The Fire Chief

In this in-depth episode, host Lee Scheinbart welcomes retired U.S. Navy submarine commander Robert "Navy Bob" Roncska for a conversation that bridges military command and physician leadership. Drawing on decades of experience leading nuclear submarine crews, Bob shares practical lessons on building trust, developing people, and creating high-performing teams through genuine relationships rather t...

In this thoughtful episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Vidhya Prakash, physician executive and author of The Leadership Learning Curve: A Woman Physician's Journey as a Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Prakash shares candid reflections on her evolution from an infectious disease physician to Chief Medical Officer and the leadership lessons learned along the way.  Lee and Vidhya explore the trans...

In this critical episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Nicholas "Nick" Testa, Chief Clinical Officer at Sentact and former Chief Medical Officer for California at CommonSpirit Health. Nick shares his journey from emergency physician to healthcare executive and discusses his passion for improving healthcare by helping CMOs do their job with the proper tools and support. Lee and Nick explore t...

In this transformational episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Chad Perlyn, Dean and Chief Medical Officer at Nova Southeastern University. Lee and Chad explore how physicians can transition from clinical roles to leadership positions within healthcare systems. Dr. Perlyn tells the tale of his "hard right turn" toward leadership and also shares his journey from pediatric plastic surgery to b...

In this powerful episode of The Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages in an insightful conversation with Carey Goryl, CEO of AAPPR, a seasoned leader in the world of physician recruitment.  As head of the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recuitment (AAPPR), Carey provides leadership to the only organization committed to redefining recruitment and retention through its mem...

In this heartfelt, face-to-face interview for The Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages in a profound conversation with Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling US Army (ret), author of the recently published book, If I Don't Return: A Father's Wartime Journal.  Together they explore their shared passion, research, and results in leadership development and the impact of context in leadership teaching. The...

In this deep dive episode of The Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages in a profound conversation with Dr. Li Ern Chen, a visionary leader in healthcare transformation and Korn Ferry's Market Leader of Physician Workforce. They delve into Korn Ferry's 2026 Physician Executive Survey and highlight the evolving role of Chief Medical Officers, emphasizing the importance of financial fluency...

In this existential episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews LynAnn Weaver, Certified High Performance Coach, a transformation strategist dedicated to empowering physicians and healthcare leaders. LynAnn, a former healthcare service line leader, shares practical strategies (three pillars) to enhance practice growth, leadership skills, and well-being to improve clinical excellence and organizational...

In this transformational episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Joe Mazzenga, Managing Partner at NuBrick Partners, a highly specialized executive coaching team for healthcare leaders. Lee and Joe explore how physicians, especially those aspiring to senior leadership roles like Chief Medical Officer, can navigate the complex transition from clinical expertise to system-wide enterprise leadership....

In this timely episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Leah Houston, founder and CEO of evercred, a technology platform aimed at modernizing physician credentialing. Dr. Houston shares her personal experiences with credential misuse and the inefficiencies of traditional credentialing processes. She discusses how evercred empowers physicians by giving them control over...

In this panoramic episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart talks with Dr. Dani Zoorob, CMIO of Ochsner-LSU Health and author of a critical paper on physician leadership competencies. They discuss the evolving landscape of physician leadership, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of competencies required for effective leadership in healthcare. Dr. Dani Zoorob shares...

In this foundational episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages with Ethan Nkana, Principal of the Rocky Mountain Physician Agency, to discuss the critical importance of advocacy for physician contracting during the course of their careers. They explore the common blind spots physicians face when negotiating contracts, the significance of support and professional development, a...

In this incredibly insightful episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, Lee Scheinbart explores the critical journey of physician leadership, emphasizing the need for structured training and coaching to transition from clinical roles to executive positions. He discusses the secret of upskilling as a physician executive, the importance of identity shift, the role of feedback, and the necessity of having a...

In this winning episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews William 'Bill' Cowan, author of Building a Winning Career and expert in career management and leadership development. If you are truly serious about finding your next role, then listen as they discuss the challenges physicians face when transitioning from clinical roles to leadership positions, emphasizing the import...

In this heartfelt episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages in a profound conversation with Dr. Kevin O'Connor, the longest-serving White House physician. They explore the moral responsibilities of leadership in medicine, emphasizing the importance of values-based decision-making and the challenges of maintaining integrity in high-pressure situations. Dr. O'Connor shares insig...

In this honest and humble episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart welcomes Dr. Dani Madril, a seasoned physician executive with over 25 years of experience in various healthcare settings. They discuss Dr. Madril's journey from clinical practice as a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist to her current role as the market Chief Medical Officer at UnitedHealthcare. Dr. Madril emphasizes t...

In this EXCLUSIVE episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart welcomes William Walders, the Executive Vice President and Chief Digital and Information Officer for the Joint Commission. They discuss the rapid pace of technological advancements in healthcare, particularly Artificial Intelligence. Walders shares insights on the importance of AI in healthcare, emphasizing the need for respo...

In this mind-bending and existential episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages with Dr. Paulius Mui, a leader in primary care innovation. They discuss the importance of using AI tools to redefine quality in primary care, emphasizing relationships over processes, and the need for better frameworks to evaluate clinician performance. Dr. Mui shares insights on learning how to use...

In this 2026 new year kick-off episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart speaks with Dr. Carla Goulart Peron, Chief Medical Officer of Philips, a multibillion dollar, multinational healthcare innovation company, about her journey from practicing medicine to leading innovation in healthcare. They discuss the impact of medical technology, the importance of curiosity in career transition...

In this dynamite episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages with Dr. Katherine Meese, an expert in healthcare leadership and organizational behavior. They discuss the importance of prioritizing human well-being in healthcare settings, the need for trust in leadership, and the impact of generational differences on workplace dynamics. Dr. Meese emphasizes the necessity of prevent...

In this episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Professor Matt Sabin, former Chief Medical Officer at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. The two former CMOs discuss the challenges of physician leadership, the importance of self-awareness, communication, and organizational culture in improving patient outcomes. Matt shares insights on handling disruptiv...

In this honest and heartfelt episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews the show’s first Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO), Dr. Rachel McEntee.  They discuss Dr. McEntee's journey into informatics, the evolving role of CMIOs, the need to move from integration of technology in healthcare to the importance of leadership in informatics. This is particularly true as the c...

In this next level episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart once more explores AI, but this time with a lens on Peer Review and Physician Performance.  The conversation delves into the possibility of not just automating medical staff office functions of credentialing and privileging, but how integrating AI through ambient architecture into physician workflows and care delivery is poi...

In this sci-fi episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart explores the future of healthcare, focusing on the role of AI, the transformation of care delivery and possibly medical education, and the need for innovative leadership in the healthcare sector. He discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by ambient AI and emphasizes the importance of rethinking workforce training t...

In this perceptive episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages in a deep conversation with Dr. Leo Spector, CEO of OrthoCarolina, about the evolving role of physician executives. They discuss the challenges and opportunities in transitioning from the OR and clinical roles to leadership positions, emphasizing the importance of empathy, humility, and intentionality in leadership....