Central Line: Leadership in Healthcare

How To Meet People Where They Are At with Caroline Brunt

In today's episode Leah talks with Registered Nurse Caroline Brunt. Through her experience as a Street Nurse/ Outreach Nurse working with marginalized populations in Vancouver's Downton East Side, the gay community in the West End and migrant farm workers in the Fraser Valley providing STI/HIV care Caroline has learned the critical value of creating connection. Based on this experience Caroline shares her perspectives on how to instil humanity into care and to connect with people in a way that meets them where they are at.

As part of her career Caroline spearheaded an award winning nursing documentary about people who use drugs - talking about the complexity of the nurse patient relationship, health access, equity and respect. The documentary is titled Bevel Up: Drugs, Users and Outreach Nursing. Bevel Up is used in nursing schools across the country and has helped change how we treat people who are marginalized, not only in Canada, but in other countries around the world.

 

Building Better Health For Communities Worldwide with Dr. Ann Messer

On this episode of Central Line, Leah is joined by Dr. Ann Messer, the founder, executive director and board chair of One Good Turn, a global non-profit which travels to the most remote areas of the world. One Good Turn gives health workers worldwide the resources and knowledge to help build self-sustaining and healthy communities by providing the local health staff the physical exam skills, diagnostic reasoning skills and the health knowledge to approach rational treatment to better serve their communities.

If you would like to learn more about One Good Turn and find out how you can help go to www.onegoodturn.org

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Leadership For When There Are No Answers with Michelle Troseth & Tracy Christopherson

Today we chat with Michelle Troseth and Tracy Christopherson. Michelle and Tracy are co-founders of MissingLogic®. They help healthcare organizations and healthcare leaders combat burnout through the power of a framework driven approach founded on Polarity Intelligence™. The core of their work is leading healthcare organizations through transformational change that results in the best place to give and receive care, and for leaders to live their best lives both personally and professionally.

We talk about leadership for when there are no answers, which often comes down to managing the polarities that are so common in healthcare. Michelle and Tracy share how their work supports healthcare leaders to thrive and be resilient. We also talk frankly about the mental strain that is on healthcare professionals, particularly during this pandemic, and what needs to happen to address and ease that strain.

Michelle and Tracy are offering a free three-part leadership masterclass series, which includes:

Masterclass 1:  Finding Stability in a World of Constant Change and Chaos 

Masterclass 2:  Becoming a Resilient Leader During Unprecedented Times  

Masterclass 3:  Living a Balanced Life Through the Hard Times and Beyond 

 

The three-part masterclass series is offered as a self-paced program with videos and workbooks for reflection.  Healthcare leaders will walk away with tools and strategies they can apply immediately and well into the future.

 

Learn more about the masterclass series here.

 

Bringing About Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion with Dr. Upton Allen

Dr. Upton D. Allen is a Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. He is Head of the Division of Infectious Diseases at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). Allen is also a Senior Associate Scientist in Child Health Evaluative Sciences program at SickKids Research Institute. His primary appointment is with the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Paediatrics at SickKids. He is cross-appointed as a professor in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto. Dr. Allen is leading research studies on different aspects of covid-19, including genetic susceptibility, immune response profiles within the black Canadian communities. In Ontario, he's leading studies addressing covid-19 antibody testing and associated risk profiles, as well as immune responses to covid-19 vaccines. In addition, he's working closely with various groups addressing issues relating to covid-19 among racialized groups, including, but not limited to vaccine education and hesitancy. He's co-chair of the Health Committee of the Black North Initiative with a focus on equity, diversity and inclusion within the health care system.

Dr. Allen shares with us his work around equity, diversity, and inclusion, and the shifts that have occurred as a result of covid-19 as well as social change. He also shares ideas and steps that healthcare institutions and individuals can take to ensure equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our work in healthcare.

