The Race to Value Podcast

Today, Ashley welcomes Trista Sebastian, an expert in Early Childhood Education and a self-proclaimed nutrition guru, for an in-depth conversation about the critical role childhood nutrition plays in shaping the health and development of young minds and bodies. Together, they explore how proper nutrition during these formative years influences not only immediate behavioral patterns and academic performance but also long-term health outcomes and social equity. Trista sheds light on the profound connection between what children eat and their physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being, emphasizing the lasting effects that early dietary habits can have on adulthood. This thought-provoking discussion also examines how nutrition intersects with health equity, addressing systemic barriers and disparities that impact children’s access to healthy food. Don’t miss this enlightening episode that underscores why what we feed our children today determines the adults they become tomorrow. Trista Sebastian is an Early Childhood Education teacher from Cincinnati, Ohio. . Currently serving as the lead teacher at a preschool, Trista not only nurtures young minds in the classroom but also oversees the school’s nutrition program, ensuring that her students have access to healthy, balanced meals. Her passion for childhood nutrition began during a deeply personal journey—her pregnancy with her daughter—which inspired her to dive deeper into the connection between nutrition and early development. Since then, Trista has dedicated herself to advocating for the importance of proper nutrition in shaping children’s health, behavior, and future outcomes. Her unique blend of classroom expertise and hands-on experience with childhood nutrition makes her an invaluable voice in this vital conversation.

In today’s Episode, Ashley sits down with Dr. Kim Kelly-Cortez to explore challenges nursing schools face, such as faculty shortages, limited clinical training slots, high burnout rates among current educators, and the financial barriers students encounter. We also delve into the ripple effects of these issues on healthcare, such as staffing shortages, overworked nurses, and potential impacts on patient care quality. Dr. Kimberly Kelly Cortez is the Senior Associate Dean and Director for the Prelicensure BSN program at Western Governors University. She continues to support the growth of the Prelicensure program by expanding into additional states, opening simulation centers/labs, expanding access to communities and populations in need of pathways to nursing education. Her research continues to focus on student success, programmatic excellence, Competency Based Education (CBE), and simulation. She has presented research related to NCLEX, CBE, and Diversity in BSN prelicensure programs at the NLN Education Summit, AACN Transform, and the National Nursing Workforce Conference respectively in recent years.

On today’s episode, Ashley sits down with with Keith Somers.  CRO at HealthCorum.  Keith is an entrepreneur with a finance background who co-founded HealthCorum after a series of frustrating experiences navigating the healthcare system as a patient and caregiver. As CRO at HealthCorum, he leads the sales/marketing team on all market interactions while maintaining responsibility for company operations. HealthCorum is a company that provides data analytics and insights focused on the healthcare industry. They specialize in analyzing data on healthcare providers, such as hospitals and physicians, to assess their quality, efficiency, and overall value in comparison to other similar providers. HealthCorum’s platform and underlying data helps healthcare organizations, insurers, and employers identify high-performing providers, reduce costs, and improve the quality of care.

Today Ashley sat down and talked with Dr. Edwin Estavez.  Edwin is the founder of the Altacair Foundation.   He Previously, served as Market President of Value Based Care at Prominence Health, a leading health care company that provides high quality, cost-effective care to diverse populations. Edwin, has over 30 years of experience in health care and higher education administration, risk management, and business development, with a PhD in Administration and an MSW. He is passionate about organizational transformation. From health care delivery and outcomes through value-based care tactics, to patient engagement programs, and care coordination models.  Join as we chat about the mission of Altacair, how he ensures the foundation stays true to its mission and vision, and the collaboration between Altacair and The Leavitt School of Health on the Accelerator Conference. Altacair Foundation:  About Us – Altacair Foundation [https://altacairfoundation.org/about-us/] Accelerator 2024:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/accelerator2024-advancing-value-for-health-equity-tickets-951490021267?aff=oddtdtcreator [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/accelerator2024-advancing-value-for-health-equity-tickets-951490021267?aff=oddtdtcreator]

On today’s episode of The Race to Value, Ashley sits down with her colleague and friend, Dr. Melissa McLaren to discuss the importance of DEI in Healthcare and Education, and why building inclusivity is not just a buzzword, but something that is vital for the future. Dr. McLaren is an Associate Dean and Academic Program Director at the Leavitt School of Health at Western Governors University.  She graduated with her BSN from The Ohio State University and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Minnesota. She received her master’s in management and leadership and an MBA from Western Governors University. Melissa and her family have engaged with lawmakers at the local and state level, as well as the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus and the US Department of Health and Human Services in support of gender-affirming care and other LGBTQIA+ rights. They have spoken at state and national conferences to educate on the importance of family support when raising a transgender child. Dr. McLaren has partnered with organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign, Welcoming Schools, PFLAG, the ACLU, TransOhio, Equality Ohio, and many others to advocate for transgender youth.  Dr. McLaren currently serves on the Human Rights Campaign Parents for Transgender Equality National Council. She is a board officer for Equality Ohio and was an inaugural board member of her local LGBTQ+ organization. She is a member of the AACN DEI Leadership Network Communications Committee. She lives in Ohio with her husband of 20 years, 19-year old twins, 2 dogs, and several entitled cats. Previous Episode: Ep 137 – Authentic Truth, Love, and Compassion: A Family’s Journey in Gender-Affirming Care, with Melissa and Conner McLaren – The Race to Value Podcast™ 0:50: Defining Diversity and Inclusion 4:52 Why is diversity and inclusion so important in today’s society? 9:34: How the impacts of disparities and health inequities affects absolutely everyone 13:30: How treatment of patients differs based on insurance status 21:00: Education related healthcare burdens, and how education has an impact. 24:00: How diversity enriches the learning experiences in educations settings 33:24 Stories about successful inclusive educational initiatives 38:00 Shifting policies and practices 39:30: Dr. McLaren’s personal story