The Catalyst Podcast

Jamelia Hand, CEO of Vantage Clinical Consulting, advises healthcare systems, corporate organizations, and advocacy groups in their efforts to reduce the national emergencies of opioid addiction and drug overdose via strategy consulting, training, technical assistance, and Program Development. Her areas of expertise encompass behavioral Health, digital health and AI integration, compliance, and health equity. Among the topics we discussed:   1.   Her remarkable career trajectory, taking her though through just about every sector of substance use treatment—from direct clinical services, to corporate/private organizations, compliance, to digital health. 2.   Her “secret shopper approach” in evaluating treatment organizations before formal engagement. 3.   The critical gaps between the treatment business and the business of treatment (billing, regulatory compliance, revenue operations) and how treatment organizations can fill those gaps.  4.   Why organizations struggle with digital and AI adoption, and what leaders can do to promote tech/AI literacy and adoption. 5.   Her weekly LinkedIn “In the Field” posts – what she covers and why it’s been so well-received by people in the field. Whether you're a healthcare executive, clinician, or policy advocate, this episode is your essential guide to navigating the complex world of behavioral health, digital transformation, and organizational resilience. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecatalyst2.substack.com

This is a special Catalyst podcast. First, because it’s the first one that includes a co-host, Ms. Cayla Epstein, a third-year medical student at the University of Miami, who brings a deep understanding of the issues we explore in this episode. It is also notable because of our three guests, who were among the co-authors of a study that was the subject of a recent Vox exclusive that received massive attention, RFK Jr. and the White House buried a major study on alcohol and cancer, which was amplified by contemporaneous stories in the New York Times, STAT, and other prominent media organs. Drs. Priscilla Martinez, Katherine Keyes, and Timothy Namei joined us to discuss their study, the Alcohol Intake and Health Study, which was commissioned in early 2022 by the US Department of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden. The authors told Vox that they were informed last month that the Trump administration did not intend to publish the final draft of the study or its findings. Our conversation focuses on their study, its salient findings (including the link between alcohol and breast cancer), its ramifications for our nation’s public health, and the need to find alternative channels for disseminating important health information.Guests: * Dr. Priscilla Martinez, Scientist, Deputy Scientific DirectorAlcohol Research Group | Public Health Institute.* Dr. Katherine Keyes, epidemiologist at Columbia University. * Dr. Timothy Namei, Director, Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research; Professor, University of Victoria. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecatalyst2.substack.com

Dr. Douglas Smith, Director of the Center for Prevention Research and Development at the University of Illinois, discusses the perceptions and definitions of recovery among youth. Drawing insights from the Illinois Youth Survey, Dr. Smith explains why only 5% of surveyed Illinois youth consider themselves in recovery, compared to the 8% national average for adults. We discussed why mobile apps have proven to be relatively ineffective for mental health treatment for adolescents, and how schools, communities, and healthcare systems can support diverse recovery pathways. He also shares insights from his new book, "Motivational Interviewing with Families," offering a fresh perspective on supporting youth in their recovery journeys. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecatalyst2.substack.com

When former lit prof Molly Robey was teaching the works of the relatively little-known late 19th-century writer Charles W. Chestnutt - among other English writers equally and/or more prominent - she couldn’t have imagined the extent to which it foreshadowed her current work with Chestnut Health Systems. Dr. Molly Robey, Chestnut's Director of Employee Experience, joins us to discuss her transition from over a decade as an English Literature professor to leading employee experience initiatives, and how her academic background informs her work. Dr. Robey shares insights on creating inclusive work environments, supporting mental health initiatives, and developing retention programs with measurable results. The conversation covers her strategies for supervisor development, new employee orientation, and helping teams navigate organizational change while maintaining resilience in mission-driven work.We also discuss her training on "Why are we afraid to talk about religion at work?" which addresses one of the workplace's most challenging topics. She explains how this training fosters thoughtful, non-divisive conversations about religiosity's role in career choices and workplace well-being while providing practical guidelines for true inclusivity.This episode offers valuable insights for leaders, HR professionals, and anyone interested in building supportive workplaces that honor both individual identity and collective mission. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecatalyst2.substack.com

We spoke with Matt Mollenhauer, Chief Clinical Officer at Chestnut Health Systems, where he’s been for the past 33 years. We discussed:* What a CCO does, and a sense of the scope of clinical programs within your purview as CCO.* Matt’s leadership philosophy - how he keeps staff engaged, motivated, and at the top of their game.* Matt points to two programs that best exemplify Chestnut’s innovative approaches in delivering successful outcomes.* He cites the top 3 challenges in today’s uncertain climate and what Chestnut is doing to overcome them.* What he learned from his days with Chestnut Global Partners, an international EAP, that he applies to his work today. And since he’s a diehard Green Bay Packers fan, we couldn’t resist sprinkling in several apt football references. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecatalyst2.substack.com

In this special episode of the Catalyst, we visit with Dave Sharar, the CEO of Chestnut Health Systems. After a remarkable 36-year career, Dave is stepping down from his post to begin a new chapter at the Lighthouse Institute.Dave reflects on his journey from camp counselor to CEO, sharing the pivotal moments that shaped his leadership philosophy, which emphasizes inclusivity, autonomy, and strategic direction. He delves into his pioneering work with Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), the development of the Workplace Outcome Suite, a tool that revolutionized how EAPs measure their impact on productivity, and his role in pioneering the "glocal" model of international EAP delivery. The conversation also explores the challenges and achievements of his tenure—from navigating service line integration and the pressures of the pandemic to addressing widespread workforce shortages. As he transitions to his new role, Dave reveals his mission to tackle critical issues in workplace behavioral health, including access to care for the working poor and the persistent challenge of labor shortages.Join us as we celebrate Dave's legacy and look ahead to his next chapter of innovation in the behavioral health field. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecatalyst2.substack.com