The Fire Chief
The Fire Chief
Podcast Description
The Fire Chief podcast, hosted by Dr. Lee Scheinbart, brings you frontline, candid conversations about what its like to be a Chief Medical Officer at a time when the health care is on fire. And getting hotter all the time. Being a CMO is no small task and it takes intentional preparation, although some of it feels like a trial by fire. Becoming a CMO is like a career in firefighting. You start by going to firefighter school and you train and drill until you are ready to fight a fire. You put on the uniform day in and day out doing your job, maybe even becoming a squad leader or captain one day. And then, perhaps, you become a Fire Chief, or in this case, the Chief Medical Officer. This podcast is dedicated to the CMO.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast centers around themes of leadership in healthcare, focusing on topics such as mentorship, crisis management, the importance of resilience, and navigating healthcare finance, with episodes like 'It Takes Courage' discussing leadership challenges and 'Deal With The Gray' analyzing decision-making complexities.

Leadership, Strategy, and Career Development for Chief Medical Officers and Physician Executives
The Fire Chief is the podcast for Chief Medical Officers and physician executives navigating leadership in today’s complex healthcare environment. Hosted by an authentic physician executive and leader, each episode delivers practical insights on strategy, governance, physician engagement, organizational performance, and career development—through real conversations with experienced leaders and experts.
If you’re building influence, leading clinical teams, shaping organizational decisions, or preparing for your next executive role, this show is your frontline briefing.
In this deep dive episode of The Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart engages in a profound conversation with Dr. Li Ern Chen, a visionary leader in healthcare transformation and Korn Ferry’s Market Leader of Physician Workforce. They delve into Korn Ferry’s 2026 Physician Executive Survey and highlight the evolving role of Chief Medical Officers, emphasizing the importance of financial fluency, workforce strategy, and cultural development in driving change. Dr. Chen shares strategic insights on leveraging digital investments and fostering a resilient, engaged physician workforce. The discussion highlights the necessity of cross-functional collaboration, the integration of technology in healthcare, and the cultivation of organizational culture to enhance recruitment and retention. Dr. Chen underscores the importance of linking metrics to culture and performance, framing leadership as a journey of continuous learning and adaptation in the ever-changing landscape of healthcare. Ultimately, culture wins over compensation among today’s healthcare leaders and it is a wise leader that treats their workforce not as “staffing” but as capital that cannot be squandered and that must be invested.

Disclaimer
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