Send us a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Shayla Higginbotham, Founder & Managing Partner, System Partners

Welcome back to the Excellence in Healthcare podcast! In this insightful episode, host Jarvis T. Gray sits down with Shayla Higginbotham—a dynamic healthcare leader, entrepreneur, and founder of System Partners—to unpack lessons in leadership, the evolving landscape of healthcare, and the power of strategic partnership.

Key Topics & Takeaways:

• The Three L’s of Leadership
  • Shayla shares her foundational leadership mindset: Listen, Learn, and Lead. She explains how purposeful listening fuels learning and effective leadership, especially in uncertain times.
  • Bonus Tip: For teams, Shayla often says “Always think five steps ahead” to stay proactive in risk-planning and strategy.
• Career Journey & Entrepreneurship
  • Shayla walks us through her 20-year healthcare journey: From an administrative fellowship at Cone Health and hands-on service at Duke Health, to international consulting and leadership as a hospital CEO in Miami.
• The Evolving Role of AI in Healthcare
  • Shayla candidly discusses her early resistance and eventual embrace of artificial intelligence. She now sees AI and machine learning as essential tools for predictive analytics and accelerating patient care solutions.
• Pivotal Challenges & Lessons Learned
  • Shayla opens up about her toughest career transition—from hospital COO to a consulting manager at Deloitte. She emphasizes that humility, a willingness to “learn what not to do,” and resourcefulness from her West Virginia upbringing helped her succeed in new roles.
  • Advice: What got you to where you are may not get you to your next level. Stay adaptable and connected to your “why.”
• Mentorship & Influence
  • Shayla highlights the importance of never meeting a stranger and seeking wisdom from every level of an organization, especially frontline staff.
• Current Challenges & Opportunities in Healthcare
  • Challenge: Navigating rural health transformation and the uncertainty following major legislative changes (like the "One Big Beautiful Bill act").
  • Opportunity: Rethinking private equity’s disruptive—but potentially positive—role in healthcare, especially in expanding access and innovation.
• Looking Ahead
  • Shayla is excited about growing System Partners, expanding her We Win Wednesday LinkedIn series to showcase healthcare leaders, and getting more involved in mentorship, speaking, and panel opportunities.

Connect with Shayla Higginbotham & System Partners:

• Follow Shayla and System Partners on LinkedIn
• Check out the weekly We Win Wednesday series featuring inspiring healthcare leaders.

Final Thought Jarvis leaves us with a challenge: Use this episode as a chance to listen, learn, and go lead w

Is your healthcare organization ready for excellence? Take the Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment and find out! Evaluate your leadership, strategy, and operations.

• Start now: Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment

Thank you for tuning in! Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast for more insights into achieving healthcare excellence.

New episodes of the "Excellence In Healthcare" podcast are released every Tuesday at 02:00 a.m. (est). Don't miss out on the latest insights and strategies for Mastering Healthcare Excellence.

Send us a text

Guest: Dr. Maxwell Muehleip (Founder, Maximal Wellness Clinic)
Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.

Episode Overview: This inspiring Small Business Spotlight features Dr. Maxwell Muehleip, founder of Maximal Wellness Clinic in Tigard, Oregon. Dr. Max shares his journey from growing up with chiropractic care, to becoming a multifaceted practitioner with a focus on chiropractic, nutrition, and holistic wellness. Host Jarvis T. Gray and Dr. Max dive deep into healthcare entrepreneurship, work-life balance, business strategy, and how natural, patient-centered care can change lives.

Key Topics & Highlights:

• Dr. Max's Origin Story:
  Growing up seeing the value of chiropractic care in his family, Dr. Max discovered his passion for holistic health early on.
• Choosing a Nontraditional Path:
  Dr. Max discusses why he opted for chiropractic and integrative nutrition instead of a conventional MD track, highlighting the personalized, hands-on approach and the flexibility to address the root causes of patient issues.
• Early Career Lessons:
  Insights from high-volume clinics and toxic business cultures reveal the importance of knowing your business inside out and building environments that support both patients and staff.
• Balancing Family and Business:
  Jarvis and Dr. Max swap stories and strategies for integrating work-life responsibilities.
• Clinic Services and Unique Offerings:
  • Manual and instrument-assisted chiropractic adjustments
  • Myofascial cupping, gua sha, traction therapy
  • Nutrition counseling and over 240 wellness products
  • Innovative integrative program for IBS, IBD, Crohn’s, and colitis, blending clinical nutrition, functional medicine, and patient education.
• Growth & Marketing Strategies:
  • Launching targeted ads for his IBD/IBS program with strong engagement
  • Networking with local professionals, church groups, and through social platforms
  • Leveraging Google My Business and email marketing
  • Tips for gaining five-star reviews and improving clinic SEO

