This Doctor's Story Changed Art Mejia's Life & 140,000 Patients at San Ysidro Health

[0:16]  Welcome back to another episode here on the Hard and Hustle Podcast. Our next guest, Art says, "We're not in it for the paycheck. We're in it for the purpose." So, I agree. I think the job that we're doing art, whether you're in the healthcare, the nonprofit space, man, it's not all about those paychecks. It's about our cups being filled, man. And not, you know, it's we didn't even know that our cups were going to be filled. We just started to do things that probably um we're saying yes to so many things. We fall into line of something that we really love. We find that passion. We find that purpose. And you spent nearly 30 years now, man, leading healthc care and undeserved communities. But wasn't a career. It was personal. Where does the story begin? Uh yeah, I mean it's it's you know uh I think for me the the realization came uh actually not too long ago when I kind of really started doing some reflection on on where I came from, where it started, what I did. And to me that it was interesting that there was actually a connection to my career to the way I started my life, you know, unbeknownst to me. And and I think the the story uh really took shape when I was working on on writing a personal statement. And as I was putting that document together, of course, I, you know, went to my parents, talked a little bit about, you know, what it was like for them, what it was like growing up, uh, for me as a child. And they shared a story with me that I thought was really impactful that I never heard. And they said to me, you know, at the time that I was born, I was born in Long Beach, California, Long Beach Memorial. Uh, but at the time, you know, my parents, uh, Mexican immigrants, they they kind of had, uh, had to work really hard, uh, you know, to to kind of get started in their life here in the US. And at the time, my mom was actually cleaning houses uh as a lot of folks do. And and it just so happened that she was uh cleaning a house for a guy by the name a physician by the name of Sydney Penn. Uh he and his wife Barbara, you know, and uh he was a member of the Long Beach Memorial Medical Staff. And he u my mom of course can become pretty close with with Mrs. Penn. And I think when my mom was pregnant with me, uh the story she tells me is that one day, you know, she had the baby bump showing and it was progressing and the pregnancy was progressing and Mrs. Pen asked my mom, "So, when are you going to deliver? You know, where are you going to deliver?" And my mom said what she should say because, you know, didn't have the best of insurance coverage or any coverage. It was kind of really really the county plans. And she said, "Oh, I'm going to go to LA County, you know, USA County Hospital like a lot of folks did." And Mrs. pen said absolutely not. Um and said I'm going to help you and I'm going to talk to my husband because there are a program that not a lot of people know about and there's an opportunity that we think you might be able to benefit from. And so

[2:52]  uh from that uh Dr. Penn was able to help my parents work out a deal and and offer them an access to a hospital and a service that they never thought they were going to have. Even though it was in our own community, we lived in Long Beach, but it it just didn't happen that way. Um and and it kind of came you know full tilt for me as you think about then when I started reflecting on my career and I said how interesting that I've dedicated you know 28 years now in leadership uh specifically in these underserved underserved communities border communities um trying to get care the best care possible to to individuals and unbeknownst to me you know 51 years before my parents were able to access uh a program that that was meant for the same thing uh that not a lot of people knew about. So yeah.

[3:42]  So looking back it looks like maybe you feel you chose underserving communities or maybe purpose chose you. Which one do you think?

[3:50]  Yeah. I I you know I think the universe is an interesting place. I I think it found me. I think I think you know for whatever reason all of those things connected to me and and when I started my career and and my career was you know a little different. I I think when we all at least for me and my parents you know growing up a lot of the the the story was we want you to be a doctor or a lawyer or you know it was kind of you know in that generation that was the things that they wanted you to do. Uh and I because my mom grew up later on working in hospitals and that was where she really spent the last part of her career. Um, I was always around hospitals and I saw doctors and I said, "Wow, you know, these are just revered individuals, amazing at what they do and and I thought I was going to go to medical school at one point and and I realized, you know, life happens and things happen." And I took a different path as as we tend to do and and I came to the realization one day that I was not going to go to medical school. Um, and and so I was still looking for a way to still be able to influence healthcare and and be able to hopefully help and and do some good, but I didn't know what it was going to be. And unbeknownst to me, I think healthcare leadership ended up offering me that opportunity to to influence and support and do some things around healthcare. And I mean, I'll tell you what, I mean, today I I'm blessed because I really do get to influence influence it on such a such a larger scale than I could have probably even imagined. And just it's everything. and and it all comes full circle. So, yeah, I think it uh that purpose found me and it's resonated with me that way.

