In this episode of Micro Moments with Peter, we’re joined by Ashley Carlucci, Market Chief Nursing Officer for University Hospitals, and Dr. Amitabh Goel, Clinical Professor of Surgery at Case Western Reserve University and Director of Surgery and Critical Care at University Hospitals Geneva Medical Center. 

Together, they tell a story that embodies what love looks like in healthcare. It started with an email, a mother searching for the best care for her son. Her search led her to Dr. Goel, in a small, rural hospital. What happened next reshaped her expectations of where great care can be found. 

This episode is about more than a single story. It’s about a culture that sees patients as neighbors, not strangers. It’s about ten years of infection-free care, and a team where every voice matters—from maintenance staff to surgeons. 

The outcome? A place where zero harm isn’t just a goal—it’s the lived reality. Tune in to hear how extraordinary outcomes are being made possible by those who are united by one purpose: patient safety. 

A Culture of Care: How Great Medicine Thrives in Small Places

In this episode of Micro Moments with Peter, we’re joined by Dr. Juan Moldes, Pediatric surgeon and urologist at University Hospitals, whose act of leadership is inspiring a ripple effect across surgical teams. The operating room can be one of the most intense and emotional spaces in healthcare. But Dr. Moldes sensed something was missing. That led to the creation of the Surgical Compassionate Pause. A brief, intentional moment of reflection taken with the whole team just before an incision. It’s not long. Just a deep breath. A shared moment of presence. A quiet return to purpose, courage, and care. This practice has become rocket fuel across University Hospitals, igniting energy, unity, and compassion among clinical teams. Tune in to hear how one small pause is changing the way surgeries begin and the way people show up for each other. 

The Compassionate Pause: Bringing Presence and Purpose to the OR

Healthcare continues to cost too much, harm too often, and improve too slowly. And the people who pay for care are left carrying the burden.  

In this episode of Micro Moments with Peter, Trevor Putnoky, CEO of the Healthcare Purchaser Alliance, joins to talk about the hard truths behind rising costs, unchecked variation, and the lack of transparency in our system. Trevor shares how employer coalitions are pushing for change from data, to policy.  

What emerges is a conversation about tension and possibility. About what it means to hold people accountable with compassion.  

Transparency, Cost, and the Power of Shared Accountability

In this solo episode, Dr. Peter Pronovost reflects on the real world impact of Living and Leading with Love model. What some call the “soft stuff” is actually the foundation for lasting transformation.  

Peter shares powerful proof points from University Hospitals and beyond that show how this model leads to better outcomes, faster improvement, and sustainable cost reduction. It’s not a theory. It's the path to proven performance.  

The Soft Stuff is the Essential Stuff: The Path to Proven Performance

In this episode, Peter sits down with Alan Pitt, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Vitalchat, to explore how rethinking hospital room technology can restore what matters most. Connection, communication, and trust.  

Alan shares how Vitalchat is working to redesign the hospital environment to reduce isolation, support clinical teams, and bring safety and joy back to the work of caregivers. From virtual nursing mentorship to family centered video access, the conversation dives into how human centered design can improve outcomes.  

Peter and Alan also explore how true innovation isn't built for people, it's built with them.  

Technology that Listens: Vitalchat and the Future of Care

What if one of the most powerful forms of healing is something simple and often overlooked? 

In this episode, Peter is joined by Julia Skarbinski and Karen Bitzer to discuss Move to Heal, a transformative program across University Hospitals that puts mobility at the center of patient recovery. They explore why movement is medicine, how it prevents harm, and how teams come together across disciplines and departments, to bring this program to life. 

Move to Heal: The Power of Mobility in Healing

In this episode, I sit down with returning guest Jennifer Gonzalez, a brilliant leader helping us to face one of healthcares toughest challenges: reducing costs and waste without compromising caregiver experience or patient outcomes.  

We walk through a simple yet profound framework, Jennifer introduced. Stop. Automate. Shift. Protect.  

It starts by asking what can we remove, not just what we can add. From eliminating hundreds of documentation policies, to introducing remote nursing and smart insulin technologies, this is about freeing up what only humans can do: connect, heal and care. 

True transformation begins not with more complexity but with the courage to simplify thoughtfully, safely and together.

What Matters Most: Unburdening Care with Purpose and Precision

In this episode I'm joined by Dr. Kimberly McBennett to explore a different kind of harm in healthcare, one we rarely talk about, but patients never forget.  

We have built systems to track medical errors but where are the systems to track compassion gaps? 

These are the moments when care becomes mechanical, when pain is overlooked, and when patients feel unseen. This may not show up on the chart but leaves lasting impressions.  

Together, we reflect on how compassion can't be left to chance. It must be a part of how we design deliver, and measure care. Because the secret to great care is love, and love begins with understanding.

When Compassion is Missing

In this special episode, Peter is joined by longtime colleague Dr. Patrick Runnels to share the story behind Intersection: A Conference to Transform Healthcare, taking place in Cleveland, OH, from September 22 to 24, 2025. Designed as more than just another healthcare conference. Intersection is a space for humility, curiosity, and bold conversations. A place where healthcare leaders can share what’s working (and what’s not), challenge the status quo, and commit to the long game of transformation. With keynote speakers, thought-provoking panels, and intimate breakout sessions, the agenda is designed to spark genuine dialogue and lasting change. If you believe healthcare needs more than incremental improvement—it needs elevation—this is your moment. Learn more and register here. https://whova.com/web/GDBh2z2kjahuUuKUU0BkgybhKW79W%4050Yr7%40TiAEqtE%3D/
Use promo code: micromoments for 50% off registration through August 19, 2025.

The Compassionate Pause: Bringing Presence and Purpose to the OR

Micro Moments with Peter

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