Raz Cook serves as administrator for two hospitals: East Texas Medical Center Trinity and East Texas Medical Center Jacksonville. Raz has been a registered nurse for 35 years, and a hospital administrator for 18.
“I think that leadership is artfully influencing people to do work for a common purpose. I think it has both quantitative and qualitative aspects to it. At its best, it's an effective symbiosis that accomplishes great goals. It's rather like being the director of a symphony of different voices and talents, and it creates beautiful music when it's done right.”
She has had a variety of roles throughout her career, including solid organ transplant, critical care nursing, academic nursing instructor and administrative leadership. Her experience took her from the bedside to the C-suite. Additionally, Raz has also served on multiple boards, including the Texas Hospital Association Executive Board, and is currently a non-trustee member on the Texas Healthcare Trustees board of directors.
Randy Dauby serves as the CEO of the Pickneyville Community Hospital District in Pinckneyville, IL. Prior to that, he was CFO then CEO at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in Illinois. His leadership style is authoritative, mixed with kindness and compassion, which trickles down throughout the organization among staff members and patient care.
“I think as a leader, we can tell people that respect, dignity, courtesy is something we need to have as managers. We've got to be authoritative, we've got to expect our managers to do their jobs, but also have a caring and concern for your employees, just as you should have that caring concern for their patients and visitors that come to the hospital.”
Randy started working in healthcare as a teenager, then went on to get a CPA degree and became CFO of Hamilton Memorial Hospital. He transitioned to become a CEO in 1999 and has held the role ever since.
Tune in to hear our conversation on leadership in healthcare and the thoughts on the current state of healthcare policy.
Marybeth Peña is the Nurse Program Specialist for the Florida Department of Health in Marin County. She is a registered nurse and a certified diabetes educator, and was recognized at the 2017 Rural Health Symposium for the work that she does with underserved populations. Currently, she oversees “The Program for Chronic Disease,” a preventative initiative designed to fight chronic conditions such as the obesity epidemic.
“I spent a lot of time just kind of observing, and looking, and listening, and using the model of knowledge, attitude, practice, and belief. So you kind of look at what the community has, what they're willing to change, what their belief systems are, and then work with the people who are already leaders, and the organizations that already have an impact in the community.”
Marybeth’s rural health journey began when she joined the Peace Corps, and worked in a small orphanage in Nicaragua. That experience is what sparked her passion for working with underserved populations in rural areas.
John Gill serves as President of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics. He received the Ron Nelson Award in 2014, presented by his peers; in honor of the positive impact John’s efforts have on the lives of the community that he serves. In this episode, John discusses the importance of connecting with the community, understanding the issues they face and promoting rural hospitals and clinics.
“[Rural is] a silent left out majority of our nation that, unfortunately, has been poorly focused on, because the louder voices, and certainly the majority of voices that are heard, tend to come from urbanized areas.”
John has been a Physician’s Assistant since 1974, and also served as a member of the United States Army for 40 years. He has worn many hats in rural health, as do many rural health leaders, and shares his knowledge and expertise with us in episode 46 of Rural Health Leadership Radio.