Mgma Small Talk

In this episode of the MGMA Podcast, Senior Editor Daniel Williams sits down with Linda Carroll of Aurora Maternal Fetal Medicine in Alaska, recorded live at the 2025 MGMA Leaders Conference in Orlando. Linda shares her unique perspective on traveling from Alaska to connect with peers, the importance of cultural sensitivity in healthcare leadership, and how resource groups like the AAPI Leaders Group provide space for meaningful conversations. She also discusses the realities of delivering care across rural Alaska, balancing Telehealth with in-person visits, and why networking is the most valuable takeaway from MGMA conferences.What you’ll hear in this episode:Challenges and rewards of delivering maternal-fetal care across AlaskaWhy cultural awareness is vital for healthcare leadersHow peer networks provide support in leadership rolesInsights from MGMA’s resource groups and breakout sessionsThe role of conferences in building community and balance for leadersResources:MGMA Leaders Conference: https://mgma.com

In this episode of the MGMA Podcast, we sit down with Rana McSpadden, FACMPE, CHPC, CPC, a consultant with the Medical Practice Services department of SVMIC, to explore the growing risks of ransomware and cybersecurity threats in medical practices. With more than 25 years of healthcare experience, Rana brings expertise in compliance, cybersecurity, patient experience, and practice operations to the discussion.What You’ll Learn:Why ransomware attacks on medical practices are becoming more frequentCommon gaps in healthcare security risk analysis that leave practices vulnerableThe dangers of incomplete malware removal and repeat ransomware attacksHow AI tools like ChatGPT can create cybersecurity risks in healthcareWhat PHI you should never put into public AI systemsReal OCR settlement case studies from practices that experienced breachesKey Takeaway: Many practices have not completed thorough, enterprise-wide security risk analyses—making them prime targets for threat actors. Leadership from the top is essentia

In this episode of the MGMA Podcast, Seb Terry discusses how he turned a personal list of 100 life goals into a global movement. He explains the science of goal setting, the importance of kindness in achieving results, and practical strategies busy professionals can use to find purpose and satisfaction in both work and life. Hosted by Daniel Williams. Key Timestamped Moments:04:38 – Seb’s turning point: From drifting to defining a life of purpose06:38 – The science of goal setting and why most people fail (and how to succeed)13:00 – The most meaningful item Seb ever checked off his list15:01 – How “100 Things” became a global movement and inspired others17:01 – Advice for overwhelmed professionals: Micro-steps and self-kindness19:17 – How kindness and connection drive real achievementResources & Links:Seb Terry’s 100 Things Movement: https://100things.com/MGMA Leaders Conference: https://mgma.com/leaders“The Top Five Regrets of the Dying” by Bronnie Ware: https://bronnieware.com/regrets-of-the-dying/Seb T

On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams sits down with David N. Gans, MGMA’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Dave reflects on his decades-long career with MGMA, his role in shaping the organization’s history, and his pioneering work in benchmarking and data-driven decision-making for medical practices. He also shares practical advice for medical practice leaders facing today’s most pressing challenges — from workforce shortages to financial pressures — and reminds us that at the heart of every innovation is the patient.Whether you’re navigating the complexities of group practice management or looking for inspiration from one of the field’s most trusted voices, this episode offers invaluable insights and problem-solving perspectives.Key Takeaways[03:26] Dave reflects on receiving the MGMA Lifetime Achievement Award and the legacy of past recipients.[06:00] A deep dive into MGMA’s origins in 1926 and Dave’s role as an organizational historian.[06:39] How a student internshi

In this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams speaks with Jon R. Ewing, Chief Operating Officer at the Women’s Clinic in Jackson, Tennessee, and MGMA’s 2025 Legislative Liaison of the Year. Jon shares how he unexpectedly entered legislative advocacy, the importance of bridging policy and practice, and what medical group leaders need to know about engaging with lawmakers.From TennCare reimbursement challenges to looming physician shortages, Jon breaks down complex legislative issues into practical takeaways for medical practice leaders. His insights underscore why advocacy isn’t just politics — it’s problem-solving for the future of healthcare.Key Takeaways[02:34] Jon describes the shock of learning he’d been named MGMA’s Legislative Liaison of the Year.[04:35] The role of local media in Jackson, Tennessee, and how healthcare organizations connect with their communities.[06:08] Jon’s Arkansas roots, trout fishing background, and early exposure to medicine through his father’s small-town pr

