WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:04.719 - The strategic agenda facing hospital and health system 2 00:00:04.719 --> 00:00:06.819 - leaders right now is not a short list. 3 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:09.839 - Growth in a consolidating market, sustainable margins in 4 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:12.080 - a reimbursement environment that rarely moves in your 5 00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:12.464 - favor, 6 00:00:12.945 --> 00:00:15.445 - a tech investment cycle that demands both urgency 7 00:00:15.585 --> 00:00:16.404 - and discipline, 8 00:00:16.945 --> 00:00:19.344 - and a workforce story that is still being 9 00:00:19.344 --> 00:00:19.844 - written. 10 00:00:20.464 --> 00:00:23.904 - Eker's fourteenth annual CEO CFO roundtable brings together 11 00:00:23.904 --> 00:00:27.265 - more than 1,500 executive level attendees and nearly 12 00:00:27.265 --> 00:00:30.170 - 400 speakers across four days of sessions that 13 00:00:30.170 --> 00:00:32.429 - are designed to help c suite leaders benchmark, 14 00:00:32.649 --> 00:00:34.590 - pressure test, and sharpen their priorities. 15 00:00:35.210 --> 00:00:37.130 - Not in the abstract, but against the real 16 00:00:37.130 --> 00:00:39.390 - decisions they'll face heading into the next year. 17 00:00:39.609 --> 00:00:41.049 - It's the kind of event you leave with 18 00:00:41.049 --> 00:00:42.890 - a clear sense of where you stand and 19 00:00:42.890 --> 00:00:43.814 - what comes next. 20 00:00:44.375 --> 00:00:46.534 - So join us November second through the fifth 21 00:00:46.534 --> 00:00:49.094 - at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, and come 22 00:00:49.094 --> 00:00:50.394 - ready to do the hard thinking. 23 00:00:50.854 --> 00:00:54.614 - Register on our events page at beckershospitalreview.com 24 00:00:54.614 --> 00:00:56.375 - by clicking on the events tab in the 25 00:00:56.375 --> 00:00:57.195 - upper right. 26 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:00.240 - Welcome to this episode of Leadership Unscripted, a 27 00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:03.140 - Becker's healthcare podcast. I'm Chris Sosa, your host. 28 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:04.400 - And I'm doing I'll be joined today by 29 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:05.140 - Joe Avellino, 30 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:07.359 - who, of course, is CEO of College Medical 31 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:08.979 - Center in Long Beach, California. 32 00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:11.219 - Joe, thank you for joining us today. 33 00:01:11.724 --> 00:01:13.884 - Excited to be here, Chris. Thanks for the 34 00:01:13.884 --> 00:01:14.384 - opportunity. 35 00:01:15.004 --> 00:01:16.924 - Awesome, Joe. Love the enthusiasm and love that 36 00:01:16.924 --> 00:01:19.004 - you're on board for this conversation. You know, 37 00:01:19.004 --> 00:01:21.484 - as you may know, Leadership Unscripted's a little 38 00:01:21.484 --> 00:01:23.084 - bit different. We like to dive into the 39 00:01:23.084 --> 00:01:25.729 - health care journeys of leaders in the industry. 40 00:01:26.109 --> 00:01:27.869 - But before we get too far into that, 41 00:01:27.869 --> 00:01:30.109 - just please, just introduce yourself a little bit 42 00:01:30.109 --> 00:01:31.629 - more and let us know a little bit 43 00:01:31.629 --> 00:01:32.450 - about your background. 44 00:01:33.549 --> 00:01:34.049 - Fantastic. 45 00:01:34.509 --> 00:01:36.349 - My name is Joe Abelino. Again, CEO of 46 00:01:36.349 --> 00:01:38.814 - College Medical Center. I will be in my 47 00:01:38.814 --> 00:01:40.674 - twelfth year here as CEO. 48 00:01:41.534 --> 00:01:43.954 - My background is a nurse and also, 49 00:01:44.814 --> 00:01:47.394 - twenty seven years in the US Army, 50 00:01:48.015 --> 00:01:48.915 - special forces, 51 00:01:49.614 --> 00:01:50.114 - airborne, 52 00:01:51.135 --> 00:01:51.635 - and 53 00:01:53.099 --> 00:01:54.799 - really enjoy being in the military, 54 00:01:55.500 --> 00:01:57.739 - which has helped and provide some of the 55 00:01:57.739 --> 00:01:59.439 - guidance I have as an executive. 56 00:02:00.299 --> 00:02:01.200 - And, also, 57 00:02:01.819 --> 00:02:04.379 - my facility is a 221 58 00:02:04.379 --> 00:02:05.680 - acute care bed hospital 59 00:02:06.060 --> 00:02:08.239 - with a specialty in behavioral health services 60 00:02:08.645 --> 00:02:10.745 - and also addiction medicine. 61 00:02:11.444 --> 00:02:14.724 - And, we have an affiliation with USC Keck 62 00:02:14.724 --> 00:02:16.985 - School of Medicine on internal medicine, 63 00:02:17.444 --> 00:02:19.064 - and we are also 64 00:02:19.365 --> 00:02:19.865 - ACGME 65 00:02:20.405 --> 00:02:20.905 - accredited 66 00:02:21.469 --> 00:02:22.129 - with our, 67 00:02:22.750 --> 00:02:24.530 - psychiatry residency program. 