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The Fire Chief

by leescheinbart

The Fire Chief – The Chief Medical Officer Podcast is your frontline briefing on what it truly means to lead in the heat of healthcare. Hosted by Dr. Lee Scheinbart, this series offers raw, insightful conversations with current and former Chief Medical Officers—unfiltered stories from the command center of crisis, healing, and transformation.Drawing a powerful parallel between firefighting and medical leadership, each episode illuminates the path from early training to the burning challenges of the CMO role. From crisis response and financial strain to resilience, equity, and ethical leadership—these candid conversations decode what it takes to steer healthcare systems through turbulence.Whether you’re a physician climbing the leadership ladder, a seasoned executive confronting systemic fires, or simply fascinated by the intersection of medicine and leadership, The Fire Chief delivers thought-provoking leadership lessons that are as urgent as they are timeless. Welcome to the front l

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Oct 13, 2026 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. Why Is Physician Credentialing Still So Difficult?

    In this dynamic episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Victor Vargas, physician executive, retired U.S. Air Force flight surgeon, and founder and CEO of CrediSync. Drawing on lessons from military medicine, special operations, and his own journey into physician executive leadership, Victor...

  2. How Can CMOs Put Mission Back Ahead of Margin?

    In this thought-provoking episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Sheri Mancini, surgeon, physician advisor, U.S. Navy veteran, and author of Healthcare as Infrastructure: A Constitutional Approach to Reform. Drawing on more than two decades inside the healthcare system, Sheri challenges...

  3. How Should We Teach Physicians to Lead?

    In this forward-looking episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Matthew Mazurek, physician leader, medical educator, and co-editor of Systems Thinking for Physician Leaders. Drawing on his work in leadership, professionalism, and medical education, Matt challenges the traditional approach of...

  4. How Can CMOs Build Trust From the Inside Out?

    In this thought-provoking episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Jess Bunin, retired U.S. Army colonel, physician leader, executive coach, and author of From the Inside Out: How Self-Aware Leaders Build Trust and Transform Healthcare. Drawing on her experiences in military medicine, medical...

  5. How Do You Manage The "Difficult" Physician?

    In this insightful episode, host Dr. Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Anne Hirsch, certified physician coach and expert in physician professionalism and behavioral concerns. Drawing on decades of clinical practice and extensive experience with physician peer review, Dr. Hirsch challenges leaders to...

  6. How Do Great Leaders Make High-Stakes Decisions?

    In this compelling episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Colonel Michael Kloepper, Director of Leader Development and Character at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Drawing on decades of experience leading soldiers in combat and developing future military leaders, Colonel Kloepper shares...

  7. What's The Difference Between a Physician Leader and a Physician Executive?

    In this thought-provoking episode, host Lee Scheinbart welcomes Dr. James "Jim" Lindberg, Chief Medical Officer, physician executive, board-certified coach, and an incredible essayist on physician leadership. Drawing from decades of experience across clinical practice, academic medicine, and...

  8. How Do You Build Relationships?

    In this in-depth episode, host Lee Scheinbart welcomes retired U.S. Navy submarine commander Robert "Navy Bob" Roncska for a conversation that bridges military command and physician leadership. Drawing on decades of experience leading nuclear submarine crews, Bob shares practical lessons on...

  9. How To Contain The Heat

    In this thoughtful episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Vidhya Prakash, physician executive and author of The Leadership Learning Curve: A Woman Physician's Journey as a Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Prakash shares candid reflections on her evolution from an infectious disease physician to...

  10. The One Stop Shop for Chief Medical Officers

    In this critical episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Nicholas "Nick" Testa, Chief Clinical Officer at Sentact and former Chief Medical Officer for California at CommonSpirit Health. Nick shares his journey from emergency physician to healthcare executive and discusses his passion for...

  11. Be Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable

    In this transformational episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Chad Perlyn, Dean and Chief Medical Officer at Nova Southeastern University. Lee and Chad explore how physicians can transition from clinical roles to leadership positions within healthcare systems. Dr. Perlyn tells the tale of...

