Envision Physician Services

Anna Suessman

Insights into Suessman’s Professional Journey

After more than a decade-long career in academic medicine, I made the transition to Envision Physician Services and I have never looked back. My time in academia provided me with invaluable experience and a solid foundation, but in this role, I’ve found opportunities to make a significantly deeper and broader impact. My background includes a Master’s in Education (MEd) and even outside academic medicine, I use that expertise daily to support and mentor our team, develop training initiatives and drive evidence-based practice changes.

In less than a year at Envision, my department has made transformative strides. For the first time, we have established standardized care practices across providers through 19 system-reviewed, evidence-based clinical algorithms, which I developed and implemented. These pathways ensure consistency and quality across our sites. Additionally, I spearheaded an IRB-approved project introducing nitrous oxide as a sedation option for procedures. This initiative offers a safer alternative to traditional sedation, with faster throughput and reduced traumatic experiences, particularly for developmentally diverse children.

I also led a multidisciplinary approach to dramatically reduce radiation exposure for appendicitis diagnosis. By adopting rapid, non-sedating MRIs with high accuracy, we’ve not only ensured better outcomes for our patients but also significantly shortened their length of stay without additional costs or surgical complications. 

We’re also expanding our on-site training programs, collaborating with learners from multiple institutions who consistently provide excellent feedback on their experience. Balancing these educational initiatives with administrative responsibilities has been critical to ensuring the highest quality of care, which remains my top priority.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my role at Envision is the culture of appreciation. Feeling supported and valued by my colleagues and leaders has been a powerful motivator, driving my dedication and fostering continuous innovation. I love my job because this environment allows me to thrive, remain overcommitted to our goals and constantly elevate the care we provide to children and their families.

“Leadership is not just about managing others—it’s about creating impact, fostering innovation and ensuring quality care.”

Pressing Challenges in the Current Healthcare Landscape

As a Regional Medical Director, one of my primary goals is to elevate the quality of care our emergency medicine physicians provide to children—not only within our children’s hospital but also at all outlying facilities in our region. Achieving this requires fostering clinical excellence, ensuring adherence to evidence-based medicine and creating streamlined processes to optimize outcomes across diverse practice environments.

A pressing challenge in this endeavor is addressing nursing shortages. Ensuring safe staffing levels while maintaining the ability to provide high-quality, evidence-based care can be difficult, particularly in the high-stakes environment of pediatric emergency medicine. Inadequate staffing increases the risk of staff burnout and can lead to errors, compromising patient safety. Balancing workloads to prevent overburdening our teams, while also promoting collaboration between nursing and providers, is critical to sustaining a culture of safety and excellence in care delivery.

Navigating these challenges requires innovative strategies, such as leveraging multidisciplinary teamwork, developing efficient workflows and surge plans and enhancing staff recruitment and retention efforts. By prioritizing these areas, we can continue to provide the best possible care to the children in our communities.

Advice to Medical Professionals in Transitioning to Leadership Roles within Healthcare Organizations

My advice to medical professionals considering a transition into leadership roles within healthcare organizations is, admittedly, a bit cliché: follow your heart. If your career no longer feels fulfilling or you find that your contributions aren’t valued or appreciated to their fullest, it’s time to explore new opportunities. When I felt my own spark dimming, I made the decision to move on—and it was one of the best choices I’ve ever made.

Now, I work in an environment where I’m supported, challenged and deeply appreciated. I’m part of a company with a national footprint, dedicated to making a meaningful difference in healthcare. Here, I can work hard, embrace challenges and see tangible outcomes that directly improve the lives of children both locally and across the country.

Leadership is not just about managing others—it’s about creating impact, fostering innovation and ensuring quality care. My journey taught me that being in the right organization, one that values its leaders and providers, is crucial to thriving in this role. For anyone considering a similar transition, trust your instincts, seek out organizations that align with your values and never settle for less than a role where you feel empowered to make a difference.