Advancing Health

Virtual nursing is changing how hospitals deliver care — but what does it actually look like in practice? In this conversation, Wendy Kim, DNP, R.N., vice president and chief nursing officer of the central market at Henry Ford Health, shares how the system's virtual nursing program is reducing documentation burden, improving patient safety and giving nurses more time at the bedside. Learn how this...

Thank you for listening to Advancing Health! As we close out 2025, we’re excited to share highlights from two impactful episodes that sparked dialogue around improving health care in America. Advancing Health will return in 2026 with fresh insights and thought-provoking discussions. Until then, we wish you a joyful holiday season and a healthy, happy New Year!

In this special Leadership Dialogue conversation, Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health and outgoing AHA board chair, sits down with Marc Boom, M.D., president and CEO of Houston Methodist and incoming 2026 AHA board chair. Together, they reflect on the year’s greatest challenges and achievements — from advances in digital innovation and workforce engagement, to the evolving rol...

As pharmacy closures accelerate nationwide, M Health Fairview is proving what’s possible when a health system steps up. In this conversation, John Pastor, president of Fairview Pharmacy Services and chief operating officer of Fairview Pharmacy Solutions, shares how the system's expansive pharmacy network, centralized services hub and integrated technology are reshaping medication access Minnesota...

The future of physician leadership hinges on a skill money can’t buy — social capital. In this conversation, Thomas Lee, M.D., chief medical officer of Press Ganey and editor-in-chief of NEJM Catalyst ,  explores why social capital is becoming the most critical asset in leadership development, how it can drive organizational performance, and why physicians must act intentionally to...

Few leaders understand rural maternal care as deeply as a CEO who delivered her own baby in the hospital she leads. In this conversation, Eilidh Pederson, CEO at Western Wisconsin Health, shares lessons from her unique birth experience, and outlines how rural hospitals can continue to provide needed access to safe, high-quality maternity health services in rural America.

Major shifts to the 340B drug pricing program could be on the horizon, along with new regulations, legal battles and congressional scrutiny. In this Leadership Dialogue conversation, Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health and 2025 AHA board chair, joins Aimee Kuhlman, vice president of advocacy grassroots and government relations at the AHA, and Paulette Davidson, president and C...

Behavioral health shortages hit rural communities especially hard. In recognition of National Rural Health Day on November 20, Sutter Health's Dan Peterson, CEO of Behavioral Health Services, and Matthew White, M.D., chair of the Behavioral Health Service Line, share how the system is expanding behavioral health access across rural Northern California. They also discuss how new crisis stabilizatio...

Despite decades of progress, lead exposure remains a serious threat to children's health in Cleveland. In this conversation, Vickie Johnson, executive vice president and chief community officer at Cleveland Clinic, and Roopa Thakur, M.D., pediatrician and associate program director of the Pediatric Residency Program at Cleveland Clinic Children's, share how community collaboration, education and h...

Children’s Wisconsin is transforming the prevention of Type 2 diabetes in kids. In this conversation, Elizabeth Dabrowski, M.D., pediatric endocrinologist at Children's Wisconsin, and Matthew Edwards, R.D., diabetes care and education specialist at Children's Wisconsin Diabetes Prevention Clinic, share how a collaborative approach — including with endocrinologists, dietitians and physical therapis...

How does a national health system turn donor dollars into measurable impact? In the final episode of a four-part series with the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), CommonSpirit Health's Daniel Morissette, senior executive vice president and chief financial officer, and Nancy Bussani, executive vice president and chief philanthropy officer, explore the powerful connection between financ...

At Sanford Health, philanthropy isn’t just about raising funds — it’s about uniting communities behind a shared mission to care, comfort and cure. In this conversation, Sanford Health's Bill Gassen,   president and CEO, and Deb Koski, chief philanthropy officer, discuss how a strong culture of giving is extending world-class care across rural communities in the Midwest and beyond.

