Healthleaderforge

Today’s guest is Lucy Hodder, Director of Health Law Programs and Professor of Law at the University of New Hampshire School of Law, and a member of the Institute for Health Policy and Practice in the College of Health and Human Services also at the University of New Hampshire. With her dual appointment, she both helps train the next generation of attorneys in the state in the application of legal principles to health care, and works with the Institute on some of the most challenging health care problems facing the state today.In this podcast we explore Lucy’s career, a journey that took her back and forth between public service and private practice in several states and regions of the country, including working in the office of the New Hampshire Attorney General, being a senior shareholder in the firm of Rath, Young and Pignatelli, and finally before joining the faculty at the University of New Hampshire, serving as the Legal Counsel to the Governor as well as senior health policy advisor.I think the thing t

Today's guest is Dr. Raymond A. Levy, the Executive Director of the Fatherhood Project. The Fatherhood Project is a non-profit fatherhood program in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston, MA. The mission of the program is to improve the health and well-being of children and families by empowering fathers to be knowledgeable, active, and emotionally engaged with their children.Dr. Levy is a clinical psychologist specializing in psychoanalysis, with over thirty five years of experience in the field. In this podcast we talk about the training Dr. Levy underwent to become a psychotherapist and his career leading up to his founding of the Fatherhood Project. We then talk about the origins of the Fatherhood Project, the kinds of programming and research Dr. Levy’s team undertakes, and the challenges of running a small, mission oriented non-profit.I think listeners will get a lot out of this interview. First, Dr. Levy does a very nice job explaining the field of psychotherapy w

Today’s guest is Luanne Rogers, the President and CEO of The Courville Communities, a long term care system in southern New Hampshire. The Courville Communities include two nursing homes, assisted living communities, and retirement apartments. The Courville Communities is a private, family owned organization, something that is becoming less common as corporations have come to dominate the competitive landscape.In this podcast, Luanne talks about her thirty-year journey through a field that has gone through many changes. Her career began as a nursing assistant in Chicago, Illinois, working to put herself through college and has included working for privately owned facilities as well as national chains. I really enjoyed my conversation with Luanne. Her passion and commitment to the field is remarkable.For more information and links to the topics discussed, please visit our web site, http://healthleaderforge.org This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to b

Today’s guest is John Fernandez, the President and CEO of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, Massachusetts. Mass Eye and Ear is one of the world’s leading specialty hospitals dedicated to ophthalmology and otolaryngology care, or as John says, they take care of everything from the neck up except the brain, but maybe the brain too sometimes.In this podcast John talks about his journey to leading this world class organization, including his progress into the executive ranks at another world class Boston organization, the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Throughout the interview, John talks about his management approach, which focuses on the fundamentals: plan, execute, follow up. While this sounds like a fairly simple formula, I think anyone who has tried it knows that simple isn’t always easy. John tempers his management approach with a focus on kindness, which was something heartening to hear from a senior executive.One of the things that is clearly important to John is work life balance. We talk

Today's guest is Katie Fullam Harris, the Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Accountable Care Strategy for MaineHealth, in Portland, Maine. Katie oversees the development, implementation and coordination of state and federal advocacy on behalf of the MaineHealth System, and also leads the development and implementation of strategy that supports improved access and value for health care consumers and purchasers and the alignment of incentives for providers in the MaineHealth System. Prior to coming to MaineHealth, Katie worked in a variety of not-for-profit, government, and for-profit institutions.In this podcast, Katie and I discuss her career journey, then transition to talk about what it’s like to manage government relations and health policy for the largest integrated health system in the state of Maine, and the challenges of trying to move a large system towards paying for value. We conclude with a discussion about influence and leadership.We cover a lot of ground in this interview, especia

Today's guest is Dr. Nirav Shah, the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Clinical Operations for Kaiser Permanente Southern California, in Pasadena, California. Nirav oversees the health plan and hospital quality, service, accreditation, regulatory compliance, and licensure, as well as nursing, the continuum of care, and the effective use of technology, data, and analytics to produce better patient health outcomes for $24B region serving 4.2M members.Prior to coming to Kaiser, Nirav served as the Commissioner of Health for the State of New York, administering a $60B budget and was responsible for public health insurance programs covering 5 million New Yorkers as well as regulating the state's hospitals and nursing homes among other responsibilities.Nirav completed an internal medicine residency at Yale, followed by a fellowship in epidemiology in the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program. Before moving into leadership roles, he worked as a physician researcher at Bellevue Hospital in

Today’s guest is Brigadier General R. Scott Dingle, the director plans, operations, and training for the US Army Medical Command, also known as the MEDCOM G-3/5/7. BG Dingle has had an extraordinary career, including attendance at some of the Army’s most respected training schools, battalion and brigade commands, and combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. I really enjoyed hearing BG Dingle’s career story, but I found his lessons for leaders at the end of the interview particularly striking. He uses a clever metaphor to talking about the need for leaders to never lose their bearing, to never forget they are always in the spotlight, and to never forget they are always part of a team.This podcast is being released just in time for Independence Day weekend, and it seems appropriate to reflect on the career of a dedicated military leader and combat veteran as we remember that freedom is not free.For more information about the interview, please visit our website: http://healthleaderforge.blogspot.com/2016/07/brigadi

