Douglas Flora: How polarity thinking helps us move forward?

Douglas Flora, Executive Medical Director of Oncology Services at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“The art of leadership is balancing opposites without losing momentum.”
– Inspired by John Wooden

“Healthcare leaders know that some of the toughest decisions we face aren’t about choosing one solution over another—they’re about balancing polarities. Patient-centered care vs. operational efficiency. The latest innovation vs. established practices. Individualized care vs. scalable systems. These are not problems to solve but tensions to manage, and how we handle them can shape the future of care.

Take the early adoption of AI. Used wisely, AI has the potential to bring high-impact improvements to healthcare, particularly in areas like early screening and clinical documentation. Imagine piloting AI tools that can detect early signs of disease with unprecedented accuracy, or ambient AI “scribes” that free clinicians from note-taking, allowing them to focus entirely on the patient. These are low-risk, high-reward applications where the technology enhances, rather than disrupts, the care experience.

Here’s how polarity thinking helps us move forward with confidence:
1. Hold Patient Care as the True North: Innovation in healthcare must ultimately serve patients. By focusing on tools that enhance the patient experience—like AI that supports early detection or improves clinician-patient interaction—we ensure that our exploration of new technologies remains aligned with our core mission.
2. Pilot for Learning and Impact: Testing AI in low-risk, high-impact areas allows leaders to gain experience and build trust with the technology. These pilots are a way to bring meaningful change without compromising safety or overwhelming the system. By starting with focused, impactful projects, we can make sure AI adds value before scaling up.
3. Lead with Purpose and Perspective: Navigating these tensions means making deliberate choices about when to innovate and when to stabilize. We don’t have to choose between tradition and progress—we can find ways for each to strengthen the other. With polarity thinking, healthcare leaders can leverage both sides to create a balanced, responsive system that meets immediate needs while preparing for the future.

Balancing innovation with established care practices isn’t easy, but it’s necessary. By focusing on strategic, patient-centered AI pilots and a thoughtful approach to integration, we can make real progress without losing sight of our purpose.

What challenges or insights have you encountered as you lead through the complexities of innovation in healthcare?

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Douglas Flora is the Executive Medical Director of Oncology Services at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, overseeing clinical operations, strategic planning, and the expansion of cancer programs. He is also the co-founder of the Center for Precision Medicine; Genomic Health.As the Editor-in-Chief of ‘AI in Precision Oncology,’ the first peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to this field, he plays a pivotal role in advancing research. He is also an active board member of the American Cancer Society and ACCC, where he contributes to advocacy, education, and innovation within the cancer community.