Advancing Health

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 CEO of Monument Health, to unpack what’s at stake. They explore potential regulatory changes for 340B, the lifeline it provides for rural hospitals, and how upcoming changes could alter the financial landscape for the hospitals that anchor their rural communities.

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 stabilization units, rural clinic investments and virtual psychiatry models are supporting patients and clinicians in high-need areas.

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 home remediation are driving Cleveland’s ambitious plan to ensure that every home and childcare center is lead-safe.

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 therapists — empowers families to make sustainable lifestyle changes. Discover why focusing on prevention over treatment may be the most powerful medicine of all in the fight against Type 2 diabetes.

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 financial health and philanthropy — and how aligning donors, leaders and caregivers can create lasting change in communities that need it most.

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 programs, to creating a culture of empowerment where nurses feel heard, supported and inspired.To learn more about NYC Health + Hospitals nurse residency program, please visit https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/nursing/professional-practice/residency-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, improve teamwork and communication, and prepare clinicians for life-saving scenarios before they reach the bedside.To learn more information about Laerdal Medical, please visit www.laerdal.com/us

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, discuss the creation of the Generational Health program — a collaborative partnership for older adult care that integrates geriatric emergency departments, surgical pathways and community programs. Learn how this partnership is transforming outcomes and offering a national blueprint for older adult care.To learn more about West Health, visit: https://westhealth.org/ To learn more about Sharp Memorial’s Generational Health Program, visit: https://www.sharp.com/services/generational-health

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 shutdown that began October 1, as well as what to expect on the legislative front for the remainder of 2025.This podcast was recorded October 10, 2025.

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 services, and invest in the programs that change lives. 

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 transforming breast cancer care for women everywhere.

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. Learn how this approach is shaping a national model for health care cybersecurity.

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 reshaping health care to become better, safer and more accessible for patients and care teams. Plus, learn how a collaboration between the AHA and Epic to share point-of-care tools is improving maternal health care and saving lives. 

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.  Alice also shares how integrating philanthropy into the C-suite unlocks new funding pathways, strengthens community trust, and fuels innovation in patient care and workforce support.