68 00:02:25.310 --> 00:02:27.090 - We see about 500 69 00:02:27.310 --> 00:02:29.650 - plus admissions on behavioral health a month, 70 00:02:29.949 --> 00:02:32.209 - approximately about 250 71 00:02:32.750 --> 00:02:33.889 - acute care admissions, 72 00:02:34.669 --> 00:02:36.530 - of which 50 is about 73 00:02:36.905 --> 00:02:37.805 - detox admissions, 74 00:02:38.264 --> 00:02:41.145 - and approximately about a thousand to 1,100 75 00:02:41.145 --> 00:02:42.444 - ER visits a month. 76 00:02:43.145 --> 00:02:45.465 - Excellent. Thanks for providing that background on yourself 77 00:02:45.465 --> 00:02:46.125 - and your 78 00:02:46.504 --> 00:02:49.145 - organization, Joe. I love learning all about College 79 00:02:49.145 --> 00:02:52.830 - Medical Center. And in addition to that, your 80 00:02:53.530 --> 00:02:55.689 - military career, I'm sure, is gonna play a 81 00:02:55.689 --> 00:02:57.849 - a pretty big role here in this conversation. 82 00:02:57.849 --> 00:03:00.250 - So then without further ado, let's start here. 83 00:03:00.250 --> 00:03:01.930 - So my first question is, what is something 84 00:03:01.930 --> 00:03:04.090 - you've learned outside of health care that you've 85 00:03:04.090 --> 00:03:05.230 - applied to your career? 86 00:03:06.125 --> 00:03:08.205 - I think going back to my previous comment, 87 00:03:08.205 --> 00:03:09.824 - Chris, being in the military 88 00:03:10.365 --> 00:03:10.865 - has 89 00:03:11.165 --> 00:03:13.504 - certainly taught me the importance of discipline 90 00:03:14.925 --> 00:03:15.745 - and also 91 00:03:16.125 --> 00:03:17.025 - being a nurse, 92 00:03:17.645 --> 00:03:18.865 - being able to 93 00:03:19.950 --> 00:03:23.250 - clinically have a conversation with physician staff, 94 00:03:23.710 --> 00:03:26.290 - have a empathy with patient care 95 00:03:26.590 --> 00:03:27.409 - with physicians, 96 00:03:28.670 --> 00:03:29.069 - and, 97 00:03:29.710 --> 00:03:31.969 - the interactions from a business development 98 00:03:32.270 --> 00:03:32.770 - standpoint 99 00:03:33.415 --> 00:03:34.635 - and strategic planning. 100 00:03:35.575 --> 00:03:37.594 - All that has helped me quite a bit, 101 00:03:38.375 --> 00:03:39.915 - in in health care, 102 00:03:40.694 --> 00:03:42.555 - particularly the the military 103 00:03:42.855 --> 00:03:43.814 - in terms of, 104 00:03:44.215 --> 00:03:44.715 - organization 105 00:03:45.575 --> 00:03:48.635 - and also just, strategies such as in strategic 106 00:03:48.694 --> 00:03:49.194 - planning. 107 00:03:50.269 --> 00:03:52.509 - Joe, when you're interacting with your staff or 108 00:03:52.509 --> 00:03:54.110 - even patients, as you said, you've been a 109 00:03:54.110 --> 00:03:55.489 - nurse for some time as well, 110 00:03:55.870 --> 00:03:57.169 - does that military 111 00:03:58.430 --> 00:03:59.650 - training and 112 00:04:00.269 --> 00:04:01.489 - attitude and 113 00:04:01.955 --> 00:04:03.014 - strategic organization, 114 00:04:03.555 --> 00:04:05.634 - does does that often come through? Is is 115 00:04:05.634 --> 00:04:07.655 - that obvious when you're interacting with others? 116 00:04:08.754 --> 00:04:10.674 - Not really. You you have to keep, 117 00:04:11.634 --> 00:04:12.134 - military 118 00:04:12.435 --> 00:04:13.974 - so so structured 119 00:04:14.435 --> 00:04:14.935 - that 120 00:04:15.519 --> 00:04:17.560 - in the in the civilian world, you have 121 00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:18.740 - to have more flexibility 122 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:20.899 - and and certainly 123 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:21.939 - more, 124 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:23.620 - professionalism. 125 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:26.319 - Not that they don't have that in the 126 00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:27.379 - military, but 127 00:04:27.685 --> 00:04:30.024 - you don't have that structured discipline. 128 00:04:30.805 --> 00:04:32.564 - And you have to be a little bit 129 00:04:32.564 --> 00:04:34.904 - more customer service oriented, 130 00:04:35.845 --> 00:04:36.245 - more, 131 00:04:36.805 --> 00:04:38.104 - direct upfront, 132 00:04:38.884 --> 00:04:40.264 - and have the 133 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:41.379 - flexibility, 134 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:46.100 - especially dealing with doctors with, behavioral matters and 135 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:48.740 - egos in line. You just have to be, 136 00:04:50.079 --> 00:04:50.579 - congenial 137 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:51.860 - and provide 138 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:52.740 - fellowship 139 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:54.259 - and collaboration 140 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:55.540 - in that approach. 141 00:04:56.514 --> 00:04:58.354 - That makes total sense. Thanks, Joe. I'm I'm 142 00:04:58.354 --> 00:05:00.435 - sure that any number of your colleagues would 143 00:05:00.435 --> 00:05:02.214 - agree that flexibility in particular 144 00:05:02.834 --> 00:05:04.354 - is a great trait to have when you're 145 00:05:04.354 --> 00:05:06.514 - just trying to lead a health care system 146 00:05:06.514 --> 00:05:07.175 - or hospital. 