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Responsible: A Memoir
The riveting and deeply personal account of a CEO who leads a major medical center in southern California through the acute phase and aftermath of a deadly workplace shooting.
It offers profound insight into the effects of trauma on individuals and on the culture of an organization -- an organization that had previously felt safe, and even immune, to acts of violence occurring within it. In a gripping narrative, the author captures the impact of the shooting on leaders and staff who are accustomed to working in an environment where trauma victims are brought to the hospital for life-saving care, but who find themselves unexpectedly responding to their own tragedy -- a tragedy that is further complicated when the identity of the shooter and his rumored motive are revealed.
The book addresses the unique dilemmas faced by the organization and its leader and exposes the multiple perspectives that emerge as people search for answers to why it happened and whether it could have been prevented.
It unflinchingly examines the boundary between the personal and professional for the CEO as she guides the organization amidst the life-shattering event, through subsequent re-traumatization, and throughout the arc of the healing process.
Her struggle to come to terms with her own developing symptoms of PTSD and her experience as a vulnerable patient are conveyed with a candid and poignant honesty that offers hope and understanding to anyone who has experienced trauma or tragedy -- and deeper insight and awareness for everyone else.
It offers profound insight into the effects of trauma on individuals and on the culture of an organization -- an organization that had previously felt safe, and even immune, to acts of violence occurring within it. In a gripping narrative, the author captures the impact of the shooting on leaders and staff who are accustomed to working in an environment where trauma victims are brought to the hospital for life-saving care, but who find themselves unexpectedly responding to their own tragedy -- a tragedy that is further complicated when the identity of the shooter and his rumored motive are revealed.
The book addresses the unique dilemmas faced by the organization and its leader and exposes the multiple perspectives that emerge as people search for answers to why it happened and whether it could have been prevented.
It unflinchingly examines the boundary between the personal and professional for the CEO as she guides the organization amidst the life-shattering event, through subsequent re-traumatization, and throughout the arc of the healing process.
Her struggle to come to terms with her own developing symptoms of PTSD and her experience as a vulnerable patient are conveyed with a candid and poignant honesty that offers hope and understanding to anyone who has experienced trauma or tragedy -- and deeper insight and awareness for everyone else.
265 pages, Paperback
Published March 31, 2020
4 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Diana Hendel
3 books3 followersDr. Diana Hendel is a healthcare executive with more than 25 years of experience leading at all levels of complex organizations. She served as CEO of one of the largest hospital complexes on the US West Coast and has held key leadership roles in the California Children’s Hospital Association, Hospital Association of Southern California, and the Southern California Leadership Council. She has also served as chair of the Greater Long Beach Chamber of Commerce and as the Leader-in-Residence at the Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership at California State University Long Beach.
Diana has spoken at numerous regional and national conferences on the topics of healthcare and leadership and presented at TEDx SoCal in 2011 (“Childhood Obesity: Small Steps, Big Change”). She earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences from UC Irvine and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from UC San Francisco.
Currently, Diana is the Senior Partner at Partnership Advantage, a consulting firm dedicated to helping individuals and teams achieve optimal performance and cultivate strong and healthy organizational cultures.
Diana has spoken at numerous regional and national conferences on the topics of healthcare and leadership and presented at TEDx SoCal in 2011 (“Childhood Obesity: Small Steps, Big Change”). She earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences from UC Irvine and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from UC San Francisco.
Currently, Diana is the Senior Partner at Partnership Advantage, a consulting firm dedicated to helping individuals and teams achieve optimal performance and cultivate strong and healthy organizational cultures.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 4, 2020
As an employee of Long Beach Memorial at the time of a work-place shooting, I was intrigued to read the CEO’s memoir about her experience leading the organization through such a trying time. I respect her honesty about her journey with PTSD and her struggle with feeling “responsible” for lives lost. An interesting read about a topic that’s not commonly discussed.
June 8, 2020
In this raw account of a double-murder and suicide of and by hospital employees at the hospital run by Hendel, she teaches us what it feels like to be the person in charge – the one responsible - for an organization during and after a horrific episode. We come to understand that no level of preparation, well-thought out response, or long period of reflection, can erase the event from our psyche. But in the end, and after grappling with her own questions about whether she could have done anything different, Hendel learns, and we learn, that no matter how much we research, prepare, plan, anticipate, practice, and think we are in control, bad things can happen. And the best lesson of all. We can survive and ultimately grow in the wake of unthinkable horror.
This is an important read for anyone who holds, or has ever held, a decision-making role in any organization. Health care professionals, school administrators or teachers, and managers and employees at companies large or small. Parents, too. And anyone who has ever been a patient at a medical facility or who is focused on self care. And of course, anyone who has ever experienced trauma. Simply stated, this is a very good read for everyone, and especially so during a pandemic. In a time when it seems there are no clear answers, we can and must make good choices to optimize positive outcomes for ourselves and others.
Five stars!
This is an important read for anyone who holds, or has ever held, a decision-making role in any organization. Health care professionals, school administrators or teachers, and managers and employees at companies large or small. Parents, too. And anyone who has ever been a patient at a medical facility or who is focused on self care. And of course, anyone who has ever experienced trauma. Simply stated, this is a very good read for everyone, and especially so during a pandemic. In a time when it seems there are no clear answers, we can and must make good choices to optimize positive outcomes for ourselves and others.
Five stars!
April 24, 2020
"Responsible: A Memoire" is a brave reliving of horrific trauma. Author Diana Hendel expertly brings the reader into the experience, sharing her thoughts and emotions as the ticking seconds felt like days. As harrowing as the trauma was, it is the legacy impact of the trauma on a successful executive and her ability to share her vulnerability in raw detail that makes the book a must read. Her ability to get to the other side illustrates the real power of grit and resilience. A remarkable journey and a riveting read.
May 4, 2020
Diana wrote an amazing memoir of a very difficult, traumatic time while maintaining a leadership role. I would say not only did she maintain that leadership role, she excelled at it because of her connection to people and her vulnerability. I am currently reading “Daring Greatly” and Diana’s memoir embodies the spirit of what Brene Brown tells us.
July 20, 2021
An incredible book. I read it as part of my UCSF alumni book club. As a former Hospital Admin who had a shooting at my hospital, it really hit home. Our shooter was a patient vs her internal employee. But any hospital admin will still replay the shooting incident over & over years later wondering what they could have done to prevent the event.
May 16, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. The narrative was fluid and Ms. Hendel was honest about her feelings and what she experienced during this tragedy. She offers easy and doable guidelines for facing a crisis, whether at work or in one's personal life.
May 19, 2020
This was a fabulous read. The authors choice of words engulfed my soul. They were so descriptive I couldn’t put the book down. This has been one of the best books I have read in a very long time.
August 17, 2020
Very honest and moving memoir.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews