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Tim Dentry: At the helm, serving with heart and a bit of grit
Tim Dentry is two months on the job as president and CEO of Northern Light Health. And, while transitioning to such a large role is no easy task under normal circumstances, Tim has successfully assumed the position during one of the most unprecedented and challenging times in the last century. As a firm believer in servant leadership, we wanted to know what makes Tim excited to take the reins at Northern Light Health; his beliefs in leadership, especially during times of crisis; and his vision for where our organization is headed into the future.
Pathways: What makes you most excited to lead as president and CEO of Northern Light Health?
Tim: The people, my colleagues who make up Northern Light Health. I am inspired every day by those I work with and what I see and hear from north to south, east to west. To be able to lead “from the front” is the style I try to live by every day. And I believe that is what my colleagues are looking for.
Pathways: In your opinion what makes a good leader?
Tim: First, be a great, curious listener; ask questions, engage with people, find out what makes them tick, proud, or even frustrated … then learn from what you hear. A great leader must always show those he or she serves that they back up their words with action, values, and grit. I always believed over the course of my career that I did the first two (actions and values) well; now, in this point in my work life and here in Maine with Northern Light Health, I am enjoying showing my grit. To me, that means showing your heart, being true to yourself and to others, and not spinning nor politicking. Healthcare is not an easy vocation for any of us, especially with the lofty yet reachable goals we have set for ourselves. So, lead by going after it, with gusto, together.
Pathways: Are there experiences or lessons learned you take from your past that you will use in shaping the future of our system?
Tim: Over the course of my career, and especially when I worked overseas, I gained a deeper understanding of a universal truth: people in their souls have a desire to better themselves and help those in need. I have been inspired by the people I have worked with to help bring forth a renewed sense of pride, high standards, and initiative that often lied dormant, which was always inside the people … and this is why I am so humbled and inspired at the dedication to service by Northern Light Health staff during this health crisis.
As I begin this important leg of our journey together, the best thing I can use to help guide us is to rely on my instinct to walk into any situation, walk among those who express their views and passions, and shine the light on the shadows where we can create a better way forward. I will relentlessly look to bring out the pride, high standards and initiative that is always inside my colleagues throughout Northern Light Health.
Pathways: You became our new leader during a time of crisis; what do you see as the single most important thing you can do to guide us through this?
Tim: A great leader must show they are invested, committed, and the best-equipped person to earn the trust of the team and see us through the current situation which is both a crisis and likely a chronic state. So, the single most important thing I can do is make sure that when we are through this pandemic stage and Northern Light Health comes up in conversations among the people of Maine, it will be a positive and thankful tone that such an excellent healthcare organization cared so much for their staff and was so readily present to care for the needs of our citizens.
Pathways: What kind of challenges does social distancing create for you as a new leader?
Tim: Well, I really like to get out among our staff and connect personally. That has been a bit challenging, but I have still been able to walk among our family at most of our Northern Light locations. But I miss the people working from home. Connecting by Zoom has been great because I have been able to reach so many people, but it is not the same as being present. Engaging staff on their own turf, so to speak, is very powerful and the best way to learn. I must admit, though, it has also given me more opportunity to reflect from a distance, and sometimes that perspective adds a deeper appreciation for what everyone is giving of themselves.
Pathways: Where do you hope to see our system five years from now and do you have an idea of how we’ll get there?
Tim: You know, in many ways, the post-pandemic world is still yet to be defined; what will be different, what will we need to be better at, how do we reach a place where we are part of a great organization to work and have balance in life, while there are so many unknowns: will the pandemic roar back, how will our economic health be affected long-term, how will the demand for our services change?
I learned, though, that in the face of such challenges, you must make sure you are great at the fundamentals: great quality and service, a strong culture of caring, smartly accessible to the communities we serve … sounds like our Northern Light Health promise, doesn’t it?
Most organizations I study think more in terms of a three-year plan. We do that here. But now we are thinking that this is a perfect time to pause, reassess, catch our breath after this crisis of the century, and draw a pathway for the next 18 months or so. What I hope we will all see at the end of that timeframe is a renewed sense of oneness and action-orientation, all while building confidence that we are staying the course of our promise. Even with this pandemic and the havoc it wreaked, we will show a full demonstration of the tide of positive cultural change in caring and quality. And, we will have measurable and substantive progress toward five-star quality, ease of access, and a healthy, stable financial condition.
How will we get there? Northern Light Health colleagues will work together in an environment of mutual accountability, trust, and respect to develop consistent best practices of care that apply to all services and member organizations within Northern Light Health.
Since we work as a team, our innovation process and our systematic adoption of best practices will greatly benefit each community that we serve. The organization will be deeply connected, and the broader management team will be aligned around our common vision. The management team will collaborate effectively, providing care and support for one another. Leaders, including clinicians, will be active participants in the strategic and operational dialogue of Northern Light Health.
Pathways: How can each employee contribute to the future success of Northern Light Health?
Tim: Well, first of all, from what I see and hear and feel, everyone already is contributing to our present and future success by doing all they can to get us through this demanding time with our heads held high, feeling better at the end of the crisis stage. Second, express your thoughts in positive, constructive ways. And as leaders, we must engage all our staff in positive, constructive ways. In other words, trust in one another. The power that will rise up will be a sight to behold.
Pathways: With the challenges that we face today, especially during a pandemic, what thoughts or words of wisdom would you have to share with our staff who are on the frontlines daily?
Tim: For those who have looked in the eyes of patients positive for COVID-19 or someone suspected of having it, I have no words that can express wisdom; I can only say thank you for putting first those in great suffering and fear. I hope to become a better leader by being a witness to your greatness. And for those who support our caregivers, you are doing precious work: supply chain, housekeeping, security, engineering, financial services, human resources, management … you know who you are. To you, I say an army of caregivers is only as effective as those who support them. Thank you. And finally, I would say that we all are on the frontline with this pandemic. Everyone I just mentioned, including those working from home, those who work away from the sites of direct care, and all our families—all important parts of who we are. We will slay this dragon and be a better Northern Light Health for our communities.
View Tim’s thank you to employees, originally shared on April 16, 2020.