Geoffrey Silvera
Build Your Bouquet — Creating meaningful community (co-presentation with Dr. Katherine Meese and Dr. Laurence Boitet)
Social isolation and loneliness is a growing problem. Recent research has found that chronic loneliness is as bad for your health as smoking approximately 15 cigarettes per day. As our work environments change from in-person to hybrid or remote, we have new challenges in creating a sense of community and connections. In this interactive session, we will discuss what kinds of people we need to intentionally add to our communities and social networks, and practical ways of doing so.
We will frame the discussion around building a bouquet of flowers—a diverse network of people that enrich our career journeys and lives. Collecting hydrangeas and air plants, and avoiding Venus fly traps!
About Geoff:
Dr. Geoffrey Silvera is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Services Administration and a Director at the UAB Health Equity Leadership Academy, “The Academy,” at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He holds a PhD in Health Policy and Administration from the Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Silvera’s research interests include healthcare management, patient experience, care quality and safety, and health equity. His research has been published in leading healthcare management and policy journals, and he has been recognized with awards for his scholarly contributions. In addition to his research and teaching, Dr. Silvera is an active member of the healthcare community and a frequent speaker at healthcare conferences and events.