147 00:05:07.954 --> 00:05:10.274 - Changing gears slightly here, Joe. So my next 148 00:05:10.274 --> 00:05:11.314 - question for you is 149 00:05:12.569 --> 00:05:14.490 - so as you're going through your day to 150 00:05:14.490 --> 00:05:15.789 - day as a leader, right, 151 00:05:16.250 --> 00:05:17.529 - what do you need to do to keep 152 00:05:17.529 --> 00:05:19.310 - yourself healthy? And that's physically, 153 00:05:19.769 --> 00:05:20.269 - emotionally, 154 00:05:20.969 --> 00:05:22.569 - mentally. I mean, you gotta be at your 155 00:05:22.569 --> 00:05:23.930 - top of the game if you're gonna be 156 00:05:23.930 --> 00:05:26.269 - CEO. So what would you do 157 00:05:26.584 --> 00:05:28.665 - to keep yourself in tip top shape, so 158 00:05:28.665 --> 00:05:29.245 - to speak? 159 00:05:30.024 --> 00:05:30.925 - Oh, well 160 00:05:31.305 --> 00:05:33.324 - well, I believe in a work life balance. 161 00:05:33.705 --> 00:05:34.205 - Totally, 162 00:05:35.225 --> 00:05:36.685 - really very, very important. 163 00:05:37.225 --> 00:05:39.884 - Just as I make appointments with business development, 164 00:05:40.105 --> 00:05:40.845 - with physicians, 165 00:05:41.709 --> 00:05:42.449 - with marketing, 166 00:05:43.550 --> 00:05:47.149 - with colleagues. I make appointment with myself, whether 167 00:05:47.149 --> 00:05:49.069 - it's a morning or in the afternoon, to 168 00:05:49.069 --> 00:05:49.810 - work out. 169 00:05:50.269 --> 00:05:51.470 - I have what they call, 170 00:05:52.669 --> 00:05:53.169 - fitness 171 00:05:53.629 --> 00:05:54.129 - exercise. 172 00:05:54.909 --> 00:05:55.409 - And, 173 00:05:55.870 --> 00:05:56.370 - just 174 00:05:57.254 --> 00:05:59.274 - love to share with you my my routine 175 00:05:59.334 --> 00:06:00.394 - and what they call 176 00:06:00.774 --> 00:06:01.514 - HIIT training, 177 00:06:01.975 --> 00:06:03.514 - which is a high intensity 178 00:06:04.214 --> 00:06:05.194 - interval training, 179 00:06:05.654 --> 00:06:06.055 - which, 180 00:06:06.615 --> 00:06:07.414 - I do that, 181 00:06:07.814 --> 00:06:08.714 - quite often 182 00:06:09.300 --> 00:06:11.480 - about two to three times a week. 183 00:06:11.860 --> 00:06:13.560 - I also play competitive tennis. 184 00:06:14.180 --> 00:06:16.120 - So with the competitive tennis, 185 00:06:16.660 --> 00:06:17.160 - just 186 00:06:17.620 --> 00:06:19.240 - really enjoy the competitive 187 00:06:19.540 --> 00:06:20.759 - tennis complement 188 00:06:21.185 --> 00:06:23.504 - that with the HIIT training, which is the 189 00:06:23.504 --> 00:06:25.585 - high intensity interval training, which I do two 190 00:06:25.585 --> 00:06:27.824 - to three times a week. So it's I 191 00:06:27.824 --> 00:06:28.545 - start out with, 192 00:06:29.105 --> 00:06:30.884 - seven series of exercise, 193 00:06:31.824 --> 00:06:33.125 - thirty seconds each 194 00:06:34.430 --> 00:06:36.449 - and then fifteen seconds rest, 195 00:06:36.910 --> 00:06:38.370 - and I do three sets. 196 00:06:38.830 --> 00:06:40.750 - And the first one I do is squat 197 00:06:40.750 --> 00:06:41.250 - taps, 198 00:06:42.029 --> 00:06:44.449 - then second set of exercises, push ups, 199 00:06:45.069 --> 00:06:46.689 - then third is mountain climbers, 200 00:06:47.495 --> 00:06:49.735 - Then, a stand up, what they call elbow 201 00:06:49.735 --> 00:06:52.794 - to knee, then kneecap stand up sit ups. 202 00:06:53.574 --> 00:06:53.974 - Then, 203 00:06:54.375 --> 00:06:55.914 - the fifth exercise is 204 00:06:56.294 --> 00:06:57.834 - high knees with arm movements. 205 00:06:59.095 --> 00:07:01.194 - And the sixth is jumping jacks. 206 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:02.040 - Then, 207 00:07:02.600 --> 00:07:04.540 - seven is alternating lunges. 208 00:07:05.160 --> 00:07:07.319 - And then after that, I'll follow-up with, 209 00:07:08.040 --> 00:07:09.740 - ten minutes on the rowing machine. 210 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:10.839 - But the, 211 00:07:11.399 --> 00:07:14.040 - the the biggest thing has really been doing 212 00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:14.540 - sauna. 213 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:16.839 - Sauna at least three or four times a 214 00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:19.855 - week. I do it for twenty minutes, 190 215 00:07:19.855 --> 00:07:20.355 - degrees, 216 00:07:20.894 --> 00:07:23.314 - and I do about twelve minutes of yoga 217 00:07:23.455 --> 00:07:25.694 - of that twenty minutes in the sauna. And 218 00:07:25.694 --> 00:07:29.055 - I tell you, complementing that with, three to 219 00:07:29.055 --> 00:07:30.194 - four days of tennis, 220 00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:34.300 - in a week has just been phenomenal 221 00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:36.139 - in terms of my exercise. 222 00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:40.379 - So that that's the, physical part. The emotional 223 00:07:40.439 --> 00:07:43.479 - part is keeping balance with family, making sure 224 00:07:43.479 --> 00:07:44.699 - you're there for dinner. 