Running on leadership: Reflections from MSc in Global Healthcare Leadership student Sarah Salvis

Sarah Salvis works as an Emergency Medical Services Chief for the District of Timiskaming Social Services Administration Board EMS. She was previously employed as an Advisor, Paramedic Services Well-Being and an Advanced Care Paramedic on the Tactical Team with Peel Regional Paramedic Services. Sarah holds an Honours Science Degree, Specialist in Paramedicine from the University of Toronto. She has an interest in mental health and wellness initiatives for first responders.   

This morning, I took the time to go for a run.   

It was a slow run, through a rainy countryside.   

There are so many other things I should have been doing. For work or at home, there are always other demands on my time.  But this morning I wanted to take some time for me and my whole self.   

As is common when I run, I did a lot of thinking. I thought about how I need to run more and how I need to update my running playlist. My time on the MSc in Global Healthcare Leadership programme came to mind. I thought about the lessons I learned and the opportunities for growth because of my Oxford journey. I thought about the out of hospital healthcare organisation I work for and the role we have in the community. I had time to think about the things I have done wrong in the last couple months in my new role. I thought about how to apply information from topics covered in the programme such as, organisational culture and psychological safety.  

I love running because of the time and space it gives me to think about all sorts of things. I can reflect on what I have done and learned and work to make sense of it all. That morning, I had the opportunity to reflect on the entirety of the Global Healthcare Leadership content: from Leading with Evidence-Based Healthcare to Organisational Leadership to Challenges in Global Healthcare and everything in between. I thought about how fortunate I was in to join in that Master's. I reminisced about the incredible contributions of my fellow participants and felt honoured to be a part of the inaugural group. I will carry the lessons learned wherever I may work, lead, or run in the future.   

While I slowly ran through that rainy farmland dotted with trees, cows, planted fields, and the occasional barking dog, I thought of how privileged I am to be in a leadership position. This is one of the key lessons from my time at Oxford.  Leaders must be aware of the past and embrace the future. In this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world we must remember the people we are caring for and the people we employ. It may feel like I am carrying a heavy burden at times. But when I need to, I put the weight down.I take a pause. I also know that leadership is about empowering others to help and ensuring the organisation is not requiring any one person to carry too much. I acknowledge the support of others and am grateful for the staff and peers who come to me with ideas and who provide feedback. I welcome the difficult conversations because my time at Oxford has prepared me well. I thought about all these things and more on my beautiful run in the country.   

This morning, I went for a run. 

There were no other things I had to do. Because, as a leader, I need to take care of myself if I want to be available to take care of an organisation and its people.