[5:22]  I mean, I'm a big believer that we have all these plans and God comes and says, "Yeah, yeah, right. This is what you're you're doing here today, right? And this is where we we end up, man." And really, as you mentioned, find purpose and find happiness and then, as you mentioned, kind of really reflecting on your life, then to figure out where you're at today. Hey, you're like, damn, this it's kind of always been me, you know, and and sometimes you would even notice it until, as you mentioned, you had to write this the statement, man. Let us know the organization's name. Let us know what the title that you hold, man. And in the location.

[5:51]  Yeah, of course. So, right now, I I'm again incredibly fortunate. I I'm the vice president of clinic operations for an organization called Sanro Health. Uh we are a fed federally qualified health center, community health center uh in San Diego, California. And so, we uh actually span the entire county of San Diego. It's a large county u as you can imagine uh tons of people uh all types of people too you know it's incredibly diverse area and so so it's you know we take care of just so many different communities and so uh I get a chance to do that it's the playground that I get to play in is trying to connect people to care that way

[6:26]  and you guys are serving about 140,000 patients across San Diego I believe that that was the number that I we were able to come up with last time. How do you lead that at scale without losing that human touch?

[6:37]  Wow. Man, that's a great question. And I think I think that's the challenge, right? Because if you think about these organizations, and I'm going to talk about federally qualified health centers just for a second. A lot of these are grassroots movements, right? They they come out of a need and the Sanra story, by the way, is an amazing story in itself. Um because uh just for a second, you know, this was an organization that started with seven founding mothers that lived in a community where there was not healthcare and then they didn't have access to health care and they pulled their community together. They pulled funding. They pulled resources. They reached out to the medical community that was a little further north from here because it looked very different, you know, that many years ago, uh you know, 55, 56 years ago. uh and they brought healthc care to their community, you know, and and it started in a little house they called the casita and and that morphed into, you know, what it is today. And and and I I'll share this, you know, our fi our final uh founding mother passed unfortunately not too long ago, Mrs. Carmen Martinez. Um and there's an amazing testimonial video, you know, that she kind of did and they asked her what did you think about where it is today? and uh man tears to your eyes just in terms of you know the impact and the proud uh you just the pride that you see emanate from her and some of that. Um so so how do you lead that right and how do you do this in a way that doesn't lose the heart and the soul of the organization because as you grow as you go into new communities that maybe don't know you in the way that that the the southern part of Sanio County knows you um you actually have to keep the the mission of the organization front and center. You have to make sure that that people understand that you're there to take care of. And a lot of that has to do with, you know, the people that we choose to work with us and and the people that that we bring into this organization because there are very strong uh you know uh values uh that we put in front of the organization and the work that we do. So that's how you lead and whether whether you're in expansion or you're you know sometimes there's acquisitions or there's merger things that happen that way. Um, it's all about setting that culture and really getting people into the mix when it comes to this is who we are and this is how we're going to work. Uh, because they can't lose sight of who we are at the end of the day.

[8:45]  We still have to go back and say we're in the casita. This is my casita and this community, my casita and my community. It's about that continuous mission.

[8:53]  I love that. And I'm pretty sure you kind of experiencing um that moment where you you know the tears in our eyes and seeing the story of it even more grateful to be a part of this organization, right? To know where it starts and to where it's at today and and really your role in it today. Like it it's huge. And I can imagine that there's some hard parts you find like I would ask I guess what's the hardest part of balancing you talked about mission the mission with the business reality of uh primarily medic medical medical and and Medicare populations because that's kind of the space that you guys are in. Correct.

[9:25]  We are. We are. Yeah. And and and that's I think that's everybody that works in those environments knows it's a challenging environment. You know that the rates don't change a lot. the the the reimbursement models. I mean, you're always you're always subject to what's happening, you know, at the federal or the state level with some of that and you always worry about, you know, are are there going to be changes that affect the way you provide care or or the model that you have for care for these intended populations. Um, so, so it's always a difficult, you know, thing from that standpoint. I'll tell you one of the biggest challenges that we have and I think this is probably you go across the country and you find this there there's just not a never enough. you know, you you work really hard to to to scale your services, to expand your services, to make sure that that you can be efficient with your services because the demand is always going to outrow your supply, you know, and and so we we have to find ways to be creative. You know, I kind of joke with people when when they say, "Oh, you work in in medical environments." And I say, "Yeah, I'm proud to do it because you know what? It forces us to be creative." Um, we have to find ways to stretch that. We have to find ways to to to you know really be innovative with how we're going to get to the end goal which is always how are we going to keep people and make people and help people be healthier uh through the course of their life whether they're kids or adults or or seniors. You have to find ways to do that. And uh you know it could be in a different role and it could be some cushy deal with you're dealing with you know certain payers but nah you know this is this is where it is. This is where I think that you really earn uh your stripes and you really kind of um you know set yourself aside apart if you're able to be successful in these environments.

