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

In this After the Chaos bonus episode, Kandice and Angela discuss the insights gained from their conversation with Foster Mobley, Ed.D., focusing on the importance of authenticity, transparency, and honoring in leadership within the healthcare industry. They emphasize the need for leaders to model positive behaviors, assume positive intent, and foster trust among team members to create a collaborative and effective work environment. The discussion highlights the challenges faced in healthcare leadership and emphasizes the importance of genuine connections in improving organizational culture and patient care.

Episode Chapter Guide:
00:00 Introduction to Leadership Insights
02:01 Authenticity in Leadership
05:02 The Concept of Honoring in Leadership
09:46 Building Trust and Positive Intent
14:01 The Joy of Authentic Collaboration

In this episode of Success in Chaos, Angela Adams and Kandice Garcia Tomkins engage with Dr. Foster Mobley, a seasoned leader in healthcare. They explore the essence of authentic leadership, the importance of self-awareness, and the challenges leaders face in chaotic environments. Dr. Mobley emphasizes the need for leaders to connect deeply with their teams, cut through the noise, and embrace change, especially in the context of AI's growing influence in healthcare. The conversation also highlights the significance of honoring oneself and others in leadership roles, and the continuous journey of self-discovery and growth.

Episode chapter guide:
06:13 Foster Mobley's Journey in Healthcare Leadership
11:24 The Essence of Authentic Leadership
13:39 Leading in Chaos: Insights from Experience
16:33 The Importance of Connection in Leadership
18:29 The Importance of People in Leadership
21:42 The Concept of Honoring in Relationships
24:54 Navigating Leadership Styles
27:51 The Role of AI in Leadership
32:55 Leadership Lessons from Experience

Foster's book recommendations:
Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You: Brad Stulberg
How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen: David Brooks
Lead with Your Heart . . . Lessons from a Life with Horses: Allan J. Hamilton MD
Leadersh*t: Rethinking the True Path to Great Leading: Foster Mobley, Ed.D.

And check out Foster's Podcast "Step Wise: Conversations with Inspiring Leaders"

In this episode of After the Chaos, Kandice and Angela discuss their conversation with Blair Childs, focusing on the macro and micro levels of healthcare, the implications of rural healthcare funding, and the challenges and opportunities presented by recent policy changes. They emphasize the importance of understanding the details of healthcare reforms and the need for proactive engagement from healthcare professionals to navigate the evolving landscape effectively.

Episode chapter guide:

02:35 Understanding Macro and Micro Perspectives in Healthcare

05:19 The Impact of Rural Healthcare Funding

08:39 Navigating Change in Healthcare Systems

Policy veteran Blair Childs, CEO of Childs and Associates, joins hosts Angela Adams, RN, and Kandice Garcia Tomkins, RN to make sense of D.C.’s latest “big beautiful bill” and the forces reshaping U.S. healthcare. Blair distills three defining shifts—market-based total-cost accountability, fixing perverse fee-for-service incentives, and true consumerism via interoperable data—and explains what leaders should do now. The conversation dives into the Rural Transformation Fund timeline, why to engage state Medicaid offices immediately, and how accelerating value-based care can reduce chaos and improve outcomes.

Episode chapter guide:

01:42 Meet Blair Childs: A Healthcare Policy Expert

05:38 Blair's Journey in Healthcare Policy

10:46 Transitioning to a Market-Based Healthcare System

16:45 Understanding the Big Beautiful Bill

23:19 The Future of Rural Healthcare

28:08 Accelerating Value-Based Care

To access the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, visit congress.gov.

In this "After the Chaos" episode, Angela and Kandice reflect on their conversation with Melonie Lagalante, FACHE—a powerhouse leader driving community-focused transformation at St. Tammany Health System. From her ability to fast-track the implementation of innovation to her deeply rooted leadership philosophy, Melonie exemplifies what it means to lead with urgency, purpose, and humility. Angela and Kandice discuss how Melonie’s commitment to decentralizing decision-making and empowering teams fuels a culture of trust, action, and long-term retention. They also reflect on the evolving role of hospitals as community anchors and how Melonie's team models excellence in both care and collaboration.

Episode chapter guide:
04:34 Melonie's Leadership Journey
11:52 Community-Centric Healthcare Success
17:50 Navigating Healthcare Challenges
22:29 Building a Culture of Innovation
29:31 Leadership Insights and Advice