Last Weekend, I attended the Connecticut Health Foundations, Health Leadership Fellows Program Fall Retreat. I have been chosen to be a member of the class of 2013. One of the speakers started off by talking about a dinner she had with a former presidential candidate from Lebanon. He had suggested that leadership isn't important.

It made me think of the old saying, "Are you a leader? Are you a follower? Are those the only two choices?" My leadership in health issues was recognized by my selection into the program, but I tend not to think a lot about leadership. I'm just doing my job.

I'm also running for State Representative. Last week, my opponent ran an ad that starts, "Common Sense Leadership". Her current role in the legislature includes the title Deputy Republican Leader.

What is leadership? Is it a title or campaign slogan? Is it something we are born with? Is it a skill we need to develop? Does it even matter at all?

The retreat focused on building leadership skills, and perhaps that is what matters most. Do you have the skills necessary to get a group of people to work together to improve a community? Are you using these skills? How are you honing these skills in yourself?

For the next several months, this is what I'll be working on as part of the Connecticut Health Foundations, Health Leadership Fellows Class of 2013. I hope the coming events are as thought provoking as the fall retreat has been.