[11:00]  You talk about c creativity and and innovation all that other stuff. I mean I think we have things that make us a little bit more creative and faster. Now we talk about AI man how do you see AI playing a role in this space healthcare? because for so long you could probably agree and attest to this is that healthc care nonprofits they're kind of behind when it comes to technology and innovating but I feel like AI is being a little bit more adaptable faster now because people are realizing I can do more of what I love and less of all this you know admin and repetitive task I can imagine that you guys utilizing that how does that look like for you guys

[11:35]  yeah and and and you that's kind of the the next frontier for everybody and I I think you know you think about the progression of healthcare over the last you know couple decades you know We went from paper charts to electronic records to, you know, kind of siloed information to now information sharing platforms. I mean, it really has changed. AI is the next frontier. And and I think people today, I think what I'm realizing, and this is even over the course of the last two years. Um, if you're not on the AI train right now, you're behind. You you're going to get left behind a little bit. Uh, and I know I get it that there's a lot of angst. you know, obviously, you know, we grew up in in a generation where, you know, AI wasn't necessarily portrayed in the best way and and there's always, you know, a little bit of reluctance there. Um, and so ethical AI is is, you know, ethics and AI is going to be a real big thing as well. Um, but I think that that that that from a from a way to connect to people and help them expedite. Um, I I think it's a it's kind of the next wave of things we have to do. And and let's not forget the generations that are in that mode right now. If you think about the ex's and and the groups that are coming through, we're not, you know, uh technology, you know, a bird, you know, we are, I think, we're in a good position to be able to maximize that. And we're in a position where we also want support and services when we want them. The traditional models of, oh, I'm I need a question, I have a question of this, well, I better make an appointment to go to the clinic. That's really going by the wayside. you have to adapt that way. And sometimes, you know, that's where AI, I think, really starts to bridge the gap for you because sometimes I I think, and this is what I've been seeing and hearing as I've kind of been involved in some different uh forums, um sometimes what a patient needs or what a person is looking for is just some reassurance or an answer to a question or or something that you maybe don't necessarily need a provider for or a staff person for. Uh sometimes you do and you got to have those those abilities to do that. Um, but that's sometimes what we're looking for is as as consumers as well as you know as everybody we want an answer or something in more real time. So AI does that. I think it helps bridge the gap for that. It helps answer some of the things that you know people would traditionally have to do. Um, but I think the other part is that AI is really going to be the the idea that there's an AI assistant for everybody in the organization is something that is a concept that I think blows a lot of people's minds because whether you're working a front office or you're working, you know, checking patients in as as a as a clinical support person like an MA or an RN or you're a provider or even post discharge, AI is going to expand to the point that when you're in the middle of your scope of work and the things that you're responsible for, AI is going going to give you suggestions. It's going to help you queue up the things that you do that you normally it's going to be that that that part partner if you will. I think that's going to help make your job so much easier and faster. Uh and that's a that's a you know a concept that a lot of folks uh I think are gravitating to. I think there's people that might be a little reluctant uh a little slower in adoption but um I I think AI is going to be a great uh suggestive resource sort of uh assistant you know for everybody. I'll tell you kind of to what you said just being that um virtual employee per se, right? And being there when you didn't even know you needed it. I've seen this actually happen in the aviation industry before AI became very prominent as it is today. And I remember uh two three years ago as I was facilitating and they start to bring in AI but they weren't calling it that but it was that as someone was talking on the phone it's hearing the conversation and it's already pulling where to find it. It's pulling what to show next. It used to be where we had to go to this knowledge base and you know type in the keyword but now it takes a little longer.

[15:22]  But yeah man it it is and it's cool like to think I don't got to go find it. It found it for me. The conversations become a little bit more you know just more exciting because you don't have to sit on pause for give me just a moment. I got to wait two three more. No it's popping up for you. Like how much better can it get? And and now what I hear though is that people are saying well for undeserved communities is not working right that could be so there's a fear of this tech gap. How do you make sure innovation doesn't leave patients behind when you think about the communities that you serve?

