2024 Future Leaders Event
Great leaders aren’t born, they’re made. Leadership skills, like muscles, can be built up with hard work and support. That support was on display during the recent Future Leaders Class of 2024 graduation at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
For the past 17 years, Johns Hopkins Radiology has been a trailblazer, offering staff the opportunity to develop their leadership potential through the Future Leaders program. The program aims to recognize and nurture potential leaders across the department. Staff, identified by their managers, are invited to participate in the intensive eight-month course.
This year's Future Leaders program included various activities and seminars on topics such as improving presentation skills, setting effective goals and having crucial conversations.
The popular program based at the East Baltimore campus has grown over the years, evolving to include staff from Johns Hopkins Medical Imaging, Johns Hopkins Radiology, Bayview Medical Imaging Center, Howard County General Hospital, and the Sibley and Suburban Radiology Departments.
The program is coordinated by LaKiesha Brown, assistant director and JHMI Green Spring Station site manager; Michelle Casler, JHH MRI clinical manager; and Bina Patel, radiology clinical integration manager.
Colleagues gathered, some with signs and all with cheers, as 17 staff participants celebrated the conclusion of the 2024 Future Leaders program. The ceremony included remarks from Susan Press, radiology administrator; Danielle Karavedas, chief administrative officer of radiology and president of JHMI; Andrew Menard, executive director of radiology strategy and innovation and Peg Cooper, radiology operations administrator.
In his remarks, Menard noted the program’s success as an example of the power of interdisciplinary collaboration. He also issued a challenge to the graduates, urging them to step outside their comfort zones when applying their newfound skills.
For her part, Cooper asked the participants to think back to their days as small children, just learning to walk. While those first steps may have been small and shaky, they did not stay that way for long.
It's the little steps; you just keep moving forward,” she said. “Take your learning and ideas forward. Those steps turn into leaps.
The event also included the presentation of certificates and awards. The first award was presented to the staff team that gained the most points throughout the program based on participation and achievement.
The second award recognized the 2024 Future Leaders valedictorian. The award, presented by last year’s honoree Jean, radiology office coordinator, went to Dion, core service specialist. As she rose to accept the honor, a group of enthusiastic colleagues cheered and waved signs reading “Team Dion”.
In her remarks to the group, Dion reflected on growing up in Baltimore. From an early age, she knew she wanted to work for Johns Hopkins.
She also thanked her managers and team members for their support and understanding.
“The Radiology Department has always made me feel respected and loved,” she said. She urged others to follow that example.
“Love people,” she implored. “When you love people, you help people to grow. Johns Hopkins has always had leaders to help me learn and grow.”