“We underestimate how powerful just conversations can be.”
That sentiment, shared by Assistant Director Michael T. Mezzano, was the heartbeat of a recent episode of the RxPerts podcast. Hosted by Dr. Carol Motycka, the episode provided a platform to discuss the mission of the Center for Convening Transformative Care (CCTC) and why, in a high-tech hospital system, the most critical innovation is often simple human connection.
The “Why” Behind the Work
While the CCTC is focused on systems and strategy, the podcast highlighted how deeply personal this work is. Michael, a Jacksonville native, shared how his previous career as a public school teacher in Duval County shaped his approach to healthcare leadership. He described seeing students struggle with issues that had nothing to do with algebra and everything to do with social drivers of health.
“You are kind of a counselor, you are a sometimes-therapist, you are sometimes a resource navigator,” Michael told Dr. Motycka, recalling the many health gaps he saw in the classroom.
It was a natural segue into the mission of the CCTC. Just as a student is more than their grades, a patient is more than their diagnosis. Michael explained that the Center was created to ensure that UF Health Jacksonville treats the whole person by connecting the “silos” of excellence that exist across the organization.
“It’s almost like connecting those silos so that rather than just leaving the emergency department with a referral… we’re really tuned into the pathways that those patients will take,” he explained. “That’s the transformative part of our name… how do we take what we already have, bring it together, and transform it into something more than just the sum of its parts.”
Convening the Experts
A key portion of the interview focused on the “how” of the CCTC. Specifically, the Steering and Operations Councils that bring together leaders from the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing.
Dr. Motycka and Michael discussed the magic that happens when these different disciplines sit at the same table. Michael noted that despite the high-level titles in the room, the real value often comes from organic discovery: learning that a resource in the College of Pharmacy might be the perfect solution for a problem in the College of Nursing.
“I am just amazed at what happens when those connections are being made,” Michael said. “Every time I sit in that room… creating that awareness of these programs that those leaders can bring back to their colleges, to their facilities, and then to collaborate… that truly is the biggest asset.”
Rebuilding Trust in an Age of Overload
The conversation also touched on the CCTC’s recent projects, including the AI-enhanced Fruit and Vegetable Prescription. However, the discussion moved quickly beyond the mechanics of the project to the deeper philosophy behind it: meeting patients where they are to rebuild trust.
Dr. Motycka noted that patients today face “information overload,” making it difficult to navigate health decisions. Michael agreed, emphasizing that the CCTC’s future initiatives, including a major push for community dialogue in 2026, are about cutting through the noise.
“Building that trust now more than ever is, I think, the biggest part of healthcare,” Michael said. “Just meeting someone face to face and, you know, asking them, ‘What can I do for you?’… that’s really how we work to rebuild trust.”
Listen In
Whether you are a provider looking to break down silos in your own department or a community member interested in the future of Jacksonville’s health, this conversation offers a hopeful roadmap for 2026.
For questions or to learn more about our partnerships, please reach out to the CCTC at JaxCCTC@jax.ufl.edu.