In the latest episode of "Tell Us WHY," hosts Emily O'Sullivan and Jen Wright talk with Dr. Whitney Marvin and Dr. Alyssa Rheingold of MUSC Health about their health system’s transformative journey on improving healthcare workforce wellbeing.

The quartet, having worked together through a recent grant from The Duke Endowment on these issues, primarily focuses on the importance of moving beyond wellness perks to foster real, systemic changes that address the root causes of workforce distress. The conversation also touches on personal motivations and experiences, comprehensive listening strategies, and the significance of leadership in fostering a supportive organizational culture.

This will be the final episode of Tell Me WHY to feature Emily, who will be taking on a new role at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare. We wish her the very best!

In this episode of Tell Me WHY, we sit down with Joshua Trout, Chief Executive Officer of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Greenville. A mission-driven healthcare executive, Joshua has built his career on fostering culture-driven leadership and creating environments where caregivers and patients alike can thrive. As CEO, he led the development of the Greenville hospital from the ground up—both structurally and culturally—earning recognition for building high-performing teams and empowering leaders to deliver meaningful results.

Joshua is also the author of Transformative Leadership, a compelling book that blends personal experiences with professional insights to show how vulnerability, empathy, and authenticity can redefine leadership. In his writing, Joshua emphasizes that true leadership is not about authority alone, but about humility, openness, and the courage to lead with compassion. His book has been praised for offering practical tools to help leaders build trust, strengthen collaboration, and inspire organizational transformation.

In this conversation, Joshua highlights the importance of creating safe and supportive environments for caregivers, recognizing that their emotional well-being directly impacts patient care. He discusses the challenges caregivers face daily—balancing compassion with professional demands—and underscores why healthcare organizations must encourage openness, empathy, and understanding.

To learn more about Joshua's book and other pursuits, go to joshuaptrout.com.

In this episode, Russell Baxley, President and CEO of Beaufort Memorial Hospital, shares his journey in healthcare administration and the innovative strategies his hospital is implementing to address workforce challenges, particularly regarding childcare and housing. He and co-hosts Jen Wright and Emily O'Sullivan also talk about the importance of listening to employee needs and forming partnerships in the community to address affordability and other workforce challenges.

In the latest episode of Tell Me WHY, Jen and Emily chat with Dr. Teresa “Tese” Stephens, RN, PhD, about her research findings on resilience in the healthcare workforce, touching on her early experience in the field and her work with Holocaust survivors that powered her work.

A recent journal article Dr. Stephens references in the podcast, "Culture Shock: Remote Work in Higher Education" by Teresa M. Stephens, Kristen Poston et al., is available at https://commons.library.stonybrook.edu/ijttl/vol1/iss1/2/.

In this episode of “Tell Me Why,” hosts Emily O'Sullivan and Jen Wright discuss the role of contingent labor in the healthcare workforce with Mindy Milligan, regional vice president of program management for Qualivis. They explore common myths about travel nurses, the impact of AI on workforce management, and the importance of diversifying staffing solutions. Mindy shares insights on converting travelers to permanent staff, the benefits of internal agency float, and offers advice for healthcare leaders on effectively integrating contingent labor into their staffing strategies.

In the latest episode of Tell Me WHY, we talk to Chief Talent Officer Chantel Greenfield and Senior Healthcare Recruitment Andrea Butler of Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System about their innovative approach to healthcare recruitment.

The episode features a robust discussion of how Greenfield and Butler are “ditching the old ways” and embracing cutting-edge strategies that are meeting the modern healthcare workforce needs and demands. Discover how their team uses data insights and creative approaches, from using AI to cultivating an inclusive workplace, to attract and retain top talent and addressing critical workforce challenges.

In this insightful conversation, Aiken Regional Medical Center's Crystal Mock and Tideland Health's Renee Shore discuss their personal journeys in the healthcare field with Tell Me WHY, emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness and support within the workforce. They also explore the challenges of burnout and stigma and share strategies for creating a supportive culture that prioritizes employee wellbeing. The discussion highlights the implementation of mental health first aid training and the significance of lifelong learning as a protective factor against burnout. Overall, the conversation underscores the need for a holistic approach to health and wellbeing in the healthcare environment.

In this episode of "Tell Me WHY," hosts Emily O'Sullivan and Jen Wright engage with Dr. Heather Farley, Chief Wellbeing Officer at MUSC Health, to discuss the critical importance of workforce well-being in healthcare. Dr. Farley shares her personal journey from emergency physician to CWO, emphasizing the need for a cultural shift in healthcare towards self-compassion and mutual support. The conversation explores the role of CWOs, the significance of listening to employee voices, and the strategic planning processes that lead to actionable initiatives aimed at improving the healthcare workforce experience. Dr. Farley highlights various programs being implemented at MUSC, including stress first aid training and rejuvenation stations, and discusses the future of workforce well-being in healthcare.