Building Systems With Soul: R. Kannan Mutharasan, MD

R. Kannan Mutharasan, MD, cardiologist and medical director of Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Palos Hospital, shares his leadership journey in integrating cardiovascular care across Chicago's south suburbs.

He emphasizes that leadership is a mindset rooted in relationships, curiosity and service — not titles. Drawing from a range of experiences in medicine, engineering and history, he introduces frameworks like VOICE (Vision, Opportunity, Innovation, Communication, Execution) and advocates for "systems with soul" that prioritize people. His stories highlight the power of noticing, listening and acting to improve patient care. Dr. Mutharasan's approach blends humility, continuous learning and a deep commitment to building compassionate, collaborative healthcare environments.