Actionable Takeaways:

• Optimize your business’s location and schedule to support both professional and family needs
• Build your brand around your personal values for authenticity and trust
• Diversify your services—add unique, evidence-based programs that solve high-impact patient problems
• Actively network, not just within your field, but among complementary professions and local organizations
• Use structured marketing approaches: strong value propositions, drip campaigns, consistent digital presence, and educational content
• Don’t be afraid to ask satisfied clients for reviews—especially at key happy moments!

Connect with Dr. Maxwell Mulet:

• Website: maximalwellness.com
• Instagram & Facebook: @MaximalWellnessClinic
• YouTube: Maximal Wellness Clinic

Dr. Max welcomes questions and loves sha

Is your healthcare organization ready for excellence? Take the Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment and find out! Evaluate your leadership, strategy, and operations.

• Start now: Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment

Thank you for tuning in! Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast for more insights into achieving healthcare excellence.

New episodes of the "Excellence In Healthcare" podcast are released every Tuesday at 02:00 a.m. (est). Don't miss out on the latest insights and strategies for Mastering Healthcare Excellence.

Send us a text

Episode Overview

In this inspiring episode of Excellence in Healthcare, host Jarvis T. Gray sits down with Namita Azad, Senior Director of Transformation at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Together, they delve deep into digital transformation, human-centered systems, and the future of healthcare leadership.

Key Topics & Highlights

• Favorite Leadership Mindset
  • Namita shares her guiding leadership quote: “Success begins with enabling people to succeed” (Napoleon Hill), discussing the impact of designing systems that help people thrive and deliver their best.
• Journey into Healthcare
  • Namita details her unique background—born in India, raised in Botswana, and a professional career in both the Midwest and Northeast U.S.—and how it shaped her dedication to public health and transformation.
• Digital Transformation Explained
  • A practical, inclusive breakdown of what digital transformation means in healthcare: not just implementing technology, but equipping people across all levels with tools and shared vocabulary, with an emphasis on sustainability and empowerment.
• AI in Healthcare
  • Discussion about the buzz and potential of AI, and the importance of preparing staff with the right tools and understanding to harness AI effectively rather than fearing job displacement.
• Human-Centered Systems Transformation
  • Namita argues for putting people at the center of systems design, emphasizing the importance of ensuring technology fits workflows—rather than forcing people to adapt to ill-fitting tools.
• Advice for Leaders
  • Don't throw people at broken systems; instead, fix processes first and make data-driven decisions.
  • The value of KPIs and leading indicators when determining if additional resources are needed.
• Opportunities & Trends
  • The need for healthcare leaders to challenge the status quo—“This is how we’ve always done it”—and intentionally redesign processes with diverse, skilled teams.
• Celebrating Wins
  • Celebrating where true transformation happens: when staff across the organization tell their own stories of impact and innovation, especially around scaling AI initiatives at Columbia.

Connect with Namita Zag

• LinkedIn: Namita Azad

Action Steps for Healthcare Leaders

• Consider your own organization’s approach to digital transformation: is it truly empowering staff, or simply installing technology?
• Shift focus to human-centered system design—align people, process, and tech.
• Leverage data and KPIs before adding resources.
• Seek out leadership training in industries that exemplify operational and people excellence.
• Read Thinking in Systems and Outwitting the Devil for fresh perspectives.

Is your healthcare organization ready for excellence? Take the Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment and find out! Evaluate your leadership, strategy, and operations.

• Start now: Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment

Thank you for tuning in! Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast for more insights into achieving healthcare excellence.

New episodes of the "Excellence In Healthcare" podcast are released every Tuesday at 02:00 a.m. (est). Don't miss out on the latest insights and strategies for Mastering Healthcare Excellence.