MedAxiom HeartTalk

In this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, sits down with Jasen Gundersen, MD, CEO and Christie Yoder, COO at CardioOne. Together, they explore practical strategies for immediate growth in cardiology practices, emphasizing small, achievable changes over long-term planning.

In this “Meet the Experts” HeartTalk episode, host Melanie Lawson, MS, talks with Jenny Kennedy, DNP, RN, CHFN, NEA-BC, FACC, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom. She explains the importance of being intentional when setting up remote heart failure programs and lessons from her nursing experience. She shares how her desire to “be a giant”—lift others up rather than seek the spotlight—guides her leadership. Additionally, she reflects on the spirit of Florence Nightingale, offering insights that may shift your view of team-based care and the future of cardiology.Guest Bio:Jenny KennedyDNP, RN, CHFN, NEA-BC, FACCVice President of Care Transformation Services, MedAxiomAs Vice President of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom, Jenny advises cardiovascular programs and industry organizations across the country on clinical pathways, guideline implementation, quality improvement, operations, disease-specific certification, remote management, strategic planning and more. She is passionate about developing programs that span the care continuum and serve those with complex health diseases to benefit communities, patients and care providers. She encourages innovation and understands the importance of building relationships with mutual trust to empower high-performing teams that can change the lives of the communities they serve.Jenny brings nearly 20 years of clinical and leadership experience in the healthcare field, with a focus in cardiology, to her role at MedAxiom. Prior to joining the team, Jenny was the director of heart failure and electrophysiology at Wellstar Health System in the metropolitan Atlanta area. She has vast experience with clinic operations, cardiology and specialty clinics, and coordination of programs that span the care continuum.Jenny holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice, a Master of Science in Nursing specializing in healthcare system leadership, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. A lifelong learner, she holds Certified Heart Failure Nurse and Nurse Executive Advanced Certifications. She is also an active member of the Association of Heart Failure Nurses.

On this “Meet the Experts” HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, sits down with MedAxiom President and CEO Jerry Blackwell, MD, MBA, FACC, for a candid conversation about leadership, teamwork, and service – drawing lessons from both medicine and his early days in sports. He shares how trust and humility guide his approach and why he sees change as something to run toward, not from. Plus, he shares a few personal insights (and laughs) that reveal what keeps him grounded through it all.Guest Bio:Jerry Blackwell, MD, MBA, FACCPresident and CEO, MedAxiomAs the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MedAxiom, Jerry guides the course of the organization with a passion for physician leadership, teaching and care transformation – particularly team-based care and organizational performance improvement. He maintains a clinical practice with special interests in advanced imaging, including cardiovascular MRI, CCTA and cardiac PET.He has more than 30 years of experience in cardiovascular medicine, including academic cardiology, private practice and large integrated cardiovascular group leadership. Most recently, he served as executive vice president and chief clinical officer of the Ballad Health System. Blackwell has been involved with both MedAxiom and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) for many years. He has served on the ACC's Board of Governors, the Board of Directors for the Cardiology Advocacy Alliance, and the ACC's Health Affairs Committee.Blackwell graduated from Marshall University’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and completed residency/chief residency/fellowship at the Ohio State University and the University of Alabama - Birmingham. He earned his executive MBA from the University of Tennessee.Watch the episode here:https://youtu.be/DzbM7n75aVs

Often referred to as the “sandwich generation,” today’s clinical leaders face a diverse set of challenges in navigating generational dynamics. In this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS addresses common leadership hurdles with Ana Mercurio-Pinto, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom, and Nicole Lohr, MD, PhD, FACC, FAHA, division director at University of Alabama at Birmingham. They highlight practical solutions for reducing burnout and effective ways to recruit and retain the next generation of cardiovascular providers.

In this "Meet the Experts" HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, speaks with Ana Mercurio-Pinto, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom. With a rich background in academic medicine, cardiovascular service line operations, and research management, Ana shares how her work is reshaping the future of care delivery. From optimizing physician performance and budgets to integrating complex hospital-physician systems, Ana brings a forward-thinking approach to transforming cardiovascular organizations. She also shares pivotal moments in her personal life that have fueled her commitment to innovation and collaboration.Guest Bio:Ana A. Mercurio-PintoVice President, Care Transformation ServicesAs Vice President of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom, Ana applies her wide range of experience in budgeting, forecasting, physician/practice profit and loss reports, clinical and federal/non-federal research operations, new program development, service-line integration, and dyad and other matrixed leadership structures to help cardiovascular organizations transform care. Energized by the possibilities, Ana has a keen interest in helping members better integrate hospital/physician organization, ease faculty transitions, optimize staffing, improve administrative and research operations, and launch startup ventures.She has extensive professional experience running large, multi-specialized cardiovascular medicine divisions and has had the privilege of working and partnering with some of the industry’s thought leaders, including master clinicians, practice-changing clinical trial investigators, and groundbreaking research scientists. She is dedicated to developing nimble and adaptive organizations that combine the best of traditional practice with the spirit of continuous modernization in the face of evolving and changing times.Ana has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Boston University Questrom School of Management and a master’s in management with a concentration in healthcare management. Additionally, Ana has pursued certificates in launching new ventures and research administration.

What makes the dyad leadership model so effective in cardiovascular care? On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, is joined by Joel Sauer, MBA, executive vice president of Consulting at MedAxiom and Jeff Carstens, MD, MBA, FACC, medical director of the Cardiovascular Service Line at UnityPoint Health. They explore how the dyad leadership model influences the design of physician compensation plans and strengthens cardiovascular programs by aligning clinical and administrative expertise.Watch the episode here: https://hubs.li/Q03yVmLv0