Central Line: Leadership in Healthcare

In the newest episode of Central Line - the podcast from TallTrees Leadership - Leah sits down with Tim Guest, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Nurses Association, to explore the dynamic landscape of nursing in Canada. With over three decades of experience spanning diverse nursing and leadership roles, Tim shares his insights on the evolving expectations and needs within the profession. His journey embodies a commitment to advancing nursing practices and policies through advocacy and nurse-driven, incremental change. Tim sheds light on the pressing challenges facing nurses today, and he emphasizes the importance of empowering nurses to have a voice at decision-making tables and advocating for a healthier work environment. He envisions a future where nurses play a central role in addressing the healthcare system's systemic issues and maximizing their potential to provide primary care to the public. Tim's message resonates with optimism and resilience. He assures listeners that change is underway, with governments increasingly recognizing the vital role of nurses and investing in solutions. Join us for an enlightening conversation that celebrates the power of advocacy and the dedication of nurses to serve their communities.     

In this episode, we delve into the inspiring journey and insights of Dr. Leigh Chapman, Chief Nursing Officer for Canada. With a rich background, including a PhD from the University of Toronto and two decades of frontline and leadership roles, Leigh's dedication to advancing nursing in Canada is undeniable. Leigh shares her experiences working in both frontline clinical healthcare, as well as national policy development and leadership.    Through engaging with nurses from coast to coast, Leigh highlights both challenges and hopes within the profession. From the despair palpable during the COVID pandemic to the emergence of optimism and desire to transform the healthcare system, she reflects on the contributions of nurses and the criticality of hearing their voices in addressing challenges within the profession. Leigh emphasizes the importance of unity and collaboration, advocating for a shift away from divisive mentalities.    Listen as Dr. Chapman shares her vision for nursing as a united profession, driven by collective efforts towards positive changes in the workplace and enhanced patient care.

In this month’s episode of The Central Line podcast, Leah sits down with two extraordinary leaders within the Canadian Mental Health Association - Jason Platts and Danny Lang. We delve head first into the heart of leadership and the profound impact that a daily practice of servant leadership can have on our teams and in our communities. The conversation strips away what you think you know about leadership, and offers thought provoking perspectives about what it truly means, and who has the capacity to do it. Hear how these two leaders dedicate their lives to unearthing purpose and meaning in the lives of both staff and clients. They stress that regardless of where you are in your organization, leadership is about recognizing your influence where you’re at, and using it to make a positive impact. Our guests draw inspiration from thought leader Simon Sinek, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the health and wellbeing of our teams, so that they can rise to their full potential at work. Join us as we learn from seasoned leaders who share their biggest lessons, providing insights that are exceptionally clear and focused. Equip yourself with fresh perspectives needed to lead from wherever you are and foster positive change in your workplace. Central Line is a podcast created by us, TallTrees Leadership, where we have conversations with amazing individuals who have something to say about leadership, healthcare, and leadership IN healthcare. It’s the ultimate resource for emerging and current leaders in healthcare! Central Line is hosted by Leah Wuitschik, a leadership development expert, executive coach, healthcare professional, and President & Co-Founder of TallTrees Leadership.    🎧LISTEN: https://www.talltreesleadership.com/central-line-podcast/  #centrallinepodcast #podcast #healthcarepodcast #talltreesleadership #leadershipinhealthcare #healthcare #healthcareleadership #leadership

This episode of Central Line features a conversation between Host Leah Wuitschik of TallTrees Leadership and Dr. Kathleen Ross, President of the Canadian Medical Association. It delves into the multifaceted world of healthcare and leadership. In particular, what makes a truly great leader who can affect real change. True leadership is portrayed as a balance between listening, reflection, inclusiveness, collaboration, and openness to doing things differently.  Dr. Ross discusses three pivotal tenets of leadership: self-awareness, the benefits of mentorship and sponsorship (which are different), and the power of identifying your passion. She goes on to clarify that mentorship and leadership lessons can be found both within and outside one's career, and underscores the importance of not getting trapped in the pitfalls of our passions.  The conversation ultimately stresses the need for collaboration, breaking through silos (or “cylinders of excellence”), and new approaches to address the colossal challenges faced by the healthcare system and to meet the diverse needs of Canadians.

