In this episode of Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co., Rhoda sits down with healthcare consultant, speaker, and survivor Dana E. Sherwin for a powerful conversation at the intersection of expertise and lived experience.

With over 35 years in healthcare leadership and consulting, and as a six-and-a-half-year survivor of a stem cell transplant, Dana offers a unique perspective on patient–physician communication, patient advocacy, and what it truly means to center care around the human experience.

Together, they explore:
 Why patient–physician communication is foundational to quality care
 How Dana’s personal medical journey reshaped her professional mission
 What healthcare leaders can do to elevate the patient experience
 How patients can become informed, empowered partners in their own care

This conversation is a must-listen for healthcare leaders, clinicians, patients, and anyone passionate about creating more compassionate, effective healthcare systems.

Guest Bio:
Dana E. Sherwin is a healthcare consultant and speaker focused on healthcare management and patient–physician communication. She has held executive and consulting roles across hospitals, managed care plans, and leading national consulting firms. Dana holds a Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on multiple editorial and advisory boards. Dana is also a stem cell transplant survivor and the voice behind The Thinking Patient.

Connect with Dana:
Website: www.thethinkingpatient.com

In this heart-centered and insightful episode, Rhoda sits down with former colleague and transformational leader, Erik Person, to explore why the future of leadership is increasingly human-driven, rooted in empathy, authenticity, and honoring people’s unique strengths.

Erik shares:
 His philosophy of building teams of “loveable misfits”
 How empathy transforms outcomes in leadership
 What human-centric leadership looks like in practice
 How to lead teams through uncertainty and change
 The role of mindfulness, resiliency, and authenticity in modern organizations
 The legacy he hopes to leave for the leaders coming behind him
This is a conversation for anyone who leads, wants to lead, or wants to be led by someone who truly sees them.

Key Questions Explored
 What does “The future of leadership is human” mean in today’s world?
 How does empathy differ from simply “being nice”?
 What does a human-centric leader look like in action?
 How can leaders balance compassion with accountability?
 Why is empathy essential during change and uncertainty?
 What breakthrough insight would Erik offer to emerging leaders?

Takeaways
 Empathy is not a weakness, it’s strategic strength.
 The best teams are built from unique, diverse gifts.
 Leadership legacy is created one human moment at a time.
 Resiliency begins with people feeling seen, valued, and supported.

In this episode of Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co., Rhoda sits down with peak-performance coach Elle Ingalls to explore how leaders move from reaction-based leadership to conscious, grounded leadership rooted in presence and self-regulation.

They discuss:
 Why reactive leadership happens, and how to break the cycle
 Tools for leading with calm, clarity, and confidence
 Women’s leadership and the “over-responsibility” pattern
 The nervous system’s role in emotional presence and decision-making
 Practical techniques for stress-free high performance
 How to replace urgency with intentionality and self-trust

Key Takeaway:
Calm is not passive, calm is power. Leaders don’t rise by doing more; they rise by grounding more deeply in who they are and how they show up.

Connect with Elle:
https://elleingalls.com/
Panic Free Peak Performance resources available on her site
Connect with Rhoda:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/virtualrhodabanks
Podcast: Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co.