She Pivoted From Pursuing Med School to Lead a Nonprofit That Saved 40,000 Lives: Danielle Vizcaino

[0:16]  Welcome back to another episode here on the Heart Hustle Podcast. Today's guest, she walked away from med school and found herself leading one of the country's most lifesaving nonprofits. This is Danielle's fight for access, for dignity, and for purpose. Miss Danielle, welcome.

[0:30]  Thank you. Thank you for having me.

[0:33]  I mean, I'm excited. We were just kind of talking how it's been some time. Like, life really be lifeing out here, especially with everything kind of going on, whether you're a parent, whether you're looking at what's happening in the government, the fear that's happening around the world. Um, so it's always cool to just talk to another leader and just kind of, you know, cut out all the noise for a little bit if anything. But, um, let's start. I asked you the first question, man. I you once dreamed of being a doctor but then you ended up saving lives in a completely different way.

[0:57]  Yeah.

[0:58]  When did that dream actually start to shift for you and did you know it was time to kind of pivot or

[1:03]  Yeah. Give us the backtory on it.

[1:04]  I'll I'll give you a little a little story about how that happened. So I was a kid and I always dreamed about being a physician specifically emergency medicine because I have this like innate drive to like solve problems. Um and I'm like oh this is great. like every day is going to be a new day, right? And I'm going to be faced with different challenges and that's really exciting for me. So, I I went to uh the University of Central Florida. I got a undergraduate degree, a bachelor's in molecular microbiology. Um, and was doing some like rotations, like informational rotations, right, as you as you do in premed. And I shadowed an emergency room doctor. And I remember, and this story chokes me up, so I'm going to try not to cry. Um, but he showed, you know, I was following him around and this patient came in. He was probably in his 50s or 60s. He had just had a heart attack. And I'm like, "Okay, Danielle, like this is something you probably see in the emergency room like every day, right?" Um, and they, you know, I stood there to the side while they tried to save his life and ultimately they weren't able to get to him in time and he passed. And there's an there's rooms in the emergency room. I I don't remember what they call them now, but where they take the families to basically tell them, right, that your loved one has passed. And so I'm standing there and the the gentleman, you know, passed away on my left and I'm watching his wife who's hysterical and his children walk through the door and they're about to take them to that room. And I turned to the doctor I was shadowing and I was, you know, I said to him, "How do you do this every day?" He was like, "Oh, you get used to it."

[2:49]  And in that moment, I was like, "I can't get used to that. Like, that's not for me." That human element. Like, I don't want that to disappear from me, right? That empathy that,

[3:00]  you know, and I get why they do it because they have to disconnect otherwise it just breaks you down emotionally

[3:05]  and mentally. But that was the moment where I'm like, "Okay, I think I need to solve the health care problems in some other way." Um, so I transitioned uh into I got a master's uh in business administration and a master's in public health. And while I was getting those degrees, I worked as a scientist, a micro bacteriologist at the Florida Department of Health. So I've learned different facets of, you know, healthcare in different ways. Um, went on and got into the workers comp industry, led a large, you know, a large call center there. um learned about claims adjudication and all the you know the inner workings of the technology involved in that and then stumbled upon the assistance fund and um something about like a missiondriven you know quest to find better ways to do things and solve you know the world's problems right was just so um enticing to me um so that's that's why how I'm here Life be really lifing. I know we said it earlier before we actually hit record, but life be lifing for real. And you just don't know. Sometimes you're chasing this dream and get completely taken off path and end up in a place that is like, "Wow, I'm so happy here. I would have never known."

[4:24]  Yeah. And you know, you got to listen. You got to listen. You got to always be listening because there's signs all around you, you know, that your journey can take you in different ways. And if you don't pay attention that you miss that, miss those moments. that opportunity.

[4:37]  Yeah. No, you're definitely were in tune and realizing it very early on that I got to make this pivot.

[4:43]  I'm just like you. I I couldn't I couldn't do that. Like I just love people so much and I'm the type of person that if I see someone crying, I'm crying with them. Like I get really emotional real quick. I don't know why, but you know, that's just the thing. I see somebody crying and I get I mean there's sometimes I hear really good stories and I get emotional and I'm like, why am I like this?

