After two decades as a physician and years in executive healthcare leadership, Dr. Saria Saccocio could have left clinical practice behind. Most do. She refuses.
"I also find that it keeps me grounded in the experience, the vulnerability that patients see, experience, and feel when they're in our health system—in a broken health system. And why I think it's so necessary that I do it."
This isn't about keeping her medical license current. It's about keeping her leadership grounded in reality. While other executives review dashboards, Saccocio sits across from a homeless veteran who needs socks more than diabetes medication. While others discuss member satisfaction scores, she experiences the vulnerability of patients navigating a broken system.
"There's some of my favorite days of the month whenever I can go in there and connect."
The lesson for every leader: You cannot lead what you no longer understand. Distance from the front lines doesn't bring clarity—it brings blind spots. Saccocio's executive decisions carry weight because she still carries the sacred responsibility of patient care.
What practice keeps you connected to the reality your leadership decisions affect?
Recorded at Nashville Healthcare Sessions 2025 hosted by the Nashville Health Care Council.
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