Bernadette Norz, PhD, MBA

Serving healthcare organizations and their leaders and practitioners who seek to better connect, communicate and deliver in today’s demanding healthcare environment is Bernadette’s focus as an executive and physician development coach and consultant.  She is experienced in coaching healthcare executives in hospitals, continuing care organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and practice management.  Her expertise also includes coaching physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals who seek work-life integration while optimizing goal achievement and finding meaning in their work.  Her doctoral research, completed in 2018, entitled Employed Physicians and Work Engagement in Health Care Organizations (HCOs), informs her leadership development practice and supports a multi-pronged approach to increasing physician work engagement, the positive opposite of physician burnout. 

Bernadette draws on her past professional experiences in the healthcare industry in her coaching and consulting work.  She has served as the Director of Business Development for a hospital system, directed member services for an entrepreneurial healthcare buying cooperative, established strategic business partner relationships for a state hospital association and directed the operations of its medical record and laboratory-related services.  In her early career she was employed as a laboratory supervisor in a hospital clinical laboratory.   

Select Client Results:

• Coached VP Finance of a large multi-hospital system who had transitioned into a temporary corporate role as one multi-hospital system merged with another.  The client sought support in addressing the challenges of a rapidly changing, uncertain environment.  We addressed executive presence, communication and presentation skills, values, networking, and evaluation of internal and external career opportunities going forward. By prioritizing professional and personal values, the client was well-prepared to move into to a new permanent role offered within one of the system’s hospitals at the conclusion of the temporary assignment.
• Provided leadership development coaching and support to an executive director of a global pharmaceutical company, a bright and talented PhD, Pharm(D) who had been promoted into a non-technical leadership role.  Self-determined goals included improvement in image and presence, intrapreneurship, inspiring others, and influencing and networking.  We worked together to identify and build on strengths while learning to view issues from multiple perspectives, creating greater success as an influencer within the organization.
• Coached an OB/GYN physician who was challenged by a role in developing a new hospital-owned medical practice.  Coupled with work-life balance concerns, this young physician suffered from dissatisfaction and stress.  Coaching focused on reconnecting with what brought joy and fulfillment to life both inside and outside of the practice of medicine, with the outcome being a more resilient and engaged physician.
•  Provided executive coaching services for VP, Patient Care in a growing health system.  Challenges included ambiguities associated with a matrix reporting relationship.  Opportunities to further develop leadership skills in the areas of communication and team building were addressed.  The VP’s role was expanded to include responsibility for an additional system hospital during the coaching engagement.

Education & Accreditations:

• PhD in Human and Organizational Systems, Fielding Graduate University
• MBA, Fairleigh Dickinson University
• BS, Medical Technology, Douglass College/Rutgers University
• ICF Coaching Credential (ACC)
• Certified in Hogan, MRG LEA 360 Suite, DISC and DISC Workshop Leader
• Certified Physician Development Coach, GetFive Career Coach, Founding Member of John Maxwell Team of Speakers, Trainers & Coaches

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