Change in the Medical Director role in Pediatric Neurosurgery a “natural evolution”
Carolina Sandoval Garcia, MD, recently took on the role of Pediatric Neurosurgery Medical Director and Pediatric Neuroscience co-lead to enable the former director, Daniel Guillaume, MD, MS, to focus on his other roles, both in the Neurosurgery Department and with the Neuroscience Service Line for M Health Fairview. (The Pediatric Neurosurgery team is pictured above, from left: Nurse Pracititioner Emma Venteicher, Sandoval, Guillaume, and Nurse Practitioner Leah Kann.)
The transition was a natural evolution and in the works for some time, according to Guillaume.
Already doing the work
“Dr. Sandoval had already undertaken many leadership tasks within pediatric neurosurgery, including her role as Assistant Program Director of Resident Education in the Neurosurgery Department,” he said. “For the Neuroscience Service Line, she will co-lead the pediatric neuroscience program with pediatric neurologist Dr. Sonya Wang. This transition is a natural progression for me, too, as I am spending more time with my role in the M Health Fairview Neuroscience Service Line.”
When Sandoval assumed the assistant director role for the residency program, she became much more involved in organizing educational activities in pediatric neurosurgery. “I also joined the trauma committee, took on projects in quality and safety, and led the effort to join a multi-institutional database that will help us work on new treatments for conditions such as hydrocephalus,” she said. “The increased responsibilities helped prepare me for this new role.”
Leadership Academy experience
Another way that Sandoval has been preparing is her two-year-long experience with the U’s Rothenberger Leadership Academy — a cohort-based program that develops physician leadership capacity throughout M Health Fairview. Interacting with members of her cohort has helped Sandoval build a collaborative network throughout the healthcare system.
Officially becoming medical director enabled Sandoval to better organize some of her prior efforts. “We’ve been thinking about setting up multidisciplinary clinics that enable our patients and families to come in fewer times to see various providers,” she said. “Now, I’m formally leading the effort for such a clinic devoted to spina bifida that will start this summer. The new role has put me in touch with leads in different areas and helped me work on things more efficiently.” She is also responsible for leading the Division’s research and education initiatives and managing the Pediatric Neurosurgery team.
Hit the ground running
“Dr. Sandoval is an outstanding leader and has hit the ground running in this role, already improving some aspects of clinic operations,” said Guillaume. “She will assume a larger role in pediatric neuroscience quality and safety and strategic growth opportunities.”
Guillaume believes that the Division’s clinicians, clinical teams, and patients are all benefiting from this transition. “Dr. Sandoval and I are both still very much involved in all aspects of pediatric neurosurgery,” he said. “With her roles as pediatric neurosurgery lead, assistant residency program director, her participation on the practice management council, and my roles as co-chief of the M Health Fairview Neuroscience Service Line and Neurosurgery Department Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs, we can work together to build an even stronger program.”
