Send us a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Sharyn Combs CEO, The EchoSystem

In this energizing episode, Jarvis T. Gray welcomes distinguished leadership coach and entrepreneur Sharyn Combs to the Excellence In Healthcare podcast. Together, they dissect key leadership trends, the power of coaching, strategies for thriving as a healthcare entrepreneur, and the importance of humility and resilience in leadership. Sharyn Combs brings insightful stories from her journey, sharing actionable lessons for healthcare leaders navigating today’s dynamic landscape.

Key Themes & Topics:

• Leadership Mindset:
  Sharyn Combs opens with her guiding leadership quote: “Push until the ceiling becomes the floor,” emphasizing resilience, consistency, and sticking to the plan—regardless of feelings or adversity.
• Journey Into Healthcare:
  Sharyn Combs shares her non-traditional path from training & development in the restaurant world to healthcare, highlighting the “happy accidents” that often lead to fulfilling healthcare careers.
• Entrepreneurship in Healthcare:
  The conversation explores Sharyn Combs’s entrepreneurial ventures, including founding UCDI Leadership and a podcast network. She discusses the importance of business structure, networking, and building genuine, reciprocal relationships over quick returns.
• The Game-Changing Trend: Coaching:
  Coaching is highlighted as a ‘must-have’ for healthcare organizations—no longer just a buzzword or outsourced service, but an essential leadership skill. Leaders must develop coaching abilities to build stronger teams, increase retention, and adapt to rapid changes.
• AI in Healthcare:
  While AI continues to rise, Sharyn Combs predicts a “rollback” as leaders realize the irreplaceable value of human connection and hands-on leadership.
• Lessons Learned – The Power of Humility:
  Sharyn Combs reflects on her own leadership journey, sharing how unchecked success can shift focus away from serving others. True leadership requires humility, staying grounded, and continual personal growth.
• Influential Mentors:
  Influences like Latorrel McNeil and Myron Goldin shaped Sharyn Combs’s philosophy of authenticity—“sit in your seat”—and not shrinking in the presence of others’ greatness.
• Biggest Challenges & Opportunities:
  Generational mindsets and points of view are identified as the main challenges in healthcare teams today. The opportunity lies in leaders’ ability to unify different perspectives toward shared goals.

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.

Send us a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Justin Ayars, Founder & CEO, EqualityMD

In this inspiring episode, Jarvis T. Gray sits down with healthcare entrepreneur and founder of EqualityMD, Justin Ayars (he/him). From Star Trek leadership wisdom to the realities of healthcare entrepreneurship, they discuss how diversity, data, and disruption are shaping the future of healthcare.

Key Topics & Highlights

1. Leadership Wisdom and Mindset

• Justin shares his guiding quote: "Things are only impossible until they're not," inspired by Star Trek.
• Emphasizes the importance of challenging complacency and embracing risk, especially as an entrepreneur in healthcare.

2. Career Journey & Entrepreneurship

• Justin details his non-linear career path—starting as a healthcare trial lawyer, moving into entrepreneurship, and eventually founding EqualityMD.
• Talks candidly about the challenges and rewards of building businesses in and around healthcare, especially under difficult circumstances like the Great Recession and COVID-19.

3. Building Solutions Outside the Broken System

• EqualityMD evolved from a B2C LGBTQ+ healthcare platform to a B2B solution, providing inclusive healthcare options for employers, nonprofits, and organizations.
• Emphasizes the need to innovate outside the traditional insurance-based model and the power of data analytics to address health disparities.

4. Navigating Accelerators & Entrepreneurship

• Justin shares wisdom from participating in accelerator programs and pitch contests, advising that failing is necessary for growth and that real-world experience is irreplaceable.

5. Industry Trends & Challenges

• Highlights game-changing trends including AI and interoperability but cautions against silver-bullet thinking.
• Discusses the challenges of rising healthcare costs, the influence of insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers, and the need for preventative care and better data.

