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Women bring balance, change to MUSC  Third and fourth articles in a series of eight honoring women who changed the face, landscape, and direction of MUSC and the Medical Center.   Charlene Stuart known for putting MUSC agenda 1st by Heather Woolwine Public Relations Charlene Stuart, former MUSC Medical Center CEO and university vice president for finance and administration, the first woman to garner each title, never wanted to be a man but wasn’t afraid to think like one. “I wanted to be myself and become successful without being adversarial,” Stuart said. “My father taught me to think like a man and thus developed the ‘male’ side of me. But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t able to bring a different skill set to the table that others saw as valuable.” Stuart, a Charleston native, received her undergraduate accounting degree from the University of South Carolina in 1968 and almost immediately joined the MUSC team as an assistant to the controller and budget director. Charlene Stuart smiles with the “two most supportive men of my life and career,” Dr. Robert Stuart, left, and Marion Woodbury, President's Office. From 1968 to 1981, Stuart worked with Marion Woodbury, former vice president for finance and administration for MUSC and current special assistant to the president, and Marcus Newberry, former provost and dean of the College of Medicine. In 1977, Stuart received her master’s degree in business administration from The Citadel.  “Both men were incredible mentors for me,” Stuart said. “My gender was never a factor with them; they treated me like everyone else. We were never uncomfortable around each other, and I was always appreciative of their honesty and direct communication.” “I have a great deal of respect for Charlene’s intellectual capacity and tenacity,” Woodbury said. “Once the job was defined, Charlene would get it done. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather go into battle with than her, and we stood back-to-back on many occasions.” It was during this time early in her career that Stuart, though maybe a surprise to some, described herself as cautious and self-conscious. She wanted to be taken seriously and was always very careful with what she said during open forums and meetings. “I wanted to contribute but was very careful with how things came out of my mouth,” she said. “I wanted to add value, and I felt particularly scrutinized because I was female. I felt like I was bearing a standard for all women, whether I liked it or not. Now of course we all know that towards the end of my time at the Medical Center I’d say whatever came to mind,” she joked. Stuart laughed as she recalled comments made to her before she left for a position in Saudi Arabia, along with her husband, Robert Stuart, M.D., professor of medicine, oncology/hematology. “By the time I left MUSC, people took me seriously because I’d proven my financial and leadership expertise. So when I started to break away from my traditional attire, and the shoes became open-toed and the skirts a little shorter, I chalked it up to a final rebellion before my trip to Saudi Arabia.” Stuart’s professional wardrobe was the subject of a Post and Courier article years ago centered on “dressing for success.”  At the time, Stuart was eager to blend in to avoid any sort of potential discreditation related to her gender, including “risqué” dressing. “I was quoted as saying that my favorite suit colors were blue, gray or black and that my trademark was a pearl necklace or pearl stud earrings. I always wore blouses that buttoned up the back and was just so careful with my appearance. I didn’t want it to influence people’s perceptions of my abilities.” But try as she might to simply blend in, Stuart’s nature as someone who “likes to pull up the rug and look for the dirt” propelled her to the top levels of the university and the medical center.  Stuart briefly left MUSC in 1982 when she was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as acting director of executive operations and associate administrator for external affairs in the Health Care Financing Administration within the Department of Health and Human Services, but was back in Charleston by 1985 and once again a member of the MUSC team. After holding various positions within the financial arena of MUSC, like director of fiscal affairs for Charleston Memorial Hospital, director of finance for the medical center, and executive director for the medical center, Stuart moved on to vice president for finance and administration, vice president for clinical operations, and CEO of the Medical Center.  During her tenure as CEO, Stuart dealt with a financial crisis, opened the Children’s Hospital, implemented a successful management reorganization that resulted in $30 million in savings for the Medical Center, and achieved the most profitable bottom line in the Medical Center’s history at that time.  “I believe I was able to earn the respect of the leadership before and through my time at the upper levels of MUSC’s administration because I had an edge,” Stuart explained. “It was unusual for a woman to have accounting expertise during those beginning years. When I spoke, I understood what I was talking about and people paid attention to that because financial information and progress are so important to fueling the mission of MUSC. And in addition to that, I brought my own perspective to management.” “MUSC is a far better institution now than prior to her tenure as executive director and CEO of the Medical Center,” Woodbury said. “She did a wonderful job of bringing others into the fold and worked very hard at being all-inclusive. She believed in sharing management responsibilities and the development of young people. She truly has my utmost respect.” Stuart loved her job as a public hospital administrator and described it as highly demanding and rewarding to serve a population of people with no where else to go. “I have always felt that women have something special to offer,” Stuart said. “And the tension created because of a female presence can be very good and initiate positive change. If women continue to become more welcome in the business environment, it will change everyone’s values and make them more positive and team-oriented, less cutthroat.” But Stuart isn’t one to sidestep the issue of sacrifice when it comes to professional success. “Men have been making choices regarding whether or not to stay late at work or go to the child’s birthday party for years,” she said. “If you want to be successful, whether you’re a male or female, you have to be willing to make sacrifices. Do I regret missing the birthday party? Absolutely, but at the time, I knew what I had to do. I wasn’t a mom who baked homemade cookies or ironed my son’s shirt everyday before school, which used to make my mother crazy. I promised her that my son wouldn’t love me for ironing his shirt perfectly each morning. And despite those sacrifices, my son understood, and we’re very close.” While maintaining direct communication and accountability, Stuart was careful to remain cognizant of all her relationships while at MUSC. Most people who worked with Stuart, from administrative to housekeeping staff, knew her by first name, and she strived to know their names as well.  An advocate for those on the front lines and someone who “hates meetings,” Stuart tended to “kiss down instead of up,” making sure that those on her team knew how important to the mission she felt they were. “I felt like I was the coach and there to navigate the team through all of the political aspects of the job, as well as protect them,” Stuart said. “After Charlene left MUSC for a stay in Saudi Arabia, I was visited by a young Saudi gentleman who brought greetings from her,” said Stuart Smith, vice president for clinical operations and executive director, MUSC Medical Center. “He told several stories about her interaction with the predominantly male staff at the hospital in Saudi Arabia where Charlene was working. He said, ‘She walks down the hall and everyone calls her Charlene; that's just not done in my country. Why, she's as popular as her physician husband.’ Charlene is truly a people person who makes an impact on all those she encounters along the way.” Described by many as colorful and one who always served MUSC’s agenda as opposed to her own, Stuart is the first to admit that she elicits strong reactions from those who work or have worked with her. “You either love me or hate me,” she said. “I much prefer that to being Melba toast.” And it would be her attitude and leadership skills that she later would credit for saving her life. In 2001, Stuart was diagnosed with leukemia while she was employed by King Fasial Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) in Saudi Arabia. She traveled home with her husband, whose extensive research in bone marrow transplantation would also help to save Stuart. Even when Stuart planned for the worst, she felt the need to have the last word. “I asked Lisa (Montgomery) to read what I had written for those who would attend my memorial service,” she said. “Lisa wasn’t ready to consider the possibility of death yet, but our personal styles are very similar, so I explained to her that she had to do it because I couldn’t have some wallflower read to everyone. I told her, ‘I need your style!’” Fortunately, the piece Stuart wrote would never be read, as she made a full recovery last year.  She credited leadership skills she acquired for her recovery. “It’s all about how you view setbacks,” she said. “You can’t take things personally. You can lose battles, but you keep fighting the war. In my career I’ve found that people fail because they make the wrong decisions in an untimely manner or because they make the wrong decisions, but do so in a timely manner. If it’s the latter of the two, don’t give up, just go back and fix it.” Another element of Stuart’s bedrock comes from an unwillingness to give into the “kings and queens of chaos,” or those who confront each problem or task with initial negativity. “I was never one to just hold it in the road, I’ve always wanted to change things,” she said. “Someone can always give you 100 reasons why something’s not a good idea, and it’s very trying to deal with those people. My first impulse used to be to discount those folks, but I’ve learned that it’s time well spent to console them and try to bring everyone to a consensus. Ultimately, however, it’s the leader’s job to say ‘OK, this is the hill we’re going to take.’” Citing tremendous strides in MUSC since 1968, Stuart mentioned more are needed concerning upper-level leadership like tenured faculty and the board.  “I believe more qualified women and minority physicians and dentists need to move into these administrative positions,” she said. “Right now, I believe the current structure is not representative of the student population or work force.” A veteran of professional memberships and activities that reach into the double digits, Stuart has found other means to further her personal and professional intellect these days, including confirmation activities with seventh-and eighth-grade students at her James Island church. “What they teach me is incredible,” she said. “They are my most recent continuing education experience. I’m certain that the best therapy is to get on with life and believe in the future.” “She is someone who embraces a challenging situation, both personally and professionally, and was never afraid to take a risk if she felt it was best for the organization in the long run. She had an incredible talent for inspiring the staff to give their very best,” said Lisa Montgomery, administrator of finance and support services for the MUSC Medical Center and interim vice president for finance and administration for the university. “Charlene is truly an extraordinary person, in every sense of the word.”   Crouch's love for science led to successful career by Heather Woolwine Public Relations If there’s one thing a study of those who possess leadership qualities will tell you, it’s that there’s no one path to success. Instead, an individual may take any number of routes, conventional and unconventional alike. Dr. Rosalie Crouch Rosalie Crouch’s path navigated by her love of science led to a successful career not only as a respected contributor to the scientific community, but also as a skilled MUSC administrator. “I absolutely love science and chemistry,” said Crouch, Ph.D., Department of Ophthalmology. “And to be honest, getting into administration was a way to remove roadblocks that kept me and other researchers from developing our science further.” “Although Dr. Crouch’s first love is her science, she is also an outstanding administrator,” said Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., MUSC president. “In both pursuits she has demonstrated great vision and determination. She’s able to motivate other people with charm and grace. It was always a pleasure to work with her, and while I know that she’s very pleased to be back in the laboratory full-time, I miss the opportunity to work with her on a daily basis.” Crouch was born in Norfolk, Va., in 1941 and received her bachelor’s degree in organic chemistry from Randolph-Macon Woman's College. She achieved the level of doctorate in organic chemistry from Belfer Graduate School in New York City by 1972 and completed postdoctoral work at Columbia University. When Crouch concluded her studies at Columbia, she joined MUSC, ready to continue her research and share her knowledge with students as an assistant professor of ophthalmology and biochemistry. In seven short years she garnered the title of professor and, in 1989, gained her first administrative role as acting dean of the Department of Graduate Studies. In 1991, it became official, and she held the title of dean concurrently with her appointment as the associate provost for research at MUSC until 2000, when she became the provost and vice president for academic affairs for the university. Throughout her professional ascent, Crouch’s administrative style began to take shape—a style that was less about playing by the rules set before her and more about her confidence to set rules that worked for her personal and professional lifestyle. “First and foremost, I believe that you must take care of yourself, or nothing else is going to work,” Crouch said. “You must make time to pursue other interests outside of your profession, care for your family and your health. I encourage women and men alike to dream big and to not be afraid to go for it all. Remember that it’s OK to fail, because you won’t get what you want if you don’t try.” She recalled being ready to walk out of her office or a meeting at 5 p.m. each day, no matter what, because she was the mother of two young children. “I took parenting very seriously, and our social life revolved around the children when they were young,” she said. “I'm blessed to have a very supportive husband. There were plenty of personal sacrifices made throughout my career on behalf of my professional development, but that time between 5 and 8 p.m. was their time. I’d usually work at home for the remainder of the evening. I made professional sacrifices as well, especially in terms of professional travel.” Making the conscious decision not to be away from her family more than necessary, Crouch proved to those around her that from the early morning to the early evening hours she was all MUSC’s, but when it was time for another priority, she would go. “I had to make it one of the rules of my game,” Crouch said. “And I had to have the confidence to maintain those rules.” As provost, Crouch applied many of the skills she learned through motherhood in dealing with students, faculty and administrators. “When I would get angry, I’d step back from the situation for 24 hours to gain perspective,” she said. “I was always sorry when I didn’t do that. I tried hard to understand all of the