Leader to Leader

Unity of Mission: How Community Commitment Guides Health First

How do you lead through change and uncertainty? Start with your mission and let it guide the way. For Michael Carr [https://www.linkedin.com/in/miwcarr/], Chief Information Officer at Health First [https://www.hf.org/], that clarity of purpose has kept the organization steady through leadership turnover, provider shortages, and a system-wide Epic implementation. In this episode, he shares how Health First’s community-first approach impacts their AI strategy and technological investments. Learn more about Healthcare IT Leaders [https://www.healthcareitleaders.com/]. In this episode, you’ll learn: * How to lead through turnover and organizational change * What innovation means in leadership * How to apply AI in ways that support human care  Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Michael Carr, Chief Information Officer at Health First (01:31) Providing world-class healthcare to Brevard County (05:27) Epic implementation insights (09:23) How to navigate organizational change (11:52) Health First’s adoption of AI  (15:43) Leadership lessons from the military

Empowerment Through Innovations: Reimagining the Future of Nursing at Duke Health

The pandemic has fundamentally reshaped the nursing workforce, creating both challenges and opportunities to reimagine care delivery. In this episode, https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrymcdonnell/Dr. Terry McDonnell [https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrymcdonnell/], Chief Nursing Executive and Senior Vice President at https://www.dukehealth.org/Duke University Health System, [https://www.dukehealth.org/] discusses how Duke Health is addressing turnover in nursing, empowering frontline staff through innovation initiatives, and building robust career pipelines as early as eighth grade.  With a goal of building a sustainable, future-focused nursing workforce, Dr. McDonnell offers valuable insights into creating technology-enhanced innovation units, leveraging AI and ambient technology to transform documentation, and adapting care models for the next generation of patients. Learn more about https://www.healthcareitleaders.com/Healthcare IT Leaders [https://www.healthcareitleaders.com/]. In this episode, you’ll learn: * How Duke Health is addressing the post-pandemic nursing challenge with empowerment initiatives that reduced turnover by 10% * The role of AI and technology in building the care environments of the future * Why Dr. McDonnell believes the future of nursing will be hybrid, creating a need for nurses skilled in both direct and virtual patient care Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Terry McDonnell, Chief Nursing Executive and Senior Vice President at Duke University Health System (01:54) Impact of the pandemic on nursing (03:13) Challenges in the nursing workforce (04:55) Strategies to reduce nurse turnover (06:27) Empowering frontline staff (07:22) Building future nursing pipelines (09:37) Leveraging technology in healthcare (11:52) Innovation units at Duke (16:17) Hybrid models of care (17:07) Nursing innovation summit (20:18) Dr. McDonnell’s leadership journey

Stacking Small Wins for Big Impact: MultiCare’s Playbook for Sustainable Innovation

AI adoption in healthcare is no longer a question of if, but when.  For leaders embracing this shift, the true challenge lies in addressing foundational issues, clearing technical debt, and ensuring data integrity to create a scalable and sustainable future. In this episode, Bradd Busick [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbusick/], SVP, Chief Information Officer at MultiCare, shares his leadership philosophy and emphasizes the importance of getting your foundations right before exploring innovative technologies like AI.  With a focus on reducing clinician burnout, strengthening patient-provider relationships, and leading with authenticity, Bradd offers valuable insights on how healthcare organizations can scale effectively and create a more intimate, personalized care experience. Learn more about Healthcare IT Leaders [https://www.healthcareitleaders.com/]. In this episode, you’ll learn: * How ambient listening is reducing clinician burden and improving patient relationships in clinics * Bradd’s leadership philosophy of wanting more for his team than from them, and why authenticity matters * The role of AI in fostering deeper connections between healthcare providers and patients  Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Bradd Busick, SVP, Chief Information Officer at MultiCare Health System (01:12) MultiCare's vision and strategy (02:07) The importance of foundational tech (03:23) Data orchestration and AI integration (04:27) Challenges in healthcare technology (05:10) The philosophy of base hits (06:09) Enhancing clinician-patient interaction (10:00) Leadership lessons from COVID-19 (11:12) Healthcare's arrogance and private sector lessons (14:19) The future of healthcare partnerships (15:05) Leadership and emotional intelligence (19:30) Final learnings with Paul

Modernizing Healthcare: How Cloud Adoption Drives Real Patient Outcomes

Cloud adoption in healthcare is no longer a question of if, but how. For leaders navigating this transformation, the real challenge is in aligning technology with organizational purpose, trust, and long-term impact. In this episode, Jeremy Marut [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremymarut], Founder and CEO of Sublimation Health [https://www.sublimationhealth.com/], shares how his decades of experience in hospital IT led him to build a company that helps health systems shift from managing infrastructure to delivering meaningful solutions. He explores what it takes to overcome fear and uncertainty around cloud migration, why cost transparency matters, and how to reframe technical debt as an opportunity for reinvention. Learn more about Healthcare IT Leaders [https://www.healthcareitleaders.com/]. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why Jeremy Marut left hospital IT after 25 years to help health systems escape the burden of technical debt * The biggest misconceptions about cloud migration in healthcare and how to overcome them * How cost transparency, job security, and organizational alignment shape successful cloud transitions * What’s next in cloud innovation, from AI-enhanced workflows to quantum computing, and why the future of healthcare depends on it * How Stoicism and servant leadership guide Jeremy’s decision-making as a founder and CEO Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Jeremy Marut, Founder and CEO of Sublimation Health (02:08) The problem with never-ending implementations and growing technical debt (03:46) “Save lives, not drives”: the personal meaning behind Sublimation’s tagline (07:54) Biggest misconceptions about cloud migration in healthcare (10:13) Addressing fear, uncertainty, and doubt: why cloud transformation feels risky (12:35) Where real cloud savings come from: hard vs. soft cost reductions (16:12) The future: AI, quantum computing, and workflow-driven cloud innovation (18:17) Jeremy’s leadership philosophy in Stoicism and servant leadership (20:20) The challenge of celebrating wins and evolving as a startup leader (20:46) Episode recap and closing thoughts on leadership in healthcare IT

Franciscan Health’s Journey to the Cloud: Pioneering Epic on Microsoft Azure

When hospital systems move to the cloud, it’s not just an IT project—it’s a leadership journey. Strategic choices made in this transition shape not only technical outcomes but also how teams collaborate and deliver care. In this episode, Chuck Christian [https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-e-christian-chcio-cdh-e-lfchime-lfhimss-ba14112/], Chief Technology Officer at Franciscan Health, discusses the organization's move to migrate Epic to Microsoft Azure, paving a path for scalability and long-term success. Chuck talks about the complexities of cloud cost management and how it’s able to save them millions of dollars, and he also shares the leadership lessons that have shaped his career, especially around staying curious, practicing humility, and truly working together as a team.  Learn more about Healthcare IT Leaders [https://www.healthcareitleaders.com/]. In this episode, you’ll learn: * How Franciscan Health achieved a successful migration of Epic to Microsoft Azure, enhancing scalability and infrastructure * The impact of introducing a cloud cost analyst role, leading to millions in savings through better cost management and prediction * Why leadership is practiced through curiosity and teamwork  Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introduction to leadership and finance (00:22) Meet Chuck Christian: CTO at Franciscan Health (00:33) Pioneering move to Microsoft Azure (03:02) Challenges and learnings from cloud migration (05:45) Cloud cost management strategies (07:52) Consolidation and standardization efforts (10:11) The role of health information exchanges (12:58) Leadership and the CIO bootcamp (16:02) Chuck’s leadership styles