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Unity Actually Comes From Uniqueness

Peter B. Angood, MD, FRCS(C), FACS, MCCM, FAAPL(Hon)


July 11, 2025


Physician Leadership Journal


Volume 12, Issue 4, Pages 5-6


https://doi.org/10.55834/plj.7675130486


Abstract

Historically, mankind has excelled at generating animosity, even hostility, among diverse communities. Why this is so has puzzled sociologists, anthropologists, and philosophers for centuries. And yet, our Hippocratic Oath and its various contemporary iterations have promulgated for millennia the commitment to treating all human beings as equals when it comes to health and healthcare. Today, this legacy commitment should be unifying, not diversifying, regarding the evolution and significance of physician leadership.




Historically, mankind has excelled at generating animosity, even hostility, among diverse communities. Why this is so has puzzled sociologists, anthropologists, and philosophers for centuries. And yet, our Hippocratic Oath and its various contemporary iterations have promulgated for millennia the commitment to treating all human beings as equals when it comes to health and healthcare. Today, this legacy commitment should be unifying, not diversifying, regarding the evolution and significance of physician leadership.

Recent shifts away from the United States’ historical approach toward geopolitical environments have garnered significant attention and much concern across a variety of industries and countries around the world. The rationale for these shifts is often a topic of heated debate, but the disruption of decades-old domestic and international paradigms for U.S. approaches and responsibilities is a reality and well under way. The intent, purpose, and ramifications will clearly take some time to fully comprehend, while the secondary effects (both intended and unintended) will undoubtedly be recognizable for decades.

A significant portion of these efforts are negatively affecting, even reversing, what had recently been positive trends to recognize the diversity of individuals and populations, not just in the United States, but globally as well. These paradigm shifts (regardless of their intended purposes) are also creating significant adverse outcomes to the health and well-being of countless human beings across a diverse range of populations worldwide.

Yet, ensuring health for the diversity of all human beings is core to the medical profession. For most clinicians, healthcare is considered a right, not a privilege.

Inarguably, geopolitical and economic trends inherently shift over time. Modern democracies are complex, and the diplomatic intricacies necessary for them to be successful and collaborative are highly nuanced. Healthcare delivery and population well-being are only one portion of this complicated dynamic. The healthcare industry comes under a wide spectrum of influences and remains the most complex of industries among many. Evolving this industry takes strong, influential leadership, and physicians are the natural stewards of the industry to provide this leadership.

I do not consider myself an authority on history, but the Christian European influences on the global geopolitical environment over centuries have been wide-ranging and deeply significant. These influences have essentially affected countries on all continents. And many countries are continuing to emerge from colonial influences toward independence, while also simultaneously recognizing the origins of their countries from their aboriginal roots. Many countries have seen an improved appreciation for the variety of cultures and the ability to successfully co-exist across these cultures.

I have been privileged to spend time in several countries recently, which has coincided with the withdrawal of a range of financial and programmatic support by the United States. The reactions from healthcare leaders have been varied, as one might expect, but a general consensus has not been dismay. Rather, the reaction has been more along the lines of recognizing recent disruptions as an opportunity to rethink the approaches for moving forward without external support, and building more efficient systems and processes that ensure the independence of countries and populations.

Historically, attempts to move toward a singular controlling approach by not recognizing the benefits of varied cultural perspectives and experience (to the point of genocide) have generally failed. Embracing and celebrating varied traditions can actually promote unity across cultures, thus strengthening us all.

Unity actually grows through varied perspectives and expanded communities.

Remember, our overall intent as physician leaders is to lead and create significant positive change. AAPL focuses on maximizing the potential of physician-led, interprofessional leadership to create personal and organizational transformation that benefits patient outcomes, improves workforce wellness, and refines the delivery of healthcare internationally.

Therefore, as physician leaders, we must embrace the complexities of our industry. We can choose to embrace the opportunities where our individual and collective energies can help create the beneficial changes so desperately needed. We must continue to be innovative and adaptive in our efforts. Let us keep maximizing the opportunities continually placed in front of our profession.

Through this international AAPL community, we all can continue seeking deeper levels of professional and personal development, and recognize ways we can each generate constructive influence at all levels. As physician leaders, let us become more engaged, stay engaged, and help others to become engaged. Exploring and creating opportunities for broader levels of positive transformation in healthcare around the world is within our reach, individually and collectively.

Peter B. Angood, MD, FRCS(C), FACS, MCCM, FAAPL(Hon)

Peter Angood, MD, is the chief executive officer and president of the American Association for Physician Leadership. Formerly, Dr. Angood was the inaugural chief patient safety officer for The Joint Commission and senior team leader for the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Center for Patient Safety Solutions. He was also senior adviser for patient safety to the National Quality Forum and National Priorities Partnership and the former chief medical officer with the Patient Safety Organization of GE Healthcare.

With his academic trauma surgery practice experience ranging from the McGill University hospital system in Canada to the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University and Washington University in St. Louis, Dr. Angood completed his formal academic career as a full professor of surgery, anesthesia and emergency medicine. A fellow in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Critical Care Medicine, Dr. Angood is an author in more than 200 publications and a past president for the Society of Critical Care Medicine.

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