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Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Dr. Tracey Schwartz, VP of Operations, Ascension Medical Group Texas

How do you lead with empathy, navigate change, and unlock the full potential of your healthcare team? On this episode of Excellence in Healthcare, host Jarvis T. Gray sits down with Dr. Tracey Schwartz, Vice President of Operations for a major Central Texas health system, to explore the essential mindsets and strategies behind exceptional healthcare leadership.

• Favorite Leadership Quote:
  Dr. Tracey Schwartz shares her guiding leadership quote from Teddy Roosevelt: "Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care," emphasizing empathy and personal connection in healthcare leadership.
• Career Journey & Inspiration:
  Dr. Tracey Schwartz talks through her path from a student athletic trainer and strength & conditioning graduate to VP of Operations overseeing 160 clinics and 2,600 staff. Her journey includes early aspirations in medicine, transitioning from clinical roles to administration.
• The Impact of Sports on Leadership:
  Both Jarvis T. Gray and Dr. Tracey Schwartz discuss how sports and coaching have shaped their leadership styles, particularly the value of discipline, teamwork, and coaching mentality.
• Trends in Healthcare: AI in Clinical Settings:
  Dr. Tracey Schwartz outlines how AI-generated notes are revolutionizing documentation for physicians, improving accuracy, efficiency, and patient interaction—while sharing practical insights on change management and gradual adoption.
• Pivotal Leadership Moments:
  Dr. Tracey Schwartz recounts a transformative conversation with a Zen Buddhist monk that helped her redefine her role: advocating for her staff and organization rather than carrying the responsibility for everyone's happiness.
• Mentorship and Leadership Development:
  The episode dives into the value of mentorship, including Dr. Tracey Schwartz's experience as both mentee and mentor and advice for approaching leaders for guidance. She underscores the importance of mentees being intentional and proactive.
• Workforce Engagement & Retention:
  A primary challenge discussed is staff and provider turnover, with a focus on the importance of career development, purpose, and autonomy for engagement and retention. Dr. Tracey Schwartz shares her organization’s success with a career development passport program and mentoring initiatives.

Key Takeaways

• Empathy and care remain crucial in healthcare leadership.
• Real career progress often starts at the ground level, with openness to learning and growing into new opportunities.
• AI tools in healthcare promise greater efficiency—but successful adoption depends on tailored change management strategies.
• Leaders should distinguish between advocating for staff and carrying responsibility for their happiness.
• Investing in staff development and mentorship is vital for retention and workplace satisfaction.
• Don't lose sight of your authentic self as you transition into higher leadership roles.

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Guest: Pedro Sanchez de Lozada, Founder, Canid
Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.

In this inspiring episode, Jarvis sits down with Pedro Sanchez de Lozada, founder of Canid, a pediatric vaccine management platform. They dive into Pedro’s journey from building tech solutions for small businesses to solving critical problems in healthcare, focusing on pediatric vaccine management. The conversation explores leadership philosophies, startup challenges, navigating the complex world of healthcare innovation as an "outsider," and the evolving landscape of public health—particularly around vaccine policy and provider burnout.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Leadership Mindset & Philosophy

• Pedro Sanchez de Lozada's guiding leadership mindset: “If you don’t get it done, no one will.” He emphasizes the importance of hands-on leadership, being willing to jump in at all levels no matter the size of the organization.

2. Entering Healthcare as an Outsider

• Pedro describes how his technology background and experience in scaling businesses like Udemy and Merlin prepared him to spot operational challenges in his family’s pediatric practice.
• He shares that being a non-healthcare insider was, at times, a secret weapon, allowing him to view entrenched problems with new eyes and innovate without the cynicism that sometimes pervades the industry.

3. About Canid

• Canid is a vaccine management platform focused on helping pediatricians run their vaccine programs more efficiently. It handles purchasing, billing, operations, and data management, aiming to take administrative burdens off doctors so they can focus on patient care.

4. Breaking Into the Industry

• Extensive discussion on the skepticism and hurdles faced by newcomers in healthcare. Pedro credits his "naivete" for pushing through barriers that might have stopped industry insiders.

