WittKieffer Impactful Leaders Podcast

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

Accelerating Physician Leader Impact: Gaurava Agarwal, M.D.

Scaling Well-Being at Work: Northwestern Medicine's Chief Wellness Executive, Gaurava Agarwal, M.D. 
Dr. Gaurava Agarwal, Vice President and Chief Wellness Executive at Northwestern Medicine, shares how leadership can transform workforce well-being. From his journey as a psychiatrist to leading systemic change, Dr. Agarwal explains why prevention—not just remediation—matters and how leadership quality can outweigh even structural work design. He introduces the concept of “work determinants of well-being,” showing how actionable metrics like PTO utilization help predict and prevent burnout. The conversation explores balancing productivity with wellness, leveraging technology and team-based care, and reimagining entrenched norms to create sustainable, high-performing organizations. For physician leaders and health system executives, this episode offers practical strategies to scale wellness, foster resilience, and lead with clarity in times of change. 

Health Disparities, Titanic Consequences, and the Future of Public Health: Thomas LaVeist, Ph.D.

In this episode, Dr. Thomas LaVeist, Dean of Tulane University’s School of Public Health, discusses his accidental discovery of public health and decades-long commitment to addressing health disparities. He explores the pressures facing higher education, from funding cuts to global talent pipelines, and shares why science communication and interdisciplinary collaboration are critical for the future. “We need a healthy workforce to drive the economy… these are health equity issues as far as I’m concerned,” he emphasizes. Dr. LaVeist also offers candid thoughts on AI, leadership, and why accountability is the cornerstone of effective governance.

Converge Cast | Building High-Impact Teams and Driving Value in Healthcare and Beyond: Mia Jung

In this episode of WittKieffer’s Converge Cast, Mia Jung of private equity firm WCAS ("Welsh Carson") shares her career journey and perspectives on building high-impact leadership teams in healthcare with Senior Partner Charlie Fick and Managing Partner Shelly Carolan. She describes her professional path in “three chapters”: commercial roles in pharma and MedTech, a decade in executive search, and her current role at Welsh Carson. In executive search, “I learned the power of getting the right people in the right seats—and that leads to the right outcomes,” she explains, underscoring her belief that talent is a critical lever for value creation. 
Jung emphasizes Welsh Carson’s culture as a key reason she joined the firm, citing its collaborative ethos and commitment to people. As a twin, "I was born on a team," she says. At WCAS, “The core values are not just words on a wall—they really shape daily behavior,” she notes. This alignment allows her to connect business strategy with talent strategy across a portfolio of healthcare companies, ensuring leaders are positioned to drive growth and operational excellence. 
Discussing hiring practices, Jung likens talent selection to baseball: “Even the best hitters don’t get on base every time. But what makes them great isn’t perfection—it’s consistency, preparation, and the ability to adjust.” She advocates for data-driven processes, cultural fit scorecards, and third-party assessments to "de-risk" and improve hiring success rates in private equity. 
Finally, Jung reflects on broader trends and her passion for advancing women in leadership, such as championing initiatives like Break Into the Boardroom. “It’s just bad business not to have women on these boards,” she asserts, highlighting the importance of representation in governance and decision-making roles. 
Enjoy their conversation.  

A Bold, Business-first Perspective on HR in Higher Education: Amanda Bailey

Amanda Bailey, Interim CHRO at Oregon State University and nationally recognized HR thought leader, joins WittKieffer’s Sarah Palmer to discuss leadership, resilience, and the future of work in higher education. Drawing on senior roles at Boston University, Brown University, and Morehouse College, Amanda shares actionable insights for navigating disruption and fostering thriving workplace cultures. She explores the power of influence, adaptability, and collaboration as institutions face rapid change, emphasizing HR’s role as strategic partner and internal consultant. From breaking down silos to listening for the “unsaid,” Amanda offers practical guidance for cultural transformation rooted in empathy and connection. 

Accelerating Physician Leader Impact: Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, M.D.

Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, Ph.D., M.D., MAS—Editor-in-Chief of JAMA and the JAMA Network, and Endowed Professor of Medicine and Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at University of California San Francisco —shares leadership insights shaped by her journey across clinical care, research, and publishing.
In this Impactful Leaders Podcast episode, part of our Accelerating Physician Leader Impact series, she explores what it takes to lead amid rapid change. Dr. Bibbins-Domingo emphasizes self-awareness, organizational alignment, and adaptability, while tackling one of healthcare’s most urgent challenges: equity. Equity, she argues, must be embedded into an organization’s DNA—not siloed or politically constrained.
She also discusses bridging clinical practice and public policy, the importance of communication, and building networks beyond traditional silos. With medicine advancing at unprecedented speed—from AI to new therapeutics—her advice for physician leaders is clear: lead with resilience, fairness, and flexibility.

Strategies for Uncertain Times in Academic Medicine: UMass Chan's Michael F. Collins, M.D.

Michael F. Collins, M.D., has always been a doer, but that doesn't mean he was always a leader. Leading, he observes, requires relinquishing a "command and control" mindset, letting others be the doers, and being willing to embrace the uncertainty which is ubiquitous in academic medicine today. It takes time to learn. 
For nearly two decades, Dr. Collins has led UMass Chan Medical School through extraordinary growth and transformation, overseeing a billion-dollar enterprise and championing life sciences strategy across five campuses. As the longest-serving chancellor in the University of Massachusetts system, Dr. Collins reflects on what it takes to lead in an era defined by complexity and volatility. “We had much more certain times 20 years ago," he recalls. "Managing now is very much a balance beam act" of assessing uncertainty and collaborating with others to work through challenges.  
In this Impactful Leaders Podcast episode, Dr. Collins speaks with Kimberly Smith, Executive Partner of WittKieffer's Academic Medicine Practice, and Andrew Bean, Principal, sharing candid insights on navigating financial pressures, research funding challenges, and workforce demands while maintaining institutional stability. He emphasizes the importance of transparency and adaptability, recalling lessons learned during the pandemic: “I got more people to follow me when I said I didn’t know than when I gave a directive to say, 'Do this or do that.' ” 
Their conversation also explores strategies for sustaining innovation and morale amid shrinking federal research dollars. Collins outlines how UMass Chan is leveraging partnerships, private foundations, and state support to stabilize its research enterprise and retain top talent. His approach offers a roadmap for leaders seeking to balance short-term survival with long-term ambition in highly competitive environments. It's imperative that organizations find funding lest they lose a generation of research that will take longer than a generation to replace. 
Finally, Dr. Collins reflects on the enduring value of mentorship and the mindset required for impactful leadership. His advice is simple yet profound: “First, you have to want to, then you can.” This episode delivers actionable insights on resilience, resourcefulness, and leading with purpose in an era of unprecedented change.