Devil in the Details
February 18, 2022
FDA Warns Against 3 Popular Infant Formulas Following Four Infant Illnesses and One Death
February 18, 2022
The mission of South Louisiana Medical Associates (SLMA), which is comprised of physicians and specialists who provide a wide range of medical expertise for residents in Houma, Morgan City and beyond, is “to provide quality health care and a diverse group of experienced physicians and specialists to best serve resident of this region.” By employing over 100 medical providers and offering primary care adult and pediatric services and specialty services in cardiology, neurology, critical care, high-risk OB/GYN, ophthalmology, orthopedics and urology. the organization achieves its mission each day. CEO and President Dr. Michael Garcia leads influential South Louisiana Medical Associates.
What led you to the role you currently hold in your company? Did you see yourself in this position when you started out in the workforce?
I did not see myself in this role. In 2005, after 11 years of me being a part of the organization, the Medical Director and CEO of SLMA wanted to step back and asked me to take on the role.
What does your morning routine look like?
When I get to work, I quickly scan my emails that may have come in overnight, and then I seek out the coffee pot. I then gather in the surgery lounge with our residents, and we go over and discuss patients that may have come in through the night or some discussable item or whatever that might be troubling the residents or some attention to patient care.
What piece of advice do you share with your team regularly?
For this past year being the eternal Monday that never ends, the advice I’ve tried to deliver this year is to to look past it, not let the day-to-day things get you down. You got to look past it. We will get out of this; we will manage our way out of this. The virus hit many people, but it also hit many organizations. We have to manage our way out of that while keeping people healthy and trying to continue to see patients.
What skill do you feel all successful leaders must possess?
I think a successful leader has to have vision and they have to be able to see problems through the eyes of their employees. The successful ones are the ones that can see those problems the way someone else does and then find the fix that’s that is accepted in both places because now you understand both sides of the argument.
What has been your greatest accomplishment?
In work, my greatest accomplishment would be leading SLMA for over 15 years and markedly enlarging the company, covering multiple clinics in three different cities.
On a personal side, certainly my two sons — I’m very proud of their accomplishments. They have a strong work ethic, and they know where right and wrong are.
Who are your greatest influencers?
I think the most important thing you can do to help with influencing is not just to manage people, but inspire people. I’ve seen that through the years many times in many ways, and people have inspired me and helped me to see beyond what I thought I could do, such as my uncle who is a doctor. I chased that dream after him after, his inspiration.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced over the years and how did you meet it?
The changes in healthcare, especially towards physicians and how we navigate that, has been my biggest challenge in the last decade. There are always declining reimbursements from payers. There’s more and more reduction of physician independence, which drive doctors nuts and creates turmoil. That adds to the sort of: how do you manage and lead an organization to keep people happy while the external forces are trying to hurt you?
