I had the pleasure of working with Doug for just over five years.  I would have stayed in Wyoming working under Doug's leadership if I had not pursued my own career path to becoming a rural health CEO like Doug.  In fact, he was my inspiration to pursue this direction.  I purposely emulate leadership behaviors that I had learned from him.  For example, learning and knowing all staff by their names and a little something about them personally and/or about their families.  Doug's uncanny ability to remember so many people and details is impressive.  Just this one small but meaningful leadership act has been recognized by my new team here in Missouri.  As I tour physician candidates through my hospital campus and as I acknowledge staff personally, this has influenced candidates to choose our hospital over others......a gift I learned from Doug.

In fact as I conduct my own physician recruitment activities, I think of Doug and his style of personally engaging with candidates and conducting pre-interview phone conversations with them.  Doug would include me in many of these calls so I witnessed his ability to quickly put people at ease and engage them in free-flowing conversations which helped us evaluate an initial fit into our culture and the remote environment of Cody.

Doug is inclusive and utilizes his senior team as consultants and counsel for his decision making.  He is humble and very open to new ideas, supportive of change and appreciates different opinions and perspectives.

I also had the privilege of serving through the Covid pandemic under Doug's leadership.  This was uncharted territory and he handled it with courage, confidence, and grace even in the worst of times such as when we lost our own staff to Covid and when answers were needed but there was not a source of truth to get those answers.  He led with grace under fire and with conviction to always place people first in making decisions.

I think it is his people-centered leadership style that I respect the most.  Not always is healthcare led in a manner that doesn't put finances above the human aspect.  I witnessed his people-centered approach in action when we had to do a reduction in force early in my time at Cody Regional Health.  The thoughtfulness of how people were managed and treated respectfully and transparently during one of the most difficult times of their lives being impacted was admirable.  In a very difficult time, Doug's leadership style and deeply held values around the importance of people was what got us through successfully and with staff appreciation even in light of termination of their positions.

I think you can tell that I admire Doug's leadership skills, style, and effectiveness.  I do try to emulate his leadership because I believe that makes me a more effective leader for the hospitals I support.

Thank you for the opportunity to express some thoughts around one of the most impressive leaders of which I have worked.

I have had the pleasure of working with Doug McMillan over the past 20 years to assist with physician and provider recruitment for his Health System. Throughout my experience working alongside Doug, I have found his leadership skills to be exceptional and his focus and dedication towards physician recruitment to be highly successful!

Doug has always championed physician recruitment and he routinely played a key role in assisting candidates with their decision-making process. Doug is fair, consistent and approachable. His attention to detail, open transparency and personal involvement throughout the initial screening process, onsite interview and prompt follow up with candidates, made for extremely positive outcomes!

Doug is a true leader who fosters a culture of collaboration between administration and the medical staff to ensure that recruitment efforts align closely with the hospital’s mission and values. This team-oriented atmosphere is a winning approach to recruiting quality physicians and providers to a healthcare facility, resulting directly in enhancing team dynamics and patient care.

Doug has always been an advocate of professional development and mentorship for new employees, ensuring they feel supported and valued from day one. Through his visionary leadership, Doug not only improves recruitment metrics and physician retention, he also cultivates a sense of community and pride within the facility.

I highly recommend Doug McMillan to anyone looking for leadership excellence in healthcare. Not only is he one of the finest Hospital Administrators I have ever worked with, he is also one of the best leaders in the healthcare industry when it comes to physician recruitment and medical staff relations. His vast experience and strategic focus on recruitment not only strengthens the success of a hospital, but also sets a high standard for the entire healthcare community.

I appreciate Doug’s ability to join a prospective candidate with the right organization. As my family and I searched for a new location, we found ourselves taking a trip to Wyoming where Doug interviewed me for a leadership position. Conversation prior to my arrival and during my stay allowed my family to engage with the community as well as many members of the organization. Doug was clearly seeking an individual that would fit the organization as well as the community. He casually asked questions in an effort to understand who I was and who my family was. Building a relationship was important to the process and more important to Doug himself. He asked questions to ensure I was not only a good fit for the organization but also wanted to ensure I would fit the community. The primary goal was to find the organization a new leader. However, he also sought to ensure the organization and community were a fit for me and my family. He was clearly looking at both sides of the fence in an effort to truly make sure the fit was right.

In the end, I was offered the position and have been in the same role with the same organization for seven years now. It was a big move from Central California to Wyoming, but turned out to be one of the best decisions my family and I have made. I very much appreciated Doug taking time to ensure the fit was right, not only for the organization but my family as well. I truly trust Doug and his ability to recruit the right candidate for the right location.

Doug McMillan is an executive who is very relational, but also one who produces results.  Throughout his career, Doug has been very effective and influential on what happens within his organizations. This includes, but not limited to, clinical quality, staff satisfaction, financial performance, and patient safety.

Doug’s leadership skills have allowed him to stay focused on results, communicate effectively, establishing and maintaining meaningful relationships internally and externally.  In addition, Doug has been effective recruiting physicians and C-suite position, even to highly difficult rural areas.  Doug is highly respected and will always be a valuable resource to any organization.

I have known Doug McMillan for over 30 years.  As a fellow hospital CEO, he is the first person I seek out when I need professional advice on almost any subject.

Doug stands out as an exceptionally successful healthcare executive, consistently demonstrating profound leadership and a strategic vision that has significantly impacted organizational growth and operational excellence. Under Doug’s leadership, he grew Cody Regional Health into one of the top performing hospitals in the nation.

A cornerstone of Doug’s success is his proven knowledge across various facets of healthcare administration. This deep understanding allows him drive initiatives that enhance patient care and financial stability. He possesses a remarkable talent for translating intricate healthcare regulations and market dynamics into actionable strategies that yield tangible results.

Furthermore, Doug has an unparalleled track record in physician recruitment, a critical area for any thriving healthcare system. His strategic approach to attracting and retaining top-tier medical talent has directly contributed to expanding service lines, improving patient access, and bolstering the overall clinical strength of the organizations he has served. He understands the nuances of physician engagement, building strong relationships that lead to long-term commitments. Doug's dedication to fostering collaborative physician-executive partnerships is a testament to their comprehensive leadership style.