Sheri Phillips, Multi-facility Director of Patient Experience, joins the show to share how she brings the B Excellent mindset into interactions patient and families. She also talks about leading through difficult conversations and staying focused on purpose and compassion.

Josh and Aaron visit Norton Community Hospital to sit down with Jeremy Carlson, Chief Nursing Officer for Ballad Health’s Wise, Dickenson, and Lee County hospitals.

Jeremy shares how he champions the B Excellent culture by helping his teams put its lessons into practical action every day. The conversation explores Jeremy’s journey into healthcare and how his own time as a patient deepened his commitment to delivering compassionate, high-quality care. 

Dr. Lisa Smithgall, Ballad Health’s chief nursing executive, joins Josh and Aaron to share how B Excellent came to life, the impact it’s already having on care and collaboration, and her personal “why” for choosing a career in healthcare.

B Excellent champions Regina Robinson, System Director of Quality, Performance Improvement & Regulatory Affairs, and Melissa Williams, Nurse Manager at Indian Path Medical Center, join Josh and Aaron to share their inspiring journeys into healthcare, reflect on how the B Excellent initiative is helping to shape their leadership approach and spark meaningful change within their roles, and how they see B Excellent being practically applied with their teams.

Josh and Aaron visit Franklin Woods Community Hospital to talk with Kim Jessee, nurse manager for the ICU/PCU. Kim shares her inspiring healthcare journey and discusses how she and her team have embraced the principles of B Excellent - long before the program officially launched.

The conversation also explores how bedside shift reports play a critical role in our goal of becoming a High Reliability Organization, and how those practices align with the overall B Excellent journey.

Dr. Preetham Talari (Vice President, Clinical Transformation & Outcomes Optimization) and Tom Tull (Vice President, Chief Experience Officer) join hosts Josh Smith and Aaron Rice to discuss Ballad Health’s goal to become a High Reliability Organization (HRO) and how it aligns with our B Excellent journey.

Don’t miss their insight into how HRO principles connect with leadership, patient care, and our broader culture of excellence.

Join us for the inaugural episode of the B Excellent podcast, where we dive deep into Ballad Health's transformative journey. Our special guests, Dr. Clay Runnels, Chief Physician Executive, and Eric Deaton, Chief Operating Officer, share insights on the B Excellent initiative and its impact on Ballad Health's associates.

We're also thrilled to welcome Jennifer Harrah, who will share her personal 'why' in healthcare and how it aligns with the B Excellent program. Discover how this initiative empowers team members to enhance patient connection, improve collaboration, and drive exceptional care across the Appalachian Highlands.

Learn how B Excellent is:

• Linking skill-building to organizational goals
• Fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth
• Transforming Ballad Health into a leader in healthcare innovation

Don't miss this inspiring conversation about rediscovering purpose, driving meaningful change, and building a better Ballad Health, one skill at a time.