In this episode of Pulse Check with Dr. Kimberly Long, Dr. Kimberly Long sits down with Elaina McAdams, CEO of the College and University Healthcare Education Consortium, to discuss her remarkable journey from CNA and trauma nurse to healthcare executive and entrepreneur.

Elaina shares the bold career decisions that led her from traditional nursing leadership into startups, venture-backed growth, and now solving workforce challenges at scale. She opens up about choosing impact over comfort, the realities of entrepreneurship, and why leadership is about ownership, action, and creating meaningful change.

This conversation is packed with insights for nurse leaders, healthcare executives, and anyone navigating career growth with purpose.

What does it really take to grow into leadership while staying connected to your purpose?

In this episode of Pulse Check with Dr. Kimberly Long, Dr. Kimberly Long sits down with Valerie Kaura, Associate Chief Nurse Officer at Redlands Community Hospital, to discuss her journey from LVN to executive leadership. Valerie shares how personal adversity shaped her calling to nursing, why mentorship changed the trajectory of her career, and how great leaders stay meaningfully connected to their teams.

They also explore the importance of knowing your “why,” building healthy workplace cultures, and leading with authenticity while embracing your own style. This is a powerful conversation for anyone navigating growth, leadership, and purpose in healthcare. 

Growth doesn’t happen in comfort.

In this episode of Pulse Check with Dr. Kimberly Long, Dr. Terri Lynn Hunter shares her journey from emergency nursing to executive leadership - and the pivotal moments that shaped who she is today.

After spending over two decades in a system where she was comfortable and thriving, Terri made a bold decision to step into the unknown. What followed was one of the most challenging - and transformative - periods of her career.

This conversation dives into:

•  Why the biggest growth comes from choosing discomfort 
•  How mentorship shapes leadership and purpose 
•  What it really means to “take a pulse check” in your career 
•  Practical advice for young and emerging healthcare leaders 

Terri also shares a powerful reminder: you don’t need to be perfect to lead - you just need to be willing to grow.

If you’re navigating change, questioning your next move, or looking to expand your leadership impact, this episode will hit home.

What does it really mean to lead in healthcare without losing touch with patient care?

In this episode of Pulse Check with Dr. Kimberly Long, Kimberly sits down with David Marshall, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, to unpack a career that didn’t follow a straight line but led to powerful impact.

David shares how his journey from bedside nursing to executive leadership shaped his perspective on purpose, influence, and staying grounded in what matters most. He reflects on a pivotal “pulse check” moment where he reassessed his impact, made intentional shifts, and reconnected with frontline teams.

They also dive into the balance between precision and presence in leadership, overcoming imposter syndrome, and why giving yourself grace is critical to long-term growth.

This is a conversation about leadership, reflection, and making meaningful impact at every level of healthcare.

What happens when you say yes to opportunities you’re not fully prepared for?

In this episode of Pulse Check, Dr. Kimberly Long sits down with Judie Boehmer, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, to unpack the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership journey.

From stepping into roles outside her clinical expertise to navigating career uncertainty with intentional “pause and reflect” moments, Judie shares the mindset shifts that helped her grow into a senior healthcare leader.

They dive into the power of self-reflection, the importance of building a trusted circle for feedback, and why embracing discomfort can unlock your next level of impact.

If you’re navigating your career path or stepping into leadership, this conversation will challenge you to think bigger - and trust the process.

Leadership in healthcare often moves at a relentless pace. But the best leaders know when it’s time to pause.

In this episode of Pulse Check with Dr. Kimberly Long, Kimberly sits down with Dr. Anne Marie Watkins, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at UCI Health and Assistant Dean of Nursing Education. Anne Marie shares how her career evolved from a pediatric ICU nurse to a healthcare executive leading system-wide transformation.

They discuss the power of influence beyond the bedside, the importance of listening to frontline teams, and why leaders must sometimes step back and take a “pulse check” during times of rapid growth and change.

Anne Marie also reflects on how leadership visibility, communication, and trust empower nursing teams to thrive. She closes by sharing advice she would give her younger self about pacing a career in healthcare and maintaining balance along the way.

This conversation offers valuable insights for healthcare leaders, nurses, and anyone navigating leadership in complex environments.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How nursing leaders can expand their impact beyond direct patient care
• Why pausing during organizational change can strengthen teams
• The importance of frontline input when making operational decisions
• How visibility and communication keep leaders connected to their teams
• Why a successful career in healthcare is a marathon, not a sprint

In this mini episode of Pulse Check with Dr. Kimberly Long, Dr. Long speaks with Ben Farber, Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Eisenhower Health.

Ben shares the journey that took him from bedside nursing to executive leadership, highlighting the mentors and opportunities that helped shape his career. He reflects on pivotal “pulse check” moments when evaluating career transitions, emphasizing the importance of aligning personal values with organizational mission.

The conversation also explores how leaders can maintain purpose and meaning in demanding executive roles, and why remembering your “True North” can guide you through the most challenging days in healthcare.

Ben closes with advice to his younger self - a reminder that mistakes are part of leadership growth and that learning from them is what ultimately shapes great leaders.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Ben’s career path from bedside nurse to Chief Nursing Officer
• The importance of mentorship and growth opportunities
• How leaders should evaluate career transitions
• Finding purpose and meaning in executive healthcare leadership
• Why learning from mistakes is critical to leadership development

In this episode of Pulse Check, host Dr. Kimberly Long sits down with Deborah Sober, MSN, MBA, RN, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. Deborah shares her remarkable 31+ year journey at the hospital - from bedside ICU nursing to leadership roles - and reflects on never imagining herself in executive leadership, yet finding deep fulfillment in supporting nurses to deliver exceptional patient care. She opens up about key "pulse check" moments, including navigating the uncertainties of COVID-19 and the recent unionization of nurses at her long-union-free organization. Deborah discusses maintaining purpose amid chaos, the importance of checking ego at the door, and her unwavering "why": caring for patients, teams, and the community. A candid, inspiring conversation on leadership, adaptability, and staying grounded in mission-driven healthcare.

In this episode of Pulse Check with Dr. Kimberly Long, Kimberly sits down with Jennifer Cord, Chief Nursing Officer at Providence Mission Hospital, to discuss her inspiring journey in nursing, leadership lessons from the pandemic, and the enduring purpose that drives her work. Jennifer shares candid insights on navigating challenges, supporting care teams, and the importance of lifelong learning in healthcare leadership. Whether you're a healthcare professional or aspiring leader, this conversation offers practical wisdom and heartfelt reflections on making a difference in your community.

In this episode of Pulse Check with Dr. Kimberly Long, Dr. Kimberly Long sits down with Dr. Nancy Blake, a distinguished nurse scientist and recently retired Chief Nursing Officer of Los Angeles General Medical Center. Dr. Blake reflects on her remarkable 45-year career in nursing leadership, sharing insights on resilience, purpose, and navigating pivotal moments in healthcare administration.

From early experiences in pediatric nursing to leading during the pandemic and guiding her hospital to Magnet designation, Dr. Blake offers candid advice for aspiring nurse leaders and shares the lessons she wishes she could tell her younger self. This conversation is a masterclass in leadership, career strategy, and the importance of self-care in high-pressure roles.

Tune in for inspiration, practical wisdom, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to lead one of Southern California’s most critical hospitals.