Episode #420 Adaptive Leadership Lessons with Dr. Marissa Levine
- Laura Hollabaugh
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
On This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
This episode features an inspiring conversation between public health visionaries Dr. Charlotte Huntley and Dr. Marissa Levine, delving into the evolving landscape of public health leadership. Centered around the concept of regenerative leadership, the discussion explores how adaptive, systems-thinking approaches are transforming both individuals and organizations to better serve communities amid ongoing complexity. With decades of leadership experience, from serving as Virginia’s State Health Commissioner to advancing work in academia, Dr. Levine offers practical strategies to strengthen emotional intelligence, collaborative cultures, and sustainable change in public and community health. Whether for aspiring leaders, health professionals, or anyone passionate about social impact, this episode offers rich insights and practical tools to nurture resilience and adaptability in today's challenging environment.
Meet Dr. Marissa Levine
Dr. Marissa Levine is currently the managing director of Envision Well-Being, LLC whose focus is to facilitate the development of regenerative leaders needed to design communities where all can thrive. Dr. Levine recently retired from the University of South Florida (USF) where she was Professor of Public Health Practice in the College of Public Health (COPH) and collaborating faculty to the Department of Family Medicine and the Division of Infectious Diseases at the USF Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, Florida. As a USF Professor, she taught leadership to students and over 200 members of the Florida Department of Health workforce for the last 7 years. Dr. Levine trained as a family physician at the University of Virginia and then practiced the full scope of family medicine in rural Pennsylvania before becoming a residency director, also in Pennsylvania. In 2002, after completing her MPH at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, she brought her 16 years of medical practice experience into governmental public health roles at the Virginia Department of Health when she started as the local health director for the Piedmont Health District. In 2005 she became the Henrico Health District director and was then recruited to the central office in 2009 where she served as a Deputy Commissioner overseeing emergency preparedness and response. Dr. Levine spent a year as the Chief Deputy Commissioner before being appointed in 2014 as the State Health Commissioner serving in that role until April of 2018.
Listen To This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
Conversation Highlights
Regenerative Leadership moves beyond traditional hierarchical models, focusing on adaptability, self-awareness, and collaborative systems within and outside public health organizations.
Systems Thinking is essential—public health challenges require holistic perspectives that recognize interdependence within communities and ecosystems.
The “Yes, and…” improv technique is a simple yet powerful skill for enhancing communication, fostering deep listening, and building trust in teams.
Self-care and self-respect are foundational for leaders—the inner work is critical before creating generative relationships with others.
Hierarchies in public health can stifle creativity and agility; leaders must intentionally create adaptive, network-oriented cultures and “get out of the way” to let innovation flourish.
Experiential learning—like improvisation practices at conferences—can model agile leadership and inspire actionable change, even in politically and structurally challenging contexts.
Leadership development should be inclusive of community partners, emphasizing trust-building, humility, and a commitment to learning from nature and indigenous wisdom.
True regeneration happens when stress and adversity are reframed as opportunities for collective and personal growth.
“Regenerative leadership...is about stepping back, taking a perspective of connection, and making better decisions that positively impact the whole system. But first, you have to appreciate that there is a system—and nature can teach us.” — Dr. Marissa Levine
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Public Health Consulting To Support You
DrCHHuntley LLC is a public health consulting firm that specializes in epidemiology consulting, supporting large nonprofit organizations in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida that serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). We also provide nationwide public health consulting and epidemiology consulting support to BIPOC organizations across the United States.