6. Data, Diversity & Health Equity

• The need for trustworthy data from marginalized populations to drive healthcare reform.
• The pivotal role of culturally competent, data-driven solutions for underserved communities.

7. Personal Stories & Leadership Lessons

• Shares powerful anecdotes about learning from icons like Liberace and legal mentors.
• Stresses the importance of knowing your audience, understanding time/place/manner, and living deliberately.

Links & Resources

• EqualityMD: equalitymd.com
• Connect on LinkedIn: Justin Ayars
• Email: justin@equalitymd.com

Memorable Quotes

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.

Send us a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Jessica Savage, Founder & CEO of Savvy Healthcare LLC

In this insightful episode of Excellence In Healthcare, Jarvis T. Gray sits down with Jessica Savage, a healthcare industry leader and founder of Savvy Healthcare LLC. Jessica shares her journey from clinical operations in radiation oncology to overseeing value-based care initiatives across health systems, payers, and IPAs. The discussion dives into leadership mindsets, the entrepreneurial leap, and top trends transforming healthcare today, with a special emphasis on data-driven care, technology, and patient engagement.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership Mindset: Jessica Savage emphasizes maintaining a patient- and provider-focused mindset, drawing on her early experiences in radiation oncology to guide her leadership style and daily decision-making.
• Entrepreneurial Journey: She discusses the challenges and rewards of leaving corporate healthcare to build her own consultancy. Her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in healthcare? Believe in yourself, network diligently, and understand the long timeline required to gain traction.
• Healthcare Trends:
  • MLR & Utilization Patterns: Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) and utilization are top-of-mind, with significant implications for health plans and risk-bearing provider groups.
  • Telehealth Evolution: Anticipated changes in telehealth regulation are set to impact care delivery.
  • Patient Engagement & Rural Health: There's urgent need for tailored patient engagement solutions, especially in rural areas lacking infrastructure.
• AI & Data: Artificial Intelligence is rapidly advancing in healthcare, though the industry still struggles with synthesizing and operationalizing data. Clean, actionable data—used strategically—will be a major asset.
• Leadership Challenges & Opportunities: Rising utilization costs, inflation, and outdated systems create serious headwinds. At the same time, technology and smarter data practices offer real opportunities for transformation.
• Mentorship & Core Values: Jessica highlights the importance of aligning with organizational values and credits her mentor at Brown & Toland, Delia Peterson, for instilling confidence and providing growth opportunities.
• Career Insights: Take calculated risks, invest in relationships, and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone—these are the action items for leadership longevity and impact.

Rapid Fire Highlights

• Inspiration: Positive self-talk and comfort with uncertainty drive Jessica’s personal motivation. She inspires others by helping them recognize and develop their unique strengths.
• Best Advice Received: Don’t pass up opportunities when they arise—embrace risk even when outcomes aren’t guaranteed.
• What She’d Do Differently: Focus earlier on interpersonal relationships and networking.

Connect with Jessica Savage

• LinkedIn: Jessica Savage
• Website: www.sahvie.com

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.

Send us a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Dr. Tracey Schwartz, VP of Operations, Ascension Medical Group Texas

How do you lead with empathy, navigate change, and unlock the full potential of your healthcare team? On this episode of Excellence in Healthcare, host Jarvis T. Gray sits down with Dr. Tracey Schwartz, Vice President of Operations for a major Central Texas health system, to explore the essential mindsets and strategies behind exceptional healthcare leadership.