Creating Sustainability Through Green Health Care with Neil Ritchie

Today we talk with Neil Ritchie, Executive Director of the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care. He is an experienced health care executive who has worked as a CEO, Chief Operating Officer, Senior Operating Officer and Vice President of large, multi-site academic teaching centers, regional health authorities and community hospitals in three provinces Canada. He’s also worked as Director of Business Development for Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine. He has been an executive with several health technology start-up companies and created a successful international partnership with a Dutch software development company to deploy a governance, risk and compliance software solution to pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes and disability care organizations throughout Canada.

Neil shares with us the work that is being done in Canada and beyond to green our health care delivery systems. With climate change increasingly impacting our world it is evident that health care will be equally affected. Neil offers his perspective on how health care leaders can step up and influence change in this area.

 

Creating a Culture that Matters with Jo-Anne Poirier

Today I'm delighted to talk with Jo-Anne Poirier, President and CEO of VON Canada. VON Canada has been pioneering care at home for over 120 years. VON Canada is a highly-trusted non-profit organization that works with clients, employees, volunteers and partners to provide innovative clinical, personal and social support to people who want the comfort and peace of mind of living in their own homes and communities.

Jo-Anne shares with us how VON Canada has created a "family" culture of caring and compassion. This culture has supported the organization, the staff, the volunteers, and the clients, through many ups and downs, including the shooting rampage tragedy in Nova Scotia. Jo-Anne talks about the fascinating history of VON Canada and how the people of the organization come together to care for one another.

Redefining Possibility and Futures Thinking with Dr. Zayna Khayat

Today on the show we are thrilled to sit down with Dr. Zayna Khayat. In this fascinating conversation we talk about what Futures Thinking actually is and how critically important it is for healthcare continue to evolve. Dr. Khayat candidly shares her thoughts on why Canada is behind the curve and what needs to happen to shake up the healthcare system. She also talks about how healthcare professionals can deal with the everyday issues common in their work, while also integrating Futures Thinking into their practice.

Dr. Khayat is Future Strategist with SE Health, a health and social impact enterprise with a major focus on creating a better future for aging adults in their homes and communities. Dr. Khayat was previously the lead of health system innovation at MaRS Discovery District, a health innovation hub in Toronto, Canada. In 2017 she was seconded to the REshape Innovation Centre at Radboud university medical centre in the Netherlands. Zayna completed her Ph.D. in diabetes research from the University of Toronto (2001), followed by a career in strategy consulting, including as a Principal in the healthcare practice of The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

 

Bonus Episode: Meet Your Host with Leah Wuitschik

After many requests the tables are turned and your host, Leah Wuitschik, is in the guest's chair. Hear about her path in healthcare and how she has landed in the fields of leadership development and coaching for healthcare professionals. She also shares her thoughts on vulnerability in healthcare and how to support clinicians in making the transition to a leadership or management role.

Bonus Episode: Stress in Medicine

In this bonus episode host Leah Wuitschik shares her thoughts on the book Stress in Medicine, written by past podcast guest Dr. Nina Ahuja. Stress in Medicine shares real-life stories of what it's like to work in medicine, the ups and the downs. With humour and frankness Dr. Ahuja talks about the need to have tough conversations about stress in healthcare, while also giving a practical approach to dealing with the inevitable challenges that come with practicing medicine. 

The Evolution of Nursing Leadership with Dr. Jeanne Besner

Today I sit down with the admirable Dr. Jeanne Besner. Dr. Besner retired from full-time work with Alberta Health Services in 2011 after a 50 year career that spanned practice as a public health nurse and nurse practitioner in several communities in Canada’s north, as provincial nurse epidemiologist in Alberta, as well as director of public health nursing, director of primary care development, and founding director of the Health Systems and Workforce Research Unit with Alberta Health Services. She was invested to the Order of Canada in 2011 and was presented with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and has received numerous other accolades throughout her career. Dr. Besner shares her remarkable story as well as her passion and advocacy for the role that Registered Nurses play in leadership. She also talks about how nursing leadership has evolved and where it needs to go to continue to shape and influence our healthcare system.