Seeing What We See

If you walk through the Emergency Department corridor this week, you’re going to notice something new.

No, we’re not redecorating.

We’re moving our senior team huddle board – a big whiteboard filled with handwritten metrics, action items, and follow-ups – out of the executive suite and into the hallway by the Emergency Department.

Now, that may not sound revolutionary, but it’s an important shift.

Last week, I shared our 2026 Leadership Pledge, where we committed to being more approachable, accountable, and transparent. This whiteboard is one of the concrete ways we’re going to live that out.

Until now, our executive huddle board has lived inside the executive space. We gathered around it, talked about safety, access, workforce, quality, finance, and culture... but you couldn’t see any of it.

So we’re changing that.

Going forward, you’ll be able to walk by and see, at a glance, what your executive team is focused on: Where are we doing well? Where are we behind? What did we say we’d fix, and did we actually fix it?

Think of it as a living dashboard in dry-erase marker.

The huddle board is part of our broader senior team approachability plan. Two other components – my weekly messages to you through this blog and our senior team’s 2026 leadership pledge – are already underway, but here’s a peek at what else we’re planning:

• We’re standardizing short, but frequent, rounding so you see executives on your units/in your departments regularly – not only when something’s wrong.
• We want to “walk in your shoes” through our Executive Shadowing Program. The goal isn’t to inspect, but to understand what your work really feels like and where our systems help or get in the way.
• We’ll be hosting regular systemwide town hall meetings so we can share information with you and hear from you. The first will be held in February and offered virtually to make it easier to attend regardless of where you’re located. Date and details to come!

We’re finalizing logistics on a couple of additional elements, and I’ll share more soon.

What I’m asking from you…

• If you happen to be in the hospital, walk by the board and take a look. Our first official huddle will be this week.  
• Talk with us during rounding, shadowing, or whenever you see us.
• Tell us if our actions don’t match our words.
• Join the February town hall if you’re able.

Trust comes from you being able to see what we see, ask questions, and hold us to our word. This approachability plan – and that whiteboard in the hallway – are some of the ways we’re working to earn and keep your trust, in full view. 

COMMENTS:

**Audrey Pillar commented on 1/13/26 at 07:18:**
As a Medical Assistant in Medical Oncology, hearing of the transparency and approachability in leadership makes me even more certain that I made the right move to GBMC.  In my previous role, I was the Executive Assistant to the CEO and there was so much secrecy and so many hidden agendas, it made it a very troublesome place to work.  Having the open communication with Executive Leadership makes me KNOW that GBMC is definitely the BEST place to work.  

Thank you!  Thank you for taking the time to communicate.  Thank you for making everyone feel heard and important.  Thank you for caring about each and every part of the GBMC Family, which I am so proud to be a part of.

    **Dr. Gopalakrishnan replied:**
    Thank you for such kind words Audrey!

**Martha McCracken commented on 1/12/26 at 13:22:**
Will Leadership Conference Proceedings resume being posted on the Infoweb? There haven't been any since September.

      **Dr. Gopalakrishnan replied:**
      Let me find out.
 

**Anonymous commented on 1/12/26 at 12:46:**
activities to appreciate long-term employees... In past, there was preferential parking for employees with >25 yrs employment.... would recommend senior leadership have scheduled meetings with long-term employees to ascertain their thoughts on past/present changes at GBMC

      **Dr. Gopalakrishnan replied:**
      Thanks for the feedback. I am very impressed with the longevity of the folks at GBMC and will think through how to leverage their knowledge.
 

**Tom Petry commented on 1/12/26 at 11:45:**
Thank you for listening and for your honesty and transparency. This is a welcomed new leadership style.

      **Dr. Gopalakrishnan replied:**
      Thank you Tom!