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Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Sharyn Combs CEO, The EchoSystem

In this energizing episode, Jarvis T. Gray welcomes distinguished leadership coach and entrepreneur Sharyn Combs to the Excellence In Healthcare podcast. Together, they dissect key leadership trends, the power of coaching, strategies for thriving as a healthcare entrepreneur, and the importance of humility and resilience in leadership. Sharyn Combs brings insightful stories from her journey, sharing actionable lessons for healthcare leaders navigating today’s dynamic landscape.

Key Themes & Topics:

• Leadership Mindset:
  Sharyn Combs opens with her guiding leadership quote: “Push until the ceiling becomes the floor,” emphasizing resilience, consistency, and sticking to the plan—regardless of feelings or adversity.
• Journey Into Healthcare:
  Sharyn Combs shares her non-traditional path from training & development in the restaurant world to healthcare, highlighting the “happy accidents” that often lead to fulfilling healthcare careers.
• Entrepreneurship in Healthcare:
  The conversation explores Sharyn Combs’s entrepreneurial ventures, including founding UCDI Leadership and a podcast network. She discusses the importance of business structure, networking, and building genuine, reciprocal relationships over quick returns.
• The Game-Changing Trend: Coaching:
  Coaching is highlighted as a ‘must-have’ for healthcare organizations—no longer just a buzzword or outsourced service, but an essential leadership skill. Leaders must develop coaching abilities to build stronger teams, increase retention, and adapt to rapid changes.
• AI in Healthcare:
  While AI continues to rise, Sharyn Combs predicts a “rollback” as leaders realize the irreplaceable value of human connection and hands-on leadership.
• Lessons Learned – The Power of Humility:
  Sharyn Combs reflects on her own leadership journey, sharing how unchecked success can shift focus away from serving others. True leadership requires humility, staying grounded, and continual personal growth.
• Influential Mentors:
  Influences like Latorrel McNeil and Myron Goldin shaped Sharyn Combs’s philosophy of authenticity—“sit in your seat”—and not shrinking in the presence of others’ greatness.
• Biggest Challenges & Opportunities:
  Generational mindsets and points of view are identified as the main challenges in healthcare teams today. The opportunity lies in leaders’ ability to unify different perspectives toward shared goals.

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Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Justin Ayars, Founder & CEO, EqualityMD

In this inspiring episode, Jarvis T. Gray sits down with healthcare entrepreneur and founder of EqualityMD, Justin Ayars (he/him). From Star Trek leadership wisdom to the realities of healthcare entrepreneurship, they discuss how diversity, data, and disruption are shaping the future of healthcare.

Key Topics & Highlights

1. Leadership Wisdom and Mindset

• Justin shares his guiding quote: "Things are only impossible until they're not," inspired by Star Trek.
• Emphasizes the importance of challenging complacency and embracing risk, especially as an entrepreneur in healthcare.

2. Career Journey & Entrepreneurship

• Justin details his non-linear career path—starting as a healthcare trial lawyer, moving into entrepreneurship, and eventually founding EqualityMD.
• Talks candidly about the challenges and rewards of building businesses in and around healthcare, especially under difficult circumstances like the Great Recession and COVID-19.

3. Building Solutions Outside the Broken System

• EqualityMD evolved from a B2C LGBTQ+ healthcare platform to a B2B solution, providing inclusive healthcare options for employers, nonprofits, and organizations.
• Emphasizes the need to innovate outside the traditional insurance-based model and the power of data analytics to address health disparities.

4. Navigating Accelerators & Entrepreneurship

• Justin shares wisdom from participating in accelerator programs and pitch contests, advising that failing is necessary for growth and that real-world experience is irreplaceable.

5. Industry Trends & Challenges

• Highlights game-changing trends including AI and interoperability but cautions against silver-bullet thinking.
• Discusses the challenges of rising healthcare costs, the influence of insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers, and the need for preventative care and better data.

6. Data, Diversity & Health Equity

• The need for trustworthy data from marginalized populations to drive healthcare reform.
• The pivotal role of culturally competent, data-driven solutions for underserved communities.

7. Personal Stories & Leadership Lessons

• Shares powerful anecdotes about learning from icons like Liberace and legal mentors.
• Stresses the importance of knowing your audience, understanding time/place/manner, and living deliberately.

Links & Resources

• EqualityMD: equalitymd.com
• Connect on LinkedIn: Justin Ayars
• Email: justin@equalitymd.com

Memorable Quotes

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Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Jessica Savage, Founder & CEO of Savvy Healthcare LLC

In this insightful episode of Excellence In Healthcare, Jarvis T. Gray sits down with Jessica Savage, a healthcare industry leader and founder of Savvy Healthcare LLC. Jessica shares her journey from clinical operations in radiation oncology to overseeing value-based care initiatives across health systems, payers, and IPAs. The discussion dives into leadership mindsets, the entrepreneurial leap, and top trends transforming healthcare today, with a special emphasis on data-driven care, technology, and patient engagement.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership Mindset: Jessica Savage emphasizes maintaining a patient- and provider-focused mindset, drawing on her early experiences in radiation oncology to guide her leadership style and daily decision-making.
• Entrepreneurial Journey: She discusses the challenges and rewards of leaving corporate healthcare to build her own consultancy. Her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in healthcare? Believe in yourself, network diligently, and understand the long timeline required to gain traction.
• Healthcare Trends:
  • MLR & Utilization Patterns: Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) and utilization are top-of-mind, with significant implications for health plans and risk-bearing provider groups.
  • Telehealth Evolution: Anticipated changes in telehealth regulation are set to impact care delivery.
  • Patient Engagement & Rural Health: There's urgent need for tailored patient engagement solutions, especially in rural areas lacking infrastructure.
• AI & Data: Artificial Intelligence is rapidly advancing in healthcare, though the industry still struggles with synthesizing and operationalizing data. Clean, actionable data—used strategically—will be a major asset.
• Leadership Challenges & Opportunities: Rising utilization costs, inflation, and outdated systems create serious headwinds. At the same time, technology and smarter data practices offer real opportunities for transformation.
• Mentorship & Core Values: Jessica highlights the importance of aligning with organizational values and credits her mentor at Brown & Toland, Delia Peterson, for instilling confidence and providing growth opportunities.
• Career Insights: Take calculated risks, invest in relationships, and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone—these are the action items for leadership longevity and impact.

Rapid Fire Highlights

• Inspiration: Positive self-talk and comfort with uncertainty drive Jessica’s personal motivation. She inspires others by helping them recognize and develop their unique strengths.
• Best Advice Received: Don’t pass up opportunities when they arise—embrace risk even when outcomes aren’t guaranteed.
• What She’d Do Differently: Focus earlier on interpersonal relationships and networking.

Connect with Jessica Savage

• LinkedIn: Jessica Savage
• Website: www.sahvie.com

Is your healthcare organization ready to excel with Lean Six Sigma? Take our quick Readiness Assessment to uncover strengths and improvement opportunities for quality, safety, and efficiency

• Start Now: Lean Six Sigma Readiness Assessment

Thank you for tuning in! Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast for more insights into achieving healthcare excellence.