Margaret Cary

Brainstormer, Change Agent, Connector, Doctor, Educator/Teacher, Explorer, Global soul, Idea generator, World traveler, Writer/Editor

Margaret “Maggi” Cary is a nationally recognized executive, physician leader, and board advisor whose career spans healthcare, government, academia, and the private sector. Renowned for her ability to distill complexity into actionable strategies, Dr. Cary has guided senior leaders and organizations through transformative change, consistently elevating leadership capacity and organizational performance. As CEO of The Cary Group Global, Dr. Cary delivers executive coaching to senior leaders in academic medicine, healthcare systems, and the pharmaceutical industry. She serves as a trusted advisor and strategic thinking partner, leveraging decades of clinical and executive experience to drive leadership development and organizational excellence. Her expertise in organizational change is demonstrated by achievements such as restructuring an occupational medicine clinic in Denver and spearheading VAAdvantage-the nation’s first Medicare Advantage program-while serving as Deputy Chief Business Officer at the Veterans Health Administration. In this role, she managed multi-million-dollar healthcare programs, improved operational quality, and coordinated buying outside medical services. Dr. Cary’s leadership extends into the private sector, where she has held roles including Chief Medical Officer at Vox Medica, a $200M health communications firm, and Senior Vice President at Acueity, a pioneering medical device startup. She also served in President Clinton’s administration as a Senior Executive at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, developing health and social policy for six states and advising on telemedicine, public health, and Native American healthcare. A passionate educator, Dr. Cary is a Clinical Associate Professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine, where she develops and teaches courses in reflective writing and narrative medicine. She is the founder of A Whole New Doctor, a coaching and leadership program dedicated to building resilience and emotional intelligence in medical students, aiming to reduce burnout and support well-being in the next generation of physicians. Dr. Cary’s board service includes leadership roles on the Colorado Board of Medical Examiners (as chair), the Dean’s Policy Advisory Council at the University of California School of Public Health, and advisory boards for multiple healthcare, academic, and technology organizations. Her diverse industry perspective allows her to cross-pollinate ideas and best practices, supporting boards in strategic oversight, governance, innovation, and stakeholder engagement. Committed to mentorship and service, Dr. Cary coaches TED Fellows and mentors women from post-conflict and climate-challenged countries through SheCan Global. She has served on scholarship selection panels, including the Gates Cambridge and Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. Dr. Cary’s academic credentials include an MD from Baylor College of Medicine, an MBA from the University of Colorado, and an MPH from UCLA. She holds advanced certifications in leadership coaching, emotional intelligence, polarity thinking, and team development. Her contributions to the field are reflected in her extensive publications on coaching, leadership, resilience, and medical education, as well as her frequent keynote presentations and workshops at national and international conferences. Honored as one of the Top 20 Coaches in Washington and recipient of multiple awards for distinguished service and innovation, Dr. Cary is recognized for her strategic vision, big-picture thinking, and unwavering commitment to people and relationships. Her legacy is one of catalyzing positive change-helping leaders and organizations not just succeed, but thrive, with humanity and purpose at the core.

empowering people – especially those in medicine – to grow, lead, and thrive. My journey from family physician to executive coach and educator has shown me that medicine is fundamentally a human endeavor, and our greatest impact comes from connecting, listening, and supporting one another. This passion drives my work with A Whole New Doctor, a program I founded to help medical students build resilience, emotional intelligence, and leadership skills. I have witnessed the toll traditional medical training takes on bright, compassionate students, leading to burnout, depression, and even suicide. I could not stand by while those who dedicate their lives to healing others struggled without support. Through coaching and leadership development, I help future physicians not just survive, but thrive, equiping them with the skills to care for themselves as well as their patients. Coaching is at the heart of my work. As a physician, I was trained to diagnose and fix; as a coach, I’ve learned the transformative power of deep listening and asking the right questions. I use evidence-based tools to help clients-from medical students to C-suite executives-develop self-awareness, resilience, and the confidence to lead authentically. My approach blends scientific rigor with empathy, customizing strategies to each individual and organization. The real magic happens when people feel seen, heard, and valued. My passion for leadership grew as I moved from clinical roles into executive and board positions. True leadership is about empowering others, fostering collaboration, and navigating change with curiosity and humility. I’ve led organizational transformations, launched national programs like VAAdvantage, and mentored leaders across healthcare, government, and startups. I love translating research into practical, interactive experiences that help others grow as leaders. Innovation excites me, not for its own sake, but for its potential to solve real problems and improve lives. I’ve worked at the intersection of medicine, technology, and policy, always seeking to bridge tradition with new ideas. Whether developing telemedicine protocols or advising on health policy, I believe the future of healthcare depends on our ability to adapt, learn, and lead change-while never losing sight of our humanity. Teaching and sharing knowledge are central to my mission. As a faculty member at Georgetown, I develop and teach courses on reflective writing and narrative medicine, helping students process their experiences and build resilience. I am a lifelong learner and passionate about mentoring women and underrepresented groups in medicine and leadership, believing that diversity strengthens us all. Service and advocacy have always been part of my DNA. I serve on boards, mentor emerging leaders, and advocate for policies that support the well-being of healthcare professionals and the communities they serve. Leadership, to me, is ultimately about service-making a difference in the lives of others. What drives me is the conviction that we can – and must - do better for those who care for others. I have seen too many talented, compassionate people leave medicine or lose themselves to burnout. I am passionate about changing the culture of The Republic of Medicine from one of blame and shame to one of support and growth. My goal is to create a world where medical students, physicians, and leaders are equipped not just with knowledge, but with the self-awareness, resilience, and emotional intelligence to thrive. In sum, I am passionate about people-their stories, struggles, growth, and triumphs. I am passionate about learning and sharing, about leading and serving, and about building bridges between science and empathy, tradition and innovation, surviving and thriving. Every day, I am grateful to do work that matters with people who inspire me. That is what keeps me moving forward, always learning, always growing, and always striving for a more compassionate, resilient future in medicine and beyond.