In 2019, nurse turnover at NYC Health + Hospitals reached a staggering 46%.  Fast forward six years, and that number has dropped to just 7%. In this conversation, Natalia Cineas, DNP, R.N., senior vice president and chief nursing executive at NYC Health + Hospitals, reveals how the organization achieved this extraordinary turnaround — from launching nurse residency and mentorship program...

Practice makes perfect — especially in health care. In this conversation, we explore how Advocate Health and Laerdal Medical are transforming patient safety through the power of simulation. Guests Kelley Sava, associate vice president of simulation at Advocate Health, and Brian Bjoern, M.D., patient safety manager at Laerdal Medical, share how simulation-based training helps identify safety gaps,...

As America’s population ages, hospitals and health systems are reimagining how to deliver care that honors dignity, independence, and what matters most to patients. In this conversation, Jon Zifferblatt, M.D., executive vice president and chief strategy officer at West Health, and Diane Wintz, M.D., critical care specialist and medical director of the Trauma Program at Sharp Memorial Hospital, dis...

As the federal government shutdown stretches on, health care leaders are navigating uncertainty on multiple fronts. In this Leadership Dialogue conversation, Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health and the 2025 AHA Board Chair, talks with Stacey Hughes, executive vice president of government relations and public policy at the AHA, about the outlook for ending the government s...

What happens when philanthropy becomes part of a health system's DNA? In this conversation, Inova Health System's Toni Ardabell, chief of clincal enterprise operations, and Sage Bolte, Ph. D., chief philanthropy officer and president of the Inova Health Foundation, share how aligning philanthropy with mission and clinical priorities allows Inova to accelerate innovation, expand high-acuity service...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month — a reminder that early detection saves lives. In this conversation, Lindsey Fauveau, M.D., medical director of breast surgical oncology at Woman’s Hospital, shares how the hospital’s state-of-the-art mobile unit brings 3D mammograms directly to communities across Louisiana. She also explains why early detection matters, and how education and outreach are t...

A ransomware attack on a single hospital can have a ripple effect across an entire region, threatening patient care and clinical operations. In this conversation, Fernando Martinez, Ph. D., chief digital officer at the Texas Hospital Association, shares how Texas and the THA are building regional resilience through cyber command structures, statewide coordination and tabletop exercises....

Artificial intelligence and other technological innovations are transforming the future of health care. In this Leadership Dialogue conversation, Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health and 2025 AHA board chair, is joined by Jackie Gerhart, M.D., chief medical officer of Epic and a practicing family medicine physician. The two discuss how AI and emerging technologies are...

Philanthropy is more than a funding source — it’s a lifeline of hope, vision and transformation for hospitals and the communities they serve. In this first episode of a four-part series with the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), Alice Ayres, president and CEO of the AHP, discusses how philanthropy is no longer just an add-on, but a strategic driver for hospitals and health systems.&nb...

Health care workers face immense stress, yet stigma and other barriers often prevent them from seeking the mental health support they need. In this conversation, Corey Feist, CEO and co-founder of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, and Tiffany Lyttle, R.N., director of cultural integration at Centra Health, explore how hospitals, health systems and states are expanding employee access to menta...

In part two of this conversation on patient safety and AI, Randy Fagin, M.D., chief quality officer at HCA Healthcare, shares how one of the nation’s largest health systems is putting AI into practice by building responsible governance, reducing clinical and operational variance, and enhancing the work of front-line caregivers. Plus, hear key takeaways and lessons learned in effectively deploying...

Artificial intelligence is becoming a vital tool in advancing patient safety. In the first of a two-part conversation, Randy Fagin, M.D., chief quality officer at HCA Healthcare, shares insights into the organization's bold approach to improving safety outcomes. From piloting tools like AI-assisted fetal heart rate monitoring to adapting strategies used in chemical manufacturing and the milit...

In this Advancing Health encore episode, Women & Infants Hospital's Shannon Sullivan, president and chief operating officer, and Caron Zlotnick, Ph. D., director of behavioral medicine research, discuss the stigma surrounding maternal mental health, the challenges new mothers face, and the innovative programs that are having success in maternal well-being and postpartum   depression preve...