SROA Soundboard

SROA SoundBoard - In Conversation with Administrators Series -Beverly Cusano

Beverly Cusano, Administrative Director of Radiation Oncology at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, joins SROA Soundboard to share her experiences as a Radiation Oncology Leader. She recalls how she started as a radiation therapist, her journey to how she got into this career field, what it means to be in radiation oncology leadership, and even some of her favorite books.

Listen to hear more about:

• How did you get into Radiation Oncology Leadership? (0:34)
• What was it that you liked about radiation therapy when you were going through your rotations that lead to your current career? (2:56) Was your dad happy? (3:44)
• What do you like about being in leadership? (3:53)
• What do you find hardest about leadership in radiation oncology? (4:46)
  
• What have you learned about communication that you think others could learn from? (5:42)
• What are you working on accomplishing at this point in your career? (7:15)
• In terms of your professional development, what organizations do you belong to and why? (7:42)
• How has being involved in SROA shaped you both professionally and personally? (8:53)
• Who or what inspires you? Why? (9:57)
• What do you do when you have some time? (11:27)
• What are you currently reading? (12:24)
• Do you like the kind of reading that is also enlightening? (13:33)
• What is the best advice you have ever received? (14:17)

SROA SoundBoard: 2021 Annual Meeting Highlights

SROA President Debra Corbin and President-Elect, Aaron Brammer join SROA Soundboard-- a podcast for SROA to share why they are excited for SROA's upcoming Annual Meeting in Chicago and what you can look forward to during the meeting both in-person and virtually.

 

In this episode, you'll hear about:

Why "Change, Challenge, Opportunity" is the theme of the meeting (0:30)

Which speakers and sessions they are most excited to hear (1:43)

Networking opportunities (2:54)

Why people should attend whether in person or virtually (4:25)

What people can expect to get out of SROA and the Annual Meeting (5:25)

SROA SoundBoard - Michele Harper

Dr. Michele Harper, ER physician and author of The Beauty in Breaking, joins SROA Soundboard to share her experiences as an ER physician. She recalls her childhood and how her experiences shaped her career path, her work in diversity and inclusion, and writing a New York Times Bestseller.  

Listen to hear more about:

• Can you talk briefly about your upbringing and how it shaped you? (0:30)
• Was there one defining moment that set you on the path for emergency medicine? (2:38)
• What does it mean to be a “healer”? How can people heal themselves? (6:41)
• What advice would you give to Radiation Oncologists that are dealing with a vulnerable population? (8:01)
• In your book, you write, “As a black woman, I navigate an American landscape that claims to be post-racial when every waking moment reveals the contrary, an American landscape that requires all women to pound tenaciously against the proverbial glass ceiling, which we’ve since discovered is made of palladium, the kind of glass that would sooner bow than shatter.” That’s very powerful. Can you share what those words mean to you? (14:31)
  
• Do you ever want to quit? (19:16)
• Would you say that you are extrinsically motivated by the power of connection and empathy that you feel with the people that come into your care? (23:03)
• How did you get to the point where you felt you needed to write about your experiences? (24:39)
• Do you have plans to write another book? (27:41)
• How did the title The Beauty in Breaking come about? (28:28)
• What lessons or messages can administrative leaders and others working in healthcare take from your book? (30:54)
• What do you hope for the future of health care? (33:21)

SROA SoundBoard - In Conversation with Administrators Series - Tina Berry

Tina Berry joins SROA Soundboard - In Conversation with Administrators Series, SROA's podcast series, to share information about challenges faced being in leadership in the radiation oncology field, how she got where she is today, who inspires her, and some personal anecdotes as well. Tina is currently working at Saint Francis Medical Center in Millersville, MO, and is currently an Emerging Professional Member-At-Large on the SROA Board of Directors.

• Brief synopsis about the journey to your current position. (0:33)
• What/who inspires you? And why? (2:21)
• What do you like about being in a leadership position? (3:05)
• What do you find most challenging about leadership, especially in radiation oncology? (3:55)
• What do you hope to accomplish? (4:45)
• What professional organizations do you belong to and why?  (5:36)
• What do you like to do in your free time? (6:10)
• What are you currently reading? (6:37)
• Do you have a favorite book you would recommend? (6:46)
• What’s on your playlist? (7:16)
• What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? (7:43)
• Based on everything you’ve learned over your career and your life, what advice would you offer others? (7:56)

SROA SoundBoard - In Conversation with Administrators Series - Jana Grienke

Jana Grienke joins SROA Soundboard - In Conversation with Administrators Series, SROA's podcast series, to share how she got where she is today, positives about being in a leadership position, the best way to grow in your current position vs growing your career, and some personal anecdotes as well. Jana is currently working at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City, IA, as the Clinical Operations Director in the Department of Radiation Oncology and is currently a part of the Advisory Council on the SROA Board of Directors.

