Please join us in celebrating the amazing Certified Health Executive (CHE) members, who are at the heart of the College, through monthly ‘CHE Spotlights’. Learn more about what makes these exceptional leaders tick. From leaders in mental health and wellness, equity, diversity, and inclusiveness (EDI), to mentors and emerging leaders, our CHE members are dedicated to life-long learning and to leadership in healthcare.
Dwayne Green is a healthcare leader that is focused on change management, process improvement, and managing complex healthcare operations. Dwayne is leading teams in Long-Term Care (LTC) to greater success through organizational and team development. He joined the College in 2017 and earned his CHE recently in 2020.
“In our lifetime, we have an opportunity to be part of many communities. Having a sense of community unites us.”
Career
Growing up, Dwayne was surrounded by community leaders who served and advocated for others. This example of service, coupled with his passion for people inspired him to pursue a career in healthcare.
Health leaders have been asked to meet higher than usual demands to support the people who live in long-term care and in some cases, those who have fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a growing need to effectively support frontline workers during this global crisis. Dwayne recalls that one of his biggest accomplishments as a health leader was to ensure his staff was equipped to handle such a shift. He and his team developed a strategy that supported their leadership team in focusing on wellness and work-life balance. They continue to be supported and empowered to prioritize self care. This initiative has in-turn helped with staff retention and a minimal turnover rate.
A lesson that Dwayne learned from the pandemic is that we need to continue to take mental health seriously and ensure that we have strategies in our workplaces to promote the psychological safety of all employees. We have seen the negative impacts of mental health as people grapple with juggling work, childcare, job loss, isolation, being COVID-19 positive, and even losing a loved one to COVID-19.
Dwayne believes in calls to action for the improvement of health in the workplace. He says, “If we can continue to help Canadians shift their thinking about what “health” means, we can develop interventions that will support our communities and build a better health system. We must critically reflect on how our actions impact future generations and make necessary changes.”
In Dwayne’s personal view, the most urgent things we need to change in caring for the elderly are that we need to ensure that seniors remain socialized in long-term care. He says that we have seen the impacts of isolation on the mental health of the elderly. As health leaders, we have made very difficult decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seniors need to be connected to family, friends and neighbours and recognizing their familiarity with services their community provides. Dwayne also thinks another urgent need is the continued support for flexible health and personal care. We know that through the continuum of aging, there is a place to age at home and a time where long-term care is required. It will be an opportunity to increase partnerships toward improving long-term care.
“The long-term care sector is ready for innovative ideas that will build better communities.”
CCHL and the CHE
The CHE designation has expanded Dwayne’s network to include like-minded leaders and has taught him a great deal. Not only is he a mentor with the CCHL, but Dwayne has been mentored by supportive and well-respected colleagues.
Leaders who are part of a community during the pandemic realize the importance of human connection. Having the CHE designation provides a common interest amongst other leaders and the confidence to reach out and network.
Having the CHE designation and his leadership training prepared Dwayne to survive and thrive in the pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, the CCHL has been a source for resources and webinars. Dwayne says that being involved with the LEADS training informed his decision making around the emergency response of the pandemic and connecting with other leaders through the CCHL helped him remain resilient.
When asked what advice he would give to an aspiring health leader or a new College member, Dwayne said that he would encourage new College members to find a mentor who will be able to provide advice, guidance, and support at each stage of the leadership journey. He says, “be able to lead yourself first and then you will be able to embrace the teams you work with through authenticity. Having self-management, creating awareness, offering peer assistance, and caring for others will help you contribute to a positive and healthy workplace.”
We would like to thank Dwayne for his time and for sharing his experience and perspectives with the Canadian College of Health Leaders’ members in this CHE Spotlight.
