Transition Tea

Welcome to this month's episode of Transition Tea. Charles Gianfagna, the Principal of Charles Gianfagna, LLC, joins Christina Olivarria, Yellow Brick's Director of Business Development and Communications, in a discussion about strategic planning over a comforting cup of Japanese sencha by David's Tea. Charles is an architect with a background in Health Services Planning and Design, the precursor to what is now commonly known as Strategic Planning. Charles shifted his focus to Construction Management five years into his architecture practice. In his Facilities Management role at a major cancer facility in New York City, he learned the ropes while working on large and small-scale projects. Charles shares his insights as an experienced strategic planner who he likens to an orchestra conductor. Learn about the triad combination that helps facility executives make informed decisions based on evidence and facts to ensure their new facility's successful construction and activation.

Yellow Brick welcomes Tom Redding, St. Onge’s Senior Managing Director for Health Care Services, to Transition Tea. Over a cup of Earl Grey tea by David’s Tea, Yellow Brick’s Director of Business Development and Communications Christina Olivarria has an eye-opening conversation with Tom about the involvement of an engineering solutions firm like St. Onge lifecycle of a new facility, from the design intent through activation.  

Learn how St. Onge supports change management in an organization with a new facility- determining the right mix of technology and systems, and elevating its capabilities with patient care delivery.

Welcome back! For our first Transition Tea episode for 2023, Christina Olivarria, Yellow Brick's Director of Business Development and Communications, is joined by Teal Heath, Principal and Health Care Executive Consultant for Equinox Healthcare IT. Equinox HIT is a team of experts in information and communication technology, healthcare construction, and transformation projects. While enjoying a cup of soothing Ginger tea by David's Tea, Christina and Teal engage in an exciting discussion about Healthcare IT consulting and the impact of technology in today's healthcare facility environment. Gain an insight on how IT supports medical equipment and systems, day-to-day operations, and end-user education on integrating technology into daily workflows. Grab a cup of your favorite tea and spend some time with us. This episode is definitely worth a listen!

More than 70% of the 89 construction and design firms surveyed said they are seeing increased demand for a behavioral health component in their medical projects, according to Modern Healthcare 2022 Construction and Design Survey. In this week's episode, we sit down with Dr. Donna Demerjian, Yellow Brick's Director of Behavioral Health Services, to discuss Donna's 30-year career in behavioral health as a provider, administrator, and consultant. Donna shares her views on why she believes there has been such growth in the market and the key components that healthcare leaders need to consider when activating a new behavioral health environment. Together Christina and Donna review move planning, emerging trends, and lessons learned that she has gained through her experience. 

On this episode of Transition Tea, we sit down with Adrienne Haynes, Associate Director, Design and Construction at Cedars-Sinai. During the conversation, Christina and Adrienne discuss Adrienne's exciting journey from the clinical lab, to architecture, to healthcare facility planning. Adrienne shares key insights in the planning of a new laboratory space including licensing requirements and design considerations. Having worked on a wide assortment of large and small projects, Adrienne shares how important the clinical voice is in design and how Dress Rehearsal events help tie all the pieces together. This is a jam-packed episode filled with cheer and reflection that you will not want to miss.

On this week’s episode of Transition Tea, we are joined by Ellen Cammarano, Program Manager of Service Line Planning & Operations at Keck Medicine of USC. Tune in as Ellen and Christina Olivarria, Yellow Brick’s Director of Business Development and Communications, enjoy a cup of David's Tea Saigon Chai and discuss how Ellen’s interest in healthcare ultimately led her to be the Project Manager of Keck Medicine’s new Advanced Center of Endoscopy project. During the conversation, Ellen shares lessons learned through her first project and the tools and skills that have made her successful at meeting the needs of her clinical partners. Ellen also shares how she works with her project sponsors to escalate issues and what’s next after she wraps up her first project with Keck. Anyone who is new to the world of Transition, this episode is for you!

For this episode of Transition Tea, Yellow Brick’s Director of Communications Christina Olivarria welcomes Maureen Chin, Associate Director for Inpatient Pediatrics, the Pediatric ICU, and Child Life Services at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Over a cup of soothing Serenity Now tea by David’s Tea, Maureen shares how her pursuit of a nursing career started early on in her childhood out of a desire to do something that gives back, something meaningful, different, and ever-changing. Fast forward to the present, with fifteen-plus years in the healthcare field as a nurse and over 5 years as a nurse leader, Maureen has amassed valuable insight from her professional growth and patient care and advocacy. She credits her great mentors- a wealth of knowledge and experience, to volunteering to take on something you can learn from, not being afraid to admit you’re scared or don’t know what you’re doing, and building relationships and connections (versus burning bridges).

Listen in as Christina and Maureen talk about a range of topics, from the uniqueness of pediatric care to being an effective leader and keeping track and managing several moving pieces of your work day.

We welcome you to a new episode of Transition Tea with your host, Christina Olivarria, Director of Business Development and Communications at Yellow Brick Consulting, and our special guest, Lori Scott, AVP of Respiratory Care of Loma Linda University Health. Christina and Lori enjoy a cup of refreshing David’s Tea Queen of Tarts, a tart and fruity berry punch flavor with tones of guayusa.  Lori is a proud Southern Californian, born and raised in the Coachella Valley. She has always been fascinated with healthcare. When Lori was introduced to Loma Linda in 1981, she was in awe of the hospital and interviewed for “any position” as she told her story. Recently celebrating forty years at the hospital, Lori is still in awe of Loma Linda and loves what she does. When asked what skills are essential to being a great leader, Lori responds straight away, “accountability and adaptability and senior leaders who recognize your skills and talents and provide you with the opportunity to use them.” Listen to Lori’s story, including how she and the Loma Linda team took on the daunting Patient Move to their new modern building in the middle of COVID.

It happens more often than you think. You have a clear, thought-out plan for your career until a life event (or events) shifts your focus in another direction. Join us today at Transition Tea as Jen Prom, our gracious guest, and Yellow Brick’s Director of Communications, Christina Olivarria engage in a fascinating conversation over a cup of Goji Green tea. Jen is a registered nurse and the Activation Planning Manager for Advocate Aurora Health.   

With a college degree in Business and a career in IT and Sales, Jen felt lacking in the passion that comes from loving what you do. Then, two life events roused her interest in Nursing, and as the adage goes, “the rest is history.” Tune in as Jen and Christina talk about how Jen applies her takeaways from previous job experiences in patient care and being a nurse leader.

“You never really realize where your path leads until you get there.” 

Those are Kate Newcomb-Desanto’s words when Yellow Brick CEO Kelly Guzman asked her to share her fascinating journey from becoming a nurse to starting her consulting firm. With 25 years in the healthcare industry, Kate’s experience and expertise were evident in her work with the team that brought Penn Medicine’s $1.6B, 1.5M-square-foot Pavilion to life. Join Kate and Kelly in this inspiring episode of Transition Tea. Enjoy a cup of tea with us as we savor an irresistible cup of David’s Tea Caramel Shortbread, a heavenly mix of apples, raisins, and brown sugar. Indeed, you can have your tea for dessert!