Leadership Coaching
Elevating Leadership, One Conversation at a Time
Leadership isn’t just a role—it’s a mindset. In 2021, I transitioned into leadership coaching to help administrative and physician leaders break through barriers and become more effective. Having spent my career working alongside those leading critical healthcare programs and services, I felt a calling to support them in elevating their thinking and approach to leadership.
I just completed Allison McCarthy‘s professional coaching session with a group of peers at similar career stages. The techniques we identified and practiced during these impactful group coaching sessions provided me with skills unique to my current and potential professional path. We used examples from our own professional experiences to discuss approaches and solutions. Each session we walked away with “homework” to put into action these tools and to further refine our desired career progression. We should all take time to invest in our professional development, particularly with an experienced and trusted advisor like Allison.
I completed my coach training through the Leadership Development for Organizational Performance at Rutgers University, building on more than two decades of experience consulting for healthcare organizations. I recognized that the market was shifting, and many programs needed a fresh vision and approach. Becoming an ICF-credentialed coach was a natural extension of my career, blending my executive leadership experience with my passion for developing others.
My Experience
My career began in physician relations at a community hospital, where I quickly expanded my role to include physician recruitment and oversight of employed physician practices. Over the years, I’ve navigated mergers, cultural and operational shifts, and the complexities of leadership in both community and academic medical centers.
At an academic medical center, I led referral development and clinical affiliations, working across a broader regional market with greater specialty depth and established leadership structures. I then transitioned into consulting, serving as Principal of Barlow/McCarthy for nearly 20 years, where I worked with C-suite executives, vice presidents, and directors, leading a 12-person consulting team.
In February 2020, I stepped into an interim role as President and Chief Operating Officer of Care New England Medical Group, a 500-provider enterprise in Providence, Rhode Island. In this role, I worked closely with the Board of Directors and CEO of Care New England Health System, leading the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic and a system-wide cyberattack while managing daily operations.
Coaching Services Offered
- One-on-One Coaching
- Group Career Coaching
- Leadership Collaboratives
Credentials
- Master of Business Administration, Healthcare Concentration – Boston University
- Coaching Certification – Rutgers University
- International Coaching Federation (ICF) Credentialed Coach
- DISC Certified
The Professional Stretch
We all struggle with reaching the next level—it’s uncomfortable and often intimidating. My role as a coach is to help leaders see what’s possible and support them as they push beyond their comfort zone. When fear creeps in, we unpack it together. What are they really afraid of? What small step can they take that feels manageable? It’s all about the professional stretch—whatever that looks like for them.
I believe leadership is a journey, not a destination. Let’s take the next step together. Email me at amccarthy@barlowmccarthy.com to learn more or to arrange a complimentary coaching session.
I had the opportunity to be connected with Allison when I was considering making a change in my current job situation. The decision to make a change was a difficult one for me as I found myself with less career in front of me than I did behind me and I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing. Aside from being able to tap into her incredible resume of experience, it was important for me to work with a woman who could understand the issues and complexities that women face in healthcare administration. Her approach of real-world problem solving, situational coaching, coupled with knowledge of current business periodicals and publications, helped me continue to grow, open my eyes to new approaches, and different schools of thoughts. My work with Allison helped me gracefully transition from my old job of nearly 10 years into a fantastic career promotion with confidence, curiosity, and success. I am grateful to have her coaching expertise, have recommended her to other colleagues and will regularly come back to her for a tune-up.
Testimonials
I can’t recommend Allison highly enough as a coach. Her thoughtful approach combined with her wisdom and years of experience in health care was hugely helpful to me in thinking about how to make the most of my current role and also in figuring out what my next steps might be. There’s so much value in taking a step back from day to day work and talking to others about what you do. Working with Allison was both an energizing and inspiring experience!
Allison was instrumental in coaching me to become a more effective leader. She has vast experience in all aspects of healthcare & she always has great ideas or practical solutions no matter how complex or difficult the situation. The time I spent with her for our coaching sessions were the most enlightening and enjoyable of my working weeks. She validated all of my good ideas, gave wise counsel as to how I can improve on my communication and ideas, and provided a great sounding board for any complex or difficult situations especially those involving multiple stakeholders. I would highly recommend Allison’s coaching services to any healthcare leader who wants to improve on their skillsets as well as have a highly experienced sounding board on how to tackle any difficult situations.
From the Blog
Leadership Coaching Blogs
The Early Stages of Change: ADKAR in Action
By: Allison McCarthy, MBA | amccarthy@barlowmccarthy.com One of the frameworks I often use in coaching conversations is the Prosci ADKAR model, which focuses on the individual journey through change: Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement. What I...
Leading Change From the Middle: Turning Ideas Into Momentum
By: Allison McCarthy, MBA | amccarthy@barlowmccarthy.com Leading change without direct authority is one of the most common, and most misunderstood, challenges in healthcare today. Strong ideas are important, but they rarely move forward on passion alone. What makes...
Leading from the Middle: The Power of Presence Under Pressure
By: Allison McCarthy, MBA | amccarthy@barlowmccarthy.com Mid-level leaders are the glue that holds organizations together. They translate strategy into action, manage teams through change, and support executive leaders with insight from the frontlines. But it’s in the...
Leading from the Middle: Five Habits That Build Leadership Presence in High-Stakes Moments
By: Allison McCarthy, MBA | amccarthy@barlowmccarthy.com Picture this: you walk into a meeting where a major decision is on the table. The stakes are high, the room is tense, and every word you say will shape how others perceive you. In these moments, mid-level...
Leading from the Middle: How to Gain Senior Leader Buy-In Without Waiting for a Title
By: Allison McCarthy, MBA | amccarthy@barlowmccarthy.com One of the most common frustrations mid-level leaders share with me is this: “I know what needs to be done, but I can’t get leadership to take it seriously.” It is tempting to believe that once you have a bigger...
Leading from the Middle: A Case Study
By: Allison McCarthy, MBA | amccarthy@barlowmccarthy.com My client had served as a Senior Director of Ambulatory Operations for a large health system. Sitting squarely in the middle of leadership, this leader was responsible for bridging strategy from the top,...
Referrals are only the beginning of the story.
If you’re ready to understand what happens after the referral is made and how it impacts access, retention, and revenue, our consultants would welcome the conversation.