Dr. Danielle Gabele - Chief Executive Officer, Ventura County Medical Center & Santa Paula Hospital

What does it take to go from ICU nurse to hospital CEO?In this episode of Pulse Check, Dr. Kimberly Long sits down with Dr. Danielle Gabele, Chief Executive Officer of Ventura County Medical Center and Santa Paula Hospital, to discuss her unconventional journey into nursing leadership, the mentors who shaped her career, and the lessons she has learned leading at the highest levels of healthcare.Danielle shares how an early career in business helped develop her leadership philosophy, why understanding every level of an organization matters, and how strong partnerships between healthcare systems and academic institutions can strengthen the nursing workforce pipeline. She also offers practical insights on balancing competing priorities, staying connected to a leadership "North Star," and advocating for the future of nursing through professional engagement and public policy.Key topics include:• Danielle's path from economics graduate to hospital CEO• The leadership lessons she learned outside of healthcare• Building stronger partnerships between academia and clinical practice• Developing successful nursing workforce pipelines• Navigating competing priorities as a healthcare executive• The importance of mentorship in leadership development• How nurse leaders can influence healthcare policy and regulatory decisions• The role professional organizations play in career growth and advocacyThis conversation offers valuable insights for nurse leaders, healthcare executives, educators, and anyone aspiring to lead meaningful change in healthcare.