225 00:07:45.754 --> 00:07:46.414 - I have 226 00:07:46.794 --> 00:07:49.115 - this is my second round. Even though I've 227 00:07:49.115 --> 00:07:51.694 - been married, near twenty six years now, 228 00:07:52.154 --> 00:07:53.514 - second time around with, 229 00:07:54.954 --> 00:07:56.954 - I have a a nine year old, eight, 230 00:07:56.954 --> 00:07:59.055 - a three, and a two. They're my grandkids, 231 00:07:59.569 --> 00:08:01.410 - but I have custody of the four of 232 00:08:01.410 --> 00:08:01.910 - them. 233 00:08:02.289 --> 00:08:04.930 - So making time, you know, taking them to 234 00:08:04.930 --> 00:08:07.430 - their swimming lessons, taking them to the park, 235 00:08:07.729 --> 00:08:09.669 - ice cream, being home for dinner, 236 00:08:10.689 --> 00:08:12.370 - taking the opportunity to drop them off to 237 00:08:12.370 --> 00:08:12.870 - school, 238 00:08:13.334 --> 00:08:16.375 - that part is just as important as doing 239 00:08:16.375 --> 00:08:17.035 - your work 240 00:08:17.415 --> 00:08:18.954 - and keeping your stability 241 00:08:19.334 --> 00:08:21.894 - at home and at work and having that 242 00:08:21.894 --> 00:08:24.214 - work life the work life balance. And, 243 00:08:25.620 --> 00:08:28.520 - the other important part that that you know, 244 00:08:28.899 --> 00:08:30.120 - don't wanna throw religion 245 00:08:30.580 --> 00:08:33.720 - here, but my faith has keep me, 246 00:08:34.259 --> 00:08:35.080 - pretty strong, 247 00:08:35.940 --> 00:08:38.600 - and and just and at least, 248 00:08:39.215 --> 00:08:41.154 - at least three to four times a week, 249 00:08:41.855 --> 00:08:44.274 - saying a prayer, passing by church. And, 250 00:08:45.054 --> 00:08:47.394 - you know, a lot of CEOs ask for, 251 00:08:48.254 --> 00:08:48.754 - yeah, 252 00:08:49.134 --> 00:08:52.095 - do well and make money and but for 253 00:08:52.095 --> 00:08:54.014 - me, I I ask for wisdom. I pray 254 00:08:54.014 --> 00:08:54.674 - for wisdom. 255 00:08:55.049 --> 00:08:57.049 - So those are those are the things that 256 00:08:57.049 --> 00:08:59.610 - I would say keep me healthy physically, mentally, 257 00:08:59.610 --> 00:09:00.909 - and emotionally, Chris. 258 00:09:01.690 --> 00:09:03.529 - Thanks so much, Joe. I love the detail 259 00:09:03.529 --> 00:09:05.850 - there. I think a lot of, whoever listens 260 00:09:05.850 --> 00:09:07.664 - to this podcast can just, you know what? 261 00:09:07.664 --> 00:09:09.105 - Joe said, do this. I'm gonna copy and 262 00:09:09.105 --> 00:09:10.164 - paste those exercises 263 00:09:10.865 --> 00:09:12.144 - and see what I can do with that, 264 00:09:12.144 --> 00:09:13.605 - and the sauna and the yoga. 265 00:09:14.544 --> 00:09:16.705 - Very detailed blueprint there. I love that. I 266 00:09:16.705 --> 00:09:18.304 - do wanna dive into the tennis, though. I 267 00:09:18.304 --> 00:09:19.985 - mean, Wimbledon just happened. You know, we're in 268 00:09:19.985 --> 00:09:22.370 - the middle of, you know, the majors of 269 00:09:22.370 --> 00:09:24.450 - tennis. That's what I'm looking for. So is 270 00:09:24.450 --> 00:09:26.370 - there a player that you admire or players 271 00:09:26.370 --> 00:09:27.889 - where you say, you know what? I I 272 00:09:27.889 --> 00:09:30.289 - wanna copy this, that, and the other because 273 00:09:30.289 --> 00:09:31.669 - I think that can help me. 274 00:09:32.610 --> 00:09:33.909 - Oh, yeah. There's 275 00:09:34.504 --> 00:09:35.464 - several of them. 276 00:09:35.945 --> 00:09:39.204 - Definitely, on the men's side, Djokovic is, 277 00:09:40.264 --> 00:09:41.084 - his resilience, 278 00:09:42.024 --> 00:09:44.044 - his fitness, which, emulate. 279 00:09:44.985 --> 00:09:45.384 - And, 280 00:09:45.865 --> 00:09:46.845 - women's side, 281 00:09:47.304 --> 00:09:48.845 - love the forehand of, 282 00:09:49.690 --> 00:09:50.750 - Naomi Osaka. 283 00:09:51.209 --> 00:09:51.649 - Right. 284 00:09:52.089 --> 00:09:55.230 - The the serve in Volley by Caroline Mejova. 285 00:09:56.169 --> 00:09:59.149 - And, my I can't forget my my Philippine 286 00:09:59.209 --> 00:10:02.909 - tradition will with Alexander Yala, an upcoming Filipino, 287 00:10:03.850 --> 00:10:04.350 - sensation. 288 00:10:05.024 --> 00:10:07.105 - But, yeah, I just love the game. I 289 00:10:07.105 --> 00:10:08.004 - love to compete. 290 00:10:08.625 --> 00:10:10.644 - Won the championship three years ago, 291 00:10:11.105 --> 00:10:12.404 - in my league, hoping 292 00:10:12.785 --> 00:10:15.764 - with my new strategy, better forehand, better serve, 293 00:10:15.985 --> 00:10:18.225 - to win another one. And we'll we'll win 294 00:10:18.225 --> 00:10:20.379 - another one before the end of the season. 