MHA Leadership Dialogue: Leading through Complexity, Change and Uncertainty
Right Honourable Josie Osborne and Fiona Dalton in Conversation about Leading through Complexity, Change and Uncertainty
UBC Master of Health Administration (MHA) students, alumni, incoming students, and faculty attended the Master of Health Administration (MHA) Leadership Dialogue, held on June 13th, 2025, in UBC’s Robson Square campus in downtown Vancouver. Featuring an executive leadership panel – the Right Honourable Josie Osborne (Health Minister, British Columbia), Fiona Dalton (President and CEO, Providence Healthcare), and moderated by Jennifer Duff (UBC Adjunct Professor, and Chief Operating Offer, B.C. Mental Health and Substance Use Service), attendees were given a unique experience of listening to the honest and humble conversation about what leadership looks like in times of complexity, change and uncertainty in healthcare.
The MHA Leadership Dialogue was established in 2018 as part of the SPHA 564 Leadership and Management Skills course, which was held June 13-15th. As the final scheduled course of the MHA curriculum, students discuss critical issues in healthcare and examine leadership styles, tools, and approaches to be successful in today’s complex healthcare system. The Leadership Dialogue was a wonderful opportunity for students to hear the perspectives of executive leaders and learn how they navigate and lead during crisis and challenge.
Showing up as a Leader
This year, students were treated with the insightful perspectives of Minister Osborne and Fiona Dalton, who shared their own leadership journey, as well as the lessons learned and the values they hold. Recognizing the incredible work of healthcare employees and the constraints of the system, Minister Osborne spoke about the importance of “showing up” as a leader and talked about her experiences in leadership when “hard decisions” need to be made. Minister Osborne shared that despite some decisions being very difficult, it is also a function of leading, particularly in our health system where the resources are not infinite.
Minister Osborne also congratulated the 2nd year MHA students (Cohort 22), who will be graduating from the program this fall and acknowledged them for deciding to further their education in healthcare leadership and administration to advance themselves professionally and improve the system.
Dalton reminisced of experiences as a health leader in the United Kingdom prior to her role in Providence Health Care, and how those experiences have shaped the values she holds now, as President and CEO of Providence Health Care. She encouraged students to develop strong values which will anchor themselves as leaders during challenging times. Speaking about her commitment to Indigenous reconciliation, students were both inspired and moved by her value-based approach to leadership.
From left to right: Right Honourable Minister Josie Osborne, Fiona Dalton, and Jennifer Duff.
Photo credit: Edward Chang
Having the opportunity to spend an hour-long conversation in such an intimate and personable forum with two senior health leaders was truly remarkable. Students left the talk feeling inspired and optimistic about healthcare.
Jennifer Duff, who moderated Leadership Dialogue for the third time and is responsible for assembling the panel, reflects on the importance of holding these conversations in healthcare now.
“The Dialogue represents a unique opportunity for future, current and former students in the MHA to listen and learn from senior leaders in the system of care. I was really struck by how humble and honest both Minister Osborne and Fiona were during the dialogue. They each spoke very openly about challenges as leaders and provided some optimism for the future of health care and leadership. The Dialogue makes me proud to be a leader in the BC health system.”
The MHA program held a celebratory reception following the Leadership Dialogue event, and MHA Director, Dr. Nick Bansback, presented graduation awards to a few members of the graduating class.
From left to right: Yaara Nouri, Carla Whynott, Haley Harris, Marilyn Sun, Justin Cheng, Paige Courtice.
Photo credit: Edward Chang
About the UBC MHA Program
The MHA Program is a 24-month healthcare leadership Master’s degree program designed for healthcare professionals. Offering a hybrid modality of teaching and learning, MHA students attend courses one weekend a month and register in courses that relate to prepare them to lead change process through analytical financial and strategic orientation, while translating their vision and strategy towards optimal organizational performance with communication skills, performance measurement and project management. For more about the MHA program, please visit here.