Improving the health of pregnant women through leadership with Dr. Cathy Spong

Learn from Dr. Cathy Spong who is a Tenured Professor and Chair in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She also serves as Chief of the Department’s Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and holds the Paul C. MacDonald Distinguished Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they interview Cathy about her leadership and mission to improve outcomes for pregnant women and families.

Show notes
 Dr. Spong talks about her leadership journey (3:57) and when she started to see herself as a leader. She shares a story about how hard it was to be a newcomer needing to lead (4:30) and gives clear advice. She relates the importance of getting to know your team and shares a relatable example of a scientist wanting to paint (5:24). She connects some of her early success to her exposure to the Baldrige criteria (6:35).

Next, Cathy reveals what she has recognized as key as she has grown in her leadership experiences – communication (7:58). Then the leaders discuss the experience gap (9:00) and the danger of being in an echo chamber (10:33) and needing to surround yourself with people that will challenge you. Dr. Spong shares her mission or “why” (12:13) and explores one of her biggest leadership challenges – the COVID pandemic (13:33).
 
 The conversation shifts to what Cathy is most proud of – her family (16:23) and how she manages to balance it all (17:13). She shares a personal story of how she influenced others just by being herself and inadvertently broke the rules (18:30). Finally, she addresses the loneliness of being a leader sometimes (21:25).
 
 (25:20) Debbie and Susan share their insights from the discussion with Cathy. This is part 2 of a 3-episode series featuring Dr. David Spong and Dr. Cathy Spong.

Interested in learning more about the Baldrige criteria? Listen to part 1: Inside the Baldrige Leadership Journey with Dr. David Spong - Seasons Leadership Podcast