295 00:10:20.379 --> 00:10:21.920 - So very excited about 296 00:10:22.620 --> 00:10:23.759 - the the the tennis, 297 00:10:24.220 --> 00:10:25.920 - balance in my life as well. 298 00:10:26.379 --> 00:10:28.399 - Well, good luck with that, Joe. And congratulations 299 00:10:28.700 --> 00:10:30.460 - on your success in that league so far. 300 00:10:30.460 --> 00:10:32.139 - I mean, certainly from what I know of 301 00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:33.679 - Djokovic and Osaka, 302 00:10:34.379 --> 00:10:37.084 - and they're they're not young up and comers 303 00:10:37.084 --> 00:10:39.584 - anymore, far from it. So they've obviously displayed 304 00:10:39.725 --> 00:10:42.125 - a tremendous amount of resilience to just be 305 00:10:42.125 --> 00:10:44.044 - back to the level of tennis or in 306 00:10:44.044 --> 00:10:46.845 - Djokovic's case, it's just maintaining that for nigh 307 00:10:46.845 --> 00:10:49.664 - on two decades, really. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. 308 00:10:49.975 --> 00:10:50.399 - Present. 309 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:51.620 - Alright. 310 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:54.320 - So you're gonna have tough days as a 311 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:56.100 - CEO, Joe. That that's just 312 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:57.840 - part of the deal or in any job, 313 00:10:57.840 --> 00:10:59.840 - really. But what I wanna ask you now 314 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:02.320 - is just simply on those tough days, the 315 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:03.300 - toughest days, 316 00:11:03.754 --> 00:11:05.115 - who are you gonna turn to to help 317 00:11:05.115 --> 00:11:06.634 - you move forward? What do you do to 318 00:11:06.634 --> 00:11:08.235 - help you get over the hump, so to 319 00:11:08.235 --> 00:11:08.735 - speak? 320 00:11:09.514 --> 00:11:11.754 - Well, it goes back to my previous comment 321 00:11:11.754 --> 00:11:12.735 - on my faith 322 00:11:13.115 --> 00:11:14.414 - that having that 323 00:11:14.794 --> 00:11:15.774 - praying for wisdom, 324 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:18.160 - going to church, and and just, 325 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:21.519 - you know, may just even be, like, five, 326 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:23.220 - ten minutes just saying a prayer. 327 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:25.059 - This pastor, 328 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:28.660 - in Saddleback, his name is pastor Rick Warren, 329 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:30.740 - wrote the number one bestseller, 330 00:11:31.355 --> 00:11:32.815 - The Purpose Driven Life. 331 00:11:33.835 --> 00:11:36.475 - And, I love his quote. And he says 332 00:11:36.475 --> 00:11:36.975 - that 333 00:11:37.355 --> 00:11:40.975 - your most profound and intimate experiences of worship 334 00:11:41.434 --> 00:11:44.014 - will likely be in your darkest days, 335 00:11:44.555 --> 00:11:45.934 - when your heart is broken, 336 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:47.899 - when you feel abandoned, 337 00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:49.899 - when you're out of options, 338 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:51.659 - when the pain is great, 339 00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:53.980 - and you turn to God alone. 340 00:11:54.679 --> 00:11:55.179 - So 341 00:11:55.639 --> 00:11:56.139 - prayer 342 00:11:56.519 --> 00:11:59.000 - and faith in my darkest days and my 343 00:11:59.000 --> 00:11:59.980 - toughest days, 344 00:12:00.375 --> 00:12:01.674 - That is my ammunition. 345 00:12:03.095 --> 00:12:05.174 - Well, it's clearly been coming in handy, Joe, 346 00:12:05.174 --> 00:12:07.654 - just considering where you've been and and, you 347 00:12:07.654 --> 00:12:09.335 - know, how you've gotten to where you've you've 348 00:12:09.335 --> 00:12:11.335 - been or where where you are now, I 349 00:12:11.335 --> 00:12:11.995 - should say. 350 00:12:12.309 --> 00:12:14.870 - You know, it's interesting going back to the 351 00:12:14.870 --> 00:12:17.269 - faith. And I tell this because I I 352 00:12:17.269 --> 00:12:18.809 - love to do leadership lecture. 353 00:12:19.509 --> 00:12:21.190 - And one of those that I like to 354 00:12:21.190 --> 00:12:23.370 - share about is the story of mother Teresa. 355 00:12:23.430 --> 00:12:25.464 - You know, when when you think of mother 356 00:12:25.464 --> 00:12:28.504 - Teresa, you think of someone who's authentic, who's 357 00:12:28.504 --> 00:12:29.004 - genuine, 358 00:12:29.544 --> 00:12:32.204 - and one who has tremendous amount of faith. 359 00:12:32.745 --> 00:12:35.784 - But yet after her death, in her private 360 00:12:35.784 --> 00:12:37.884 - papers revealed that she had suffered 361 00:12:38.345 --> 00:12:41.830 - from incredible doubt. And for long periods of 362 00:12:41.830 --> 00:12:42.490 - her life, 363 00:12:42.950 --> 00:12:44.970 - she even felt that God was absent. 