#170 - Bold Leadership and Big Ideas in Healthcare HR

In this dynamic episode of The ASHHRA Podcast, hosts Luke Carignan and Bo Brabo chat with Maxine Carrington, Chief People Officer, and Matt Kurth, Deputy Chief People Officer at Northwell Health. Fresh from the ASHHRA Executive Summit in Savannah, they explore how Northwell—a powerhouse with 104,000 employees, 28 hospitals, and recent mergers like Nuvance Health—navigates massive changes while fostering a bold, people-first culture.

Maxine and Matt discuss leadership transitions (including CEO Michael Dowling's retirement), Epic's largest-ever EMR rollout, UKG implementation, and digital transformation. They emphasize Northwell's mission as a "movement" to raise health standards, driven by curiosity, humility, and innovation. From HR overhauls to psychological safety via book clubs on Amy Edmondson's "The Fearless Organization," they share strategies for employee engagement and whole-family well-being.

Key takeaways for healthcare HR leaders:

• Bold Leadership & Succession: Manage executive retirements with advisory roles and knowledge transfer for seamless transitions.
• Cultural Innovation: Embrace "just a little unsatisfied" mindset to drive progress; learn from failures and external partners.
• Employee Experience Elevation: Use AI, data nudges, and family-inclusive benefits to support whole-person health and proactive care.
• HR Transformation: Shift priority-setting to customers; align OKRs with operations for impactful solutions.
• Community Impact: Extend wellness education to households; incentivize healthy actions to catch issues early.

Discover how Northwell turns challenges into opportunities, inspiring HR pros to demand innovation and accountability. A must-listen for those in healthcare leadership, employee well-being, and organizational culture.

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