Central Line: Leadership in Healthcare

In this special re-release, we’re revisiting a powerful conversation with Ila, in honour of her passing on April 20, 2026. Ila was not only an incredible leader, but also my friend. She inspired me on many levels—through her courage, her perspective, and the way she showed up so fully for the people around her. In this episode, she shares her perspective on leadership, resilience, and what it real...

In this episode of Central Line, Leah Wuitschik sits down with Kelly Baskerville, a nurse leader with 25 years of experience across frontline care, education, and system-level leadership in continuing care. Now the Executive Director of the Institute for Continuing Care Education and Research, Kelly shares how her career in gerontology unfolded—and why working with older adults is among the most c...

What happens when you’re 21 years old and suddenly responsible for leading people twice your age? In this episode, I sit down with Max to explore his journey from the Canadian Armed Forces to senior healthcare leadership. We talk about leading under pressure, navigating imposter syndrome, and the transition from structured military systems to the complexity of civilian healthcare. We unpack what h...

This week, we’re revisiting our most-listened-to episode — a powerful conversation with Caroline Brunt, RN, street nurse, educator, and co-creator of the award-winning documentary Bevel Up. Caroline shares what decades of outreach and harm-reduction work have taught her about leadership, trust, and meeting people where they are. This episode explores the quiet, often invisible skills that matter m...

In this episode, Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah, Co-Director of Policy and Advocacy at Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, shares her path from an early, instinctive feminism to becoming a respected national advocate. She offers a clear look at Action Canada’s work advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights in Canada and globally, and why this work remains as urgent as ever. Debbie breaks d...

Marilyn Wacko, Executive Director of the Alberta Nurses Educational Trust (ANET), discusses her role in advancing nursing through education and research. ANET, a unique charity in Alberta, provides grants for continuing education, research, and scholarships to improve nursing practice and patient care. Marilyn highlights the importance of funding nursing projects with immediate healthcare impacts...

After leaving a successful advertising career, Kate Grant set out to find work with deeper meaning. That search led her to a hospital in Ethiopia, where she witnessed women suffering from obstetric fistula—a preventable childbirth injury that had left them incontinent, isolated, and forgotten. Moved to act, Kate joined the Fistula Foundation. What began as support for a single hospital has grown u...

Join host Leah as she talks with Hilary, a Labrador Inuk nurse and policy analyst, about her journey in nursing, the importance of community, and advancing cultural safety in healthcare. Hilary shares insights on Indigenous leadership, overcoming challenges, and practical steps for creating more inclusive care. A powerful conversation on reconciliation and making a difference in Canadian health.  ...

In this episode of Central Line Leadership in Healthcare, nurse and healthcare technology manager Claire Phillips shares her journey from a sociology major to a nursing leader. Discussing her passion for systems thinking, Claire highlights how this approach can revolutionize healthcare by addressing complex issues, such as burnout and patient care efficiency. Through her company, Nursing the Syste...

In this episode of Central Line: Leadership in Healthcare, host Leah Wuitschik speaks with Bonnie Barnes, co-founder of the DAISY Foundation, which was created to honour extraordinary nurses after the compassionate care her stepson Patrick received before his passing. Since 1999, the DAISY Award has grown into a global movement, recognizing over 230,000 nurses in nearly 7,000 healthcare facilities...

  In this episode of Central Line: Leadership Between the Lines, host Leah Wuitschik interviews Reverdi Darda, founder and CEO of ATMA CENA. With over three decades in healthcare leadership, Rev shares her inspiring journey of transformation—from her roots as a registered nurse to becoming a trailblazer in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Rev discusses the innovative approaches her organization is ch...

In this episode of Central Line: Leadership in Healthcare, host Leah Wuitschik speaks with Alain Doucet, outgoing President and CEO of the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL). Alain reflects on his journey leading the organization, highlighting his experiences building a strong organizational culture, navigating challenges like the pandemic, and expanding the understanding of leadership acro...

