What does it take to lead healthcare organizations through crisis, rising costs, workforce challenges, and constant pressure without losing sight of the people you serve?

In this episode of Worth the Work with Jason Dana Costa, Jason sits down with behavioral health executive Yonzetta Brook Tillman, PhD to explore the leadership lessons she has gained from decades of working across hospital and community-based healthcare systems.

Yonzetta shares how growing up with a strong sense of community shaped her approach to collaboration and leadership, and how early experiences in behavioral health helped develop her passion for strategic planning and public health.

She also reflects on leading through some of healthcare's most challenging moments, including 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Yonzetta explains why preparation, reliable communication, leadership presence, and trusted relationships are critical when teams are operating under intense pressure.

The conversation also explores the financial realities of healthcare leadership. Yonzetta discusses how organizations can reduce waste, improve workflows, use technology effectively, strengthen workforce planning, and control costs while still protecting the quality and humanity of patient care.

Jason and Yonzetta also discuss recruitment, retention, burnout, resource management, and the importance of keeping the mission at the center of difficult operational decisions.

Ultimately, Yonzetta explains why the work remains worth doing: the moments when patients, families, and communities experience meaningful change because someone showed up to help.

This episode is a conversation about strategic leadership, resilience, operational excellence, and remembering the human impact behind every healthcare decision.