Today we return to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and our guest is the Reverend Frank Macht, the director of the Chaplaincy. Frank is a minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, although he is originally from Germany. Together we reflect on his journey, as he refers to it, and the experiences he has had as he served and trained all over the United States, from Berkley, California, to Atlanta, Georgia, to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Nome, Alaska and finally to Lebanon, New Hampshire.Frank was first called to ministry as a hospital chaplain through a training program known as clinical pastoral education. His interest in this specialized form of ministry led him to become a clinical pastoral education supervisor, which allows him to supervise the clinical training of other chaplains. In this podcast we discuss the training a hospital chaplain goes through, the role of the hospital chaplain, and specifically the role of the Chaplaincy at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. I really enjoyed this interview becau

Today we return to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and our guest is the Reverend Frank Macht, the director of the Chaplaincy. Frank is a minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, although he is originally from Germany. Together we reflect on his journey, as he refers to it, and the experiences he has had as he served and trained all over the United States, from Berkley, California, to Atlanta, Georgia, to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Nome, Alaska and finally to Lebanon, New Hampshire.Frank was first called to ministry as a hospital chaplain through a training program known as clinical pastoral education. His interest in this specialized form of ministry led him to become a clinical pastoral education supervisor, which allows him to supervise the clinical training of other chaplains.In this podcast we discuss the training a hospital chaplain goes through, the role of the hospital chaplain, and specifically the role of the Chaplaincy at Dartmouth-Hitchcock.I really enjoyed this interview because

Today’s guest is Sheila Woolley, the Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services at Wentworth-Douglass Health Systems in Dover, New Hampshire. Wentworth-Douglass Health system includes Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, a 178-bed non-profit, acute-care hospital that employs 2,300 individuals with 1,700 FTEs, has 50,000-visits annually, and is a Level III Trauma Center. The Health System also includes Wentworth Health Partners, which include 23 primary care and specialty practices, and two express care facilities. As we discuss during the podcast, although Wentworth-Douglass is a community hospital, it has clinical affiliations with world-class academic medical centers that enable patients to access some of the best physicians in the region while staying at home on the New Hampshire Seacoast.In this podcast we discuss Sheila’s career in nursing, the role of the CNO, how the nursing profession has evolved, and conclude with a discussion about leadership.This is a valuable interview for any aspir

Today’s guest is Roderic "Roddy" Olvera Young, Executive Vice President, and Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health. In this podcast, Roddy shares his nearly three decades of experience in communications and public relations in a wide variety of governmental and private organizations, among them including being the press secretary for NASA, as well as being a consultant for firms involved in public relations crises while working with MSL Group/TMG Strategies prior to coming to his current role at Dartmouth-Hitchcock.This is a valuable podcast for any current or aspiring health leader to listen to because Roddy reveals some of the key mistakes leaders make when working with strategic communications and dealing with the press and provides insight on how to engage in a long term strategic messaging effort.for more information, see our web site: http://healthleaderforge.blogspot.com/2016/05/roderick-olvera-young-executive-vice.html This is a public episode. If you would like to disc

Today's guest is Laura Curnan, the Executive Director, High Point Village Retirement and Assisted Living Community in Enumclaw, Washington. Laura has been the Executive Director at High Point since 1990, coming to assisted living management after having worked in retirement community management.In this podcast we talk about how assisted living works, what kind of services are provided, and how the industry fills a niche between retirement communities and nursing homes.Laura talks about creating a community that is welcoming and comfortable for her residents, and that "brings retirement to life."This was an educational interview for me because I personally have not had much exposure to the assisted living industry, but clearly this is an industry that will continue to grow in importance. Today there are over 30,000 assisted living facilities in the United States providing care for more than one million residents, and it is poised to continue to grow with the aging of the Baby Boom generation.For more informati

Today’s guest is Dr. Kenneth Anderson, DO, the Chief Operating Officer for the Health Research and Educational Trust, a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association in Chicago, Illinois. In this podcast, we trace Ken’s career in medicine, from his training in both family practice and internal medicine, then as nephrologist and kidney transplant specialist, followed by his movement into the physician executive ranks, specializing in quality and data management as the Chief Medical Quality Officer for the NorthShore University HealthSystem before his current position as COO of HRET. As the COO of HRET he helps to influence health policy at the national level through research and educational programs.I really enjoyed speaking with Ken about his career – his passion for medicine and improving the quality of care for patients at the individual and system level is evident in everything he has done.Addendum: Since the recording of this podcast, Dr. Anderson has been promoted to Acting President of HRET and Acting

