Ep. 41 | The Five Pillars of Leadership That Every Healthcare Leader Needs with Cory Geffre
In this episode of Elevate Care, host Kerry Perez dives into the dynamic world of healthcare leadership with Cory Geffre, MSMSL BSN, RN, Executive Vice President of Hospital Operations and Chief Nursing Officer at Altru Health. Cory takes us on his inspiring journey from bedside nursing to the executive suite, sharing hard-earned lessons and actionable insights along the way.
Discover the five essential pillars of leadership—developing people, managing performance, building teams, improving operations, and achieving results—and how they can transform not just your leadership style but your entire organization. Cory also opens up about the power of self-awareness, the importance of empathy, and why continuous learning is the secret sauce for staying ahead in the ever-evolving healthcare industry.
Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting your journey, this episode is packed with wisdom, real-world strategies, and a refreshing dose of honesty about the challenges and opportunities in healthcare leadership.
Listen On!
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Healthcare Leadership
03:00 From Bedside to Boardroom: Cory’s Leadership Journey
05:58 The Five Pillars of Leadership Excellence
08:59 Developing People: The Heart of Leadership
11:54 Building Resilient Teams That Thrive
15:04 Fixing Broken Systems: Improving Healthcare Operations
18:05 Driving Results Through Accountability
21:55 Soft Skills That Make Hard Impacts
25:00 Leading with Empathy: Why It Matters
28:01 Lifelong Learning: The Key to Staying Ahead
30:54 Wrapping Up: Key Takeaways for Healthcare Leaders
About Corey Geffre
Executive Vice President of Hospital Operations and Chief Nursing Officer Cory Geffre, MSMSL BSN, RN, is the executive vice president of hospital operations and chief nursing officer at Altru, providing executive leadership for the organization and oversight of nursing practices, clinical services, and evidence-based patient care services. Geffre’s passion is building dynamic, diverse and engaged teams that deliver consistent high-quality healthcare to patients. Geffre has over 22 years of experience in healthcare leadership, business development and operational efficiency.
About Kerry Perez
Kerry Perez leads the design and development of enterprise strategy in addition to overseeing Marketing, Corporate Communications, and Creative Services. Ms. Perez joined AMN Healthcare in 2007 and has held various roles during her tenure, including recruitment, marketing, innovation, strategy, and M&A. She most recently served as the company’s Vice President of Enterprise Strategy. She also stood up AMN Healthcare's Diligence and Integration Management Office, which led the strategic and functional integration of new acquisitions to drive synergy. She was named among Staffing Industry Analyst’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2021, and she hosts the AMN Healthcare podcast, Elevate Care.
Ms. Perez maintains the guiding principles of being customer-obsessed, thinking big, and delivering results. She has a passion for mentoring emerging leaders and building effective teams. Ms. Perez holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from the University of California at Santa Barbara. For more than four years, she has served on the board of Dallas-based nonprofit CitySquare, which focuses on fighting the causes and effects of poverty. Connect with Kerry.
