The ASHHRA Podcast
The ASHHRA Podcast is the definitive audio briefing for healthcare HR leaders navigating what’s next.
Hosted by Bo Brabo and Luke Carignan, this weekly podcast explores the forces reshaping the healthcare workforce, from talent shortages and leadership burnout to data-driven HR strategy, labor relations, and policy shifts that impact care delivery.
Each episode features candid conversations with CHROs, senior executives, and industry change-makers who are solving real problems inside hospitals and health systems right now. No theory, no fluff, just practical insight from leaders in the arena.
Listeners gain clarity on complex workforce challenges, early signals on emerging trends, and grounded perspectives that help bridge strategy and people operations. Whether you lead HR for a health system, support workforce strategy, or influence organizational culture, this podcast equips you to make better decisions with confidence.
New episodes drop weekly, with timely news updates, deep-dive conversations, and forward-looking insights designed for healthcare HR leaders preparing for 2026 and beyond.
The ASHHRA Podcast
#191 - Creative Solutions for Healthcare Worker Shortages
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In this episode of The ASHHRA Podcast, co-hosts Bo Brabo and Luke Carignan sit down with Darlene Stone, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Bayhealth, for a powerful conversation about the past, present, and future of healthcare HR.
Darlene has seen it all, from the days of typewriters and paper timecards to today’s AI-driven workflows. With over 30 years in healthcare, she’s done every job in HR and brings a uniquely grounded perspective on what truly matters: people.
💡 In This Episode You’ll Learn:
✅ AI as a Partner, Not a Threat:
Darlene shares how artificial intelligence is transforming HR operations, eliminating tedious tasks while enhancing human connection and efficiency. From summarizing reports in seconds to improving candidate and patient experiences, AI is redefining how HR delivers value.
✅ Redeploying Talent, Not Replacing It:
Rather than fearing automation, Darlene explains how HR leaders can retrain and redeploy employees into higher-impact roles, filling gaps in healthcare’s critical workforce shortages.
✅ Bridging the Education Gap:
The conversation explores how hospitals and universities must rethink workforce development, from early healthcare academies in high schools to leadership training that replaces rigid degree requirements with real-world skills.
✅ The Human Element of HR:
No algorithm can replace empathy. Darlene reminds listeners that investigations, coaching, and team connection require compassion… the essence of leadership in healthcare.
✅ Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today:
From Bayhealth’s “Emerging Leader” programs to physician leadership development, Darlene shares actionable strategies for succession planning and cultivating informal leaders who drive cultural transformation.
💬 “You can’t take the human out of HR — no matter how advanced technology gets.”
Whether you’re an HR executive, educator, or healthcare leader navigating transformation, this episode is a reminder that the future of HR isn’t about replacing people — it’s about empowering them.
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