Jody Long, a proud double alumna of Western Governor’s University, has dedicated her career to advancing the nursing profession since 1997. With more than 18 years of specialized experience in Emergency Care and nursing leadership, Jody has recently shifted her focus to Clinical Innovation and Technology—championing tools and solutions that elevate bedside care and empower nursing teams.

She holds both a Master of Science in Nursing Informatics and a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management and is a Certified Emergency Nurse. Jody is a passionate advocate for professional development and nursing excellence through her active involvement in the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), the American Nurses Association (ANA), and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).

Her leadership extends beyond clinical settings—Jody was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Florida Board of Nursing and contributes nationally through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and the Commission for Nurse Reimbursement.

Committed to driving high-quality, patient-centered care, Jody is known for her energy, integrity, and people-first approach. She continues to inspire colleagues through mentorship, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of innovation and improvement in healthcare delivery.

Today, Ashley welcomes Trista Sebastian, an expert in Early Childhood Education and a self-proclaimed nutrition guru, for an in-depth conversation about the critical role childhood nutrition plays in shaping the health and development of young minds and bodies. Together, they explore how proper nutrition during these formative years influences not only immediate behavioral patterns and academic performance but also long-term health outcomes and social equity. Trista sheds light on the profound connection between what children eat and their physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being, emphasizing the lasting effects that early dietary habits can have on adulthood. This thought-provoking discussion also examines how nutrition intersects with health equity, addressing systemic barriers and disparities that impact children’s access to healthy food. Don’t miss this enlightening episode that underscores why what we feed our children today determines the adults they become tomorrow.

Trista Sebastian is an Early Childhood Education teacher from Cincinnati, Ohio. . Currently serving as the lead teacher at a preschool, Trista not only nurtures young minds in the classroom but also oversees the school’s nutrition program, ensuring that her students have access to healthy, balanced meals. Her passion for childhood nutrition began during a deeply personal journey—her pregnancy with her daughter—which inspired her to dive deeper into the connection between nutrition and early development. Since then, Trista has dedicated herself to advocating for the importance of proper nutrition in shaping children’s health, behavior, and future outcomes. Her unique blend of classroom expertise and hands-on experience with childhood nutrition makes her an invaluable voice in this vital conversation.

In today’s Episode, Ashley sits down with Dr. Kim Kelly-Cortez to explore challenges nursing schools face, such as faculty shortages, limited clinical training slots, high burnout rates among current educators, and the financial barriers students encounter. We also delve into the ripple effects of these issues on healthcare, such as staffing shortages, overworked nurses, and potential impacts on patient care quality.

Dr. Kimberly Kelly Cortez is the Senior Associate Dean and Director for the Prelicensure BSN program at Western Governors University. She continues to support the growth of the Prelicensure program by expanding into additional states, opening simulation centers/labs, expanding access to communities and populations in need of pathways to nursing education. Her research continues to focus on student success, programmatic excellence, Competency Based Education (CBE), and simulation. She has presented research related to NCLEX, CBE, and Diversity in BSN prelicensure programs at the NLN Education Summit, AACN Transform, and the National Nursing Workforce Conference respectively in recent years.

On today’s episode, Ashley sits down with with Keith Somers.  CRO at HealthCorum.  Keith is an entrepreneur with a finance background who co-founded HealthCorum after a series of frustrating experiences navigating the healthcare system as a patient and caregiver. As CRO at HealthCorum, he leads the sales/marketing team on all market interactions while maintaining responsibility for company operations.

HealthCorum is a company that provides data analytics and insights focused on the healthcare industry. They specialize in analyzing data on healthcare providers, such as hospitals and physicians, to assess their quality, efficiency, and overall value in comparison to other similar providers. HealthCorum’s platform and underlying data helps healthcare organizations, insurers, and employers identify high-performing providers, reduce costs, and improve the quality of care.

Today Ashley sat down and talked with Dr. Edwin Estavez.  Edwin is the founder of the Altacair Foundation.   He Previously, served as Market President of Value Based Care at Prominence Health, a leading health care company that provides high quality, cost-effective care to diverse populations. Edwin, has over 30 years of experience in health care and higher education administration, risk management, and business development, with a PhD in Administration and an MSW. He is passionate about organizational transformation. From health care delivery and outcomes through value-based care tactics, to patient engagement programs, and care coordination models.  Join as we chat about the mission of Altacair, how he ensures the foundation stays true to its mission and vision, and the collaboration between Altacair and The Leavitt School of Health on the Accelerator Conference.

Altacair Foundation:  About Us – Altacair Foundation

Accelerator 2024:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/accelerator2024-advancing-value-for-health-equity-tickets-951490021267?aff=oddtdtcreator

On today’s episode of The Race to Value, Ashley sits down with her colleague and friend, Dr. Melissa McLaren to discuss the importance of DEI in Healthcare and Education, and why building inclusivity is not just a buzzword, but something that is vital for the future.

