Dr. Sowmya Viswanathan has more than 10 years of diverse leadership experience as a Physician Executive with significant accomplishments in developing managed care strategies, integrating delivery systems, designing, planning and implementing performance improvement initiatives, case management and utilization management systems. Has been actively involved in giving direction to medical staff on identification of best methods to reduce risk in healthcare management matters relating to accountable care, physician engagement, working with transformation of payor system to better align with the needs of providers and members, and the use of leading technology in support of the new models of health care.

She has executed the “Patient Centered Medical Home Initiative” for health centers and for the health plan and now involved in the “Primary Care Payment Reform Initiative”. She has proven record of developing and achieving efficiency strategies and quality control processes.

She is a Primary Care Physician who has risen to management position as Regional Chief of Internal Medicine and Primary Care at a multi-hospital system – Southcoast Hospitals. She has held positions of Physician Quality Officer at UMass, Medical Director of Westborough Nursing and Rehab Center, Medical Director at Harvard Pilgrim Health Plan & Network Health/ Tufts Health Plans.

I have always been fascinated and intrigued by the concept of problems & solutions. In Heathcare, this would be synonymous with diagnosis & treatment concept. I also like to implement strategies and work towards outcome-focused work. Additionally, I acknowledge that my personality trait as someone who is compassionate, people-oriented, and who likes problem solving. Healthcare or Medicine is a profession that is in several ways apt for me and I am therefore naturally drawn to it.

Could you tell us a little about your work? 

I have been a Primary Care Physician at UMass Memorial hospital and Newton Wellesley Hospital. I was then attracted to healthcare management and administration which prompted me to get a HealthCare MBA degree as well. Have held various management positions as Physician Quality Officer at UMass, Medical Director of nursing homes, Associate Medical Director at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Medical Director at Network Health/ Tufts Health Plan. 

I have now moved on to South Coast Hospitals Group as the Regional Chief of Internal Medicine and Primary Care. I am also on the Senior leadership/ Physician Executive team of NorthStar Preferred Plan (South coast health plan). I will continue my Primary Care practice on a part-time basis through these various positions.

What motivated you to move into an administrative position at the hospital? 

Administrative or Management positions in any field are not for everyone. Some people would be considered “visionaries”, others “doers” and yet others would be “implementers”. I think all of us as individuals should realistically know our personality types and know what we want out of life, what we have passion for and what we are good at. This new position that I have accepted is something that I am really excited about and hope to accomplish some valuable and quantifiable results. I was motivated by the fact that this organization is on expansion mode and the leadership team inspires creativity, innovation and has positive energy overall.

My passion in medicine and interest in “Doing no harm” while providing the right care for people.

Discipline, perseverance and positive attitude have been key to my life. 

I have had failures too. But instead of buckling down from the failures, I believe they have only strengthened me to rise above them.

There is a dearth of “Women in leadership positions” unlike what many people are led to believe. So, if there are women leaders who would like to rise to the occasion, they should realize that there is a lot of room up at the top !

Providing the right type of care to all. I am also involved in some International work (through the Lown Institute) which is working on “International Right Care Collaborative”. At the present time, we are working on this at the National level and will be taking it to the International platform soon (The Lancet ran an editorial recently about this).

 

Good time management is key to this balance. I work smartly when I am at work, make efficient use of the time, so I don’t have to take “work” back home.

Say “Yes” to small things in life and “No” to bigger things. This strategy works and the kids/ children will actually listen to us ! Many parents are so used to saying “No” to children right from younger age, that when they grow up, they start ignoring parents’ “No” and don’t take it seriously.  

Reading fiction and non-fiction books. I love “Socializing” too.

I have done extensive work with Utilization management departments in both hospital setting and Insurance setting. That just means standardizing provision of cost-effective care to all while maintaining “Quality”. I am hoping to extend this work further in my new position as Chief of Primary Care & Medicine.

I hope to extend this type of work from the National level in USA to the International platform – perhaps via work being done at The Lown Institute, or any other organizations who may be interested in joining hands. Worldbank and WHO are doing some similar work with some other countries in Africa and Asia.

 

My father – Mr. S. Nagarajan, his level of discipline at all levels of life is a true inspiration. I admire him for his dedication to health and wellness. His interest in reading books and gaining knowledge every day (even at his current age of 75) is also something I try to emulate.

Dr. Carolyn Langer – she is currently the Chief Medical Officer of MassHealth. She is a physician, a lawyer and mother of four children. And even at this stage of her extremely busy life, she talks about how she’d love to go for an MBA degree ! She is somebody who I have learnt the art of “work-life” balance.

My husband is Mr. Naray Viswanathan : His ever encouraging attitude to pursue my dreams. He would give me his insight and input on various career steps I have taken with appropriate constructive feedback, but would eventually tell me that “I need to make my own decisions”.

We both balance each other well as far as work-life balance or parenting goes.  

“Live in the moment” and that “everything happens for a GOOD reason”. To learn form the lows and move on.

I love to do Cardio every morning (Elliptical or treadmill). Yoga is something three times a week.

We go to the temple as a family during religious festivals and on special occasions such as Birthdays. We have two sons: Surya (aged 22) and Kaushik (aged 17) and we like to inculcate the value of our heritage, culture & traditions without forcing or thrusting it on them. 

Drink plenty of water !

Malcolm Gladwell – author of “Blink”, “Outliers” and “Tipping Point”.

Ilayaraja undoubtedly!

Yes. Tadka/ Spinach Daal.