Healthcare Plus Podcast

On this final episode of our Emotional Onboarding Series for The Healthcare Plus Podcast, Dan Collard is joined by Bart Kaericher, President, CEO, and Chief Cultural Officer of Aramark Healthcare+. 

Highlighting his commitment to Aramark’s 25,000+ teammates and the hospitals and patients they serve, Bart shares the importance of a human-centric approach to employee engagement and collaboration to enhance patient experiences. 

Along Aramark’s journey to becoming a Modern Healthcare Best Place to Work (which they achieved for the first time in 2024), Bart shares several key learnings and adjustments his team made, including:

• Implementing Early Connect, a program aimed at supporting new employees, and Team Member Connect, a new system of rounding that encourages coworker connections.
• Offering a daily pay system to support the team’s financial flexibility and address social determinants of health (SDOH).
• Reducing early turnover by connecting with new hires before they step onsite and regularly through the first 120 days. 
• Advocating for a focus on purpose, culture, and effective communication.

Missed an episode in our Emotional Onboarding series? Listen back now with Dr. Katherine Meese, Patti Frank, Natasha Lee, and Abby Spence. 

About Bart Kaericher

Bart Kaericher is the President & CEO of Aramark Healthcare+. Since his arrival to Aramark he’s been focused on building an organization that is delivering a vision of having engaged employees, positive patient experiences, operational excellence, caregiver support, and being problem-solvers within the healthcare arena.  Having a unified Culture of Caring has become a strong differentiator for Aramark Healthcare+. 

Before joining Aramark in May 2021, Bart served as Chief Growth Officer & Senior Vice President of Compass One Healthcare. While at Compass Group, he played an instrumental role in building revenues, profits, and valuable strategic partnerships. Prior to his tenure with Compass One Healthcare, Bart worked for more than a decade in the medical device industry at American Hospital Supply, now B. Braun Medical.  

Bart holds an MBA in Healthcare Marketing from Saint Joseph University in Philadelphia, PA, and a BS in Business from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. He has also completed Cornell University’s Executive Healthcare Leadership program.

Welcome back to Part 4 of our Emotional Onboarding Series on The Healthcare Plus Podcast. On this episode, Dan Collard takes an in-depth look at the post-acute care industry with special guest Abby Spence, the nursing home administrator of Signature HealthCare of Cleveland. Dan and Abby discuss the unique staffing challenges faced by long-term care organizations and highlight early wins in retention and engagement from the implementation of Emotional Onboarding tactics. 

After attending the inaugural Post-Acute Leadership Institute (PALI) summit in July 2024, Abby brought a number of the selection, hiring, and onboarding solutions she learned back to her team in Cleveland, TN. 

In an effort to retain top talent, attract new team members, and improve residence care, Abby has implemented and seen success with several key Emotional Onboarding tactics, including:

• Creating a welcome video for new hires to reduce anxiety
• Implementing the “battery charge” exercise and creating a gratitude board to foster appreciation and open communication
• Completing a Personal Retention Plan with all new hires

Abby and Dan also discuss the need to attract Gen Z healthcare workers to solve the staffing shortage in post-acute care. Abby highlights how she’s adjusted her leadership style to cultivate a more supportive and development-focused workplace culture and how she’s leveraging new ideas brought forward by Gen-Z employees. 

Tune in next time for the final episode of the Emotional Onboarding series or listen back for more ideas from Katherine Meese, Patti Frank, and Natasha Lee today. 

About Abby Spence

Abby Spence is the CEO of Signature HealthCARE of Cleveland and has been a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator for 11 years. With a background in mental health and social services, she is committed to enhancing the quality of life for seniors and creating a positive work environment for healthcare professionals. Under her leadership, Signature HealthCARE of Cleveland recently received the Bronze Award from the AHCA National Quality Award program. Abby is also part of the inaugural cohort of the Post-Acute Leadership Institute, using her experience to further the success of her facility and its mission.

Welcome back to Part 3 of our Emotional Onboarding series on The Healthcare Plus Podcast. On this episode, Dan Collard is joined by special guest Natasha Lee to explore what Emotional Onboarding looks like in a virtual-first organization and see the impact it’s made on the culture of Floyd Lee Locums. Natasha Lee serves as CEO of Floyd Lee Locums, whose primary focus is to revolutionize the healthcare staffing industry by connecting clinicians to purposeful work.  

Natasha and Dan discuss Floyd Lee Locums’ innovative onboarding and leadership development programs, designed to support a strong corporate culture that prioritizes trust, engagement, and personal well-being. 

Natasha shares key insights and solutions for healthcare executives, including:

• The importance of being involved in selection, hiring, and onboarding at the C-suite level to convey clear expectations, maintain high standards, and enhance your company culture. 
• How getting to know employees on a personal level ensures understanding that they are cared for even beyond the work they do for your organization. 
• Why Floyd Lee is focused on continuous improvement, despite recognition as #1 on Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work list for two consecutive years.  

