Faith, Grit, and Growth: The Story Behind My Leadership Journey

Written by Dr. Rashmi Chandran

My educational journey has played a significant role in shaping where I am today. Completing my Doctorate in Physical Therapy at a young age and then pursuing my MBA in Healthcare Administration gave me a unique blend of clinical and administrative knowledge as early as 2009. This opened doors to numerous career opportunities and motivated me to pursue several additional certifications in leadership, including LEADX from Harvard University, Root Cause Analysis, and Six Sigma Certification. My work experience also helped me achieve a long-standing goal: earning my Fellowship with the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), a prestigious credential I am proud to carry.

Stepping into the non-profit world, I was fortunate to gain my certification in Non-Profit Leadership from Cornell University. All of this reflects a core belief of mine: investing in yourself and immersing yourself in a sea of knowledge can transform your life. I’ve grown because I remained open to learning, evolving, and applying what I absorbed.

Another major factor, perhaps the most important one, in my journey has been divine guidance. I truly believe I had God’s hand on my head, placing me at the right place at the right time. When I moved to the Rio Grande Valley, I found a community that embraced me with more love and warmth than I had experienced anywhere else. This community appreciated and continues to appreciate my work, my skills, and my contributions. With each step of hard work, I was met with growth and encouragement. I owe this community so much of what I’ve accomplished. Opportunities like this don’t happen for everyone, it takes both hard work and a higher power leading you to the perfect fit.

I also believe that my dual understanding of clinical care and healthcare administration gives me a unique ability to balance decisions that benefit both patients and frontline staff.When I transitioned from outpatient to hospital administration, my sense of responsibility deepened. I became even more focused on creating environments where staff could thrive and patients could receive the highest level of care.

One of the greatest professional and personal challenges I faced was working for one of the largest healthcare systems during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It's difficult to describe the feeling, it was as if the world was collapsing around us. But even in those darkest moments, there was always a sliver of hope, a solution, a path forward. That experience reaffirmed my belief in the saying, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” We must never stop trying, never give up, and never quit because our purpose is far greater than ourselves.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned in this journey is about myself. I’ve come to understand that I am a deeply emotional person, and that comes with both strengths and challenges. In my view, being a clinician and a leader requires compassion and the ability to step into someone else’s shoes. But it’s also essential to differentiate between empathy and allowing personal emotions to cloud professional judgment.

We all carry different emotional quotients, shaped by subjective and objective experiences. But in any organization, the collective culture, values, and equitable application of those values must come first.

There will always be people we naturally connect with more than others. However, as leaders, we must maintain objectivity and ensure our decisions are focused on the work and mission, not individual preferences. That’s a constant battle, but one worth fighting in order to be recognized as a true leader, not just someone with a leadership title.

I also believe in loving what you do. If you wake up every day feeling like you “have” to do something because of your circumstances, that energy will reflect in your work. It will lack efficiency and won’t reach its highest potential. That’s not fair, to yourself or to others.

People must be aligned with their strengths in order to give their best and find joy in what they do.

Another principle I hold is that you must be willing to have the hardest, most uncomfortable conversations in a calm, professional, and non-emotional manner, especially with those you find most difficult to engage with. These conversations are where true leadership is built. If you learn from each one and improve your communication, it will take you far in your journey.

I believe the kind of leader I strive to be helps my team see me as approachable, relatable, trustworthy, dependable, and professional. Healthy communication ensures that every team member feels a sense of ownership over their work, while also recognizing that we all play a part in completing the mission we stand for. Dr. Rashmi Chandran CEO/President 

AltaCair Foundation