Public Health’s Most Influential Leader

Each year Time magazine publishes “The Most Influential People” in the nation—they are artists, icons, pioneers, and leaders in their respective fields. For more than 100 years, health care has eradicated diseases, promoted safer communities, and enacted reform. None of these achievements would have been possible without the dedication of those warranting change. Consider the qualities you admire in leaders and identify your personal influential leader in public health.

Instructions:

Write a 3–4 paper in which you:

1. Describe in a brief way the leader’s contribution to the field of health care. Speculate on how this person would define leadership, and determine his or her leadership style.
2. Articulate how he or she was a pioneer, group organizer, motivator or visionary. Examine the major factors that positively or negatively influenced the leader’s success.
3. Provide specific examples of the areas in which you can personally identify with this leader’s circumstances, struggles, or insights. Recommend two approaches the leader could have employed to be more effective or acceptable. Justify your answer.
4. Suggest two lessons you learned from this person’s experience. Conclude how these lessons will help you become a better leader.