On this episode of the MGMA Business Solutions Podcast, host Daniel Williams speaks with Rob Fershtman, Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships at U.S. Career Institute. With more than a decade of experience helping healthcare organizations strengthen their pipelines for Certified Medical Assistants and other essential roles, Fershtman shares strategies for addressing staffing shortages, creating flexible education pathways and building long-term retention in medical practices. Key Takeaways:[05:41] - Identifying workforce gaps: How rural healthcare organizations are struggling to recruit talent and why early-stage career roles, like medical assistants, are critical to closing the gap.[08:14] - What US Career Institute offers: An overview of the accredited programs and degrees, with a focus on entry-level healthcare pathways and medical assistant training.[10:40] - Real-life success stories: How individuals from diverse backgrounds (oil riggers, hairstylists) transitioned into healthcare careers and thrived

Futurist, author, and Hall of Fame speaker Crystal Washington joins this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast. Crystal shares her expertise on generative AI and its practical applications for healthcare leaders. As an upcoming keynote speaker at the MGMA Leaders Conference in Orlando (September 28 - October 1), Crystal breaks down the AI landscape, debunks common myths, and provides actionable strategies for medical practice leaders navigating technology adoption without getting overwhelmed.[02:35] - Becoming a futurist: Crystal explains her path from hospitality management to consulting for global brands, and how she developed her futurist mindset.[06:25] - Grounding AI in reality: Artificial intelligence has been around since the 1950s; generative AI is simply the newest wave, not an oracle.[07:49] - Generative AI hype vs. reality: Crystal cautions leaders to separate engineering insights from corporate hype and stock-price-driven narratives.[10:12] - Healthcare leaders and limited time: Practical advice on

In this debut episode of the MGMA Early Careerist podcast, host Melinda Mastel speaks with Shay Eskew, Vice President of Sales at Kodiak Solutions, Ironman athlete, and burn survivor. Shay shares his remarkable journey from a childhood accident that changed his life, to building a career in healthcare, writing a bestselling book, and embracing challenges in athletics and leadership. Tune in for insights on resilience, risk-taking, building community, and finding purpose—plus practical advice for early careerists navigating their own paths.8 Key Moments:00:00 – Introduction & Meet Shay Askew01:10 – Shay’s Unplanned Path into Healthcare03:10 – Childhood Accident & Burn Survivor Story05:15 – Recovery, Shriners Hospital, and Finding Purpose10:00 – Sharing His Story: Speaking, Rotary, and Writing a Book16:00 – Embracing Challenges: Ironman, Global Adventures, and Mindset25:00 – Leadership, Mentorship, and Advice for Early Careerists34:00 – Book Recommendations, Final Advice, and How to Connect with ShayRes

In this episode of MGMA's Women in Healthcare podcast, host Adrienne Lloyd talks with Hayley Boling, CEO of Bowling Vision Center and Insight Surgery Center, about the realities of leadership, the importance of empathy and accountability, and the everyday moments that shape strong teams. They discuss mentorship, support networks, and the value of authenticity in healthcare and beyond.00:03 — Introduction and Guest Background02:12 — Creating a Culture of Accountability with Empathy17:02 — Being a Woman Leader in Healthcare27:52 — Finding Mentors and Building Support Networks36:31 — Key Leadership Lessons: Progress Over Perfection42:27 — Closing Thoughts and Thank YouYour Host:Adrienne Palmer Lloyd, MHA, FACHECEO/Founder, Optimize HealthcareMGMA Consultant | Certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach | Lean/Six Sigma ExpertCONNECT WITH Adrienne!

On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams welcomes Carolyn Bruebaker Moore, MBA, FACMPE, Vice President of Operations at PeaceHealth Medical Group in Oregon. Carolyn will be speaking at the upcoming MGMA Leaders Conference in Orlando (Sept. 28 – Oct. 1, 2025), where her session, "Build Your Own Operational Leadership Development Program," will give practice leaders practical tools to strengthen leadership pipelines. In this conversation, Carolyn shares her healthcare journey, how she identified a leadership training gap, and how she created an inclusive program that equips supervisors, managers, and directors to grow into stronger, more confident leaders. Listeners will learn about the program’s structure, retreats, challenges, and rewards—and how they can adapt these lessons within their own organizations. [04:50] Carolyn’s healthcare journey: Carolyn discusses her 21 years in leadership, her transition from academic medicine to nonprofit care and how MGMA has supported her growth[08