[5:01]  Um so yeah, I can imagine. But you do you feel there's a piece of your upbringing that still shows up in just the way that you lead? I mean you being that young individual that was a very leadership moment realizing you know what this is not for me. I I need to make that move and and doing it so you know young. Is there anything that you you can think of that stems you know to this great leadership?

[5:22]  Yeah, you know I I'm just curious by nature right? Um, and I have this, you know, drive to always want to show up and be the best version of myself every day. Um, it can be very exhausting to be that way because you you get to moments where you're never satisfied. Unfortunately, I'm always look, you know, looking to just do something better or bigger, right? Um, but I would say, you know, I grew up in the Poconos, you know, very small town in Pennsylvania. And uh you know that that upbringing in that small town I think still humbles me today.

[5:57]  Um you know what we do at the assistance fund and provide you know copay assistance for these these patients. A lot of it is, you know, rural type areas where they don't have access, right? And I'm constantly pulled from, you know, pulling to my upbringing, right? Like I think about those individuals in the towns where I grew up, right? And the access to, you know, renowned physicians or science and and technology is just not access easily accessible there. So I think that that upbringing really drives a lot of my devotion to this area of work as well. So amazing a young leader too like this is this is always cool to see another young leader doing phenomenal. I can imagine there were some challenges but I do want to talk about something that you mentioned the first time that we got on on a call which was um you don't know you need us until you need us and that's really you know what's the most unforgettable moment that made you made that model really real for you? Uh, I would say, you know, I I meet people all the time that, you know, struggle to pay bills. I mean, there's even if they're not healthcare related bills, right? We right now the, you know, in the state of, you know, where we're at in the in the country, there's a lot of individuals that struggle every day. And you have moments where you know you're uh I meet these parents of children that are just say gosh I I have to choose between giving my child their medication and paying rent or put you know putting food on the table. Um and those moments really stick with me. Um and you don't know organizations like us exist until you're in the system I like to say. Right. So you you get you receive this life-changing diagnosis and you know you learn about the cost of medication just to improve your quality of life and treat yourself, right?

[7:55]  Um and then all of a sudden you're burdened by this cost, right? So insurance only covers a part of it. Um, a lot of these drugs, just because it says it's covered on paper, doesn't mean that you're gonna be able to pay what the co-ay or co- insurance or deductible is, right, to to get the medicine. So, um, I always say you don't need to know until you need to know, right? Um, and then, you know, I'm I'm meeting people that, oh my gosh, I'm so glad I stumbled upon you guys. Um, because these individuals would have had to pay it for it out of pocket and figure out a way on their own. How do you navigate that emotional tension? Like as you mentioned, these are people that are are technically insured

[8:37]  still drowning.

[8:38]  Yeah.

[8:38]  Right. Um so what do you guys do at the level of your organization that really gets these people um squared away where they don't have to worry about as you mentioned paying rent or paying uh for medicine?

[8:50]  Yeah. So so Taff, the assistance fund, we call ourselves TAF. We're the last payer. So we help with the patients out of pocket costs after their health insurance has paid its portion. So that could be co-ayments, co- insurance, deductibles, as I said, and then any incidental medical expenses. So, you know, like I said, people assume that you you have health insurance, you're protected, you know, but the reality is it's very different. I meet families every day that still can't pay and they have insurance.

[9:18]  Um, so there's that's where we step in, right? We help bridge that gap. The fact that organizations like us exist and that we've helped hundreds of thousands of patients afford treatment really says something profound about our health care system, right? And there's cracks in it that even as an insured patient, I you know, there's individuals that can't get access to the medication.

[9:41]  So, our organization really shines light, right, on the patients hidden financial burdens. And, you know, we're not only helping individuals, we're exposing these broader systemic issues in our healthcare. And you know, as a mother, um, I would fight for my son, right? I think we all would fight for our children. I would swim upstream every single day to give him what he needed. And

[10:05]  that's what we give our patients, you know, assistance with dignity and that they're no longer in this fight, you know, alone.