Canadian health system reform. Is it possible? Your answer to this question might be based on your experiences with the system, your role in it, and whether or not you believe we know and have what it takes to make it happen. We welcome Canadian Senator Rebecca Patterson to the Central Line podcast to discuss her answer to these questions. You’ll hear about how her experiences in the Canadian military and as a registered nurse and healthcare leader have always centred on those she serves, and have led her to her current position as Canadian Senator, where she continues to serve her country and leads the way in transforming the country’s healthcare system.  Leah and Senator Patterson discuss the unfortunate truth that many healthcare workers feel forgotten and unheard and that we have created a system that has allowed that. Senator Patterson shares her thoughts on what she believes needs to change and how we will accomplish it together. She discusses the undeniable requirement of inviting to hear from the people who are delivering healthcare to the public. Including the voices of all stakeholders - physicians, primary caregivers, those in family medicine, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists -  and giving their voices equal power to others in the room, is the only way to make the right change. Senator Patterson believes reform is possible. She also believes that if we don’t change, we will fail. She shares her belief that we need people on the front lines to raise their voices, show up with courage, and be willing to stand up and blaze new trails. And we need others to hold those people up and give volume to their voices. Only then will we move toward reform.  This was an extra special conversation with an extra special guest. Senator Patterson’s dedication to healthy Canadians shines through in everything she says.

If you asked 100 people, 99 of them would say that technology has made our world progressively more efficient and productive in almost every facet of modern life. If you asked those same people, they’d also say that healthcare has been one of the industries most impacted by technological advances but that it still needs to be grounded in a high-touch, human approach - something computers can’t do.  With all of the attempts, some successful, many failures (at least at delivering on their promised improvements), can technology possibly improve a patient’s healthcare journey in a human way and get nurses back to patient-focused care?  On this episode of The Central Line podcast, we talk with the CEO of a company that is doing just that. Dave Bennett and the team at pCare have found a way to balance the benefits of technology while maintaining the human touch in bedside patient care, not to mention freeing up valuable time for nursing staff to focus on patient care rather than drowning in administrative work.

In this thought-provoking episode of "Central Line: Leadership in Healthcare," your host Leah Wuitschik sits down with Dr. Sid Viner. Dr. Viner is the Vice President & Medical Director for Alberta Health Services.  He has executive-level responsibility for clinical operations in AHS across the province, and a passion for quality improvement, patient safety and health system transformation. Dr. Viner shares valuable insights on managing change personally and within healthcare teams and organizations, learned from over 30 years of clinical practice and medical leadership experience. Join them as they dive deep into the intricacies of achieving successful and lasting change within individuals and organizations.

In this episode, we explore the concept of cultivating a thriving healthcare culture and the vital role of leaders in creating a positive emotional environment. Our guest, Jennifer Krippner with the Institute for Healthcare Excellence, shares practical strategies for fostering a culture of positivity and well-being in healthcare organizations. We discuss the connection between a positive emotional environment, improved patient outcomes, and stress and burnout's impact on healthcare professionals. Discover real-life examples of successful initiatives and effective communication techniques that empower healthcare teams to thrive. Join us as we uncover the keys to creating a culture of excellence and positivity in healthcare.  

Have you ever wondered what innovation means for nursing and healthcare? The good news is that it doesn't have to be as complicated as you may have thought. In today's episode, Leah sits down with Dr. Dan Weberg, an expert in nursing, healthcare innovation, and human-centred patient design. Learn how your daily actions can significantly change the healthcare system for the better.

In healthcare, clinicians are often promoted into leadership roles due to their excellent clinical skills. However, there is often a gap in the proper knowledge, skills, and tools to be confident in being a leader. Dr. Rachel Miller unpacks her own experiences with this, how she learned what she needed to succeed in her leadership approach and the critical importance of building trust in herself and others. In addition to being a board-certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist, Dr. Rachel Miller is a Certified Executive Coach, an author of “How to Succeed as a Healthcare Leader,” and a Dr. John Maxwell Leadership Coach, Speaker, and Trainer. Through her company, Pocket Bridges, LLC, she helps healthcare leaders and executives to lead their systems feeling confident and empowered to decrease physician burnout, improve provider engagement, and enhance leadership skills.

In this episode, we talk with Danielle Dorschner. Danielle shared about the moment in time when she knew she wanted to be a nurse, how she moved into leadership roles, and how engaging in volunteering supported her own learning and growth in leadership. Danielle is a bilingual healthcare leader with over 30 years of healthcare experience, from local service delivery to the international front.  She has recently retired as the Executive Director of OHSNI, a community-based organization coordinating and managing care for Nunavummiut medical travellers and their families coming to Ottawa for health care services. After working in a hospital setting for a few years, she then worked in public health and then moved to Accreditation Canada where she worked for 16 years in various positions, progressing to the Executive Director of the Canadian Accreditation program. 

On this episode, Leah is joined by Cory Jenks, an ambulatory care clinical pharmacy specialist and formerly a retail pharmacist, outpatient clinical pharmacist and inpatient clinical pharmacist. Corey is also an accomplished improv comedian and travels around the country, speaking to other healthcare professionals and teaching them how to apply the skills of improve comedy to create a more adaptable, empathetic and humanising healthcare experience.

