By Christianna Kearns
Dear CAHL Members,
As I step into the role of President of the California Association of Healthcare Leaders (CAHL) for 2025, I am filled with excitement, gratitude, and a deep sense of responsibility. This opportunity to serve you all, alongside the outstanding leaders within our association, is truly a privilege. It is my honor to guide CAHL in this new year as we continue to support and empower healthcare leaders across our state.
Reflecting on my journey with CAHL, I can trace it all the way back to my membership with the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) in 2008. Since then, I have had the privilege of working alongside talented colleagues and mentors, learning from each of you, and experiencing firsthand how critical a strong network of healthcare leaders is to our professional growth and the improvement of patient care. As I transition into this role as President, I bring with me all that I’ve learned over the last 30 years in the healthcare field. I’ve seen firsthand how collaboration, innovation, and compassionate leadership can positively impact both employees and the patients we serve. I intend to carry these lessons forward as we work together to make 2025 a year of growth, connection, and shared success for CAHL.
This year, my focus is on you—the members. As we move through 2025, my commitment is to provide you with meaningful content, valuable resources, and, perhaps most importantly, opportunities to connect in person. The last few years have tested us in ways we never imagined, and I know many of you, like me, have felt the weight of those challenges. It’s more important than ever to bring our community together in ways that foster professional and personal growth. Whether it’s through networking events, educational workshops, or casual meetups, I want to create spaces for us to learn from one another, share our successes and struggles, and celebrate what makes us stronger as leaders in healthcare.
One of the most important lessons I’ve taken away from this role and from life in general is the importance of mindset. As we know, the healthcare field is not without its challenges. This year has been filled with unprecedented hardship, and the world around us has been marked by tragedy. But in the midst of these tough times, my mantra is clear: Focus on the good stuff. Every single day, I remind myself to feed the “good wolf.” What do I mean by that? It’s simple: we all have two wolves inside us—one filled with negativity, fear, and cynicism, and the other with positivity, gratitude, and hope. The wolf that wins is the one we choose to feed. Each day, I consciously choose to focus on what I am grateful for, whether it’s the opportunity to serve CAHL, the dedicated professionals I work with, or the health of my loved ones. This mindset not only helps me maintain balance in my own life, but it also provides a foundation for my leadership and decision-making as we face the many challenges ahead in healthcare.
As we look ahead to 2025, I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue the great work of CAHL’s past presidents, our Board of Directors and committee volunteers, who gave countless service hours and contributed to our vast growth through collaboration, in-person networking events, and educational opportunities. As we power forward in 2025, we are committed to supporting our members and advancing professional development through our foundational services. I want to emphasize that this year we will prioritize supporting one another through new opportunities for professional development, connection, and well-being. I am so eager to connect with each of you in person, to hear your stories, and to work together to continue shaping the future of healthcare leadership in California.
Thank you for entrusting me with the honor of serving as your President. I’m looking forward to an inspiring year ahead, one where we feed the good wolf every day and move forward together, stronger than ever.
