"More Guts Than Brains" — Resilience, Reinvention, and Lifelong Learning with MGMA Fellow Pat Kroken

On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams has a wide‑ranging conversation with Pat Kroken — MGMA Fellow, healthcare communications leader, and competitive powerlifter — about resilience, career reinvention, and the unexpected paths that shape leadership in healthcare. From books and community learning to recovering from a life‑altering injury and competing on the world stage, Pat shares stories and lessons that resonate far beyond titles or job descriptions.Episode TakeawaysA lifelong love of reading can become a professional advantage — especially when paired with community discussion and shared perspectives, as seen in the MGMA Book Club.Careers in healthcare don’t always begin with a plan — sometimes they begin with a phone call, transferable skills, and the willingness to say yes.MGMA involvement at the state and national levels can accelerate learning, expand professional networks, and open leadership opportunities early in a healthcare career.The FACMPE provides structure, credibility, and confidence — particularly for professionals entering healthcare from other industries.Resilience is often learned through adversity; trusting the process can be essential when navigating injury, recovery, or major life transitions.Strength training and competitive powerlifting taught discipline, risk‑taking, and mental toughness that translated directly into leadership and career growth.Community learning — whether through book discussions or professional associations — offers insights and perspectives that individual study alone cannot provide.Pushing personal limits, even without a clear end goal, can unlock opportunities and capabilities you never imagined possible.Related Resources Connect with Pat on LinkedInUSA Powerlifting (USAPL) - the organization Pat competed withThe Resilience Factor by Karen Reivich, PhD, and Andrew Shatté, PhDMGMA Book ClubFACMPE certification  MGMA Podcast NetworkEmail us at dwilliams@mgma.com if you would like to appear on an episode. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to advisor@mgma.com. Don’t forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts! This episode is brought to you by Greenway Health. Healthcare practices today need more than incremental improvements — they need a smarter, more connected way to work. That’s why Greenway created Novare — the first natively AI-enabled platform designed to reinvent the legacy EHR. Built with AI at its core, Novare helps unify clinical, financial, and patient engagement workflows — reducing administrative burden and helping providers focus more time on patient care. From ambient documentation to intelligent agents, Novare brings purposeful automation to the entire ambulatory workflow.  To learn more about Greenway Health and Novare, visit greenwayhealth.com.