[10:13]  Do you feel like something has shook you about the reality behind the scenes of healthcare? I mean you stepped into this probably thinking this work is expecting to to help you stepped into this role and instead really found that as you mentioned the system is quietly failing people. Is there something that you think about that kind of shook that moment for you like oh my god this is actually a little bit more complicated than what it really is?

[10:34]  Yeah I our health care system is very complicated. Um you know I even to be your own advocate nowadays is so challenging. Um, you know, I'll talk to family members or friends or family and I'm kind of like the go-to person now, right? Um, hey, this individual's struggling to to pay for this. Do you know of any help? Right. Um, and you would think this this with this, you know, the access to information that we have online that that it would be easy to find help and it's really not. Um, you know, I Yeah, it it's uh it's it's sad that it's we're we're in a system where it often fails the most vulnerable of our patients, right? Um or or um you know, citizens. So,

[11:25]  and it's not any better now, right? Like people are living in fear um to even just get to the doctors nowaday because of what's happening in our government. Um but you you still have this strong head on your shoulders. you still show up with um a smile on your face. Can imagine that is not easy. Um who's pouring into you when you're kind of going through these tough moments of oh my god, can I get through this? Oh my god, you know, how do I get through this? Who's that person in your corner?

[11:51]  Gosh, I don't know if it's one person. That's a really good question. Um I think it's a combination of people. Uh you know, obviously being a mother, I think has shifted a lot. Uh my son has taught me so much about patience and empathy and you know resilience.

[12:09]  Patience for sure.

[12:10]  Yeah. Like yeah being a parent really just you you learn a lot of lessons you know if anything you learn a lot of lessons. Um but he the lessons I learned from him helped me be a better leader right. Um, you know, leading an organization like like ours, I want our staff to always stay committed, right, to the mission. And in order to do that, they have to feel appreciated. They have to feel I have to make sure I'm setting up the culture to be

[12:41]  um one where they want to be here and they feel valued and they're they're they feel like they're a part of this, you know, shared purpose, right? To get us uh to help patients. Um, I have an amazing leadership team that surrounds me. Um, they are trusted adviserss. We've worked with each other for nine years. I consider them part of my family, not necessarily,

[13:06]  you know, I'm just lucky that I get to work with people that that I've worked with for so long that they're they're a part of my life. They're not just a co-orker. Um, and you know, they're a constant um, you know, they constantly give me, you know, invigor going and to and and that we're moving in the right direction cuz

[13:28]  you can't be positive all the time, right? There's times as a leader where you question yourself. Um, of course,

[13:34]  and you have to surround yourself with people that give you that that kind of vigor, right, to get keep you going.

[13:41]  Yeah. No, I'm a big believer in that. Um, that's why I'm always con when you're a leader, we're not taught how to pour into ourselves while we're pouring into others, right? So, I think that's always kind of that that thing is who can we call upon? Who are we checking in? We can't check in with everybody cuz some people start to drop in more negativity. And I'm like, I'm already empty. I don't need all the extra. And and we all experience that as leaders. Like that is that's just kind of life. But knowing that you have those solid people and really you created that foundation. And I love what you say is like having the I just created a content piece on this is your your to have a steady foundation. They have to feel seen. They have to feel heard. Um they have to understand what the why is the mission you know and once they do and you get allow you allow them to be themselves while doing that as well.

[14:27]  Allowing them to to know it's okay to fail that they don't have to be perfect because none of us are that you'll start to see a whole different team. And I that's the reason I've always loved and I I haven't done it really in a long time, but when um you get a good team. Now I'm actually now that I'm thinking about it, I have a board and today we're actually going to start planning for a gala. So I'm so excited because this is a board that was not doing anything for the last couple of years that was not raising money. And one of the biggest things they said is like it's just hasn't been fun. Like we we feel like we're not fighting for anything, right?

[14:58]  You know, and that was past leadership. So now that I'm I'm excited and I text them like, "Hey, pizza today. Hey, we're we're about to really have fun. You have to set that tone and I think so many people forget that like especially when they get into a new role. It's like never forget how you got there, right? And this, you know, so I love that you kind of mentioned that space. You became a CEO though after 9 years, not overnight. Took some time. People think that it happens and oh my god, you're so blessed or you're so lucky, but they don't know that it took some challenges. What did that slow burn really teach you about um about yourself that a fast promotion never ever could?

