A Lesson from Former AANS President, Dr. Regis Haid, Jr. on Culture
By John Denny, Executive Director, Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research
Why does an organization's culture matter? It’s simple, good culture leads to success, bad culture leads to failure.
In his Presidential Address to the 2022 American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Dr. Regis Haid, founding member of Atlanta Brain and Spine Institute and member of the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research’s National Science Advisory Committee, explored the issue of culture. Taking from management leader Peter Drucker, Dr. Haid told the 1,200 neurosurgeons in attendance, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”
But why would Dr. Haid talk about “culture” to a group of neurosurgeons? Why not talk about new approaches to healing spinal injuries or traumatic brain injuries? Because Neurosurgeons and the AANS have a strong culture of pursuing excellence, but like anything else, change is constantly occurring, and it’s important to meet these changes while maintaining a strong, positive culture (or change a weak and negative culture).
Dr. Haid argues that to maintain a strong culture in times of change requires embracing four things in a harmonious way.
Embrace obstacles – Don’t be afraid to do hard things. In quoting his mentor, Dr. Joseph Maroon, Haid said, “mistakes are avoided by wisdom. Wisdom comes from mistakes.”
Embrace Ambiguity – Few things are black and white. The truth often lies in the middle. Ambiguity means being able to hold more than one interpretation in your head at the same time.
Embrace Multi-Generational Advancement – Change is uncomfortable, but is necessary. And making change takes champions. As Dr. Haid said, “within the evolution of a concept, lies one or more individual revolutions.”
Embrace Disruptive Innovations – While one never wants to overshoot, and timing may be everything, we cannot be afraid to try.
Dr Haid emphasized the importance of doing this in harmony. There may be no such thing as “work - life balance.” Our work is our life and our family is our life, but harmony tries to put our vocation, family, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual health together–like a symphony orchestra.
Dr. Haid left us all with an amazing quote from Dr. Harvey Cushing, a pioneer in neurosurgery and the founder of what is today the AANS.
“I would like to see the day when somebody would be appointed surgeon who has no hands, for the operation part is the least important part of the work.”
Think about it.