Saturday, August 25, 2018

"WE STILL HAVE WORK TO BE DONE . . .'




  DR. STEVE SCOGGIN

It  was  not a retirement luncheon; he is way too young for that and with too many innovative ideas, responsibilities and energy stores.
Dr. Steve Scoggin became President of CareNet in 2001.  Now that role goes to my former  counseling colleague, Bryan Hatcher.

Formerly known as the Pastoral Counseling Center, CareNet is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Under Steve's leadership, CareNet became the largest hospital-based counseling and psychotherapy network in the nation.  But I am getting ahead of the story.

In 2001, our network faced several challenges.  The Director of our local center told me that if anyone could move things forward, it would be Steve, the Executive Director of the relatively new center in the down East town of Greenville.  For three years while his son completed his high school career there, Steve weekly commuted the long drive between home and office.  He and I were often together in the Chaplaincy Department's house which he quickly dubbed 'the monastery'.

Mark Twain supposedly wrote that there are "lies, damned lies and statistics".  Still, there are impressive stats such as these: During Steve's tenure, CareNet grew from 6 Regional Centers across the state to 10.  Within the Regions  there are 30 offices serving individuals and families in 80 of the state's 100 counties as well as in four adjoining states.  In 2001, the counseling staffs generated 18,000 hours of therapy.  This last fiscal year, that number had grown in excess of  50,000 hours. The reserve of operating funds has likewise grown. And, the Residency training program in faith-integrated therapy (not the same as 'faith-based') has resumed. (Just last week, nine Residents were graduated from that three year program.) And while those kinds of numbers capture some of the vitality of the recent past, on their own they do not convey the influence, vision and personal qualities of the man.

As a clinician as well as administrator, Steve sometime ago became
an Assistant Professor in  Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine and Associate Vice-President of Behavioral Health at the hospital.  Now, as consequence of transitions occurring  within Psychiatry, the Hospital's CEO has appointed him Interim Chair of that Department.  These expanding responsibilities meant a passing of the 'mantel of leadership' for CareNet.

So, yesterday family, friends, colleagues gathered for a luncheon in his honor.  It was a grand event with speeches, songs, gifts, tears, and other expressions of gratitude.  Steve's 'compassion' and encouragements were threads that ran through many of the comments.  

In his response to the tributes, Dr. Scoggin commented that a mantra-like phrase he often uses is "Thanks for having me".  He elaborated that within the phrase were sentiments such as: for   'welcoming me into your life', for 'trusting me enough to labor together for clients and community'; for 'giving me the benefit of the doubt even when I didn't deserve it'; for 'caring for me in spite of myself'; for 'risking your truth and honesty with me'.

While I have on many occasions personally experienced his encouragement, one particular period stands out.  'Ageism' is a sorry reality within many occupations and professions.  At no time have I encountered that 'beast' in my years with CareNet. In 2006, when I was 68 years old, Steve asked me to consider dividing my time between my Winston-Salem office where I had an established practice and becoming Executive Director of a part-time center elsewhere in the state.  The Director (and only therapist) there was retiring.  Throughout my six year tenure as ED, Steve provided constant encouragement and support. 

During one of our state-wide Directors meetings, Steve made an observation that crystallized a key distinction of human functioning.  During a clinical exercise, I quoted another clinician's statement that many persons who experience high anxiety are generally considered to be 'nice'.  Steve responded, "Nice is overrated." Wow!  He continued, "I have never been especially concerned to be considered 'nice'." Double Wow !  "But,  I am   big on compassion."  When someone is 'nice', public opinion  is the main informer of our actions; 'compassion' and 'kindnesssuggest  that we do the Right thing because it's the Right thing to do.  Subsequently, I have found this to be a useful distinction . 

Now, Steve turns his expansive energy and compassion to an even larger scope of service for Mental Health needs.  At the conclusion of my brief comments yesterday, Steve affirmed  that "we still have work to be done !" 

     Satchel





1 comment:

  1. Ron, Thanks for the gracious--and true--reflection on this phase of Steve's work with CareN yet. I had the chance to see only 6 years of that work, which was filled with plenty of challenges (EPIC and Medicaid come to mind). And you'll note that I finished the time with Steve's celebration by saying that "we still have you!." His next lap is still within Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center flying in formation with FaithHealth. Pretty cool.

    ReplyDelete