Send us a text

Episode Overview

In this inspiring episode of Excellence in Healthcare, host Jarvis T. Gray sits down with Namita Azad, Senior Director of Transformation at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Together, they delve deep into digital transformation, human-centered systems, and the future of healthcare leadership.

Key Topics & Highlights

• Favorite Leadership Mindset
  • Namita shares her guiding leadership quote: “Success begins with enabling people to succeed” (Napoleon Hill), discussing the impact of designing systems that help people thrive and deliver their best.
• Journey into Healthcare
  • Namita details her unique background—born in India, raised in Botswana, and a professional career in both the Midwest and Northeast U.S.—and how it shaped her dedication to public health and transformation.
• Digital Transformation Explained
  • A practical, inclusive breakdown of what digital transformation means in healthcare: not just implementing technology, but equipping people across all levels with tools and shared vocabulary, with an emphasis on sustainability and empowerment.
• AI in Healthcare
  • Discussion about the buzz and potential of AI, and the importance of preparing staff with the right tools and understanding to harness AI effectively rather than fearing job displacement.
• Human-Centered Systems Transformation
  • Namita argues for putting people at the center of systems design, emphasizing the importance of ensuring technology fits workflows—rather than forcing people to adapt to ill-fitting tools.
• Advice for Leaders
  • Don't throw people at broken systems; instead, fix processes first and make data-driven decisions.
  • The value of KPIs and leading indicators when determining if additional resources are needed.
• Opportunities & Trends
  • The need for healthcare leaders to challenge the status quo—“This is how we’ve always done it”—and intentionally redesign processes with diverse, skilled teams.
• Celebrating Wins
  • Celebrating where true transformation happens: when staff across the organization tell their own stories of impact and innovation, especially around scaling AI initiatives at Columbia.

Connect with Namita Zag

• LinkedIn: Namita Azad

Action Steps for Healthcare Leaders

• Consider your own organization’s approach to digital transformation: is it truly empowering staff, or simply installing technology?
• Shift focus to human-centered system design—align people, process, and tech.
• Leverage data and KPIs before adding resources.
• Seek out leadership training in industries that exemplify operational and people excellence.
• Read Thinking in Systems and Outwitting the Devil for fresh perspectives.

Is your healthcare organization ready for excellence? Take the Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment and find out! Evaluate your leadership, strategy, and operations.

• Start now: Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment

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

New episodes of the "Excellence In Healthcare" podcast are released every Tuesday at 02:00 a.m. (est). Don't miss out on the latest insights and strategies for Mastering Healthcare Excellence.

Send us a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Christine Wersing, Owner of Soul Smart Coaching

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jarvis T. Gray welcomes Christine Wersing, founder of Soul Smart Coaching, for an in-depth conversation on business coaching, healthcare entrepreneurship, and building resilience among healthcare professionals. Christine shares her deeply personal story, including how adopting her neurodivergent daughter led her to become a licensed mental health professional, her journey through a major health setback, and how her experiences ultimately inspired her to launch her own coaching business focused on combating healthcare burnout.

Key Topics & Takeaways

• Christine’s Personal and Professional Journey:
  • Adopted her daughter from Romania, who required therapeutic parenting due to severe neurodivergence.
  • Became a licensed professional counselor to fill gaps in the healthcare system for special needs families.
  • Overcame a severe stroke during the pandemic, which led her to pivot to online coaching.
• Soul Smart Coaching:
  • Christine specializes in coaching healthcare professionals, especially nurses, struggling with burnout.
  • She developed a new mastermind program designed to support and empower these frontline heroes.
  • Utilizes the "Aliveness Method," which integrates neuroscience and quantum science approaches for transformative results.
• Unique Coaching Approach:
  • Christine's methodology blends scientific principles and personal passion to create a "harmonizing" effect for clients.
  • Focus on self-mastery, empowerment, and fast, effective results—“working herself out of a job.”
• Business & Marketing Strategies:
  • Importance of personal storytelling in marketing; Christine’s journey is at the heart of her brand.
  • Identifying a clear target audience—bedside nurses, nurse assistants, and physician assistants.
  • The value of directly engaging with the target audience to inform service offerings.
  • Leveraging feedback to build services that truly meet clients’ needs, strengthening both impact and marketing.
• Aligning Values & Business:
  • Christine emphasizes integrity, alignment, and a mission-driven approach in her business, aiming for a worldwide impact on healthcare wellness culture.

