Send a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Laura Alessio, Founder of Nurse Coach Alessio

In this Health Biz Spotlight episode, Jarvis sits down with Laura Alessio, a board-certified health and wellness nurse coach and founder of Nurse Coach Alessio. Laura pulls back the curtain on her pathway from sociologist and Peace Corps health educator to an innovative health entrepreneur, blending mindfulness, meditation, and her years of nursing expertise.

Key Topics & Highlights

• Laura’s Journey Into Nurse Coaching
  • Grew up with a calling towards caregiving, inspired by her mother’s recovery from a traumatic brain injury during pregnancy.
  • Experience spans sociology, Peace Corps service, emergency care, and public health nursing before launching her own consulting and coaching business.
• From Legal Nurse Consulting to Mindfulness Coaching
  • Pivoted into legal nurse consulting during the pandemic.
  • A life-changing encounter brought her into the world of nurse coaching and mindfulness facilitation.
  • Recently certified to facilitate Dr. Joe Dispenza’s Back to Balance meditation series.
• Business Mission & Niche
  • Passion for making mindfulness and meditation accessible, especially for high-stress professionals and those facing chronic health issues.
  • Integrates functional medicine training with her personal healing journey to offer a holistic coaching experience.
• Business & Strategy Insights
  • The challenge and opportunity of educating potential clients about the emerging nursing coach profession.
  • Importance of articulating a clear value proposition: identifying and communicating the real problems you solve, not just your credentials.
  • Leveraging frameworks for lead generation, client avatar creation, and offers that truly reflect a transformation.
• Offer Structure & Revenue Models
  • Current offerings: Individual coaching packages (4- and 9-session formats), Stress Less with Mindfulness Facebook group, and plans for a meditation course with group coaching.
  • Guidance on pricing, building signature solutions, and considering B2B (business-to-business) wellness programs for healthcare organizations.
  • Discussion about risk-reversal strategies in coaching offers to make enrolling a “no brainer” for clients.
• Personal Values in Practice
  • Emphasis on creating a safe, confidential, and trusting coaching space.
  • Laura’s commitment to sharing her own struggles and triumphs to help clients feel seen, supported, and empowered.

Resources & Links

• Laura’s Website: nursecoachalessio.com
• Follow Laura on Instagram: @nursecoachalessio
• LinkedIn & Facebook: Laura Alessio
• Join Laura’s free Facebook group: Stress Less with Mindfulness

Calls to Action

• Are you a healthcare or wellness entrepreneur wanting clarity on your growth strategy? Take the free Health Biz Scorecard (link in show notes)!
• Interested in mindfulness, meditation, and improved well-being? Connect with Laura or join her Facebook community.

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.

Send a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Dr. Vanessa Spelman, Psychologist & Entrepreneur

Episode Overview

On this inspiring episode of Excellence In Healthcare, Jarvis T. Gray welcomes Dr. Vanessa Spelman, a self-employed psychologist whose practice weaves together science, spirituality, and lived experience. Dr. Vanessa Spelman opens up about her personal journey of healing, her passion for serving women and families, and the core values that drive her unique approach in mental health and wellness.

Key Highlights

• Lived Experience Meets Clinical Expertise:
  Dr. Vanessa Spelman shares how her life events, like working in foster care, surviving a traumatic birth, and going through divorce, deeply inform her empathetic approach with clients.
• Blending Science and Spirituality:
  From shamanic practices to mindfulness, Dr. Vanessa Spelman explains how she integrates ancient wisdom with traditional psychological methods to help clients heal, reclaim self-love, and live more intentionally.
• Helping Women & Mompreneurs:
  Her mission centers on supporting spiritual women—particularly mothers and entrepreneurs—through trauma, divorce, and the challenges of balancing modern life, parenting, and self-worth.
• Defining Success Beyond Revenue:
  Success for Dr. Vanessa Spelman means achieving time and financial freedom, being present for her daughter, and intentionally shaping her life and business to reflect her deepest values.
• Business Growth Strategies:
  Jarvis T. Gray and Dr. Vanessa Spelman discuss actionable strategies for elevating her practice—everything from building a powerful client avatar to developing lead magnets, group programs, and in-person retreats (with a clever childcare hack!).
• Facing Growth Fears:
  Dr. Vanessa Spelman candidly talks about overcoming her hesitancy to show up on video and how being authentic will help her connect and grow her community.

