After leaving a successful advertising career, Kate Grant set out to find work with deeper meaning. That search led her to a hospital in Ethiopia, where she witnessed women suffering from obstetric fistula—a preventable childbirth injury that had left them incontinent, isolated, and forgotten.

Moved to act, Kate joined the Fistula Foundation. What began as support for a single hospital has grown under her leadership into a network spanning 32 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia—restoring health, dignity, and hope to thousands of the world’s poorest women.

Join host Leah as she talks with Hilary, a Labrador Inuk nurse and policy analyst, about her journey in nursing, the importance of community, and advancing cultural safety in healthcare. Hilary shares insights on Indigenous leadership, overcoming challenges, and practical steps for creating more inclusive care. A powerful conversation on reconciliation and making a difference in Canadian health.

If you would like to learn more about Truth and Reconciliation and other Indigenous events please check out these links:

https://www.cna-aiic.ca/en/news-events/upcoming-events/air-knowledge-sharing-event-2025

https://www.nccih.ca/634/Resources__Indigenous_Cultural_Safety,_Humility_and_Anti-racism.nccih?id=3973&col=3

https://www.healthcareexcellence.ca/en/events-and-opportunities/spotlight-series/2023-12-06-spotlight-series/

In this episode of Central Line Leadership in Healthcare, nurse and healthcare technology manager Claire Phillips shares her journey from a sociology major to a nursing leader. Discussing her passion for systems thinking, Claire highlights how this approach can revolutionize healthcare by addressing complex issues, such as burnout and patient care efficiency. Through her company, Nursing the System, she aims to train 10,000 nurses in systems change by 2030. Claire emphasizes the importance of practical tools and education in empowering nurses, thereby making healthcare more resilient and effective.

In this episode of Central Line: Leadership in Healthcare, host Leah Wuitschik speaks with Bonnie Barnes, co-founder of the DAISY Foundation, which was created to honour extraordinary nurses after the compassionate care her stepson Patrick received before his passing. Since 1999, the DAISY Award has grown into a global movement, recognizing over 230,000 nurses in nearly 7,000 healthcare facilities across 43 countries. Bonnie shares how the program has expanded to include nurse leaders, educators, and teams, emphasizing the power of meaningful recognition in boosting morale, combating burnout, and reinforcing the impact of nursing. She also discusses DAISY’s ongoing research, international growth, and how expressing gratitude through nominations provides therapeutic benefits for patients and healthcare professionals alike. To learn more about the DAISY Foundation visit https://www.daisyfoundation.org/

In this episode of Central Line: Leadership Between the Lines, host Leah Wuitschik interviews Reverdi Darda, founder and CEO of ATMA CENA. With over three decades in healthcare leadership, Rev shares her inspiring journey of transformation—from her roots as a registered nurse to becoming a trailblazer in psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Rev discusses the innovative approaches her organization is championing, including ketamine-assisted therapy and psilocybin treatments. She offers an inside look at how these therapies are reshaping mental health care by addressing trauma, depression, and anxiety through patient-centred, interdisciplinary care.

Together, Leah and Rev delve into the challenges of breaking stigma, navigating regulatory landscapes, and building a culture of well-being in healthcare leadership. Rev’s reflections on her own personal journey and advice for balancing leadership with self-care provide a wealth of insights for leaders feeling stretched by competing demands.

Tune in to hear how Rev’s work is transforming individual lives and paving the way for a new era in mental health care.

In this episode of Central Line: Leadership in Healthcare, host Leah Wuitschik speaks with Alain Doucet, outgoing President and CEO of the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL). Alain reflects on his journey leading the organization, highlighting his experiences building a strong organizational culture, navigating challenges like the pandemic, and expanding the understanding of leadership across healthcare roles. They discuss the importance of fostering leadership in "basement dweller" roles—individuals in technical or administrative positions who may not traditionally view themselves as leaders—and how doing so improves outcomes for patients and communities.

Join host Leah Wuitschik and guest Rosa Edinga in the latest episode of Central Line: Leadership in Healthcare as they dive into the heart of human-centred leadership. Discover how consistent behaviour builds trust and aligns with core values, and explore the empowering impact of making conscious choices and taking responsibility.

