[Bonnie]

Sidcha

I plan to do a one-minute plank every day. My barre class includes planks, but if I don’t go to the class, I tend not to do them at all. Strengthening my core is important to me, so I want to establish a daily habit. Additionally, I aim to read 10 pages each day to improve my focus.

[Bonnie]

Exercise 5

Five quotes, one from each person you spoke with, that states the problem in their terms from their perspectives:

Joe often felt rushed during his doctor visits, spending most of the appointment with a nurse before the doctor arrived briefly, leaving him feeling frustrated and overcharged. Sharing his feedback with the clinic and requesting more direct face-to-face time with the doctor could help improve his experience. Additionally, exploring ways to support doctors in managing their workload might enable them to dedicate more time to each patient.

Sarah sometimes felt disappointed when, due to her doctor’s unavailability, she was offered an appointment at a distant, inconvenient location, leading her to skip the visit. She was frustrated and concerned about the potential discontinuity in her care. Offering a telehealth visit could help solve the issue of inconvenient travel distances.

Lawrence couldn’t see his specialist for about three weeks, which left him feeling anxious as he waited, he was uncertain about his health status.

Wendy had difficulty reaching her primary care physician via the portal and was only able to connect after two days, leaving her feeling frustrated

Out of the five people I spoke with, Ron was the only one who didn’t encounter access issues. His clinic is nearby, and if he couldn’t get there on his own, he’d ask a neighbor for help. He rarely needs to visit the doctor, aside from his routine checkups.

• How did you feel about the exercise before starting? Were you anxious, excited, confused?
Before starting this exercise, I felt a bit overwhelmed in finding 5 people to talk to. I wanted to talk to different people to get diverse feedback so that it will be more comprehensive. Due to scheduling and other projects that I have been working on, it took me longer than expected to find 5 people to talk to.

• How did your feelings change as you did the exercise?
The issue I wanted to tackle is healthcare access. Initially, I focused on physical access to hospitals and clinics, particularly transportation. However, the people I interviewed didn’t encounter transportation problems.

I was a bit surprised that transportation wasn’t as significant an issue as I initially thought, as most people reported no challenges with it. It wasn’t until I probed deeper, asking them to consider any negative experiences or factors that discouraged them from visiting the doctor, that I discovered other access issues.

• How did you feel during the conversations? How did the other people seem to feel?
When I realized that transportation wasn’t a primary issue, I began thinking about how to make the conversations and my project more impactful. This led me to guide them in exploring the concept of access more broadly. The interviewees were eager to help, and when discussing their experiences, they often seemed frustrated by other barriers they faced.

• Do you feel differently about your project? • Has your motivation changed?
Yes, I have realized there are additional issues I should address regarding access, particularly in getting in touch with doctors and securing enough face time with them. However, my motivation remains the same: to enhance healthcare access for everyone.

• Do you feel your understanding of the problem and the quality of the solution improved?
I believe my understanding has deepened. Initially, I was fixated on my own access challenges from childhood. However, through conversations with different people, I have gained insight into the diverse issues others face. This has broadened my perspective on “access” and helped me consider it in new ways.

• Do you think the people you talked to are interested in learning how the project evolves?
Yes, they were eager to help by sharing their perspectives on the challenges they face.

• How would you characterize the conversations—boring, fun, exciting?
The conversations were really enjoyable. I loved hearing about everyone’s unique experiences and perspectives. Their openness made our discussions meaningful, helping me understand aspects I hadn’t thought about before.

[Bonnie]

First Essay

What motivated me to take the course and do the exercises in the book?
In my undergraduate studies in Business School, I took courses that I thought would be essential to becoming a strong leader, covering topics like communication, ethics, and more. Later, when I began consulting, we had additional courses on leading teams and fostering an unbiased approach, particularly through diversity and inclusion training. These courses increased my awareness, but they often felt more like “for-your-information” sessions without real experiences or case studies to reinforce the lessons.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked with people who hadn’t taken formal leadership courses yet were natural leaders, and others with MBAs who didn’t demonstrate the same level of skill. This experience made me curious to try a course with hands-on practice, where I could actively improve myself and become a better influence on both myself and those around me.