364 00:12:45.990 --> 00:12:47.529 - So using words 365 00:12:48.070 --> 00:12:48.809 - in her, 366 00:12:49.190 --> 00:12:49.690 - autobiography, 367 00:12:50.309 --> 00:12:52.409 - darkness, torture, loneliness, 368 00:12:53.384 --> 00:12:56.665 - She wrote about the spiritual agony she often 369 00:12:56.665 --> 00:12:58.904 - experienced and revealed that at one time her 370 00:12:58.904 --> 00:13:01.644 - doubts were so great that she even questioned 371 00:13:02.105 --> 00:13:03.565 - the existence of god. 372 00:13:04.185 --> 00:13:07.404 - So even mother Teresa, who had a tremendous 373 00:13:07.545 --> 00:13:08.445 - amount of faith, 374 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:11.840 - but yet struggled and wrestled with doubt from 375 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:14.879 - time to time. So my message is it's 376 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:16.720 - important not to lose sight of the fact 377 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:19.299 - that even in your toughest days, 378 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:21.220 - it's okay to be 379 00:13:21.575 --> 00:13:23.754 - natural, normal, and healthy 380 00:13:24.215 --> 00:13:26.315 - just as mother Teresa was. 381 00:13:27.174 --> 00:13:28.154 - I think relatable 382 00:13:29.174 --> 00:13:30.315 - quotes and 383 00:13:31.174 --> 00:13:34.375 - thought process from mother Teresa there. And just 384 00:13:34.375 --> 00:13:35.835 - in that, hey. You know, 385 00:13:36.329 --> 00:13:37.389 - as we've just said, 386 00:13:38.009 --> 00:13:39.690 - not every day is gonna be easy. Not 387 00:13:39.690 --> 00:13:41.529 - every day is gonna make sense to you. 388 00:13:41.529 --> 00:13:42.730 - Okay. I need to do this, this, and 389 00:13:42.730 --> 00:13:44.889 - this. I'm gonna be successful. There's gonna be 390 00:13:44.889 --> 00:13:47.049 - doubt. So, yeah, I think it's very relatable 391 00:13:47.049 --> 00:13:48.809 - that even someone like her said to herself, 392 00:13:48.809 --> 00:13:50.669 - you know what? I'm not sure this is 393 00:13:50.915 --> 00:13:52.514 - this is going the right way, but she 394 00:13:52.514 --> 00:13:53.975 - found a way through it as well. 395 00:13:54.355 --> 00:13:54.855 - Absolutely. 396 00:13:55.634 --> 00:13:56.134 - Absolutely. 397 00:13:57.315 --> 00:13:58.375 - Joe, so 398 00:13:59.075 --> 00:14:00.215 - I love that you mentioned, 399 00:14:00.754 --> 00:14:02.514 - you know, the pastor that you turned to 400 00:14:02.514 --> 00:14:03.415 - and listened to 401 00:14:03.769 --> 00:14:05.370 - and mother Teresa and what you've gained from 402 00:14:05.370 --> 00:14:07.149 - her and what you've gained from your family. 403 00:14:08.090 --> 00:14:10.429 - Considering your health care journey as a whole, 404 00:14:10.570 --> 00:14:12.269 - what's something you've learned about yourself 405 00:14:12.809 --> 00:14:14.590 - since you've been working in health care? 406 00:14:15.370 --> 00:14:17.769 - I think you you have to not take 407 00:14:17.769 --> 00:14:18.830 - things personally. 408 00:14:19.824 --> 00:14:22.404 - You're gonna have those difficult conversations, 409 00:14:23.504 --> 00:14:25.445 - such as what Brene Brown says. 410 00:14:27.504 --> 00:14:29.204 - And with those difficult, 411 00:14:30.144 --> 00:14:30.644 - conversations 412 00:14:30.945 --> 00:14:32.324 - and the power of vulnerability, 413 00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:34.679 - You can't take it personally, 414 00:14:35.059 --> 00:14:37.000 - whether you're talking to 415 00:14:37.459 --> 00:14:39.720 - staff, to patients, to physicians. 416 00:14:41.059 --> 00:14:43.559 - And, you have to be at peace 417 00:14:43.940 --> 00:14:45.799 - because you're gonna have some tough days. 418 00:14:46.485 --> 00:14:48.884 - You you got tough days where you're not 419 00:14:48.884 --> 00:14:50.745 - gonna make the the avatar, 420 00:14:51.285 --> 00:14:52.664 - not to stay as high. 421 00:14:52.965 --> 00:14:54.825 - You're not able to make budget, 422 00:14:56.004 --> 00:14:57.945 - and you have some financial challenges. 423 00:14:58.884 --> 00:15:00.879 - And and what do you do? What do 424 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:04.240 - you do? But despite being at peace at 425 00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:05.459 - that moment, 426 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:07.139 - always be grateful. 427 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:09.379 - Always be grateful. 428 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:12.240 - And and those moments, you have to be 429 00:15:12.914 --> 00:15:14.834 - and I tell my staff this because it 430 00:15:14.834 --> 00:15:18.434 - is difficult in in these adversities is you 431 00:15:18.434 --> 00:15:21.014 - try to be kind to everyone. You know? 432 00:15:21.154 --> 00:15:23.634 - Give everyone the benefit of the doubt instead 433 00:15:23.634 --> 00:15:26.695 - of taking something they say or do personally. 