Featured Resources & Offers

• Free Mini-Course:
  Holidays & Boundaries With Exes – A practical, heart-centered resource to help moms navigate co-parenting during the holidays. Available via Dr. Vanessa Spelman's LinkedIn and Instagram.
• Group Mindfulness for Moms:
  In-person local sessions (YMCA), focusing on conscious parenting and self-care.
• Connect Online:
  • Email: vs@vanessaspelman.com
  • Website: www.vanessaspelmanpsyd.com
  • Instagram: @vanessa.spelman.psyd
  • TikTok: @vanessaspelmanpsyd

Memorable Quotes

Final Thoughts

If you’re a mompreneur on a journey of healing or transformation, Dr. Vanessa Spelman’s story and strategies will leave you empowered and ready to embrace your next chapter with clarity and intention. Connect with her and discover a blend of soulful support, lived wisdom, and ac

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.

Send a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Elaina McAdams – CEO, CAUHEC (College and University Healthcare Education Consortium)

Episode Summary

This inspiring episode features Elaina McAdams, a nurse executive turned entrepreneur and healthcare innovator. Jarvis T. Gray welcomes Dr. McAdams for a deep dive into her impressive 25+ year career journey, her leadership philosophy, and her bold work addressing America’s healthcare workforce crisis by leveraging technology and academia.

• Leadership That Builds Leaders:
  Elaina shares her guiding leadership philosophy—leadership is about creating more leaders, not followers. She discusses the vital need for authentic, disruptive leaders in healthcare and why developing leadership capacity is essential for the future.
• Career Journey & Motivation:
  Dr. McAdams traces her path from nursing assistant to trauma and ICU nurse, through hospital leadership positions, and into entrepreneurship as CEO of CAHEC, a SaaS platform matching healthcare students with preceptors at scale. Her journey showcases adaptability, risk-taking, and a passion for impact.
• Entrepreneurship Insights:
  Dr. McAdams opens up about the risks, challenges, and rewards of leaving a stable healthcare executive role to launch her own tech-enabled solution. She emphasizes the power of relationships, learning from both parents as entrepreneurs, and the importance of continuous education and resilience.
• The Workforce Crisis & Innovation:
  A significant discussion centers on the looming shortage of 3.2 million healthcare workers by 2030. Dr. McAdams discusses scalable solutions, technology and AI, the need for academic-healthcare collaboration, and creating equitable pathways for new talent, especially in underserved communities.
• Generational Change & Patient Experience:
  The pair discuss how younger generations are reshaping expectations around healthcare access and delivery, the need for hospitals to be more collaborative, technology-forward, and community-integrated, and the importance of meeting future workforce where they are.
• Lessons from Setbacks:
  Dr. McAdams reflects on how her greatest leadership growth has come from both positive and negative experiences, emphasizing the value of empathy, servant leadership, and focusing on others' growth.
• Mentors and Inspiration:
  Dr. McAdams pays tribute to her parents and colleagues (notably Jeff Richards) for their mentorship, guidance during tough times, and modeling high emotional intelligence.

Notable Quotes

• “Leadership is about creating more leaders, not followers.”
• "Being an entrepreneur is not for the faint-hearted... but it’s all worth it."
• "You grow further and faster when you help other people get ahead."
• "If you are given the opportunity, try it... Even if you hear 'no,' it can still lead you to the right path."

Connect with Dr. Elaina McAdams/CAHEC:

• LinkedIn: Elaina McAdams
• CAUHEC info: www.cauhec.org

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.

Send us a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Brian Aquart, VP of Workforce and Community Education, Healthcare Leader, Podcaster

Episode Overview

In this inspiring episode, Jarvis T. Gray sits down with Brian Aquart to dive into Brian’s unconventional journey from employment attorney to healthcare executive, the leadership mindsets that guide him, and his passion for storytelling as a force for positive change in healthcare. The conversation ranges from career pivots and overcoming challenges, to AI’s role in healthcare, workforce development, and the power of mentorship.

Key Topics & Takeaways

1. Leadership Mindset

• Brian shares a guiding quote: “Don’t let fear take the fun out of life,” originally cited from his own podcast. He discusses how balancing fun and fear leads to better, more resilient leadership in healthcare.

2. Brian’s Career Story

• Started as an employment attorney before pivoting into government roles and eventually healthcare.
• Current role as VP of Workforce and Community Education at a major New York healthcare system.
• The importance of skill evolution, coaching, and embracing unexpected opportunities (including being recruited via LinkedIn).

3. Contrasting Healthcare & Law

• Both sectors have significant complexity and politics, but healthcare adds regulatory layers and unique staffing challenges.
• Brian is the first lawyer featured on the podcast, offering a fresh perspective.

