Leadership
The Wounded Healer
The term ‘wounded healer’ is thought to have originated in Greek mythology with the physician Asclepius, a Greek doctor who in recognition of his own wounds, established a sanctuary at Epidaurus where others could be healed of their wounds. In the twentieth century it was taken up by the Swiss psychoanalyst CG Jung and became one…
Read MoreCOVID-19: a dental perspective
En français The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown several challenges at dentists and their patients. At the same time, it has given us the opportunity to rethink and realign our approach to oral health in the context of a new normal. In a webinar recorded for the ICMDA recently, I talked about the impacts of COVID…
Read MoreCovid: leadership lessons from the frontline
En français When Covid spread from urban centres to the villages of India, the country’s healthcare systems were challenged and confused. Owing to fear and uncertainty about managing within such contexts, many private healthcare providers closed their facilities. Government-run systems, which were overwhelmed and challenged even before the pandemic, struggled to respond to increasing numbers…
Read MoreOur calling in the coronavirus pandemic
En français Few of us are trained to treat sick communities and continents. Unfortunately, that is our task during a pandemic. The origin of the word comes from the Greek pandemos, where pan means everyone, and demos means population. Pandemics confront us with not just one sick individual but with hundreds of thousands of ill patients. The responsible pathogen overwhelms…
Read MoreJany Haddad – surgeon, pastor, leader, mentor and family man
En français, русский, português Jany Haddad (born Teheran, Iran, 13 March 1954, died Aleppo, Syria, 14 August 2020) ‘Doctor, we plead with you, please do not leave Aleppo, you are the salt of this land. You are the light of this city.’ So spoke Dr Jany Haddad’s Muslim patients during the dark days in Syria…
Read MoreWe are in a Peniel moment with God to be broken and made vulnerable
En français, español, русский, português The life of Jacob speaks much into our lives in this season. The part of his story that is particularly relevant to our days is the encounter at Peniel. A man who always wants to be in control of his life – scheming, planning and strategising to be upwardly mobile…
Read MoreMore than PPE, healthcare workers need SEPPE
The case for SEPPE – spiritual and emotional support with PPE – during COVID-19 and beyond. ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.’ (Proverbs 3:5-6) As I sit down to write this, my mind goes back to the…
Read MoreLeading self and others in an ongoing season of crisis and uncertainty
En español, português, français Three to four months ago, we thought the challenge and crisis we are facing would soon end. ‘This too will pass’, was the advice many of us had to give to others and even remind ourselves. Even during fear and internal challenges, we looked forward to a near future, when things…
Read MoreLocked down by COVID-19? Spend time with your family
En Français, Pусский, Português ‘So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite. And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he…
Read MoreFacing pandemics – four more leadership principles
En Français, Português In my previous blog on leadership in pandemics, I introduced six guiding principles: Do not give in to panic; Innovate if we don’t have resources; Be compassionate and protect the most vulnerable; Have faith in God and reflect and learn what he is teaching us; and Review and change things as new…
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