[15:54]  Yeah. And and and you know that that's something that if you think about you know a few years ago the access to internet service for instance was something that everybody was worried about is is you know not everybody has it. It's not not equitable. there's issues there and there still are pockets of course that happens but I think you know we have to rely and we have to partner with uh you know our our legislative groups as well our teams to say look that is a connection piece if we don't have those things that creates these gaps that creates these that are going to hurt us in the long run when it comes to keeping patients connected the the the reality today is that anybody who's part of a health system or health organization you're going to do more and more things through an electronic means And so you have to have access to so so we need support obviously you know to make sure that that's happening from our side the thing that we have to do because at the same time you know back a few years ago not everybody had a cell phone and then not everybody had a smartphone right

[16:50]  today everybody pretty much has a smartphone at least the vast even even you know patients that are underserved communities everybody's going to pull a smartphone out but we have to help educate them on how to use that right how do you actually use the technology that you're investing in to show to show to bring benefit to them individually because once you tell them look you could schedule an appointment this way you can ask for a medication refill this way you could you know send a message to your doctor you do all these things that I think help maximize the use of the things that they have at their disposal um I think that that's changing and evolving and I've really seen that movement I think in recent years

[17:27]  so you're saying seniors can adapt because we always hear the opposite of it that they can't um I'm pretty sure you being in space. What surprised you more most I guess about that generational shifts in tech? Because listen, when I talk about the aviation industry, there was times that I was have because at one point I was on the phones. That's how I started my career in aviation. And yeah, you'll get your people that were 50 60 years old and act like they didn't want to adapt, right? Can you help me book my my my ticket? And I'm sitting here like, I can walk you through it. I'm always one like, let me teach you. Let me walk you through it. But some people's like, no, I don't know how to do it. But then I get somebody that's 70, 80 years old that is doing it. So you can't tell me it can't be done when I'm seeing it done, right? And you've been in this space, you're probably seeing it done while others are saying they can't do it. What is your thoughts on it?

[18:12]  Yeah, I mean, absolutely. And and you know, in the generations we're getting older where, you know, again, we're not we're more tech-savvy, of course, than our our grandparents were and even to some degree our parents. Um, so that evolution by itself is is naturally kind of lending itself to a a a a population of seniors, quote unquote, that actually I think is able to do some of the things that are there. So, you know, I I I also because I've been at this for a while, you know, I do come from a time where I would have physicians say, "I'm not using the computer." I'd have people say, "I'm not never going to go into the I'm never going to use the systems this way." Guess what? You don't have any of that anymore. Everybody moved. So, so I think that, you know, that wave is is moving. I think it's going I think I think we have to give more credit to to to really what people can do and what they can learn to do and and I'll tell you at least speaking for like the San Diego landscape um when when you join a health system again going back to any of those and it doesn't matter any of the big players that are here in our in our county um it isn't uh well if you'd like to it's no it's oh by the way here is your access here's your log like like they connect you right away and I think that's what sets the stage right you you you have to again help people take that step. So, so you set the stage for it and then and if they need it, you offer the support. I mean that you can't lose that. You have to you have to keep that so that if they do need it, but you know, today, like I said, with that generational movement that's occurring, those caretakers, guess what? They're me. You know, those are the people that were taking care of our parents in that in that age. We can absolutely help bridge some of that. And it's going to take everybody, but you know, we're going to get to the point that that people are going to say, "I got this." You know, let let me take care of it kind of thing.

[19:51]  Hey, real quick. If you enjoying the podcast, we first want to say thank you. And we also just want to give you a little insight of what we're up to at Francis. Some don't even realize that we're working with organizations to help them use AI to create that real human communication experiences. Whe that's actually supporting your your families, those patients or the entire community. We're actually creating tech that connects. Check it out. Francis.ai.

