By David Gebler

Just after Gen. David Petraeus resigned from his post as head of the CIA, there was an outpouring of sympathetic media. Before possible national security issues came to light, friends, allies, and commentators wondered aloud why the four-star general’s private behavior should have any relevance to his performance as a valuable leader in the war against global terrorism.

New developments in the story might have quieted these critics a bit. However, it’s important for all business and government leaders to grasp how their personal behavior affects the organization’s culture. In short, reckless risk taking by a leader begets reckless risk taking by his or her subordinates, managers, and employees. Dishonesty begets more dishonesty.

Here are six reasons a leader’s private behavior really IS their people’s business.

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Mount Aloysius College President Tom Foley has announced that Rebecca S. Zukowski, has joined the College as Associate Academic Dean and Nursing Division Chairperson. She comes to Mount Aloysius from the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Rockville, Md. where she served as a senior research associate.

In making the announcement, Mount Aloysius President Foley noted the unanimous recognition and acceptance of Ms. Zukowski’s excellent leadership and academic credentials.  “Rebecca Zukowski brings very strong credentials and the full support of our nursing faculty and college leadership to her new post,” he said. “A former Navy nurse, she served at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital in the 1980’s. She then built a stellar career in the fields of research and strategic planning in public and non-profit sectors and patient care. The entire Mount Aloysius College community welcomes this proven leader with open arms and great expectations.” He added, “We are all very excited to have her join our team and lead our Nursing Division.”

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Rajiv R. Varma, MD, has been installed as the 2012 president of the Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS). Dr. Varma is the 147th president of the local physician organization. Four other physicians will assume new leadership roles as elected officers (photos avaialable upon request). The 2012 ACMS officers are:

Rajiv R. Varma, MD
2012 ACMS President
Dr. Varma is a pediatric neurologist certified in pediatrics and neurology with special qualifications in child neurology. He is clinical director of the pediatric neurology division of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

A member of ACMS since 1987, Dr. Varma has been very active with the Society in addition to his service on the board of directors from 2003 to 2005 and again in 2008 to 2010. He was a member of the Legislative Committee from 1993 to 2006. He was chair of the Member Benefits Committee in 1999 and participated on the Membership Committee from 2000 to 2005, serving as vice chair in 2000 and chair from 2001 to 2005. Dr. Varma was the Board of Directors Presidential Appointee from 2000 to 2002. He served on the Nominating Committee in 2006 and the Finance Committee in 2008 and 2010. He was a member of the Awards Committee in 2009. He participated on the Peer Review Board in 2010 and was chair of the Bylaws Committee that same year. Dr. Varma served as ACMS treasurer in 2008, secretary in 2009, vice president in 2010 and president-elect in 2011, serving on the Executive Committee during that time. At the state level he served as an alternate delegate to the Pennsylvania Medical Society from 1993 to 1995 and in 2002. Dr. Varma served as a delegate to the Pennsylvania Medical Society from 1996 to 2001; 2003 to 2008 and 2010 to 2011. Dr. Varma has also served on the PMS Strategic Planning Committee for several years.

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Dr. Zane Gates

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation^® Honors Zane Gates, MD, With a 2011 Community Health Leaders Award  

After completing medical school and a residency in internal medicine, Zane Gates ultimately returned home to Altoona, Pa., where he grew up poor in a public housing project. He opened his own free clinic in a van to provide care to the working poor—those who can’t afford to buy private coverage but earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. After partnering with Altoona Regional Health System, Gates’ van-based clinic grew into Partnering for Health Services, which provides access to free health care to about 3,500 people in the Altoona area.

For his determination to provide compassionate health care to those most in need and his work throughout the Altoona community, Gates has been named one of 10 recipients of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leaders Award. The award honors exceptional men and women who have overcome significant obstacles to tackle some of the most challenging health and health care problems facing their communities. Gates will receive the award during a ceremony at Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Md., on November 9.

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Dr. Paul Beck, MD, Interim Medical Director for ERMI, will lead the transition to ERMI in the emergency department at Southwest Regional Medical Center.

In December, Southwest Regional Medical Center announced an agreement to partner with Emergency Resource Management Inc. (ERMI).  ERMI, part of UPMC, is one of the largest employers of emergency medicine physicians in Pennsylvania.  The agreement also provides a medical director who will oversee the medical services provided.  Paul Beck, M.D., began serving as interim medical director beginning Jan. 1, 2012.

“We have a great team of physicians here serving the community,” said Dr. Beck, board certified in emergency medicine.  “Our priority is to make sure patients receive fast and quality care. Things are definitely moving in the right direction.”

The goal is for patients to be seen by a healthcare professional within 30 minutes of walking in the door.  The current average is 33 minutes and dropping since ERMI began. Dr. Beck will also provide administrative support to ensure quality and speed of service for patients presenting to the Southwest Regional Medical Center emergency department. He is assigned to Southwest Regional for approximately 6 months to ensure a smooth transition.  At the end of 6 months a permanent director will be named.

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Walter H. Young, executive director of The Residence at Hilltop in Monongahela has been elected the Independent Personal Care Representative for the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association or PHCA.

A resident of Whitehall, Mr. Young is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) and a Licensed Personal Care Administrator (PCA) who was hired in 2009 to manage The Residence at Hilltop, a subsidiary of Mon-Vale Health Resources, Inc., the parent company ofMonongahela Valley Hospital.

The Pennsylvania Health Care Association advocates for compassionate, quality long-term care for Pennsylvania’s elderly and disabled residents. As the Independent Personal Care Representative, Mr. Young will work at the state level to lend a voice to independent personal care homes, defined as those which are not owned by chains.

“I’m very fortunate to enjoy a tremendous amount of support in this endeavor (from the board of Residence at Hilltop),” said Mr. Young. “This is the strongest support I’ve had at any of my jobs and I’ve been an administrator for 24 years.”

A seasoned professional, Mr. Young brings the leadership experience he gained in various administrative roles at other personal care facilities in the region. He is also an instructor in Nursing Home and Assisted Living Administrator Training at the Community College of Allegheny County.

In the past, he served on the PHCA’s board of directors and on the Personal Care Advisory Committee of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. He received the H. Lee Jarvis award from the PHCA for outstanding leadership and efforts on behalf of assisted living residents.

The Residence at Hilltop combines housing, support services, personal assistance and health care to the elderly and others who need help with the activities of daily living but who do not require around-the-clock skilled care.