Every day we make choices on how much time and energy we invest into our work. Often, those choices are rooted in the belief that if we "just" work harder things will get better. Host Leah talks with Kathy Howe, Executive Director for the Alberta Association of Nurses, on how this belief is baked into the healthcare culture, how things are changing, and what you need to do as a leader to change this for yourself and others.    

Whether we mean to or not, we sometimes behave in ways that create walls between ourselves and our teams. However, as leaders, it's important to remember that your people usually know when things are going off the rails or when you are not being vulnerable. They want to see whether you have the courage to tell them and to show your authentic self. In this episode we hear from Todd Buchanan, Business & Operations Manager, Peer Support South East Ontario, unpacks the idea of being vulnerable in a leadership role and how that inspires people to do their best work. 

Many healthcare organizations, already beleaguered by staffing shortages among many other challenges, sailed into a storm of all storms, the COVID-19 pandemic. Tresha Moreland, a 30-year experienced HR leader in healthcare who specializes in strategic planning, workforce planning, and employee engagement, shares that it’s never too late to start again and build a resilient organization and 10 steps on how to get there.

On today's episode we hear about the lived experience of Kristine Russell and how she used this experience as a catalyst for her involvement and career in healthcare. After the birth of her third child, a daughter named Ellie, Ellie and Kristine developed septic shock from Group A Streptococcus. This severe illness required life saving measures for both her and Ellie. With little to no research around long term implication from sepsis or severe infection at birth, Kristine dove head first into the world of health research, patient quality improvement and patient engagement not only in a healthcare setting but beyond. As a result, Kristine offers a unique perspective on how healthcare leaders can partner with patients and clients in care, specifically in research. Additionally, Kristine offers practical ideas on how healthcare professionals can value the lived experience of their patients and clients.

In this episode we sit down with Dr. Laura Janusik. Dr. Janusik is known throughout the world as a leading expert in teaching and training listening. Her PhD in Communication and her MBA assist her in using research-based information to help people change their daily communication interactions to develop greater cohesion, increase trust, demonstrate empathy, meet deadlines, and increase productivity...all through the power of listening! In our conversation Dr. Janusik talks about the challenges with communication in healthcare, how words don't create meaning; people do, and four ways healthcare leaders can listen and understand better.

In today's episode Leah talks with Registered Nurse Caroline Brunt. Through her experience as a Street Nurse/ Outreach Nurse working with marginalized populations in Vancouver's Downton East Side, the gay community in the West End and migrant farm workers in the Fraser Valley providing STI/HIV care Caroline has learned the critical value of creating connection. Based on this experience Caroline shares her perspectives on how to instil humanity into care and to connect with people in a way that meets them where they are at. As part of her career Caroline spearheaded an award winning nursing documentary about people who use drugs - talking about the complexity of the nurse patient relationship, health access, equity and respect. The documentary is titled Bevel Up: Drugs, Users and Outreach Nursing. Bevel Up is used in nursing schools across the country and has helped change how we treat people who are marginalized, not only in Canada, but in other countries around the world.  

On this episode of Central Line, Leah is joined by Dr. Ann Messer, the founder, executive director and board chair of One Good Turn, a global non-profit which travels to the most remote areas of the world. One Good Turn gives health workers worldwide the resources and knowledge to help build self-sustaining and healthy communities by providing the local health staff the physical exam skills, diagnostic reasoning skills and the health knowledge to approach rational treatment to better serve their communities. If you would like to learn more about One Good Turn and find out how you can help go to www.onegoodturn.org If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you never miss an episode and leave a five star review as helps us reach new audiences and spread our message! Thanks for listening!

Today we chat with Michelle Troseth and Tracy Christopherson. Michelle and Tracy are co-founders of MissingLogic®. They help healthcare organizations and healthcare leaders combat burnout through the power of a framework driven approach founded on Polarity Intelligence™. The core of their work is leading healthcare organizations through transformational change that results in the best place to give and receive care, and for leaders to live their best lives both personally and professionally. We talk about leadership for when there are no answers, which often comes down to managing the polarities that are so common in healthcare. Michelle and Tracy share how their work supports healthcare leaders to thrive and be resilient. We also talk frankly about the mental strain that is on healthcare professionals, particularly during this pandemic, and what needs to happen to address and ease that strain. Michelle and Tracy are offering a free three-part leadership masterclass series, which includes: Masterclass 1:  Finding Stability in a World of Constant Change and Chaos  Masterclass 2:  Becoming a Resilient Leader During Unprecedented Times   Masterclass 3:  Living a Balanced Life Through the Hard Times and Beyond    The three-part masterclass series is offered as a self-paced program with videos and workbooks for reflection.  Healthcare leaders will walk away with tools and strategies they can apply immediately and well into the future.   Learn more about the masterclass series here.