[20:17]  And it is taking the time to just educate, man. Taking the time to tell people the why behind it, why this is going to be, you know, beneficial for you. I tell you, and I share this story because it's so funny. She's probably maybe mid4s, maybe late 40s. And I remember um asking her, "Hey, do you chat GBT?" And she was like, "Oh my god, no. It's I'm not going to use it. I'm against it. XYZ." And I'm saying her like, "How could you be?" You know what I mean? So, I pulled it up and I'm showing her all these fancy things it can do. And she's like, "Oh my god." Five minutes later, while we're on this call, she's now sharing her screen and she's, you know, doing chat GPT. And uh maybe a week later, she messaged me on LinkedIn. She said, "Oh my god, thank you so much. Like, I think I'm overusing this." I'm like, there's no way you can overuse it, but I'm happy that you're utilizing it. All because I took the time to show her how to do it and give her the why on how it's going to help her in her space. And a lot of times there's something new comes out and we just don't know how to use it for us. But if you can tell someone how they can use it for them and how it's going to make their life a little bit more convenience, because we all want convenience in our lives and I think we're in the space because of Amazon and you know, chat PT now of the pandemic that we want everything now. We want everything fast. We don't want to have to go work too hard for it. And chatbt really gives you that, right? You don't have to think too hard for it. But it allows you to be so creative because it's not like you just use it and it gives you, you know, the output exactly how you want to. You still have to understand it, right? Give it the good prompts, give it the data that it needs. So yeah, there's a lot of education around it, but I, as you mentioned, I think that we could all do it if we were to just help each other out. Some people just don't like change, I guess. But like you mentioned, if they don't jump on board, man, they're about to get left behind for sure.

[22:00]  And and you know, and remember that the pandemic was a huge push forward. Like it nudged people forward saying, "Hey, guess what? You you you got to get into the tellahalth world. You got to do different things." Um that I think uh pushed patients in that direction more than anything else. Uh it was just a a necessity. You could not not do it kind of thing.

[22:19]  I would even say patience. So um I don't know if you know that at Francis we do tell health and we have been for 10 plus years and um Keenan and his his dad when early on in teleah health they were knocking on doors and hearing the nose it would never be possible no one would ever do this right and so it was even our doctors it was those leaders in the space pandemic happens and everybody quickly went to tellahalth and realized wait a minute we can actually serve more people you know in our communities via tellahalth matter of fact I just had My daughter had like this little rash on the side of her head. I'm I'm still surprised about the Tellah Health thing, but she had a little ration in her head. We call the doctor right from our home. The doctor sees it. She says, "Okay, it's a ringorm. We're going to prescribe XYZ."

[23:03]  We didn't have to take 30 minutes down the road. Man, this was for my home in 20 minutes. Pick a like, how convenient is that,

[23:09]  you know? Like, it's great.

[23:12]  That's AI is bringing that, too. more convenience and just I to to be quite honest I think a better experience overall when you go to see a doctor because the number one thing is that we always say is that doctors don't even give us eye contact back in the day we had a family doctor the doctor knew our family we knew the doctor that's not the same anymore and it's not because they don't want to it's because the way that healthc care is you got to take notes you got to do this you got to do the other so it just becomes almost just another number versus no we're humans that we want to talk you we want you to understand us and give empathy and compassion. A lot of times we don't see that. I'm pretty sure you you know that, right? You you that's why you see AI being so helpful in this space.

[23:51]  Yeah, absolutely. I mean, it's it's about regaining some of that connection because the administrative side of what we have to do, it's not getting smaller. I mean, on the contrary, there's more questionnaires, there's more things, more screenings, more things that you have to do. Where's the time with the patient? You know, where's that opportunity to connect as as a person? And I think that's what AI's been doing. And that's something that we've started here is is you know those that AI ambient listening you know sort of functionality that allows a provider to to when once consented you know set it aside and have a conversation and all that being captured you know in a safe way in a good way um but then helping them you know with the work that they're going to do and you know and you mentioned the the the AI and the technology it's also not just in the medical side I mean think about I think for me what what's so outstanding and incredible is is all of the things that have happened in the behavioral health world you know around mental health support around having to use tellaalth

[24:43]  because that's an area that that I think has exploded as a result of all this and so you have to do that not just and and it has an impact of course on the patients but also believe it or not from a recruitment standpoint you know this isn't the same world that it was you know 1015 years ago people today and and and medical professionals today they're asking for a different type of work work schedule they're asking for different types of things they want a that work life balance that everybody talks about. They they they want to have the ability to do some remote work. I mean, it is it is absolutely a different the idea of I'm going to go in and punch the clock, you know, so quote unquote, you know, 40 hours a week plus it it's just not the same. It's a it's a different workforce.

[25:27]  And behavior, when you talk about tele health in the behavior behavioral health space as well, um I think it's what's cool is it allows people to really feel comfortable via the tellahalth before they even show up in person. Um, and we're seeing that in in our younger kids, right? Like we see that they are very comfortable at home in their surroundings, in their environment to have more of an open conversation versus you meet them in person and they their walls are up, right? And you had to work even harder to get that. So, no, I love that pandemic changed a lot for us. And of course, in some bad ways, we've had to lose a lot. But I think there was so much that we've also gained from that time on what it looks like to just connect again. Um, and know that there's various ways of connections, especially with our younger generation, man. Think about it. They're not going outside riding scooters and bikes anymore and hanging out that way, man. They're at home on some headsets playing video games. That's how they connect nowadays. So,

[26:21]  times have totally changed, man. you I would say you you really led with a lot of purpose for the last 28 years. What keeps you motivated, man, in such a demanding field as we mentioned a little earlier?