Join host Daniel Williams on the MGMA Insights Podcast as he sits down with Dr. Alpesh Amin, Associate Dean for Clinical Transformation at UCI Health. Dr. Amin previews his upcoming session at the 2025 MGMA Leaders Conference in Orlando while sharing practical strategies for leveraging digital health and virtual care. Learn how to optimize ambulatory space, improve patient access and expand clinical capacity without building new facilities. [4:07] - Redefining Ambulatory Space Optimization[6:30] - Implementing E-Consults for Specialist Access[9:28] - Using Remote Monitoring to Reduce Hospital Length of Stay[10:45] - Leveraging Parking Lot Check-ins and Virtual Platforms[13:35] - Treating Healthcare as a Team Sport[17:11] - Embracing Technology Across All Age Groups[18:47] - Goal-Setting and Team BuildingResources:2025 MGMA Leaders Conference - September 28 - October 2 in Orlando, FL - Register HereLeaders Session: "Ambulatory Space Optimization with Digital Health Transformation" Tuesday, Sept. 30 @ 1:00 PMUC

In this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, Dr. Michael Neal, a practicing optometrist and founder of Build My Team. Dr. Neal shares his transformative approach to healthcare hiring while addressing critical challenges like staff turnover, burnout and creating a high-performing practice culture. Drawing from lessons learned in his own practice and insights from top service industries, he offers practical strategies for medical practice leaders to enhance their hiring process.Key Takeaways:03:20 Hiring Paradigm Shift: Move beyond resume-based hiring to assessment-driven candidate selection10:42 Mindset Matters: Prioritize candidates with a genuine desire to serve and find fulfillment in healthcare13:29 Transferable Hiring Strategies: Approach works across different healthcare specialties and practice types17:09 Burnout Prevention: Strategically building the right team can dramatically reduce practice leader stress18:01 Emotional Impact: Reduce Sunday night anxiety and Monday morning dread through strategic h

In this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams joins Mark Noon, a retired US Air Force medical leader and founder of LEADERSHIPTEN to explore leadership challenges amid cultural adaptations in the post-pandemic workplace. With extensive experience coaching healthcare organizations, Mark shares critical leadership strategies for medical practice managers and administrators while offering practical approaches to team development and patient experience.Key Takeaways:[04:12] Career Evolution: Mark transitioned from military medical laboratory work to leadership consulting, demonstrating the importance of adaptability in professional growth[10:00] Leadership Challenges: Four primary leadership challenges identified:CommunicationMotivationDelegationCulture building[12:11] Workplace Flexibility: Embracing remote work requires trust, understanding individual work styles, and creating flexible communication strategies[18:21] Cross-Role Understanding: Implement role-playing exercises to help team me

In this episode of the MGMA Business Solutions Podcast, Dr. Michael Blackman, Chief Medical Officer at Greenway Health, explores how AI and automation can help reduce provider burnout and improve medical practice efficiency. The conversation highlights Greenway's Clinical Assist technology while offering insights for medical practice leaders looking to leverage AI as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for healthcare professionals.Key Takeaways:05:39 AI as an Assistant, Not a Replacement08:47 Ambient Documentation with Greenway Clinical Assist13:19 Time Pressure Reduction15:27 Staff Adoption Strategy18:49 Enhanced Information Retrieval20:17 Future Trends in Clinical Decision Support, Virtual Care, and Healthcare InteroperabilityResources: Visit the Greenway Health websiteLearn more about Greenway Clinical AssistConnect with Dr. Michael Blackman on LinkedInAdditional Resources:MGMA PlaybooksMGMA EventsMGMA ConsultingMGMA DataDiveMGMA StatMGMA PodcastsEmail us at dwilliams@mgma.com if you would like to

In this episode of the MGMA Business Solutions Podcast, host Daniel Williams sits down with Chris Franklin, President of LocumTenens.com, and Allison Sawyer, Vice President of Strategy and Innovation, to unpack recent research on clinician workforce trends. The conversation reveals surprising findings about job satisfaction, retention and what truly motivates today's healthcare professionals. This topic will be featured in the upcoming MGMA webinar, "Cracking the Clinician Code: Insights To Attract & Retain Top Talent Today."Key Takeaways:03:32 Surprising Statistics06:09 Top Retention Factors11:55 Generational Insights17:19 Retention Risk18:28 Improving Work Environment15:13 Critical WarningResources:MGMA Webinar - "Cracking the Clinician Code: Insights To Attract & Retain Top Talent Today"- July 29th at 1:00 PM ET (11:00 AM MT) - Learn more and register hereLocomTenens.com and Advisory Board Study - Survey Insights: What to Know About the Clinician Workforce Today Additional Resources:MGMA PlaybooksM

