Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Michelle Adamolekun, EVP and Chief People & Culture Officer at Cone Health, delves into the organization's innovative workforce development strategy. She discusses the launch of Cone Health University, aimed at creating clear career pathways for staff. The conversation highlights the importance of empathetic leadership in healthcare and how Cone has proactively shaped its culture since 2010. Adamolekun emphasizes that investing in workforce development not only boosts employee satisfaction but also enhances patient care through a supportive environment.

Sabrina Schalley, Director of Behavioral Health Integration at Children's Nebraska, brings 30 years of expertise in mental health to the table. She discusses the innovative Caring Contacts program, which uses handwritten cards to uplift over 1,200 young patients, achieving zero deaths by suicide. Schalley shares the emotional power of these notes and the positive impact on both patients and social workers. Additionally, she previews the upcoming Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, set to expand these crucial services in 2026, further enhancing pediatric mental healthcare.

Jay Grider, Chief Quality Officer and CEO at the Kentucky Medical Services Foundation, dives into vital topics such as proactive workforce planning and the urgent nursing shortage. He highlights the collaborative initiative 'Advancing Kentucky Together,' aimed at uniting health organizations to address regional needs. Grider also emphasizes applying high-reliability principles to transform HR operations, ultimately enhancing recruitment and retention strategies in healthcare. His insights provide a fresh perspective on building a sustainable healthcare workforce.

Steve Beard, Chairman and CEO of Adtalem Global Education, discusses the urgent nursing shortage and innovative solutions to bridge the gap. He emphasizes the importance of building practice-ready clinicians through modern education methods, including immersive experiences and technology integration. Beard highlights impactful partnerships, like that with SSM Health, to develop training programs that support aspiring nurses. He also advocates for diversity in healthcare education to better serve underserved communities, ensuring a more inclusive workforce.

Nilesh Desai, Chief Pharmacy Officer at Baptist Health System, has spearheaded significant innovations in pharmacy services. He discusses the launch of a massive 102,000-square-foot central pharmacy, which enhances medication access and operational efficiency. Desai delves into how technology and collaboration can solve critical issues like drug shortages. He also highlights the importance of fostering the next generation of pharmacy leaders through targeted education, innovation, and a positive mindset in healthcare leadership.

This episode features Dr. Benjamin J. Pieters, Pediatric Anesthesiologist and Vice Chair of Clinical Operations at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, discussing major trends in anesthesiology, including workforce shortages, private equity involvement, and evolving employment models. He shares how his team is leveraging data, evidence-based care, and leadership development to shape the future of pediatric anesthesia and healthcare delivery.

In this episode, Dr. Zachary Dietch, transplant surgeon at Northwestern Medicine, shares the remarkable case of a liver retransplant for a patient with a recent cancer history, made possible through innovative tools like organ perfusion and bypass techniques. He also discusses how Northwestern is helping to redefine transplant eligibility for cancer patients through data-driven, patient-centered decisions.

In this episode, Marc Elia, Chairperson of the Board at Invivyd, discusses his personal experience with COVID-19 and long COVID, the company’s unique monoclonal antibody platform, and how Invivyd is working to address persistent gaps in infectious disease prevention and care. He also highlights the importance of patient voices in regulatory processes and the future of scalable, accessible monoclonal antibody therapies.This episode is sponsored by Invivyd.

This episode features Phill Wood, Chief Information Officer of Cape Fear Valley Health System, discussing how IT investments like Workday are enabling strategic growth, improving employee engagement, and supporting future acquisitions. He also shares insights on culture alignment, system integration, and the value of strong governance in scaling operations.This episode is sponsored by Workday.

This episode recorded live at the Becker's Hospital Review 15th Annual Meeting features Joy White, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Legacy Health Good Samaritan Medical Center. Dr. White shares how her team has reduced contract labor, launched an inclusion-focused campaign, and leveraged social media to attract and retain top talent while navigating rising care demands and shrinking reimbursement.