The Office of Organizational and Leadership Development helps the College of Medicine and its employees thrive, with a familiar colleague at the helm.
Craig Fischer returned to the college as the senior director of organizational leadership and development in June after previously working at the college from 2017 to 2021 in similar leadership and organizational development roles.
In his current role, Fischer is supporting the college’s goal of becoming an employer of choice by developing faculty and staff’s leadership capacity, teamwork, communication, and career growth. Offerings include workshops, team retreats, one-on-one coaching, and learning tools. Fischer says his approach is not one-size-fits-all.
“Sessions are customized to the team or the individual,” he said. “It is also my job to listen and find out what it would look like for people to feel more supported or feel like they have more bandwidth and the end of the week or at the end of the month.”
On top of his office’s current offerings, Fischer plans to develop ongoing workshops and speaker sessions that people in all roles across the college can attend. He emphasizes that his primary goal is to help people succeed in their careers, which in turn will help more people in our communities.
“Faculty and staff are doing brilliant work,” Fischer said. “If we keep people in that zone of high performance and high care, the result is happier and more productive professionals which will have a very positive impact on health care in Washington state.”
Fischer brings an extensive background as an executive coach, consultant, and learning and development leader with more than 20 years of teaching, facilitating, leading teams, program leadership, consulting, and coaching. He has worked with leaders in technology, health care, manufacturing, international logistics, non-profit, and higher education.
As someone who has personally seen his family navigate the health care system in Washington’s underserved communities, Fischer is excited to be rejoining the College of Medicine.
“I have always loved this place, and all my family grew up in Washington state,” said Fischer. “It matters a lot to me to have the opportunity to use my talents, however small they may be, to help advance the college.”
To inquire about existing offerings or to discuss customized trainings or individual coaching, reach out to Craig Fischer at craig.fischer@wsu.edu.