In this MGMA podcast episode, host Daniel Williams talks with Dr. Christopher Kodama, MD, MBA, founder of EverSpark, about managing disruptive physician behavior. They define what disruptive behavior looks like in healthcare settings, discuss its impact on practice culture, and outline actionable strategies for addressing it—covering preparation, conversation techniques, and follow-up. Dr. Kodama also previews his upcoming session at the MGMA Leaders Conference in Orlando.Main Points: 00:50 – Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:38 – Dr. Kodama's Background and Career Journey 05:13 – Understanding Disruptive Physician Behavior 06:36 – Defining Disruptive Behavior 08:20 – Identifying Disruptive Dynamics in Practice 11:53 – Approaching the Difficult Conversation 17:44 – Follow-Up and Mitigating Risk 20:23 – Conclusion and Upcoming Conference DetailsAdditional Resources:MGMA PlaybooksMGMA EventsMGMA ConsultingMGMA DataDiveMGMA StatMGMA PodcastsEmail us at dwilliams@mgma.com if you would like to appear on an episode

In this episode of the MGMA Week in Review podcast, hosts Daniel Williams and Colleen Luckett share the latest healthcare industry news, including proposed changes to Medicare payments, healthcare consumer experience trends, and an Emmy-nominated medical drama. Plus, they highlight a leadership story from MGMA Connection Magazine and spotlight MGMA’s Women Healthcare Leaders Resource Group.Key Takeaways:00:50 Welcome and Introduction01:25 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Updates (Medical Economics)04:14 The Importance of First-Time Energy in Patient Care (Physician’s Practice)06:12 Authenticity in Medical Dramas (Chief Healthcare Executive)08:07 Healthcare Communication and Consumer Satisfaction (Smart Communications 2025 Healthcare Benchmark Report)11:31 Inspiring Leadership Journey (MGMA Connection Magazine)13:16 Conclusion and Call for ContributionsAdditional Resources:MGMA PlaybooksMGMA EventsMGMA ConsultingMGMA DataDiveMGMA StatMGMA PodcastsEmail us at dwilliams@mgma.com if you would like to appear on an

In this episode of the MGMA Business Solutions Podcast, host Daniel Williams sits down with Phill Tornroth, Vice President of Engineering at Elation Health. Together, they explore the revolutionary impact of AI on primary care, discussing how technology can reduce clinician burden, streamline workflows and bring human-centered design to healthcare technology. Elation Health received two awards from the 2025 Best in KLAS: Software and Services report: one for Small Practice Ambulatory EMR/PM and another for EMR-Centric Virtual Care Platforms.  Key Takeaways:05:46 Clinical-First Strategy09:15 Note Assist Innovation11:37 Actions Feature14:19 User-Friendly AI Design16:41 AI's Potential in Healthcare20:39 Validated User ExperienceResources:Visit the Elation Health website to learn moreLearn more about Elation Note AssistLearn more about Elation Actions2025 Best in KLAS: Software and Services reportConnect with Phill Tornroth on LinkedInAdditional Resources:MGMA PlaybooksMGMA EventsMGMA ConsultingMGMA DataDiveMGMA

In this episode of the MGMA Member Spotlight podcast, host Daniel Williams talks with Linda Carroll, a certified medical practice executive and co-facilitator of MGMA’s AAPI Healthcare Leaders Resource Group. The discussion explores Linda’s work and life in Alaska, the value of resource groups, and the importance of culturally responsive leadership. Linda shares how telehealth is bridging gaps in rural care and how MGMA communities help foster mentorship, connection, and visibility for Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders in healthcare.Timestamps:[00:50] – Introduction and Host Welcome[01:24] – Meet Linda Carroll: Experience and Background[01:54] – Life in Alaska: Winter and Work[03:53] – Linda's Journey into Healthcare[07:03] – Healthcare in Anchorage: Challenges and Innovations[11:26] – MGMA Resource Groups: An Overview[12:06] – AAPI Healthcare Leaders Resource Group[16:39] – Cultural Conversations and Shared Experiences[22:30] – Upcoming Events and Final ThoughtsResources:MGMA Member Resource Groups

On this episode of the MGMA Week in Review podcast, hosts Daniel Williams and Colleen Luckett dive into key updates shaping medical group practices. They explore how healthcare leaders—especially Chief Nursing Officers—are becoming central to advocacy efforts, examine the mounting pressures on rural hospitals, and break down how real estate decisions can either support or stall private practice growth. Plus, they share new MGMA Stat poll results on operational costs and preview insights from the latest issue of MGMA Connection magazine on the future of independent practices.Timestamps and Resources:00:50 – Welcome to MGMA Week in Review01:26 – The Importance of Policy and Advocacy in Healthcare (Health Leaders Media) 03:37 – Upcoming Government Affairs Webinar (Government Affairs Webinar) 04:35 – Challenges Facing Rural Hospitals (Beckers Hospital Review) 06:55 – MGMA Stat Poll Insights (MGMA Stat) 09:11 – Real Estate Considerations for Medical Practices (Medical Economics) 12:03 – What’s Next for Medical Pra