[26:31]  You know, I think for me it's just understanding that the work's not done. You know, if if healthcare is anything, it is absolutely an evolving thing. Um, you know, this there's an art form, I think, to doing this, you know, as opposed to a science. It's going to change. you know, the the the reimbursement models are going to change, the care delivery models are going to change, the the work for workforce shortages are going to challenge you in different ways. Um, what's covered, you know, one year versus the other is going to challenge you. So, I think what keeps me motivated is saying, look, the work's not done. The the the the health of our population still can be improved. The ability to to reach more people and put people on good pathways to to their health, uh, it can we can still do better. We can do more. And and I think that the part that I've really enjoyed with Sandy Cedro is that this is comprehensive, man. This is, you know, not just the medical side of the house. Sometimes when you work in certain environments, you're only focusing on one thing. Well, here you say, look, the medical is important, but guess what? Oral health is just as important. You know, a person's oral health has a lot to do with their their, you know, their medical health. And oh, by the way, the the mental health aspect of of being able to to continue to live and do things in a way that is meaningful for folks. I mean it's the whole person you got to take care of in that. Um I think you know one of the things that I read recently you know it talks about you know the deterioration in people's lives and kind of what are some of the the signs and there when people stop feeling like they can do day-to-day activities that they normally do when they feel like they're they're less mobile less less active less willing to be active or or wanting to engage with with people. Those are all indicators. you know, we got to treat the whole person, you know, to try to prevent that and and and and you know, diminish that as much as we can and delay that so that people feel like they can, you know, be healthier and live better lives.

[28:18]  I love that you said that, man. And just I was thinking speaking to a little uh a leader earlier this week out of Seattle and was in the real estate space, but realized there was a need around our elderly. So he started to buy property, build these, you know, massive centers and what he was doing is building community in a sense is what how he calls it. And he was like, "Hey, we make sure that the food that we are serving is organic, it's the freshest that's possible, that is gluten-free. Um, we make sure we have a gym free of charge for them because I realize if, you know, he's realizing if they eat well, then they're more enticed of wanting to work out. Now they're working out, the mental health is better. They're realizing now they still got all this energy, right? now they realize they still got a voice and he's like you're starting to see a lot of these elderly because they're being fed well and and community the excitement that they're realizing they still got life within them and a lot of times it is that I I would tell you man I when I'm going through it I always like to work out because something about working out helps with my mental health right you start to feel good you start to look good you want to eat good all that truly does make a difference man you know and and people you talked about oral health I didn't even recognize that until I have friends that are in the space and I was like, Ephrain, if you're not taking care of your your a oral, your mouth, like it's going to spread, you know, through your body. And I'm like, yeah, you're right, but no one teaches this stuff, right? No one is teaching us this. So, and then when you go to these doctors, are they really having these conversations with us like that either? They don't even have time to have these conversations. I'm learning this from people like you and and friends that it that I'm not being taught at when I go see my doctor for that yearly checkup because it's so quick. so quick and out uh you know in and out type stuff. But this is good stuff, man. And and I can imagine there's some hard hard leadership lessons that you've also had to learn. Um can you share some about managing maybe that high volume complex care that you're dealing with today? Yeah, I I think that the the the hardest thing that that we all face when when we're talking about large environments like this is is that, you know, it's hard to keep keep everybody engaged and on board with with with directions and and kind of what you're trying to do when you're especially when you're when you are needing to adapt because of a let's say a policy change or something regulatory, something you're trying to do where those individual communities, those sites, they feel like they're losing a little bit of who they are. You know that that's a challenging thing. You have to bring everybody on board. You got to do a really good job of explaining the wise. Uh you know change management is something that that you know needs to be taught just extensively to people because uh you have to account for the way people are going to react and the way that people are going to uh uh you know how they're going to adapt themselves personally to be able to accept new things and new challenges. Um like I said healthcare is an evolving everchanging environment. Uh I wish we could kind of stay constant and we can do the thing and at the end of the day what I realize is that uh can't control a lot of that. All we can control is is is our mission and who we try to be and what we try to do. I think at the end of the day um so again it's it's a difficult environment. I think uh I'm I'm fortunate that I've been able to be part of it as long as I have, but it's also an environment where there's uh a lot of turnover at times and there's change and you have to start from scratch again. Um it's not easy, but man is it rewarding when you do it right and you kind of work through that. Um scale scale is hard, right? Don't don't lose who you are kind of thing.

