Catalyst Groups
Catalyzing positive change so patient–physician relationships can flourish
How to Get Involved
Ready to join a Catalyst Group? Here's how to get started:
| 1. Browse active groups | Explore the categories below to find a group that aligns with your interests and skills. |
| 2. Contact the Lead Catalyst | Reach out via Mighty Networks to express your interest. |
| 3. Attend as an observer | Join a meeting to see if the group is a good fit for you. |
| 4. Start contributing | Once you find your match, dive in and make an impact! |
Want to start your own group? Join us on Mighty Networks to propose your ideas and bring them to life.
Status Legend
| Status | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 🟢 | Active, Recruiting | Currently meeting and actively seeking new members |
| 🟡 | Active, Full | Currently active but at capacity for new members |
| 🟠 | Dormant | On hold or inactive temporarily |
| 🔴 | Complete/Sunset | Work completed or group disbanded |
Current Catalyst Groups
Entry Points for New Members
These groups are great starting places if you're new to Medicine Forward:
| Group | Status | Why | Who | When | Where | Public/Private | Contact Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Ambassadors | 🟢 Active, Recruiting | Welcome & plug-in new members. Community engagement. | Kim Downey, Gabe Charbonneau | Ad hoc | Zoom | Private | Mighty Networks |
| Newsletter Team | 🟡 Active, Full | Substack newsletter | Nimra Savanghan, Emee Vida Estacio, Jeff Cohn | Monthly | Zoom, Email | Private | @medicineforward |
Core Operations
These groups keep Medicine Forward running:
| Group | Status | Why | Who | When | Where | Public/Private | Contact Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 501c3 Board | 🟢 Active, Recruiting | Governance & Leadership | Todd Otten, MaryAnn Wilbur, Gabe Charbonneau | Triannual | Zoom | Private | Contact Form |
| Executive Team | 🟡 Active, Full | Operations | Christopher Behringer, Todd Otten, MaryAnn Wilbur, Sharmeen Sattar | Biweekly | Zoom, Slack | Private | Mighty Networks |
| Coaches | 🟡 Active, Full | MF coaching program | Jeff Cohn, Chris, Nanette, Mary, Kimberly Maurer | Ad hoc | Zoom | Private | Mighty Networks |
Project-Based Groups
Focused initiatives with specific deliverables:
| Group | Status | Why | Who | When | Where | Public/Private | Contact Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Documentary Team | 🟢 Active, Recruiting | Documentary production | Todd Otten, MaryAnn Wilbur, Nimra Savanghan | Daily | All platforms | Private | Suck It Up Buttercup Film |
| Healthcare Reinvention Collaborative (HRC) | 🟢 Active, Recruiting | Build and nurture wide bridges with HRC and its network of healthcare change agents | Denise Wiseman, Gabe Charbonneau | Quarterly, Ad hoc | Zoom | Private | Mighty Networks |
| Digital Content Team | 🟡 Active, Full | Content production for social media | Emee Vida Estacio, Nimra Savanghan | Ad hoc | Private | Substack • LinkedIn |
Communities of Practice
Peer support and learning communities:
| Group | Status | Why | Who | When | Where | Public/Private | Contact Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Next Gen Fellows | 🟠 Dormant | Community of support, agency, and well-being for medical trainees | Jordyn Feingold, Meher Kalkat, Carly Kaplan, Julie Scholes, Michael Foti | Ad hoc | Zoom, GroupMe | Private | Mighty Networks |
| Intern Team | 🟢 Active, Recruiting | Intern programs, Rising Star | Brontë Guinn - De la Rosa, Julia Selmani, Saleemah Shazeem, Sanjana Sivakumar, Sharmeen Sattar, Sophia LaRose, Sujanaa Raghavan, Sumukh Chanda | Weekly | Zoom, Slack, Notion | Private | Mighty Networks |
About Catalyst Groups
Medicine Forward's Catalyst Groups (CG) are a novel hybrid organizational structure designed to foster collaboration, decentralization, and adaptability. Built on the principles of shared purpose, rapid experimentation, and cross-functional alignment, Catalyst Groups serve as flexible containers for meaningful work that advances Medicine Forward's mission in a complex and evolving healthcare environment.
When forming a Catalyst Group or making group decisions, consider the following guiding questions:
- Is it good enough for now, safe enough to try?
- Will the decision cause irreparable harm to Medicine Forward?
- If uncertain, consult a member of Medicine Forward leadership.
- Are you building relationships and bridges across the organization?
- Are you approaching this work as an evolving, adaptive, and living system?
1. Alignment
Mission: Catalyzing positive change so patient–physician relationships can flourish.
Vision: 10 million people activated by 2035 to help patients and physicians flourish together.
Principles:
- We put the sacred patient–physician relationship first.
- We build on a foundation of wellbeing and trust.
- We bring physicians, patients, and collaborators together.
- We claim our power as change agents to accelerate transformation.
Catalyst Group activities are fundamental to Medicine Forward's mission and vision.
2. Create Autonomous Catalyst Groups
These groups are containers for organizing around a shared purpose.
Group Size and Composition: Form small, cross-functional groups (ideally 3–5 members, maximum 7) aligned by shared passion and purpose. Any Medicine Forward member may initiate a group.
Decision-Making: Groups may make decisions within their defined domains.
- Formal decision-making guidelines are in development. (Link to be added when finalized.)
Lead Catalyst: Each group identifies a Lead Catalyst (this role may rotate) to support the group's success and serve as a communication bridge across groups.
Purpose-Driven and Momentum-Based: Groups should form around ideas that already have energy and traction. Accelerate what's already burning.
Group Definition: A Catalyst Group must have a clearly defined purpose—a capacity, potential, or goal the group seeks to express or achieve.
3. Foster Inter-Group Collaboration
Liaison Roles: Designate members to serve as liaisons with other groups and with the Executive Team to share updates on purpose, progress, members, and needs.
Open Communication Channels: Use shared platforms such as Mighty Networks and Slack for transparency and alignment. The Medicine Forward Substack may be used to highlight initiatives, share wins, and announce opportunities. Push important shared knowledge to the wiki.
4. Encourage Knowledge Sharing
Regular Updates: Conduct brief and frequent progress updates across groups.
Shared Resources: Maintain a centralized, evolving library of templates, tools, and documentation.
- Current platforms: Google Docs, Mighty Networks, MediaWiki
- Under consideration: GlassFrog
Post-Project Reviews: Capture lessons learned through retrospectives to support continuous learning and improvement.
5. Build a Culture of Trust and Accountability
Transparency and Openness: Celebrate successes and speak honestly about challenges.
Shared Metrics (when appropriate): Track outcomes that reflect both group and organizational impact.
Mutual Support Ethos: Groups are encouraged to support one another, reinforcing the broader community of practice.
6. Continuously Adapt and Iterate
Feedback Loops: Collect regular input from group members to refine structure and processes.
Test-and-Learn Approach: Encourage experimentation with group composition, workflows, and rhythms.
- Be intentional about the lifecycle of groups, including purpose reviews and project timelines.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Assess the effectiveness of the Catalyst Group model and adapt in response to organizational growth and learning.