Tune in next time for the final episode of the Emotional Onboarding series or listen back for more ideas from Katherine Meese and Patti Frank today. 

About Natasha Lee

As CEO, Natasha Lee passionately upholds the core values of Floyd Lee Locums, whose primary focus is to revolutionize the healthcare staffing industry by connecting clinicians to purposeful work. A staffing industry veteran since 2001, she has extensive experience starting and growing new businesses, penetrating new markets, and recognizing and developing talent. Her authentic commitment to the industry informs the organization’s key promise of serving those who serve others.

Natasha is passionate about creating a company culture where all employees, partners, and clients feel valued and heard. Her impact and that commitment extends to our organization’s DEI&B efforts, corporate volunteerism program (We Serve), and our internal employee benefits program (We Sustain).

Welcome back to Part 2 of our Emotional Onboarding Series on The Healthcare Plus Podcast with your host Dan Collard. Today, Dan is joined by Patti Frank, Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Operating Officer of CCM Health, a community hospital in Montevideo, Minnesota. 

Patti discusses her journey since joining CCM Health in 2018, highlighting the challenges they faced with high turnover, a reliance on travel nurses, and instability in senior leadership, which prompted a new focus on staff engagement and leadership development. Under Patti’s leadership, CCM Health first debuted on Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work list at #66 and this year, they reached #9. 

Patti and Dan discuss the intentional efforts CCM has made in Emotional Onboarding that have increased first-year retention by 15% and have contributed to their award-winning culture. A key initiative is helping new employees understand the phases of change and recognize that anxiety and doubt are normal with a new position or new organization. By creating this open dialogue, CCM has been able to provide resources and solutions to help team members navigate that anxiety and move more quickly towards feeling a sense of belonging in the organization. 

Patti also serves as an advisor at Healthcare Plus Solutions Group. Through this lens, she offers practical and doable tips for leaders to improve their onboarding processes and drive improved retention and engagement. 

Tune in next time for another episode of the Emotional Onboarding series that will dive into the post-acute care industry or listen back for more ideas from Katherine Meese today.

About Patti Frank
Patricia Frank, RN, MSN, FACHE is a distinguished healthcare executive and Advisor with Healthcare Plus Solutions Group, celebrated for her contributions to rural healthcare and her expertise in operational management, strategic planning, and patient care optimization. Recognized in 2020 among Becker’s Hospital Review’s “50+ Hospital and Health Systems CNOs to Know,” Patricia has a longstanding commitment to transforming healthcare in rural communities, where she has consistently improved patient outcomes, enhanced staff engagement, and elevated service delivery.

Patricia’s background includes extensive experience in clinical oversight, conflict resolution, and process improvement within rural settings, where she has reshaped organizational culture and built high-performing teams. Known for her integrity and strategic vision, Patricia has been honored with multiple “Best Place to Work” awards from different organizations by Modern Healthcare magazine, reflecting her dedication to making quality healthcare accessible in underserved regions. As an advisor, she now partners with healthcare organizations across the country to develop leadership capacity and optimize performance, all with a deep commitment to strengthening rural healthcare.

Welcome to Part 1 of our Emotional Onboarding series on The Healthcare Plus Podcast. Hosted by Dan Collard, we’re kicking off this 5-part series with special guest Dr. Katherine Meese, a researcher and expert in the space of organizational behavior and leadership. 

Dan and Katherine’s conversation explores several key facets of Emotional Onboarding™, a solution that improves early retention by reducing new hire anxiety and accelerating their feeling that they belong and are part of a team. 

Dr. Meese shares the latest research and industry insights on key areas of focus, including:

• The importance of building trust in the first 30-90 days and demonstrating flexibility and understanding through the hiring process
• Myth-busting what “belonging” really means and strategies for developing high-performing teams
• The significance of co-worker relationships in early onboarding and retention and how to best include peers in the interview and hiring process
• Challenges facing the multi-generational workforce and lessons learned from other industries 

Stay tuned over the next month as Dan Collard explores what Emotional Onboarding looks like in practice with leaders from four organizations across the continuum of healthcare. 

About Dr. Katherine Meese

With fifteen years of experience in healthcare management, leadership and research, Dr. Meese is an award-winning scholar and author in the field of organizational behavior, well-being, and leadership. She is the Founder and CEO of HuMargin Group which takes a data-driven, scientific  approach to help organizations solve their complex human challenges. Dr. Meese has published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and has served as an evaluator on multi-million dollar grants.  She has co-authored two textbooks on organizational behavior in healthcare that are used in over 160 schools across the country. Her most recent book is The Human Margin: Building the Foundations of Trust with Quint Studer.

