The Treasure Hunt: A Healthcare Changemakers Interview Series

In this episode of The Treasure Hunt, The Carol Emmott Foundation welcomes Darcey Lynn Cobbs-Lomax, Executive Director of the Office of Health Equity and Community Impact at Yale New Haven Health. With over 13 years of experience at Yale New Haven Health, Darcey shares her compelling journey, highlighting her commitment to ensuring equitable healthcare access.

Drawing from her personal history as a Black woman growing up directly following the Civil Rights Era, Darcey emphasizes how her familial experiences shaped her view on health access, education, and the broader community impact. 

Throughout the discussion, Darcey reflects on her early career working in a clinic in the South Bronx, where she witnessed firsthand the inefficiencies and challenges faced by patients, particularly those who were non-English speakers. 

This eye-opening experience ignited her passion for understanding the healthcare system and advocating for meaningful change. Listen in as Darcey shares the inspirations behind her work, the importance of lifelong learning, and her sense of obligation to continue fighting for equity in healthcare for all.

In this podcast episode from The Treasure Hunt, Dr. Andrew Wiesenthal, a seasoned pediatrician and mentor to the Carol Emmott Fellows, discusses his extensive background and experiences in pediatrics, public health, and consulting.

The conversation begins with the fun exploration of Dr. Wiesenthal's time spent as a disc jockey during his college years, offering an intriguing glimpse into his diverse interests before transitioning to medicine. He shares insights into his time as an epidemic intelligence service officer with the CDC, emphasizing his journey through the world of pediatric infectious diseases and the connections he formed within the medical community during the early 1980s. 

Dr. Wiesenthal reflects on his passion for pediatrics, rooted in his childhood experience of being hospitalized for an injury. He recalls the emotional impact of his hospital stay and how it inspired him to provide a better experience for children in healthcare settings. He highlights the significance of empathy in medicine, revealing how personal experiences can shape professional paths. 

In this episode of The Treasure Hunt, Doug Riddle talks with Denise Brooks-Williams, an esteemed leader and mentor on the Carol Emmott Leadership Council.

Denise shares her journey from growing up in Detroit to becoming the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Henry Ford Health System. With over 30 years of service in healthcare, Denise discusses her extensive experience leading diverse divisions within the health system and her ongoing commitment to community service.

Listen as Denise reflects on her educational journey, her experiences in a diverse high school and university, and the significant role these experiences have played in shaping her mission in healthcare. She also highlights the importance of community, mentorship, and the continuous fight for equality and representation in all fields. Enjoy this insightful conversation celebrating the power of diversity and leadership in the community.

In this episode of The Treasure Hunt, Douglas Riddle sits down with Marna Borgstrom, the former CEO of Yale New Haven Health, who has dedicated nearly four decades to serving the healthcare needs of Connecticut. With a wealth of experience and numerous accolades, including three honorary doctorates, Marna shares her insights on the distinction between the current US "sick care" system and the potential for a truly effective healthcare system. She emphasizes the importance of investing not only in healthcare delivery but also in social infrastructure like education, housing, and community resources that can lead to healthier lives for all.

Marna reflects on her initiatives at Yale New Haven Health, including efforts to provide safer housing for employees and invest in educational programs like New Haven Promise, which aims to support students from high school through college and then encourages them to serve back in their own communities. She discusses serving on various boards and how collaborating with other leaders with a shared vision helps make for a more equitable healthcare landscape.

Their conversation delves into the broader implications of healthcare investment, illustrating the need for a balanced approach that addresses both medical care and social determinants of health. 

In this episode of The Treasure Hunt, host Douglas Riddle sits down with Carolyn Carpenter, a trailblazing leader and one of the inaugural Carol Emmott Fellows. Carolyn shares knowledge gleaned throughout her journey from Duke University to her current role as president of the National Capital Region at Johns Hopkins. With helpful professional insights, she delves into the significance of community and connection among women leaders, emphasizing how the Carol Emmott Fellowship has enhanced her approach to leadership and mentorship. 

