Relational Leadership in Healthcare with Dr. Sarah Smithson and Jane Cooper-Driver | FIM Podcast #35

Описание: Today, we are joined by Dr. Sarah Smithson, MD, MPH, and Jane Cooper-Driver, co-founders and co-CEOs of Relational Leadership Partners.

Dr. Sarah Smithson is an internist and experienced physician-leader with deep expertise in leadership development, interprofessional education, and curricular innovation. She is Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Relational Leadership Partners, where she leads tailored workshops, consultations, and train-the-trainer programs to strengthen teamwork, connection, and effectiveness in healthcare organizations. Previously, she served as Associate Professor of Medicine & Assistant Dean for Clinical Education at UNC School of Medicine, where she was also the Inaugural Director of Interprofessional Education & Practice and founded Relational Leadership at Carolina, training over 200 alumni in its first three years.

Jane Cooper-Driver has over 20 years of experience at the intersection of individual and cultural transformation in leadership and organizational development. As co-Founder and co-CEO of Relational Leadership Partners, she co-designs strategy and oversees the creation and delivery of the Relational Leadership curriculum for healthcare learners, clinicians, faculty, and system leaders nationwide. She holds an MSc in Social Psychology from the London School of Economics.

In the conversation, Dr. Smithson and Cooper-Driver explore relational leadership as a human-centered approach that cultivates connection, collaboration, and belonging while addressing how traditional hierarchical models in healthcare leave authenticity, innovation, and quality on the table.

We also cover:
How relational breakdowns contribute to burnout and why healthcare has become transactional rather than relationship-centered

-Practical, teachable relational practices that transform conflict into creativity and build psychological safety within teams

-Why these skills are not optional extras but foundational to patient care, team resilience, and organizational sustainability

Dr. Smithson and Cooper-Driver conclude by envisioning a healthcare system where team members feel part of something greater, where resilience lives within the collective, and where both staff and patients experience genuine care and belonging.

Links:
Relational Leadership Partners: https://rlpconnect.com/
Dr. Sarah Smithson LinkedIn:   / sarah-smithson  
Jane Cooper-Driver LinkedIn:   / jane-cooper-driver-01000b6  

EmPro Website: https://www.myempro.com/
EmPro Peer Support Program: https://www.myempro.com/peer-support/
Physician Support Line: +1(888) 409-0141
Physician Support Line Website: https://www.physiciansupportline.com/
Dr. Krasner's Website: https://mickkrasnermd.com/
Mindful Practice in Medicine Website: https://mindfulpracticeinmedicine.com/

Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction
(02:00) Relational Leadership
(03:00) Sarah's Origin Story
(06:00) The Cadaver Lab Experience
(08:00) Jane's Cross-Cultural Journey to Leadership
(11:00) Defining Relational Leadership
(14:00) Traditional vs. Relational Leadership Models
(17:00) The All-Knowing Leader Myth
(18:00) Common Relational Breakdowns in Healthcare
(21:00) Conflict, Communication, and Trust
(24:00) The New York Driving Analogy
(25:00) Conflict Transformation vs. Resolution
(27:00) Can Relational Skills Be Taught?
(29:00) Intentionality in Practice
(32:00) Integration vs. Compartmentalization
(34:00) The Patient Experience Connection
(36:00) Envisioning a Relationally Grounded Future
(39:00) Love and Collective Resilience
(41:00) Conclusion