Date of Award

5-11-2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Education

First Advisor

Theresa R. Williams

Second Advisor

Kelly S. Brown

Scholarship Domain(s)

Scholarship of Discovery, Scholarship of Interdisciplinary Integration, Scholarship of Community Application

Abstract

Community health center leaders have potential burnout exposure due to occupational and personal stressors. The transcendental phenomenological study delved into the experiences of minority female community health center leaders, examining how the COVID-19 pandemic, diversity, equity, and inclusion issues influenced their burnout syndrome compared to their peers. The focus of the study was on 17 community health leaders in the Midwestern U.S., including minority and non-minority leaders. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, demographic screening, and field notes. Three themes emerged: Leader characteristics with training and experience, Stressors that impact burnout, and Diversity, equity, and inclusion issues impacting burnout. The findings showed similar experiences across all leaders, influenced by race, gender, and community involvement. Regarding implications, employers should offer coaching, sabbaticals, and counseling to their leaders and address the intersection of race and gender to help minority women ascend to leadership roles. Future research could explore burnout syndrome among other groups in health care and may provide avenues to avoid the condition.

Key Findings

Identity has a vital role in the way executives lead in the workplace. The study explores the connection between burnout among community health leaders and the COVID-19 pandemic. It investigates if minority women encountered more stressors due to their race and gender compared to their counterparts: non-minority women and men and minority men. Key findings include that the healthcare leaders shared similar experiences regarding their race, gender, and engagement in the communities they served. Additionally, employers should provide coaching, sabbaticals, and counseling to their leaders and address the intersection of race and gender to support minority women in achieving leadership positions.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

Professional Biography

Thelma Sardin is a non-profit leader with nearly 15 years of experience in marketing communications, community relations, education, and health care. She is passionate about making a meaningful impact on community health outcomes through effective program development and management. In addition to earning her Doctor of Education in Ethical Leadership from Olivet Nazarene University, Sardin has a Master of Arts in Journalism from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Media, and Theater from Northeastern Illinois University.

Download

Share

COinS