Cookies, Conversations, and a Culture Worth Celebrating

On October 2, GBMC celebrated a milestone: 60 years of caring for the community. We marked the moment simply last week, with cookies, a small commemorative gift, and a chance for me to meet many of you in the Louis and Phyllis Friedman Building atrium.

Whether you stopped to say hello or just grabbed a cookie between tasks, thank you. I know how full your days are, and I don’t take it lightly that so many made time to be there. It was especially energizing to see entire teams come down together, like those from the Milton J. Dance Jr. Head and Neck Center and Central Sterile Processing. That kind of camaraderie tells me something important: GBMC has a culture worth celebrating.

But great cultures aren’t static. They evolve, and they grow stronger when every voice is heard. That’s why the 2025 Employee Engagement and Culture of Safety Survey is such a vital opportunity.

If you haven’t yet taken the survey, I’m asking you – personally – to make the time. It’s anonymous, takes just about 10 minutes, and is one of the most direct ways you can shape how it feels to work at GBMC HealthCare. Not in theory, but in practice.

At my previous hospital, I read every single comment from our last survey (more than 70 pages) and used them to craft my leadership pledge. I intend to do the same here. Some of the feedback was positive. Some was tough. All of it mattered. What I saw there changed how I communicated, how I led, and how we improved.

There, we could feel the momentum as larger portions of our workforce participated in the survey. Leaders listened. Teams responded. The work environment got better. And yes, we’ll do the same here.

If you’re hesitant, I understand. But please know:

• Your feedback is truly confidential.
• We’re not looking for praise. We’re looking for truth.
• And we’re not collecting data just to say we did. We plan to share the results, talk about them, and build solutions with you.

Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

That small group is us.

Thanks again for the warm welcome, and thank you for helping build the future of GBMC HealthCare. 

COMMENTS

**Johnice Powell commented on 10/18/25 at 3:13:**
Greetings, Your Honorable Paari Gopalakrishman, MD, MBA:

Welcome to GBMC. It was a pleasure meeting you at the O.B. Labor & Delivery Receptionist Desk.
You are very friendly and kind. I'm sure that your positive energy will be a contagious asset to the hospital. I feel honored that you took time out of your busy schedule to meet the weekend workforce. I look forward to partnering with you to make every patient experience a total success. If I can be of any assistance to you, feel free to call me at 443-768-5605. Have a wonderful, blessed career.

Best regards,

Johnice Powell- Weekend Patient Access Representative in O B Labor & Delivery Department
    **Dr. Gopalakrishnan replied:**
    Thank you Johnice! Everyone has made me feel so welcomed. Thank you!
 

**Lanny Dowell commented on 10/15/25 at 2:03:**
Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection.

     -Mark Twain
    **Dr. Gopalakrishnan replied:**
    I had not heard this Twain quote, but 100% agree.  General Patton had a sentiment similar that has always resonated with me. "A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow."

**Alhoda Khamis commented on 10/14/25 at 10:28:**
"Alone we can do so little; together, we can do so much." - Helen Keller.

welcome to our small family : )
    **Dr. Gopalakrishnan replied:**
    one of my favorite quotes!

**Surendra Marur commented on 10/14/25 at 7:07:**
Dr Gopalakrishnan, I appreciate you jumping into the pool with us to test the waters.

We have always been a dynamic organization since I've been here striving to be better.

Our strength is pairing our experienced people with our less experienced people to learn from each other and remain relevant.
    **Dr. Gopalakrishnan replied:**
    Teamwork makes the Dreamwork. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Surendra.