The Saint Louis University Sacred Heart Medical Center (SLU-SHMC) conducted the SLU-SHMC 2026 Leadership Forum, themed “Future-Forward Leadership: Quality-Focused Hospital Management,” at the Fr. Theophile Verbist Hall, SLU-SHMC on 03 March 2026.
The program was opened by SLU-SHMC Medical Center Chief Dr. Paul Adlai Quitiquit. He set the tone of the event with a sentiment: “Leadership today is foresight.” Dr. Quitiquit said that this workshop aims to inspire hospital leaders to continually build aspirations for the betterment of the institution and to encourage them to be future-ready, able to develop innovative solutions.
Thereafter, Tondo Medical Center Chief Dr. Maria Isabelita M. Estrella was introduced as the keynote speaker-facilitator for the lecture titled “Quality at the Core: A Future-Forward Approach to Hospital Leadership.” She began by sharing a brief background of her career and how she has reached the position of Medical Center Chief because of her personal call to leadership. She then discussed how a future-forward leader is crucial in a dynamic field such as healthcare.
Future-Forward Leadership Mindset
Along the backdrop of an evolving healthcare landscape and the increasing demand for accessible, equitable, high-quality care, Dr. Estrella elaborated on what constitutes a future-forward leadership style– describing it as being proactive, data-informed, and open to innovation. She then detailed how prospects for leadership may vary across contexts, as seen between public and private hospitals. Dr. Estrella underscored that even in different contexts, the same goal remains achievable through building and maintaining cultures and practices in the workplace.
Quality Management
Dr. Estrella emphasized that quality management is a key concept in leadership. Quality in hospital management entails effective patient-centered care and timely service. She illustrated that leadership itself creates a “culture quality” that cascades across organizations. Through quality checks and standards, ideal leaders are fostered.
Learning & Development
Furthermore, Dr. Estrella noted that it is imperative to continually enhance the skills and knowledge of healthcare professionals through training programs and workshops. She stated, “Principles are there, but experiences are not rich.” She mentioned different methods, such as seminars, development training, supervisory development course tracks, and establishing hospital rules that promote health and wellness among its staff first and foremost.
Collaboration
She concluded her lecture by affirming how collaboration improves both hospitals and their leaders. Dr. Estrella stated that collaboration is always better than competition; leaders and hospitals should always be willing to offer services to one another, cultivating partnerships. She reiterated that, although leaders in different contexts may differ, their goal is one and the same.
Following Dr. Estrella’s lecture, the Open Forum and Q&A commenced. She answered various questions such as about empowering hospital leaders, guidelines for building hospital culture, and strategies for leaders to accommodate everyone fairly. Her perspectives proved to be unique and valuable, providing insights into the systems and strategies of public healthcare.
The program formally closed with an awarding of a certificate to Dr. Estrella and closing remarks from SHMC Hospital Administrator Dr. Myrna Espiritu.
This leadership forum marked not only a first for SLU-SHMC but also set an example for other hospitals and units in initiating meaningful and fruitful conversations on hospital leadership, aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). (Article by Kassandra Marie Lucero, UIO Intern | Photos by Mariam Qatarina Santos, UIO Intern)