individual needs and wants and often was able to use skills I’d learned from raising children in determining what the real issue or question sometimes was.” Self-described as the polar opposite of confrontational, Crouch would strive for consensus in her administrative roles. “It was an honor to work with Dr. Crouch, and I learned a great deal about positive leadership from her,” said Valerie West, Ed.D., associate provost for education and student life. “She has a delightful sense of humor, a remarkable clarity of purpose, and the patience and determination to bring people together to accomplish difficult goals. Above all, I admire the integrity of her decisions and her unselfish approach to university service.” Crouch reflected on the positive changes she has seen in the university in the last decade or two. “The percentage of women and minorities in the professional schools like the College of Medicine has increased dramatically,” she said. “That development is key if more diversity is to be reflected and make an impact on the faculty and its development at MUSC. “Women today have a different attitude in the science community,” she continued. “No longer can their special talents and assets be underestimated. They are wondering how to change the system instead of wondering how to change themselves to fit the system. Women have proven to become good mentors and considerate, nurturing, and caring leaders. There’s no denying that women are interested in developing the careers of those who report to them as well as their own.” But while Crouch will admit that the professional environment is changing for women, with no-tolerance policies in place for sexual harassment and abusive behavior in the form of smutty jokes or language, she still believes that more progress is needed. “I think MUSC could work at becoming more flexible concerning tenure for young women,” she said, “Because women tend not to have children until they’ve finished their education, but then their professional track for tenure is affected. I’d like to see everyone receive more time to achieve their goals.” And like many on campus, Crouch wholeheartedly supports the idea of an on-campus or near-campus daycare center for employees and students. “For parents who both must work or who are in school, having their young children close is so important,” she said. Crouch, an example of how to balance professional and personal lives and give 100 percent to both, encouraged students and colleagues to set goals for themselves with realistic plans on how to achieve those goals. “I have a knack for organization that I believe has served me rather well, and I know how important it is to get the steps in the right order.” And organization must be key for Crouch, who now balances five NIH-funded research studies, chairs and serves on numerous thesis advisory committees, has served on several national committees, and whose publications number in the 300s. Ever the avid promoter of self-care, she maintains outside interests as well, with involvement spanning the Charleston Ballet, the Grace Church Bell Band, and the ETV Community Advisory Board. With her children now grown, bell ringing and bird watching are high on her  list of weekend activities. “Dr. Crouch is a very tough act to follow into the roles of associate provost for research and provost,” said John Raymond, M.D., vice president for academic affairs and provost. “In many respects, the amazing growth in our research enterprise was facilitated by her strategic investments in our infrastructure. We are still benefiting from her leadership. She’s an outstanding scientist who was able to balance her heavy administrative duties with her own career and her family. It’s amazing that someone as talented as she is in her own research field was so willing to cheerfully take on the heavy responsibilities of leadership in so many different roles.” Women’s History Month Celebration Calendar March 3 - 31 Women Inspiring Hope and Possibility- Celebrating the Creative Spirit Harper Student Center/Courtenay Gallery. 45 Courtenay St., 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday;  and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday. Featuring a wide variety of work by Lowcountry women artists. March 19 Violin Portraits by the Class of Lee Chin Siow  St. Luke’s Chapel, 8 p.m. Desserts provided by Saffron. March 23 Women’s Resource Fair  171 Ashley Ave., MUSC Horseshoe and Portico. Featuring businesses, community organizations and services for women. Music by Fire and Ice, lunch for sale by Bodacious Bagels, Crepe Stand, Doe’s Pita, Gullah Cuisine, Savory Market, and Uptown Oriental Cafe. March 24 Panel Presentation: Celebrating MUSC Women Making A Difference  173 Ashley Ave., Room 100, Basic Science Building Auditorium. Boxed lunches free to first 35 students with valid ID, additional lunches for sale to the audience March 25 Panel Presentation: Looking Back, Looking Forward 167 Ashley Ave., Storm Eye Institute Auditorium. Featuring Inez Tenenbaum, Superintendent of Education for South Carolina. All events are free.  Cosponsored by MUSC and the Center for Women.  For more information, call the Office of Diversity at 792-2146. Visit http://www.musc.edu/diversity/womenshistorymonth.pdf. Friday, March 12, 2004 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.