Name: Dr. Michael Bainbridge

Title: Clinical Architect

Organisation: ASE Health

GP by trade. Clinical Informatician by career. I've been at the bleeding edge of digital health for many years. Still not there yet but things are beginning to fall into place. What a ride...

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Michael's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

Translating my original vision into large scale, interoperable, scalable, high quality and safe implementations.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

It was an accident. I started writing software on my GP computer as the development system was left on it in 1985. The vendor offered me a job and it all snowballed from there

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

Breakfast very important - Muesli and Toast, Tea (Assam and Lapsang mic). First pass of email to delete a few hundred rubbish ones and then engage with schedule changes and emails that need action with a cup of coffee. Depending on to do list (Read / Comment / Decide / Present) and travel,lock in for a couple of hours or so. Light lunch and engage (subject to meetings) with what's come up. I'm not good after 1500. I used to be very productive in the evenings. Now I go to sleep if I try that too long!

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

Just because it's been obvious to you for decades, it doesn't mean it's common knowledge, accepted or even ready for implementation now at scale.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

Not a book but a Umatic video I saw as a medical student in the late 1970's - It shows Larry Weed explaining why technology has to come to medicine. It started me on my career. I still watch it regularly to this day https://youtu.be/qMsPXSMTpFI?si=z59OQaS3ix2snURC

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Look, listen and learn. Don't divert if your approach is for the greater good but be prepared for things to take longer than you imagine. Your time will come. Abundance will come.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

Observe always and be prepared to nudge and influence. The effects may be great and your input may well be never recognised. This does not matter if the outcome is better healthcare for all.