In this episode of Success in Chaos, Angela and Kandice talk with Dawn Davison, MPH, FACHE, a nationally recognized innovation and quality improvement leader and President of the ACHE Upstate New York Chapter. Dawn shares how curiosity and human connection fuel transformation across complex health systems. From optimizing workflows to building cultures of trust, she reveals how clarity and creativity can thrive amid healthcare’s chaos—and why mastering focus amid chaos begins with people.

Episode chapter guide:

02:55 The Importance of Relationships in Healthcare
07:55 Empowering Teams and Leadership Development
12:48 Navigating Technology in Healthcare
19:53 Success Amidst Chaos: Lessons Learned
23:49 Balancing Leadership and Personal Life
29:20 Cultural Insights from International Experience

Dawn's book recommendations:

• Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World by Admiral William H. McRaven
• Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don't Know by Malcolm Gladwell
• River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze by Peter Hessler

Angela Adams, RN, and Kandice Garcia, RN, reflect on their conversation with Dr. Kernesha Weatherly, who reminds us that “what looks like resistance is often misunderstanding.” Through stories of travel, leadership, and balance, they explore how empathy and listening can transform tense moments into connection. From gardens to pottery wheels, the hosts share how stepping away from work helps them return with clarity and creativity. This episode is a reminder that great leadership isn’t about control—it’s about curiosity, compassion, and the courage to slow down and truly understand.

When everything feels loud, how do leaders decide what truly matters?
In this episode of Success in Chaos, Dr. Kernesha Weatherly, Vice President of Imaging at Ochsner Health, joins hosts Angela Adams and Kandice Garcia to explore what it means to lead with clarity, humility, and calm in times of rapid change. From growing up in Alabama to guiding one of the nation’s most advanced imaging programs, Dr. Weatherly shares how travel shaped her worldview, why she believes in “connection before correction,” and how to tell the difference between what’s loud and what’s important.

Listeners will learn how to ground teams in purpose, navigate uncertainty, and lead transformation without losing sight of what matters most.

Episode chapters:

04:41 Kernesha's Journey in Healthcare

07:07 The Impact of Travel on Leadership

12:51 Navigating Chaos in Healthcare

15:51 Integrating AI in Healthcare Leadership

21:39 Empowering Teams Through Chaos

28:29 Recommended Reads for Leaders