The Fire Chief

Leadership, Strategy, and Career Development for Chief Medical Officers and Physician Executives
The Fire Chief is the podcast for Chief Medical Officers and physician executives navigating leadership in today’s complex healthcare environment. Hosted by an authentic physician executive and leader, each episode delivers practical insights on strategy, governance, physician engagement, organizational performance, and career development—through real conversations with experienced leaders and experts.
If you’re building influence, leading clinical teams, shaping organizational decisions, or preparing for your next executive role, this show is your frontline briefing.
Leadership, Strategy, and Career Development for Chief Medical Officers and Physician Executives
The Fire Chief is the podcast for Chief Medical Officers and physician executives navigating leadership in today’s complex healthcare environment. Hosted by an authentic physician executive and leader, each episode delivers practical insights on strategy, governance, physician engagement, organizational performance, and career development—through real conversations with experienced leaders and experts.
If you’re building influence, leading clinical teams, shaping organizational decisions, or preparing for your next executive role, this show is your frontline briefing.
Episodes
Episodes



Sep 9, 2025
We Need An Even Bigger Boat (Part 2)
Sep 9, 2025
Sep 9, 2025
56 min
In Part 2 of this incredible conversation, Lee Scheinbart and Dr. Larry McEvoy, the founder of Epidemic Leadership, continue to go exponential and explore leadership 'at scale.', In this blistering Part 2 of the most intense conversation to date on the podcast, the you will hear further insights on physician leadership, the importance of a healing ethic, and the role of strategic development in creating impactful leaders. The two physicians expound on the importance of physicians leading with a healing ethic that extends beyond the bedside and how strategic development and intentionality can shape effective physician leaders. While recognizing the structural forces at work in today's world, both leaders share a vision for the economic and societal benefits of prioritizing health in leadership roles.
Sep 9, 2025
56 min



Sep 2, 2025
We Need A Bigger Boat
Sep 2, 2025
Sep 2, 2025
41 min
In this intense conversation, Lee Scheinbart and Dr. Larry McEvoy, the founder of Epidemic Leadership, explore the evolving landscape of healthcare and the role of physician leadership. In the first of this two part series, the discussion touches on the importance of nurturing emerging leaders and the potential for innovative solutions in healthcare management. These two leadership teachers deep dive into the importance of a healing ethic in medicine, the need for physicians to exponentially lead both internally and externally, and the challenges facing the healthcare system today. Dr. McEvoy presents a radical, yet entirely logical, approach to create change in healthcare right now and both doctors examine and redefine what success in healthcare looks like beyond profit, advocating for a focus on health as a driver of societal well-being.
Sep 2, 2025
41 min



Aug 26, 2025
Remember to Breathe
Aug 26, 2025
Aug 26, 2025
40 min
In this hot start episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Harpreet Pall, the recently appointed Chief Medical Officer at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore Hospital AND K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital. Dr. Pall shares his journey from pediatric gastroenterology to adult hospital management, discussing the challenges and learning experiences he faced during this transition as a new CMO and covering adult medicine for the first time in his executive trajectory. He emphasizes the importance of leadership skills, building relationships with medical staff, and the need for effective time management. Dr. Pall also reflects on his first 90 days in the role and expresses concerns about what keeps him awake at night amidst the changing healthcare landscape.
Aug 26, 2025
40 min



Aug 19, 2025
The Big Mystery
Aug 19, 2025
Aug 19, 2025
51 min
In this lightning hot episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart welcomes Rebecca Kapphahn, Vice President and Senior Client Partner at Furst Group, to explore the mystery of physician executive recruitment, especially for the role of Chief Medical Officer. Together they examine the critical role of cultural fit and the contribution of leadership. With over two decades of experience in physician leadership recruitment, Rebecca shares insights into how aligning personal values with organizational culture can drive impactful change. Discover the art and science behind executive recruitment, the importance of soft skills, and how leaders can become cultural contributors to inspire and engage their teams. Tune in for a deep dive into the nuances of leadership that go beyond traditional metrics.
Aug 19, 2025
51 min