Join host Leah Wuitschik and guest Rosa Edinga in the latest episode of Central Line: Leadership in Healthcare as they dive into the heart of human-centred leadership. Discover how consistent behaviour builds trust and aligns with core values, and explore the empowering impact of making conscious choices and taking responsibility. Rosa shares practical insights on creating a safe, judgment-free sp...

In this episode, Leah sits down with two visionary leaders, Sue Bookey-Bassett and Patrick Neumann, who are using virtual modeling to inform a revolutionary approach to the design of healthcare workplaces. Sue, an Assistant Professor at the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, combines her experience as a healthcare leader with her passion for creating supportive environments for nurses and other he...

Leah sits down with Kat Newport, a passionate Conflict Educator and Coach renowned for her expertise in guiding leaders and teams through tough situations. Kat shares her unique approach to conflict, viewing it not as a hurdle, but as a catalyst for positive growth and creativity in the workplace. Kat delves into her philosophy of "Smart Conflict," emphasizing the importance of self-awareness in h...

Ila Edgar is the founder of Big Change Inc , a consulting organization that supports organizations, leaders, and teams in building stronger trust in pursuit of achieving amazing things together, and co-host of a podcast dedicated to helping people intentionally design trust in their relationships, Trust on Purpose .  Listen as Ila talks about her personal journey of trust, navigating a landscape d...

In the newest episode of Central Line - the podcast from TallTrees Leadership - Leah sits down with Tim Guest, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Nurses Association, to explore the dynamic landscape of nursing in Canada. With over three decades of experience spanning diverse nursing and leadership roles, Tim shares his insights on the evolving expectations and needs within the profession. His...

In this episode, we delve into the inspiring journey and insights of Dr. Leigh Chapman, Chief Nursing Officer for Canada. With a rich background, including a PhD from the University of Toronto and two decades of frontline and leadership roles, Leigh's dedication to advancing nursing in Canada is undeniable. Leigh shares her experiences working in both frontline clinical healthcare, as well as nati...

In this month’s episode of The Central Line podcast, Leah sits down with two extraordinary leaders within the Canadian Mental Health Association - Jason Platts and Danny Lang. We delve head first into the heart of leadership and the profound impact that a daily practice of servant leadership can have on our teams and in our communities. The conversation strips away what you think you know about le...

This episode of Central Line features a conversation between Host Leah Wuitschik of TallTrees Leadership and Dr. Kathleen Ross, President of the Canadian Medical Association. It delves into the multifaceted world of healthcare and leadership. In particular, what makes a truly great leader who can affect real change. True leadership is portrayed as a balance between listening, reflection, inclusive...

Canadian health system reform. Is it possible? Your answer to this question might be based on your experiences with the system, your role in it, and whether or not you believe we know and have what it takes to make it happen. We welcome Canadian Senator Rebecca Patterson to the Central Line podcast to discuss her answer to these questions. You’ll hear about how her experiences in the Canadian mili...

If you asked 100 people, 99 of them would say that technology has made our world progressively more efficient and productive in almost every facet of modern life. If you asked those same people, they’d also say that healthcare has been one of the industries most impacted by technological advances but that it still needs to be grounded in a high-touch, human approach - something computers can’t do....

In this thought-provoking episode of "Central Line: Leadership in Healthcare," your host Leah Wuitschik sits down with Dr. Sid Viner. Dr. Viner is the Vice President & Medical Director for Alberta Health Services.  He has executive-level responsibility for clinical operations in AHS across the province, and a passion for quality improvement, patient safety and health system transformation. Dr....

In this episode, we explore the concept of cultivating a thriving healthcare culture and the vital role of leaders in creating a positive emotional environment. Our guest, Jennifer Krippner with the Institute for Healthcare Excellence, shares practical strategies for fostering a culture of positivity and well-being in healthcare organizations. We discuss the connection between a positive emotional...

Have you ever wondered what innovation means for nursing and healthcare? The good news is that it doesn't have to be as complicated as you may have thought. In today's episode, Leah sits down with Dr. Dan Weberg, an expert in nursing, healthcare innovation, and human-centred patient design. Learn how your daily actions can significantly change the healthcare system for the better.