Arjun Sethi: Leadership in Primary Health Care

Arjun Sethi’s work at Nova Scotia Health focuses on connecting people with the primary healthcare services they need. As a system lead in the Primary Health Care and Chronic Disease Management Network, Sethi helps improve the processes behind patient access. His recent Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation provided a framework for the leadership skills he’s developing in his current role.

The LEADS framework, which is foundational to the CHE program, emphasizes leading self, engaging others, and developing coalitions. These skills are particularly relevant when coordinating services and bringing together people with different responsibilities and perspectives.

“The CHE designation has given me a practical framework I can apply directly to my work,” Sethi says. “The LEADS competencies have helped me become more intentional in how I approach collaboration, change and decision-making across complex initiatives.”

Sethi supports the Timely and Appropriate Access Network, working on initiatives like the Need a Family Practice Registry, Rapid Onboarding, and other transformation projects. His responsibilities combine process improvement with collaboration across teams and healthcare partners.

Within the Need a Family Practice Registry, Sethi works on establishing processes to connect people with the care they need. He also works to identify ways to improve how patients are attached to family practices. In virtual care, he’s working to streamline services and strengthen connections between teams that have traditionally operated separately.

“Healthcare is constantly evolving, and primary healthcare is a strong example of that,” Sethi says. “The work requires you to bring together different perspectives, adapt to change and build strong relationships across teams. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside experienced leaders and colleagues, and I try to be deliberate about learning from those experiences while continuing to develop my own approach to leadership”, Sethi says.

Sethi’s interest in this side of healthcare developed while he was at Dalhousie University. After completing a Bachelor of Science in Biology, he enrolled in the Master of Health Administration (MHA) program, which introduced him to the operational, policy and coordination work which supports healthcare delivery. A residency during the program gave him practical experience within the primary healthcare network where he now works. His studies introduced him to the CHE designation offered through the Canadian College of Health Leaders. Dalhousie’s MHA program has a strategic alliance with the College, and the leadership competencies developed through the degree aligned with many of the designation’s requirements.

By the time Sethi graduated, his coursework had already given him experience with key components of the CHE process, including the 360-degree LEADS assessment and the LEADS in Action project.

The CHE process has also encouraged him to reflect on his own development. The 360-degree assessment provides an opportunity to consider how he sees himself as a leader, how others perceive him and where he could make a greater contribution. That kind of reflection, Sethi says, can be difficult to prioritize amid day-to-day responsibilities.

“One of the most valuable aspects of the CHE process was that it challenged me to think more intentionally about how I approach leadership in practice,” Sethi says. “The LEADS framework provides a useful lens for navigating complex situations, working with diverse perspectives and understanding how your approach can influence both people and outcomes. It reinforced that effective leadership is not just about delivering results, but also how you engage others and bring people together around a shared purpose.”

His advice to others considering the designation is to make the time for it. Whether beginning a career or with years of leadership experience, he believes the process offers a valuable opportunity to assess your capabilities and identify areas for growth

Sethi is grateful for the pathway Dalhousie’s MHA program provided, including access to the Canadian College of Health Leaders and its professional network. He sees the CHE designation as an important foundation for continued professional development.

Photo of Arjun Sethi.