Dr. Meese also teaches and mentors graduate, doctoral and executive students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Health Services Administration, home to the #1 ranked MSHA program (U.S. News and World Report).

She is an internationally recognized keynote speaker, delivering over 100 presentations, workshops and keynotes across the globe. Her passion is to translate data and research into meaningful knowledge to help leaders and organizations support their humans.

Dr. Meese has a B.B.A from Texas A&M, an MPH from the University of Texas Health Science Center, and a PhD from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She lives in the Nashville, TN area with her husband and two children.

Welcome back to the Healthcare Plus Podcast! On this episode, Quint Studer is joined by special guest, David Bartholomew, to preview the upcoming American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) 2025 Congress on Healthcare Leadership. 

This annual event will attract more than 7,000 healthcare leaders – from students in Master of Health Administration (MHA) programs to tenured executives – to Houston, TX this March for 3 days of learning and networking. With more than 500 expert speakers and 220+ education sessions, the ACHE Congress has something to offer every healthcare professional. 

David highlights exciting keynote sessions from leading experts, including:

• Brené Brown, PhD, Research Professor and New York Times Bestselling Author
• Ozan Varol, JD, Rocket Scientist turned Professor, No. 1 Bestselling Author, and Expert on Innovation and Creativity
• Doris Kearns Goodwin, PhD, Presidential Historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning Author
• Michael Sorrell, EdD, Visionary Leader, Institutional Change Agent, President of Paul Quinn College
• And many more!

Quint also shares his excitement to join Mark Clement, CEO, TriHealth onstage for their session, “Leadership Insights: Building a Culture That Drives and Supports Value-Based Care”. 

Learn more about ACHE 2025 Congress and register today at www.congress.ache.org. 

About David Bartholomew

David Bartholomew is a lifelong advocate for health professionals and international education.  David is the Senior Vice President, Learning at the American College of Healthcare Executives in Chicago.  The role encompasses oversight of ACHE’s Professional Development and Publishing activities, including the Congress on Healthcare Leadership. 

David Bartholomew assumed the role of Senior Vice President of Learning with the American College of Healthcare Executives in January 2019.  In this capacity David is tasked to drive the strategic direction for ACHE Learning and oversee the design and development of new learning modalities for ACHE including virtual, face-to-face, and hybrid learning approaches across the Learning portfolio.  Prior to ACHE, David worked for more than 20 years in strategic roles related to healthcare licensure education and publishing.  

David holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and a master’s degree in International Affairs from the University of Kentucky Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce.   David serves as a Board member for CAHME, the Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.

On this episode of The Healthcare Plus Podcast, Quint Studer is joined by Dr. Stephanie Montgomery, Partner, Build a Brain, Build a Life, Build A Community, Dr. Alexander Gumiroff, Chief Medical Officer, HCA Florida Palms West Hospital, and Jason Kimbrell, CEO, HCA Florida Palms West Hospital. 

Their conversation highlights the transformative “Build a Brain, Build a Life, Build a Community” initiative, which aims to enhance early childhood brain development, and showcases the implementation of the program at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital. 

Quint shares about the initial research conducted in Escambia County that led to the founding of the program and the difference it has made for parents, children, and communities across the country. 

Dr. Gumiroff and Jason Kimbrell also examine the program’s broader implications for addressing health inequities and encouraging community engagement through activities like book donations and the education of childcare workers. They underscore the importance of ongoing leadership and authentic community involvement in sustaining this initiative, ultimately aiming to improve future health outcomes and kindergarten readiness

About Alexander Gumiroff, MD, MBA, MHA, FACOG

Dr. Alex Gumiroff has been appointed Chief Medical Officer of HCA Florida Palms West Hospital, effective May 15, 2023. 

After finishing his residency training at New York Presbyterian/Cornell University Lower Manhattan Hospital, Dr. Gumiroff relocated to Florida and has been a practicing OB-GYN for a Federally Qualified Health Center in Fort Myers, caring for the underserved population. 

During that time, he also supervised the training of Medical, Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner students in both outpatient and inpatient settings.

About Jason Kimbrell

Jason Kimbrell was appointed chief executive officer of HCA Florida Palms West Hospital in June of 2021. 

Prior to Palms West, Kimbrell was the chief executive officer for Highlands Hospital and transitioned the newly acquired asset into the HCA healthcare portfolio. Kimbrell has been with HCA Healthcare since 2015. He is a graduate of HCA’s Executive Development Program and started his HCA career as the assistant administrator for HCA Florida West Hospital in Pensacola. 

Kimbrell is a veteran of the United States Air Force and began his career in healthcare in the public safety sector, serving as a firefighter, critical care flight paramedic and EMS Chief.  

About Stephanie Montgomery, Ed.D.

