Welcome to The Fire Chief!

Episodes

53
Nov. 18, 2025

Embracing the Future: AI in Healthcare Leadership

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 to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. Scheinbart advocates for a shift in s...
52
Nov. 11, 2025

Preparing Physicians for the CEO Role: From the OR to the C-Suite

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. Dr. Spector shares deeply personal anecdotes and remarkable insights on how physicians can prepare f...
51
Nov. 4, 2025

Key Insights for Physicians Seeking the CEO Role

In this insightful episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages in a deep conversation with Steve McGovern, President and CEO of McGovern Executive Search. They explore the evolving role of physicians as CEOs in healthcare, discussing the challenges and opportunities that come with this transition. Using recent publications and informal, but truthful responses from healthcare leaders, the discussion covers the importance of empathy, business acumen, and strategic thinking in le...
50
Oct. 28, 2025

Building Culture Through Coaching

In this dynamite episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Rawle “Tony” Seupaul, diehard U of Miami ‘Canes fan AND Chief Physician Executive at Carilion Clinic. They discuss the importance of physician leadership, the unique structure of Carilion Clinic, and the need for coaching and development in leadership roles. Dr. Seupaul shares his personal journey in developing leadership skills and the initiatives he has implemented to foster a culture of leadership developme...
49
Oct. 21, 2025

Patients Over Politics? Get Upstream

In this energetic episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Tina Shah, a devoted pulmonary and critical care physician and passionate Congressional candidate. They discuss Dr. Shah's journey in healthcare, her leadership philosophy, and her advocacy for healthcare reform. Dr. Shah shares her experience with burnout, the drive to help others, and the importance of getting upstream to change policy. Dr. Shah also stresses importance of having more physicians in Congress...
48
Oct. 13, 2025

How Leaders (Invite and) Make Change

In this profound and meaningful episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages with Deborah Rowland, a leader in organizational change and mindfulness. They discuss the importance of mindfulness in leadership, particularly in high-pressure environments like healthcare. Deborah emphasizes the need for leaders to confront reality without judgment and to understand the difference between what 'ought' to be and what 'is'. The conversation also explores the challenges leaders face and...
47
Oct. 7, 2025

What Crisis Requires

In this explosive episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages with Regina Phelps, a global expert in crisis management, to discuss the critical role of physician leaders in navigating crises within healthcare. They explore the differences between emergency response and crisis management, the challenges faced by healthcare systems, and the importance of effective communication and training. Regina emphasizes the need for self-care among healthcare leaders and the significance o...
46
Sept. 30, 2025

Physician Advisor: The #1 Role CMOs Need in Their Life

In this witty episode of The Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Clarissa Barnes, former President and CEO of the American College of Physician Advisors and currently the Chief Medical Officer for Medicaid in South Dakota. They discuss the evolving role of physician advisors, the challenges and opportunities in healthcare leadership, and the impact of AI on the in UR/UM and denials. Dr. Barnes shares her journey from a family background in medicine to her current leadership ro...
45
Sept. 23, 2025

Arresting Doctors

In this off-world of an episode, host Lee Scheinbart launches into the remarkable career and educational journey of Dr. Daniel Handel, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for the Central Area of Atrium Health. Dr. Handel, the primary editor of the definitive and groundbreaking textbook on healthcare administration for aspiring physicians, is now also the program director of the Healthcare Administration Leadership and Management (HALM) fellowship at Atrium. Lee and Dan explore a wide range ...
44
Sept. 16, 2025

Chief Mascot Officer

In this truly remarkable episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, we delve into the amazing career of Chris Deacon, a nationally respected voice on healthcare reform. From her beginnings as a Deputy Attorney General to leading one of the largest health plans in the country, the indefatigable Chris shares her journey and the pivotal moment when her moral compass shifted. Frustrated by a system rigged against patients and public servants, she chose to speak hard truths and advocate for change. Join us a...
43
Sept. 9, 2025

We Need An Even Bigger Boat (Part 2)

In Part 2 of this incredible conversation, Lee Scheinbart and Dr. Larry McEvoy, the founder of Epidemic Leadership, continue to go exponential and explore leadership 'at scale.', In this blistering Part 2 of the most intense conversation to date on the podcast, the you will hear further insights on physician leadership, the importance of a healing ethic, and the role of strategic development in creating impactful leaders. The two physicians expound on the importance of physicians leading with a ...
42
Sept. 2, 2025

We Need A Bigger Boat

In this intense conversation, Lee Scheinbart and Dr. Larry McEvoy, the founder of Epidemic Leadership, explore the evolving landscape of healthcare and the role of physician leadership. In the first of this two part series, the discussion touches on the importance of nurturing emerging leaders and the potential for innovative solutions in healthcare management. These two leadership teachers deep dive into the importance of a healing ethic in medicine, the need for physicians to exponentially lea...
41
Aug. 26, 2025