[15:34]  Yeah. You know, people ask me this question all the time is, you know, how does it feel to be the CEO now? And these pe, you know, people have a misconception of like being a CEO. Oh, you're the boss, right? And everybody listens to everything you say, but it's lonely at the top. You know, they say that it's lonely at the top.

[15:52]  Um

[15:53]  I sometimes I have it Sometimes it hits me still to today that I'm running an organization um that you know people believe in me and believe in in my um ability to you know take the organization where it needs to go. Um

[16:12]  I think that I'm fortunate in that my journey with the organization I was exposed to so many different areas. Um so I had a lot of opportunity to learn uh you know starting as the VP of operations um which is you know you know largely what the organization's doing right every day

[16:32]  um the program management then you know coupling that with being in charge of communications and uh finding alternate funding sources and building that foundation I was exposed to so much in a short amount of time um and building That constant m, you know, keeping up with that momentum and continuing to learn and expose myself to different parts of the business, I think helps with the organization, you know, trust that I know the ins and outs of this place. I know the ins and outs of, you know, independent charitable copay assistance. I've put in the work. Um, I know how to process claims and answer phones, right? I've been there. Um, you know, I've I've been process, you know, when I was a VP of operations, I would find myself processing reimbursement claims to patients on the weekends and at night because

[17:30]  it bothered me so much to know that somebody was going the weekend without being able to buy food.

[17:36]  Um, so knowing that all of that was still sitting there um, waiting to be paid out, I had to do it. Um, so I I think that foundation was really critical in my growth. Uh, taught me a lot in a short amount of time. It seems like nine years went really quick, but maybe to some people 9 years is a long time, but uh, it seems like it went by in a very very quickly.

[18:03]  If the Heart and Hustle podcast has ever sparked any idea or made you think differently, do us a favor. Make sure to guys share this, post it on LinkedIn or even text that nonprofit friend that you just have. Whatever works. This is what keeps the conversation going and allows us to just grow this community together. Seriously, we appreciate you.

[18:25]  Shows how tough I actually spoke to a leader. She waited 35 years to become CEO and she was working with that organization for 30 plus years

[18:32]  and she had this you know it's just crazy how yeah it does go by fast but when you're in it

[18:38]  it goes by like it takes forever in a day you know because a year could feel like a long time when you have this goal and you're like what the hell I'm I'm just not getting it. Where is that?

[18:48]  Yeah.

[18:48]  But that's good that you stuck it through all those titles were you holding it at the same organization or just various

[18:54]  Yes. Same organization. Yes.

[18:56]  Oh, yeah. So, you understand what the front line looks like to all the way to the top. So, you're one of those great leaders. I love people like you that um you don't just take up a seat and you don't know what the hell's going on. No, I I've lived it. Okay. So, I'm speaking from experience when I'm giving you these stories. It's cuz I know

[19:11]  I I truly um do appreciate it. Do you think there's anything that you had to unlearn though going from I don't know how much time you spent in that for-profit world um but anything that you had to kind of unlearn from the for-profit while you get into a more missiondriven organization? Yeah, I you know, obviously leading a mission organization is very different than leading a for-profit. So instead of fixating on quarterly returns or stockholder profits, we're focused on giving people access um to critical medical treatment.

[19:40]  Um but the pressure is still very real, right? But yeah,

[19:44]  what's different is is you carry it with pride now versus before you're like, oh gosh, this is just a job, right? Um, I know that all of my worry and anxiety and um, you know, making sure that I'm leading effectively and uh, is all for a reason, right? Like we all want purpose in life, right? That's what drives us and motivates us. So,

[20:06]  and I think that that's uh, yeah, I don't know if I would unlearn anything because for-profit really helps from the business a aspect, right? you to run a nonprofit, you have to have business acumen, right?

[20:22]  Yes.

[20:22]  It's still a business at the end of the day. Uh you have to be lean and you you want to make sure you're effective and efficient with the dollars that you do raise. Um you know, you wear many hats. Many of us in the organization wear many hats. Um because you want to be as lean as possible. So, I don't know if I would unlearn anything because I think that all the stuff that the forprofit I got out just in enough time.