Connect with Christine Wersing

LinkedIn: Christine Wirsing

Is your healthcare organization ready for excellence? Take the Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment and find out! Evaluate your leadership, strategy, and operations.

• Start now: Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment

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

New episodes of the "Excellence In Healthcare" podcast are released every Tuesday at 02:00 a.m. (est). Don't miss out on the latest insights and strategies for Mastering Healthcare Excellence.

Send us a text

Hosted by: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Tracy Long, Owner of Shades of Resilience Counseling

In this insightful episode of the Excellence in Healthcare podcast, host Jarvis T. Gray welcomes Tracy Long, a clinical therapist and the founder of Shades of Resilience Counseling. The conversation focuses on Tracy’s entrepreneurial journey, her passion for serving Black men through mental health services, and practical business coaching strategies to scale her impact.

Key Discussion Points

1. Tracy’s Personal Journey Into Private Practice

• Tracy shares how the pandemic and personal life changes inspired her shift from university clinical work to opening her own private practice.
• The loss of her father and the resulting grief played a pivotal role in her understanding of therapy’s importance, especially in the Black and Brown community.

2. Specializing in Mental Wellness for Black Men

• Tracy reveals that her practice evolved from a broad focus on BIPOC clients to a mission centered on empowering Black men specifically.
• She describes her own negative first experience with therapy (with someone who didn’t represent her community), which influenced her empathetic and culturally aware approach to counseling.

3. Addressing Real-Life Stressors

• Common issues Tracy helps address include:
  • Depression, anxiety, and symptoms like sleep disruption or appetite changes.
  • Anger management, communication challenges, workplace and financial stress.
  • Navigating issues unique to Black men, such as workplace trauma, stereotypes, and the pressure to excel.

4. Values That Guide Tracy’s Practice

• Tracy leads from a place of lived experience, never asking clients to do what she hasn’t done herself.
• She strives for a power-balanced, compassion-centered engagement based on authenticity and mutual respect.

5. Building and Marketing a Signature Program

• Tracy discusses developing the "Resilient Man Blueprint," a proposed six- to eight-week program aimed at transformative growth for Black men.
• Jarvis advises breaking the program into distinct modules/parts, adding onboarding (“Week 0”) for expectation setting, and leveraging group coaching for peer accountability.
• They discuss marketing as a lifestyle change, a transformation, and a movement to break through to the target audience.

6. Business Advice and Event Marketing

• Jarvis highlights the effectiveness of event marketing (workshops, webinars, networking events) to reach and engage the target demographic.
• He suggests using consistent, value-driven events to both serve clients and gather insights for refining offerings before scaling with paid ads.

7. Next Steps for Tracy

• Tracy is motivated to refine her Resilient Man Blueprint into group and modular formats, enhance her event marketing, and define her client avatar more clearly for targeted outreach.

Connect with Tracy Long

• Websi

Is your healthcare organization ready for excellence? Take the Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment and find out! Evaluate your leadership, strategy, and operations.

• Start now: Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment

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

New episodes of the "Excellence In Healthcare" podcast are released every Tuesday at 02:00 a.m. (est). Don't miss out on the latest insights and strategies for Mastering Healthcare Excellence.

Send us a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Sabina Moise, Owner of Be Fit Consulting LLC

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode, host Jarvis T. Gray sits down with Sabina Moise, an accomplished entrepreneur and health and wellness consultant, to discuss her journey in the fitness industry, the evolution of her business Be Fit Consulting LLC, and her approach to transformation and entrepreneurship in healthcare.