Aug 12, 2025
Things Need To Change
Aug 12, 2025
Aug 12, 2025
50 min
In this deeply heartfelt episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart honors Dr. Lorna Breen and discusses the critical issues surrounding physician leadership and mental health in healthcare. Dr. Stefanie Simmons, Chief Medical Officer of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, shares her journey from emergency medicine to leadership, emphasizing the importance of interpersonal relationships and change management in healthcare. The conversation explores the impact of trauma on medical professionals, the role of the Foundation in advocating for healthcare worker wellbeing, and the necessity of self-care for effective leadership.
Aug 12, 2025
50 min



Aug 5, 2025
Turning The Page
Aug 5, 2025
Aug 5, 2025
46 min
In this insightful, yet funny and irreverent episode, host Lee Scheinbart sits down with Dr. Caesar Gonzalez to explore the dynamic world of physician leadership. For the first time on The Fire Chief, the topic of job security is discussed. Dr. Gonzalez shares his personal journey from anesthesiologist to Chief Medical Officer, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that come with transitioning into leadership roles. He also opens up about what it was like when facing job insecurity in healthcare today. Discover the strategies he employed to overcome obstacles, the importance of staying true to one's values, and the impact of strong physician leadership on healthcare systems. Whether you're an aspiring leader or a seasoned professional, this episode offers valuable lessons on navigating career transitions in the ever-evolving field of healthcare and physician leadership.
Aug 5, 2025
46 min



Jul 29, 2025
We Serve Two Masters
Jul 29, 2025
Jul 29, 2025
42 min
In this suborbital episode of the Fire Chief Podcast, host Lee Scheinbart goes interstellar with Dr. J.D. Polk, the Chief Health and Medical Officer at NASA. The two physicians explore the shared leadership parallels in space medicine and here on earth. Dr. Polk recently returned from Oxford where he enrolled in an Advanced Leadership and Management Program and brought back with him new leadership perspectives to help him manage inside an ever changing ecosystem of government and the rapidly accelerating spaceflight challenges across the globe. Dr. Polk shares insights on leadership in the context of aerospace medicine, the future of space medicine, and the importance of continuous learning and self-leadership for aspiring physician leaders everywhere. This episode is truly out of this world.
Jul 29, 2025
42 min



Jul 22, 2025
Six Months On The Fire Line
Jul 22, 2025
Jul 22, 2025
7 min
After six months of non-stop episodes, Dr. Lee Scheinbart, the host of The Fire Chief podcast takes a moment to reflect on the leadership themes that have emerged from his conversations from physician leaders and Chief Medical Officers. The show has evolved from exposing the lessons learned in natural and manmade disasters to lessons in leadership, resiliency, vulnerability and humility. Take a moment to hear what has happened during the last 30 episodes and what it takes to succeed as a physician leader in healthcare. Stay tuned for more insights as the show stays on the frontlines of physician leadership and barrels into the second half of the year.
Jul 22, 2025
7 min

The Fire Chief: The Chief Medical Officer Podcast
If you are a CMO in health care, this is the podcast for you. Every day there is a fire burning in health care. Oftentimes, it is the CMO that has to face the flames. Want to know what type of heat CMOs deal with on a regular basis? What unexpected dumpster fires have they encountered along the way? How they ascended into the toughest (& best!) job in healthcare? What leadership skills have helped them along the way?
Tune in to The Fire Chief!

Your Host
Dr. Lee Scheinbart practiced Hematology/Oncology for over 20 years and after directing his local cancer institute, he went on to serve as VPMA and later CMO at Health First Hospitals in East Central Florida. Currently he serves as Chief Health Affairs Officer for the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is also Assistant Professor of Leadership Development at the College and the author of The CMO's Financial Primer, The Vital Handbook for Physician Executives. Dr. Scheinbart is also the Principal Instructor for the CMO Academy at the American Association for Physician Leadership.





