Reid Hospital Governing Board
Humanity in Medicine recipient joins Reid board
Bradford Barrett, M.D.
Wears several hats
Bradford Barrett, MD,
not only brings his
clinical voice to the
board, but he brings a
perspective as a
participant in one of
Reid’s joint ventures with
physicians at the New
Reid. Dr. Barrett’s
surgical group had
already partnered with
Reid at the Eastern
Indiana Ambulatory
Surgery Center.
“I think one of the
biggest challenges facing
me on the board is
coordinating the internal
tug-of-war between the
continued success of the
hospital and the issues
that concern me as a
physician, member of the
surgery center board and
member of the
community.
“However,” he added,“the idea of wearing
different hats is not much
different from being a
husband, a father, a
sibling and son when
dealing with a family
situation. I think you have
to try to be fair, flexible
and open-minded.”
Barry MacDowell, Reid Hospital president, gives Dr. Barrett his vote of confidence: “He exemplifies the type of skill, compassion and hospital citizenship that helps make Reid continue to stand out as a quality health care provider.”
Dr. Barrett and his wife, Mary Ann, are parents of a son, Drew, and a daughter, Erin.
One of five physicians
now on Reid Hospital &
Health Care Services’
governing board, Bradford
Barrett, MD, brings the
respect of his peers and
patients as the 2004
Humanity in Medicine
winner. For that honor he
was lauded for his clinical
skill and his attitude in
caring for patients.
Dr. Barrett said he
learned of his nomination
to Reid’s governing board
from Michael Hinshaw,
MD, a former colleague
and partner in practice at
General Surgeons, Inc. Dr.
Hinshaw retired from the board at the end of 2005.
“I’ve always respected Dr. Hinshaw’s knowledge and leadership ability. I felt and continue to feel that those are big shoes to fill on the board, but I was willing to accept the challenge,” he said.
Dr. Barrett’s leadership
skills, however, are
evident and date back to
when he was the chief
resident of surgery at
Indiana University Medical
Center, where he
completed his surgical
internship and residency.
His fellow IU students
voted him resident of the
year in 1993-1994 for
“exceptional devotion,
dedication and talent.”
Dr. Barrett also received
the Socrates award for
teaching medical students
during his year as a Chief
Resident.
At Reid, Dr. Barrett served a stint as chief of the surgery section.
A native of Canfield,
Ohio, Dr. Barrett earned
his undergraduate degree
at the University of Notre
Dame. He completed his
medical degree from the
Ohio State University
School of Medicine.
On joining the board, Dr. Barrett noted, “I was immediately impressed with the quality and diversity of the board. Obviously, the hospital has been quite successful by most benchmarking indexes over the years.”
But Dr. Barrett has also been suprised by “the complexity of what occurs behind the scenes on a day-to-day basis. A lot of preparation is necessary prior to a meeting to garner an understanding of the issues brought to the table.”
He appreciates the significant physician input on the board.
“I feel that we have a respected presence in the board room.”
And, he sees his physician perspective as the main component he can bring to the board. “I feel that the area of hospital management that interests me the most is obviously the clinical aspect. What I lack in financial background and administrative ability,” Dr. Barrett said, “I think I can make up for with an understanding of the medical side of the hospital business.”
Reid typically sends its new board members to Governance 100, a national meeting for hospital governing board members and administrators.
“One recurring theme
from the governance
meeting was that Reid
seems well-positioned
approaching the future in
terms of joint ventures
with physicians,” Dr.
Barrett said. “It is exciting
to see the new hospital
take shape, and everyone
is anxious to get these
ventures functioning and
profitable.”
Dr. Barrett concluded, “I hope that my medical knowledge and daily interaction with people will make me an effective board member.”
View Dr. Barrett's record in the Reid Hospital Physician Database.