What do I expect to gain from the experience?
I want to become a more effective leader, capable of influencing others with or without formal authority. Through this experience, I hope to identify my strengths to leverage further and recognize areas of weakness that I need to improve.

What motivated me to pursue leading in general?
Throughout my career, I have worked with managers who were also great leaders, and I truly enjoyed those experiences. They created a positive work environment, and my career advanced during that time. I’ve also encountered managers who were solely focused on getting the job done, offering little opportunity for growth. I left jobs not because I disliked the work, but because I didn’t want to work under that type of leadership. My motivation is to help others and create an environment where people enjoy their work and have the opportunity to thrive.

What do I think about leadership?
I believe leadership is essential in all settings. We need someone to take charge; without that, situations can become chaotic, especially when everyone has their own ideas. It’s important to learn the skills necessary to align everyone’s objectives and achieve our goals effectively.

What are my models for leadership?
Collaborative Leadership: I admire leaders who prioritize transparent communication and foster collaboration among team members. They create an open environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas and feedback, which helps build trust and strengthens team dynamics.
Authentic Leadership: I deeply value authentic leadership, where leaders are genuine and transparent in their communication. I appreciate when leaders show their true selves, as it fosters a sense of trust and openness within the team. A calm and assertive approach in addressing challenges not only sets a positive example but also creates a supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. For me, authentic leadership is about building connections and empowering others to thrive.

Who are my role models?
One of my biggest role models is my former manager, Luke. His calm demeanor really made a difference in our work environment. I remember working on a fast-paced and chaotic project at the client’s site, and Luke’s genuine personality helped keep both the team and the client at ease. As someone new to the group, I made my fair share of mistakes. Instead of getting frustrated, Luke saw those moments as opportunities for me to learn and grow, which I truly appreciated.
I also find inspiration in Ted Lasso, the fictional character from the Apple TV show. Ted, an American college football coach, was hired to lead an English soccer team despite having no prior experience. Many people laughed at him for it, but his positive attitude and friendly nature built strong team morale and trust. Watching Ted navigate challenges with such warmth and optimism reminds me of the impact a good leader can have on their team’s success.

What works for me when I lead? What doesn’t?
I find that leading by example and delivering quality work really resonates with me. For instance, when I was building trust and respect with a new client, I focused on exceeding their expectations with my deliverables. Once they recognized my competence, I earned my place at the table, which was incredibly rewarding.
On the flip side, I’ve learned that “voluntolding” doesn’t work for me. When people are told by my boss that they need to report to me, it often leads to slow or incomplete work. Even though I may hold a more senior position, if they’re not invested in the tasks, it becomes a challenge to motivate them. I believe that genuine buy-in is essential for effective leadership and collaboration.

Where do I want to apply my leadership skills?
I want to apply my leadership skills wherever possible—whether it’s in my alumni groups where I volunteer on the executive board, in my professional work, or in my daily life.

What is my history with leadership — first memories, best and worst memories, and so on?
One of my best memories of leadership was when we were organizing an event. I reached out to someone interested in helping, and together we quickly divided and conquered the tasks. The event ended up having a fantastic turnout!
On the other hand, my worst memory involves individuals who wanted to be free riders, simply looking to add a position to their LinkedIn profiles. They promised to contribute but never followed through and eventually stopped responding to my follow-ups.

What is the value in doing these exercises?
For me, the value comes from learning the basics and building a solid foundation. These exercises offer a safe space to practice, make mistakes, and grow.

[Bonnie]

I spoke with 2 more people the past 2 weeks and I wanted to share my updated reflection.

A list of the advice you got for your project.

Old solution: Build on the strengths of current shuttle programs that provide patient transportation to clinics and hospitals, and identify areas for improvement. Work with shuttle companies to arrange rides for patients. During the appointment scheduling process, schedulers should ask patients if they need transportation assistance.

