The startling power of executive blogs

If we were to give an award to executives who go furthest out on a limb to stand up for what they believe and effectively communicate, then Paul Levy would certainly be among the first nominated. Levy is the CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, which is affiliated with Harvard’s medical school.

Levy also writes the blog Running a Hospital, where he talks about his experience as an administrator. The blog is not affiliated with BIDMC and is not hosted on the hospital’s Web site.

Every year the hospital holds an event to recognize those people who have made significant contributions within the gay and lesbian community. The recipients are not limited to employees and organizations within the hospital system. The criteria for the award is simple: Demonstrate leadership in advocacy for the gay and lesbian community at work or in the community.

Recently, Levy posted a letter he received from one of his hospital’s doctors representing “The Committee to Restore Sensible Values and Perspective” on his blog about the upcoming event. The doctor said the committee was “disappointed and frankly disgusted to see the leader of the medical center endorsing an inherently unhealthy, risky lifestyle.”