Podcast Summary: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Episode: Purpose Driven Healthcare Leadership with Amber K. Brooks, MD, MS, Founder of Onward and Upward

Date: February 28, 2026
Host: Scott Becker
Guest: Dr. Amber K. Brooks

Episode Overview

This episode features Dr. Amber K. Brooks, a board-certified anesthesiologist, pain medicine physician, and executive leader. Dr. Brooks shares her career journey, discusses the crisis and opportunities facing healthcare leadership today, and introduces her new professional development platform, Onward and Upward. The conversation centers around developing purpose-driven, human-centered leaders in healthcare—highlighting the importance of presence, authenticity, and well-being for creating resilient organizations.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Dr. Brooks’ Background and Career

• Extensive experience spanning over 20 years in healthcare as a clinician, NIH-funded researcher, and executive leader.
• Current positions:
  • Vice Dean for Institutional Learning and Transformation, Wake Forest University School of Medicine
  • Vice Chief Academic Officer, Advocate Health
  • Founder of the leadership development platform, Onward and Upward
• Proud University of Iowa graduate and recent Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.
  • “It was a real privilege to be back to the place that really grew me up, trained me to become the physician leader that I am today.” (02:04)

The Genesis of Onward and Upward

• Motivation: Born out of witnessing the current "extreme headwinds" in healthcare—financial constraints, shifting landscapes, and leadership gaps.
• Inspiration: A pivotal conversation with a colleague:
  • “Amber, what if we could move from simply surviving this moment in healthcare to thriving?” (03:05)
• Purpose: Helps healthcare leaders shift from survival mode to thriving, with an emphasis on tactical human-centered skills—not just technical expertise.

The Void in Leadership Training

• Traditional medical training has emphasized clinical and technical skills over leadership development.
• Identified Need:
  • “When I was a medical school student, leadership development wasn’t a core part of my training. ... There was less emphasis on the leadership aspects.” (04:28)
• Onward and Upward aims to fill this gap, empowering leaders for roles such as Chief Medical Officer or Medical Director.

Executive Presence and the Power of Kindness

• Executive Presence: Defined by Dr. Brooks as being rooted in “purpose and kindness.”
  • “You can show up and be an extraordinarily brilliant leader ... but if you are not able to pull at the heartstrings of your teammates ... it really doesn’t matter.” (05:48)
• Retention & Inspiration: People leave or stay based on how valued and included they feel far more than just salary.
  • “People stay not always because of money, but because they feel like they are included in the mission.” (06:33)

The Critical Role of Workplace Culture

• Financial compensation is essential, but not sufficient.
  • “Money is of course just one part ... But people won’t stick around to a place they don’t like working at, where every day they wake up and they hate it.” (07:07)
• Cost of Turnover: Losing valuable leaders has a significant financial impact, especially during budgetary constraints. (07:16)

The Onward and Upward Platform: Principles and Progress

• Development Stage: Currently in process—updates available via Dr. Brooks’ LinkedIn (Dr. Amber K. Brooks on LinkedIn).
• Core Framework:
  • Orient leaders to their purpose (“Why”)
  • Foster environments of trust and personal well-being
    • “You can’t pour from an empty cup. ... You’ve got to make sure that you’re taking care of yourself behind the scenes.” (08:43)
  • Encourage authentic leadership rooted in kindness, not merely niceness:
    • “It doesn’t cost $1 to smile and to show up and to say hello and to be present with your teammates ... their ROI is priceless.” (09:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Leadership Training’s Gaps
  “There’s a real void. I think that’s really the elephant in the room.” — Dr. Brooks (04:50)

• On Charismatic Leadership
  “Executive presence, which for me is rooted in purpose and kindness, is really important ... because people ultimately leave ... because of poor, ineffective leadership.” — Dr. Brooks (05:48)

• On Retention
  “People stay not always because of money, but because they feel like they are included in the mission.” — Dr. Brooks (06:33)

• On Self-Care for Leaders
  “You can’t pour from an empty cup. ... If you’re going to show up as your best self ... make sure you’re taking care of yourself behind the scenes.” — Dr. Brooks (08:43)

• On Authenticity and Kindness in Leadership
  “For me, what authenticity looks like is kindness. Not to be mistaken with niceness, but kindness.” — Dr. Brooks (09:05)

• On Purpose as Leadership Motivation
  “My advice to emerging leaders is to really hone in on your why.” — Dr. Brooks (09:58)

• Patient Story:
  “She looked at me with tears in her eyes and she said, ‘Dr. Brooks, you saved my marriage. People in my life say I’m a different person.’ ... And that’s, Scott, why I keep showing up every single day.” — Dr. Brooks (10:37)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Dr. Brooks’ background and current roles: 00:23–01:32
• University of Iowa roots and alumni award: 02:04–02:28
• Onward and Upward’s origin and purpose: 02:38–04:21
• Leadership training gaps in healthcare: 04:28–05:20
• Executive presence and culture: 05:48–07:16
• Workplace culture, pay, and retention: 07:16–08:10
• Platform framework (purpose, trust, well-being, authenticity): 08:10–09:37
• Advice to emerging leaders and the importance of “why”: 09:58–11:24
• Inspirational patient story: 10:37–11:24

Closing

Dr. Brooks advocates for a new kind of healthcare leadership—one that merges technical acumen with deeply rooted humanity and kindness. Her platform, Onward and Upward, seeks to nurture these principles in current and emerging healthcare leaders, promoting resilience, inclusion, and a renewed sense of purpose in tough times. For updates or to learn more, connect with Dr. Brooks on LinkedIn.

For the full conversation and more leadership insights, find this episode on the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast feed.