Voices of U of U Health
Leader Profile: Grace Lim Believes Best Outcomes Begin With People and the Systems That Empower Them
By Grace Lim, MD, MSc, MBA
As a newcomer to Utah, I was drawn by the mountains and ways to enjoy the unique natural surroundings. But what I’ve discovered nestled among them is something even more remarkable: University of Utah Health, an institution whose impact on medicine and human health extends far beyond this region and deserves greater recognition on the national and global stage.
What has struck me most is the depth of academic and clinical excellence and the spirit that fuels it. From day one, I’ve experienced a culture defined by collaboration, curiosity, and shared purpose. I’m energized by the opportunity to learn from and work alongside colleagues who are deeply committed to advancing patient care, research, education, and community impact.
A Path Shaped by Purpose and Connection
Initially, I planned to become a concert violinist, but an injury during my junior year of high school led me to reconsider that path. But I held on to what I loved most about music: the opportunity to connect with others and contribute in a meaningful way to how they experience the world.
My affinity for connection and service was deeply influenced by my father, and personal hero, who practiced rural medicine in Southeast Asia before coming to the United States.
Through early exposure to the communities he served, I developed a lasting sense of responsibility to apply my skills in a way that improves the lives of others. Medicine became the path through which I could put those values into practice. Like music, it’s both technical and humanistic—requiring precision, presence, empathy, and trust, especially during a person’s most vulnerable moments.
Choosing Anesthesiology and Leadership
In medical school, I intended to pursue obstetrics and gynecology, driven in part by my fascination with maternal physiology. During my clinical rotations, I discovered that anesthesiology uniquely aligned with my interests in physiology, pharmacology, and real-time clinical decision-making. The operating room felt like a living laboratory, where science guides therapeutic decisions and their effects can be seen in the moment.
I later found my way back to obstetrics through anesthesiology. I was drawn to both the complexity of caring for mother and child and the privilege of being present during transformative moments in patients’ lives. During my training, I also began to recognize the critical role of systems, how teams function, how care is coordinated, and how structures shape outcomes.
A pivotal influence for me was working with Cynthia Wong, MD, at Northwestern University. She expanded my understanding of what it means to contribute in medicine. Through that experience, I developed a commitment not only to clinical excellence but also to advancing research, education, and leadership that improve care at scale.
Creating Systems Where People Can Thrive
Throughout my career, I’ve learned that people are the most important part of any organization or process. As a leader, physician, and colleague, the way I interact with people is deeply rooted in dignity, respect, and kindness.
Some of the deepest satisfaction I’ve experienced in academic medicine comes from seeing mentees grow in ways they might not have imagined for themselves. That happens when leaders create the right conditions for success: supporting them, setting them up well, and then getting out of their way. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch those you’ve worked with achieve their goals and continue to push the field of anesthesiology forward.
When I think about how to unlock the potential of talented individuals or teams, a big part of that comes down to systems. The systems we design can either help people thrive or unintentionally hold them back. A thoughtful leadership approach asks: What structures are helping people do their best work? And what might be preventing them from reaching their full potential?
When we build systems that allow individuals to be their best, organizations excel.
Navigating a Moment of Opportunity
Academic medicine today is at a crossroads. Reduced reimbursement, workforce shortages, and increasing financial pressures can make it seem like our missions are under threat.
I don’t necessarily see it that way. Whenever we reach a crossroads, I see an opportunity to innovate. Across the country, and certainly at University of Utah Health, we face real challenges in sustaining our missions while maintaining strong financial stewardship. But those challenges can also spark important conversations.
How do we fund our missions in ways that clearly reflect who we are as an academic enterprise? How do we continue delivering outstanding care while supporting our workforce and exploring new models of care?
This moment calls for creativity and collaboration. I feel both the weight of these questions and strong motivation to lean into them as we work together to develop thoughtful, innovative solutions that allow academic medicine to thrive.
Building on Our Strengths to Reach the Next Level
One of the most exciting aspects of joining the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative & Pain Medicine in the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah is the strong foundation that already exists at U of U Health. This department has been exceptionally well-led for many years, most recently by Talmage Egan, MD, who served as chair for more than a decade. Dr. Egan established a culture of innovation, scholarship, and clinical excellence.
Education is strong. Research is strong. Our clinical care is outstanding.
In many ways, we’re already a national leader. Now, we have an opportunity to amplify and build on what’s already working well. I’m particularly excited about deepening our commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship: areas where the University of Utah has an incredible track record. New technologies, including emerging applications of artificial intelligence, create opportunities to rethink how we deliver care, conduct research, and educate future clinicians.
Because health sciences at the University of Utah are embedded within a broader ecosystem of engineering, data science, business, and other disciplines, we have a unique advantage. The partnerships we need to bring innovative ideas to life already exist here.
My goal is to dig deeper into those wells of talent and collaboration, transforming conversations into actionable work that advances our field.
Partnership Is Paramount
Anesthesiology is, at its core, a highly collaborative specialty. Much of what we do happens behind the scenes, which means anesthesiologists are not always the most visible members of the care team. Yet the specialty is filled with incredibly talented individuals who are deeply invested in ensuring the success of our patients and the health of our communities.
I want people across the health system to know that anesthesiology is here as a partner.
We are excited to work together to deliver the highest quality care, expand access for patients, educate the next generation of clinicians, and accelerate innovation and research across the university.
Above all, I’m looking forward to getting to know the people of University of Utah Health on an individual level. My goal as a leader is to help people become the best versions of themselves by building systems that unlock their potential.
When talented individuals are empowered to thrive, we elevate not only our department but also the entire institution.
