Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: In-Depth Conversation with Mike Slubowski, President and CEO of Trinity Health

Release Date: July 16, 2025

In this insightful episode of the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, host Chris Sosa engages in a profound dialogue with Mike Slubowski, the President and CEO of Trinity Health. The conversation delves beyond the operational aspects of healthcare, exploring personal experiences, leadership philosophies, and strategic decisions that shape Trinity Health’s direction. Below is a comprehensive summary capturing the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from their 18-minute conversation.

1. Lessons from Outside Healthcare

Mike Slubowski opens the dialogue by reflecting on the valuable lessons he has garnered outside the healthcare sector, emphasizing the importance of transferable skills and perspectives.

• Family and Work Ethic: Growing up in a second-generation Polish and Italian family instilled in Mike the value of hard work and the significance of family from an early age. “I learned the value of hard work and family at a very young age” (00:45).

• Corporate Governance Insights: Serving on a public company board provided Mike with a business-oriented framework that he adapted to Trinity Health. Instead of the traditional “run, evolve, transform” business model, Trinity Health adopts the terminology “run the ministry, evolve the ministry, transform the ministry,” integrating a mission-driven approach into their strategic planning (00:34).

• Musical Collaboration: Mike shares his passion for playing guitar, highlighting how collaborating in bands taught him the importance of surrounding himself with individuals who elevate his performance. “I always try to find people who are better musicians than me because they up my game” (02:50).

2. Personal Well-Being Strategies

Addressing the human element, Mike discusses the methods he employs to maintain his physical, emotional, and mental health amidst the demands of leadership.

• Physical Fitness: Regular exercise is a cornerstone of Mike’s routine, including power walks during summer and treadmill sessions in winter, complemented by strength training (04:14).

• Family Support: A committed family life provides emotional sustenance. Mike emphasizes the importance of family photos and moments with his wife, daughters, and grandchildren in keeping him grounded (04:30).

• Faith and Purpose: Mike underscores the role of faith and a sense of higher purpose in maintaining his mental and emotional well-being. “We have some sense of a higher purpose for yourself and on Earth. Why am I on Earth?” (05:00).

3. Handling Tough Days and Resilience

When confronted with challenging days, Mike outlines his strategies for bouncing back and maintaining resilience.

• Support Systems: Mike attributes much of his resilience to his wife, who acts as his primary advocate, as well as supportive colleagues and leadership coaches. “My wife is my number one advocate... and they’re a great resource for helping you put things in perspective” (06:07).

• Leadership Coaching: He highlights the benefits of executive coaching, provided the individual is receptive to it. “If you are, it can be of great value... to see the value in working with a coach” (07:20).

4. Personal Insights from Healthcare Work

Mike reflects on the personal growth and self-awareness he has developed through his extensive career in healthcare.

• Alignment with Faith-Based Healthcare: Mike affirms his fit within faith-based, specifically Catholic, healthcare systems, which resonate with his personal mission and values. “I belong in faith-based healthcare... our mission is a ministry” (08:19).

• Recognizing Passion in Others: Inspired by Ben Zander’s concept of “shining eyes,” Mike has learned to identify and harness the enthusiasm and passion of his team members to drive organizational success. “I look for the shining eyes and to grab people where they are feeling really inspired by the work that they do” (10:22).

• Personal Mission Statement: Crafting a personal mission statement has been pivotal for Mike. His includes faith in God, love of family and friends, good health, happiness, and service to others. These elements serve as guideposts to ensure he remains balanced and aligned with his core values. “They’re a witness... whether I’m out of balance or not” (09:30).

5. Leadership Risks and Strategic Decisions

Mike shares significant risks he has taken in his leadership role at Trinity Health, illustrating his strategic vision and commitment to transformative change.

• Implementation of a Unified EMR System: One of Mike’s most impactful decisions was standardizing the electronic medical records (EMR) system across Trinity Health’s network by adopting a single instance of Epic. This initiative, involving a substantial financial investment, aims to enhance both patient and clinician experiences. “We’re moving to one instance of Epic... it has really paid dividends for us on creating the exceptional member or patient experience” (12:00).

• Emphasizing Safety as a Core Value: Mike took the bold step of incorporating safety into Trinity Health’s core values, despite initial resistance. This move has fostered a culture committed to creating a zero-harm environment for both patients and staff. “Safety is more than just a program. It’s got to be part of who you are” (14:50).

• Adaptation and Flexibility: Addressing the need to adjust clinical programs based on staffing and volume challenges, Mike discusses the delicate balance between organizational needs and community expectations. “We have to make the change in how to reorient in a different direction to support that need” (15:30).

• Innovative Nursing Models: Introducing the “Together Team” nursing model exemplifies Trinity Health’s commitment to innovative patient care approaches, though Mike acknowledges the challenges in achieving cultural adaptation. “The people and culture side is the hardest nut to crack” (17:00).

6. Conclusion

The conversation concludes with mutual appreciation, as Mike expresses his support for Becker's Healthcare and its mission to engage and inform healthcare professionals. Both host and guest share optimism for future collaborations and continue to advocate for transformative leadership in healthcare.

Notable Quotes:

• Mike Slubowski:

  • “We call our, what we do a ministry. So we've adopted the run the ministry, evolve the ministry, transform the ministry.” (00:34)
  • “Safety is more than just a program. It’s got to be part of who you are to create a zero harm environment for the people we serve and the people who serve.” (14:50)
  • “We have to work through the process with them to understand why we have to make the change in how to reorient in a different direction to support that need, but in a different way.” (15:30)

• Chris Sosa:

  • “Mike, I really like the shining eyes example element that you just mentioned. I think a lot of us might see that intuitively with something we might see in someone else and know that.” (10:22)

This comprehensive discussion with Mike Slubowski offers valuable insights into leadership, personal growth, and strategic innovation within the healthcare sector. His experiences and philosophies provide actionable takeaways for healthcare professionals aiming to drive meaningful change in their organizations.