[20:48]  Yeah. No, I do agree. I I I people always have this theory that nonprofit doesn't make any money and XYZ and um and it's it's not the case. You know, I'm speak I spoke to a nonprofit where they were making $70 million a year they were bringing in and now they're making $400 million a year. So yeah, these organizations do make some money.

[21:11]  It's a asking business. I've always been like this is the asking business in a sense, right? You you have you can't have no ego. You cannot be you got to be confident which you're you're also you know what we sell is that story is our patient stories. You know some people don't get to actually experience it

[21:28]  the way that you've experienced it. You can talk about it from just being um what was it? You said you were interning. You you were intern. So you've can you have those stories on why you got there and now that's what we actually sell. I think it's pretty cool. I think that you also hit it on the head.

[21:43]  Your idea was never chasing a paycheck. It was always chasing purpose and that's why you do what you do and that's why it doesn't feel like work. And that's what allows you to wake up every single morning even when you have a child to say it's not just about my child but even bigger than that.

[21:58]  You know a lot of the times it's never about us now that I'm pretty sure you know it's not about us. It's about everybody else that we could try to help while we

[22:04]  while we do what we do,

[22:06]  you know, because as you mentioned, it is lonely on the top, but we're never afraid to help somebody else,

[22:10]  right?

[22:11]  So, I I I truly um appreciate what you've really done and you're building this nonprofit that in your ideal world really wouldn't exist. How how do you stay motivated when your mission is to disappear?

[22:23]  Yeah. Uh people find that interesting when when we say that uh you know our vision is to see the day when no person goes without treatment because of an inability to pay. Right.

[22:33]  Yeah.

[22:34]  So we often joke like our goal is really for us to go out of business because we're not needed anymore. And and I say that as someone who is deeply proud of the work we do, but our existence is a response, right, to a broken system. So until then,

[22:49]  we keep showing up for the individuals and families who need us. Uh at TU we are committed to increasing the number of disease programs so we can help more people right now but also we support broader change. You know charitable patient assistance is a critical stop gap but it's not sustainable right it's not a sustainable solution to the deeper issues in our health care system.

[23:10]  So while TAF is here to meet the immediate need we we want the health care system to do better for the millions of people in this country who can't afford medical treatment. So, um, you know, true progress in in US healthcare would look a lot like our vision statement where no one would go without treatment because of an inability to pay. And it looks like, you know, access to care and treatment for everyone regardless of income or diagnosis. A place where everyone benefits from the science, not just a few. So you you see the science, you see all of the new drugs and drug development and rare disease drug development focus, but it shouldn't be just for a few. It should be available to everybody. And it wouldn't mean closing the gap between what is covered by insurance and then the huge cost burden people living with life-changing diseases face. So long- winded answer to

[24:04]  I love it. I love it.

[24:06]  You know, why I would want us to not need to be here, you know. Um we're in a space where you can probably um attest to this that organizations sometimes fall behind when we get to technology

[24:18]  and now the buzzword is AI and everyone's like how do we incorporate within our organization because we know that it's here um if people think it's not here they're crazy it's been here for a very long time but there are some things that really help us at a level of admin of repetitive task that allows us to get something done like plug in AI to do that where we can do more of what we love.

[24:43]  Are you an organization that is really implementing this? Are you guys like dipping your toe in it? Where do you guys fall as an organization with AI and technology?

[24:50]  Yeah, I would say that we would we dip our toe in it um for repetitive tasks. We certainly use AI to help. I mean, obviously it would be silly for a nonprofit who's focused on efficient use of the dollars to not take advantage of things that um especially repetitive tasks that would that would help in productivity for our staff.

