Welcome to the Department of Surgery's Workforce Development and Engagement website!
Workforce development and engagement are essential for fostering a productive and innovative work environment. By investing in professional growth, skill-building, and leadership opportunities, organizations can enhance job satisfaction, improve retention, and drive overall performance. When employees feel valued, supported, and empowered, they are more likely to contribute meaningfully, collaborate effectively, and remain committed to the organization’s mission. A well-developed workforce leads to better problem-solving, increased adaptability, and a stronger, more resilient team.
In healthcare, workforce development and engagement are especially critical to ensuring high-quality patient care and operational efficiency. A well-supported and continuously trained healthcare team is better equipped to adapt to evolving medical advancements, improve patient outcomes, and navigate complex clinical challenges. When healthcare professionals feel engaged and empowered, they are more likely to provide compassionate, patient-centered care, work collaboratively across disciplines, and contribute to a positive workplace culture that enhances both improved patient outcomes, staff well-being, and overall system performance.
Taking into consideration the values and principles shared above, we are excited to outline our mission, vision, and strategic plan for our academic, clinical, and research areas. We hope you find the information valuable and informative.
Our commitment to you is to create an engaging and supportive workplace that empowers every team member to reach their full potential. This includes providing essential resources, enhancing policies, anticipating and addressing workplace challenges and cultivating an environment of growth and opportunity. We are also dedicated to expanding educational efforts that enhance professional development and teamwork, ensuring all members of our community feel valued and supported.
Through these initiatives, our surgical community—comprised of clinicians, learners, staff, and patients—will thrive as we navigate the complexities of the surgical field together.
Thank you for your support,
Rian Hasson
The Department of Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital seeks to build a team that reflects a broad range of perspectives and experiences, championing fairness and engagement. By recognizing and addressing the unique challenges faced by individuals from all backgrounds in medicine, including our staff, learners, and patients, we aim to create a workplace where each member feels empowered to be their authentic selves. Our goal is to advocate for individuals, policies, resources, and practices that support a just and welcoming environment for all and to cultivate a space where everyone can thrive through the process of surgical health care delivery.
Workforce Development: In healthcare refers to the strategic planning, education, training, and career advancement initiatives designed to enhance the skills, knowledge, and overall effectiveness of healthcare professionals. It encompasses a broad range of activities, including medical education, professional certification programs, leadership training, mentorship, and pipeline initiatives aimed at preparing future healthcare workers. Effective workforce development ensures that healthcare teams remain up to date with advancements in medical research, technology, and best practices while also addressing workforce shortages, skill gaps, and evolving patient care needs.
A strong workforce development strategy also emphasizes expanding opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. By creating pathways for individuals who may have faced obstacles to entering or advancing in healthcare careers, organizations can build a workforce that better reflects the varied communities they serve. This approach strengthens patient-provider connections, enhances problem-solving through representative viewpoints, and fosters innovation in care delivery.
In addition to clinical training, workforce development includes strengthening interpersonal skills such as communication, teamwork, and cultural awareness—essential for providing high-quality, patient-centered care. Prioritizing workforce development not only improves job satisfaction and career longevity but also ensures a healthcare system that is more responsive, adaptable, and capable of meeting the needs of all patients.
Workforce Engagement: In healthcare refers to the level of commitment, motivation, and emotional investment that healthcare professionals have in their work, organization, and patient care responsibilities. It reflects how connected employees feel to their roles and how empowered they are to contribute meaningfully to their workplace. Engaged healthcare workers demonstrate higher job satisfaction, improved collaboration, and increased resilience in high-stress environments.
A key aspect of workforce engagement is fostering a work environment where all team members feel valued, heard, and supported in their professional growth. This means ensuring that employees have opportunities to share their perspectives, contribute to decision-making, and see their unique skills and backgrounds recognized as assets to the team. When individuals feel respected and encouraged to bring their full selves to work, they are more likely to remain engaged, perform at their highest potential, and contribute to a strong, cohesive team.
Additionally, organizations that prioritize engagement cultivate a workplace where mentorship, open communication, and trust are embedded into daily operations. This leads to greater collaboration across disciplines, improved patient outcomes, and a healthcare workforce that is both resilient and deeply committed to its mission.
Rian M. Hasson, MD, MPH Vice Chair, WD&E
Dr. Rian M. Hasson serves as a thoracic surgeon and the inaugural vice chair for Workforce Development and Engagement in the Department of Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Born and raised in Southern California, she earned her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley. Subsequently, she attended medical school at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, followed by general surgery training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She completed her cardiothoracic residency at The Ohio State University and received additional training in thoracic surgery at the Mayo Clinic. Prior to joining the Brigham, she worked at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, along with the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice.
In her current role as vice chair for Workforce Development and Engagement, Dr. Hasson emphasizes the link between patient access to care, health outcomes, and the Brigham’s commitment to workforce development and engagement.
Since joining the department of surgery, she has implemented initiatives to improve faculty and trainee recruitment and retention and uphold the pledge to ensure we develop, sustain, and engage our entire workforce through resource building, connection and collaboration to drive excellence in our delivery of healthcare.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling internationally, cooking, and engaging in the arts.
Ashley N. Morales-Garcia Program Director, WD&E
Ashley Morales-Garcia, MHA, is a dedicated administrative professional committed to workforce development of faculty, trainees and staff from a clinical and administrative perspective. Driven by collaborative efforts, her objective is to champion initiatives that cultivate a more efficient and fulfilling work environment for all at Brigham Surgery.
Morales-Garcia has been with Brigham Surgery since 2019. Her primary responsibilities include providing support to the vice chairs of Workforce Development & Engagement and Faculty Development in the implementation and advancement of high-level initiatives. These programs encompass the Faculty Development Series; Faculty Annual Reviews (F.A.R.); physician and resident wellness; recruitment and retention of faculty, learners, and staff; and data and research collection.
Morales-Garcia is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, where she majored in psychology and pre-medical sciences. She graduated summa cum laude with a master’s degree in health care administration from Boston College Woods College of Advancing Studies.
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