• Favorite Leadership Quote:
  Dr. Tracey Schwartz shares her guiding leadership quote from Teddy Roosevelt: "Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care," emphasizing empathy and personal connection in healthcare leadership.
• Career Journey & Inspiration:
  Dr. Tracey Schwartz talks through her path from a student athletic trainer and strength & conditioning graduate to VP of Operations overseeing 160 clinics and 2,600 staff. Her journey includes early aspirations in medicine, transitioning from clinical roles to administration.
• The Impact of Sports on Leadership:
  Both Jarvis T. Gray and Dr. Tracey Schwartz discuss how sports and coaching have shaped their leadership styles, particularly the value of discipline, teamwork, and coaching mentality.
• Trends in Healthcare: AI in Clinical Settings:
  Dr. Tracey Schwartz outlines how AI-generated notes are revolutionizing documentation for physicians, improving accuracy, efficiency, and patient interaction—while sharing practical insights on change management and gradual adoption.
• Pivotal Leadership Moments:
  Dr. Tracey Schwartz recounts a transformative conversation with a Zen Buddhist monk that helped her redefine her role: advocating for her staff and organization rather than carrying the responsibility for everyone's happiness.
• Mentorship and Leadership Development:
  The episode dives into the value of mentorship, including Dr. Tracey Schwartz's experience as both mentee and mentor and advice for approaching leaders for guidance. She underscores the importance of mentees being intentional and proactive.
• Workforce Engagement & Retention:
  A primary challenge discussed is staff and provider turnover, with a focus on the importance of career development, purpose, and autonomy for engagement and retention. Dr. Tracey Schwartz shares her organization’s success with a career development passport program and mentoring initiatives.

Key Takeaways

• Empathy and care remain crucial in healthcare leadership.
• Real career progress often starts at the ground level, with openness to learning and growing into new opportunities.
• AI tools in healthcare promise greater efficiency—but successful adoption depends on tailored change management strategies.
• Leaders should distinguish between advocating for staff and carrying responsibility for their happiness.
• Investing in staff development and mentorship is vital for retention and workplace satisfaction.
• Don't lose sight of your authentic self as you transition into higher leadership roles.

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.

Send us a text

Guest: Pedro Sanchez de Lozada, Founder, Canid
Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.

In this inspiring episode, Jarvis sits down with Pedro Sanchez de Lozada, founder of Canid, a pediatric vaccine management platform. They dive into Pedro’s journey from building tech solutions for small businesses to solving critical problems in healthcare, focusing on pediatric vaccine management. The conversation explores leadership philosophies, startup challenges, navigating the complex world of healthcare innovation as an "outsider," and the evolving landscape of public health—particularly around vaccine policy and provider burnout.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Leadership Mindset & Philosophy

• Pedro Sanchez de Lozada's guiding leadership mindset: “If you don’t get it done, no one will.” He emphasizes the importance of hands-on leadership, being willing to jump in at all levels no matter the size of the organization.

2. Entering Healthcare as an Outsider

• Pedro describes how his technology background and experience in scaling businesses like Udemy and Merlin prepared him to spot operational challenges in his family’s pediatric practice.
• He shares that being a non-healthcare insider was, at times, a secret weapon, allowing him to view entrenched problems with new eyes and innovate without the cynicism that sometimes pervades the industry.

3. About Canid

• Canid is a vaccine management platform focused on helping pediatricians run their vaccine programs more efficiently. It handles purchasing, billing, operations, and data management, aiming to take administrative burdens off doctors so they can focus on patient care.

4. Breaking Into the Industry

• Extensive discussion on the skepticism and hurdles faced by newcomers in healthcare. Pedro credits his "naivete" for pushing through barriers that might have stopped industry insiders.

5. Navigating Change and Policy Uncertainty

• In light of recent policy shifts—like Florida’s changes to vaccine mandates—Pedro stresses the need for organizations that can help both doctors and patients adapt, maintain scientific integrity, and support public health in uncertain times.

6. Core Business and Leadership Challenges

• Emphasis on sustainability and fundamentals: Pedro recounts how focusing on strong business basics and mission-driven work helped his team weather industry and funding changes.
• The importance of avoiding over-reliance on external investors for mission-critical operations.

7. Healthcare's Biggest Challenges & Opportunities

• Burnout among medical professionals post-COVID is cited as a massive challenge still under-addressed.
• Pedro calls for more solutions focused on provider wellbeing, highlighting a need for technology and business models that genuinely reduce administrative overload.