 

1. Tell me briefly about your journey to your current position. (0:33)
2. What do you like about being in a leadership position? (3:40)
3. What do you find most challenging about leadership, especially in radiation oncology? (5:38)
4. What has helped you to be effective as a leader? (7:01)
5. How do you plan to grow your career from here? (9:24)
6. Is it important for young leaders to figure out how to grow in a role as well as how high they want to go? (11:33)
7. What professional organizations do you belong to and why? (13:48)
8. Who inspires you and why? (15:25)
9. What do you like to do in your free time? (17:01)
10. What are you currently reading? Do you have a favorite book you would recommend? (19:02) 
11. What’s on your playlist? (21:20)
12. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? (22:55)
13. Based on everything you’ve learned over your career and your life, what advice would you offer others? (24:35)

 

SROA SoundBoard - Tara Powers

Tara Powers joins SROA Soundboard, SROA's podcast series, to share information about navigating remote work, her background, zoom fatigue, how to keep a strong team, and a little bit about her “Virtual Team school”.  

Tara is currently a best selling author and award winning talent development leader. She has been in leadership and team development work for about 20 years.

• Background and how became passionate about career (0:31)
• Changes that leaders and their teams have had to make to work well remotely (1:47)
• Managing Zoom fatigue (10:36)
• Physical walking meetings (13:35)
• How leaders can create a balance between those who can & can not work remotely (16:05)
• Ensure all team members feel valued and focus on the positives/shared goals (21:01)
• Manage some team members working remotely while others do not post pandemic (28:12)
• Information about Tara Power's “Virtual Team School” (30:29)

SROA SoundBoard - In Conversation with Administrators Series - Maria Grice

Maria Grice joins SROA Soundboard for our new In Conversation with Administrators Series.  This series aims to share administrator's stories for how they got where they are today, positives about being in a leadership position, inspirations, as well as some interesting advice.

Maria is currently working at Hematology Oncology Associates of CNY in East Syracuse, NY, and is currently a member of the SROA Board of Directors.

• Journey to current position (0:34)
• Positive aspects of being in a leadership position (1:19)
• Most challenging aspects of leadership, especially in radiation oncology (2:21)
• Future goals (3:35)
• Professional organization memberships (5:10)
• Individuals who have inspired her life and career (6:57)
• How she spends her free time (8:55)
• Current reads (9:35)
• Current playlists (10:54)
• Best advice received (11:38)
• Advice for other administrators  (13:33)

SROA SoundBoard -- Skot Waldron

Skot Waldron joins SROA Soundboard, SROA's podcast series, to share building leadership and effective communication in radiation oncology. Waldron is an internal communications consultant and brand strategist with GIANT. Waldron focuses on building future leaders through internal brand awareness and communication.

• Becoming passionate about leadership development and effective communication (0:27)
• Value of using data to coach leaders and organizations (2:12)
• Improving communication skills outside the Twentieth Century leadership programs (4:28)
• How to assist with organizations experiencing resistance to leadership training (6:13)
• Invincibility Assessment (8:16) 
• Building loyalty with employees (9:29)
• Creating loyalty as employees and staff (12:20)
• The biggest changes for leaders during the Pandemic (13:49)
• Sherpa Leadership Program and how leaders can benefit (16:58)
• Tips for leaders to communicate more effectively (19:37)

SROA SoundBoard -- Tony Byers

Tony Byers, Ph.D. joins SROA Soundboard, SROA's podcast series, to share about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workforce.  Byers is a Global Diversity & Inclusion Strategist and joins us from Cornell University – ILR Center for Advanced HR Studies, Senior Extension Faculty. Byers wrote the book, The Multiplier Effect of Inclusion: How Diversity & Inclusion Advances Innovation and Drives Growth.

 

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Moving from awareness of differences to the utilization of differences (0:35)
• How to cultivate more diversity in leadership positions (2:33)
• Advice for leaders to create change (6:32)
• Does training actually change the mindset  (9:19)
• Improving health outcomes for patients (11:11)
• How we can encourage a diverse workforce (14:20)
• What was the goal of writing your book (19:16)
• Adding "equity" to diversity and inclusion (23:20)
• Byers view on the future of diversity (26:04)

SROA SoundBoard - Patricia Saponaro

Patty Saponaro joins SROA Soundboard, SROA's podcast series, to share adding value as a leader in radiation oncology. Saponaro is the Associate Chair for Administration in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Saponaro presented at the 2020 SROA Annual Meeting. 

 

In this episode you will hear about:

• Social IQ (0:34)
• Importance of knowing your team (1:29)
• Asking your team what they value (2:43)
• How to address disconnect within your team (4:45)
• The importance of asking prospective employees about “challenging situations” during an interview (6:32)
• The importance of asking prospective employees about quality improvement during an interview (10:45)
• Tips for hiring a prospective employee (13:52)
• What should be included in onboarding and orientation (16:11)
• Importance of checklists for orientation (17:53)
• New employee follow-up (19:20)
• Surprising responses from new employees (20:58)
• Importance of having a "procedure process" for a department (21:47)
• Final thought for administrators (24:20)