Stephanie is a native Georgian with over 24 years of experience in education and community partnerships. Stephanie has served Northwest Georgia as a School Improvement Specialist in literacy and academic achievement. She has worked as an ELA Specialist and liaison to help strengthen relationships between state and local school systems. Through this work, she has developed a unique lens for identifying issues related to readiness skills and achievement gaps. She is skilled at working with teams to bridge the gap between knowledge and research, helping put policy into practice. Stephanie has also served as a classroom teacher, district-level curriculum coordinator, and grant writer.

On this episode of The Healthcare Plus Podcast, Quint Studer welcomes Dr. Thom Mayer to discuss insights from his extensive career in emergency medicine and leadership, including his work with the NFL Players Union and in crisis situations on 9/11 and during war in Ukraine. 

In their conversation, Dr. Mayer discusses his new book, “Leadership is Worthless, but Leading is Priceless,” emphasizing the distinction between leadership as a noun and the act of leading as a verb. He challenges each individual to realize that they are a leader today no matter the role they serve in and to always ask the question, “How will I lead today?”. Dr. Mayer also highlights the importance of relationship-building, storytelling, and a curiosity-driven approach to innovation in healthcare. He says “there’s no solo practice of medicine anywhere. It’s a team sport.” 

Their conversation also explores the idea of clinical trials as a way for organizations to reconsider practices and processes and drive continuous improvement. On the topic of improving patient experience, Dr. Mayer discusses his recent article, “Criterion-Based Measurements of Patient Experience in Health Care: Eliminating Winners and Losers to Create a New Moral Ethos,” published by JAMA.  

Dr. Mayer and Quint inspire leaders to use failures as steppingstones on their mission to foster cultures of trust and gratitude. Plus, they offer actionable tips and resources to help you do so. 

About Dr. Thom Mayer

Dr. Thom Mayer is the Medical Director for the NFL Players Association, Executive Vice President of Leadership for LogixHealth, Founder of BestPractices, Inc., Speaker for Executive Speakers Bureau, and Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at George Washington University and Senior Lecturing Fellow at Duke University. 

He is one of the most widely sought speakers on leading in times of crisis, leading innovative change, customer experience, hardwiring flow, trauma and emergency care, pediatric emergency care, EMS/disaster medicine, and sports medicine. In sports medicine, his work at the forefront of changing concussion diagnosis and management in the NFL has changed the way in which these athletes are diagnosed and treated. His work in each of these areas has resulted in changing the very fabric of patient care. 

In 2022, Dr. Mayer helped lead a mobile team to Ukraine, caring for more than 350 internally displaced persons during the current war and training over 1,700 Ukrainian doctors, nurses, and paramedics. On September 11, 2001, Dr. Mayer served as the Command Physician at the Pentagon Rescue Operation and has served on three Defense Science Board Task Forces, advising the Secretary of Defense. 

He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, over 200 book chapters, and has edited or written 25 textbooks. His newest book, Leadership Is Worthless…But Leading is Priceless will be released on May 7, 2024 through Berrett-Koehler. He was won numerous awards, including the ACEP James D. Mills Outstanding Contribution to Emergency Medicine Award in 2018. He has also been named the ACEP Outstanding Speaker of The Year, ACHE James Hamilton Award (twice), and has been nominated to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. 

On this two-part episode series of The Healthcare Plus Podcast, Quint Studer hosts Dr. Gerald Hickson, Joseph C. Ross Chair of Medical Education and Administration, Professor of Pediatrics, Founding Director of the Center for Patient and Professional Advocacy (CPPA). 

Quint and Dr. Hickson’s conversation focuses on addressing professional behavior among healthcare providers. Dr. Hickson discusses research linking disrespectful behavior to poor patient outcomes and malpractice claims, emphasizing the importance of professionalism in the workplace. The conversation also extends to nursing, offering innovative leadership strategies for behavioral intervention. 

In Part 1, Dr. Hickson discusses the early career experiences that led him to explore professionalism and what he learned about the importance of respect in the practice of medicine. The conversation explores Vanderbilt’s latest research on the topic and shares how health system leaders can start pursuing a culture of safety and respect. 

In Part 2, Quint and Dr. Hickson discuss intervention techniques for both physicians and nurses, highlighting “cup of coffee” conversations as a way to make medicine kinder, safer, and more reliable. 

About Gerald B. Hickson, MD

Gerald B. Hickson, MD, Joseph C. Ross Chair of Medical Education and Administration, Professor of Pediatrics, Founding Director of the Center for Patient and Professional Advocacy (CPPA). 

Dr. Hickson serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). He also serves on the Board of Directors of Keck (USC) Health System, the RL Datix Customer Advisory Board and is a member of the International Regulatory Expert Advisory Group to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Dr. Hickson previously served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF). Dr. Hickson received a BS from the University of Georgia and MD from Tulane University School of Medicine.