--- title: Dr. Eric Dickson on CEO Leadership During Covid-19; No Layoffs, No Furloughs description: Joining us today is Eric W. Dickson MD, MHCM, FACEP, he is President and Chief Executive Officer and UMass Memorial Health Care. In today's episode, Eric talks about Lean as a transformation strategy and a management system -- why it's not just frontline problem solving. That said, what are the parallels between Lean problem solving and strategic thinking. What's the importance of focusing on safety and how did Paul O'Neill influence his thinking? image: https://www.valuecapturellc.com/hubfs/Habitual-Excellence-Episode-Cover-Image-600x313.png --- # Dr. Eric Dickson on CEO Leadership During Covid-19; No Layoffs, No Furloughs July 20, 2020 Written by Mark Graban ## Listen: *Scroll down for a transcript, how to subscribe, and more* ## Episode Synopsis: Welcome to Episode #11 of [**Habitual Excellence**](https://valuecapturellc.com/thought-leadership/our-podcast-habitual-excellence/), presented by Value Capture. Joining us today is [**Eric W. Dickson MD, MHCM, FACEP**](https://www.umassmemorialhealthcare.org/umass-memorial-medical-center/eric-w-dickson-md-mhcm-facep-named-umass-memorial-health-care-president-and-chief-executive-officer), he is President and Chief Executive Officer at UMass Memorial Health. In today's episode, Eric talks about Lean as a transformation strategy and a management system -- why it's not just frontline problem solving. That said, what are the parallels between Lean problem solving and strategic thinking. What's the importance of focusing on safety and how did [**Paul O'Neill**](https://valuecapturellc.com/habitual-excellence-episode-1-paul-h-oneill-sr/) influence his thinking? Host Mark Graban also asks Eric about his **[commitment to no layoffs and no furloughs](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/umass-memorial-ceo-commits-to-no-layoffs-furloughs-despite-financial-hit.html)** during the Covid pandemic and how that came to be. **[Click to visit the main Habitual Excellence podcast page](https://valuecapturellc.com/thought-leadership/our-podcast-habitual-excellence/).** ## Watch on YouTube: ## Quotes: ## [![](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Dickson-yellow-1.jpeg?width=800&height=670&name=Dickson-yellow-1.jpeg)](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Dickson-yellow-1.jpeg) --- ## [![](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Dickson-Green-1.jpeg?width=800&height=670&name=Dickson-Green-1.jpeg)](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Dickson-Green-1.jpeg) ## Subscribe: To make sure you don't miss an episode, be sure to subscribe today! Please rate and review the podcast. [![Subscribe or Follow - Habitual Excellence Podcast, Presented by Value Capture](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5436566/8f2c6b31-ec1d-464b-a58e-665ee2313fe1.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5436566/8f2c6b31-ec1d-464b-a58e-665ee2313fe1) ## Transcript:   [Podcast](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/tag/podcast), [CEO](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/tag/ceo), [COVID](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/tag/covid), [Paul O'Neill](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/tag/paul-oneill) ![Mark Graban](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/hubfs/Mark%20Graban%20Chair%20Lean%20Head%20Square%20600.jpg) #### Written by [ Mark Graban ](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/author/mark-graban) Mark Graban has served healthcare clients since 2005. Mark is internationally recognized as a leading author and speaker on Lean healthcare. His latest book is "The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation." ##### Like it? Share it: [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/habitual-excellence-episode-11-dr-eric-dickson-on-ceo-leadership-during-covid-19-no-layoffs-no-furloughs) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/habitual-excellence-episode-11-dr-eric-dickson-on-ceo-leadership-during-covid-19-no-layoffs-no-furloughs) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/habitual-excellence-episode-11-dr-eric-dickson-on-ceo-leadership-during-covid-19-no-layoffs-no-furloughs) ### You may also like [Highlights From “Pursuing Zero Harm: A Powerful Platform for Embedding Lean Capability” ](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/close-look-zero-harm-pursuing-zero-harm-a-powerful-platform-for-embedding-lean-capability) ##### [Highlights From “Pursuing Zero Harm: A Powerful Platform for Embedding Lean Capability”](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/close-look-zero-harm-pursuing-zero-harm-a-powerful-platform-for-embedding-lean-capability) 1 February, 2022 In 2019, Meghan Scanlon (a former Value Capture advisor) presented a webinar, “Pursuing Zero Harm: A Powerful Platform f... [Read this article](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/close-look-zero-harm-pursuing-zero-harm-a-powerful-platform-for-embedding-lean-capability) [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/close-look-zero-harm-pursuing-zero-harm-a-powerful-platform-for-embedding-lean-capability) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/close-look-zero-harm-pursuing-zero-harm-a-powerful-platform-for-embedding-lean-capability) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/close-look-zero-harm-pursuing-zero-harm-a-powerful-platform-for-embedding-lean-capability) [Daily Management System 2.0 Brings Results at Lakeridge Health ](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/daily-management-system-2.0-brings-results-at-lakeridge-health) ##### [Daily Management System 2.0 Brings Results at Lakeridge Health](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/daily-management-system-2.0-brings-results-at-lakeridge-health) 16 September, 2025 [Read this article](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/daily-management-system-2.0-brings-results-at-lakeridge-health) [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/daily-management-system-2.0-brings-results-at-lakeridge-health) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/daily-management-system-2.0-brings-results-at-lakeridge-health) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/daily-management-system-2.0-brings-results-at-lakeridge-health) [Paul H. O'Neill Sr.: A Podcast From 2011 on Safety, Leadership, and More ](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/habitual-excellence-63-paul-oneill-2011-patient-safety-leadership) ##### [Paul H. O'Neill Sr.: A Podcast From 2011 on Safety, Leadership, and More](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/habitual-excellence-63-paul-oneill-2011-patient-safety-leadership) 28 February, 2022 [Read this article](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/habitual-excellence-63-paul-oneill-2011-patient-safety-leadership) [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/habitual-excellence-63-paul-oneill-2011-patient-safety-leadership) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/habitual-excellence-63-paul-oneill-2011-patient-safety-leadership) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/habitual-excellence-63-paul-oneill-2011-patient-safety-leadership) #### Submit a comment ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Mark Graban", "url" : "https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/author/mark-graban" }, "dateModified" : "2022-01-03T17:49:47.919Z", "datePublished" : "2020-07-21T00:15:01.000Z", "headline" : "Dr. Eric Dickson on CEO Leadership During Covid-19; No Layoffs, No Furloughs", "image" : [ "https://www.valuecapturellc.com/hubfs/Habitual-Excellence-Episode-Cover-Image-600x313.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/habitual-excellence-episode-11-dr-eric-dickson-on-ceo-leadership-during-covid-19-no-layoffs-no-furloughs", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.valuecapturellc.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.valuecapturellc.comhs-fshubfsValue%20Capture%20White%20Logo%20Transparent-3.png" }, "name" : "Value Capture" } } ```