Beyond the Uniform: Dr. Kecia Kelly on Leadership and Veteran Care

In this special Veterans Day edition of the “Habitual Excellence” podcast, host Ken Segel interviews Dr. Kecia Kelly, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Legacy Health, who shares her extensive career journey from a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps to various leadership roles in healthcare. Dr. Kelly discusses the importance of respect, leading by example, and influencing through relationships, highlighting her success in improving inpatient throughput and leading a partnership with Labcorp. She emphasizes the value of stepping out of comfort zones and leveraging strengths, sharing personal stories about her father and husband to illustrate the long-term impacts of military service. Dr. Kelly calls for greater empathy and understanding towards veterans, urging healthcare providers to ask the right questions and provide comprehensive care, while expressing pride in her service and the importance of upholding the Constitution.