  12. Building Sustainable Physician Careers Starts At Your Front Door

    In this powerful episode of The Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages in an insightful conversation with Carey Goryl, CEO of AAPPR, a seasoned leader in the world of physician recruitment. As head of the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recuitment (AAPPR), Carey provides...

  13. What Leadership Is Really About.

    In this heartfelt, face-to-face interview for The Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages in a profound conversation with Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling US Army (ret), author of the recently published book, If I Don't Return: A Father's Wartime Journal. Together they explore their shared passion,...

  14. Invest Your Workforce Like Your Capital

    In this deep dive episode of The Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages in a profound conversation with Dr. Li Ern Chen, a visionary leader in healthcare transformation and Korn Ferry's Market Leader of Physician Workforce. They delve into Korn Ferry's 2026 Physician Executive Survey and...

  15. Three Pillars of Elevating Physicians

    In this existential episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews LynAnn Weaver, Certified High Performance Coach, a transformation strategist dedicated to empowering physicians and healthcare leaders. LynAnn, a former healthcare service line leader, shares practical strategies (three pillars) to…

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  16. Contextual Coaching In Healthcare

    In this transformational episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Joe Mazzenga, Managing Partner at NuBrick Partners, a highly specialized executive coaching team for healthcare leaders. Lee and Joe explore how physicians, especially those aspiring to senior leadership roles like Chief Medical...

  17. Revolutionizing Physician Credentialing

    In this timely episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Leah Houston, founder and CEO of evercred, a technology platform aimed at modernizing physician credentialing. Dr. Houston shares her personal experiences with credential misuse and the inefficiencies of...

  18. The Success Trifecta For Physician Leaders

    In this panoramic episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart talks with Dr. Dani Zoorob, CMIO of Ochsner-LSU Health and author of a critical paper on physician leadership competencies. They discuss the evolving landscape of physician leadership, emphasizing the need for a…

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  19. Get Greedy or Get Someone Else

    In this foundational episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages with Ethan Nkana, Principal of the Rocky Mountain Physician Agency, to discuss the critical importance of advocacy for physician contracting during the course of their careers. They explore the common blind spots...

  20. What You Need to Succeed (It's Not What You Think)

    In this incredibly insightful episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, Lee Scheinbart explores the critical journey of physician leadership, emphasizing the need for structured training and coaching to transition from clinical roles to executive positions. He discusses the secret of upskilling as a...

  21. Are You Serious About Your Next Role?

    In this winning episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews William 'Bill' Cowan, author of Building a Winning Career and expert in career management and leadership development. If you are truly serious about finding your next role, then listen as they discuss the challenges...

  22. Taking Care Of The Things That Are Not Yours

    In this heartfelt episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages in a profound conversation with Dr. Kevin O'Connor, the longest-serving White House physician. They explore the moral responsibilities of leadership in medicine, emphasizing the importance of values-based...

  23. The Humble Voice of an Ecosystem

    In this honest and humble episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart welcomes Dr. Dani Madril, a seasoned physician executive with over 25 years of experience in various healthcare settings. They discuss Dr. Madril's journey from clinical practice as a pediatric cardiac…

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  24. Who is Watching the Watcher

    In this EXCLUSIVE episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart welcomes William Walders, the Executive Vice President and Chief Digital and Information Officer for the Joint Commission. They discuss the rapid pace of technological advancements in healthcare, particularly Artificial...

  25. Elevate The Human Connection

    In this mind-bending and existential episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages with Dr. Paulius Mui, a leader in primary care innovation. They discuss the importance of using AI tools to redefine quality in primary care, emphasizing relationships over processes, and the need...

  26. Do What You Love

    In this 2026 new year kick-off episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart speaks with Dr. Carla Goulart Peron, Chief Medical Officer of Philips, a multibillion dollar, multinational healthcare innovation company, about her journey from practicing medicine to leading innovation in...

