Listen to and read about six women executives who are making a difference in healthcare leadership.
Every month, HealthLeaders sits down with notable and inspiring women who serve in the C-suite of hospitals and health systems and releases those interviews on the HealthLeaders Podcast.
Topics include health equity and diversity, equity, and inclusion, succession planning, healthcare worker well-being, physician-owned models, authentic leadership, and leading a resilient workforce.
Here are the first six HealthLeaders Podcast episodes from this year, that highlight women leaders who spoke about their areas of expertise and shared leadership advice for other women who are aspiring healthcare leaders.
Alisahah Jackson, MD
Alisahah Jackson, MD, serves as the first system vice president of population health innovation and policy for CommonSpirit Health, which she assumed in June 2020. Her role is to help the Chicago-based health system develop strategies to care for their vulnerable populations as well as develop health equity and innovative care delivery models.
In this podcast episode, Jackson shares the population health initiatives she's led at CommonSpirit during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, why it's important for healthcare organizations to focus on population health, as well as offers a look into her leadership background and style, and advice for future leaders.
Read the interview here.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
Marna Borgstrom, MPH
Marna Borgstrom, MPH, is the retired previous CEO of Yale New Haven Health. During her more than 40-year tenure with the health system, she worked in various positions, starting as an administrative fellow at Yale New Haven Hospital in 1979. Since then, she's climbed the ranks and served as CEO of Connecticut's largest healthcare system.
Prior to her retirement in March, Borgstrom went on the podcast to speak about her upcoming retirement, her organization's focus on succession planning and DEI efforts, and looks back on her healthcare career journey.
Read the interview here.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
Tanya Blackmon, MSW, MBA
Tanya Blackmon, MSW, MBA previously served as executive vice president and chief diversity, inclusion, and equity officer for Novant Health. She currently serves as president and founder of Auspen Consulting. Her career journey started in social work, then she joined Novant Health in 1992. Through her past experience as a social worker and experience as a leader in a variety of roles for the health system over the past two decades, she has made great strides in her mission and life's purpose of adding value to the lives of the people that she serves.
While she worked at Novant Health, Blackmon shared the health system's initiatives she leads around DEI, health equity, and healthcare worker well-being. She also offered leadership advice for current healthcare leaders around DEI and health equity, and advice for future leaders.
Read the interview here.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
Kim Mikes, MBA, BSN, RN, CNOR
Kim Mikes, MBA, BSN, RN, CNOR serves as CEO of Hoag Orthopedic Institute, an orthopedic specialty hospital in Irvine, California, with a deep focus on orthopedic and spine patients. Prior to advancing into her role in 2021 to become the third consecutive woman to lead the organization, Mikes served as COO and CNO for the organization beginning in 2016. Mikes' career journey has gone full circle, as she started in the operating room as a nurse for spine and orthopedic procedures.
In this podcast episode, Mikes shares the history of HOI, the benefits of physician-owned models, how her background has helped her become a fluid leader, and advice for future leaders.
Read the interview here.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
Lisa Shannon
On January 1, Lisa Shannon, the former COO and president of Allina Health, took the helm and became CEO of the nonprofit health system. Shannon succeeded Penny Wheeler, MD, who retired and took a position on the board of directors. Prior to retiring, Wheeler and Shannon worked closely to ensure a smooth leadership transition for the workforce, the consumers, and the communities the system serves in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
In this podcast episode, Shannon shares what goals she hopes to achieve in her first year as CEO, leadership transitions for the health system, and the importance of authentic leadership.
Read the interview here.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
Genemarie McGee, RN, BSN, MS
Genemarie McGee RN, BSN, MS, a registered nurse who serves as corporate vice president and chief nursing officer for Sentara Healthcare, oversees more than 8,000 nurses in the system, along with the coordination of nursing care across the health system. She has held numerous leadership positions for Sentara, including vice president and nurse executive for Sentara Leigh Hospital, and director of Sentara Norfolk General's emergency department and Level I trauma center, Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance, and the ambulatory care clinics.
In this podcast episode, McGee shared insights into her leadership background, discussed how she's helping address nursing burnout and inspire resiliency at Sentara, and offered advice for future leaders.
Read the interview here.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
Melanie Blackman is a contributing editor for strategy, marketing, and human resources at HealthLeaders, an HCPro brand.