Three Endeavor Health physicians have been recognized as the first recipients of the Joseph Golbus, MD, Leadership Fellowship Awards: Barrett Robinson, MD, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Associate Site Director OB/GYN Residency and Chair of Perinatal Quality Review; Alya Ahsan, DO, Hospitalist and Quality Chief, Division of Hospital Medicine; and Joseen Bryant, MD, MBA, Family Medicine/Sports Medicine, Healthcare Transformation Project at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital.
Established with generous support from donors and staff after Dr. Golbus’ retirement as President of NorthShore Medical Group and Research Institute in January 2023, the Joseph Golbus, MD, Physician Leadership Fund provides resources physicians need to pursue educational leadership opportunities outside of their normal practice hours.
Dr. Golbus and his wife, Valerie Golbus, also contributed to the fund, as they believe in supporting physicians to grow their leadership skills. The fund continues Dr. Golbus’ example of inspiring and supporting the next generation of physician leaders.
Selected by a committee of physician peers, the Golbus Leadership Fellows will receive up to $10,000 to pursue a leadership development program or project in 2024. They will also be paired with a fellowship mentor and interview selected Endeavor Health senior leaders. At the conclusion of the year, fellows will share reflections on their experience and learnings and provide feedback for future fellowship offerings.
“We received many fellowship applications from very impressive applicants, all of them expressing their desire to lead and make a difference with their work,” said committee member Nancy Schindler, MD, MHPE, the E. Stephen Kurtides, MD, Chair of Medical Education and System Chief of Physician Engagement and Development.
“Many expressed how appealing this opportunity was because it allowed them to network with leaders and to understand the health system better,” she continued.
Barrett Robinson, MD, plans to use the fellowship funding to work toward achieving racial equity in the Women’s Pavilion at Endeavor Health Evanston Hospital. As a Black physician, he has observed inequities in the treatment of Black patients as well as a culture that can feel unwelcoming to Black physician trainees.
“Receiving a Golbus Leadership Fellowship Award is an exciting opportunity for me to directly access proven pacesetters within the Endeavor Health community,” said Dr. Robinson. “The mentorship I anticipate receiving, as well as the guidance and financial resources that will assist me in completing a project to eliminate blind spots regarding care of birthing people of color, should have a long-lasting impact on the care we provide to some of our most vulnerable patients and on my development into a more established leader in women’s health.”
Alya Ahsan, DO, will be enrolling in the Harvard Certificate Program in Safety, Quality, Informatics and Leadership this year. She plans to grow her leadership skills at Endeavor Health while contributing significantly to the enhancement of healthcare delivery.
“As I grow into an emerging leader in this organization, I realize that to excel in this role and continue to drive positive institutional change, I need further education, mentorship and understanding of healthcare operations,” said Dr. Ahsan in her application for the fellowship. “I believe this fellowship will provide a means for me to attain that.”
Joseen Bryant, MD, MBA, will be enrolling in the Wharton Environmental, Social, Governance Executive Certificate Program for Senior Leaders. She hopes to expand Endeavor Health’s mission of improving access and healthcare equity while promoting sustainability and value beyond what’s currently imagined.
Other components of the Joseph Golbus, MD, Physician Leadership Fund include offering a leadership book club open to all physicians that will meet twice a year and an Annual Golbus Leadership Conference highlighting the Fellows and featuring a visiting speaker.
The first conference, scheduled for April 29, will feature Ira Nash, MD, senior vice president for leadership development at Northwell Health and associate dean for physician leadership development at the Zucker School of Medicine. Dr. Nash will be presenting on the vital importance of physician leaders in health systems.
“I believe every physician is a leader,” said Dr. Golbus, “and this fund will ensure that vision for all Endeavor Health physicians for generations to come.”
These efforts would not be possible without philanthropic support. We are powered by the generosity of donors who directly impact our ability to deliver on our commitment to continue Dr. Golbus’ legacy of empowering physician leaders.
