Dr. Karen Rigamonti

08/13/2025

Emotional Oxygen: The Leadership Tool No One Talks About
When tension rises, many leaders default to logistics:

“Let’s fix the process, restructure the team, or rewrite the policy.”

But healing begins not with organizational structure—but with nervous systems.

Emotional oxygen is the space you create when you acknowledge real emotions without trying to fix or rush them.

It’s the moment a nurse breaks down in your office—and you resist the urge to tell her to “take a breath” or “go home early.”

Instead, you say:

“I’ understand how you feel. You’re allowed to be overwhelmed.
What do you need right now?”

That single moment could change how safe she feels in your organization.

Leaders who offer emotional oxygen reduce turnover, build trust, and model exactly what’s needed to shift culture from survival to resilience.

Want a cheat sheet with the 3 Most Powerful Compassion Cues?
https://drkaren.org/say-this/

08/12/2025

Grief isn’t just about death. It’s about loss of time, trust, safety, self.

What would shift if we treated emotional fatigue like we do infection control—something to track, name, and proactively address?

If your staff is loyal but emotionally spent…
If your leadership team is “fine” but no one’s thriving…
Let’s talk about what you’re facing—and what else is possible.

07/26/2025

Today is National Disability Independence Day, commemorating the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990.

For me, it’s not just a line in legislative history—it’s a line in my life’s story.

My son was born four months early. He is autistic and blind. And every day, he teaches me what independence really looks like: resilience, creativity, and the quiet courage of adapting in a world not always built to include him.

As a healthcare leader and executive coach, I’ve seen how policies change systems—but people change culture.

The ADA is a legal foundation. But the real work? It’s in how we lead. It’s in how we listen, design, hire, and include.

🛠️ Does your organization truly make room—for every body and every brain?

🎧 Do your systems include every voice?

Accessibility isn’t just compliance—it’s compassion in action.

This day is a reminder: independence doesn’t mean doing it all alone.
It means having the right support, access, and dignity to thrive.

Let’s lead with that truth.

07/24/2025

35 Years of the ADA — and Still Learning

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending the 35th anniversary celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law on July 26, 1990. This landmark legislation built on the foundation laid by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 — and together, they’ve changed countless lives.

One of the most inspiring speakers was Carol A. Beatty, Maryland’s Secretary of Disabilities. Did you know Maryland is still the only state with a separate Department of Disabilities—and a cabinet-level Secretary who reports directly to the governor?

Even more powerful: By law, the Secretary must be a person with a disability, and at least some of the department’s staff must be as well. Today, 40% of her team are individuals living with disabilities.

That’s what true representation looks like.

We’ve made tremendous strides—from accessible transportation, housing, and restrooms, to funding assistance and inclusive programs. But perhaps most importantly, we’re recognizing the value, dedication, and insight that people with disabilities bring to our workplaces, our communities, and our world.

There’s still more to do. And more to learn.

Compassion isn’t a box we check—it’s a practice we keep refining. Inclusion isn’t just about compliance—it’s about connection, contribution, and shared humanity.

Every person has value. Every voice matters.

Let’s keep building a world where everyone feels seen, welcomed, and empowered to thrive.

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07/18/2025

Culture change in healthcare doesn’t start with policies—it starts with conversations.

When leaders lean into compassionate communication, teams become more trusting, more engaged, and more effective. It’s not just kind—it’s strategic.

👂 Listen deeply
🧠 Respond intentionally
💬 Speak human-to-human

The most powerful shifts I’ve seen didn’t come from the top down—they came from the inside out.

If your team is under pressure, overwhelmed, or stuck in survival mode… let’s talk about what’s really possible.

📞 Book a discovery call: TalkWithDrKaren.com

07/05/2025

🎂✨ A Birthday Toast (and a Little Reminder) 🇺🇸✨

This year, I got to share my birthday with our country — as I do every year — and I felt so beautifully seen and cared for.

I celebrated at a fabulous restaurant run by an executive chef who was once a Top Chef contender — a perfect mix of Asian contemporary and western touches. The sweetest surprise? The wonderful waitress brought me a taste of their amazing potatoes just because she thought I’d love them. Then she appeared with two glasses of prosecco and a candlelit dessert to share.

It was simple and special — and reminded me how good it feels to be pampered now and then, to feel like you belong, you matter, and you’re appreciated.

May we all remember to offer each other these small gestures that make life feel a little more sparkly.