Key Topics & Highlights

• Sabina's Journey to Wellness Entrepreneurship:
  Sabina shares her personal journey from a wake-up call about her health to building a 20+ year career transforming lives through fitness, wellness, and consulting.
• The Genesis of Be Fit Consulting:
  She discusses how her own life-changing experience led her to help others by offering fitness training, consulting for hospitals and corporations, and supporting individual clients.
• Unique Approach & Services:
  Sabina provides weight transformation (loss/gain), body competitions (figure competitions), and integrates her love for food and cooking through speaking engagements and holistic fitness programs.
• Overcoming Business Challenges:
  Sabina and Jarvis go in-depth on moving from the structure of a gym to entrepreneurship, the difficulties of lead generation, and how the pandemic forced her to pivot her strategies.
• Target Clients & Customization:
  Sabina identifies her ideal clients as adults 35+, often with busy lifestyles and families. She customizes programs to fit into hectic schedules and focuses on discipline and sustainable habits over perfection.
• Lead Generation & Marketing:
  Jarvis provides coaching on defining client avatars, refining sales processes, tracking metrics, and targeting messaging to meet potential clients where they are—emotionally and practically.
• Events & Corporate Partnerships:
  Discussion includes hosting events, demos, and workshops as conversion tools, and exploring partnerships with corporations to expand reach and impact.
• Continuous Growth Mindset:
  Sabina emphasizes her commitment to staying dynamic and always improving her offerings for her clients while Jarvis encourages regular review and evolution of business strategies.

Mentioned Resources & Contact Info

• Be Fit Consulting LLC:
• Website: www.bfitconsultingllc.com
• LinkedIn: Sabina Moise, MBA

Notable Quotes

• "I started Be Fit Consulting with change in mind because I needed a change at one point, and I got the help that I needed." – Sabina Moise
• "The accountability in my program is really what sets me apart. It's really empowering that person." – Sabina Moise
• "Every 90 days, you gotta look at [your sales process], make sure it's working for you." – Jarvis T. Gray
• "My message is always: be the best version of yourself, and I can only be a better version of me." – Sabina Moise

Is your healthcare organization ready for excellence? Take the Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment and find out! Evaluate your leadership, strategy, and operations.

• Start now: Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment

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

New episodes of the "Excellence In Healthcare" podcast are released every Tuesday at 02:00 a.m. (est). Don't miss out on the latest insights and strategies for Mastering Healthcare Excellence.

Send us a text

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jarvis T. Gray explores a crucial and often overlooked aspect of leadership development in healthcare: finding and nurturing future leaders before they take on the official title. Jarvis challenges the conventional wisdom that leadership is only for those already in formal positions and emphasizes the need for proactive, intentional investment in emerging talents already on your team.

Key Topics Covered

• Recognizing Leadership Potential Early
  • Leadership starts with posture, mindset, and potential—not a title.
  • Early signs: emotional intelligence, curiosity, ownership, and influence.
  • Real-life examples, such as a frontline phlebotomist quietly influencing her team.
• Essential Traits to Spot in Emerging Leaders
  • Coachability: How do they receive and act on feedback?
  • Accountability: Do they take responsibility, even when things go wrong?
  • Systems thinking: Can they connect dots and see patterns?
  • Collaboration: Are they building bridges and trust?
  • Growth mindset: Are they open to learning and uncomfortable conversations?
• How to Cultivate Future Leaders
  • The importance of early and intentional exposure (e.g., inviting staff to observe meetings, leading huddles, giving stretch projects).
  • Structured encouragement and mentorship make the biggest difference.
  • Example of a surgical tech whose leadership journey began with a small project and supportive coaching.
• Building a Culture of Leadership Development
  • Shift from HR owning leadership development to everyone being involved (managers, directors, executives, peers).
  • Make leadership development a part of job descriptions and performance metrics.
  • Celebrate leadership behaviors at every level, not just after a promotion.
  • Initiatives like monthly Leadership in Action awards to reinforce this culture.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership is a behavior, not a job title.
• Recognizing and developing leadership potential must be intentional—don’t wait for self-selection or job openings.
• Mentorship, feedback, and early exposure to leadership situations are game changers.
• Culture matters: organizations that celebrate and reward leadership growth at every level create stronger, more diverse pipelines.

Reflection Questions

• Who on your team already displays leadership qualities without the official title?
• What early development opportunities can you offer this week?
• Does your organization reward and recognize growth and leadership at every level?
• What changes can be made to embed leadership development into your culture?

Action Challenge

• Make a list of 2–3 people who show leadership potential and reach out to offer support or opportunity.
• Talk with your leadership team about your strategy for building your pipeline.
• Celebrate one emerging leader this week—especially if they're "not ready yet."

