Tiffany’s CareerEDGE Corner
CAHL Career Advice
Tiffany offers a place to discuss career options, ask questions, and get career advice, interview tips, and more resources for job seekers.
Questions, Answers, and Comments
Native and Indigenous People in Healthcare – Underrepresented, Underserved, Yet Steadfast Advocates for Well Being
By Teniola Adegbite and Kimberly Browne November marks Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and recognize the cultural richness and profound contributions of Native and Indigenous people. Within the healthcare sector, Native and...
2025 CAHL President’s End of Year Message: A Year of Service, Leadership, and Heartfelt Gratitude
By Christianna Kearns, FACHE As we bring 2025 to a close, I find myself reflecting with deep appreciation on the extraordinary work that has taken place across our CAHL community this year. Serving as your President has been one of the greatest honors of my career,...
Hispanic Heritage Month: Honoring Roots & Empowering the Future
By Dr. Ifeoma I. Nnaji and Akim Waldron Why is the Hispanic Heritage Month celebrated each year from September 15 to October 15? Have you ever wondered why Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15 rather than during a single calendar...
Building Social Capital in Health Care: The Transformative Role of Mentorship
By Stacey Aggabao As health systems face unprecedented workforce pressures, building social capital through mentorship is not just nice-to-have – it is a strategic imperative. In health care, success is shaped not only by clinical expertise and advanced technology but...
Strengths Finder: How to Address Employment Gaps on Your Resume
By Fawn Hutton Employment gaps used to be viewed with skepticism. For years, job seekers feared that a pause in work history might raise red flags for hiring managers. Today, the narrative is shifting. As workplaces evolve and organizations place greater value on...
Message From Your ACHE Regent – Summer 2025
Celebrating Our Leaders Dear Colleagues and Friends, On August 21, we came together for the CAHL Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony in Concord, California. The evening was energizing and inspiring, filled with meaningful conversations, new connections, and a strong...
Navigating Virtual and Pre-Recorded Interviews
By Adam Hugo Mejia Five years ago, virtual interactions were rare, but as we have all experienced, the virtual setting has now become the norm. Companies have been changing their recruitment processes, interviews, and even skill set reviews in various ways. Virtual...
Answering FAQs: Practical Advice for Early Careerists
By Ashley Oates Calling all student members and early careerists—this article is for you. Think of it as your Dear Abby for questions you might have asked a mentor or a peer, now shared to everyone with practical advice. This past year as a part of the Higher...
The Omnioid Era
By Bridget K. Burke It was 03:20 AM, a night-shift RN, bar-code scans a liter of IV saline, slips it into a metal tote, and taps Send on the screen. Down the hall, the hospital’s newest “team member,” Roxie, a waist-high mobile robot, slips out from its charging...
Building a Culture of Connection: The Heart of Healthcare Leadership
By Christianna Kearns As healthcare leaders, we are often measured by metrics such as patient outcomes, operational performance, and financial stewardship. While these are essential, I have found that the foundation for every success story is far less quantifiable:...
Knowing How to Respond Appropriately When Asked Inappropriate or Illegal Questions During an Interview
By Robyn Ply and Michael O’Connell A Personal Story - Robyn Ply’s perspective: Early in my career, I interviewed for a leadership role at a healthcare organization—a new position that aligned well with my aspirations and would allow me to further develop and apply my...
2025 Spring CAHL Mentor Program Recap
The California Association of Healthcare Leaders (CAHL) just completed yet another successful round of our Spring Formal Mentorship Program. Spanning 3 months, from February 18th to June 6, 2025, our cohort of mentees were able to deeply engage with their mentors and...
The Value of Mentoring
By Kenny Pawlek It’s nearly summer. School is finishing, vacations are near, and interns are joining our organizations! It’s a rite of passage for most of us. An internship offers a glance into our future career, allowing us to “test the waters” and confirm the...
Volunteer Spotlight | Marie-Paule Metzker
Marie-Paule Metzker, MHA, CPA is a Financial Director for both Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital and Sutter Center for Psychiatry. She serves on the CAHL Mentorship Committee. Connect with her on LinkedIn here. Tell us a bit about what you’ve been doing as a volunteer, and...
Leadership Opportunities for Early Careerists in Healthcare Administration
By Neha Chowrasia Healthcare administration in the United States is undergoing rapid transformation—driven by technology, evolving patient expectations, and pressing system-wide challenges. For early careerists, this moment presents not just uncertainty, but...
Mastering the Art of the Interview: Ten Tips for Success
By Michael O’Connell Interviews can be nerve-wracking especially since many of them have transitioned to virtual events, but with the right preparation and mindset, you can present with confidence and leave a memorable impression. Whether you're seeking a leadership...
CAHL President’s Message
Dear CAHL Members, As we reach the midpoint of 2025, I’m proud to reflect on the incredible momentum we’ve built together during the first half of the year. From our dynamic networking mixers, timely educational webinars and inspiring career development forums, your...
Unspoken, Unseen, Untreated: The Public Health Cost of Language Censorship
By Lacretia Pearson and Jeremy Hough Words Matter in Public Health In 2017, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reportedly advised staff to avoid words such as “transgender,” “diversity,” and even “evidence‑based” in official budget documents [1]....
ACHE Regent Message: A Warm Hello and Thanks to Phil Chuang, PhD, FACHE
Dear Colleagues and Friends, It is with great excitement and gratitude that I write to you for the first time as your ACHE Regent for Northern and Central California. I officially took office at ACHE Congress in March, which was held this year in Houston, Texas. The...
Volunteer Spotlight | Shirlivia M. Parker
Shirlivia M. Parker, MHA, RHIA, CDIP, CRCR is President of Compliance - Clinical Revenue Cycle with Medovent Solutions and serves on both the CAHL Membership & Volunteer Growth Committee and the Career Advancement Committee. Connect with her on LinkedIn here. Tell...
The Power of Connectivity: A Foundational Centerpiece of Modern Healthcare Leadership
By Abraham Cicchetti The zeitgeist is full of uncertainty and unforeseen challenges that loom all around, causing mistrust, constant confusion, and fear of the unknown. Healthcare leaders face a pivotal question: How can organizations remain resilient, innovative, and...
2025 Chapter of Merit Awardee – Membership Growth
CAHL has received a distinguished recognition from the American College of Healthcare Executives! This honor acknowledges our outstanding growth in membership in 2024. ACHE set the benchmark for net membership growth at 6.5% last year, and CAHL achieved a 10.1% in net...
The Hidden Cost of Inefficiency: How Poor Operational Efficiency Impacts Healthcare
By Jasleen Kaur In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare environment, operational efficiency is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity. While much attention is given to clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction, the backend operations that support care delivery often get...
Leader as Coach: Unlocking Potential Through Guidance
By Stacey Aggabao In today’s evolving workplace, the role of a leader is shifting from a traditional authority figure to that of a coach. Rather than merely directing tasks, effective leaders focus on empowering their teams, fostering growth, and creating an...
Spotlight on AANHPI Leadership in Healthcare: Progress and Persistent Challenges
By Christa M. Camarillo and Simurtej Singh The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community is undeniably a crucial and growing part of healthcare across the United States. When we look at the numbers, nearly 1.4 million AANHPI individuals...