WittKieffer Impactful Leaders Podcast

Taking Flight: UC San Diego's Pharmacy Dean Aims Higher and Inspires

UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy Dean Dr. Brookie Best joins host Jeff Schroetlin for an in-depth conversation on the future of pharmacy education, leadership, and scientific discovery. Dr. Best reflects on her journey from clinician and researcher to senior academic leader, shaped by early mentorship, founding-faculty experiences, and a deep commitment to patient-centered training.
She shares how the role of pharmacy dean is rapidly evolving—requiring crisis navigation, policy fluency, interprofessional collaboration, and a bold vision for innovation. Dr. Best discusses the school’s curriculum redesign, advancements in AI-driven drug discovery, breast milk therapeutics, pharmacomicrobiomics, and how academic institutions can remain engines of community impact. With clarity and candor, she offers leadership advice, insights on emerging practice models, and a forward-looking perspective on preparing the next generation of pharmacy professionals to lead in a transforming healthcare landscape. 

Accelerating Physician Leader Impact: Chris DeRienzo, M.D.

Mastering the Middle Miles: AHA’s CPE on Physician Leadership for the Long Run
In this Accelerating Physician Leader Impact episode, Chris DeRienzo, M.D.—Chief Physician Executive of the AHA and President of HRET—traces his path from bedside neonatology to national leadership. He reflects on mentors, allies, and especially sponsors who opened doors as his career shifted from academia’s ladder to health systems’ “jungle gym.” Chris shares how real transformation happens in the “middle miles”: start the flywheel, stack small wins, set a clear end vision, and anticipate “mile 17” when resolve and alignment are tested. He outlines a competency roadmap for physician leaders—closing knowledge, exposure, and experience gaps in finance, people leadership, and tech—and explains why operationalizing well-being (e.g., ambient listening) must be a primary design goal, not a byproduct. The conversation ends with a simple leadership credo: “Be good today and better tomorrow.” Practical, purpose-driven, and system-savvy, this episode equips physician executives to lead sustained change. 

Beyond Transaction to Transformation: Shairon Zingsheim on Trust, Culture, and Community College Leadership

In this Impactful Leaders Podcast episode, experienced human resources leader Shairon Ann Zingsheim joins host Sarah Palmer to share a blueprint for leading amid disruption. Zingsheim traces her path from first-generation community college student from Guyana to trusted interim executive, revealing how early mentors moved her beyond transactional HR to institution-level impact. Her executive playbook is clear: listen before you lead, restore steadiness, and build credibility through visibility, transparency, and follow-through—because “trust isn’t built around titles or authority; it’s consistent behavior.” She contrasts community colleges’ agility and workforce responsiveness with four-year universities’ longer planning cycles, while spotlighting shared imperatives: align people to mission, communicate clearly, and lead with empathy. Looking ahead, she urges leaders to treat employee engagement as a resilience strategy and to make succession planning an institutional responsibility—so the “gems within your midst” are seen, developed, and ready to step up. 

Achieving Patient-Centricity and Purpose at Scale: Optum Rx CCO John Wig, M.D.

Dr. John Wigneswaran—Dr. Wig—Chief Clinical Officer for Optum Rx at UnitedHealth Group, joins host Dr. Michael Anderson to discuss leading pharmacy and clinical strategy at enterprise scale. From early lessons in a community pediatric practice to C-suite roles at Walmart and Optum, Dr. Wig shares how mentorship, feedback, and self-awareness propelled his leadership journey.  
He details how physician executives can align patient advocacy with business priorities—“never compromise patient care”—and outlines a practical approach to managing change across complex organizations. The discussion dives into the near-term impact of AI on member experience, operational efficiency, and drug trend forecasting, along with the promise of dynamic, individualized formularies. Optimistic about the next decade, Dr. Wig calls for affordability, access, and kindness to guide transformation. 

Accelerating Physician Leader Impact: Pamela Sutton-Wallace

Yale New Haven Health's Pamela Sutton-Wallace: On “Making Music Together” through Professional Partnerships and Shared Purpose 
As President of Yale New Haven Health, Pamela Sutton-Wallace, MPH reflects on a career shaped by “serendipity, opportunity, and preparation,” from a pivot out of political science into public health to leading some of the nation’s most complex academic health systems. In conversation with Michael Anderson, M.D., she shares how dyad/triad leadership, deep curiosity for clinical disciplines, and a service-first mindset build trust and alignment among physicians, nurses, and administrators.
 Sutton-Wallace distills crisis-leadership lessons from COVID—start with what you know, stress-test assumptions, and be ready to course-correct. She finds hope in “small wins” that compound for staff and patients, and closes with timeless advice: hire complementary talent, cultivate psychological safety, and remember no leader operates alone.
This episode of our Accelerating Physician Leader Impact Podcast offers practical, purpose-driven insights for physician executives navigating complexity and change. 