[25:11]  Um so there's administrative stuff that we certainly use it for. Um you know, I'm sure like many organizations, meeting notes, things like that, right? Um that's saving our staff time. But what I will say is that because we have a call center and we're dealing with patients that are often coming to us, you know, in, you know, not the greatest state in their life, right? We would never implement AI to replace a human, right? That human interaction and our patient interaction is so important to us, but we certainly will implement solutions and are looking at solutions that help our agents be more effective on that call. Right? So getting the patient faster information um more uh concise information so they they don't have to call multiple times right we're meeting all their needs in one phone call so those are areas where we're exploring um I am a technology fiend that's my uh you know kind of side hobby I while I was pregnant I got my uh Salesforce administration certification just for on. Um

[26:20]  that's what you were doing, huh? When you're just at home just hanging out just for fun,

[26:23]  hanging out, trying to keep myself occupied. Uh so I do see the value in healthcare, but it's balance, right? Um especially when you're talking about um patients and different demographics and how they respond to technology. There's so much goes into decisions when you're looking at uh solutions like that.

[26:43]  That's good. I love the way they just said, how do we help our um call center and those reps be more faster and accurate with the information? I think that's totally key. Um because people, especially now, I feel like everyone I used to say the Amazon effect and now everyone's on the chat DPT effect. Like they want information quick, right? And we got to be that for them. That's just a time of life that we're on.

[27:04]  But I love that idea of how can we implement AI really because to me AI I don't think ever replaces a person. No,

[27:09]  but it makes our job a little easier. There is that tool in our toolbox that allows us to just be better at what we do and show up better. I mean, it's helping in the healthcare now where doctors are showing up better and they can have one-on-one conversations without having to write all these notes, right? So, that's actually a good thing that's happening in the healthcare space. I would say

[27:25]  100%.

[27:26]  Right. The experience is different.

[27:27]  We we live in a world where where I feel like we put so much pressure on ourselves to need to know everything um at you know just at the tip of our tongue, right? And so it would be silly for me to say our agents or expect our agents to know things about the hundred, you know, close to 100 disease states that we support. I I mean that would be incredibly difficult for them to do. So yes, certainly giving them the tools to access that information quickly and and accurately.

[27:57]  This has been really good conversation, but if someone's listening right now as we're start wrapping up and they've never heard of tapcares.org, What is that one thing you want them to know or do after this episode?

[28:07]  Tell somebody who's in need, right? So, if you're, you know, be the messenger. So, I said you don't know need, you don't know us until you need to know us. Well, tell somebody, right? Um, spread the word. If you or someone you know is living with a life-changing disease or you're having trouble affording your out-of- pocket treatment, you know, we may be able to help. Visit our website. Uh if you our work resonates with you, we certainly always would encourage you to support us, you know, by making a donation um and you know 94 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to our patients uh and offering patient assistance. So I would say visit our website taffarees.org and there's a full list of our disease programs and information on how to apply as well as information on how to donate so we can help more people in need.

[28:52]  That's what I'm talking about. We got to get the resources out there.

[28:55]  Yes. I ask you after building a valuesled career, is there any quiet wind that reminds you I'm exactly where I need to be? I know there's plenty of them, but what's the first one that comes to mind?

[29:07]  Gosh,

[29:09]  got to put you in. This is not even the blind question yet. This it's a good question.

[29:12]  Uh that it doesn't feel like work. I guess that I I you know, my my dad would always say to me when I was young, you know, when you're when you're doing something you love, it never feels like work. Um so I don't feel like this doesn't feel like work. So maybe that would be the sign that I'm right where I'm supposed to be.

[29:32]  No, that's true. That is true. If it doesn't feel like work and you just wake up happy every day.

[29:36]  Yeah.

[29:36]  Like how cool is it to say, I love what I do.

[29:39]  Yeah. And encourage. I think that through this journey, my leadership journey and and uh figuring out what I wanted to do as you know I grew up courage. I always had courage. So whenever people ask me as a leader what would you you know what advice would you give or just always have courage? Fail, reflect, get back up.

[30:06]  Got to you just never know whose life you're going to change you know that day. And if I didn't have courage, I wouldn't be where I am today helping, you know,

[30:14]  we helped over 40,000 patients last year, right? So

[30:18]  that's amazing.

[30:20]  And and as you mentioned, just showing up truly makes a difference.

[30:23]  Sometimes people are afraid to show up. Just show up authentically you and you realize the the you know, the rooms you're actually able to inspire by just being you, by sharing that knowledge, by having that courage, being confident um in in yourself. No, I love it. I love all those as we're as we're talking to leaders especially in the um I'm in the high school. I think I told you I lead the nonprofit in and you said you're in Orlando, right?

