I am excited to announce that A Prescription For Caring In Healthcare Leadership: Building a Culture of Compassion and Excellence by Joshua D. Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA is the April 2026 pick for Courtney’s Corner!
Joshua Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA is a retired Army Colonel who spent 25 years in military medicine. Dr. Hartzell held numerous leadership positions throughout his career including Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency and Assistant Chief of Graduate Medical Education at Waler Reed National Military Medical Center and Assistant Dean for Faculty Development at the Uniformed Services University. He deployed as a Battalion Surgeon with the 82nd Airborne Division to Afghanistan. Dr. Hartzell is also faculty at the MGH Institute of Health Professions where he teaches leadership development.
I chose A Prescription For Caring In Healthcare Leadership: Building a Culture of Compassion and Excellence for Courtney’s Corner for its compelling blend of forward-thinking insights and meaningful educational value. While the book is centered on healthcare leadership, I strongly believe its principles and insights are broadly applicable across a wide range of industries and business environments.
I greatly enjoyed the structure of this book that guides readers effortlessly through the content. I appreciated the unique blend of insightful research, perspectives from accomplished leaders, and Dr. Hartzell’s insights from his extensive experience in leadership. I enjoy books that incorporate meaningful research, while also offering value through practicality and application. My education does not include a medical background; however, I must say this book is very approachable for those outside of the profession to gain knowledge on leadership.
I personally enjoy taking a multi-disciplinary perspective and continuously educating myself on different topics, and this book offered profound insights into both the healthcare system and the nuances of leadership within it that I highly regard. I respect Dr. Hartzell’s ability to capture how compassionate, intentional leadership truly can transform the culture of an organization, yet also have the capacity to improve outcomes.
I also appreciated Dr. Hartzell’s incorporation of a term that has become rather popular in recent years, reverse mentoring. When I was reading this section, it made me reflect upon how many industries and disciplines are experiencing vast changes, especially with the rapid incorporation of technology. Reverse mentoring stresses the importance of not only gaining knowledge from a mentor to a mentee but also includes a reciprocal exchange of knowledge and advice. It underscores the importance of lifelong learning while fostering an open-minded perspective that recognizes that every interaction is an opportunity to gain insight and grow.
While Dr. Hartzell goes through an array of topics within leadership, he saves time at the end of each chapter for the reader to reflect on what he calls, “Prescription for Caring In Leadership.” These sections allow readers to reflect and apply the knowledge gained by prompting intentional action to be taken in their lives.
What stood out to me immediately was Dr. Hartzell’s strong passion for the healthcare industry and desire to transform the industry through intentional action that involves caring-inspired leadership.
Overall, I highly recommend this book! I respect individuals like Dr. Hartzell who are forward-thinking and focused on positive transformation within an industry they are deeply passionate about. This book is a must-read for anyone ready to lead with impact and compassion focused on transforming people and organizations.