The Crisis in Medicine: A Call for Change Modern medicine faces a paradox: while technological advancements surge, physician burnout and mental health crises escalate. Up to 53% of physicians report burnout, while 30% of medical students experience depression and 10% grapple with suicidal ideation. This crisis threatens not only clinicians’ well-being but also patient safety and healthcare system sustainability. Traditional medical education, hyper-focused on technical expertise, often neglects the human skills needed to navigate this high-stakes environment. The Idea: Medical training must prioritize resilience, emotional intelligence (EI), and leadership development as rigorously as it teaches anatomy and pharmacology. By equipping future physicians with these skills early, we can create a generation of “whole” doctors who thrive personally and professionally while delivering compassionate care. Why This Matters Now 1. The Burnout Epidemic Isn’t Just About Workload Burnout stems from systemic issues: loss of autonomy, moral injury from bureaucratic hurdles, and the “hidden curriculum” that stigmatizes vulnerability. Medical students enter training idealistic but often graduate disillusioned. As one participant in Dr. Cary’s A Whole New Doctor (AWND) program noted: “I realized I didn’t have to choose between being a good doctor and being a human being.” 2. Emotional Intelligence Is a Clinical Skill Studies show EI correlates with better patient outcomes, fewer medical errors, and stronger team communication. Yet most curricula treat EI as optional. AWND’s data proves otherwise: after coaching, students saw significant improvements in stress management, empathy, and decision-making-all measurable via the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory. 3. Leadership Can’t Be an Afterthought Modern physicians lead interdisciplinary teams, advocate for health equity, and navigate systemic complexities. AWND’s workshops on polarity thinking (e.g., balancing efficiency with empathy) prepare students for real-world dilemmas. “A good doctor and a good leader require different skill sets. I facilitate medical students to learn how to be both. The AWND Model: A Blueprint for Transformation AWND, developed at Georgetown University, flips traditional pedagogy into andragogy with three innovations: 1. Certified Executive Coaches, Not Just Mentors Unlike advisory mentors, AWND’s coaches use evidence-based techniques to help students: • Reframe challenges (e.g., “Is this a problem to solve or a polarity to manage?”) • Develop self-awareness through tools like the MSCEIT emotional intelligence assessment 2. Student-Driven Learning AWND avoids top-down lectures. Instead: • Interactive workshops simulate real-world leadership scenarios (e.g., conflict mediation). • Peer-led support groups foster community, countering medical school’s often isolating culture. • Reflective writing assignments help students process experiences nonjudgmentally. 3. Measurable Outcomes, Scalable Solutions In a 2-year study of 70 students: • 100% reported improved communication skills • 95% said AWND reduced their stress • 81% worked with coaches monthly, building habits for long-term resilience. The Ripple Effects: Beyond Individual Well-Being 1. Patient Care Transformation Physicians with high EI communicate more effectively, leading to: • Higher patient satisfaction • Fewer malpractice claims • Better adherence to treatment plans 2. Systemic Change in Healthcare Resilient physicians drive innovation. AWND alumni have: • Launched clinics for underserved populations • Advocated for policy changes on mental health stigma • Designed med school wellness curricula adopted nationally 3. Economic Sustainability Burnout costs the U.S. healthcare system $4.6 billion annually in physician turnover and reduced clinical hours. AWND’s model, costing <$500/student/year, offers a 9:1 ROI by retaining talent. A Call to Action: Scaling the Movement 1. Integrate Coaching into Accreditation Standards Medical accrediting bodies should mandate EI and resilience training, mirroring AWND’s 2. Leverage Technology for Accessibility • Virtual coaching platforms to reach rural/global communities • AI-driven EI assessments to track progress 3. Reframe “Soft Skills” as Core Competencies I believe Empathy isn’t soft-it’s the instrument we use to heal broken systems. Conclusion: The Future of Medicine Starts Today AWND proves that when we teach medical students to care for themselves as thoughtfully as they’ll care for patients, we don’t just prevent burnout – we ignite a revolution. By graduating physicians who lead with resilience and emotional intelligence, we heal healthcare from the inside out. The Idea Worth Spreading: It’s time to redefine medical excellence. Let’s train doctors who heal with their hands, lead with their hearts, and thrive through every challenge.

Leadership Coaching & Development, Physician Leadership Development, Salon, Reception and Dinner Party Host, Teaching & Learning, Writer - Narrative Medicine and Personal Essay

Riding horses, gardening, traveling and hiking