Stories and insights from the world of healthcare leadership and strategy.
Scroll down 
Leadership isn’t always about stepping in. Sometimes it’s about knowing when to step back and trust the people around you. In this February episode of The POD, we sit down with Dr. Byron Varnado, Chief Medical Officer at Hackley Community Care, for a conversation that unfolds with deep respect for the complexity of leadership in healthcare.
In this Season 2 conversation and first episode of the year, we invited Helen Angus, a nationally respected healthcare leader whose career spans more than three decades in public service, system transformation, and executive leadership. From serving as Ontario’s Deputy Minister of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic to her current role as CEO of AMS Healthcare, Helen has led in some of the most complex and high-pressure environments healthcare can offer.
In this month’s episode, I’m honored to welcome Dr. Katie Schneider, a hospitalist and the System Medical Director for Wellness at St. Luke’s Health System. Her team was recently recognized with the AMA’s Joy in Medicine Award, celebrating their commitment to creating healthier, more sustainable systems for physicians and APPs.
In this inspiring episode of The POD, Dr. Kristen Woods speaks with Michelle Backes, award-winning consultant, speaker, and founder of The Savvy U. With over 25 years of experience developing leaders and building high-trust cultures across organizations and teams, Michelle brings contagious energy and timeless wisdom to the conversation.
Season 2 of The POD begins with a conversation that embodies the values at the heart of this podcast: authenticity, service, and courage in leadership. As we mark and celebrate the International Podcast Day, this episode highlights exactly why The POD exists: to share authentic stories of leadership that inspire connection, courage, and growth.
Read how I've helped healthcare leaders transform their organizations and achieve sustainable impact through focused, human-centred partnership.
Orcas are apex navigators; powerful yet graceful, moving through complex waters with calm precision. They thrive in tight-knit pods, where collaboration and communication are essential to success. Like these remarkable creatures, effective healthcare leadership requires both courage and wisdom to lead through connection, align teams around a shared purpose and navigate toward what truly matters.