My First Week in Lexington - Pride, Gratitude, and Possibility
It's been just short of one week since we crossed the Nebraska state line, greeted by those familiar words: "Nebraska - the good life." After several days immersed in this community, I can confirm that simple phrase holds even more meaning than I anticipated. It's not just a slogan on a highway sign, but a lived reality of the community we've joined, the life we're building, and the good we're already beginning to do together.
During my interview process, I found myself looking up in Lexington High School's cafeteria where 46 flags hang, each representing a different nation, each telling a story of journey and belonging. Now, after a week of meeting the people those flags represent, I'm even more moved by what this symbolizes. These aren't just decorations—they're declarations of a community that has chosen to celebrate its diversity rather than be divided by it.
(Picture to the right is just inside the Lexington, NE high school)
A Community's Pride in Diversity
What has struck me most profoundly in my first week as CEO of Lexington's hospital is the genuine pride I've heard in the voices of staff, healthcare providers, and community members when discussing their multicultural identity. In Lexington, diversity isn't discussed as a theoretical concept or a box to check—it's embraced as an asset that makes this community stronger, more resilient, and more creative in solving challenges.
This pride isn't superficial or performative. It runs deep through everyday interactions, through the way people greet each other in the hallways, through the stories shared over coffee about journeys that brought families here—some from thousands of miles away seeking opportunity, others with roots that stretch back generations in Nebraska soil.
In team meetings this week, I've already witnessed how bringing together different perspectives reveals solutions that might otherwise remain hidden. The flags above that high school cafeteria represent more than nations—they represent possibilities being realized every day in this remarkable community.
Gratitude for the Welcome
My own journey to "the good life" has shifted from anticipation to profound gratitude. Each day this week has brought new relationships, new insights, and a deeper understanding of what makes Lexington special. The horizon I watched with hope last week has become the landscape of purpose I navigate today.
I come to you with genuine humility, having already learned so much from this remarkable community that has found harmony in diversity. The conversations in hallways, the insights shared during department rounds, and the patient stories relayed in meetings have all deepened my appreciation for Lexington's unique character and warmth.
The empathy and compassion I've witnessed has reinforced my belief that these qualities flourish in environments where differences are valued. When we take the time to understand each other's backgrounds, we build the foundation for care that treats not just the illness but honors the individual.
As I reflect on my first week here, I'm filled with anticipation about contributing to Lexington's ongoing story. This community has already written remarkable chapters about inclusion, resilience, and finding strength in diversity. Now, we have the opportunity to write the next chapter together—one of higher quality healthcare, greater accessibility, and deeper compassion for all who call this remarkable community home.
An Invitation to Join Our Story
To the physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and healthcare professionals reading this: if you seek more than just a job—if you seek purpose—Lexington is worthy of your consideration. Here, you won't simply practice medicine; you'll help write a new chapter in rural healthcare.
What I've witnessed in just one week is something special—a place where healthcare professionals practice values-based, culturally responsive medicine. Where your skills can make a tangible difference in lives. Where diversity isn't just acknowledged but celebrated as fundamental to excellence.
In my first staff meeting, I was struck by how everyone referred to patients by name, knew their stories, and genuinely cared about outcomes beyond the clinical chart. In an era when healthcare has become increasingly corporate and impersonal, Lexington offers something different: a community that remembers the human element in healing.
If you're looking for a place where your work has meaning, where you can grow professionally while being part of a community that truly appreciates your contribution, I invite you to consider joining our story. In Lexington, you'll find not just colleagues, but a community ready to welcome you home.
My commitment, strengthened by what I've witnessed this week, remains firm: to build a healthcare system as diverse and dynamic as the community it serves. To create an environment where every patient feels seen, every family feels heard, and every staff member feels valued. To ensure that the same pride I witnessed in that high school cafeteria permeates every corridor of our hospital.
Like those flags hanging from the ceiling, we're raising our standards high, celebrating the beautiful tapestry of humanity that makes Lexington not just my new address, but a beacon of what's possible when we embrace our shared humanity while honoring our unique journeys.
I am profoundly grateful to be part of Lexington's story, and I look forward to all we will accomplish together.
Consulting Services Available
As you consider your own organization's journey, I'm pleased to remind you that our team includes six other amazing and talented consultants who are ready to help your organization achieve its goals. Whether you're looking to enhance cultural competency, improve operational efficiency, or navigate the complexities of rural healthcare, our experienced team stands ready to support your success. Reach out today to learn how we can help write the next chapter of your organization's story.
