In this episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio, we are happy to welcome Norberto Orellana, the Public Relations Lead at Campbell County Health in Gillette, Wyoming. Norberto shares his inspiring journey from overcoming personal challenges, including cerebral palsy and homelessness, to influencing rural healthcare through public relations. The episode highlights Norberto’s approach to leadership, which focuses on empowerment and utilizing personal narratives to inspire change and build trust within the community.
“A large part of public relations is getting that message out there. Sharing and cheering what we're doing, where we hope to be, where we're going”
- Norberto Orellana
Norberto Orellana defies the odds with a life marked by resilience. Born with cerebral palsy, he rose above chronic homelessness and is on a meteoric rise. His journey, characterized by unwavering belief in individual potential, has inspired countless others at TEDx events and speaking engagements across the country. Devoted to community and civic engagement, Norberto is an advocate for rural healthcare. An aspiring critical access hospital CEO, Norberto hopes to contribute to sustainability and innovation in rural healthcare by serving and inspiring others. To Norberto, success is a duty, obligation, and responsibility – and though Norberto has already come far, he is only just getting started.
In this episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio, Dr. Bill Auxier reflects on his recent experience at the Coaching and Leadership in Healthcare event co-hosted by Harvard Medical School, the Institute of Coaching, and McLean Hospital. He discusses the concept of "intelligent failure" as presented by Harvard Professor Amy Edmondson, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing intelligent failures, which are well-considered and lead to valuable learnings, from mere sloppy mistakes. The discussion explores how embracing intelligent failures can foster innovation and growth within organizations and the pivotal role of leadership particularly in rural settings.
“Intelligent failure happens all the time. It happens in science, in industry innovation projects, in sports, and even in ordinary life."
-Dr. Bill Auxier
"The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth" by Amy Edmondson is a pivotal guide for fostering an environment where innovation and engagement are forefront. This book argues that the traditional workplace culture of conformity and silence is detrimental in today's knowledge-driven economy. Instead, it champions a culture where it's safe to share ideas, ask questions, and admit mistakes.
Edmondson presents practical strategies for creating psychological safety, enhancing team performance, and encouraging the open exchange of ideas to fuel innovation and growth. The book offers a blueprint for leaders looking to nurture a climate of transparency and openness, ensuring that every team member feels valued and heard, thereby driving organizational success. You can purchase a copy of the book here: The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth: Edmondson, Amy C.: 9781119477242: Amazon.com: Books
When you think about rural healthcare, you may not think about Scotland, but Scotland has some very rural areas that deal with similar issues we deal with in rural America. Hear about what they are doing in rural Scotland to deliver health and wellbeing to their residents, by listening to our conversation with Dr. Emma Watson, 2021-22 U.K. Harkness Fellow in Health Care Policy and Practice Deputy Medical Director at NHS Highland.
“NHS Highland delivers integrated health and social care, so it is not just about illness.”
~Dr. Emma Watson
Dr. Emma Watson MSc, FRCPath, FRCPEd is a 2020-21 UK Harkness Fellow in Healthcare Policy and Practice. A Consultant Medical Microbiologist by background and a senior clinical systems leader in Scotland, she is an expert in quality improvement and in medical education and workforce planning. Emma is Deputy Medical Director in NHS Highland which is, geographically, one of the largest and most sparsely populated combined health and social care systems in the UK. She is also a senior medical adviser in the Scottish Government. In both roles her focus is on developing innovative approaches to ensuring equitable access to high quality health care services with a sustainable healthcare workforce, particularly in remote and rural areas.
Emma has led a number of major change programs including the development of Scotland’s first graduate entry medical school. Emma previously held a post in the Scottish Government as Clinical Lead for the Scottish Patient Safety Program during which time she ensured quality improvement methodology translated from the development of health policy and strategy through to implementation across the entirety of the Scottish healthcare system. Scotland was the first country in the world to implement a patient safety program on a whole system basis at national level. As Director of Medical Education in NHS Highland she focused on the delivery of high quality medical education as a tool to increase recruitment and attract young doctors to the region as well as ensuring there is now an established programme to encourage young people from the area to go to medical school. During the COVID-19 pandemic she led the clinical response in her region and ensured there was a whole system approach to manage the impact of the virus.
In this episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio, Michael Hassell, CEO of Melissa Memorial Hospital in Colorado, discusses his journey from paramedic to hospital executive. Hassell discusses his strategic focus on community-centric initiatives, like enhancing local orthopedic services and integrating telemedicine. He also shares insights on effective collaboration through the Eastern Plains Health Consortium, underscoring the value of collective action in addressing rural healthcare challenges.
“Being rural should be seen less as a location and more like a proclamation of our dedication to creating stronger, sustainable healthcare.”
-Michael Hassel
Michael Hassell is the CEO of Melissa Memorial Hospital in Holyoke, Colorado. His experience includes roles in healthcare leadership, incident command, and consulting. Notable positions include Deputy Incident Commander for Region 7 All Hazards Incident Command in Florida during the COVID-19 crisis. He has also held management positions at various healthcare facilities, demonstrating expertise in leadership development, operations, safety, emergency management, and service line expansion.
Michael is a Fellow for the American College of Healthcare Executives, holds a certification from the National Rural Health Association, and an adjunct professor for Regis University. He holds a Bachelor's of Science and Master of Business Administration and enjoys camping and spending time with his two daughters.