In this engaging solo-hosted episode (Bo's out traveling!), Luke Carignan chats with Erica Samalis, Director of HR Business Partners at Tufts Medicine. Erica shares her pivot from pre-med to HR via business school, her 12 years at Children's National in DC, and her return to New England roots. Amid talent shortages and industry shifts, she discusses elevating HRBPs to strategic roles, workforce development, AI's potential, and fostering engagement in a changing healthcare landscape.

Key takeaways for healthcare HR leaders:

• HRBP Evolution: Shift from transactional ER to strategic advising—build trust through rounding and proactive support.
• Workforce Planning: Focus on succession, internal mobility, and new business lines; partner with operations for talent pipelines.
• Talent Shortages: Address nursing/tech gaps with education investments, global sourcing, and retention strategies—emphasize culture over perks.
• AI in HR: Use for efficiency (e.g., chatbots, screening) but preserve human elements; frees time for high-impact work like development.
• Employee Engagement: Leverage surveys, DEI, and perks (e.g., pet insurance, tuition); prioritize mental health and flexibility.
• Industry Insights: Innovate amid change—share ideas via networks like ASHHRA for collaborative solutions.

A must-listen for HR driving strategic impact in healthcare. Erica's journey inspires adaptability!

Join ASHHRA 2026 in Savannah! Register here.

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In this lively episode of The ASHHRA Podcast, hosts Luke Carignan and Bo Brabo welcome Michelle Nicholl, CHRO in Las Vegas, NV. With a diverse career spanning call centers, hospitality, banking, and 15 years in healthcare, Michelle shares her unscripted journey—from building and dismantling an HR department during an FDIC closure to tackling talent shortages in Vegas' competitive market. Amid casino perks and nursing gaps, she discusses innovative strategies for recruitment, retention, and employee well-being.

Key takeaways for healthcare HR leaders:

• Talent Competition in Vegas: Battle hospitality giants with flexible benefits like pet insurance and tuition assistance; leverage internal mobility and education partnerships to fill gaps.
• Nursing Shortages: Address 30-40 open RN roles with targeted sourcing, traveler conversions, and residency programs—focus on retention to combat burnout.
• Employee Engagement: Implement rounding, "lunch and learns," and DEI initiatives; prioritize mental health and work-life balance to boost morale.
• AI & Tech in HR: Use AI for efficiency (e.g., chatbots, screening) but maintain human touch; explore tools like Workday for streamlined operations.
• Diverse Backgrounds: Bring non-healthcare experience for fresh perspectives—adapt hospitality's customer service focus to patient care.
• Personal Touch: Foster trust through visibility and empathy; celebrate wins with events and perks to build a supportive culture.

A must-listen for HR navigating competitive landscapes and shortages. Michelle's real-world wisdom inspires resilience!

Join ASHHRA 2026 in Savannah! Register here.

From Our Sponsors...

Optimize Pharmacy Benefits with RxBenefits
Elevate your employee benefits while managing costs. Did you know hospital employees fill 25% more prescriptions annually than other industries? Ensure cost-effective, high-quality pharmacy plans by leveraging your hospital’s own pharmacies. Discover smarter strategies with RxBenefits.

Learn More here - https://rxbene.fit/3ZaurZN

Streamline HR Compliance with oneBADGEhealthcare
Simplify screening, credentialing, and compliance for healthcare HR. oneBADGEhealthcare from ISB Global offers a tailored solution to keep your workforce compliant and efficient. Built for healthcare leaders, it’s your all-in-one compliance tool.

Get Started here - https://isbglobalservices.com/onebadgeunitedstates/ashhra/

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In this insightful episode of The ASHHRA Podcast, hosts Luke Carignan and Bo Brabo welcome Cyann Peterson, Recruiting Operations Lead at Tenet Healthcare. With a unique journey from agriculture and NASCAR roots to agency recruiting at Apex Systems, Ascension, HCA, and now Tenet, Cyann shares her evolution into TA Ops. She dives into optimizing processes, tech stacks, and team enablement in large-scale healthcare recruiting—drawing from experiences like boosting Ascension's career site to millions of applications via Google for Jobs.

Cyann emphasizes curiosity, problem-solving, and bridging gaps between recruiters and leaders to drive efficiency amid talent shortages.

Key takeaways for healthcare HR leaders:

• Path to TA Ops: Start in recruiting, show curiosity in processes—titles vary (e.g., TA Partner, Project Manager); leverage skills like SEO and tech integration for growth.
• Tech Stack Essentials: Use ATS (e.g., Workday) for compliance, CRM (e.g., Phenom) for personalization; integrate AI for efficiency without replacing human touch.
• Process Optimization: Focus on root problems—streamline requisitions, enhance candidate experience; prioritize user-friendly tools to reduce recruiter admin time.
• SEO & Visibility: Optimize job postings with keywords, FAQs, and schema markup; aim for Google for Jobs dominance to attract passive talent.
• Team Enablement: Train recruiters on tools; foster collaboration between TA Ops and leaders for scalable solutions—curiosity drives innovation.
• Career Advice: Network, ask questions; TA Ops offers exposure across HR/IT—ideal for process-driven pros seeking impact.

A must-listen for HR transforming talent acquisition in healthcare. Cyann's practical wisdom inspires actionable change!

Join us at ASHHRA 2026 in Savannah! Register here.

From Our Sponsors...

Optimize Pharmacy Benefits with RxBenefits
Elevate your employee benefits while managing costs. Did you know hospital employees fill 25% more prescriptions annually than other industries? Ensure cost-effective, high-quality pharmacy plans by leveraging your hospital’s own pharmacies. Discover smarter strategies with RxBenefits.

Learn More here - https://rxbene.fit/3ZaurZN

Streamline HR Compliance with oneBADGEhealthcare
Simplify screening, credentialing, and compliance for healthcare HR. oneBADGEhealthcare from ISB Global offers a tailored solution to keep your workforce compliant and efficient. Built for healthcare leaders, it’s your all-in-one compliance tool.

Get Started here - https://isbglobalservices.com/onebadgeunitedstates/ashhra/

Support the show