Doug Lawson Serves as Keynote Speaker for Fall BLAST Luncheon

Dallas, TX - Doug Lawson, chief operating officer for Baylor University Medical Center, served as the keynote speaker for the DBU College of Business's Fall BLAST (Business Luncheon And Seminar Training) event held on October 21. Lawson joined the Baylor Health Care System in 2007 as president of Baylor Grapevine. In his current role, he oversees all operating aspects of Baylor and has responsibility for Baylor's oncology, transplant, and neuroscience departments. No stranger to Dallas Baptist University, Lawson is entering the third year of his doctoral program at DBU, the Ph.D. in Leadership Studies.

During the luncheon, Lawson shared the current state of the American healthcare system and provided insight for the ways in which organizations can adapt to changes within their industry.

"Healthcare is entering a time of significant change, and many of our traditional assumptions are being challenged," Lawson said. "Change is tough, but we have to be able to change and adapt as the environment around us begins to shift."

Going through a brief history of Baylor Health Care Systems, Lawson explained how the organization adapted to change throughout the years, from its beginning as a small, single hospital to its current status as a health care system with multiple hospitals and branches throughout North and Central Texas. Through it all, Baylor maintained its focus on its mission--being a Christian ministry of healing for all people.

Lawson stated, "It is a humbling thought to think about working within an organization with such a long legacy of outstanding leadership and to serve alongside staff and doctors and nurses who make it their life's work to take care of patients."

Maintaining a focus on mission, as well as being willing to change, Lawson explained, provides part of the foundation for successful organizations. In addition, there has to be a commitment to providing strong leadership at every level, as well as the drive to rise above mediocrity.

While mission, adaptability, leadership, and drive can help organizations face changes, at the end of the day for Lawson, the greatest attribute is trust.

"When we talk about change," Lawson said, "and I am up awake at night worrying about what is going to happen next and how do I anticipate this change or that change and how do I work with the staff to help them understand what is next, I always go back to this, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.'"