[30:46]  Yes. Mhm.

[30:47]  You know Edgewater High School.

[30:48]  Oh yeah. Yeah.

[30:49]  So I'm the president of Edward High School and um to be at that school and just speak to these young kids and letting them know the nonprofit space exists because I feel like it's something we don't talk about often. People go and right they chase that paycheck but it's like when do we tell kids to chase purpose? Because to me is when you chase purpose the money would follow anyway. But to have this thing that you can say, "Oh my god, I love what I do." You know, you could do 50, 60, 70 hours and it just never feels like work because you see you're just kind of almost getting your fix in a sense, right? How good does it feel that I go home and I change all these lives?

[31:20]  Yeah. I mean, it's uh

[31:23]  it's an incredible feeling. And I I'm I'm sometimes, you know, you're you're in the day-to-day and you forget, right? Uh, and then I I attend these patient conferences and they come up to me and they tell me their story and I'm like, "Oh gosh." Like, um, you know, like you said, you cry, you know, when you hear somebody else cry or hear a story that's me, it's like, oh, you know, it feels so good to be here, you know, um, and somebody's benefiting from this. So,

[31:51]  you guys were recently at a conference, right? I think late April, early May.

[31:54]  Yeah, we've been to a few. So, uh, our staff was just at the sleep conference. Then we were at PPMD which is musculardrophe. Um so we're

[32:03]  and you guys go there as like a vendor or you guys

[32:05]  we just have a booth. So we our purpose is right to get the word out about the assistance fund. So patients who are visiting the conference because they have a particular disease that they can gain information about us and learn uh about the financial assistance that we offer and how to enroll.

[32:19]  Okay. So you guys doing the work. You guys are out there. Okay. You guys are making sure you guys I love that. I love that you guys have the booth and sharing the information because a lot of people show up, especially if you're doing it in Orlando. The Orlando Convention Center holds so many people.

[32:33]  You'll be missing out if you're not there. Okay, that's a great partnership.

[32:36]  All right, so I lead you to that blind question as I mentioned. What belief about leadership or service has really stayed true even as everything around you has completely changed? Uh gosh, I would say listening. Um you know, listening is such an important part of leadership. It's you know, again, I I said like, you know, you know, people have this thought of what a leader is, right? And you're you're delegating and you're you know, telling people what to do, but that's really not what it is, right? It's listening. And um I think that's the most you know important thing that I you know have carried is that

[33:19]  I it's not like I can do it on my own right. Um I certainly make final decisions on things but I rely on the staff and and I listen and I make sure that I'm taking it all in and I'm making assessments

[33:32]  um before executing. Right. So

[33:36]  yeah listening if if my wife was here she would echo yes. Yes. Listening. She tells me all the time. You just need to listen when I'm talking to you. I'm like, I am listening.

[33:45]  Yeah. Listen and actually, you know, take

[33:49]  That's what she says. Not listen to respond. Actually listen to understand. I'm like, oh my god. Um, no. I I enjoy this conversation. What is your blind question to our next leader?

[34:00]  If there was if you could eliminate one world issue, what would it be and why?

[34:07]  I love these questions. I love when I get to listen to all these other questions that leaders ask each other. Um, this has been really good conversation. Can people connect with you on LinkedIn? Are you on LinkedIn? Where can people follow you, the organization? Are you guys on social?

[34:18]  Yes, we're on all the social platforms. Uh, you can visit us, like I said, at tfcares.org. I'm on LinkedIn. Feel free to connect with me. Uh, Danielle Visco. Um, I'd be happy to connect.

[34:31]  I love it. Well, guys, this is another great conversation with another great leader and sharing resources that people don't know actually exist. So, make sure that you guys tag somebody in the comments as well. Share this video with them because a lot of times people are living in the unknown. They're living in fear because they think that their help is not out there. But Danielle is letting you guys know that even if you have insurance, a lot of the times they will still be able to assist. All right, so make sure you guys follow them. It's tfares.org, right? tfcares.org. It's been a pleasure, Danielle. We thank you. This is Heart and Hustle Podcast. My name is Ephrain. This is Danielle. We'll catch you guys on the next one later. Thank you so much.