Date: June 12, 2008

Location: Omaha, NE

Center Founder Newt Gingrich spoke to several Gallup audiences June 12 in Omaha, Nebraska.  Gingrich first spoke at the Gallup Executive Physician Leadership Breakfast, in a speech titled, “Moving from a healthcare model that is broken to one that works:  the physician’s role.”  Over 50 local physicians attended the breakfast, many of whom are enrolled in Gallup’s Physician MBA program, a partnership with the Global Leadership Institute at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  Following the breakfast, Gingrich hosted a roundtable discussion about the future of healthcare with a select group of the physicians.

Gingrich also addressed Gallup Senior Leaders and Healthcare Associates.  Gallup serves an important role in studying healthcare, Gingrich said.  Their daily healthcare poll reaches thousands of people a day, and will be helpful by driving patient engagement and serving as a marker of change.  Gallup can help figure out the right questions, Gingrich said, and then the right way to answer them.

Addressing the need for strong leaders in the healthcare field, Gingrich admitted that staying current with any skill set is time consuming; however, business expertise is needed from physicians as well.  Acknowledging that it is difficult to stay ahead as a transformational figure in any field, Gingrich encouraged the Gallup leaders to decide what really matters for the future of healthcare.  Looking at systems that work around the world provides learning opportunities.  Gingrich also contended that simply listening is an effective way to learn and find solutions.