, social and community life has been dramatically clear to the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic….

  • And what is also clear is that the topic of health economics is especially timely.

    • The systematic and rigorous examination of the problems we face in promoting personal and public health couldn’t be more urgent.

    • So, too, are the many uncertainties surrounding health coverage that must be considered to make sure health care is accessible and affordable for all people.

  • Few other times in our nation’s history has it been more important to coordinate public health policy.

    • Health economics plays a critical role in helping us to understand behavior of individuals, health-care providers, health- insurance decisions of organizations in the public and private sectors, and of course, the rationale of public health policymakers.

  • Health Economics requires each of us to step outside of ourselves, and to look at health care from other and myriad perspectives.

  • And I think that approach of looking at a situation from another perspective is an appropriate transition to discuss our topic today.

< T R A N S I T I O N >

  • At early age, I fell in love with science and medicine.

  • But, I had a conflict.

  • Along with my love of science, I also had a deep passion for music. Initially, my plan was to be concert pianist.

  • Early on, I understood how art and science are complementary in many ways. To excel in either field, you must make success your singular goal.

    • You must be studious, uncompromising in your pursuit, and you must be willing to sacrifice in order to be exclusively
  • Well, despite my devotion to Mozart and other great composers, I chose science.
  • For me, there’s something about the pursuit of knowledge, rigorous inquiry and discovery, and the notion of helping people that captured everything I wanted to be.
  • Choosing between a life of scientific inquiry or a life in the performing arts, you could say, was my first existential experience along the path of figuring out who I am, and what I want to do.

  • I earned my medical degree from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and conducted medical-research work on the physiologic and molecular mechanisms responsible for disorders of growth and puberty, and the development of novel therapies for these conditions.

  • Subsequent to my pediatrics and research work, I moved into academic and hospital administration.

  • At Indiana University, I served as executive associate Dean for Research at the school of medicine. And then, I moved on to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis where I served as President and CEO.

  • From 2009-2014, I served as Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and Health System CEO at the University of Michigan Health System, now known as Michigan Medicine.

    • I am very proud that I was the first female in that position – perhaps a small crack in the hospital administration glass ceiling.

    • Michigan, as we all know, is an incredible place. The system incudes three hospitals, more than 120 health centers and clinics, and the University of Michigan Medical school

  • While at UM, my life changed profoundly.

    • On a snowy night in 2010, my life was upended when my husband lost control of his car and was struck by a semitrailer and killed

    • My family lost so much that night, but in that tragedy was a lesson, a lesson about the fragility and fleeting nature of life.

    • It’s not a lesson that’s unique to me.

    • All of us have lost someone close to us. There is suffering and grief throughout the world.

    • What I learned is that each person has to respond to the opportunity to build and rebuild their lives.

    • And, I learned making a positive change, and making a difference requires a commitment – every day.

  • After leaving Ann Arbor, I worked as senior VP for Eli Lily biomedicines. During that time, I also served as president of the Society for Pediatric Research, the nation’s largest pediatric research organization.

  • And then, I landed here…at Oakland University.

  • Landed is the right I’m firmly planted here.

  • Why did I choose to come to Oakland University? And, what continues to inspire me and has turned me into one of the university’s most passionate advocates?

    • Three words: Opportunity. And community.

  • From the time this place was conceived through today and considering the vision of tomorrow, Oakland University is committed to cultivating the full potential of a diverse and inclusive community.

    • Everything we do is built on that promise

    • When I came here, I looked around and realized that this is a place where I can make a real difference.

  • When I think about the path of my career, I realize you must have the following to succeed:

    • Aspirational goals and plan

    • The ability to be flexible and adaptable

    • A desire to seek a balance between personal and professional

    • An appreciation of mentorship

    • An understanding of the true meaning of happiness…. By the way, this is never to

  • I’ve been asked: How do you reconcile where you begin and where you are in your career?

    It’s a good question.

  • Here’s where I started:

    • My goal was to have six children – yes, six – play piano semi-professionally and practice medicine part-time… yes, part-time.

  • Here’s where I am:

    • I have three children – and five wonderful grandchildren

    • I don’t play the piano. I do, however, occasionally dust off the grand piano at Sunset Terrace.

    • Just ask my staff… I have no clue what part- time means.

    • And, I am president of a university, and don’t actively conduct research or practice medicine.

  • A funny thing happened along the way from graduating medical school to today…. Life.

  • Today, my experience as a physician, teacher, researcher, and hospital administrator informs my decisions as we navigate Oakland University through the ever-changing higher education

  • landscape, and, of course, amid the unpredictability of the pandemic.

  • My many experiences have prepared me to this point of managing change – planned, unplanned and spontaneous.

< Transition >

  • Today, we must be up to the task to respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic downturn, impact from environmental disasters, social and racial injustices, and we must come up with a way to better fund K-12 and higher education.

  • Real, lasting solutions of these and other challenges require leadership – innovative, bold and enlightened leadership.

  • In his study of the laws of evolution, Charles Darwin concluded: “It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive, but those who can best manage change.”

  • When it comes to managing change and effective leadership, I rely on the 8 C’s:

    • A moral COMPASS

    • Compassion

    • Courage

    • Contribution

    • Commitment

    • Communication

    • Collaboration

    • Creativity

  • In many ways, a career in patient care is not a choice, it’s a calling.

    • It’s who you are.

    • It’s what you have to do.

  • But in the broader sense, who you are and what you do has more to do with a need to express your humanity…to help people.

  • Your specific job and responsibilities change over the course of your life and career as you become more experienced, and yes, more wise.

  • If you listen close enough, you’ll know when the sense of purpose is so clear and compelling that personal and professional change becomes inevitable.

  • I’ve come to think of my professional metamorphosis from med student to researcher to hospital administrator to university president not as changing my career path, but rather building a broader road for the many possibilities of my life.

  • I wish you well as you pursue the possibilities of your career and life.

  • Thank you.