Dr. McLaren is an Associate Dean and Academic Program Director at the Leavitt School of Health at Western Governors University.  She graduated with her BSN from The Ohio State University and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Minnesota. She received her master’s in management and leadership and an MBA from Western Governors University. Melissa and her family have engaged with lawmakers at the local and state level, as well as the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus and the US Department of Health and Human Services in support of gender-affirming care and other LGBTQIA+ rights. They have spoken at state and national conferences to educate on the importance of family support when raising a transgender child. Dr. McLaren has partnered with organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign, Welcoming Schools, PFLAG, the ACLU, TransOhio, Equality Ohio, and many others to advocate for transgender youth.  Dr. McLaren currently serves on the Human Rights Campaign Parents for Transgender Equality National Council. She is a board officer for Equality Ohio and was an inaugural board member of her local LGBTQ+ organization. She is a member of the AACN DEI Leadership Network Communications Committee. She lives in Ohio with her husband of 20 years, 19-year old twins, 2 dogs, and several entitled cats.

Previous Episode: Ep 137 – Authentic Truth, Love, and Compassion: A Family’s Journey in Gender-Affirming Care, with Melissa and Conner McLaren – The Race to Value Podcast™

0:50: Defining Diversity and Inclusion

24:00: How diversity enriches the learning experiences in educations settings

On today’s episode of Race to Value, Ashley sits down with Mark Young, CEO of MyCHN to discuss how MyCHN launched a partnership with Wysa, an AI-driven mental health platform. We discuss how this collaboration aims to bolster the well-being and mental health of MyCHN’s Crisis and Behavioral Health patients by providing them access to Wysa’s innovative AI personal mental health companion at no cost.

Mark Young has worked in health services since 1989 and in community health since 1998. He has a Master’s in Business Administration from Trident University and a Master’s in Organization Management from the University of Phoenix. Over his career of 30-plus years, Mr. Young has worked with initiatives in the Rio Grande Valley, northeast Texas, and south Texas. Projects he has developed include outreach and engagement with colonia residents, residential treatment services for pregnant women and children, a tuberculosis intervention program, multiple chemical and alcohol dependency programs, behavioral health programs, and many outreach, education, and intervention projects.

Timestamps:

In today’s episode we chat with Geoffrey Roche, MPA. Geoffrey is the son of a nurse, future of work and education expert, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging advocate, champion for transforming health equity, and the host of the Ed Up Health Up podcast. His professional career includes over nine years in hospital administration as a strategic advisor to the President and CEO and department director of various departments, including Business Development and Planning, Government Affairs, Community Health, and Public Relations, for Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono. At Lebanon Valley College and Harrisburg University of Science and Technology he held senior leadership roles focused on strategic partnerships, organizational strategy, and business development. As Senior Vice President, Business & Workforce Development at Dignity Health Global Education, he led a diverse team focused on developing institutional relationships with leading health systems while simultaneously championing national conversations and initiatives to develop innovative diversity, equity, and inclusion solutions for the healthcare workforce.

“We expected to see a drop in enrollment before the pandemic for all healthcare programs. Why did Healthcare and Education not come together to combat this?” – Geoffrey Roche

“We have made bad decisions as a society when taking care of our healthcare workforce.” – Geoffrey Roche“We have five generations of people in the workforce, and this is the first time we have had this.” – Geoffrey Roche“As Leaders we need to harness the creativity and passion for all generations in the workforce.” – Geoffrey Roche

2:25: What is happening in the nursing workforce?

8:00: Millennials in the workforce and creating a culture that allows people to be the best they can be by creating a community and culture that allows them to thrive. This means they must be valued and heard.

Welcome back to Race to Value! In this episode we introduce our new host, Ashley Schwartz and discuss the rebranding of the Institute for Advancing Health Value and how we are expanding our work.

Today’s guest is Dr. Keith Smith (M.A., Ed.D., MBA, L.M., RMHC (ret.)) serves as the Executive Dean and Senior Vice President for Michael O. Leavitt School of Health at Western Governors University. He has strategic leadership experience in the business, nonprofit, and higher education sectors. His 26-year career in higher education comprises holding faculty, dean, vice-provost, vice-president, and now senior vice-president positions, at five universities prior to coming to WGU, inclusive of leading schools of health, business and IT, and arts and sciences. He has taught courses and given presentations domestically and internationally on leadership and organizational change, higher education innovation, and personal growth and development. Smith has supervised educational programs in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. He has played a lead role in both regional and programmatic accreditations. His teams have developed a wide spread of programs from the microcredential through doctoral levels, as well as partnerships with business, government, military, and community colleges across the nation.

