Maximizing Impact with Team of Teams Concept

Catalyzing positive change so patient-physician relationships can flourish

January 2025

Dear Medicine Forward Community,

Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, we are excited to unveil our renewed mission: Catalyzing positive change so patient-physician relationships can flourish. This statement is at the core of everything we do and guides our vision: To activate 10 million people by 2035 to help patients and physicians thrive together.

Introducing the Team of Teams Concept

To truly move the needle in a positive direction in healthcare, the Medicine Forward (MF) leadership team recognizes the need to be increasingly responsive to our membership’s wants, needs, and desires. In addition, for MF to truly catalyze maximum change, we need engaged members participating in activities that give them joy.

Medicine Forward has adopted an innovative Team of Teams (TOT) approach to shape how we operate as an organization. This hybrid decentralized structure emphasizes adaptability, shared goals, and cross-functional alignment, allowing us to navigate the complex healthcare landscape effectively. By forming autonomous, purpose-driven teams, we foster collaboration and accelerate momentum for positive change. Think of TOT as an agile, relationship-building framework that fuels progress and innovation.

Some guiding principles of the TOT model include:

• Is it good enough for now, safe enough to try? Decisions are made with agility while safeguarding Medicine Forward’s mission and brand.

• Building Relationships and Bridges: Teams emphasize collaboration and shared success.

• Passion-Energized Teams: Small, diverse teams form around projects that align with our mission, igniting creativity and impact.

Watch for updates on some of the new teams that are forming!

Gratitude for Your Support

We are immensely grateful for the collective efforts and unwavering dedication of our community. Every conversation, every action, and every voice contributes to a healthcare system where humanism thrives. Here are just a few highlights of what your support has made possible:

• Expanding Membership: We are proud to share that more than 500 members have joined Medicine Forward since its founding. Let’s continue to grow this vital movement in 2025.

• Building Bridges: Our partnerships with organizations like Kern National Network, Healthcare Reinvention Collaborative, and ICD Events are strengthening networks of change agents.

• Advocating for Humanism: From social media to in-person workshops, your advocacy is amplifying the call for a healthcare system centered on human connection.

Upcoming Initiatives and Events

As we look ahead, we’re excited to announce several opportunities for engagement and growth:

• Catalyst Stories: Introducing a new initiative where members can share inspiring stories of transformation and impact within our community. These Catalyst Stories will spotlight individuals and teams making a difference in patient-physician relationships. Stay tuned for our first feature in February!

• Workshops and Gatherings: Join us for interactive sessions that explore actionable solutions for restoring humanity in healthcare. Check our website for details.

  

Subscribe and Share

Stay connected with Medicine Forward by subscribing to our Substack newsletter. Share it with your friends and consider a paid subscription to support our mission. Your contribution helps us sustain programming, resources, and community-building efforts.

MESSAGE FROM PAID SPONSOR:

Medicine Forward offers a venue for members to share ideas and activities with our community. Here’s one example of a member-led initiative that supports the Medicine Forward mission:

Become Part of the Movement

Becoming a member of Medicine Forward is simple and easy. For a symbolic membership fee of $5, you’ll have unlimited access to our Mighty Network of like-minded passionate change agents and to curated resources including coaching and well-being support. Click HERE to join.

Thank you,

Gabe Charbonneau, MD, Co-founder, Medicine Forward
Todd Otten, MD, Lead Catalyst / Board Chair, Ripple of Change
Lisa Scardina, Strategy and Implementation, PS&D Recruitment
Jeff Cohn, MD, Mental Fitness & Leadership Coaching Officer, Care to Change Coaching
Kim Downey, Community Ambassador, Stand Up for Doctors
Dawn Ellison, MD, Transformational Conversations & Meeting Excellence Designer, Influencing Healthcare
Eva Lana Minkoff, Director of Healthcare Relationship Initiatives, Bold Being
MaryAnn Wilber, MD, MPH, MHS, Public Health Strategist, The Doctor Is No Longer In

A special thank you to Denise Wiseman from the Healthcare Reinvention Collaborative for her many contributions to the Medicine Forward leadership team. We look forward to continuing to work together on our shared commitment to healthcare transformation with humanism at the core.