Baltimore Health Care President Leads With Courage, Vision And Heart
With the recent controversy over health care reform in Baltimore, it may become easier to forget that the main goal of a medical facility is to provide quality patient care.
Neil Meltzer, President and CEO of LifeBridge Health, which encompasses Sinai, Northwest, Levindale and Courtland Gardens, amongst other affiliates.
Meltzer's commitment to health care and compassion towards others are crystal attributes evidenced by more than 30 years of outstanding leadership; making it unsurprising that his most recent accolade was a Golden Heart from the American Heart Association in July 2014.
Where did you receive your higher education?
"I received my B.S. in Public Health in 1978 from the University of Massachusetts, my M.P.H. and M.H.A. in 1981 from Tulane University and Honorary Sc.D from University of Maryland in 2009."
In what ways has your educational background contributed to your current career success?
"My education took place around the world and across the United States, so I have an extensive background of academics and cultural diversity to draw upon as I lead LifeBridge Health into the future. It also provided me with a foundation to be able to think critically and to solve complex challenges, along with the fundamentals of health care and terminology."
How important is continuing education to the field of health care?
"The key to meeting and exceeding goals is to combine data, theories and real world experience. Ask questions not only of professors, but also of classmates, and continue to stay informed on new developments in the constantly evolving landscape."
Do you have any advice for others who would like to follow your leadership path?
"Find a career that you are passionate about, embrace change, never stop reading and learning about your chosen field, listen to the experts around you before you make your final decisions and roll up your sleeves. You can get involved on a national level, like I did as president of the American Heart Association, on state and city levels by chairing and working on committees and on the ground level through events to raise awareness and funds. Finally, you can lead from any chair, not only the one at the head of the table."
Keisha Oduor is a professional writer and entrepreneur who resides in Baltimore, Maryland. She has a degree in Communications and French from New York University with work experience in publishing, nonprofits, healthcare administration and program management. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