  27. The Human Margin

    In this dynamite episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages with Dr. Katherine Meese, an expert in healthcare leadership and organizational behavior. They discuss the importance of prioritizing human well-being in healthcare settings, the need for trust in leadership, and the...

  28. The Universality of Physician Leadership

    In this episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Professor Matt Sabin, former Chief Medical Officer at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. The two former CMOs discuss the challenges of physician leadership, the importance of self-awareness…

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  29. The Curiously Brave CMIO, From Zero to Bronze.

    In this honest and heartfelt episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews the show’s first Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO), Dr. Rachel McEntee. They discuss Dr. McEntee's journey into informatics, the evolving role of CMIOs, the need to move from integration of...

  30. AI in Peer Review and Performance

    In this next level episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart once more explores AI, but this time with a lens on Peer Review and Physician Performance. The conversation delves into the possibility of not just automating medical staff office functions of credentialing and privileging,...

  31. Embracing the Future: AI in Healthcare Leadership

    In this sci-fi episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart explores the future of healthcare, focusing on the role of AI, the transformation of care delivery and possibly medical education, and the need for innovative leadership in the healthcare sector. He discusses the challenges and...

  32. Preparing Physicians for the CEO Role: From the OR to the C-Suite

    In this perceptive episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages in a deep conversation with Dr. Leo Spector, CEO of OrthoCarolina, about the evolving role of physician executives. They discuss the challenges and opportunities in transitioning from the OR and clinical roles to...

  33. Key Insights for Physicians Seeking the CEO Role

    In this insightful episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages in a deep conversation with Steve McGovern, President and CEO of McGovern Executive Search. They explore the evolving role of physicians as CEOs in healthcare, discussing the challenges and opportunities that come...

  34. Building Culture Through Coaching

    In this dynamite episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Rawle “Tony” Seupaul, diehard U of Miami ‘Canes fan AND Chief Physician Executive at Carilion Clinic. They discuss the importance of physician leadership, the unique structure of Carilion Clinic, and the need…

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  35. Patients Over Politics? Get Upstream

    In this energetic episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Tina Shah, a devoted pulmonary and critical care physician and passionate Congressional candidate. They discuss Dr. Shah's journey in healthcare, her leadership philosophy, and her advocacy for healthcare...

  36. How Leaders (Invite and) Make Change

    In this profound and meaningful episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages with Deborah Rowland, a leader in organizational change and mindfulness. They discuss the importance of mindfulness in leadership, particularly in high-pressure environments like healthcare. Deborah...

  37. What Crisis Requires

    In this explosive episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages with Regina Phelps, a global expert in crisis management, to discuss the critical role of physician leaders in navigating crises within healthcare. They explore the differences between emergency response and crisis...

  38. Physician Advisor: The #1 Role CMOs Need in Their Life

    In this witty episode of The Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Clarissa Barnes, former President and CEO of the American College of Physician Advisors and currently the Chief Medical Officer for Medicaid in South Dakota. They discuss the evolving role of physician advisors…

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  39. Arresting Doctors

    In this off-world of an episode, host Lee Scheinbart launches into the remarkable career and educational journey of Dr. Daniel Handel, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for the Central Area of Atrium Health. Dr. Handel, the primary editor of the definitive and groundbreaking textbook on...

