The Fire Chief

In this critical episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Nicholas "Nick" Testa, Chief Clinical Officer at Sentact and former Chief Medical Officer for California at CommonSpirit Health. Nick shares his journey from emergency physician to healthcare executive and discusses his passion for improving healthcare by helping CMOs do their job with the proper tools and support.

Lee and Nick explore the foundations of healthcare improvement through safety, quality, and ultimately the patient experience. They also explore the real purpose of executive rounding and the importance of building trust before driving organizational change. Dr. Testa offers practical insights on physician accountability, peer review, patient safety, and why healthcare transformation ultimately depends on relationships, credibility, and human connection. The conversation also highlights the impactful support that Sentact provides to the Chief Medical Officer through its educational experience, The Senior Leader Forum, along with its variety of leadership tools needed to improve healthcare at scale.

In this transformational episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Chad Perlyn, Dean and Chief Medical Officer at Nova Southeastern University. Lee and Chad explore how physicians can transition from clinical roles to leadership positions within healthcare systems. Dr. Perlyn tells the tale of his "hard right turn" toward leadership and also shares his journey from pediatric plastic surgery to becoming a healthcare leader, highlighting key experiences and mindset shifts essential for success. The conversation delves into the role of mentorship and coaching in leadership development, as well as overcoming challenges and identity shifts during transitions. Emphasizing the importance of curiosity, humility, and honest communication, Dr. Perlyn provides strategies for developing leadership skills and navigating complex healthcare systems. Finally, the two leaders also discuss the importance of cultivating leadership awareness early in medical school through a unique format; a book club!  

In this powerful episode of The Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages in an insightful conversation with Carey Goryl, CEO of AAPPR, a seasoned leader in the world of physician recruitment.  As head of the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recuitment (AAPPR), Carey provides leadership to the only organization committed to redefining recruitment and retention through its membership of physician and provider recruitment leaders and others who influence recruitment, onboarding and retention.  Discover how healthcare organizations can transform physician recruitment and retention strategies by focusing on long-term culture, stability, and leadership by listening to the robust conversation. This episode explores innovative approaches to foster loyalty, autonomy, and effective onboarding for physicians, emphasizing the importance of organizational alignment and strategic planning.  It all starts at your front door...

In this heartfelt, face-to-face interview for The Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages in a profound conversation with Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling US Army (ret), author of the recently published book, If I Don't Return: A Father's Wartime Journal.  Together they explore their shared passion, research, and results in leadership development and the impact of context in leadership teaching. The conversation covers key concepts like trust, self-awareness, and adapting leadership to changing environments. In the second half of the interview, they turn to the recent publication and Mark offers timeless lessons on character, the scars of leadership, and the value of service.  The two compare profound parallels between the military and medicine, and in a moving moment near the end of the discussion, Mark offers his deeply personal reflections on why he wrote the book.  Finally, the two gentlemen conclude that leadership is, at its essence, all about love.

In this deep dive episode of The Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages in a profound conversation with Dr. Li Ern Chen, a visionary leader in healthcare transformation and Korn Ferry's Market Leader of Physician Workforce. They delve into Korn Ferry's 2026 Physician Executive Survey and highlight the evolving role of Chief Medical Officers, emphasizing the importance of financial fluency, workforce strategy, and cultural development in driving change. Dr. Chen shares strategic insights on leveraging digital investments and fostering a resilient, engaged physician workforce. The discussion highlights the necessity of cross-functional collaboration, the integration of technology in healthcare, and the cultivation of organizational culture to enhance recruitment and retention. Dr. Chen underscores the importance of linking metrics to culture and performance, framing leadership as a journey of continuous learning and adaptation in the ever-changing landscape of healthcare.  Ultimately, culture wins over compensation among today's healthcare leaders and it is a wise leader that treats their workforce not as "staffing" but as capital that cannot be squandered and that must be invested.

In this existential episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews LynAnn Weaver, Certified High Performance Coach, a transformation strategist dedicated to empowering physicians and healthcare leaders. LynAnn, a former healthcare service line leader, shares practical strategies (three pillars) to enhance practice growth, leadership skills, and well-being to improve clinical excellence and organizational culture.  The conversation touches on the gaps in leadership development for both practicing physicians and their physician leaders and how these gaps can lead to, in some cases, a real existential (identity) crisis for a doctor.  The show breaks new ground when it comes to exploring what physicians go through when they are trying to lead themselves and others. 

In this transformational episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Joe Mazzenga, Managing Partner at NuBrick Partners, a highly specialized executive coaching team for healthcare leaders. Lee and Joe explore how physicians, especially those aspiring to senior leadership roles like Chief Medical Officer, can navigate the complex transition from clinical expertise to system-wide enterprise leadership. Joe, a seasoned leadership development expert, shares practical insights on mindset shifts, behavioral traits, and coaching strategies essential for success, such as contextual coaching.  The conversation touches on the barriers physicians face when transitioning to leadership roles, including identity shifts, the four pillars of EQ (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship management), and the significance of curiosity.

In this timely episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Leah Houston, founder and CEO of evercred, a technology platform aimed at modernizing physician credentialing. Dr. Houston shares her personal experiences with credential misuse and the inefficiencies of traditional credentialing processes. She discusses how evercred empowers physicians by giving them control over their credentials and introduces AI as a transformative tool in credentialing. The conversation also touches on the financial implications of credentialing delays, the future of patient care, and the journey of a physician entrepreneur.

In this panoramic episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart talks with Dr. Dani Zoorob, CMIO of Ochsner-LSU Health and author of a critical paper on physician leadership competencies. They discuss the evolving landscape of physician leadership, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of competencies required for effective leadership in healthcare. Dr. Dani Zoorob shares insights from his research on physician leadership competencies, highlighting gaps in financial acumen and emotional intelligence. The conversation underscores the trifecta importance of coaching, mentorship, and continuous learning for physician leaders to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare systems.

In this foundational episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages with Ethan Nkana, Principal of the Rocky Mountain Physician Agency, to discuss the critical importance of advocacy for physician contracting during the course of their careers. They explore the common blind spots physicians face when negotiating contracts, the significance of support and professional development, and the challenges emerging physician leaders encounter as they transition into administrative roles. The conversation emphasizes the need for mentorship, understanding contractual obligations, and recognizing one's value in the healthcare system.  If you are looking ahead to your next role as physician leader, this is one episode you don't want to miss!