434 00:15:27.710 --> 00:15:30.590 - Remind yourself that you don't really know what's 435 00:15:30.590 --> 00:15:32.129 - going on on their life 436 00:15:32.509 --> 00:15:34.750 - or in someone's life. So don't take it 437 00:15:34.750 --> 00:15:35.250 - personally 438 00:15:35.550 --> 00:15:37.170 - and trust that they're going 439 00:15:37.629 --> 00:15:39.950 - they're doing the best they can in the 440 00:15:39.950 --> 00:15:41.250 - best possible way. 441 00:15:42.095 --> 00:15:44.495 - Certainly great advice that I can definitely find 442 00:15:44.495 --> 00:15:46.574 - in my life. There's always gonna be times 443 00:15:46.574 --> 00:15:48.414 - where even, you know, I run into someone 444 00:15:48.414 --> 00:15:50.514 - who I think I know what they're about. 445 00:15:51.294 --> 00:15:53.929 - Chances are I probably do not. So giving 446 00:15:53.929 --> 00:15:55.209 - them a bit of a grace is is 447 00:15:55.209 --> 00:15:56.730 - gonna be the way to go for sure, 448 00:15:56.730 --> 00:15:58.809 - Joe. And another note, Chris, on that, you 449 00:15:58.809 --> 00:16:01.470 - know, I I always say practice the pause. 450 00:16:01.769 --> 00:16:04.589 - Someone shared with me this. Practice the pause 451 00:16:04.889 --> 00:16:05.870 - when in doubt. 452 00:16:06.365 --> 00:16:07.664 - Pause when you're angry. 453 00:16:08.204 --> 00:16:09.584 - Pause when you're tired. 454 00:16:10.044 --> 00:16:11.264 - Pause when stressed. 455 00:16:11.804 --> 00:16:13.504 - Pause when you pray. 456 00:16:14.284 --> 00:16:15.264 - Love that, Joe. 457 00:16:15.565 --> 00:16:17.325 - Well, one last question for you, if you 458 00:16:17.325 --> 00:16:18.304 - will. So 459 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:20.160 - you've done a lot in your career as 460 00:16:20.160 --> 00:16:20.899 - we've discussed. 461 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:23.120 - What would you say is one risk that 462 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:25.059 - you've taken that has paid off? 463 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:28.960 - One risk that I've taken has been so 464 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:31.200 - growing up, my mom put this, 465 00:16:32.264 --> 00:16:34.105 - dream in my heart that I will always 466 00:16:34.105 --> 00:16:35.004 - be a CEO. 467 00:16:36.425 --> 00:16:38.684 - The only part of my career back in 468 00:16:38.904 --> 00:16:41.245 - I'm an old guy. Back in 2007, 469 00:16:41.785 --> 00:16:43.965 - it was my first position as a CEO. 470 00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:48.959 - However, in July 2010, my position was eliminated. 471 00:16:49.819 --> 00:16:50.480 - I was 472 00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:53.819 - given the position as vice president of business 473 00:16:53.819 --> 00:16:54.319 - development, 474 00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:57.360 - having the fact that I built a cardiovascular 475 00:16:57.819 --> 00:16:58.319 - institute, 476 00:16:59.004 --> 00:16:59.504 - neurosurgery 477 00:16:59.804 --> 00:17:02.064 - center, had great relationship with physicians. 478 00:17:02.845 --> 00:17:04.704 - But that wasn't my dream. 479 00:17:05.244 --> 00:17:06.944 - I wanted to be a CEO. 480 00:17:07.724 --> 00:17:10.044 - I give gave them a six months notice 481 00:17:10.044 --> 00:17:10.605 - at this, 482 00:17:11.244 --> 00:17:12.144 - at that time. 483 00:17:12.859 --> 00:17:13.359 - However, 484 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:15.039 - my position was eliminated, 485 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:16.480 - and, 486 00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:20.160 - I was unemployed for ten months. 487 00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:22.880 - And someone once told me, 488 00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:26.240 - sometimes life is about risking everything 489 00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:27.519 - for a dream 490 00:17:27.924 --> 00:17:30.005 - that no one no one can see but 491 00:17:30.005 --> 00:17:30.505 - you. 492 00:17:31.204 --> 00:17:33.305 - And like I said, I 493 00:17:33.845 --> 00:17:36.105 - I I I, I lost everything. 494 00:17:36.404 --> 00:17:39.125 - If you wanna understand about so short sale, 495 00:17:39.125 --> 00:17:39.625 - foreclosure, 496 00:17:40.244 --> 00:17:40.744 - bankruptcy, 497 00:17:41.890 --> 00:17:42.869 - I know it all. 498 00:17:43.809 --> 00:17:46.690 - Because during that difficult time, you know, interview 499 00:17:46.690 --> 00:17:49.569 - after interview, no job offer, you know, I 500 00:17:49.569 --> 00:17:51.349 - hit rock bottom. You know? 501 00:17:51.650 --> 00:17:53.890 - And I understand that I learned to give 502 00:17:53.890 --> 00:17:55.429 - not because I have much, 503 00:17:56.424 --> 00:17:58.605 - but because I know exactly how it feels 504 00:17:58.744 --> 00:17:59.725 - to have nothing. 505 00:18:00.664 --> 00:18:01.164 - And, 506 00:18:03.065 --> 00:18:06.205 - so instead, I accepted a interim vice president 507 00:18:06.664 --> 00:18:07.164 - clinical 508 00:18:07.465 --> 00:18:08.765 - operations position 509 00:18:09.309 --> 00:18:12.609 - from California all the way from Hopkinsville, Kentucky. 510 00:18:13.710 --> 00:18:15.630 - So I was away from my family, no 511 00:18:15.630 --> 00:18:16.529 - support system, 512 00:18:17.150 --> 00:18:18.769 - and I was the only Asian 513 00:18:19.789 --> 00:18:21.009 - at this hospital 514 00:18:21.630 --> 00:18:22.849 - in, Hopkinsville, 515 00:18:23.470 --> 00:18:23.970 - Kentucky. 