Meet Community Member Linda Elam, PHD, MPH President Elam Strategies Group

Meet Community Member Linda Elam, PHD, MPH President Elam Strategies Group

In this episode of The Treasure Hunt, host Doug Riddle sits down with Linda Elam, a distinguished leader in health policy and management. Throughout her career, Linda has advocated for healthcare delivery for vulnerable populations and served in pivotal roles, including as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation under President Obama, policy analyst at Kaiser Family Foundation, managing director at Manatt Health, and CEO and plan president of Amerigroup, District of Columbia, Inc. Currently, she's the founder and president of Elam Strategies Group. The discussion traces Linda’s path from her early passion for science and medicine to a lifelong pursuit of health equity and public well-being. Linda opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped her perspective on healthcare disparities, particularly her time working between vastly different medical facilities in Los Angeles. She spotlights the power of social determinants of health and the pressing need to connect healthcare with social care for meaningful improvements. Her insights emphasize the significance of clear communication and targeted research, as well as the real-world challenges of policy implementation. Listen and discover the intricate layers of health policy, the powerful influence of public health leadership, and the lasting legacy of community connections in championing equitable care.

Meet Community Member Amy Leneker Joy Strategist Author, Cheers to Monday Global Speaker & Trainer for Fortune 100s

Join in as host Doug Riddle speaks with Amy Leneker, acclaimed leadership advisor, keynote speaker, and founder of the Center for Joyful Work. Amy shares her journey as a recovering “workaholic”, where she faced the pressures of high-performance culture, to becoming a passionate advocate for reimagining our relationship with stress and the workplace. Drawing from her own battles with burnout, including the realization that simply changing jobs doesn't address deeper issues, Amy offers listeners a candid look at the shifts required to foster sustainable, joyful work environments. Hear Amy reflect on her upbringing, the stress stories she internalized, and how these influenced her relentless drive and eventual burnout. She discusses the importance of recognizing our own limits, challenging the narrative that stress is the inevitable price of success. The conversation also explores Amy’s recent book, Cheers to Monday, which has soared to the top of USA Today's bestseller lists. Amy details her research into the drivers of joy at work and shares actionable insights for leaders and organizations eager to create cultures that nurture both performance and well-being.

Meet Community Member Jaspreet Loyal, MD, MS Chief of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital; Associate Professor in Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine Yale New Haven Health

In this episode of The Treasure Hunt podcast, enjoy an engaging and thoughtful conversation with Dr. Jaspreet Loyal, Section Chief for Pediatric Hospital Medicine and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Yale. Dr. Loyal, who also serves as Medical Director for Inpatient Pediatrics at Yale New Haven Hospital, shares her experiences balancing roles as both a clinician and hospital administrator. Learn about Dr. Loyal's transition from clinical medicine to leadership as she recounts her experiences as an immigrant and working mother in medicine, her unexpected entry into administrative roles, and the importance of being tapped for leadership by trusted mentors. A significant focus of the episode is Dr. Loyal's research on medical communication with families, particularly regarding the complex and sensitive topic of newborn vitamin K refusal and vaccine hesitancy. She explains the public health importance of interventions such as vitamin K and hepatitis B vaccination, and shares insights into the root causes of mistrust within families and communities. Also hear reflections on her experience with the Carol Emmott Fellowship, particularly regarding the unique challenges and deep, lasting bonds forged with her cohort, Fellowship Class of 2020, during the pandemic-era.

Meet Community Member Afia Asamoah, JD, MPP Co-Founder, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, Head of Strategic Alliances, Waymark, Inc.

In this episode of The Treasure Hunt, Doug Riddle welcomes Afia Asamoah, a dynamic leader in healthcare innovation, policy, and equity. Afia shares her inspiring journey from growing up in a family with strong service values to pursuing a career in healthcare, not as a physician, but by shaping systems that advance access and equity. Her experiences, from grassroots public health work in Ghana to regulatory policy roles in Washington and executive leadership in technology-enabled care, reveal her commitment to breaking barriers for underserved communities. The conversation highlights Afia’s work at Waymark, a company she co-founded, dedicated to improving access and outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries amid changing policy and political landscapes. She explains how Waymark’s community-based model leverages technology and local expertise to address health-related social needs, prevent avoidable ER visits, and drive meaningful change. Afia offers insights on maintaining focus and motivation in demanding roles, emphasizing the value of celebrating progress, trusting her support network, being present, and staying grounded in gratitude and purpose.

Meet Community Member Cynthia Barginere, DNP, RN, FACHE Chief Operating Officer UMass Memorial Health

Cynthia Barginere joins this week’s episode of The Treasure Hunt. Currently, Cynthia serves as the System Chief Operating Officer at UMass Memorial Health and as President of UMass Memorial Health Community Entities. With more than two decades of experience in healthcare leadership, Cynthia shares insights from her journey, from her early days as a nurse at the University of Alabama Hospital to her transformative roles at organizations such as Rush University System for Health and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Cynthia discusses the principles that have guided her career, including the importance of servant leadership, the power of building lasting professional relationships, and the necessity of clarity and accountability in leading large teams. Hear her philosophy that “love is a verb” as she reflects on her commitment to mentoring the next generation of leaders, with a special focus on supporting women and people of color within healthcare.