Rosa shares practical insights on creating a safe, judgment-free space where leaders can express thoughts and think deeply. They discuss the vital role of coaches in guiding leaders to be brave, challenge their beliefs, and confidently navigate tough situations. In the fast-paced world of healthcare, taking a moment to reflect and grow is crucial. Leah and Rosa highlight how coaching can transform leaders, helping them stay aligned with their values and improve communication skills. Tune in for inspiring wisdom and actionable tips to enhance your leadership journey.

In this episode, Leah sits down with two visionary leaders, Sue Bookey-Bassett and Patrick Neumann, who are using virtual modeling to inform a revolutionary approach to the design of healthcare workplaces. Sue, an Assistant Professor at the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, combines her experience as a healthcare leader with her passion for creating supportive environments for nurses and other healthcare professionals. Patrick, a human factors specialist and Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, brings his expertise in designing work systems with a focus on human-centric solutions.

Together, Sue and Patrick lead the Better Work Better Care Coalition, where they use simulation and biomechanical modeling to explore the workloads of nurses and personal support workers. Their research delves into the demands of a typical working day, assessing the impact of time pressures and physical strain on healthcare professionals. By running "what if" scenarios, they identify key factors that lead to negative outcomes, like missed care and physical injuries, using data to inform better workplace design and process improvements.

Tune in as Sue and Patrick share surprising insights from their work, the challenges of translating research into practical applications, and their vision for how this innovative approach can drive meaningful change in healthcare.

Sue and Patrick invite you to join the Better Work Better Care Coalition on LinkedIn, where you’ll receive special invitations to webinars and read the newest articles on the Coalition’s work. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14331090/

Leah sits down with Kat Newport, a passionate Conflict Educator and Coach renowned for her expertise in guiding leaders and teams through tough situations. Kat shares her unique approach to conflict, viewing it not as a hurdle, but as a catalyst for positive growth and creativity in the workplace.

Kat delves into her philosophy of "Smart Conflict," emphasizing the importance of self-awareness in how we handle disputes. She provides practical tools and strategies for navigating workplace conflicts, offering insights on effective communication, providing feedback, and managing relationships to ensure psychological safety.

While most people tend to shy away from conflict, Kat sees it as a breeding ground for creativity. She argues that without differing perspectives (aka conflict), we limit our ability to think outside the box. By engaging with conflict constructively, we can foster innovation and growth within our teams and organizations.

The conversation touches on the unique challenges faced in the healthcare sector, where conflict can be particularly intense due to the high stakes involved. Kat and Leah discuss the emotional burden on healthcare providers and the critical need for effective conflict management to ensure patient wellbeing and professional resilience.

Kat emphasizes the power of intentionality in shaping our workplace environment and relationships, encouraging listeners to engage in conversations about conflict proactively.

Join Leah and Kat for an inspiring discussion on turning workplace conflict into an opportunity for positive change and innovation.

Discover the secrets of SMART Conflict discussed in the podcast: https://share.hsforms.com/1OhnWOJZ5QPq6Up4toMtHdgnwn0r

Kat’s website: www.SmartConflictBook.com

Ila Edgar is the founder of Big Change Inc, a consulting organization that supports organizations, leaders, and teams in building stronger trust in pursuit of achieving amazing things together, and co-host of a podcast dedicated to helping people intentionally design trust in their relationships, Trust on Purpose. 

Listen as Ila talks about her personal journey of trust, navigating a landscape devoid of frameworks and reference points that often led to painful lessons, to her discovery of a trust framework that provides structure to the nebulous concept of trust. With it came the power to recognize trust as a choice and lessons in intentionally designing, cultivating, evaluating, and discerning trust - using the domains of competency, sincerity, reliability, and care - considerations sorely lacking in many organizations today.

Ila shares her firsthand experiences within the healthcare system, highlighting the impact of trust - and its absence - on both individuals and institutions. She discusses the significance of trust extending beyond personal relationships, permeating into professional spheres like healthcare, and how a lack of trust can breed skepticism and hinder progress, yet intentional trust-building can transform organizational dynamics. 

Join Ila and Leah as they offer insights into the complexity of humanity and trust, its construction, erosion, and potential for renewal. This conversation invites listeners to reflect on their own relationships—with themselves, their colleagues, and the systems they inhabit—prompting a deeper exploration of trust in all its complexity.

If you would like to connect with Ila directly or request the “Do Over” cards she talks about, find her here.