EP9: From Me to We – Dr. Cathy Faulds on Leading Healthcare with Compassion and Courage

July 29, 2025

Dr. Kristen Woods

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In this deeply insightful episode of The POD, I sit down with Dr. Cathy Faulds. She’s a palliative care physician, executive coach, professor, and seasoned healthcare leader, and with her, we explore what it truly means to lead with purpose in today’s healthcare landscape. With decades of experience serving on influential boards and mentoring the next generation of medical professionals, Dr. Faulds offers a compelling call to action: healthcare can’t be fixed from the top down, but through bold, compassionate leadership from within.

Through personal stories and practical wisdom, Dr. Faulds reflects on her own leadership evolution, from questioning whether she belonged in the boardroom to realizing that the most meaningful impact comes from shaping the culture around you. We talk about everything from the emotional toll of caregiving to physician burnout, and why courageous collaboration is more critical than ever in today’s fractured healthcare systems.

She also shares powerful ideas about transforming fear into foresight, why relational trust is the foundation for system change, and how shifting from “me” to “we” can redefine leadership in medicine. Whether you’re leading a team, navigating burnout, or wondering how to create space for change. This episode is full of perspective and encouragement.

If you’ve ever questioned your place as a leader or felt disconnected from the humanity of medicine, Dr. Faulds' words will meet you exactly where you are. Her message is clear: You are not alone, and the future of healthcare needs your voice, your heart, and your vision.

Key Topics:

  • Why shaping culture is the most powerful act of leadership in healthcare

  • Reframing leadership from a solo burden to a collaborative, courageous process

  • The emotional reality of caregiving and how leaders must model vulnerability

  • Moving from reactive systems to intentional, visionary leadership

  • How fear of irrelevance can block transformation, and how to evolve with purpose

  • Creating psychological safety and relational trust in healthcare teams

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