Advice received:
Clarify the emotions and think about how these people are feeling
Help people become of the services that already existed
Define a smaller geographical area to start
Include links on providers’ websites and display physical posters in waiting areas to make them visible to patients before their appointments
Analyze the existing models -what work and doesn’t work, and from user and healthcare workers’ perspectives
How are you going to fund this in the short term? Talk to if there are some non profits
Define ability of mobility – what equipment the shuttle is needed
set milestones and try this for a year and see what do I need to do
Set the parameters and expectations
Identify other countries and models that are doing it well
Where is the revenue stream?
What is your goal – help people have healthier lives?
What does success look like?
How is it different from lyft and uber?
Focus on the real problem – how can you help others
How to make it a win win for hospital and clinics
Figure out who qualify for assistance
Create a transportation system within a 25-mile radius of the hospital/clinic address
Additional ideas:
Provide options for people or help them get a ride
Research organizations that have arranged volunteers to provide transportation services e.g. American Cancer Society, Angels on Wheels (formerly)
Transportation Volunteers to specialize in specific disease categories, such as heart disease and cancer
Research existing transportation services and create a repository of available resources.
Partner with college students to recruit volunteers, offering them opportunities to earn college credits or scholarship funds

An improved version of the project based on that advice.

Build on the strengths of current shuttle programs that provide patient transportation to clinics and hospitals, and identify areas for improvement. Work with shuttle companies to arrange rides for patients. During the appointment scheduling process, schedulers should ask patients if they need transportation assistance. Geographical area: Start with the East Bay within the San Francisco Bay Area

Edit:
Study existing ride volunteer models, starting with a small community, and gradually expand to a larger area. Build on the strengths of current shuttle programs that provide patient transportation to clinics and hospitals, identifying areas for improvement.
In addition to exploring shuttle programs, consider offering individual car services for patient transportation. This could involve partnering with ride-sharing companies or establishing a volunteer-based system where drivers provide one-on-one rides. By offering both shuttle and individual car services, patients can have more flexibility and access to reliable transportation options tailored to their specific needs.

A list of any referrals to people who could help.
https://patandtheelephant.org/
American Cancer Society
Angels on Wheels (formerly)

Reflection:
How did you feel about the exercise before starting? Were you anxious, excited, confused?

I felt a bit nervous about this exercise before starting because I needed to interview 10 people within one week. During exercise 3, it was challenging to find 5 people to talk to, as everyone was very busy. Additionally, as I was still catching up on all these exercises, I felt overwhelmed by the coordination and identifying individuals to interview. I originally scheduled interviews with 9 people but ended up speaking with 7. I will explain later why I paused after the seventh interview.

Edit: I spoke with two more people over the past week and was pleased to gain new perspectives and insights that reshaped my original solution.

How did those feelings change as you did the exercise?

I became more confused after speaking with more people, though I genuinely appreciate the advice I received. It was clear that everyone was sincerely interested in my project and believed it would benefit the community. However, I realized that the topic I’m covering is too broad. I need to narrow my scope and clearly define my goal—what exactly do I want to achieve and who do I want to help?

Edit:
Over the past two weeks, several interviewees suggested starting with my own community or organizing volunteers to provide rides or assist people in arranging transportation. These ideas have given me new options for addressing the lack of reliable transportation. A few weeks ago, I felt a bit stuck, but now I’m eager to explore this direction further.

How did you feel during the conversations? How did the other people seem to feel?

People appreciate my efforts to address the healthcare accessibility problem, recognizing its urgent need. The conversations went well, and they are eager to hear more about my progress. I feel more motivated after hearing that this topic is considered important. I enjoyed the conversations.

Did you get advice beyond your expectations? Did you learn from the conversations?

I received two pieces of advice: they were not about improving accessibility but about my passion. First, the focus should be on whether I genuinely want to pursue this project and define my goal, rather than just improving accessibility. I haven’t yet clarified what success looks like for this project. I recognize that it is very complex and often feel overwhelmed. Sometimes, I consider choosing simpler tasks to achieve a sense of accomplishment. After speaking with the seventh interviewee, I decided to pause the discussions to reflect on my goals. I plan to interview the remaining participants next week. However, one interviewee mentioned that the key skills gained from these exercises and interactions—such as discovering our passion and improving communication skills—are valuable. Ultimately, these skills will contribute to the project’s success, even though we may not see the results until after the class is over. This was very helpful and motivated me to keep going.

Do you feel your understanding of the problem and the quality of the solution improved?

I received a lot of advice that I need time to process. I appreciate the input and will focus on defining my goal, as I am feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Do you think the people you talked to are interested in learning how the project evolves?
Yes, they were very excited about it and asked me to keep them posted.

