Naida L. Grunden has been a professional writer for over 20 years. Naida has spent the past decade documenting the increasing acceptance of Toyota-based processes (Lean) in healthcare. Her book, The Pittsburgh Way to Efficient Healthcare, captured the seminal work of the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative (PRHI) during the introduction of Lean in competing hospitals across southwestern Pennsylvania. She received the American College of Clinical Engineering challenge award for her contribution to the clinical engineering profession.

Naida continues to write, teach, and speak nationally and internationally on the topic of Toyota-based principles in healthcare. The wife of a pilot, she also shares an interest in applying aviation safety and reliability concepts to healthcare. She holds a BA in English from California State University, East Bay, and a California secondary English teaching credential from California State University, San Francisco.

Charles V. Hagood, MBA, is the founder and president of Healthcare Performance Partners, Inc., a Lean healthcare consulting firm based in Nashville, Tennessee, that works with the largest for-profit and not-for-profit hospital systems in the United States. He was also the cofounder and former managing principal of The Access Group, LLC, an international manufacturing services and Lean enterprise consulting firm whose clients included such companies as GE, Tyco, Cessna, and Ford, as well as many other automotive, aerospace, and consumer goods manufacturers. He is the creator and editor of the popular LeanHealthcareExchange.com website and founding faculty member of the Belmont University Lean Healthcare Certificate Program.

Charles received his MBA from the Belmont University Massey School of Business in Nashville, Tennessee. He is also an adjunct faculty member of the Massey School of Business.