About this Presentation
This presentation shares how the author used the principles of TOC to deal with aggressive cancer that required swift action after discovery. The presentation details a complete Strategy and Tactics Tree to handle all possible scenarios following emergency surgery: full recovery, subsequent treatment with chemotherapy, or death during surgery. The Strategy and Tactics Tree covers preparation for the preoperative emergency, postoperative recovery, and returning to everyday life after rehab, considering family preparation, his company stability, and personal aspects. The goal is to share this new application of TOC to inspire others to understand TOC as a game-changer tool for dealing with obstacles through Thinking Processes, especially under extreme pressure where emotion and fear can cloud judgment. Based on this approach, a Proof of Concept (PoC) was also carried out with the voluntary work of the author's wife, an executive coach, and an author who uses TOC for personal development at an institution that deals with cancer patients undergoing long chemotherapy. The goal was to build a plan for the personal objectives that, beyond the obvious gains from the plan itself, aids the patient's emotional state by focusing on the future and building hope for a better future after recovery.
What Will You Learn
To help you get the most value from this session, we’ve highlighted a few key points. These takeaways capture the main ideas and practical insights from the presentation, making it easier for you to review, reflect, and apply what you’ve learned.
The speaker used the principles of TOC to navigate his journey through a serious health crisis, specifically aggressive esophageal cancer.
He emphasized the importance of differentiating between one's control zone and influence zone, and focusing on what can be influenced.
Post-surgery, he focused on returning to normal life and capitalizing on the experience for personal growth.
Instructor(s)
Jennifer Eckman
Ms Alka Wadhwa
Alka Wadhwa is an experienced consultant and process improvement expert with over 24 years of expertise in the Theory of Constraints (TOC), Lean Six Sigma, and organizational performance optimization. She has successfully led projects in healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing, driving significant improvements such as a 67% boost in hospital operations and a 140% increase in outpatient visits.
Previously, Alka Wadhwa spent 17+ years at GE Global Research Center, where she led initiatives to enhance various GE businesses through advanced technologies, process redesign, and system optimization. Founder of Better Solutions Consulting, LLC, she specializes in using TOC, Six Sigma, and data analytics to streamline operations and build high-performance teams.
Her work has earned her multiple accolades, including the Empire State Award of Excellence in healthcare.
Dr Gary Wadhwa
Dr. Gary Wadhwa is a Board Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon with extensive experience in the field. He completed his Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery training at Montefiore Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY, and has served as an Attending at prestigious institutions like St. Peters Hospitals, Ellis Hospital, and Beth Israel Hospital in NY. With a career spanning over two decades, he was the former CEO and President of a group specialty practice in NY from 1994 to 2015. Dr. Wadhwa holds an MBA from UT at Knoxville, TN, and has undergone additional training in System Dynamics at MIT, Health System Management at Harvard Business School, and Entrepreneurship and healthcare innovations at Columbia Business School. Committed to expanding access to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery care, he is currently engaged in a meaningful project to provide healthcare services to underserved populations in inner city and rural areas through non-profit Community Health Centers.