Wade Mitzel, CEO of UofL Physicians, believes healthcare leadership starts with intention — and love. In this conversation, he shares how he’s using compassion and authenticity to reduce turnover, improve patient outcomes, and build healthier communities across Kentucky.
Wade shares everything from t staffing challenges, high cancer rates in the region, to what it means to create workplaces where people can flourish. As the parent of a child with medical needs, his mission is personal.
Be sure to listen to the end – there’s an incredibly powerful patient story.
Throughout Wade’s interview, he clearly demonstrates that love isn’t a soft skill. It’s a strategy.
Topical time codes:
00:54 – Why he chose his 3 leadership goals: be intentional, care for each other, and build healthier communities
04:38 – Tackling turnover: down from 19% to 13–14% in a year
07:13 – The power of compassion in clinical care and personal leadership
10:45 – “How can we care for you?” – A different approach to clinic needs
13:38 – Using AI and systems to make things easier for clinicians
16:10 – Building belief in the organization from the inside out
18:34 – How being a loving organization drives retention and patient satisfaction
21:33 – Creating a culture where people can be their authentic selves
24:42 – A moving patient story that captures why this work matters
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Connect with Wade: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wademitzel/
Learn more about RofL Health: https://uoflhealth.org
