Description
In this engaging presentation, Andrea Sott, an orthopedic surgeon and medical director at Epsom and St Helier, shares her journey through the evolving landscape of leadership in the medical field. Emphasizing her passion for clinical work, she recounts her unexpected rise to leadership positions, including her inaugural role as Division of Medical Director, which she was encouraged to take despite her initial self-doubt. Through anecdotes, she illustrates the importance of collaboration, the drive for improvement in patient outcomes—specifically in hip fracture treatments—and the lessons learned from both her successes and missteps in leadership.
Andrea touches on critical care challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing the importance of effective communication and support within teams during crises. She advocates for maintaining clinical skills as essential for leaders in healthcare and reflects on the significance of staying connected with colleagues across all levels, emphasizing that leadership is fundamentally relational.
She concludes with an inspiring vision for her department's future, aspiring to elevate Epsom and St Helier to be the best planned care unit in London, while recognizing the continuous challenges that leaders face in balancing immediate healthcare needs and long-term strategic goals. Overall, Andrea's heartfelt presentation serves to inspire and motivate future leaders in healthcare to embrace opportunity, foster teamwork, and pursue excellence in patient care.