Stephen Norton, Executive Director, New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies

Today’s interview is with Stephen Norton, the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies, a non-profit policy think tank that provides non-partisan analysis to decision makers in New Hampshire in both the public and private sectors. In this podcast Steve gives us a unique insider view into how the Center produces its analysis so that it is evidence based and as non-ideological as possible. Steve also shares his 25 years of experience working in public policy, both at the state and federal level, and concludes with recommendations for early careerists who might be interested in a career in health policy.

Links to the Podcast:

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/healthleaderforge/episodes/Stephen-Norton--Executive-Director--New-Hampshire-Center-for-Public-Policy-Studies-egra66

Stitcher: https://listen.stitcher.com/yvap/?af_dp=stitcher://episode/39722935&af_web_dp=https://www.stitcher.com/episode/39722935

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stephen-norton-executive-director-new-hampshire-center/id981989377?i=1000347108535

Time                  Topic
1:11-17:05          Background and experiences at the Urban Institute
17:06-21:48        Transition to working for State of New Hampshire's Department of Health 
                               and Humans Services
21:49-29:41        New Hampshire Office of Planning and Research
29:42-38:51        Office of Medicaid Business and Policy
38:52-57:32        NH Center for Public Policy Studies
57:33-1:09:22     A discussion of public policy and health policy
1:09:23-1:11:10  Advice to early careerists in health policy


Links to Topics Discussed:

Weslayan University
The Urban Institute
New Hampshire Office of Medicaid Business and Policy
New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies
From Tailwind to Headwind: New Hampshire's Shifting Economic Trends

Major General Jimmie O. Keenan, Deputy Commanding General, US Army Medical Command

Today's interview is with Major General Jimmie O. Keenan, the Deputy Commanding General-Operations for the U.S. Army Medical Command, and the Chief of the Army Nurse Corps. To put Major General Keenan's accomplishments into perspective for listeners who are not familiar with the the military, the Army has approximately 492,000 active duty personnel, and only 309 general officers. Furthermore, Major General Keenan is one of only eight female major generals, and there are only four women in the Army who outrank her. In this podcast we discuss her fascinating career which ranges from time as a floor nurse to writing legislation as a congressional fellow to being second in command of one of the largest and most unusual health care systems in the United States.

Links to the Podcast:

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/healthleaderforge/episodes/MG-Jimmie-O-Keenan--Deputy-Commanding-General--Operations--US-Army-Medical-Command-egra8f

Stitcher: https://listen.stitcher.com/yvap/?af_dp=stitcher://episode/39565631&af_web_dp=https://www.stitcher.com/episode/39565631

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mg-jimmie-o-keenan-deputy-commanding-general-operations/id981989377?i=1000346078498

Time              Topic

1:20-14:59     Background, early career, Army Nurse Corps opportunities
15:00-27:19   Congressional Fellowship and Congressional Liaison
27:20-30:24   Command of Camp Bullis
30:25-32:52   Chief Nurse/Deputy Commander for Nursing, DeWitt Army Health System
32:53-34:44   Chief of Staff, Warrior Transition Command
34:45-43:46   Commander (CEO), Evans Community Hospital, Ft. Carson
43:47-45:43   Commander, US Army Public Health Command and Chief of the Army Nurse Corps
45:44-49:54   Commander, Southern Regional Medical Command
49:55-58:47   Deputy Commanding General-Operations
58:48-62:18   Leadership and Mentorship
62:19-69:55  Thoughts on Cheryl Sandberg's Lean In
69:56-71:24  Advice for early careerists


Links to topics discussed:

Henderson State University
Army Nurse Corps
Eisenhower Army Medical Center
Medical College of Georgia
Congressional Fellowship Program
Camp Bullis
Ft. Belvoir Community Hospital (Formerly DeWitt Army Health System)
Expose on Walter Reed Army Medical Center by Washington Post
Warrior Transition Command
Evans Army Community Hospital
Public Health Command
Southern Regional Medical Command
US Army Medical Command
Sandburg, Lean In
MG Keenan's Army Nurse Corps reading list
American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
Sinek - Start with Why

NNEAHE Endorses the Health Leader Forge!

I am very pleased to announce that I received word today from the president of the Northern New England Association of Healthcare Executives, Karen F. Clements, RN, FACHE, that the board of NNEAHE has approved endorsing and co-producing the Health Leader Forge podcast.