5. Navigating Change and Policy Uncertainty

• In light of recent policy shifts—like Florida’s changes to vaccine mandates—Pedro stresses the need for organizations that can help both doctors and patients adapt, maintain scientific integrity, and support public health in uncertain times.

6. Core Business and Leadership Challenges

• Emphasis on sustainability and fundamentals: Pedro recounts how focusing on strong business basics and mission-driven work helped his team weather industry and funding changes.
• The importance of avoiding over-reliance on external investors for mission-critical operations.

7. Healthcare's Biggest Challenges & Opportunities

• Burnout among medical professionals post-COVID is cited as a massive challenge still under-addressed.
• Pedro calls for more solutions focused on provider wellbeing, highlighting a need for technology and business models that genuinely reduce administrative overload.

8. Looking Forward

• The next year’s goals: Help pediatricians navigate mounting uncertainty and expand Canid’s reach, all while keeping quality at scale.

Connect with Pedro & Canid

• Connect with Pedro on LinkedIn
• Email: pedro@canid.io

Is your healthcare organization ready to excel with Lean Six Sigma? Take our quick Readiness Assessment to uncover strengths and improvement opportunities for quality, safety, and efficiency

• Start Now: Lean Six Sigma Readiness Assessment

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Send us a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Maria Nikol, CEO, Revelar Analytics

Episode Overview:
In this episode, Jarvis T. Gray welcomes Maria Nikol, Founder of Revelar Analytics, to discuss the evolving landscape of price transparency in healthcare, value-based care, and the journey of healthcare entrepreneurship. Maria Nikol shares insights from her 15+ year career, spanning consulting, working with payers, health tech startups, and building a company dedicated to simplifying fair market value for medical services. The conversation dives deep into personal leadership philosophies, industry challenges, and actionable advice for healthcare leaders and entrepreneurs.

Key Topics & Highlights:

• Leadership Mindset:
  Maria Nikol shares her philosophy of "get up and get going," underscoring the importance of loving what you do—especially on Mondays.
• Career Journey & Inspiration:
  Maria Nikol chronicles her path through consulting, payer organizations (CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield), health tech startups (Aledade), and the founding of Revelar Analytics, emphasizing seeing healthcare from many angles.
• Revelar Analytics Origin Story:
  Sparked by a real-world problem—unraveling fair market compensation for a pediatric urologist—Revelar was born as a direct response to confusing price transparency data and the need for clarity in reimbursement rates.
• Price Transparency Explained:
  The episode breaks down regulatory requirements around hospitals and insurers publishing machine-readable price information, drawing analogies to consumer experiences like shopping for burgers. Maria Nikol explains why actual transparency is still limited by healthcare’s complexity.
• Game-Changing Healthcare Trends:
  Maria Nikol points to the acceleration and diversification of value-based care models, stressing the urgent need for financial and operational innovation across the industry.
• Entrepreneurship & Leadership Lessons:
  Maria Nikol opens up about the pivotal moment of going “all in” on her business, the realities of bootstrapping, and the importance of understanding multiple perspectives within the healthcare space.
• Challenges & Opportunities for Leaders:
  The financial squeeze between payers and providers is highlighted as a major barrier—but also a catalyst for creative partnerships, efficiency, and patient-centered value creation.
• Rapid Fire Insights:
  Advice on doing what you love, taking calculated risks ("the plunge"), learning from foundational texts like "To Err is Human," and celebrating milestones with meaningful team connection.
• Looking Ahead:
  Maria Nikol shares excitement about Revelar’s technical leaps, including integrating AI into price transparency analytics, and plans for team-building retreats as the company scales.

Connect & Learn More:

• LinkedIn: Maria Nikol
• Website: revelaranalytics.com

Quote to Remember:
"You can't have your foot in two canoes. If you believe in your vision, take the plunge." – Maria Nikol

Is your healthcare organization ready to excel with Lean Six Sigma? Take our quick Readiness Assessment to uncover strengths and improvement opportunities for quality, safety, and efficiency

• Start Now: Lean Six Sigma Readiness Assessment

Thank you for tuning in! Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast for more insights into achieving healthcare excellence.