A Sincere Professor Talks Leadership: Robert Saul, MD in an Interview

March 4, 2025

According to Professor Emeritus Robert Saul, thinking that you have all the answers while not doing the work to understand that you don’t, is a common leadership mistake in healthcare.

Leadership | Professional Development, Spotlights

From/about the article: "Trust is the currency of social interaction." says Professor Emeritus Robert Saul.

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Robert Saul, MD, is a Professor Emeritus, blogger, and author, who has been involved with SoMeDocs for several years. I featured Dr. Saul in the joint-conversation [EPISODE] Are Doctors Greedy for Wanting to Use Social Media?: Drs. Saul & Corriel, highlighting the importance of physician presence on social media a while back, and the content still remains true today.

Dr. Saul, a pediatrician and medical geneticist, has been guiding parents and their children’s physical, behavioral, and mental care for over 40 years. He is Professor of Pediatrics (Emeritus).

Dr. Saul developed the Parental Awareness Threshold, a simple framework that guides parents and guardians to actively parent with self-awareness, empathy, and compassion. Parents who use this framework create a healthy environment where children learn to build safe, stable, and nurturing relationships as well as exhibit love and respect others in their community.

Dr. Saul’s profile boasts not only a speaker and book page, to showcase his skills, but also countless of articles he has written for our site,, published in our online magazine.

Let’s see what the professor had to say:

What inspired you to step into a leadership role in healthcare, and what has been the most rewarding part of your journey?

In the latter third of my career, I found that leadership gave me the opportunity to see how I could positively impact policies to improve our communities and make a difference in the lives of children and families. I could meet with my mentees to see what we do right, what we could do better and how can I help them do both of those things.

How do you define great leadership in the healthcare industry, and what qualities do you believe are essential for success?

Exhibiting honesty, humility and sincerity with the ability to engender trust. Trust is the currency of social interaction.

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What is the biggest challenge facing healthcare leaders today, and how do you think it can be addressed?

Changing the paradigm for reimbursement and interventions. Accepting the realization that adult-onset diseases are actually adult-manifest diseases from childhood and that a much greater concentration needs to focus on childhood care.

Can you share a defining moment in your career that shaped your leadership style?

Taking over a general pediatrics division in state of disarray was quite the challenge. A combination of listening and acceptance of their frustration led to tangible changes that made a substantial difference.

Who has been a major influence or mentor in your leadership journey, and what’s the best advice they’ve given you?

Dr. Sam Katz – my chair during my residency.

I wrote about him here.

Live and breathe integrity.

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What strategies do you use to empower and mentor the next generation of healthcare leaders?

1. Smile
2. Leave your biases at the door
3. Listen
4. Trust the intuition of your patients
5. Remember our shared humanity

What’s one common leadership mistake in healthcare, and how can aspiring leaders avoid it?

Think that you have all the answers but haven’t done the work to understand that you don’t

How do you personally handle setbacks or difficult decisions in leadership?

Accepting setbacks and difficult decisions as opportunities for change and learning are the key. These things did not happen to you because of you–but you can learn how to adjust your responses to make a difference.

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What’s your leadership “superpower,” and how has it helped you navigate the complexities of healthcare?

Being present, being open and being willing to listen. These qualities helped me in the my leadership role at the end of my career.

What’s the next big leadership challenge you’re tackling in your work?

To continue to be impactful in my retirement.

Are there any upcoming projects, books, or initiatives you’re excited to share?

1. 2nd edition of THINKING DEVELOPMENTALLY: NURTURING WELLNESS IN CHILDHOOD TO PROMOTE LIFELONG HEALTH due out in mid 2025
2. Continue weekly blog to promote community health and children’s advocacy
3. Consultant at a local children’s home to develop a trauma-informed healing center
4. Book project to discuss WHAT REALLY MATTERS (truth, trust, science, civility, diversity and faith)

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to become a leader in healthcare?

Continue to open to all opportunities, even those that seem off base from your intended trajectory.

The next big leadership challenge us to continue to be impactful in my retirement.

Robert Saul, MD

The next big leadership challenge us to continue to be impactful in my retirement.

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If you could create a leadership mantra for this year, what would it be?

For all issues – “I am the problem, I am the solution, I am the resource”

If you could describe your leadership style in three words, what would they be?

Humble
Sincere
Honest

If you could have coffee with any historical healthcare leader (past or present), who would it be and why? ☕

Francis Collins – former director of the NIH. His books (The Road to Wisdom, The Language of God) are profound treatises on living a life of integrity. Plus, he is an incredibly brilliant yet humble public servant.

(Anthony Fauci would be close second!)

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect those of SoMeDocs)

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Robert Saul, MD

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All opinions published on SoMeDocs-Mag are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of SoMeDocs, its staff, or editors. Content on SoMeDocs is intended for informational and storytelling purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Readers should always seek the guidance of their own qualified healthcare professional regarding personal health or medical decisions. SoMeDocs is a magazine built with the safety of free expression and diverse perspectives in mind.

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