8. Looking Forward

• The next year’s goals: Help pediatricians navigate mounting uncertainty and expand Canid’s reach, all while keeping quality at scale.

Connect with Pedro & Canid

• Connect with Pedro on LinkedIn
• Email: pedro@canid.io

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.

Send us a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Maria Nikol, CEO, Revelar Analytics

Episode Overview:
In this episode, Jarvis T. Gray welcomes Maria Nikol, Founder of Revelar Analytics, to discuss the evolving landscape of price transparency in healthcare, value-based care, and the journey of healthcare entrepreneurship. Maria Nikol shares insights from her 15+ year career, spanning consulting, working with payers, health tech startups, and building a company dedicated to simplifying fair market value for medical services. The conversation dives deep into personal leadership philosophies, industry challenges, and actionable advice for healthcare leaders and entrepreneurs.

Key Topics & Highlights:

• Leadership Mindset:
  Maria Nikol shares her philosophy of "get up and get going," underscoring the importance of loving what you do—especially on Mondays.
• Career Journey & Inspiration:
  Maria Nikol chronicles her path through consulting, payer organizations (CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield), health tech startups (Aledade), and the founding of Revelar Analytics, emphasizing seeing healthcare from many angles.
• Revelar Analytics Origin Story:
  Sparked by a real-world problem—unraveling fair market compensation for a pediatric urologist—Revelar was born as a direct response to confusing price transparency data and the need for clarity in reimbursement rates.
• Price Transparency Explained:
  The episode breaks down regulatory requirements around hospitals and insurers publishing machine-readable price information, drawing analogies to consumer experiences like shopping for burgers. Maria Nikol explains why actual transparency is still limited by healthcare’s complexity.
• Game-Changing Healthcare Trends:
  Maria Nikol points to the acceleration and diversification of value-based care models, stressing the urgent need for financial and operational innovation across the industry.
• Entrepreneurship & Leadership Lessons:
  Maria Nikol opens up about the pivotal moment of going “all in” on her business, the realities of bootstrapping, and the importance of understanding multiple perspectives within the healthcare space.
• Challenges & Opportunities for Leaders:
  The financial squeeze between payers and providers is highlighted as a major barrier—but also a catalyst for creative partnerships, efficiency, and patient-centered value creation.
• Rapid Fire Insights:
  Advice on doing what you love, taking calculated risks ("the plunge"), learning from foundational texts like "To Err is Human," and celebrating milestones with meaningful team connection.
• Looking Ahead:
  Maria Nikol shares excitement about Revelar’s technical leaps, including integrating AI into price transparency analytics, and plans for team-building retreats as the company scales.

Connect & Learn More:

• LinkedIn: Maria Nikol
• Website: revelaranalytics.com

Quote to Remember:
"You can't have your foot in two canoes. If you believe in your vision, take the plunge." – Maria Nikol

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.

Send us a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Scott Jacobson, Healthcare Strategist

Professional Journey

• Scott candidly discusses his unconventional path into healthcare, initially deterred by chemistry but later driven by personal family experience (his father’s illness).
• Transitioned from a business background and restaurant management into nursing, then successfully bridged business and clinical roles throughout his career.

Key Roles & Ventures

• Highlights include:
  • Inpatient rehab nurse aide
  • ICU, post-acute care, and risk management within IPA organizations
  • Roles in physician practice management and leadership at HealthSpring, followed by Cigna
  • Recent focus on entrepreneurship and advising healthcare startups

Major Healthcare Trends & Challenges

• Scott identifies AI as a transformative trend, yet notes that healthcare remains highly fragmented and slow to adopt innovations.
• Discusses the challenges presented by the unique structure of healthcare funding, regulation, and the tension between profitability and genuine system improvement.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

• The importance of small business, startups, and local entrepreneurship in driving solutions to healthcare’s complex challenges.
• Examples of innovative companies:
  • AI-supported laboratory result aggregation for physicians
  • Emerging diagnostics (e.g., nasal swab for lung cancer detection)
  • Therapeutics for patients with chronic respiratory conditions

Leadership Lessons & Influences

• Early sports background instilled resilience, teamwork, and trust in the process.
• Importance of mentorship and being open to difficult conversations.
• Scott emphasizes resilience and continuous learning as keystones in his leadership journey.

