Carisha Cabasa, DNP, RN, is a trailblazer in healthcare leadership with a passion for transforming care delivery and empowering communities. As the Founder of VanzHealth and VP of Clinical Care, Operations & Client Success at MedZed, Carisha is at the forefront of innovative, patient-centered healthcare solutions. Her career spans decades of impactful work, from revolutionizing in-home care delivery at MedZed to mentoring the next generation of healthcare leaders at Creighton University. Driven by her unwavering dedication to equity and advocacy, Carisha’s journey is a testament to the power of compassionate care and bold innovation. Dive into her inspiring story in this interview.
Your healthcare journey has spanned various roles, including your work as a Doctor of Nursing Practice (Congratulations!). Can you tell us a bit about what inspired you to enter the healthcare field and ultimately start VanzHealth?
Thank you for the kind words! My journey into healthcare has been rooted in a deep desire to make a difference in the lives of others. Growing up, I watched my mom, who continues to be my greatest role model, live with excellence in everything she does. Her unwavering commitment to her family and her community inspired me to approach life with purpose and dedication.
That foundation led me to nursing, where I discovered the profound influence that compassionate care can have—not just on individuals and families, but on entire communities. Starting VanzHealth has been the culmination of my personal and professional experiences, but it’s not just my vision—it’s a collective effort driven by a dynamic team of nurse leaders and changemakers.
At VanzHealth, we are passionate about transforming healthcare through innovation, advocacy, and education. Together, we focus on amplifying the nurse’s voice in transforming healthcare, promoting equity, and empowering individuals and communities to thrive.
Nick [CEO of Decent] and I had a fantastic conversation about the stories behind naming companies. I was completely captivated by the origin of the “Decent” name and couldn’t help but laugh when Nick asked if VanzHealth was inspired by Vans, the iconic skate shoe brand. I’m not entirely sure how I answered, but in my mind, I was thinking, “Well, sort of—metaphorically! Skate culture, longboards, and the sense of freedom and resilience they represent.”
While I do enjoy cruising on a longboard, the real story behind VanzHealth is even better. Vanz is my mom’s nickname, and she is the original badass! At 74, she still embodies creativity, strength, grit, passion, and excellence. It’s her name that carries the legacy that inspires everything we strive for at VanzHealth.
One of VanzHealth’s exciting projects is led by our marvelous colleague Tora Newcomer. She facilitates an educational series that delves into the profound contributions of underrepresented groups in the United States to the nursing profession and explores the history of public health nursing, focusing on its founder Lillian Wald.
Through this initiative, we shine a light on Wald’s transformative work at the Henry Street Settlement in New York City and her role in defining public health nursing. Her pioneering efforts in providing holistic services that addressed the whole person continue to inspire us today as we advocate for a more inclusive, person-centered approach to care. This project rings true to our commitment at VanzHealth to celebrate the rich history of nursing while driving forward its future with bold ideas and meaningful action.
How has MedZed used technology and innovation to improve care delivery? What role do you see in-home and community-based services playing in the future of healthcare?
MedZed has revolutionized care delivery by seamlessly integrating technology and innovation into its community-based model. At the heart of our approach is the belief that healthcare is most impactful when it meets people where they are—physically, emotionally, and culturally.
One of the ways we achieve this is by equipping our Community Health Navigators with cutting-edge technology, enabling them to deliver exceptional care while ensuring their safety in the field. With mobile devices and real-time connectivity to our clinical staff, our navigators are empowered to provide comprehensive support, bridging the gap between patients and the care they need.
Whether in conducting wellness checks, coordinating care plans, or addressing social determinants of health, the use of technology ensures that our navigators can adapt to the needs of each individual while maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficiency.
In-home and community-based services, like those provided by MedZed, represent the future of healthcare. As highlighted in our transformative Medicaid work, this model goes beyond traditional care settings to address the root causes of health disparities.
By embedding care teams directly into communities, we are able to provide whole-person care that reduces hospitalizations, improves outcomes, and builds trust with populations who have historically been underserved. The future of healthcare lies in this kind of innovation—meeting patients where they are, leveraging technology to enhance access and care delivery, and creating systems that treat the whole person. At MedZed, we are proud to lead this charge, delivering care that is not only innovative but also deeply human.
Your role at Creighton University allows you to shape the next generation of healthcare leaders. What lessons or principles do you hope to instill in your students?
At Creighton University, where I had the privilege of earning my Doctor of Nursing Practice, I was immersed in an educational experience that shaped not only my career but also my values as a leader. Creighton’s model of education emphasizes self-reflection, continuous growth, and the pursuit of excellence—principles embodied in the Jesuit value of Magis, or “to do the more, the better, the greater.”
This foundation instilled in me a deep commitment to strive for the greater good in all that I do, and it’s an honor to now guide leadership students on their own journeys as they prepare to transform the future of our healthcare.
What’s a fun fact about yourself that most people don’t know?
Back in college, my friends dared me to audition for a traveling Broadway musical. Not one to back down from a challenge, I went for it—and to my surprise, I got called back twice!
While I didn’t land the role, I walked away feeling incredibly proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing the moment. It’s a memory that reminds me to be courageous and open to unexpected adventures—you never know what might happen!
Who else in healthcare inspires you, and why?
My mentors have been some of my greatest sources of inspiration throughout my journey in healthcare. Each one, in their own way, provided incredible support, offered honest feedback that pushed me to grow, and challenged me to reach heights I never thought possible.
More than teaching me skills, they believed in me—even when I doubted myself—and showed me the kind of leader I aspire to be. Their example reminds me that true leadership is not just about guiding others; it’s about uplifting them, inspiring them to recognize their own potential, and walking alongside them as they grow.
Their impact on my life fuels my passion to pay it forward and be that same source of encouragement and challenge for others.
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