[FLR] Keeping Work Human: Lessons from a Stanford Doctor & a Hospital Hallway

Happy Friday,

I recently read about Dr. Bryant Lin, a 美国斯坦福大学 professor of medicine, who—upon receiving a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis—chose to turn his experience into a teaching moment.?

Rather than retreating, he designed and taught a course titled:

"MED 275: From Diagnosis to Dialogue: A Doctor's Real-Time Battle With Cancer."

He saw this as his legacy project—a way to inspire future doctors by sharing not only the science of medicine but also its humanity. He choose to turn his personal?crisis into something more. "I want [doctors] to understand the humanity at the core of medicine."

This struck me deeply—especially as I spent time at The Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus myself recently, where my mom had been admitted.

Hospitals during flu season are overwhelming places—every nook, cranny, and hallway filled.?

The sheer pressure on staff is immense, yet amid that intensity, I witnessed extraordinary acts of kindness that underscored the importance of maintaining humanity in our work, regardless of the field:

• Two Ottawa police officers, Officer Finch and Officer Desaulniers, befriended a lonely, confused elder in the emergency room. Amid the chaos, they took time to sit with her, talk, and bring a sense of calm.
• Hannah and Tyler, two incredible nurses, attended to my mom throughout her stay. Even in the middle of the night, they treated her—not just as a patient but as a person, with care and kindness.
• I received a personal call from my mom's attending physician, Dr. Code,?to check in and provide an update.?This simple gesture made a significant difference.

This is the essence of Dr. Lin's lesson.

Yes, technical skill and efficiency are vital. But humanity matters more.

Whether you're a doctor, a police officer, a nurse, or a leader in any field—the work we do is, at its core, human work.

The most significant impact we leave isn't in metrics or efficiency; it's in how we show up for others, even in small ways.

Dr. Lin faced a devastating diagnosis, yet his response was to find purpose—to contribute, teach, and connect.

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The Power of Purpose at Work

Dr. Lin's story & my recent experience advocating for my mother is a powerful reminder of the importance of purpose and meaning in our work.

According to Gallup , employees who feel a strong sense of purpose at work are:

• 4x more likely to be engaged?in their roles.
• 3x more likely to stay?with their organization long-term.
• 50% more likely to report high levels of well-being.

Yet, only?23% of employees globally?strongly agree that they feel connected to their organization's mission. This gap highlights a critical opportunity for leaders to foster a sense of purpose and humanity in their teams.

As leaders, that's a challenge to us all:

• How do we keep our work human?
• Where can we bring more care, more kindness, more presence?
• What's the legacy we want to leave?

Because, at the end of the day, leadership isn't about power.

It's about people.

Final Thought

Dr. Lin's legacy is a testament to the power of purpose and humanity in leadership.?

As we navigate the pressures of our roles, remember that the most impactful leadership is rooted in how we care for and connect with others.

Will we rise to that challenge?

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

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P.P.S. It’s always a good time to invest in your team’s growth. Let us support your people and culture needs. Connect with Matt Goff, VP of Partner Solutions, at [email protected] to explore how we can help.

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