How would you characterize the conversations—boring, fun, exciting?

I enjoyed the conversations; they were both fun and inspiring. I found it exciting to talk to people, and some suggestions led me to explore areas I hadn’t previously considered.

[Bonnie]

Reflection:
How did you feel about the exercise before starting? Were you anxious, excited, confused?

I felt a bit nervous about this exercise before starting because I needed to interview 10 people within one week. During exercise 3, it was challenging to find 5 people to talk to, as everyone was very busy. Additionally, as I was still catching up on all these exercises, I felt overwhelmed by the coordination and identifying individuals to interview. I originally scheduled interviews with 9 people but ended up speaking with 7. I will explain later why I paused after the seventh interview.

How did those feelings change as you did the exercise?

I became more confused after speaking with more people, though I genuinely appreciate the advice I received. It was clear that everyone was sincerely interested in my project and believed it would benefit the community. However, I realized that the topic I’m covering is too broad. I need to narrow my scope and clearly define my goal—what exactly do I want to achieve and who do I want to help?

How did you feel during the conversations? How did the other people seem to feel?
People appreciate my efforts to address the healthcare accessibility problem, recognizing its urgent need. The conversations went well, and they are eager to hear more about my progress. I feel more motivated after hearing that this topic is considered important. I enjoyed the conversations.

Did you get advice beyond your expectations? Did you learn from the conversations?
I received two pieces of advice: they were not about improving accessibility but about my passion. First, the focus should be on whether I genuinely want to pursue this project and define my goal, rather than just improving accessibility. I haven’t yet clarified what success looks like for this project. I recognize that it is very complex and often feel overwhelmed. Sometimes, I consider choosing simpler tasks to achieve a sense of accomplishment. After speaking with the seventh interviewee, I decided to pause the discussions to reflect on my goals. I plan to interview the remaining participants next week. However, one interviewee mentioned that the key skills gained from these exercises and interactions—such as discovering our passion and improving communication skills—are valuable. Ultimately, these skills will contribute to the project’s success, even though we may not see the results until after the class is over. This was very helpful and motivated me to keep going.

Do you feel your understanding of the problem and the quality of the solution improved?

I received a lot of advice that I need time to process. I appreciate the input and will focus on defining my goal, as I am feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Do you think the people you talked to are interested in learning how the project evolves?
Yes, they were very excited about it and asked me to keep them posted.

How would you characterize the conversations—boring, fun, exciting?
I enjoyed the conversations; they were both fun and inspiring. I found it exciting to talk to people, and some suggestions led me to explore areas I hadn’t previously considered.

[Bonnie]

Exercise 4:

A list of the advice you got for your project.

Old solution: Build on the strengths of current shuttle programs that provide patient transportation to clinics and hospitals, and identify areas for improvement. Work with shuttle companies to arrange rides for patients. During the appointment scheduling process, schedulers should ask patients if they need transportation assistance.

Advice received:
Clarify the emotions and think about how these people are feeling
Help people become of the services that already existed
Define a smaller geographical area to start
Include links on providers’ websites and display physical posters in waiting areas to make them visible to patients before their appointments
Analyze the existing models -what work and doesn’t work, and from user and healthcare workers’ perspectives
How are you going to fund this in the short term? Talk to if there are some non profits
Define ability of mobility – what equipment the shuttle is needed
set milestones and try this for a year and see what do I need to do
Set the parameters and expectations
Identify other countries and models that are doing it well
Where is the revenue stream?
What is your goal – help people have healthier lives?
What does success look like?
How is it different from lyft and uber?
Focus on the real problem – how can you help others
How to make it a win win for hospital and clinics
figure out who qualify for assistance
Create a transportation system within a 25-mile radius of the hospital/clinic address

An improved version of the project based on that advice.
Build on the strengths of current shuttle programs that provide patient transportation to clinics and hospitals, and identify areas for improvement. Work with shuttle companies to arrange rides for patients. During the appointment scheduling process, schedulers should ask patients if they need transportation assistance. Geographical area: Start with the East Bay within the San Francisco Bay Area

A list of any referrals to people who could help.
https://patandtheelephant.org/

[Bonnie]

Reflections:

How did you feel about the exercise before starting? Were you anxious, excited, confused?
Before the start of this exercise, I felt a bit anxious because I am still catching up in this workshop and I wanted to make sure that I have 5 contacts that are available for me to talk to this week. I feel a bit stressed to coordinate and ensure I got the information that I needed. I am also very excited because I got to work on the field that I am interested in. I want to hear my friends’ perspectives and see if they resonate with similar problems.

