On Tuesday, May 27th 2025, the Wake Forest CTSI Workforce Development Team hosted the third session of its Leadership in Focus seminar series, featuring an insightful conversation with Dr. Julie Freischlag, the chief executive officer and chief academic officer of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, chief academic officer and executive vice president of Advocate Health, and executive vice president for health affairs at Wake Forest University.
In a discussion with Dr. Amy Wallis of the Wake Forest Business School, Dr. Freischlag shared her view that leadership involves bravery, adaptability, and mentorship. The conversation highlighted the significance of value-driven leadership through examples from the health system, including the expansion of maternity care and promoting innovation.
Dr. Freischlag highlighted key strengths of successful leaders pointing to adaptability being essential for longevity in leadership at dynamic institutions. She also drew thoughtful distinctions between different roles for leaders, citing mentorship as an experience where both mentors and mentees learn and grow. Effective leader's can provide a "North Star" to empower ethical and impactful decision-making, and to encourage future leaders to embrace change with resilience and purpose.
Watch the full interview with Dr. Freischlag here and discover her take on values-driven leadership. Don’t miss the next seminar series coming this fall—stay tuned for updates.