To Care is Human

Dr. Grace Cordovano, a board-certified patient advocate and founder of Enlightening Results, discusses her journey into advocacy driven by personal experiences with cancer. She defines 'hacking healthcare' as empowering patients by navigating systemic fragmentation. Grace emphasizes the shift from patient-centered to life-focused care, which aligns with individuals' life goals rather than just their diagnoses. She shares practical examples and highlights the critical role of care partners in enhancing patient experience.

Microsoft is impacting the world by empowering people and organizations through software and the power of data. Antoinette Thomas, US Chief Executive Officer and Industry Executive for US Health and Life Sciences at Microsoft, shares why a focus on equity is so important to their organization and what they are doing to make meaningful contributions during the pandemic and beyond.

As healthcare continues to focus on dismantling systemic racism, the move from ideas to action must be intentional and strategic. Thought leaders like Dr. Julia Iyasere provide a model and support for change agents across the globe. Join this compelling conversation and learn more about how the landscape of healthcare is changing and what can be done next to create health equity.

Dr. Jim Castellone is the Chief Medical Officer for Eastern Connecticut Health Network and an ER physician who has been on the front lines of COVID-19 since beginning of the pandemic and in one of the United States' most heavy hit regions. Listen as he shares his perspective as a doctor who works to care for his COVID-19 patients and as a father and husband working to protect his family from the virus.

When Tanya Lord's son, Noah, was born she was a pathologically shy mom who had found her purpose in motherhood. After Noah died from medical error, Tanya was adrift in a sea of grief. Tanya shares how "grief found my voice and improved my purpose." You won't want to miss this story about a mother's love and how her grief drove her to make change in the world.

Listen as Jacqueline speaks with Jason Wolf about her core leadership beliefs including clear communication and visibility/approachability of leaders. She emphasizes the importance of being present and determining how best to manage staff needs for PPE and financial stability. Jacqueline Herd embodies the belief that in order to best elevate the human experience in healthcare and serve patients, we must recognize the work of others and thank them for all that they do.

Jono Broad grew up with a diagnosis of bronchiectasis only to learn well into adulthood that the correct diagnosis was cystic fibrosis. How did his life as an unwell child, being told by his community that he would never live a normal life shape him? Find out in the third episode of the "Tiny Story" Series where Jono unpacks what he means by "Living beyond expectation, no barriers unbroken."

Ryan Fowler "never wanted for anything" growing up but found himself self-medicating with drugs and alcohol in his teens and 20's, resulting in full-blown addiction. Now 6 years sober, this advocate for harm reduction and new ways of caring for those suffering from substance use disorders shares his harrowing story of life on a thin edge. Few people can share such raw and personal details as Ryan Fowler, and always with an eye on elevating the human experience. It's an honor to have Ryan as a guest on Humans in Healthcare.

In a time of crisis, such as we have experienced in this pandemic, often what is needed is a sense of predictability, a reinforcement that "we can do this". This conversation with Jason Wolf and Chris Woleske, President & CEO of Bellin Health, explores how serving as a "Chief Predictability Officer" can support and inspire our healthcare teams. Chris Woleske shares how her organization became a positive outlier by listening and engaging staff and making bold choices to not disrupt care during the COVID-19 crisis. From visitation policies to addressing the broader problem of isolation, Chris Woleske leads her organization with a focus on purpose and skillful navigation of the complex issues we are all facing. At the heart of this discussion is how Bellin Health designed strategies with clear compassion for the patient and family experience, a commitment to the community it serves and a focus on providing "psychological PPE" for those delivering care.

Rarely is someone able to share their story with the raw honesty and deep reflection that Isabela Castro is able to in this podcast. A mom who lost her baby in the NICU, Isabela has taken those difficult experiences and turned them into both her personal and professional motivation to do and be better. You won't want to miss this beautiful and vulnerable conversation with Isabela, a powerful voice for improvement in healthcare.