NNEAHE is the local chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). Future episodes will reflect the new affiliation.

I look forward to working with NNEAHE to continue to bring healthcare leadership education to our community and beyond.

Edgar J. Helms, Director, Institute for Health Policy and Practice

Today’s guest is Edgar J. Helms, Jr, better known as Ned to his friends and colleagues here at the University of New Hampshire, where he has served as the Director of the Institute for Health Policy and Practice since 2001. Ned has had a remarkable career that has spanned leadership roles in the military, as well as state, and federal governments; and in both for profit and not for profit entities, to include starting his own consulting firm. By the time this podcast airs, Ned will have retired from his role with the Institute, however his influence will be felt in New Hampshire and beyond for many years.

Links to the Podcast:

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/healthleaderforge/episodes/Edgar-J--Helms--Director--Institute-for-Health-Policy-and-Practice-egraa7

Stitcher: https://listen.stitcher.com/yvap/?af_dp=stitcher://episode/39371642&af_web_dp=https://www.stitcher.com/episode/39371642

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/edgar-j-helms-director-institute-for-health-policy/id981989377?i=1000344768380

Time                 Topic
1:14-16:07        Family background, education, military service
16:08-18:55      Transition to health planning and policy
18:56-21:33      On the staff of Senator Thomas McIntyre
21:34-33:18      A run for Congress, becoming the New Hampshire Commissioner for Health and Welfare
33:19-37:20      Founding Helms & Company, Inc.
37:21-41:14      A run for Governor
41:15-46:59      Blue Cross of New Hampshire and the Anthem acquisition
47:00-55:30      Launching the UNH Institute for Health Policy and Practice
55:31-61:16      Leadership
61:17-64:12      Mentorship
64:13-68:45      Advice for early career health leaders



Links Discussed:

Institute for Health Policy and Practice

Edgar J. Helms, Sr. - founder of Goodwill Industries

Drew University

U.S. Army Infantry School, Ft. Benning, GA

Senator Thomas McIntyre

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

Helms & Company, Inc.

Anthem, Inc.

Kevin Callahan, CEO Exeter Health Resources

Today’s guest is Kevin Callahan, the CEO of Exeter Health Resources in Exeter New Hampshire. Kevin has been the CEO of Exeter Health Systems for nearly 30 years. His tenure spans many of the healthcare industry’s most tumultuous changes. Kevin describes himself as a person who thrives on the challenge of change, and in this interview he talks about how he has kept the organization adaptable.

The original interview with Kevin is 90 minutes in length. I have produced an abridged, 45 minute version as well as the 90 minute version. Both the abridged and the unabridged versions are available at the links below.

Links to the Podcast:

Anchor: 

• Unabridged version: https://anchor.fm/healthleaderforge/episodes/Kevin-Callahan--CEO--Exeter-Health-Resources-Unabridged-egraab

• Abrdiged version: https://anchor.fm/healthleaderforge/episodes/Kevin-Callahan--CEO--Exeter-Health-Resources-Abridged-egra5d

Stitcher: https://listen.stitcher.com/yvap/?af_dp=stitcher://episode/38309774&af_web_dp=https://www.stitcher.com/episode/38309774

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kevin-callahan-ceo-exeter-health-resources-unabridged/id981989377?i=1000343790536

Transcript of the podcast is available here.


The following time breaks apply to the unabridged version of the podcast.

Time                  Topic
  1:24 - 14:30     Background, education, and MHA residency experience, coming to Exeter
14:31 - 17:53     The community of Exeter
17:54 - 27:51     Executive Vice President, learning to be comfortable with uncertainty
27:52 - 36:34     Organizational structure and functions of Exeter Health Resources
36:35 - 42:29     Becoming the CEO
42:30 - 46:28     Governance and the role of the Board
46:29 - 57:58     Responding to the macro/industry changes
57:59 - 64:53     Strategic planning and capital investments
64:54 - 75:00     Leadership
75:01 - 80:05     Mentorship
80:06 - 88:20     Advice to administrative interns/residents and early career administrators


Links to topics discussed:

Exeter Health Resources

Exeter Hospital - http://www.exeterhospital.com/

Core Physicians - http://www.corephysicians.org/

Rockingham VNA & Hospice - http://www.exeterhospital.com/about-exeter/rockingham-vna-hospice/

Hoshin Planning - http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newSTR_77.htm

George Washington University Masters in Healthcare Administration - http://mha.gwu.edu/

Tim Soucy, Director of the Manchester Health Department

This week's guest is Tim Soucy, the Director of the Manchester Health Department. Tim started in the Department as a health inspector and worked his way up to the be the Director in 2006. In this podcast, Tim talks about his 25 years of service to his home city, how the Department has evolved, and the challenges and opportunities public health workers face everyday trying to make Manchester a safer and healthier city.

