Leading with Purpose: Becoming a Leader Worth Following with Dr. Tom Hustead
In this episode of CMDA Matters, Dr. Mike Chupp and co-host Pastor Bert Jones welcome Dr. Tom Hustead, a retired Army Colonel and now President and CEO of The Referent Group. With a decorated 24-year military career, including leadership as a NATO medical facility commander and Flight Surgeon of the Year, Dr. Hustead shares his journey from military medicine to equipping healthcare leaders through executive coaching. His approach challenges professionals to lead with character, clarity, and purpose.
Whether you’re overseeing a practice or influencing a small team, this conversation will inspire you to lead with greater intention, transforming both your workplace and your witness.
As we continue advancing toward CMDA’s fiscal year-end goal of $900,000 by June 30, we want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who has already given. Your generosity is equipping and expanding the reach of CMDA’s ministries – and fueling the transformation we’re seeing in healthcare through committed followers of Christ.
And remember, thanks to a generous $640,000 matching challenge, every gift given by June 30 will be doubled, doubling your impact. To give today, visit cmda.org/give or connect with our Stewardship Team at 888.230.2637 or [email protected].
At CMDA, we’re deeply committed to developing Christ-centered leaders who not only care for the physical needs of their patients but who also lead their teams and organizations with integrity and eternal purpose. If you’re navigating challenges in your own life or leadership journey, CMDA offers professional coaching designed specifically for Christian doctors and dentists. Grounded with our Christian perspective, our coaching helps members bring balance and purpose to their calling, especially in the demanding vocation of healthcare. Whether you’re facing burnout, transition, or simply seeking clarity, we’re here to walk with you. To learn more about our coaching services and the broader care we offer CMDA members, visit cmda.org/wellbeing.
Meet Our Guest(s):
Tom Hustead, MD, CEO, The Referent Group, graduated from West Point in the top 3% of his class and subsequently from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. A retired Army Colonel, highlights from his distinguished 24-year career include being awarded Flight Surgeon of the Year for his service in combat, Outstanding Faculty of the Year for his medical teaching, and board selection as Department Chair for a family medicine residency department. Tom was appointed by the Army Surgeon General to be the “face of military medicine” to recruit and share the Army Medicine story where Tom developed a passion for teaching healthcare professionals across the country to be effective, engaged leaders. Tom was the commander/CEO of a NATO medical facility at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium. Most recently, Tom served as the CMO for the Medical Group at Baptist Health Hardin in Elizabethtown, KY where he still resides with his wife of 30 Years.
