Reeling in Workplace Engagement: FISH! Philosophy’s Impact in Pathology
By Lynn McCain | July 16
Two years ago, a team of Pathology staff embarked on a journey to become culture-change advocates by obtaining FISH! Philosophy Trainer certifications. They received a Wellness grant from Michigan Medicine and began training faculty and staff in the FISH! Philosophy, collecting pre- and post-training data. The grant specified that 100 people were to be trained, but the team was able to train 125 members of the department with the allotted funds.
This team, made up of Melina Adler, Karren Barron, Gloria Barkley, Chris Distelrath, Lynn McCain, and Julene Pummill, supported by Drs. Jeffrey Myers and Kamran Mirza, recently published their data in Laboratory Medicine. “Employees responded positively to the training with a 94.1% positive response rate. Four to six months after the 2.5-hour training, job satisfaction had improved 4.2%, 49% reported their work culture had improved, and 42% included free-text comments on how they were implementing FiSH! in their workplace,” reported McCain. Not all the results were positive, however. Trust declined 4.4%. “Change management theory tells us that early adopters often face increased resistance to change from others on their team. This may explain the decreased trust reported,” added McCain. “As more people are trained, we anticipate this negative impact will decrease.”
“As one of the current FISH! facilitators, I am humbled to be part of this initiative aimed at enhancing our workplace culture. Our research highlights how small changes in mindset and interactions can lead to more engaged and satisfied teams. We've laid a strong foundation with FISH! in the Department of Pathology, and we’re eager to sustain and expand these practices across more individuals and units,” stated Adler.
Kamran Mirza, MD, PhD, assistant chair of education, saw the value of the FISH! Philosophy and went through a subsequent “Train the Trainer” session to become a newer member of the training team. He reflected, “Small shifts in attitude and interaction ripple outward, transforming how we work, connect, and care. The FISH! Philosophy gives our team simple, powerful tools to listen with intention, lead with presence, and foster a culture where people feel seen, heard, and valued.”
“Each month, we introduce new Pathology employees to FISH! through our orientation sessions, where we have more capacity than we currently fill. We aim to reach more associates through these and additional ad hoc sessions, so that more colleagues can benefit from the positive impact of the FISH! culture.” Adler.
“We greatly appreciate the support we have received from our department leaders. Our leaders have the unique ability to inspire and drive cultural change by setting an example and demonstrating their commitment to fostering an inclusive and engaging work environment. As they actively promote these sessions and participate themselves, they empower staff to embrace this opportunity, helping us achieve a cohesive and supportive culture across the department,” concluded Adler.
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