I’m Dheeraj Raina, MD, MBA — a physician leader and a mentor to other physicians. Over the last three decades, I’ve led at every level of healthcare. From rural clinics to state psychiatric hospitals to the Veterans Administration, and now at a large health insurer. This journey gives me a range of experiences that help me see healthcare and healthcare leadership from a very wide lens.
Professional journey highlights
You can find my LinkedIn here, but here are the highlights relevant to my voice.
I’ve built programs from scratch in small communities and scaled initiatives that have reached thousands of people across the United States.
I’ve led and guided frontline physician teams through change and integration after major corporate mergers.
I’ve developed enterprise-wide strategies for substance use disorders, led a national opioid strategy, and helped shape policy and advocacy efforts.
I’ve collaborated with data analysts to create predictive tools and dashboards. These tools help thousands of individuals through coaching and case management initiatives.
I’ve collaborated on white papers and peer-reviewed research.
Alongside my leadership roles, I’ve stayed rooted in my clinical identity. I’m board-certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, and believe that the best healthcare leadership is grounded in curiosity, compassion, non-judgment, and pragmatism.
Personal journey highlights
Life is not just about work. What goes on outside the office or clinic shapes us as much, if not more, than what happens at work. Here are the personal milestones that shape who I am.
Immigration. Achieving professional success as an immigrant has involved learning how to navigate diverse cultural environments.
Parenting. Being a father has taught me how to manage the tension between ambition and what truly matters.
Caregiving. Taking care of my wife through her terminal illness deepened that lesson while also giving me a raw feel for what many patients and families go through when navigating our healthcare system.
Loss. Losing my wife and solo parenthood have taught me to face and embrace reality as it is, without pining for how I wish it were.
Public speaking. Becoming a semifinalist at the International Speech Contest (the finals are known as the World Championship of Public Speaking) helped me learn how to use humor and storytelling to inspire others.
With this blog, Voice That Moves™, I aim to help leaders, especially those new to leadership in healthcare, become better leaders, irrespective of the setting, whether in academia, the private sector, the public sector, large organizations, or small start-ups.
Demands on clinician leaders are steep. We must strike a balance between clinical credibility, strategy, communication, and organizational savvy. I’ve lived those tensions and aim to use the lessons I’ve learned to help others navigate them with clarity and confidence.
Healthcare leaders who are not clinicians quickly realize that leading a highly educated workforce that continually updates its education presents a unique set of challenges. While I have never been in their shoes, what I write about will speak to them, too.
When I’m not reading, writing, leading, or mentoring, I am talking with my friends or family, or letting my very curious Goldendoodle drag me on his adventures.
It should go without saying…
But I will say it anyway: This blog is my personal adventure. All opinions here are mine and mine alone. I do not speak on behalf of anyone else, including any organization, employer, acquaintance, or friend (past, present, or future).
p.s. How to pronounce my first name: Two syllables Dhee-raj. The ‘raj’ rhymes with ‘judge.’ Imagine it being spelled with a ‘u’ instead of the ‘a.’ The ‘dh’ sound in the first syllable is challenging for native English speakers; ‘th’ as ‘thee’ (old form of ‘you’) is an acceptable alternative. If you want to hear what it sounds like, check out this YouTube.