Compassionate Leadership in High-Stakes Medicine with Dr. Paula Ferrada

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler has a compelling conversation with Dr. Paula Ferrada, a pioneering trauma and acute care surgeon and Chair of Surgery at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus.

They explore what it means to lead when lives hang in the balance. Paula shares her journey from Colombia to becoming the first Colombian woman to graduate from a Harvard-affiliated general surgery program, and how her experiences shaped her leadership philosophy.

She emphasizes the importance of trust, mentorship, and emotional regulation in building high-performing teams under extreme pressure. From leading one of the busiest trauma centers in the United States to mentoring the next generation of surgeons, Paula highlights why compassionate leadership is as essential as technical skill.

Listeners will find valuable lessons in her approach to decision-making under uncertainty, the power of simulation and training, and the role of vulnerability in fostering trust and resilience.

Key takeaways from this episode include:

• How to develop emotional regulation and clarity under extreme pressure
• The importance of simulation and practice to prepare teams for the unexpected
• Why compassionate leadership and mentorship are critical for long-term success
• How purpose and empathy anchor leaders through crisis and change

The episode concludes with Paula’s perspective on leadership beyond the operating room: Put the team before yourself. Stay anchored in purpose. Lead with empathy and courage.

Join us in this episode to uncover what true leadership looks like when every second counts.

Connect with Dr. Paula Ferrada:

LinkedIn

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