Habitual Excellence, Presented by Value Capture

In this episode of the Habitual Excellence Podcast, Ken Segel talks with Dr. Tracey Hoke of UVA Health about her journey from pediatric cardiologist to healthcare executive and her role in shaping UVA Health’s approach to continuous improvement. Dr. Hoke shares how her clinical, public health, and leadership experiences influenced her belief that healthcare organizations need systems that help people identify problems, learn from them, and continually improve.Drawing on UVA Health’s evolution from project-based improvement to an enduring daily management system, Dr. Hoke discusses the importance of standard work, visual management, data, collaboration, and creating an environment where improvement becomes part of everyday work. She also reflects on UVA’s commitment to openly sharing what works so healthcare organizations can learn from one another.Her advice to the next generation of healthcare leaders is simple and powerful: “Be fearless.” Know what matters to your teams and patients, use data to drive action, partner with others, communicate clearly, and be willing to test better ways of working.

In this episode of Habitual Excellence, Ken Segel speaks with Heather Schimmers, President of Emplify Health, about leading through change while building a stronger, more unified health system. Heather shares how Emplify’s high-performance operating model creates a shared way of working, helping teams align around strategy, outcomes, and execution.Drawing on her journey from nursing to executive leadership, Heather discusses the importance of clarity, consistency, trust, and removing barriers for frontline teams. She also shares an optimistic perspective on the future of healthcare, grounded in her belief that leadership starts with love and that disciplined systems can empower people to solve problems, adapt to change, and deliver better outcomes.

In this episode of the Habitual Excellence Podcast, Ken Segel sits down with Dr. Tracy Gosselin, Chief Nurse Executive, Senior Vice President, and Enid A. Haupt Chair in Nursing at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, to discuss what it takes to lead healthcare organizations through today's challenges while preparing for tomorrow's opportunities. Tracy shares why workforce well-being must go beyond wellness initiatives and become a leadership priority, emphasizing the importance of listening to frontline teams, fostering psychological safety, and creating systems that support collaboration and continuous improvement. She explains how daily huddles, peer support programs, and multidisciplinary problem-solving help leaders better understand frontline challenges and remove barriers to excellent care.The conversation also explores leading across generations, building strong cross-functional teams, embracing innovation and AI, and preparing future healthcare leaders through mentorship, honest feedback, and succession planning. Throughout the discussion, Tracy reinforces that great leadership starts with humility, curiosity, and a commitment to helping people learn, grow, and deliver better care together.

Communication is one of healthcare's greatest challenges, and one of its greatest opportunities. In this episode of Habitual Excellence, Ken Segel is joined by Richard Evans and Coleen Dunkley of New York-Presbyterian to explore how communication shapes the experiences of patients, families, and the healthcare workforce.Together, they discuss common misconceptions about generational differences, why today's workforce values connection, feedback, and purpose, and how leaders can create environments where people thrive. They also share practical strategies for strengthening communication, improving patient experience, leveraging technology thoughtfully, and building a culture where both caregivers and patients can succeed. It's an insightful conversation for healthcare leaders looking to strengthen their teams and improve care through better communication.

In this episode of Habitual Excellence, Ken Segel speaks with Dr. James Shamiyeh, Chief Operating Officer at University Tennessee Medical, about the organization’s Everyday Excellence journey and what it takes to build sustainable improvement in healthcare.Dr. Shamiyeh shares how UT Medical is moving beyond traditional improvement efforts by creating a frontline-driven operating system centered on daily problem-solving, coaching, and leadership development. He reflects on the lessons learned through implementing tiered huddles, empowering teams to solve problems to root, and building a culture grounded in psychological safety and collaboration.Together, they discuss the realities of leading transformation work in healthcare today, including the importance of reflection, vulnerability, and long-term commitment. The conversation highlights how investing in people closest to the work is helping UT Medical strengthen engagement, improve safety, and create lasting operational and cultural change across the organization.