KonsultaMD’s Chelsea Elizabeth Samson on why kindness goes a long way in healthcare

The chief business and medical affairs officer of the Philippine-based online healthcare aggregator app discusses the importance of empathy in impacting one's productivity and success at work

Having the brains and perseverance doesn’t always enable one to succeed in the healthcare industry. Although they are important qualities, having a heart is also essential.

“There is a misconception that in a technical world, expertise and strength are the only things you need to succeed; and that there is no room to be kind,” says Chelsea Elizabeth Samson, the chief business and medical affairs officer of KonsultaMD, a Philippine-based healthcare aggregator app that offers online consultations, medicine delivery and clinic and diagnostic booking. “On the contrary, while technical skills will get you through the door, soft skills are what will take you forward.

“We get to practice kindness the most during difficult times,” she adds. And in these moments, she says that the best reminder to do so is to ground ourselves and think how we would want to be treated. “If we want people to treat us gently in our darkest moments, we should do the same for others.”

Above Samson reiterates the importance of kindness in business and healthcare (Photo: Wesley Villarica)

Recently recognised among the 50 Leading Lights of Asia Pacific honouring kindness in leadership, Samson says being kind in healthcare requires a genuine interest in the patient.

“Healthcare providers need to intentionally make the effort to step back and respect a patient’s feelings, needs and situation. While it is easier said than done, it is doable with time and practice,” she says.

Of course, being in healthcare often necessitates toeing a fine line between the professional and the personal. For this, Samson, who is a medical doctor herself, advises caregivers and providers to listen to their own emotions.

“By accepting and respecting the emotions that you feel while providing care, you can avoid and mitigate the stress and burden that leads to burnout. Knowing when to take space to ensure physical and emotional wellbeing is part of being kind to ourselves and ultimately, to our patients.”

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In addition to practising compassion and empathy towards patients, these are also essential for leaders in any industry. Being a generous mentor, for instance, can mean a lot for young professionals—and Samson knows this firsthand.

Sharing her own experience with a leader who was kind to her at the beginning of her career: “Going through some professional struggles a few years ago, I had a difficult time coping with what I needed to do. My leader saw that and held space for me to feel what I needed to feel and share what I needed to share. Her compassion allowed me to be authentic to myself and acknowledge my situation with grace. That enabled me to collect myself and accomplish the task set for me.

“There was no better way to concretise the effects of kindness on my productivity afterwards. I promised myself to do the same for others if given the same opportunity.”

We all want to feel connected, whether it's to a brand, a story, a community or to each other. In using kindness to build that, we align with and promote the kind of world we want to live in

- Chelsea Elizabeth Samson -

In a leadership capacity—whether in healthcare or not—kindness often necessitates honesty, integrity and understanding. It is what makes a productive workplace and can have lasting personal and professional impacts on those we lead.

“In the long run, kindness encourages collaborative work and mutual support, which has a profound impact on productivity and engagement,” says Samson. “At the end of it all, we all want to feel connected, whether it's to a brand, a story, a community or to each other. In using kindness to build that, we align with and promote the kind of world we want to live in.”

Meet more inspiring leaders in Healthcare and Science on the Gen.T List 2023.

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Topics

Leadership Healthcare Philippines Medical Wellness

Tatler Asia

Why there’s always time for kindness in leadership, according to KonsultaMD’s Chelsea Elizabeth Samson