Everyone can lead on a healthcare team. Gaurava Agarwal, MD, vice president and chief wellness executive at Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, and Logan Pause, program director of Executive Development, uncover the leaders among us on teams of all types at Northwestern Medicine.
They examine work determinants of well-being as ways for team members to add value and feel valued. Dr. Agarwal and Logan interview people from around Northwestern Medicine who are finding fulfillment in their work and empowering others to do the same, ultimately leading their teams to better
A Veteran’s Perspective on Mission-Driven Leadership
(https://support.doctorpodcasting.com/media/k2/items/cache/72f61afdb64848734637ac08496233ed_Generic.jpg)
Mike Diakoumis is a manager of Talent Development at NM Academy at Northwestern Medicine. Through training, education and consultation, NM Academy provides employees and leaders with development opportunities for current and future roles.
Mike is also a U.S. Army veteran, and he helped found the Veterans’ Chapter of the Northwestern Medicine Champion Network, the health system’s employee resource group.
On this episode, Mike shares how his military experience shaped his perspective on leadership and why healthcare is a good career fit for veterans.
7 Aug 2026
The Power of Relationships: Matt Bednarczyk
(https://support.doctorpodcasting.com/media/k2/items/cache/a755138647ed3b4b5fc45e19816ed448_Generic.jpg)
Matt Bednarczyk, director of Operations for Allied Health at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, shares his leadership journey from being a practicing physical therapist to overseeing a diverse portfolio of teams, including Rehabilitation Services, Clinical Nutrition, Patient Relations, Spiritual Care and Interpretation Services.
Matt discusses how leadership is built through experience, not titles. The conversation explores the importance of relationship-building when managing teams with different expertise and perspectives.
Matt also discusses the power of shadowing team members to truly understand their work, the role of intentional time management in leadership and how trust is built through meaningful personal connections.
9 Jun 2026
Balancing Business With Clinical Expertise: Matt Dandino, PharmD
(https://support.doctorpodcasting.com/media/k2/items/cache/25cde43914c195c77c03422283404e75_Generic.jpg)
Matthew Dandino, PharmD, program director of Ambulatory Pharmacy at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, explores leadership at the intersection of clinical care and business strategy.
Matt shares his passion for blending clinical expertise with operational and financial leadership. He offers an inside look at the vital — and often misunderstood — role pharmacists play across healthcare systems, from inpatient rounding to patient education and complex medication management.
Matt reflects on mentorship, the importance of “referent power,” and how connecting purpose to even the most detailed workflows can elevate both team performance and patient care.
30 Jan 2026
Applying Hospitality Practices to Leadership in Health Care
Two Northwestern Medicine leaders, Lisett Bringas and Joanna Casillas, share how their backgrounds in the hospitality industry have molded how they approach their roles in health care today. Lisett is the manager of Support Services, overseeing Environmental Services at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital, and Joanna is the residency program manager in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. In this episode, they share how they apply hospitality practices to health care to effectively lead their teams.
28 Nov 2025
Leading With Approachability: Daniel O'Donnell
Daniel O'Donnell, PA, is a Northwestern Medicine physician assistant with nearly 20 years of orthopaedic experience. He's one of the first advanced practice providers (APPs) at Northwestern Medicine to manage a team of APPs. In this episode, he talks about his model of everyday leadership and how he grew from a hesitant new leader to managing dozens of APPs across multiple specialties.
26 Sept 2025
Building Systems With Soul: R. Kannan Mutharasan, MD
R. Kannan Mutharasan, MD, cardiologist and medical director of Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Palos Hospital, shares his leadership journey in integrating cardiovascular care across Chicago’s south suburbs.
He emphasizes that leadership is a mindset rooted in relationships, curiosity and service — not titles. Drawing from a range of experiences in medicine, engineering and history, he introduces frameworks like VOICE (Vision, Opportunity, Innovation, Communication, Execution) and advocates for “systems with soul” that prioritize people. His stories highlight the power of noticing, listening and acting to improve patient care. Dr. Mutharasan’s approach blends humility, continuous learning and a deep commitment to building compassionate, collaborative healthcare environments.
13 Aug 2025
Learning is Leading: Ali Stewart
On this episode of Anatomy of an Everyday Leader, the spotlight is on Alexandra "Ali" Stewart, MSN, MBA, RNC-OB, C-EFM, CBC. Ali manages a complex and dynamic float pool nursing team at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Her approach to leadership is grounded in curiosity and driven by connection.
Ali shares how she gained the respect of a team working across dozens of units and how she creates a culture where everyone feels empowered to grow.
26 Jun 2025
What Does It Mean to Lead?
Gaurava Agarwal MD and Logan Pause introduce the Anatomy of an Everyday Leader podcast, exploring personal leadership journeys and values-based leadership in an interview.
26 Jun 2025
Welcome to Anatomy of an Everyday Leader
Gaurava Agarwal MD and Logan Pause introduce the Anatomy of an Everyday Leader podcast, exploring how healthcare team members at Northwestern Medicine add value and empower others, in this interview.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 23 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
34
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact Anatomy of an Everyday Leader
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Anatomy of an Everyday Leader
Who hosts Anatomy of an Everyday Leader?
Gaurava Agarwal MD and Logan Pause host the show. Published by Northwestern Medicine.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes monthly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Anatomy of an Everyday Leader take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
Host of Anatomy of an Everyday Leader?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