Happy Birthday to our country — and to me. 🥂✨

06/24/2025

Burnout isn’t the problem. Disconnection is.

When staff feel unseen and unheard, no policy can fix it.
Here’s how we turned around a toxic healthcare culture—without adding more rules.

👀 Engagement: +90th percentile
💬 Patient satisfaction: skyrocketed
🤝 Strategy: Trust + Humanity

👉 Read the story:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/from-burnout-breakthrough-case-study-creating-where-karen-fvhke

When 60% of healthcare workers say they’re thinking about leaving their jobs, it’s not because they don’t love the work. It’s because they don’t feel heard.

06/24/2025

Well, this was unexpected and a bit exciting!

The Humane HR Awards celebrate individuals and organisations who go beyond compliance to create work cultures grounded in dignity, empathy, and growth. Established in 2024 by HR for Humans at Work, the Awards are part of a global movement to humanise HR and champion fairer, safer, and more inclusive workplaces.

See the article that put me on their radar below...

https://hrforhumansatwork.com/2024/11/15/humane-hr-talk-with-dr-karen-hoenig-rigamonti/

06/15/2025

💙 To the Fathers Who Show Up 💙

Today we honor the fathers who listen before they speak, who offer presence more than answers, who hold space for tears, wonder, and tough conversations.

We see you.

To the dads guiding their families through illness, injustice, or uncertainty—your quiet strength matters.

To the ones parenting patients, mentoring teams, or healing family wounds—your love is leadership.

And to those missing their dads, healing from them, or becoming the father figure they never had—your path is sacred, too.

Happy Father’s Day. Your voice, your love, your legacy—it all matters.

05/28/2025

Wow! I'm riding a high... I just spoke at The Great Awakening virtual summit hosted by Amy McGraw—and I didn’t hold back.

My session was called "Speak Up: Advocacy for Healing", and it wasn’t some surface-level pep talk.

We talked about the truth behind the burnout, bitterness, and breakdowns I see every day in healthcare.
And how healing doesn’t start with better policies.
It starts with the people holding the system up.
It starts with YOU.

🩺 Why so many brilliant, compassionate professionals are walking away from careers they once loved
💔 How to recognize moral injury—even when it's been normalized
🗣️ The tools I use to speak truth, get heard, and still protect my peace
🌱 What real healing leadership looks like—from the inside out

If you’re navigating hard conversations, setting boundaries, or trying to create change without losing your job, your sanity, or your soul… I want to share something with you.

It’s my free cheat sheet:
Say This, Not That: 3 Communication Tools for Moments That Matter.

You can download it here →DrKaren.org/say-this

These tools have helped hospital CEOs, overworked nurses, and families in crisis—
and they’re yours now, too.

Let’s make our voices count.

05/13/2025

Last week, I attended the American Hospital Association conference in Washington, D.C., and one truth echoed throughout the sessions: we must put humanity back at the center of healthcare.

Among the critical issues discussed, the need to protect our caregivers stood out. I strongly support the bipartisan **Save Healthcare Workers Act**, which would make it a federal crime to assault hospital staff. It’s time we recognize that creating safe, respectful environments is foundational to delivering quality care.

When leaders at every level—administrators, physicians, nurses, techs, and support staff—model compassionate communication and mutual respect, we foster cultures of trust, engagement, and collaboration. This isn't just good for morale; it leads to better outcomes for everyone.

**Psychological and physical safety are non-negotiable.**

If we want to heal others, we must first care for our own.
We are all leaders of humanity. Let’s act like it.

**👉 Speak up. Support the Save Healthcare Workers Act. Our health depends on it.**

05/10/2025

At Brown University's 2025 Commencement, physician-researcher Dr. Akashleena Mallick shared how personal loss and global public health challenges shaped her path—bringing together clinical care and systemic advocacy.

Her words struck a chord.

As someone who walked a similar path—combining an MD and an MPH—I know the real power of this training lies in learning to listen with intent and act with humanity. Healthcare can no longer afford to separate science from story, or treatment from trust.

When we prioritize curing disease but ignore lived experience, we miss the opportunity for true healing.

The future of healthcare depends on a culture shift—one that values people for more than their pathology, honors cultural preferences, and creates space for both symptom stability and well-being.

It’s not just about treatment plans. It’s about transforming how we see the people we serve.

Full article: https://lnkd.in/eYqu73yf