Podcast Summary: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Episode: Leading Change – How CMIOs Are Redefining Health IT Education

Date: January 28, 2026
Host: Stephanie Lahr, Chief Medical Officer, uPerform
Guest: Dr. Brian Jarabik, Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO), M Health Fairview

Episode Overview

This episode explores how M Health Fairview, led by Dr. Brian Jarabik, has transformed its health IT education strategies. The conversation centers on the shift from traditional classroom-based training to asynchronous, workflow-integrated learning that supports continuous clinician readiness and adoption. Dr. Jarabik shares keys to success, lessons learned, change management insights, and guidance for healthcare leaders facing similar challenges.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Transforming Health IT Training at M Health Fairview

• Dr. Jarabik credits his team and leaders, including Derek Harley and Jen Steinhaus, for driving change (01:12).
• M Health Fairview serves 10 hospitals and 60 clinics; their large scale required rethinking training delivery (01:27).
• Core Change:
  • Moved away from in-person, classroom training to asynchronous, video-based modules.
  • Developed "bite-sized" learning segmented by experience—beginner, advanced, mastery (01:50).
  • Emphasized embedding learning into the clinical workflow for just-in-time education.
• Result:
  • "It’s not like drinking through a fire hose anymore... now it’s more bite-sized and you can feed it back to them as they're kind of learning and developing." – Dr. Jarabik (02:23)
  • Achieved seven consecutive years of annual improvement in EHR satisfaction (03:54).

2. Strategies for Starting an Asynchronous Training Journey

• Whether to start with a large or small group depends on the organization (05:31):
  • M Health Fairview began with small groups (residents), learning to convert classroom content to asynchronous modules.
  • Early pilots helped refine approach before scaling up to nurses and large user bases.
• Benefit: Building materials for large groups earns content reusable across other domains.
• Ongoing adaptation is possible: “You might be able to do training of smaller groups more effectively by just adding a couple extra... asynchronous kind of videos and modules...” (06:15)

3. Freeing Training Teams for High-Value Interactions

• Transitioning to asynchronous learning frees trainers for "high-touch" support, like rounding and personalized assistance (07:09).
• Trainers gain capacity for real-time, in-context troubleshooting and relationship building.
• Stephanie Lahr (host) ties this to her own leadership experience, emphasizing its positive impact on both trainers and clinicians (07:29).
• New skill sets required:
  • Need for team members skilled in video production, digital content tools (08:09).
  • Some classroom trainers need upskilling or role shifts.

4. Applying Asynchronous Training to Other Systems

• The model is expanding beyond EHRs (EPIC) to other technologies:
  • Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementations
  • Pharmacy systems training for external clients
  • Smaller areas like coding review, imaging workflows (10:20)
• Dr. Jarabik notes the approach is highly transferrable and will shape future training across health IT (11:22).

5. Merging Education, Communication, and Change Management

• Effective education goes beyond technical "how-tos" to include change management and organizational communication (11:43).
• Dr. Jarabik outlines key elements of success (12:58):
  • Well-designed training platform with asynchronous content.
  • Clear pathways for progressive learning (beginner to mastery).
  • Embedding education in clinical workflows.
  • High-touch reinforcement (rounding, personal support).
• Quote:
  • “Change management is really the other big area that often gets missed. So, yeah, I think figuring out a way to engage them and do that, change management is the key.” (13:51)
• ADKAR model (Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, Reinforcement) underpins strategy.
  • Desire and Reinforcement are where healthcare often struggles.
  • "Smart user" and "change agent" programs leverage peer influence for broader adoption:
    • “Desire comes much more readily if a doctor or nurse sees another doctor or nurse saying, ‘Wow, I used this tool and it saved me 10 minutes and got me home quicker.’” (15:40)
  • Mandated training alone is insufficient; genuine engagement and relevance are required.

6. Concrete Advice for Informatics & Education Leaders

• Build and Invest in a Community Network (18:04)
  • Internal networks (team huddles, meetings) and external (professional associations) are crucial for cross-learning.
• Prioritize AI Learning and Use (18:56)
  • Leaders should set aside time to explore and experiment with AI themselves.
  • Understanding AI’s limits and benefits (“Ask AI about the resources that it's getting things from. Are you hallucinating? Is a great question.”) (19:23)
  • AI use will be crucial as leaders are increasingly called upon to educate others about practical applications.
  • “One of my providers said it’s probably the best time right now to be a CMIO. The computers are finally helping us do something.” (19:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On moving beyond traditional training:
  “The feedback... is it’s not like drinking through a fire hose anymore. Sometimes those classroom trainings are just intense, four or eight hours. Try to learn everything. Now it’s more bite sized...” – Dr. Jarabik (02:23)

• On continuous improvement:
  “Over the last seven years now, we’ve had EHR satisfaction improvements every year for seven years in a row.” – Dr. Jarabik (03:54)

• On team transformation:
  “Bringing in a couple people that have that new skill set of, you know, making the videos, editing the videos, making the walkthroughs... That's a really good point, I think, Stephanie.” – Dr. Jarabik (08:21)

• On motivation and peer influence:
  “Desire comes much more readily if a doctor or nurse sees another doctor or nurse saying, ‘Wow, I used this tool and it saved me 10 minutes and got me home quicker. Or I used ambient dictation... and now I’ve had lunch for the first time.’” – Dr. Jarabik (15:40)

• On the importance of learning AI:
  “My second recommendation to everybody is to set aside some time for yourself to learn about artificial intelligence and not just learn about it, but use it.” – Dr. Jarabik (18:56)

Timeline of Key Segments

• 00:01 – 01:12: Introduction and setting the stage
• 01:12 – 04:09: Journey and transformation at M Health Fairview; shift to asynchronous learning
• 05:31 – 07:09: Strategies to start asynchronous training in other organizations
• 07:09 – 09:44: Impact on training teams; new skill requirements
• 09:44 – 11:43: Expanding approach to other technologies and cross-enterprise training
• 11:43 – 17:01: Integrating change management with education; peer engagement programs; overcoming common pitfalls
• 17:54 – 20:14: Recommendations for healthcare leaders; building networks; embracing AI for education

Takeaways for Listeners

• Asynchronous, workflow-embedded learning transforms clinician engagement, retention, and satisfaction.
• Success depends on creative change management—fostering desire, leveraging peer role models, and reinforcing learning over time.
• Prepare trainers for new digital demands and “free” them from classroom constraints.
• Build networks (internal and external) for continual growth, and don’t ignore the importance of AI literacy for future leadership.
• Mandated training isn’t enough; genuine engagement through relevance, convenience, and peer influence is key.

Suggested Next Topic

The conversation concludes with both speakers acknowledging AI's growing impact on healthcare education and teasing a potential follow-up episode devoted exclusively to the role of AI in clinician training and health IT adoption (20:14).