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Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Elaina McAdams – CEO, CAHEC (College and University Healthcare Education Consortium)

Episode Summary

This inspiring episode features Elaina McAdams, a nurse executive turned entrepreneur and healthcare innovator. Jarvis T. Gray welcomes Dr. McAdams for a deep dive into her impressive 25+ year career journey, her leadership philosophy, and her bold work addressing America’s healthcare workforce crisis by leveraging technology and academia.

• Leadership That Builds Leaders:
  Elaina shares her guiding leadership philosophy—leadership is about creating more leaders, not followers. She discusses the vital need for authentic, disruptive leaders in healthcare and why developing leadership capacity is essential for the future.
• Career Journey & Motivation:
  Dr. McAdams traces her path from nursing assistant to trauma and ICU nurse, through hospital leadership positions, and into entrepreneurship as CEO of CAHEC, a SaaS platform matching healthcare students with preceptors at scale. Her journey showcases adaptability, risk-taking, and a passion for impact.
• Entrepreneurship Insights:
  Dr. McAdams opens up about the risks, challenges, and rewards of leaving a stable healthcare executive role to launch her own tech-enabled solution. She emphasizes the power of relationships, learning from both parents as entrepreneurs, and the importance of continuous education and resilience.
• The Workforce Crisis & Innovation:
  A significant discussion centers on the looming shortage of 3.2 million healthcare workers by 2030. Dr. McAdams discusses scalable solutions, technology and AI, the need for academic-healthcare collaboration, and creating equitable pathways for new talent, especially in underserved communities.
• Generational Change & Patient Experience:
  The pair discuss how younger generations are reshaping expectations around healthcare access and delivery, the need for hospitals to be more collaborative, technology-forward, and community-integrated, and the importance of meeting future workforce where they are.
• Lessons from Setbacks:
  Dr. McAdams reflects on how her greatest leadership growth has come from both positive and negative experiences, emphasizing the value of empathy, servant leadership, and focusing on others' growth.
• Mentors and Inspiration:
  Dr. McAdams pays tribute to her parents and colleagues (notably Jeff Richards) for their mentorship, guidance during tough times, and modeling high emotional intelligence.

Notable Quotes

• “Leadership is about creating more leaders, not followers.”
• "Being an entrepreneur is not for the faint-hearted... but it’s all worth it."
• "You grow further and faster when you help other people get ahead."
• "If you are given the opportunity, try it... Even if you hear 'no,' it can still lead you to the right path."

Connect with Dr. Elaina McAdams/CAHEC:

• LinkedIn: Elaina McAdams
• CAHEC info: www.cahec.org

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Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Brian Aquart, VP of Workforce and Community Education, Healthcare Leader, Podcaster

Episode Overview

In this inspiring episode, Jarvis T. Gray sits down with Brian Aquart to dive into Brian’s unconventional journey from employment attorney to healthcare executive, the leadership mindsets that guide him, and his passion for storytelling as a force for positive change in healthcare. The conversation ranges from career pivots and overcoming challenges, to AI’s role in healthcare, workforce development, and the power of mentorship.

Key Topics & Takeaways

1. Leadership Mindset

• Brian shares a guiding quote: “Don’t let fear take the fun out of life,” originally cited from his own podcast. He discusses how balancing fun and fear leads to better, more resilient leadership in healthcare.

2. Brian’s Career Story

• Started as an employment attorney before pivoting into government roles and eventually healthcare.
• Current role as VP of Workforce and Community Education at a major New York healthcare system.
• The importance of skill evolution, coaching, and embracing unexpected opportunities (including being recruited via LinkedIn).

3. Contrasting Healthcare & Law

• Both sectors have significant complexity and politics, but healthcare adds regulatory layers and unique staffing challenges.
• Brian is the first lawyer featured on the podcast, offering a fresh perspective.

4. Game-Changing Healthcare Trends

• The integration of AI: Revolutionizing patient scheduling, care delivery, community health modeling, and workforce planning.
• Workforce shortages: Not just nurses, but lab technologists, respiratory therapists, and other vital roles.

5. The Power of Mentorship and Relationships

• Brian Aquart tells a pivotal story of career hardship and how a single contact (“Laura”) helped propel his career forward.
• Former CEO (“Michael Dowling”) modeled leadership through intentional storytelling, mentorship, and positive organizational culture.
• Jarvis and Brian discuss how mentors have shaped both their careers.

6. Biggest Challenges & Opportunities in Healthcare Leadership

• Challenge: Impending Medicare/Medicaid cuts, especially impacting rural health systems.
• Opportunity: Forced transformation and innovation, especially among organizations proactively preparing for change.

7. Brian’s Podcast: Why I Left

• Focused on the stories behind career transitions and resignations, inspired by the Great Resignation.
• Serves as a resource for professionals navigating career change.
• Now 97 episodes in, soon launching milestone 100th episode.
• Connect via LinkedIn or at whyileft.co.

How to Connect

• LinkedIn: Brian Aquart
• Podcast: Why I Left

Closing Thought:
This episode is packed with powerful stories and practical advice for healthcare leaders, providing encouragement to embrace change, support others, and lead with both optimism and intentionality.

Is your healthcare organization ready to excel with Lean Six Sigma? Take our quick Readiness Assessment to uncover strengths and improvement opportunities for quality, safety, and efficiency

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

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Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Dr. Rosie Moore, CEO of JRM Nurse Consultants

In this Health Biz Spotlight segment, Jarvis T. Gray welcomes Dr. Rosie Moore, the CEO of JRM Nurse Consultants, for an insightful look into her journey as a nurse entrepreneur. The conversation dives deep into the world of functional medicine, its crucial role in supporting injured workers, and how holistic approaches can lead to sustainable recovery and lifestyle improvements.

Key Highlights:

• Dr. Rosie Moore’s Journey:
  Dr. Rosie Moore shares her path from corporate America to founding her business, motivated by the need to look beyond traditional, injury-focused care and address root causes impacting patient recovery.
• Services & Uniqueness:
  JRM Nurse Consultants stands out with its bilingual capabilities, legal and medical background, and broad clinical experience. Rosie’s approach combines conventional and functional medicine, starting with an in-depth personal assessment and labs tailored to individual symptoms, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.
• Functional vs. Conventional Medicine:
  The episode emphasizes the synergy between functional and conventional medicine, advocating for a collaborative approach to patient care that can reduce reliance on medication and improve overall health outcomes.
• Business Values & Patient Care:
  Rosie discusses the importance she places on empathy and being present, treating every client with genuine care and attention—values that deeply inform her business philosophy.
• Growth Strategies & Education:
  The discussion includes a live coaching session where Jarvis T. Gray provides practical marketing advice, from developing a movement and lifestyle-based marketing approach to implementing education through workshops, webinars, and live events. The importance of creating a customer avatar and utilizing CRM automation is also explored.
• Actionable Advice for Health Entrepreneurs:
  Listeners get actionable strategies for building referral relationships, educating providers and patients, and leveraging tools like CRMs and event-based marketing.

Connect with Dr. Rosie Moore:

• Website: jrmnurseconsultants.com
• Podcast: Injury Recovery and Safe Return to Work — Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major platforms.

Takeaways:

• Focus on root cause analysis for long-term health outcomes.
• Blend functional and conventional medicine for optimal patient results.
• Build referral and education networks to grow your healthcare business.
• Value human connection and presence in every patient interaction.

Is your healthcare organization ready to excel with Lean Six Sigma? Take our quick Readiness Assessment to uncover strengths and improvement opportunities for quality, safety, and efficiency

• Start Now: Lean Six Sigma Readiness Assessment

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