Links to the Podcast:

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/healthleaderforge/episodes/Tim-Soucy--Director--Manchester-Health-Department-egra7i

Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=63805&refid=stpri

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tim-soucy-director-manchester-health-department/id981989377?i=1000342214358

YouTube: https://youtu.be/gVIYraHXM1E 

Time                 Topic

1:03-8:29           Manchester - Challenges and Opportunities

8:30-13:04         Early career as a health inspector

13:05-19:18      Transition to leadership: Chief, Environmental Health

19:19-30:11       Public Health post-9/11        

30:12-43:08      The mission of the Department; the mission of the divisions

                              School Health Division
                              Community Health Division
                              Chronic Disease Prevention and Neighborhood Health Division

43:09-55:22      The Neighborhood Health Improvement Strategy

55:23-58:36      Public Health and the Direct Healthcare Delivery System

58:37-66:10      How the Department has changed in 25 years; the future of Public Health; 
                          thoughts on leadership and mentorship

Links Discussed:

Manchester Health Department 

New Hampshire Institute for Local Public Health Practice at the Manchester Health Department

Manchester Health Department Health Clinics

Neighborhood Health Improvement Strategy

National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)

Masters of Public Health, University of New Hampshire

Peter Wright, President and CEO of Valley Regional Healthcare

Today’s guest is Peter Wright, the President and CEO of Valley Regional Healthcare in Claremont New Hampshire. Valley Regional Healthcare is a health system that includes Valley Regional Hospital, a large physician group practice, a home health agency, and part ownership in a long term care facility. Peter took an unusual route to becoming Northern New England’s youngest hospital CEO, and his experiences have helped shape some of his unique insights in to health leadership.

Links to the Podcast

Acnhor: https://anchor.fm/healthleaderforge/episodes/Peter-Wright--President-and-CEO-of-Valley-Regional-Healthcare-egra8t

Stitcher: https://listen.stitcher.com/yvap/?af_dp=stitcher://episode/37825125&af_web_dp=https://www.stitcher.com/episode/37825125

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/healthleaderforge/id981989377

YouTube: https://youtu.be/gVIYraHXM1E 

Transcript of the podcast is available here.

Podcast Outline

Time	Topic
0:01:07	Educational background
0:03:03	First job in healthcare
0:05:22	Work as COO at Littleton Hospital
0:07:53	Defining a “critical access” hospital and differences in payment from regular hospitals
0:10:49	Responsibilities as COO at Littleton
0:11:20	Managing physician practices as a non-physician
0:12:38	Leadership lessons learned at Littleton
0:14:33	“Manageable risks” taken at Littleton
0:18:35	Identifying “manageable risks”
0:19:37	History of Claremont, New Hampshire
0:21:28	Interacting with local businesses and community as the CEO of Valley Regional Healthcare (VRH)
0:22:50	Recruiting skilled workers to come to rural New Hampshire
0:25:13	Financial classification of VRH as a non-profit
0:29:04	Organizational structure of VRH
0:30:18	Role of home health and hospice at VRH
0:32:31	Organization of physician services at VRH
0:35:35	Relationship between private practice physicians and VRH
0:37:44	Working out tensions between physicians and hospital administrators
0:38:50	Management and structure of Valley Regional Hospital
0:42:09	The effects of Medicare/Medicaid as primary payers, cost-shifting
0:45:03	Value proposition of VRH
0:47:02	Synergies gained from having a healthcare system
0:49:06	Involvement with the American College of Healthcare Executives
0:50:52	Importance of personal vision and mission in leadership
0:55:17	Growing leaders within an organization, importance of mentorship
1:00:20	Peter’s personal mentors
1:03:45	Relationships with executives outside of VRH
1:05:29	Advice for people considering a career in healthcare administration

Links:

Lyndon State College

Copley Hospital

Littleton Regional Healthcare

City of Claremont

Valley Regional Healthcare

Granite State College

American College of Health Care Executives

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Thanks to Sameer Panesar for production assistance.