University Of Iowa College Of Public Health

In this episode of Plugged into Public Health, host Lauren Lavin sits down with University of Iowa MHA alum Jim Skogsbergh to reflect on a 43 year career in healthcare leadership. Jim recently retired after more than two decades as a hospital CEO and shares what he learned about leadership, mentorship, and building strong teams in healthcare organizations. Jim discusses his early career path after graduating from the University of Iowa, including how his administrative residency helped launch opportunities that shaped the rest of his career. He also reflects on the importance of mentorship, explaining how senior leaders opened doors for him early on and how he now gives back through executive coaching and advising younger professionals. The conversation explores what makes a strong healthcare leader, how to build effective leadership teams, and why communication, humility, and resilience often matter as much as technical expertise. Jim also shares his perspective on leading through major healthcare changes,