Today's guest is Dr. Joseph Pepe, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Medical Center Healthcare System. Dr. Pepe has served the CMC Healthcare System since 1990, first as a staff physician, then as Chief Medical Officer, and since 2012 as the system President and CEO. The advice he gives early careerists entering the field of administration is to volunteer for additional responsibility, and that positions will follow. His own career reflects that fact. In the interview, Dr. Pepe describes his choice to become a primary care physician, and how his interest in improving the operations of the practice resulted in him being "volun-told" that he would be the Chief Medical Officer. After thirteen years of successful leadership as the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Pepe was selected to lead CMC as the CEO and president. We discuss strategy and how Dr. Pepe is working with the board and senior management to ensure CMC's success in a rapidly changing health care environment, while remaining true to CMC's

Today’s guest is Gerald “Gerry” Vicenzi, the President of Synernet, Inc. Synernet is a for-profit provider of a broad portfolio of administrative and management services to healthcare organizations including workers compensation administration, clinical engineering, credentialing, coding, and transcription. Gerry has been the President of Synernet since 1999, and under his leadership, Synernet has grown from 25 to more than 270 employees. Gerry brought a wealth of experience with him when he moved from Cleveland, Ohio to Portland, Maine where Synernet is headquartered. Starting out his his career as an industrial engineer and it is fascinating to hear how his engineering background influenced his management approach. He shares his successes and struggles over his forty three year career. We discuss organizational leadership and mentorship, and close on the importance of networking through professional organizations such as ACHE.I was particularly interested in interviewing Gerry because Synernet represents a

Today’s guest is Patricia "Patsy" Aprile, FACHE, the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford, Maine. Patsy started her career on the clinical side as a medical technologist, working her way up through leadership positions in the laboratory, then clinical operations. In this podcast she talks about her experiences in a variety of organizations, including her time as CEO of Goodall Hospital during its merger with Southern Maine Health Care, as well as her role today. I think this podcast is especially useful for the insights Patsy offers on leadership and organizational culture, both in the context of leading through a merger as well as how she leads for operational excellence today. Patsy also talks about her service as the American College of Health Care Executives Regent for the state of Maine, and concludes with advice for early careerists. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes,

Today's guest is Kathleen Bizarro-Thunberg, MBA, FACHE, Executive Vice President for the New Hampshire Hospital Association ("NHHA"). Kathy has worked at the New Hampshire Hospital Association for thirty years. In this podcast, Kathy tells how she worked her way up in the organization from data technician to Executive Vice President. We talk about how the Hospital Association works with member hospitals in the state to establish the organization's priorities and messages, and how the Hospital Association represents the interests of the member organizations at the state and federal level. We also talk about leadership, and Kathy’s role as a leader both inside of her organization, as well as her role as a thought leader working with the organization’s membership, the state legislature, and other organizations and the similarities between those two forms of leadership.We then discuss Kathy’s extensive leadership experience within the American College of Healthcare Executives where she currently holds a seat on t

Today’s guest is Dr. Kristy Fassler, ND, co-founder of North Coast Family Health Integrative Medicine Clinic, a naturopathic practice in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In this podcast Dr. Fassler and I discuss the training naturopathic doctors take, the philosophy behind naturopathy, and how naturopathic doctors work with patients to identify underlying dysfunction within the body and mind and correct it to promote healing from the inside out.We also discuss how Dr. Fassler worked with her husband, other naturopaths, and the community to get the state of New Hampshire to recognize and license naturopathic doctors in the mid-1990s, and as a result she and her husband hold license numbers 2 and 3 in the state. This podcast was eye-opening for me because prior to talking with Dr. Fassler I had never spoken with a naturopathic doctor. I learned a lot about the field, and found many parallels between the naturopathic approach and the current movement in mainstream medicine toward a focus on wellness and patient center

Today’s guest is Karen Clements, the Associate Chief Nurse for Ambulatory and Primary Care Nursing, Emergency and Patient Placement Services, and Care Management and Psychiatric Services for the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health System, or as her staff tell her, she is the Associate Chief Nurse for Team Awesome. Despite its rural location, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center is the largest hospital in New Hampshire, taking referrals from over forty other hospitals in New England. It is also a major teaching hospital associated with Dartmouth College’s Geisel School of Medicine. Karen is also the President of the Northern New England Association of Healthcare Executives, one of the sponsors of this podcast. Karen is a nurse-executive whose roots are in emergency and trauma nursing. Her career began with an active duty tour in the Army’s Nurse Corps, then she returned home to Bangor, Maine where she progressed through the nursing ranks to become the Chief Nursing Officer of Acadia Hospital, a 100 bed freestanding psych

Today’s guest is Betsey Rhynhart, the Executive Director of New Hampshire Accountable Care Partners, an Accountable Care Organization or ACO headquartered at Concord Hospital in Concord New Hampshire. New Hampshire Accountable Care Partners was formed as a partnership between four community health systems in Southern New Hampshire: Concord Hospital, The Elliot Health System, Southern New Hampshire Health System, and Wentworth-Douglas Health System. In this podcast Betsey talks about her career, and how her education in public health and her background in insurance and strategy merge in her current role leading the ACO’s efforts. She talks about how the ACO is a learning organization that is helping the participating partners move toward a strategy of providing value-based care, a recurring theme we have been hearing from a number of leaders in recent interviews. Betsey provides an inside view of how the ACO was formed, how it operates, what the organization’s goals and objectives are, and what the participati