Connect with Jarvis:

Is your healthcare organization ready for excellence? Take the Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment and find out! Evaluate your leadership, strategy, and operations.

• Start now: Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment

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

New episodes of the "Excellence In Healthcare" podcast are released every Tuesday at 02:00 a.m. (est). Don't miss out on the latest insights and strategies for Mastering Healthcare Excellence.

Send us a text

Episode Overview:

In this episode, Jarvis T. Gray dives deep into the essential role of mentorship in healthcare leadership. Drawing from personal experiences, real-world examples, and practical advice, Jarvis makes a compelling case for why mentorship isn’t just a “nice to have”—it's a non-negotiable part of developing confident, competent, and future-ready leaders in the healthcare space.

Key Topics & Takeaways:

• Mentorship as an Essential, Not Optional, Tool
  • Mentorship goes beyond tools or certifications—it humanizes leadership development and sustains culture, especially in times of change.
  • "Mentorship is where theory becomes practice. It's where confidence is built, and it's where legacy is passed forward."
• The Impact of Mentorship on Emerging Leaders
  • Mentors create safe environments for questions, vulnerability, and learning from mistakes.
  • Mentorship helps future leaders see their blind spots and accelerates their readiness to take on greater challenges.
• From Organic to Structured Mentorship
  • While informal mentorship is powerful, it can be inconsistent and limited by chance.
  • Well-designed, structured mentorship programs set expectations, provide support for mentors, and create equitable access for emerging leaders from all backgrounds.
• Mentorship as the Backbone of Succession Planning
  • Mentorship improves retention, reduces burnout, and helps organizations build internal pipelines for future leaders.
  • Mentees become mentors, creating a culture of leadership that outlasts individual careers.
• Mentorship Grows Both Mentor and Mentee
  • Mentors reflect on their own journeys and gain clarity and empathy.
  • Mentorship can re-anchor leaders to their mission and create a powerful sense of community and belonging.
• Invitation & Action Steps:
  • Reach out and thank a mentor who made a difference in your life.
  • Be present and intentional in your current mentoring relationships.
  • If you’re not involved in mentoring, reflect on what’s holding you back and consider stepping into the role, regardless of your title.

Quotes to Remember:

• “Mentorship isn’t just good for the mentee. It transforms the mentor, too.”
• “When we mentor well, we lead well. And when we lead well, we build a future for healthcare together.”

Resources & How to Connect:

• Connect with Jarvis T. Gray on LinkedIn to share your mentorship stories or inquire about building a mentorship program in your organization.
• For support, tools, and frameworks to launch or enhance a mentorship program, reach out to the Excellence in Healthcare team.

Next Steps:

• Reflect: Think about a mentor who guided you and reach out with appreciation.
• Engage: Show up for your mentees with extra presence this week.
• Act: Consider stepping into mentorship and making a difference for someone else if you haven’t already.

Is your healthcare organization ready for excellence? Take the Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment and find out! Evaluate your leadership, strategy, and operations.

• Start now: Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment

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

New episodes of the "Excellence In Healthcare" podcast are released every Tuesday at 02:00 a.m. (est). Don't miss out on the latest insights and strategies for Mastering Healthcare Excellence.

Send us a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Dr. Philip Alberti, Founding Director, AAMC Center for Health Justice

Episode Summary

In this inspiring and thought-provoking episode, Jarvis T. Gray welcomes Dr. Philip Alberti, a leader in health equity and public health strategy. Dr. Alberti shares his journey from a public health background into the world of academic medicine, emphasizing the importance of community engagement, collaborative leadership, and building trust between healthcare organizations and the communities they serve.

Key discussions include shifting perceptions of organizational trustworthiness, the pivotal role of healthcare in multi-sector partnerships, and practical advice for leaders committed to health equity.