Remember to Breathe

In this hot start episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Harpreet Pall, the recently appointed Chief Medical Officer at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore Hospital AND K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital. Dr. Pall shares his journey from pediatric gastroenterology to adult hospital management, discussing the challenges and learning experiences he faced during this transition as a new CMO and covering adult medicine for the first time in his executive trajectory. He emph...
40
Aug. 19, 2025

The Big Mystery

In this lightning hot episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart welcomes Rebecca Kapphahn, Vice President and Senior Client Partner at Furst Group, to explore the mystery of physician executive recruitment, especially for the role of Chief Medical Officer. Together they examine the critical role of cultural fit and the contribution of leadership. With over two decades of experience in physician leadership recruitment, Rebecca shares insights into how aligning personal values with or...
39
Aug. 12, 2025

Things Need To Change

In this deeply heartfelt episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart honors Dr. Lorna Breen and discusses the critical issues surrounding physician leadership and mental health in healthcare. Dr. Stefanie Simmons, Chief Medical Officer of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, shares her journey from emergency medicine to leadership, emphasizing the importance of interpersonal relationships and change management in healthcare. The conversation explores the impact of trauma on medical ...
38
Aug. 5, 2025

Turning The Page

In this insightful, yet funny and irreverent episode, host Lee Scheinbart sits down with Dr. Caesar Gonzalez to explore the dynamic world of physician leadership. For the first time on The Fire Chief, the topic of job security is discussed. Dr. Gonzalez shares his personal journey from anesthesiologist to Chief Medical Officer, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that come with transitioning into leadership roles. He also opens up about what it was like when facing job insecurity in he...
37
July 29, 2025

We Serve Two Masters

In this suborbital episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart goes interstellar with Dr. J.D. Polk, the Chief Health and Medical Officer at NASA. The two physicians explore the shared leadership parallels in space medicine and here on earth. Dr. Polk recently returned from Oxford where he enrolled in an Advanced Leadership and Management Program and brought back with him new leadership perspectives to help him manage inside an ever changing ecosystem of government and the rapidly acc...
36
July 22, 2025

Six Months On The Fire Line

After six months of non-stop episodes, Dr. Lee Scheinbart, the host of The Fire Chief podcast takes a moment to reflect on the leadership themes that have emerged from his conversations from physician leaders and Chief Medical Officers. The show has evolved from exposing the lessons learned in natural and manmade disasters to lessons in leadership, resiliency, vulnerability and humility. Take a moment to hear what has happened during the last 30 episodes and what it takes to succeed as a physici...
35
July 15, 2025

Be A Knight. Not A Knave.

In this "top ten" episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages with Dr. Sachin Jain, a prolific writer and amazing leader in transformative healthcare delivery. They discuss Dr. Jain's journey from medicine to executive roles, the challenges of driving transformational change in healthcare, and the importance of clinical voices in leadership positions. The conversation highlights the need for innovative approaches to support vulnerable populations and the evolving role of young...
34
July 8, 2025

Don't Ask For Permission!

In this episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart breaks down the Breakdowns with Preston Alexander, the self proclaimed Taylor Swift of LinkedIn healthcare writing. A seasoned healthcare entrepreneur, and author of The Healthcare Breakdown and the Forward / Health Breakdown newsletters, Preston discusses the challenges and opportunities facing physician leaders in today's healthcare landscape. Together Preston and Lee explore the importance of financial literacy among physicians, t...
33
July 1, 2025

For Whom The Fiduciary Tolls? It Tolls For Thee.

In this intense episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman, physician to the 44th President, Barack Obama, and author of "Transforming Presidential Healthcare." Dr. Kuhlman shares insights from his time as a Navy physician and director of the White House Medical Unit, discussing the importance of rigorous medical standards, the role of chief medical officers, and the ethical considerations in healthcare leadership. Medical officers have a clear fiduciar...
32
June 24, 2025

The Nation's Doctor, Not Trump's!

In this episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Dr. Lee Scheinbart engages in a profound and deeply personal conversation with Dr. Jerome Adams, the former U.S. Surgeon General. During the initial wave of COVID-19, Dr. Adams made some of the most impactful decisions in US history that only he could make. Perhaps the most crucial was his commitment to lead the nation and not to be painted as the politicized doctor of the President. Dr. Adams shares insights from his book 'Crisis and Chaos,' empha...
31
June 17, 2025

The Hardest Interview Question. Ever.

As the United States heats up on multiple fronts regarding our military, our immigration policies, our access to healthcare, our rights to peaceful protest and our vaccine stance, this week's Fire Chief Podcast features Dr. Gerry Cox, a retired physician who served as a White House physician and held various leadership roles in the military and the Veterans Administration. Hosted by Dr. Lee Scheinbart, the two physician leaders discuss the challenges of navigating political crises, particularly ...
30
June 10, 2025

A Man On A Mission

In this EXCLUSIVE episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Greg Murphy, a physician and member of Congress, discussing his journey from medicine to politics, his advocacy for physicians, and the challenges within the healthcare system. Dr. Murphy shares insights from his medical mission work, his experiences as chief of staff, and the importance of physician involvement in legislative processes. He emphasizes the need for reform in the insurance industry and the role...