0:19: Introduction to Keith Smith, SVP of WGU’s Leavitt School of Health.

1:42:  Upcoming changes you can expect to see with the Institute for Advancing Health Value and it’s rebrand.

2:52:  Expansion in content- we will be continuing our work in Value Based Care, but are expanding into workforce, health equity, diversity and inclusion and workforce development.

4:50:  Health Equity Convening in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.   This is a new area of work that we are continuing to expand and explore in different areas of the United States

8:00:   Discussion of the Programs that the Leavitt School of Health currently offers.

11:40: Discussion of WGU’s strategic pillars and how they will benefit the general public and the current workforce.

“We want to set a greater tone out in the Healthcare Industry, in terms of thought leaderships and opportunities to partner with those in different systems, and opportunities to be a resource center for them.”  – Dr. Keith Smith

“Educational Equity feeds into Health Equity.  By providing education to everyone, it opens the door for health equity and having trained, qualified and a culturally competent workforce that mirrors the diverse population that they are caring for.” – Ashley Schwartz

In this episode of the Race to Value podcast, we are sharing inspiration for a more optimistic future in the value transformation of our country. This week’s interview brings a message of hope, compassion, and human connection balanced with the business success of value-based care within a national leading health system.

Albert Einstein once said that “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile” and no one better captures that spirit of servant leadership than our guest this week. Philip Eaves is the President and CEO of Ascension Seton ACO | Ascension Seton Health Alliance and the Vice President of Population Health at Ascension Texas, and he is a leader in the value movement that you should know about. In this interview we focus on change management, leadership, and the human side of healthcare economics. Overseeing the value-based care strategy and operations for one of the largest clinically integrated networks in Texas, Philip is leading the ACO to outstanding success…and transforming the lives of people along the way.

Bookmarks:

01:30    The human side of healthcare economics – compassion is the currency; empathy is the language.

02:00    Introduction to Philip Eaves, President and CEO, Ascension Seton ACO and VP of Population Health, Ascension Texas

02:30    Ascension Seton ACO is the largest clinically integrated network in Texas with 3,600 providers with 300K value-based lives.

04:45    “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile” — Albert Einstein

05:30    Philip shares how a humble, faith-based upbringing fueled his ambition, work ethic, and compassion as a healthcare leader.

07:30    “Healthcare is about serving others.”

08:30    Occupational medicine as a stepping stone to value-based care.

09:45    Team-based care that enables providers so they can build meaningful patient relationships.

11:00    $24M in MSSP Shared Savings for 23,000 Medicare beneficiaries to achieve a top 7% performance ranking of all ACOs in the country (#32 out of #482).

12:45    Valuable partnerships with independent practices (e.g. Austin Regional Clinic, Capital Medical Clinic).

13:00    “Physician engagement is the overall key to ACO success.”

14:00    The impact of Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) in practice transformation.

15:00    HCC recapture for documentation accuracy as an area of educational focus.

15:45    Centralized versus Embedded Care Management.

16:30    Analytical insights to drive high risk CM interventions.

17:15    Quality campaigns to close care gaps and improve population health outcomes.

18:00    Refining a Post-Acute Care network for optimal transitional care.

18:30    An after hours program as an effective ED diversion strategy.

20:00    Change management to improve team culture and reinvent the business model for VBC.

22:00    Phillip shares his experience leading an inflection point for the ACO business.

23:30    Applying the principles of the Kübler Ross Change Curve in organizational change.

24:30    Inspiration from John Kotter (“Leading Change”) – Leadership versus Management.

25:00    Recognizing the need for change in shifting a new strategic direction.

26:00    Communicating the vision and creating short-term wins.

26:45    New initiatives: a new ACO for early adopters, Medicare Advantage risk, and Direct-to-Employer partnerships.

28:00    Financial toxicity as a driver of Direct Contracting between employers and providers in value-based care.

30:00    Employer frustration with rising medical spend and the lack of solutions from their brokers.

30:45    Designing an ACO value proposition based on employer pain points.

31:00    Leveraging network adequacy and CIN care infrastructure for commercially insured populations.

32:45    PBM transparency to reduce extreme spending on pharmacy drugs.

34:00    Forging a new partnership with Signify/CVS to support practice transformation.

37:00    Accessing capital within a landscape where there is mass provider consolidation.

39:00    Financial distress in both the hospital and independent PCP sectors.

40:30    Determining cultural fit with potential partners to support capital needs.

43:00    Understanding the business model and risk track record of potential partners.

44:00    More information on the Signify/CVS partnership with Ascension Seton.

45:45    “Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” – John F. Kennedy

46:45    Parting thoughts on effective change management strategy and why we need to prioritize people in VBC business decisions.

48:45    Hope for the future. 😊

49:00    “The patient-provider-care team relationship is where the life change really occurs.”