Lena Esmail

Lena Esmail is the CEO of QUICKmed and a dedicated healthcare innovator deeply rooted in the Mahoning Valley, Ohio. After graduating from Liberty High School in 2004, she earned degrees in nursing and biology from Youngstown State University, followed by advanced degrees in nursing from Ursuline College and Kent State University. Driven by a philosophy that impactful change begins where one’s roots lie, Lena returned to her hometown to establish QUICKmed. Under her leadership, QUICKmed has expanded to include multiple clinics across Ohio, specializing in urgent care, primary care, and in-school clinics through a model that prioritizes advanced practice providers. Lena, a recognized alumni of the year by YSU’s Bitonte College of Health and Human Services, is passionate about reducing healthcare inequity and integrates technology like telemedicine to improve community health outcomes. She lives in the area with her husband and six children.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

My typical day begins balancing family and work responsibilities. I start with a quick review of my emails and messages to prioritize urgent matters. Most of my day is spent at QUICKmed, overseeing operations, attending meetings, and sometimes directly engaging with patient care to stay connected to my roots as a nurse. Productivity comes from meticulous time management and delegating effectively. I rely heavily on my team, trusting them to handle tasks I cannot, while I focus on strategic planning and community engagement.

How do you bring ideas to life?

At QUICKmed, we often brainstorm as a team and then prototype solutions in one clinic. If something works, we scale it across all locations. I believe strongly in leveraging community feedback to refine our ideas further.

What’s one trend that excites you?

The integration of technology in healthcare, especially telemedicine, excites me. It has tremendous potential to bridge gaps in care, particularly in underserved areas like some parts of Mahoning Valley.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

Rising early is a habit that has consistently contributed to my productivity. It gives me a few quiet hours to organize my thoughts and plan my day without interruptions.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to worry less about the expectations of others and focus more on what feels right for me. Early in my career, I spent too much time trying to conform to traditional paths instead of paving my own.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.

I believe that small communities, often overlooked, are actually the best places to start revolutionary healthcare changes. The impact can be more profound and visible than in larger cities.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Reflect regularly on your work and its impact. This reflection not only helps improve professional practices but also ensures that you remain aligned with your core values and mission.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

I step back and take a walk, sometimes around our clinics or a nearby park. Disconnecting briefly helps me reset and refocus.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Building strong community connections has been crucial. Being genuinely involved and invested in the community has opened doors and created opportunities that purely business-focused strategies never would have.

What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

Early in my career, I underestimated the importance of business acumen as a healthcare provider. I overcame this by pursuing further education in business practices and learning from mentors. The key lesson was that good healthcare also needs good business strategies.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

An app that integrates local healthcare resources with community needs, offering real-time updates on availability and allowing users to schedule appointments and receive care reminders.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

Microsoft Teams is indispensable for communication and coordination across different QUICKmed locations. It helps us stay connected and exchange information quickly and efficiently.

What is the best $100 you recently spent?

I recently spent $100 on new books for the children’s waiting area in our clinics. Providing educational and entertaining materials for kids not only enhances their experience but also aligns with our mission to serve the community comprehensively.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?

“The Checklist Manifesto” by Atul Gawande. It highlights the power of checklists in ensuring quality and efficiency in healthcare, which has influenced how we structure processes at QUICKmed.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

I recently enjoyed “The Resident” because it provides a dramatic, yet often accurate, portrayal of the challenges and triumphs in the medical field, which resonates deeply with my experiences.