  40. Chief Mascot Officer

    In this truly remarkable episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, we delve into the amazing career of Chris Deacon, a nationally respected voice on healthcare reform. From her beginnings as a Deputy Attorney General to leading one of the largest health plans in the country, the indefatigable Chris…

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  41. We Need An Even Bigger Boat (Part 2)

    In Part 2 of this incredible conversation, Lee Scheinbart and Dr. Larry McEvoy, the founder of Epidemic Leadership, continue to go exponential and explore leadership 'at scale.', In this blistering Part 2 of the most intense conversation to date on the podcast, the you will hear further insights…

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  42. We Need A Bigger Boat

    In this intense conversation, Lee Scheinbart and Dr. Larry McEvoy, the founder of Epidemic Leadership, explore the evolving landscape of healthcare and the role of physician leadership. In the first of this two part series, the discussion touches on the importance of nurturing emerging leaders…

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  43. Remember to Breathe

    In this hot start episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Harpreet Pall, the recently appointed Chief Medical Officer at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore Hospital AND K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital. Dr. Pall shares his journey from pediatric gastroenterology to…

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  44. The Big Mystery

    In this lightning hot episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart welcomes Rebecca Kapphahn, Vice President and Senior Client Partner at Furst Group, to explore the mystery of physician executive recruitment, especially for the role of Chief Medical Officer. Together they examine the...

  45. Things Need To Change

    In this deeply heartfelt episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart honors Dr. Lorna Breen and discusses the critical issues surrounding physician leadership and mental health in healthcare. Dr. Stefanie Simmons, Chief Medical Officer of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, shares…

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  46. Turning The Page

    In this insightful, yet funny and irreverent episode, host Lee Scheinbart sits down with Dr. Caesar Gonzalez to explore the dynamic world of physician leadership. For the first time on The Fire Chief, the topic of job security is discussed. Dr. Gonzalez shares his personal journey from...

  47. We Serve Two Masters

    In this suborbital episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart goes interstellar with Dr. J.D. Polk, the Chief Health and Medical Officer at NASA. The two physicians explore the shared leadership parallels in space medicine and here on earth. Dr. Polk recently returned from Oxford…

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  48. Six Months On The Fire Line

    After six months of non-stop episodes, Dr. Lee Scheinbart, the host of The Fire Chief podcast takes a moment to reflect on the leadership themes that have emerged from his conversations from physician leaders and Chief Medical Officers. The show has evolved from exposing the lessons learned in...

  49. Be A Knight. Not A Knave.

    In this "top ten" episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages with Dr. Sachin Jain, a prolific writer and amazing leader in transformative healthcare delivery. They discuss Dr. Jain's journey from medicine to executive roles, the challenges of driving transformational change in...

  50. Don't Ask For Permission!

    In this episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart breaks down the Breakdowns with Preston Alexander, the self proclaimed Taylor Swift of LinkedIn healthcare writing. A seasoned healthcare entrepreneur, and author of The Healthcare Breakdown and the Forward / Health Breakdown...

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

The Fire Chief – The Chief Medical Officer Podcast is your frontline briefing on what it truly means to lead in the heat of healthcare. Hosted by Dr. Lee Scheinbart, this series offers raw, insightful conversations with current and former Chief Medical Officers—unfiltered stories from the command center of crisis, healing, and transformation.Drawing a powerful parallel between firefighting and medical leadership, each episode illuminates the path from early training to the burning challenges of the CMO role. From crisis response and financial strain to resilience, equity, and ethical leadership—these candid conversations decode what it takes to steer healthcare systems through turbulence.Whether you’re a physician climbing the leadership ladder, a seasoned executive confronting systemic fires, or simply fascinated by the intersection of medicine and leadership, The Fire Chief delivers thought-provoking leadership lessons that are as urgent as they are timeless. Welcome to the front l

HOSTED BY

leescheinbart

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Fire Chief have?

The Fire Chief currently has 81 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is The Fire Chief about?

The Fire Chief – The Chief Medical Officer Podcast is your frontline briefing on what it truly means to lead in the heat of healthcare. Hosted by Dr. Lee Scheinbart, this series offers raw, insightful conversations with current and former Chief Medical Officers—unfiltered stories from the command...

How often does The Fire Chief release new episodes?

The Fire Chief has 81 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to The Fire Chief?

You can listen to The Fire Chief on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts The Fire Chief?

The Fire Chief is created and hosted by leescheinbart.
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