⚓ Navigating the Storm: COVID-19, Crisis Leadership, and Getting Back to Sea

When the world shut down in 2020, the cruise industry faced an unprecedented crisis. Ships were anchored. Borders were sealed. And a global spotlight turned toward health and safety at sea. At the heart of this moment was a challenge that went far beyond protocols. It was about restoring trust, redefining safety, and leading people through fear and uncertainty. I had the privilege of being part of that effort.

At the helm of medical operations for one of the world’s largest cruise lines, I was responsible for helping design and execute the company’s COVID-19 response strategy. This wasn’t just a reactive plan. It was a complete reinvention of how medical care functioned at sea.

Alongside cross-functional teams, I worked to:

• Rewrite clinical protocols and outbreak management systems from the ground up

• Build scalable testing, isolation, and contact tracing programs across a global fleet

• Collaborate with port authorities, ministries of health, and international regulatory bodies

• Redesign shipboard medical facilities to meet the demands of pandemic-level care, many of which served as models for shoreside facilities across the United States

• Train and support both shoreside and shipboard teams as the science evolved in real time

What we created wasn’t just a response. It became a model. Our cruise line was the first major brand in the world to return to sailing safely. That milestone represented more than the restart of an industry. It was proof of what was possible when operational excellence, clinical expertise, and human resilience came together.

I carry that experience with me today through Anchor Health Consulting, helping companies navigate complex medical challenges at sea and beyond.

Because when the world needs to move forward, it depends on those who know how to move through the storm.