In this episode, we're joined by Rick Schooler, the CIO of Florida-based Lee Health. Rick shares his journey from aspiring college athlete to healthcare IT leader, highlighting his extensive career in the industry. He discusses the significant transformations in healthcare IT, emphasizing the importance of governance and executive sponsorship for successful IT projects. Rick also addresses leadership challenges, such as maintaining team culture amidst constant changes and the shift in performance evaluations for remote workers. He stresses the need for leaders to immerse themselves in on-site operations to understand the realities of the work and build personal relationships with their teams. The episode concludes with Rick's reflections on his career and the lessons learned from his experiences.

Learn more about Rick Schooler. 

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We talk with Oliver Galicki of Memorial Hermann Health System, who transformed a football injury into a thriving career in healthcare IT. Listen as Oliver reveals how the leadership skills he developed on the field are now essential in guiding Memorial Hermann's Epic implementation. He shares the importance of teamwork, communication, and maintaining focus as Memorial Hermann approaches a critical Go Live milestone. 

Oliver shares the strategies that helped overcome resistance and manage employee concerns, and we delve into the unique dynamics of managing a remote IT team, maintaining employee satisfaction, and the benefits of structured in-person collaboration weeks. Tune in for a compelling blend of leadership, sports, and healthcare IT wisdom.

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Venture with us into the heart of Renown Health's IT transformation, where CIO Chuck Podesta's financial savvy led to slashing IT overhead while safeguarding jobs and boosting staff morale. Discover the ingenious strategies that not only reduced spending from 7% to a lean 4%, but also enhanced operational efficiency and fostered employee engagement. Chuck's commitment to maintaining a human-centric approach amid fiscal challenges is a roadmap for any leader looking to navigate the rough waters of organizational restructuring without losing their team's trust and enthusiasm.

Chuck's personal story is a masterclass in career agility and personal reinvention. Here he shares his inspiring journey from an unhealthy lifestyle to crossing finish lines at marathons worldwide. His metamorphosis into a passionate runner symbolizes his philosophy of perseverance and growth, which echoes through his professional mentorship. Chuck's mantra, 'aspire to inspire,' and his candid insights into overcoming setbacks will leave you motivated to set audacious goals and chase them down, one stride at a time.

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On this episode of The Vurge, we welcome Debi Smith and Lily Farris to the show to unravel the tapestry of organizational change management (OCM). The duo tap into their rich experience in healthcare OCM to share how understanding the human side of transitions can lead to a successful transformation, especially when integrating intricate systems like Epic. Their stories reveal the delicate dance between developing strategic communication and nurturing leadership to guide teams through the ebbs and flows of change.

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Imagine an environment where technology whispers timely advice, enabling care that’s as unique as our own fingerprints. On this episode of The Vurge, Rebecca sits down with Claus Torp Jensen. Claus is a passionate c-suite leader with two decades of transformation and technology experience. He is dedicated to building, leading, and inspiring diverse teams that propel both patient care and team spirit forward. Tune in for an episode that sketches a future where healthcare transcends traditional boundaries, embracing a patient-centric model that harmonizes virtual and in-person care.

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Embarking on a career pivot can feel like a leap into the unknown, but for Marissa , it was a leap that led to the birth of Proda Technology. The co-founder and CEO of Proda Technology joins us to recount the serendipitous moment she traded her legal aspirations for the tech world. 

Join us as we celebrate the brilliance, resilience, and leadership of women in technology for an episode about building lives that we can look back on with no regrets.

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On this episode of The Vurge, Rebecca welcomes Alvin Haygan, Jr. to continue the conversation on organizational change management. Together they peel back the layers of fear and resistance that often shroud transitions in healthcare IT, revealing the human heart of innovation. Discover how Alvin navigates these delicate shifts, turning apprehension into active participation and skepticism into collaboration. Small victories and personal acknowledgments—whether a handwritten note or a shared cookie—become the currency of a thriving organizational culture under his watch.

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On this episode of The Vurge, Rebecca welcomes Maggie Rigaux, Chief Growth Officer at Credivera. Her story is a testament to adaptability and foresight, from crunching numbers to shaping the future of credential verification. Maggie isn't just about tech; she's a beacon for harnessing its power to put us in the driver's seat of our personal data. 

Her passion for breaking barriers extends beyond the digital realm. An advocate for female empowerment and the necessity of women lifting each other up in male-dominated arenas, she shares insights into creating a company culture that thrived during the pandemic, with mentorship and positivity at its core.

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On this episode of The Vurge, Rebecca sits down with  Melissa Giampietri, Consulting for Human Services, to talk mental health. Together, they dig into the nuanced distinctions that set behavioral health apart from physical healthcare systems – from the complex web of regulatory and billing challenges to the intricacies of crafting effective treatment plans. 

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On this episode of The Vurge, Rebecca connects with Joel Benware, an innovative healthcare technology leader and mentor. Tune in as they dig into the importance of education and life-long learning, remote culture, and Joel's journey from CIO to President of Acmeware. 

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