Advice for Healthcare Leaders

• The biggest challenge: fragmentation and inconsistency within healthcare.
• The key opportunity: collaboration, reducing silos, and leveraging community assets.
• Encourages leaders to own their health and empower others to innovate.

Rapid Fire (“Two-Minute Drill”)

• Career advice: Write down your goals, build supporting systems, and always keep learning.
• No major regrets in his career; all experiences, good and tough, were vital for growth.
• Recommends leadership assessments (like CliftonStrengths) and group development exercises over any single book or podcast.

Looking Ahead

• Excited about supporting new healthcare startups and helping others succeed.
• Measures success by the positive impact left on healthcare organizations and future leaders.

Connect with Scott Jacobson

• LinkedIn: Scott Jacobson
• Email: scott@jacobsventure.com

Takeaways:
This episode highlights the intersection of clinical insight, business acumen, and a commitment to innovation. Scott Jacobson shares hard-won lessons on leadership resilience and the immense potential for entrepreneurship to address healthcare’s toughest problems. Listeners are encouraged to take ownership of their journey—both as patients an

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.

Send us a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Paul Wilder, Executive Director at CommonWell Health Alliance

In this insightful episode, Jarvis T. Gray sits down with Paul Wilder, an expert in health IT and interoperability, to dive deep into the challenges and opportunities facing healthcare leaders today. The conversation covers leadership philosophies, the evolution of patient data access, risk-taking in career decisions, and the crucial importance of data accuracy in healthcare.

Key Topics & Highlights

1. Leadership Mindset

• Paul Wilder
• emphasizes action over overthinking: “A poor plan executed well is still better than the best plan executed poorly.”
• Jarvis T. Gray
• echoes the importance of vision and action for healthcare leaders, preferring to “take action” rather than “pontificate.”

2. Journey into Healthcare

• Paul Wilder
• shares his unique path into healthcare, from declining a coveted MD program to working in biomedical science and health IT.
• The tangible impact and meaningful stories within the industry inspired his continued dedication.

3. Data, Technology & Interoperability

• The shift from doctor-driven decisions to data-driven care is explored, with
• Paul Wilder
• championing interoperability—the seamless exchange of data between providers and patients.
• The next big wave? Empowering patients with access to their own health data and enabling them to engage meaningfully with that information.

4. Patient Data Accuracy

• Paul Wilder
• shares personal anecdotes about data errors and the potential downstream effects, likening health records to financial statements that require regular accuracy checks.
• Jarvis T. Gray
• adds a real-world example of using AI to interpret lab results, showing new ways patients are taking charge of their health.

5. AI, Data Tools & Patient Empowerment

• Real stories demonstrate the value of AI, not just for clinicians but for reassuring and informing patients during stressful moments.
• The use of AI for personalized health decisions is discussed as a growing trend—and game changer—for both patients and providers.

6. Leadership Challenges & Advice

• Paul Wilder
• recounts a pivotal career moment, the importance of aligning with leadership, and taking calculated risks.
• Advice for rising leaders: Take smart risks, seek feedback, and work with those who teach you valuable skills.

7. Trust in Healthcare

• The episode addresses trust as both the biggest challenge and opportunity in healthcare—especially regarding data sharing, patient engagement, and regulatory evolution.

Recommended Resources

• Podcasts: Freakonomics, Planet Money (for broader business and economics insights)

Connect with Guest

Find Paul Wilder on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/paullwilder

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.