516 00:18:24.884 --> 00:18:27.285 - And then, I just remember that two things 517 00:18:27.285 --> 00:18:30.424 - define you. Your patience when you have nothing 518 00:18:30.724 --> 00:18:31.785 - and your attitude 519 00:18:32.164 --> 00:18:33.465 - when you have everything. 520 00:18:34.724 --> 00:18:36.345 - So once again, you know, 521 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:39.139 - rejection after rejection, 522 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:43.059 - I felt very much alone, fleeting aimlessly, 523 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:45.059 - looking for direction. 524 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:47.759 - But here comes the power of social media. 525 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:48.500 - My colleague, 526 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:52.740 - becomes a regional CEO back in Los Angeles, 527 00:18:53.505 --> 00:18:55.205 - and I caught up with him in LinkedIn. 528 00:18:55.585 --> 00:18:57.605 - I said, hey. If you have an opportunity, 529 00:18:58.065 --> 00:18:58.964 - think of me. 530 00:18:59.424 --> 00:19:01.525 - So, you know, I was provided 531 00:19:01.904 --> 00:19:02.644 - that opportunity. 532 00:19:03.025 --> 00:19:05.045 - It was right before Christmas 533 00:19:05.744 --> 00:19:07.205 - in, 2011 534 00:19:07.980 --> 00:19:08.380 - and, 535 00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:09.279 - became 536 00:19:09.660 --> 00:19:11.759 - and bounced back in that CEO position. 537 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:13.740 - But it was nearly a year and a 538 00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:15.519 - half when I took that risk. 539 00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:19.180 - So John c Maxwell says that the cost 540 00:19:19.180 --> 00:19:19.680 - question. 541 00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:22.240 - Are you willing to pay the price 542 00:19:22.795 --> 00:19:24.095 - to pursue your dream? 543 00:19:25.595 --> 00:19:27.535 - So, you know, life goes on. 544 00:19:28.075 --> 00:19:30.075 - And this is what I say is that 545 00:19:30.075 --> 00:19:32.654 - the opposite of faith is not doubt. 546 00:19:33.355 --> 00:19:34.174 - It's certainty. 547 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:37.900 - And I was certain that despite those challenges, 548 00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:39.660 - despite the adversity, 549 00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:40.940 - rejection 550 00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:42.299 - after rejection, 551 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:44.680 - that I would bounce back to be a 552 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:45.180 - CEO. 553 00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:46.759 - So, 554 00:19:47.744 --> 00:19:50.805 - pastor Joel Olsteen once says that every setback 555 00:19:51.424 --> 00:19:52.805 - is set for a comeback. 556 00:19:53.904 --> 00:19:55.825 - Joe, thank you so much for sharing. I 557 00:19:55.825 --> 00:19:57.825 - mean, I I feel you almost buried the 558 00:19:57.825 --> 00:20:00.065 - lead there just given the the struggles you've 559 00:20:00.065 --> 00:20:03.170 - had. But but, obviously, the story is more 560 00:20:03.549 --> 00:20:05.070 - about where you are now and how you 561 00:20:05.070 --> 00:20:07.309 - got there as opposed to, you know, the 562 00:20:07.309 --> 00:20:08.369 - the bottom 563 00:20:09.309 --> 00:20:11.150 - parts of the roller coaster, let's say, to 564 00:20:11.150 --> 00:20:13.630 - use a very tired cliche. Mhmm. But but 565 00:20:13.630 --> 00:20:16.075 - you're here now. You're you're here at College 566 00:20:16.075 --> 00:20:18.974 - Medical Center and and thriving and hopefully that, 567 00:20:19.034 --> 00:20:20.875 - you know, your patients and and everyone is 568 00:20:21.034 --> 00:20:23.514 - and your staff is too. So, Joe, thank 569 00:20:23.514 --> 00:20:24.794 - you so much for being a part of 570 00:20:24.794 --> 00:20:26.894 - this podcast. We can't wait to share it. 571 00:20:27.115 --> 00:20:28.650 - And no doubt there's more that you can 572 00:20:28.650 --> 00:20:31.049 - and will share next time we're past cross 573 00:20:31.049 --> 00:20:32.830 - or in some other format or circumstance. 574 00:20:33.769 --> 00:20:35.450 - Love it, Chris. Let me just close with 575 00:20:35.450 --> 00:20:37.950 - this final quote from Robin Sharma. 576 00:20:38.490 --> 00:20:40.910 - He says, when you were born, you cried 577 00:20:41.049 --> 00:20:42.350 - while the world rejoiced. 578 00:20:42.944 --> 00:20:44.865 - Live your life in such a way that 579 00:20:44.865 --> 00:20:45.765 - when you die, 580 00:20:46.144 --> 00:20:47.204 - the world cries 581 00:20:47.505 --> 00:20:48.484 - while you rejoice. 582 00:20:48.944 --> 00:20:50.724 - Thank you for the opportunity, Chris.