"Combat to Concierge: Applying Military Problem-Solving to Healthcare Challenges" with Robert Kunkel

What happens when you take military discipline, leadership under pressure, and combine it with concierge-level healthcare? In this episode, Robert Kunkel shares how his Army background shaped the way he leads and builds hospitals that truly care for people. Robert Kunkel, Director of Operations for Exceptional Healthcare, joins Tommy from Farmington, New Mexico, where he is preparing to open his company’s eighth micro-hospital. With a career that began in the infantry and transitioned into the Army Medical Service Corps, Robert has spent decades solving complex problems in high-pressure environments. After retiring from the Army in 2013, Robert continued serving in healthcare leadership roles, including work with Indiana University Health and government healthcare services. Today, he helps lead the development and launch of 22,000-square-foot micro-hospitals that combine emergency services, inpatient care, radiology, lab, and pharmacy services under one roof. One of the key differentiators for Exceptional Healthcare is its concierge care approach. Inspired by leadership training at Disney University, the company emphasizes treating patients like valued guests. From doing a patient’s laundry to feeding family members, Robert explains how small, thoughtful actions create a powerful experience in an industry where word-of-mouth matters. Robert also shares his personal journey as the first in his family to earn an advanced degree and how overcoming self-doubt helped shape his leadership style. He discusses breaking the stigma around military leadership in the civilian workforce and how he now mentors others to pursue education and growth. If you are in healthcare, leadership, or transitioning from the military to civilian life, this episode offers practical insights on discipline, adaptability, and serving people well.   Be a Guest Are you a successful business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at https://adaptandovercomepodcast.com/guest  and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you...