At the heart of the 2024 National Comp conference in Las Vegas, Paradigm invited attendees to participate in a unique and interactive experience, transforming personal reflections into a striking work of art. The “What’s Your Why? Portraits of Purpose” engagement activity at Paradigm’s booth, invited participants to share the driving force behind their work in the workers’ compensation industry. For every response, Paradigm made a donation—$4,000 in total—to Kids’ Chance of America, a nonprofit dedicated to helping the children of those affected by catastrophic workplace injuries and Paradigm’s core philanthropic partner.
An on-site artist brought these reflections to life, creating a vibrant sketch—a visual representation of purpose and passion, showing the reasons attendees conveyed they are motivated to do the work they do. This activity connected directly to Paradigm’s injured worker panel presentation, Human-Centered Care & Compassion: Real Workers, Groundbreaking Recoveries, where the focus was on holistic care for injured workers and how understanding the “why” behind people’s stories can make all the difference in their motivation and recovery.
Human-Centered Care: Real Workers, Groundbreaking Recoveries
The session itself presented the astonishing stories of two men who faced catastrophic workplace injuries and defied the odds through a combination of groundbreaking medical treatments and the power of a supportive, holistic care team. Alexander Borges, a structural engineer, survived a 35-foot fall on the job, while Aaron James, a lineman, lived through a 7,200-volt electrical shock that left him in need of a partial face and eye transplant, a medical first.
Their recoveries were not just physical—they embodied the resilience of the human spirit. Through interactive discussions, both Alexander and Aaron shared their journeys, giving attendees a firsthand look into the challenges they faced and the integral role that their care teams played in helping them regain purpose and independence.
Their stories underscored Paradigm’s commitment to a team-based approach to care. Paradigm’s model goes beyond addressing physical injuries to include medical expertise, behavioral health, and community support, ensuring that the needs of both the injured worker and their family are met. The session was moderated by Shawn Deane, General Counsel and VP of Claims Solutions, J29, who represented Kind Souls Foundation, and featured insights from Dr. Michael Choo, Paradigm’s Chief Medical Officer, Workers’ Compensation, illustrating how collaboration among medical professionals, workers’ compensation experts, families, and communities can lead to remarkable outcomes.
What’s Your Why? A Sketch Of Collective Purpose
In parallel to these stories, Paradigm’s “What’s Your Why? Portraits of Purpose” activity allowed attendees to reflect on their own reasons for being part of this industry. The illustration featured above captures a beautiful array of motivations, transforming individual purposes into a unified tapestry of compassion and dedication.
Surrounding the central question, What’s Your Why?, are words and phrases that represent the deeply personal reasons participants shared. Here are some key themes:
- Healing and recovery: Many shared how helping injured workers and their families get back on their feet is their ultimate motivation. One quote captures this beautifully: “Helping people get back to what they love,” while another highlights the transformative power of recovery: “Seeing the positive impact Paradigm has on injured workers’ lives and helping in their recovery.” Attendees emphasized that it’s not just about physical healing, but about bringing people back to their purpose, as one wrote: “Get back to their life and purpose.”
- Compassion and guidance: The importance of being a “compassionate guide” for those going through traumatic experiences was echoed by many. This aspect of care was articulated through quotes like “To be a compassionate guide to those going through a traumatic and confusing time,” reflecting the emotional depth required from those who are part of the workers’ comp industry. Another attendee expressed a similar sentiment: “Support when someone is facing a tough time.” The emotional side of recovery is just as important as the medical, with participants keen to ensure that no injured worker feels alone.
- Family and resilience: Several people connected their “why” to family, either directly—such as those working to support their loved ones—or indirectly, through the lens of helping others’ families. The phrase “Family is everything” stood out in the sketch, along with powerful statements like “My mother was a nurse for 40 years. She instilled caring in me,” and “For my kids.” These quotes highlight the multigenerational influence and the drive to foster resilience, not just for injured workers, but for their entire support systems. One attendee’s reason was simply: “To help my teammates,” emphasizing the community aspect of recovery.
- Equity and advocacy: Advocating for the best care possible and helping workers “navigate the healthcare system” were also prominent themes. One participant shared: “Helping injured workers navigate the healthcare system,” while another emphasized their role in promoting fairness: “Promoting equity and justice.” This commitment to advocating for injured workers reveals the complexity and need for empathy in guiding them through the system, ensuring they receive the care and support they need.
- Innovation and leadership: Some attendees were motivated by a desire to create “lasting change” in the industry. They saw opportunities for “innovation” in how workers’ comp operates, with one person stating they wanted to “change the way we help injured workers.” Another participant shared their passion for driving progress in the field: “Lots of opportunity for innovation in this industry.” Attendees were keen to look toward the future, with one noting the need to “create lasting change for patients and employees.”
Holistic Care: Beyond Medicine
The panel presentation went beyond the medical side of care, focusing on the psychosocial and behavioral health elements that are often just as critical in the recovery process. Alexander and Aaron both highlighted the importance of kindness, compassion, and maintaining a positive outlook during their recoveries. For Aaron, his care team’s unwavering support helped him face each challenge head on, finding the strength to push through and rebuild his life.
The session also emphasized the role of workplace support and accommodations, which are vital for enabling injured workers to return to their lives and jobs. Alexander, who returned to work as a structural engineer only six months after his injury, talked about how important this was in his recovery—proving to himself that he could do it. Whether it’s making adjustments in the workplace or fostering an environment of encouragement and patience, these efforts can make all the difference in a worker’s ability to reintegrate into their daily routine.
A Unified Vision: Compassion In Action
The “What’s Your Why? Portraits of Purpose” illustration serves as a visual testament to the compassion and dedication that drives the workers’ comp industry. Each word, phrase, and sentiment reflects the shared goal of making a positive impact in the lives of injured workers and their families. The personal motivations captured in this piece highlight how deeply people in this field care about their work and the lives they touch.
One thing is clear: Compassion, purpose, and a commitment to helping others are at the core of what makes this industry thrive. By centering care around the human experience, we not only support workers throughout their recoveries, but also foster resilience, hope, and a renewed sense of purpose in their lives.
Alexander Borges and Aaron James are living proof that with the right care and support, even the most catastrophic injuries can lead to incredible recoveries.
Michael Stack, CEO of Amaxx LLC, is an expert in workers’ compensation cost containment systems and provides education, training, and consulting to help employers reduce their workers’ compensation costs by 20% to 50%. He is co-author of the #1 selling comprehensive training guide “Your Ultimate Guide to Mastering Workers’ Comp Costs: Reduce Costs 20% to 50%.” Stack is the creator of Injury Management Results (IMR) software and founder of Amaxx Workers’ Comp Training Center. WC Mastery Training teaching injury management best practices such as return to work, communication, claims best practices, medical management, and working with vendors. IMR software simplifies the implementation of these best practices for employers and ties results to a Critical Metrics Dashboard.
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