4. Game-Changing Healthcare Trends

• The integration of AI: Revolutionizing patient scheduling, care delivery, community health modeling, and workforce planning.
• Workforce shortages: Not just nurses, but lab technologists, respiratory therapists, and other vital roles.

5. The Power of Mentorship and Relationships

• Brian Aquart tells a pivotal story of career hardship and how a single contact (“Laura”) helped propel his career forward.
• Former CEO (“Michael Dowling”) modeled leadership through intentional storytelling, mentorship, and positive organizational culture.
• Jarvis and Brian discuss how mentors have shaped both their careers.

6. Biggest Challenges & Opportunities in Healthcare Leadership

• Challenge: Impending Medicare/Medicaid cuts, especially impacting rural health systems.
• Opportunity: Forced transformation and innovation, especially among organizations proactively preparing for change.

7. Brian’s Podcast: Why I Left

• Focused on the stories behind career transitions and resignations, inspired by the Great Resignation.
• Serves as a resource for professionals navigating career change.
• Now 97 episodes in, soon launching milestone 100th episode.
• Connect via LinkedIn or at whyileft.co.

How to Connect

• LinkedIn: Brian Aquart
• Podcast: Why I Left

Closing Thought:
This episode is packed with powerful stories and practical advice for healthcare leaders, providing encouragement to embrace change, support others, and lead with both optimism and intentionality.

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.

Send us a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Dr. Rosie Moore, CEO of JRM Nurse Consultants

In this Health Biz Spotlight segment, Jarvis T. Gray welcomes Dr. Rosie Moore, the CEO of JRM Nurse Consultants, for an insightful look into her journey as a nurse entrepreneur. The conversation dives deep into the world of functional medicine, its crucial role in supporting injured workers, and how holistic approaches can lead to sustainable recovery and lifestyle improvements.

Key Highlights:

• Dr. Rosie Moore’s Journey:
  Dr. Rosie Moore shares her path from corporate America to founding her business, motivated by the need to look beyond traditional, injury-focused care and address root causes impacting patient recovery.
• Services & Uniqueness:
  JRM Nurse Consultants stands out with its bilingual capabilities, legal and medical background, and broad clinical experience. Rosie’s approach combines conventional and functional medicine, starting with an in-depth personal assessment and labs tailored to individual symptoms, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.
• Functional vs. Conventional Medicine:
  The episode emphasizes the synergy between functional and conventional medicine, advocating for a collaborative approach to patient care that can reduce reliance on medication and improve overall health outcomes.
• Business Values & Patient Care:
  Rosie discusses the importance she places on empathy and being present, treating every client with genuine care and attention—values that deeply inform her business philosophy.
• Growth Strategies & Education:
  The discussion includes a live coaching session where Jarvis T. Gray provides practical marketing advice, from developing a movement and lifestyle-based marketing approach to implementing education through workshops, webinars, and live events. The importance of creating a customer avatar and utilizing CRM automation is also explored.
• Actionable Advice for Health Entrepreneurs:
  Listeners get actionable strategies for building referral relationships, educating providers and patients, and leveraging tools like CRMs and event-based marketing.

Connect with Dr. Rosie Moore:

• Website: jrmnurseconsultants.com
• Podcast: Injury Recovery and Safe Return to Work — Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major platforms.

Takeaways:

• Focus on root cause analysis for long-term health outcomes.
• Blend functional and conventional medicine for optimal patient results.
• Build referral and education networks to grow your healthcare business.
• Value human connection and presence in every patient interaction.

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.

Send us a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Chris Perry, Fractional CFO & Healthcare Financial Leader

Ready to future-proof your healthcare organization? In this can’t-miss episode of Excellence in Healthcare, host Jarvis T. Gray sits down with seasoned CFO and entrepreneur Chris Perry for a powerhouse conversation tailor-made for healthcare leaders and executives.

Get insider perspectives as Chris Perry shares his inspiring leadership philosophy, career-defining moments, and the pivotal life events that shaped his approach to healthcare finance and business ownership. You’ll hear firsthand how a “can-do” mindset fuels lasting success—even when facing unexpected career setbacks.

Dive deep into the major trends redefining healthcare’s landscape: How will shifting legislation, Medicaid subsidy uncertainties, and the game-changing HR1 bill impact funding, strategy, and day-to-day operations—especially for rural and behavioral health organizations? Chris Perry unpacks the high-stakes challenges and strategic opportunities every healthcare executive should have on their radar right now.