Key Topics & Takeaways

• Leadership as Partnership: Dr. Alberti believes in leading through collaboration and transparency, ensuring all voices are heard in the decision-making process.
• Health Justice & Career Inspiration: His longstanding passion for community-partnered science and public health led him to help build out the AAMC Center for Health Justice.
• Evolving Healthcare Trends: The conversation is shifting from communities needing to trust healthcare to organizations having to prove their trustworthiness through transparency and accountability.
• Building Community Trust: Addressing mistrust isn't just about historical wrongdoing; current harms and misinformation are active challenges. Strategies must be customized to diverse communities.
• Authentic Community Engagement: True impact comes from genuine, locally-relevant partnerships—moving beyond checklists and towards meaningful, sustained dialogue and coordination.
• Personal Growth & Career Lessons: Dr. Alberti reflects on pivotal moments in his career, the value of following one's passion, and lessons from mentors (including his barber father).
• Challenges & Opportunities: Healthcare shouldn’t shoulder the full burden of addressing social determinants of health alone. The opportunity lies in fostering robust, multi-sector partnerships.
• Inspiration & Motivation: Dr. Alberti draws inspiration from collective good, family, and the drive to leave a positive mark for future generations.

Rapid-Fire Insights

• Best Career Advice: Follow your passion and ensure partnerships are mutually beneficial.
• What Would He Change?: He'd consider adding clinical experience (such as a nursing degree) to further inform his public health work.
• Recommended Reading: "Artie the Smarty" — a childhood story that highlights perseverance and impact.

Resources & Links

• AAMC Center for Health Justice: aamc.org
• AAMC CHARGE Collaborative: Open to all interested in health equity; details and signup on the Center’s website.
• Connect with Dr. Philip Alberti:

Is your healthcare organization ready for excellence? Take the Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment and find out! Evaluate your leadership, strategy, and operations.

• Start now: Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment

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

New episodes of the "Excellence In Healthcare" podcast are released every Tuesday at 02:00 a.m. (est). Don't miss out on the latest insights and strategies for Mastering Healthcare Excellence.

Send us a text

Episode Overview:
In this episode, Jarvis T. Gray dives deep into what truly makes a healthcare leadership program effective, moving far beyond basic workshops or compliance certificates. Jarvis shares lessons from the field and the three pillars that set great programs apart: clarity, structure, and sustainability. You’ll hear practical advice and stories that can help you build—or revitalize—a leadership development initiative that delivers real change in people, teams, and patient outcomes.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Common Pitfalls in Leadership Programs:
   • Why so many programs have good intentions but little real impact
   • Examples of why programs lose momentum and fade away
2. The Three Essential Pillars of Effective Leadership Development:
   • Clarity:
     • Define the specific kind of leaders you need
     • Align your program with organizational strategy and culture
     • Set clear leadership competencies and measurable outcomes
     • Example: A rural health center’s six competency model
   • Structure:
     • Build programs for real-life application
     • Blend knowledge (theory), practice (application), and reflection
     • Importance of multi-level support and integrated learning
     • Protecting time for growth
   • Sustainability:
     • Strategies to maintain momentum after the program ends
     • Systems for accountability, coaching, and peer support
     • Measuring behavior change and organizational impact
     • Real-world improvement: decreased conflict, increased satisfaction, and lower turnover
3. Practical Reflection Questions & Challenges:
   • Is your team clear on the kind of leadership you’re building?
   • Is your development integrated into daily work or just an “extra”?
   • What’s missing in your current approach—and what will you do about it?

Action Steps and Takeaways:

• Reflect: What one element is missing from your current leadership development approach?
• Act: Choose an idea from the episode, start a conversation, propose a change, or design something new.
• Share: If the conversation sparked ideas, connect with Jarvis on LinkedIn to keep building together.

Connect with Jarvis T. Gray:

• LinkedIn (reach out and share your wins, challenges, or what’s working in your organization)

Quotes:

• “Leadership development must serve your organizational strategy.”
• “Blend learning with practice and reflection. Get buy-in from every level.”
• “If you can’t measure it, you can’t multiply it.”

Next Episode Teaser:
Look forward to more real-world strategies and stories to help you lead with courage, clarity, and purpose.

Thank you for listening to Excellence In Healthcare—where better leaders build a better healthcare future.

Is your healthcare organization ready for excellence? Take the Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment and find out! Evaluate your leadership, strategy, and operations.

• Start now: Healthcare Excellence Readiness Assessment

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

New episodes of the "Excellence In Healthcare" podcast are released every Tuesday at 02:00 a.m. (est). Don't miss out on the latest insights and strategies for Mastering Healthcare Excellence.