How did your feelings change as you did the exercise?
I felt more organized, and I felt more confident in articulating the problems with others.

How did you feel during the conversations? How did the other people seem to feel?
I made sure to keep my interviewees engaged throughout the conversations while staying within the scheduled meeting time. They all seemed genuinely interested in the issues I am working to solve, likely because they have experienced some of these problems themselves. The first two interviews took the longest, as I was still getting a feel for how to facilitate the discussion effectively, and I felt like I was rushing toward the end. However, by the time I reached the last three, I was able to finish more efficiently than anticipated and enjoyed the process more.

Did you get advice beyond your expectations? Did you learn from the conversations?
Yes, I got advice beyond my expectations.Some even shared valuable resources and websites for further exploration. Although I have been working in healthcare for over 10 years and thought I had a solid grasp of the field, the conversations I had this week were truly eye-opening. Listening to the voices of the customers—who are all of us navigating the healthcare system—gave me a deeper understanding of their experiences and emotions.

Do you feel your understanding of the problem and the quality of the solution improved?
Yes, after gathering people’s advice, I gained more information and perspectives to better understand the problems and tailor the solutions accordingly.

Do you think the people you talked to are interested in learning how the project evolves?
Yes, a few of them asked me to keep them updated on which project I will be working on.

How would you characterize the conversations—boring, fun, exciting?
I enjoyed the conversations and learned a lot. Since my interviewees had experienced some of the problems discussed, I could sense their frustrations. However, the discussion became even more exciting when we began discussing solutions and advice to these issues.

[Bonnie]

Deliverables:

A list of the advice you got that is relevant to the project.
Project 1: Experiencing anxiety while waiting for a doctor’s appointment can lead to an increase in blood pressure
-Is it a common problem?
-How much is the implementation cost? Is the cost larger than the benefits that hospital/clinic would consider doing it?
-Add TV to distract
-Have volunteers/greeters talk to patients while they wait
-Have a questionnaire asking why patients are nervous to address the root cause and what would they like to address their stress
-Explore the research on the scale of the problem and the specifics of the problem

Problem 2: Individuals who lack access to reliable transportation often feel frustrated and anxious about missing medical appointments, leading to delayed treatments and negatively impacting their overall health and well-being
-It is a huge problem, figure out why we don’t already have something like this on a large scale
-Understand what works well in the current shuttle model
-Think about implementation – why pay for the insurance?
-Can doctors go to patients’ homes instead?
-Clarify the emotions and think about what these people are feeling

Problem 3: People often get confused by their health insurance plans, leading to misunderstandings about what is covered. This confusion can result in unexpectedly high medical bills for treatments not included in their coverage
-Sounds like a one-time learning process, similar to NerdWallet or a single intervention
-Target soon to retire, young adults at age 26 or older
-Frequent Workshops in the library to educate the public – create a place where people can consistently get help

Problem 4: People often feel overwhelmed when trying to access their medical records from different providers across various healthcare systems. The information is frequently incomplete, and patients have to navigate multiple platforms to retrieve their data
-Is it a pain point for most people?
-Do not care so much as long as the doctors have all the records
-Make something like outlook that can integrate all appointments from different email platforms
-No comment

Problem 5: After receiving care, patients often feel uncertain about their next steps and may not know where to find the support and guidance needed for recovery, leading to anxiety
-Is it a common problem?
-Offer text message to follow up
-Create a full time position for someone to follow up with patients

An improved version of the projects based on that advice.
Project 1: Offer water and TV access, or have volunteers and greeters engage with patients to help ease their anxiety
Project 2: Build on the strengths of current shuttle programs that provide patient transportation to clinics and hospitals, and identify areas for improvement
Project 3: Identify a specific target population and create easy-to-understand short video clips or materials tailored to their needs
Project 4: No change
Project 5: Collaborate with clinics and hospitals to establish a dedicated full-time role focused on patient follow-up and ongoing care coordination