Leading with Purpose, Feeding the Fire: NGHS CEO Matt Hanley, MD

In this episode of the Impactful Leaders Podcast, Dr. Matt Hanley, President and CEO of Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), shares his purpose‑driven journey from emergency medicine physician to health system leader. With more than 20 years of clinical and executive experience across community, academic, and multi‑state health systems, Dr. Hanley discusses the pivotal moments that shaped his path—including the mentors, challenges, and opportunities that “lit the fire” for leadership. He reflects on the powerful role of purpose, noting, “The thing that motivates me the most… is meaningful purpose,” and describes how that guides his decisions today.
As NGHS experiences unprecedented growth, Dr. Hanley outlines his vision for delivering exceptional everyday care, becoming a best‑place‑to‑work, and ensuring the system is positioned for long‑term sustainability. His insights offer an inspiring look at leading with clarity, humility, and community commitment.
 

Accelerating Physician Leader Impact: Paul R. Hinchey, M.D.

From Systemness to the “Spaces in Between”: Building an Integrated, Patient-Centered Enterprise 
In this episode of the Accelerating Physician Leader Impact series, University Hospitals COO Dr. Paul Hinchey shares how his journey from paramedic to physician executive shaped his commitment to solving problems at scale. Dr. Hinchey reflects on building true “systemness” across a $6B health system—aligning culture, incentives, and operations around the patient journey rather than individual sites of care. He discusses leveraging EMS as an underutilized strategic asset, integrating academic and community missions, and redesigning structures to drive value-based transformation. Dr. Hinchey based transformation. Paul also highlights the importance of mentorship and UH’s Anton Fellowship in developing the next generation of physician leaders. Looking ahead, he explores innovations that excite him most, including virtual consult expansion, advanced remote monitoring, and ambient AI that reduces administrative burden and strengthens the clinician-patient connection. Filled with practical insights and grounded leadership wisdom, this conversation offers a compelling look at the future of integrated, patient-centered care. 

Breaking Down Borders and Building Up Leaders in Global Higher Education: A Conversation with AIEA CEO Clare Overmann

In this episode of the Impactful Leaders Podcast, Clare Overmann, CEO of the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA), speaks with Consultant Robert Springall about her global life journey, early experiences with cultural identity, and the mentors who shaped her path into international education. She reflects on stepping into the CEO role, the surprises and freedoms of association leadership, and AIEA’s evolution as it works to broaden its tent and strengthen the pipeline of emerging leaders. With clarity and care, Clare discusses the importance of community, connection, and treating “everyone in any given room equally,” offering a thoughtful vision for the future of international education leadership. 

Academic Medicine Dean Insights: Marjorie Jenkins, M.D.

Accelerating Real Change in Rural Healthcare
Marjorie Jenkins, M.D., Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of North Dakota, shares her inspiring journey from growing up in Appalachia to leading transformative initiatives in academic medicine. In this episode of WittKieffer’s Academic Medicine Dean Insights series, she speaks with Consultant Kerry Quealy and reflects on her path through Texas Tech, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the University of South Carolina, and how those experiences shaped her commitment to rural health, equity, and innovation.
Dr. Jenkins discusses UND’s strategic priorities, including expanding residency programs, launching North Dakota 85, building an AI hub, and introducing an accelerated track for aspiring primary care physicians. She offers candid leadership insights on perseverance, humility, and empowering teams to innovate. “If we aren’t designing systems to think of everyone, and we try a one-size-fits-all model, then that doesn’t serve the people,” she notes. A must-listen for leaders driving change in healthcare and education. 

Academic Medicine Dean Insights: John A. Rock, M.D.

Dr. John A. Rock shares his remarkable journey as the founding dean of Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. In this episode, he reflects on the vision and strategies behind creating a new medical school from the ground up, the importance of community engagement, and the innovative NeighborhoodHELP program that connects students with households to address social determinants of health. Drawing on leadership lessons from Johns Hopkins, Emory, and LSU Health Sciences—where he led recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina—Dr. Rock offers practical insights on team building, accreditation, and sustaining innovation. His advice for academic medicine leaders is timeless: pause before reacting, communicate relentlessly, and build relationships at every level. This conversation is a must-listen for deans and senior leaders seeking to drive meaningful change in medical education