General surgeon and healthcare leader Ian Reight is launching a personal pledge focused on improving healthcare communication, calm leadership, and patient-centered teamwork.

The pledge is rooted in Reight’s career as a general surgeon, former chief of surgery, former medical staff president, former medical director of a breast center, former medical director of wound care and hyperbaric medicine, and lead robotic surgeon.

“Medicine is about more than procedures and diagnoses,” Reight said. “People need trust and communication, especially during stressful situations.”

The issue matters now. The Association of American Medical Colleges projects a U.S. physician shortage of up to 86,000 doctors by 2036. The American Medical Association reported that 43.2% of physicians experienced at least one symptom of burnout in 2024. The CDC continues to identify prevention of healthcare-associated infections as a top patient safety priority. The Joint Commission defines sentinel events as serious patient safety events that can cause death, permanent harm, or severe temporary harm.

Reight says healthcare improvement does not only come from large systems. It also comes from daily behaviors.

“You cannot lead effectively if you only understand your own role,” Reight said. “You have to understand how every team works together.”

Ian Reight’s Seven Personal Commitments

As part of the pledge, Reight is committing to seven specific behaviors:

1. I will slow down during important conversations and make sure key information is understood.

2. I will ask patients and team members if they have questions before moving forward.

3. I will listen fully before responding, especially in stressful situations.

4. I will stay calm under pressure and help others stay focused.

5. I will keep learning as medicine, technology, and patient needs evolve.

6. I will treat communication as part of patient care, not a side task.

7. I will support teamwork across departments instead of focusing only on my own role.

“I learned early that people look for calm leadership when things become difficult,” Reight said. “In emergency situations, staying focused and communicating clearly can make a significant difference.”

Do It Yourself Toolkit

Anyone can take part in the pledge by practicing these actions:

1. Write down your top three health questions before an appointment.

2. Repeat back important instructions in your own words.

3. Ask, “What should I watch for after this?”

4. Bring a trusted person to important appointments when possible.

5. Keep a simple medication and allergy list.

6. Pause before reacting during stressful conversations.

7. Thank healthcare workers when they communicate clearly.

8. Ask team members, coworkers, or family members what they need to do their part well.

9. Read reliable health information from trusted medical sources.

10. Practice one calm conversation each day where you listen before responding.

“The technology is important, but technology alone does not solve problems,” Reight said. “Judgment, preparation, communication, and experience are still essential.”

30-Day Progress Tracker

Days 1–7: Choose one communication habit. Practice it once each day.

Days 8–14: Add one listening habit. Ask one clarifying question daily.

Days 15–21: Share the toolkit with one friend, coworker, patient, or family member.

Days 22–30: Reflect on what improved. Write down one habit you will keep using.

“Good leadership is not about having all the answers,” Reight said. “It is about staying prepared, staying calm, and helping people move forward together.”

Call to Action

Reight invites healthcare professionals, patients, families, and community members to take the pledge, share the toolkit, and commit to clearer communication in everyday healthcare conversations.

To read the full interview, visit the website here.

About Ian Reight

Ian Reight is a United States-based general surgeon and healthcare leader. His background includes service as a former chief of surgery, former medical staff president, former medical director of a breast center, former medical director of wound care and hyperbaric medicine, and lead robotic surgeon. He studied psychology at the University of Maryland College Park and earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical University of the Americas. He grew up in Maryland and previously served as a volunteer firefighter and paramedic.

Contact:

Info@ianreightsurgery.com

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