Your reflections on the experience
I really enjoyed speaking with each of them. They offered valuable perspectives on the issues, whether from their own experiences or those of their relatives and friends—perspectives I hadn’t considered before. These conversations have deepened my understanding of the emotional impact of these problems and inspired me to focus more on addressing the root causes rather than just the symptoms.
Votes from each person on which idea they liked most
3 votes for problem 2
2 votes for problem 3

Your choice of which project you’ll work on.
I’m leaning towards Project 2 or Project 3. Improving healthcare accessibility has always been a passion of mine, but I recognize that it will take more time to implement due to the numerous stakeholders involved. This will require extensive research to identify what’s currently working, areas for improvement, and significant coordination efforts. On the other hand, Project 3 would be quicker to implement, as I have extensive knowledge and experience in interpreting health insurance plans.

[Bonnie]

Catch up week reflection:

This workshop allows us the freedom to choose a project we are passionate about or care deeply about. Unlike other classes I have taken, where professors usually predefined the topics or provided a selection of projects for team assignments, this class offers more flexibility. In those previous classes, I often chose the easiest project that required the least effort and offered the highest chance of getting a good grade. That was my main motivation to stay engaged with the project. Unfortunately, I don’t remember much about those projects because the topics were not of personal interest to me.

This class, however, is conducted in a discussion format where everyone has the chance to share their experiences, and others are encouraged to chime in with their perspectives. It is much more engaging. Unlike other classes, which were primarily lecture-based and didn’t offer many opportunities to share our thoughts or discuss our assignments from the previous week, this format encourages active participation.

I remember one project in graduate school where we needed to reach out to a nonprofit manager. It was difficult to schedule an interview with them due to their busy schedule and priorities, which impacted the overall timeline of our project. Unlike that graduate project, in this current project, we have the opportunity to talk to many people. If one person isn’t available, we can move on to the next. We also get to interact with our classmates during the workshop and hear about their experiences. Everyone is very encouraging. It is a safe space to share what we have learned, what worked well, and what could be improved upon. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences so that we can learn from each other.

Josh’s book provides some scripts as examples of how to talk to our interviewees, which is incredibly helpful. People also shared their experiences and responses from the interviewees, and Josh offered his advice on how to handle certain situations. I think it would be helpful if we could pair up to practice and get real-time feedback from Josh and our classmates.

The biggest surprise I have had is that I can’t believe I am finally working on the projects I have had in mind for years. I am proud of my dedication and the thoughtfulness I am putting into my reflections and assignments. In today’s class, we discussed having a healthy relationship with failure. I think it is something I need to spend more time considering so that I can embrace failure and move on, as I tend to feel stuck.

I think for the rest of the class, we will continue to learn more about the problems we are trying to solve and refine our definitions and solutions. There might be roadblocks in moving to the next phase, or I might feel anxious about talking to more experienced people in the field I am working in. Turning ideas into reality could also be challenging. However, after practicing, I believe we will become better at facilitating conversations and leading efforts to make changes.

[Bonnie]

5 Problems and Solutions:

1. Problem: I often feel anxious while waiting for my appointment in the waiting room. This nervousness causes my blood pressure to spike, leading to an inaccurate reading when the nurse first measures it. As a result, they usually need to take my blood pressure again after the visit to get a more accurate measurement, which leads to rework and prolongs the appointment.
Solution: Creating a calming waiting room environment can significantly benefit patients as they prepare for their appointments. Providing soothing music, comfortable seating, and soft lighting can help alleviate anxiety and promote relaxation.
2. Problem:Individuals who cannot drive or lack access to reliable transportation often experience frustration and anxiety over their inability to attend medical appointments. This barrier can lead to delayed healthcare treatments, negatively impacting their overall health and well-being.
Solution: The healthcare systems partner with shuttle companies to arrange rides for patients.
3. Problem: People often get lost or feel confused when navigating their health insurance plans and coverage. As a result, they may not know what is covered, leading to unexpectedly large medical bills for treatments that are not included in their coverage.
Solution:Create a platform that explains health insurance terminology. Incorporate analysis tools to evaluate healthcare bills, the insurance-covered portion, and the patient’s responsibilities
4. Problem: People feel overwhelmed accessing their medical records, especially the medical records from different providers across various healthcare systems and networks. The information is often incomplete, and patients must navigate through multiple platforms to retrieve the data.
Solution: Enable different healthcare system platforms to exchange and integrate data accurately and securely between providers and patients
5. Problem: After receiving care, patients often feel uncertain about their next steps. They may not know where to turn get support and guidance they need to improve their health, leaving them feeling anxious about their recovery journey
Solution: Educate patients with healthcare resources, including preventative care and nurseline. Ask patient care team to follow up and check on the patients after discharge or their appointments

