The MaineHealth Podcast

Vitals and Voices, Episode 6

The latest episode of the Vitals and Voices podcast spotlights Samantha, a dedicated CNA at Maine Medical Center in Portland.  Certified Nursing Assistants are the heartbeat of healthcare, delivering essential daily bedside care and vital emotional support. Samantha shares her firsthand experiences, providing an intimate look into the rewards and rigorous demands of this critical frontline role. 

Samantha also talks about mentoring new staff, managing difficult patients, communication with the care team, and personal strategies for long-term resilience. Tune in to discover why elevating and supporting our CNAs is vital for the future of patient care.

Working Together with COO Kelly Elkins, episode 89

In this episode, COO Kelly Elkins explores the launch of MaineHealth's Enterprise Intelligence team and how it will strengthen decision-making across the health system. As MaineHealth continues to advance quality, improve access, reduce the total cost of care, and support team members, the need for timely, trusted, actionable information has never been more important. This conversation examines why the organization is moving beyond traditional reporting and analytics toward a more comprehensive enterprise intelligence model designed to support better decision making at every level.

Joined by Ali Russo, Vice President of Analytics, Kelly discusses the importance of a shared source of truth, strengthening data governance, building data and AI literacy, and equipping leaders and frontline teams with meaningful insights.  Together they explore how the Enterprise Intelligence Team will bring people, processes, data, and technology together to create a more connected, coordinated, and proactive health system. Looking ahead, they reflect on the long-term vision for enterprise intelligence and how predictive insights, greater transparency, and stronger alignment can help MaineHealth better serve patients, communities, and care teams. 

 

Curbside Consult - Episode 15

Hypertension is one of the most common and consequential risk factors in cardiovascular care yet managing it in real-world practice is anything but simple. In this episode, Mike and Heather sit down with interventional cardiologist Dr. Christopher Tuohy to unpack how hypertension is defined, why treatment targets differ across guidelines, and how to make practical decisions in busy primary care settings. If you manage patients with hypertension, this episode offers a clear, clinically grounded guide to balancing guideline-driven care with individualized decision-making. 

Curbside Consult is a podcast from the MaineHealth ACO that brings together specialists and primary care physicians. Each month, family physician hosts Dr. Mike Clark and Dr. Heather Ward welcome a new specialist to share their unique insights.  

Listen to Curbside Consult here on your favorite podcast app, or on the MaineHealth intranet home page. To stay in touch with the show, follow the MaineHealth ACO on LinkedIn.

Vitals & Voices, Episode 5

Join hosts Jordan and Chris as they sit down with Monique Gilbert, a Clinical Nurse Educator in the Emergency Department at Maine Medical Center in Portland. With summer in full swing, Monique shares vital, frontline insights on how to navigate the season without a trip to the ER. From water safety and effective sunscreen habits to the hidden dangers of backyard fireworks, this episode delivers practical advice to keep you and your family safe while enjoying the sun.

Listeners will get practical first-aid advice (when to seek emergency care, cooling techniques, tourniquet tips, tick removal), prevention strategies (life jackets, helmets, sunscreen, supervised swimming), and information about Maine Medical Center’s role as Maine’s only Level 1 trauma center.

The Wellbeing Rounds Episode 2

In this episode of The Wellbeing Rounds, Dr. Christine Hein sits down with Dr. Pat Sanders, Assistant Medical Director of Emergency Medicine at MaineHealth Memorial Hospital. Their wide-ranging conversation explores Dr. Sanders' career path from frontline emergency physician to physician leader, offering insights on team culture, professional fulfillment, and resilience in healthcare. Along the way, they discuss the challenges of burnout, the value of mentorship, and the opportunities leaders have to create supportive environments where clinicians can thrive.

The Wellbeing Rounds is a MaineHealth podcast dedicated to discussing provider and APP wellbeing. 

Working Together with COO Kelly Elkins, Episode 88

In this episode, MaineHealth Chief Operating Officer Kelly Elkins explores how MaineHealth is reimagining performance management to better support growth, development, and accountability across the organization. Drawing on feedback from care team members, leaders, and HR partners, the conversation examines the shift from traditional annual reviews to a more continuous, coaching-focused approach that emphasizes meaningful feedback, clearer goals, and ongoing development.

Joined by Ryan Polly, Vice President of Leadership Development and Inclusion, the discussion explores what is changing, why it matters, and how the future-state process is designed to create greater consistency, transparency, and engagement. Together, they reflect on how regular check-ins, a focus on both outcomes and behaviors, and stronger alignment with MaineHealth’s strategic priorities can help leaders and care team members succeed while fostering a culture of continuous growth and performance.

 

Andy's Open Door Live Broadcast on 07-15-26

This episode of AOD featured a discussion on Graduate Medical Education at MaineHealth with Designated Institutional Official Kalli Varaklis, MD, FACHE. Kalli and Andy discussed the different types of MaineHealth's graduate medical education programs, the system's 152-year history of training physicians, and the role residents and fellows play across urban and rural settings.

Andy also shared a safety story about a near miss that, after being reported, helped identify a recurring trend and led to the implementation of additional safety measures in dose limit controls.

Listeners will hear about workforce retention, community partnerships, and how reporting, innovation, and teaching support MaineHealth's mission of working together so our communities are the healthiest in America. 

Working Together with COO Kelly Elkins, Episode 87

In this episode, MaineHealth Chief Operating Officer Kelly Elkins explores what it will take to lower the total cost of care across our system—while strengthening access, quality, and long‑term sustainability.

Joined by Rich Bayman, Chief Financial Officer for MaineHealth, the conversation moves beyond cost reduction as a financial exercise and instead focuses on what it means to redesign care delivery in ways that better serve patients, communities, and frontline teams.

Together, they examine the key drivers of cost, the importance of operational discipline, and how aligning strategy with day‑to‑day work can create meaningful, lasting change. The episode highlights how thoughtful resource allocation, clearer accountability, and smarter systemwide decisions can help us build a more efficient and resilient organization.

Andy's Open Door Live Broadcast on 06-17-26

AOD was on the road today, traveling to MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital's Parkview campus in Brunswick, ME. CEO Andy Mueller was joined by Mid Coast President Christopher Bowe, MD and MH Chief of Oncology Services Matthew Kulke, MD.

Andy and the panel discussed major campus upgrades at the Parkview campus, including the new Cancer Care Center. They touched on community philanthropy, Trellis primary care expansion, and efforts to improve access and quality across the region. 

Curbside Consult - Episode 14

Recent improvements in the self-reported wellbeing of MaineHealth physicians and APPs is welcome news. In this episode, Dr. Ranjiv Advani joins Dr. Heather Ward to discuss what’s going right with physician and APP wellness and what more can be done to foster human connection, improve organizational culture and spark positive systemic change. Dr. Advani is an emergency medicine physician at MaineHealth Franklin Hospital and director of provider wellbeing for MaineHealth’s Coastal and Mountain Regions. 

Curbside Consult is a podcast from the MaineHealth ACO that brings together specialists and primary care physicians. Each month, family physician hosts Dr. Mike Clark and Dr. Heather Ward welcome a new specialist to share their unique insights.  

Listen to Curbside Consult here or on your favorite podcast app, or on the MaineHealth intranet home page. To stay in touch with the show, follow the MaineHealth ACO on LinkedIn.