Throughout their conversation, Carolyn reflects on the evolution of the Fellowship program, highlighting the importance of self-exploration and personal growth. She shares how her cohort, despite being from the first class in 2017, maintains strong connections and continues to support one another in both professional and personal realms. Listeners will appreciate Carolyn's candidness about the challenges and joys of leadership as she discusses the necessity of fostering genuinely caring, trusting relationships in today's fast-paced environment. 

In addition, we invite you to watch Carolyn speak at the 2024 Carol Emmott Foundation Symposium.

In this episode of The Treasure Hunt, host Douglas Riddle welcomes Monica Soni, the chief medical officer of Covered California and Carol Emmott Fellowship Class of 2023. With an impressive background that includes leadership roles in major health institutions and a teaching position at UCLA, Monica shares her insights on the evolving role of a chief medical officer, particularly in the unique context of a state health exchange. 

Their conversation delves into the importance of visibility and effective communication in healthcare, discussing how Monica's experience in the Carol Emmott Fellowship has transformed her approach to leadership and public engagement. Tune in to discover how she navigates the challenges of serving a diverse population while advocating for quality and equity in healthcare.

The Treasure Hunt’s most recent episode features Kevin Mahoney, the CEO of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, Perelman School of Medicine. Alongside host Douglas Riddle, listeners will explore Kevin's impactful leadership style, emphasizing empathy as a core value in healthcare. Kevin reflects on a transformative summer during his youth that shaped his perspectives and career. He recounts pivotal experiences, including an influential conversation with a real estate developer and a serious accident that landed him in the hospital. Through these stories, Kevin illustrates the importance of resilience, teamwork, and the desire to create a better world, which have ultimately guided his approach to healthcare leadership.

In this episode, Marcia Alesan Dawkins, senior research scientist at the Center for Creative Leadership, public speaker, author of four books including Clearly Invisible, Racial Passing and the Color of Cultural Identity, expert storyteller, and regular speaker for The Carol Emmott Foundation, discusses her ideas about the meaning of identity. Marcia shares her profound take on sincerity over conformity and grapples with the notion that we don’t just have one story in life, but rather a larger culmination of stories that we present to the world. Listen as Marcia explains her personal exploration of identity and presents a provocative analysis of the connections between authenticity, identity, succession planning, and leadership development. Marcia also delves into where we belong in society from an evolutionary perspective and how the social, political, and emotional effects of conforming impact humanity.

This episode of The Treasure Hunt presents a discussion with Ruth Williams-Brinkley, a member of the Carol Emmott Leadership Council and a highly sought-after mentor for Carol Emmott Fellows. With accolades that include a top 100 most influential leader in healthcare, a top 25 woman in healthcare, and a top 25 minority executive in healthcare, Ruth has accumulated invaluable knowledge and experience throughout her many years as an industry leader.

Listen as Ruth shares insights gleaned from an impressive career that began as a bedside nurse in Chicago and ended with her retirement from the Kaiser Foundation Mid-Atlantic, where she served as regional president. Hear about her people-centric approach to healthcare and how successful outcomes can be enjoyed by all stakeholders when compassion and sensible practices are accompanied by providing individuals with the tools and knowledge they need to be healthy.

Ruth stresses the importance of mentors and increasing the presence of women and people of color in the healthcare space while weaving in tales of nursing, CEO life, motherhood, and how she relies on the NFL and the NBA for coaching tips.

In this episode, Mary Pittman, one of the founders of The Carol Emmott Foundation and former president and CEO of the Public Health Institute, shares highlights from her remarkable career in public health, including Carol Emmott’s influence in shaping her career trajectory. Mary talks about the importance of building a network that focuses on building social capital among peers, the value of advocacy, real life examples of mentoring other women, and personal stories of her current interests in Italy and art.