Reflection:

Everyone needs healthcare, and there are numerous problems within the healthcare system. Therefore, it was relatively easy to list the problems experienced by most people. However, it was challenging to prioritize and select which problems to include in my list, given that I could only choose five.

My goal is to improve and transform the healthcare system to make it more efficient and patient-friendly. I also had difficulty outlining the problems I wanted to share. Initially, I considered listing one primary problem and then subdividing it into five smaller ones. For example, lack of transportation to access care could be the primary problem, with subcategories including elderly individuals who lack transportation, people without a driver’s license, and those with mobility issues, among others. Later, I decided to select five distinct problems and explore which ones are more feasible for implementing solutions.

Recognizing the problems from the perspective of those they affect was relatively easy for me, as I have experienced these challenges firsthand. This personal experience allows me to empathize deeply with others facing similar issues and to understand the downstream impacts these problems can have.

The process of identifying problems becomes easier with practice, especially after numerous observations and experiences. However, finding solutions can be more challenging, depending on the complexity of the problems and the level of expertise required.

I believe some of the problems and solutions I outlined could become viable projects due to the high demand for improving healthcare access, particularly in terms of reaching doctor appointments and enhancing the overall patient experience. Even if these ideas do not become viable projects, taking small steps to make improvements is still valuable, as everyone can benefit from such changes.

[Bonnie]

I often find myself procrastinating, especially when it comes to writing.

Writing feels challenging for me because I struggle to gather and express my thoughts clearly and turn them into something meaningful. It typically takes me hours or even days to write a short essay. I believe my procrastination is a result of both fear and laziness—the fear of failing and a lack of clarity discourage me from trying new things. Perhaps I lack a curious mindset.

I have always wanted to start or build something from scratch to experience the sense of ownership, but the absence of clear ideas and not knowing where to start have held me back. After attending a Columbia Alumni Career Coach office hour, I heard Josh mention helping others start their own projects, so I reached out to him for inspiration and advice. He introduced me to his book, Initiative. After reading the first few chapters, I realized that anyone can start their own projects without specific ideas, as long as they take the initiative. I am very eager to learn more about the tools and mindset needed to stay focused, take charge of my own projects, and be responsible.

Taking initiative is the biggest first step that brings me closer to my goal. Without taking this step, I remain at my original starting point. For instance, I have thought of opening an instagram page to share about my hotel experiences for fun or starting a project to improve the healthcare system. While I have these thoughts on my mind, I did not take any action to operationalize it. I am still at step zero.

Taking initiative demonstrates my interests and commitment to myself and others by showing that I am proactively making things happen. Whether the outcome is what I expect or not, I am taking the step to create something new or make an impact.

I am eager to improve the U.S. healthcare system by leveraging technology to make it more effective and accessible. I am interested in speaking with startup founders and advisors such as Amanda Goltz, Justin Norden, and Jane Wang to learn how they stay curious and understand their vision. In my field, influential figures like former President Obama, Melinda Gates, and Dean Fried from the Mailman School of Public Health have significantly impacted healthcare policy and operations. Additionally, I admire role models like Steve Jobs, Olympic swimmer Siobhan Haughey, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg for their resilience and unwavering commitment to their values and beliefs.

Besides starting my own project, I want to take the initiative to improve myself, particularly in time management, and to excel in fulfilling my roles. Taking a course like this is valuable because it provides the guidance and peer support needed to hold me accountable for starting my project. I will have no excuses for not taking action. The course will offer encouragement and help me overcome my fear of trying and overthinking. I aim to be more independent and proactive. Additionally, it’s a great way for me to develop the habit of writing reflections, which will support my continued growth and improvement.

[Author]

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