[31:46]  Correct. And and to be quite frank, every healthcare leader has to make choices about where they put their time and energy. Um can we talk why they should really focus more and consider undeserved communities? Yeah, you know, I I I think this is, you know, again, more self-realization for me as I've gotten later in my career and and I've kind of worked through uh you know, the experience. Um, you know, we all go into hopefully our careers with with an idea that that at the end of the day, it's got to bring reward, right? You know, we all learn about Maslau's hierarchy of needs. You know, these are all things that are kind of, you know, front center for us in our education. Um, and at the end of the day, it's it's about what we get from the work outside of the paycheck, right? And and what is the value that that comes to you? Um because I I think that for me underserved communities the level of of appreciation um the level of satisfaction that comes from seeing things improve uh from from you know looking at at the metric side of of the world where you're kind of evaluating populations that you're trying to serve and you see that movement right you see those those those cancers that were prevented those great stories where you had a great engagement or or you see you know diabetes levels getting more under control or hypertension. I mean, all of those movements in in a population that that for whatever reason, you know, a lot of people feel like they don't deserve like like maybe they're getting a subpar or substandard. Uh being able to show them differently. I think that's the the to me what what working in underserved has brought. Um I go home at the end of the day and I feel like I did good. You know, I feel I'm proud of our team, proud of the efforts. It it just it it connects on a personal level that way. um that I don't know that I I found it I would have found in other environments. Uh you know, not for me. Anyway,

[33:41]  you kind of lead me into my next question that I'm going ask you. You said personal level, so I'm going to get down personal level with you. I see you're a baseball fan. You got a good baseball analogy for our leaders, man.

[33:52]  Uh you know, I I I think the the the one thing that I always tell people is is you know, I think uh you know, it's not over till it's over. So, so just because you you getting, you know, you're facing a pitcher that's throwing you some some crazy curve balls and sinkers and then these other crazy pitches that maybe you're not doing well in the first, second, third, fourth innings,

[34:09]  it's a nine inning game. You know,

[34:12]  don't realize that you still have time to to to fix things. It's, you know, it's always about maybe you don't get it right the first time, but you know, it's you stay at it. You keep taking your at bats, keep taking your guts, and guess what? Next thing you know, might be the it might be the ninth inning of of the World Series and you might be coming up to hit a grand slam to win it, you know.

[34:32]  Yeah. Bases loaded. You got a home run. Forget about it. Yeah. Is history. Are you a big baseball fan? I'm guessing with all the baseball memorabilia behind you and things like that.

[34:43]  Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm a big big Dodger fan, which which doesn't sit very well in San Diego, but uh I'm I'm blue bleed blue through and through and through.

[34:52]  I see, man. You got the blue on. I I'm seeing everything behind you. I'm like, "Oh, no. He's in it." The Dodgers fan for sure, man.

[34:58]  Well, listen. I I'm so excited for this conversation, man. And I leave you with this. Actually, before I give you the blind question, where can people find more information about you? Are you on LinkedIn? Are you active on there? But also about the organization, if we can share the website, social medias, and things like that.

[35:12]  Yeah. So, so you know, as far as you know, San Santa Cra Health, it's it's the only Santa Cro Health in San Diego. So, you know, we're sed.org. I honestly as far as LinkedIn, I'm on there. Uh I'm on the San Cedra Health website as well and so I I think there's ways to communicate with us if you need. Um yeah, I mean uh and I'm always looking to to help folks and so if any questions come up if if if you want to pick my brain or you know I I tell my team here and the managers and I it's a really big group but I I tell them all look I'm just another tool in your tool belt end of the day, right? I I want you to do a good job with what you It's inherent. It's it's it's it's kind of built in that that you do the best job you can and if I can be part of that, if I can help you, if I can guide you, if I can mentor you, if I can, you know, offer any support that way, that's what I'm here to do. I I I tell people all the time, like for me, I really feel like I have the easiest job in the world and people look at me like I'm crazy and and I say, "No,

[36:11]  that's a good feeling, man. That's a good feeling to have, though."

[36:14]  Yeah.