Plus, enjoy special segments like the Rapid Fire 2-Minute Drill, practical career advice, and unique insights on thriving as both a financial and operational leader. Whether you’re looking to master reimbursement strategies, navigate alternative payment models, or simply stay ahead of seismic industry changes, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways you can’t afford to miss.

If you’re striving for excellence in healthcare leadership, press play and join the conversation with Jarvis T. Gray and Chris Perry—because your organization’s future depends on it.

Connect with Chris Perry:

• Website: cmpfrs.com
• Email: cperry@cmpfrs.com
• LinkedIn: Chris Perry

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.

Send us a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Whitney Mbipeh, MHA, VP Operations, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals

Ready to future-proof your leadership in healthcare? In this episode of Excellence In Healthcare, host Jarvis T. Gray welcomes dynamic guest Whitney Mbipeh, Vice President of Operations at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, for an insightful deep dive into what it takes to excel as a healthcare leader today.

From her inspiring journey—UNC grad to executive leader at a nationally ranked health system—Whitney Mbipeh reveals pivotal moments that shaped her leadership philosophy, the power of personal branding through execution, and how faith-driven mindset fuels daily success.

This episode tackles:

• Game-changing trends in healthcare, including workforce redesign and AI-enabled staffing
• The realities and opportunities behind leveraging automation and predictive analytics to improve both patient experience and operational efficiency
• The challenges of burnout, learning to manage expectations, and the art of delegation in fast-moving health systems
• Career advice and stories of influence, including the indispensable value of vulnerability and authenticity in inspiring teams

Don’t miss the rapid-fire segment, resource recommendations, and actionable wisdom for new and seasoned healthcare leaders. Plus, Whitney Mbipeh shares personal practices for celebrating wins (hint: warm weather getaways!) and how you can connect with her for continued inspiration.

Tune in now to discover practical insights, encouragement, and proven strategies to elevate your impact, build your brand, and confidently lead through uncertainty. If you’re a healthcare executive, emerging leader, or anyone passionate about excellence and innovation in the industry, this is an episode you can’t afford to miss!

Connect with Whitney

• LinkedIn: Whitney Mbipeh

Subscribe, listen, and join the movement for resilient, authentic, and results-driven leadership in healthcare.

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.

Send us a text

Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Sharyn Combs CEO, The EchoSystem

In this energizing episode, Jarvis T. Gray welcomes distinguished leadership coach and entrepreneur Sharyn Combs to the Excellence In Healthcare podcast. Together, they dissect key leadership trends, the power of coaching, strategies for thriving as a healthcare entrepreneur, and the importance of humility and resilience in leadership. Sharyn Combs brings insightful stories from her journey, sharing actionable lessons for healthcare leaders navigating today’s dynamic landscape.

Key Themes & Topics:

• Leadership Mindset:
  Sharyn Combs opens with her guiding leadership quote: “Push until the ceiling becomes the floor,” emphasizing resilience, consistency, and sticking to the plan—regardless of feelings or adversity.
• Journey Into Healthcare:
  Sharyn Combs shares her non-traditional path from training & development in the restaurant world to healthcare, highlighting the “happy accidents” that often lead to fulfilling healthcare careers.
• Entrepreneurship in Healthcare:
  The conversation explores Sharyn Combs’s entrepreneurial ventures, including founding UCDI Leadership and a podcast network. She discusses the importance of business structure, networking, and building genuine, reciprocal relationships over quick returns.
• The Game-Changing Trend: Coaching:
  Coaching is highlighted as a ‘must-have’ for healthcare organizations—no longer just a buzzword or outsourced service, but an essential leadership skill. Leaders must develop coaching abilities to build stronger teams, increase retention, and adapt to rapid changes.
• AI in Healthcare:
  While AI continues to rise, Sharyn Combs predicts a “rollback” as leaders realize the irreplaceable value of human connection and hands-on leadership.
• Lessons Learned – The Power of Humility:
  Sharyn Combs reflects on her own leadership journey, sharing how unchecked success can shift focus away from serving others. True leadership requires humility, staying grounded, and continual personal growth.
• Influential Mentors:
  Influences like Latorrel McNeil and Myron Goldin shaped Sharyn Combs’s philosophy of authenticity—“sit in your seat”—and not shrinking in the presence of others’ greatness.
• Biggest Challenges & Opportunities:
  Generational mindsets and points of view are identified as the main challenges in healthcare teams today. The opportunity lies in leaders’ ability to unify different perspectives toward shared goals.

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.