In the six years he's been at Methodist Fayette Hospital, David Crislip has learned a lot. As administrator of Methodist Fayette, he is responsible for fiscal operations and all aspects of patient care at the hospital.

But working for a small rural hospital means wearing many hats, and when it's time to roll up his sleeves and help with patient care, David is ready for the task.

"Sometimes I help with patient care," he said. "I enjoy doing it. Helping patients is what I got into healthcare for. When it's time to provide care, I take the direction of those in charge. A big part of being a leader is learning how to listen and take direction from others."

A 2003 Maurice Elliott Leadership Institute graduate, David said the program has added to his ability to be a team leader.

"I was able to build relationships with other leaders in the system," he said. "I was able to get a better understanding of the strategic goals and mission of Methodist. I also gained a better appreciation of the importance of excellence in patient care. It is paramount. If you don't do everything with excellence in mind, you can't provide the best possible patient care."

David is proud of the innovation at Methodist. As a healthcare system, all the tools and resources necessary to help Associates and clinicians provide excellent care are available.

"I love working at Methodist, and I love my job," David said. "I have autonomy that matches my responsibility, and we're compensated well for what we do. We all have a voice, and we are treated with respect when we share it. I don't plan to leave until I retire, and a big reason for that is because I feel valued here. Everyone has the opportunity to impact patient care."