[36:15]  See, like you're an open book and rightfully so, right? like everything you learned in life is not for you to die with is to continue to pour into the next generation. And I I'm a big believer in that as well. It's like sometimes I don't know when to shut up because I'm just giving advice, right? But it is truly like, hey, take it or not. I'm sharing this from life experiences. I'm sharing this because I hear so many stories. I mean, when I speak to leaders like yourself, I'm I'm hearing these things from those that are in the spaces. Like it's nothing that I'm telling you is not real, hasn't happened. Um, you know, it's how do we manage who we are? How do we pour into our kids? How do we pour into the young leaders that are probably right now in the health care space that are wanting to take your seat? You're willing to give it up, but just make sure that you have all the tools necessary and I'm here to provide you with that. So, I love it, man. I love that you're just so excited and passionate about it. But I leave this blind question, man. This is a question that I feel you would enjoy. If tomorrow you had to start over outside the health care but still keep that same purpose, where do you take it?

[37:18]  Well, that's a great question. Um, you know, I I I don't know specifically what industry, but I I know I'd be in the nonprofit world. Um, I know that I'd be looking to do something community-wise. Uh, you know, I I love community advocacy, you know, efforts. I I think that's always resonated. Um there was a time in my life when you know I said I was trying to figure out what to do you know when I realized I wasn't going to go to medical school and uh I considered a lot of things and and whether that was you know in the the public sector in terms of you know some sort of you know u I don't know some sort of political thing but definitely an advocacy part I think resonates.

[37:55]  So uh yeah I think I think I think I can't give a specific but I can tell you that I would absolutely be in a nonprofit let's let's make it happen kind of thing.

[38:04]  Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, the nonprofit space is one that I think people don't talk about enough, but one thing I love about the nonprofit is usually when you're in it, you get to use all your talents. Like it's not like going into a forprofit where you got hired to do this. And that's what we want you to do. The nonprofit is every day is a new day and you get to be creative. You get to put on this hat, this hat, this hat. And it is fun at the end of it all knowing that what you mentioned you're helping individuals see you know seek help in ways they've never um imagined give them resources really why I love to have these conversations is because the resources that we talk about I'm a big believer that one story one person can change somebody's life look what happened to your mom right that just one person because she was able to share her story you know and I'm a big believer that when we have these conversations we could definitely and not that we would ever know right we just plant seeds and and hope that they they grow and someone waters them. But no, it's a beautiful space to be in the nonprofit and I'm hoping that young young leaders see that it's not about the money. We talk continue to talk about it throughout. It's about the passion about your purpose. It's about the legacy that you leave. You know, we're in here for a very short of time. We're going we all were born. We're all going to die. What do you do in between? You know, that's what matters. I love it, man. What is your blind question to the next lady heart hustle?

[39:20]  You know, I think what I would ask a leader and and I think this is something that I'm curious. I asked this of different people as well. So I think it'd be great to ask them, you know, if you had to narrow it down and you had to pick one principle, one mantra that that you keep central in everything you do that you you need you want to make sure is central for your team. What is it? What is what is the one thing you got to make sure at the end of the day, you know, it's it's it's what you stick to and what you come back to. What is that? I'm g answer this for myself because I've heard this recently and it just resonated with what I believe and it was having faith like a faithled business would teach you more than hustle ever will and it's it's just that right like that's that thing is faith um believing in it you know especially from the nonprofit space you have to have faith because when when cuts are being uh funds are being cut and all this the only thing is is faith we got this you know and and if we we're able to overcome the pandemic we're able to overcome these moments as well. Some of that's one of the hardest times in our lives. So, no man, really good question. I appreciate you, Art. Thank you so much for the conversation because you could be doing anything else but here you're talking to me, man. Sharing some insights. So, we appreciate it. And guys, if you guys are still watching, make sure that you guys do connect with Art. Check out what they're doing um and and their own communities and things that maybe you didn't know existed. We thank you. And the only thing we ask that you guys like, share, subscribe. That's how people get to hear these stories and and meet so many amazing leaders throughout our country. I've spoken to over hundreds of leaders, believe it or not, are um just this year alone. Just this year, man. So, I feel like I'm just gaining so much knowledge. I gained so much knowledge from you today. And a lot of the times it's just listening to raw authentic conversations that we can gain so much insight from. So, we thank you for being yourself, showing up as a leader that you are. And I can't wait till we talk again. You're telling me all the other amazing things that you're doing. Guys, my name is Era. This is our We'll catch you guys in the next episode. Thanks, everybody.