Jacqueline A. Ciron-Angeles, MD, MBA, EMDRCM | Leadership in Medicine: Asia Pacific
Jacqueline A. Ciron-Angeles, MD, MBA, EMDRCM, is a practicing Ear, Nose, and Throat surgeon and seasoned health care administrator. She is the incoming Chief Operating Officer at FEU-NRMF Medical Center, a part of the Healthway Medical Network in Metro Manila, Philippines. Ciron-Angeles embarked on a journey in leadership development through Harvard Medical School’s Leadership in Medicine program, where she learned how to apply the power of adaptive leadership to complex challenges in health care.
Recognizing the Need for Adaptive Leadership
With a distinguished career spanning clinical practice, fellowships in the Philippines and Europe, and administrative roles, Ciron-Angeles transitioned to administrative roles in 2015, inspired by a leadership seminar that prompted her to envision her career path. By 2017, she had enrolled in the prestigious Ateneo Graduate School of Business and earned her business degree. However, she recognized a critical gap in her leadership skills specific to health care, particularly in managing systemic complexities and leading organizational change.
“I realized that I needed more than technical expertise—I needed to understand how to lead people through uncertainty and inspire teams to innovate,” she shares. The Leadership in Medicine program provided the advanced training, tools, and strategies required to excel in her role as medical director of the Medical City Group, one of the Philippines’ largest hospital networks. This experience has enabled Ciron-Angeles to implement innovative and sustainable practices that have transformed health care delivery.
Leadership Through Crises
The program's profound impact was evident during a critical juncture – a devastating earthquake that struck her previous hospital. She embraced the concept of adaptive leadership, famously defined by Professor Ronald Heifetz, senior lecturer Harvard Kennedy School, as thriving in a state of disequilibrium to foster growth. This principle, coupled with strategies for decision-making in volatile and ambiguous situations, enabled her to lead with composure and precision.
Reflecting on the experience, Ciron-Angeles says, “I applied what I’d learned in the program to the crisis we were having at that time. My focus was on being adaptive and calm, having grace under pressure, and managing an uncertain and complex situation. I was able to navigate that crisis so that we could create a safe space for patients and hospital employees.”
The program’s focus on teamwork, which Ciron-Angeles likens to the synchronized effort required in rowing, has profoundly shaped her leadership approach. She has translated these lessons into actionable strategies that have resulted in accolades for her hospital, including recognition for excellence in COVID-19 management with less than 2 percent morbidity and mortality.
Driving Innovation and Sustainability
A highlight of the program is the personal capstone project, where participants address a challenge at their home institution. Ciron-Angeles’s capstone focused on creating a confidential incident-reporting system powered by QR codes. Her innovative solution streamlined variance reporting within hospital workflows, promoting transparency and accountability, and garnered recognition at the International Hospital Federation’s World Hospital Congress in Portugal.
In addition to operational improvements, Ciron-Angeles has championed sustainability initiatives, introducing green spaces on hospital premises and implementing a paper-free system. These efforts not only align with global environmental stewardship standards, but also demonstrate her commitment to implementing sustainable health care practices.
Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability Award and the CEO Excellence Award for Hospitals in Asia. Her journey serves as an inspiration, demonstrating the profound impact of leadership development, particularly the invaluable lessons learned at Harvard Medical School. By embracing adaptive leadership, fostering collaboration, and prioritizing human capital, Ciron-Angeles continues to drive sustainable health care transformation in the Philippines and the Asian region.
Written by: Pamela Searle