Advancing Health
Advancing Health is an award-winning podcast series from the American Hospital Association. It features conversations with hospital and health system leaders and frontline staff. The show explores the most pressing healthcare issues affecting patients, caregivers, and communities. Each episode highlights innovative approaches and real-world experiences in healthcare.
Episodes
Leading Through Hurricane Helene: Supply Chain Lessons
Effective healthcare leadership requires decisive action, collaboration and a commitment to patient safety. In this episode, Dr. Chu discusses leading a health system through Hurricane Helene, responding to nationwide IV fluid shortages and coordinating emergency management. Then, Dr. Chu shares lessons on hospital quality improvement, strengthening clinical outcomes, and empowering healthcare tea
From Pediatric to Adult Care: Making the Transition Work
Moving from pediatric to adult healthcare can be a complex journey for young people with medical complexity and their families. In this conversation, Tori Bahr, M.D., section chief of pediatrics at Gillette Children’s, shares how healthcare teams can improve the transition from pediatric to adult care through early planning, coordinated care teams, and a more personalized approach to patient needs
The Cost of Health Disparities
Health disparities are deeply connected to the challenges facing healthcare affordability and access. In this conversation, Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, explores the connection between health disparities, healthcare costs and economic impact. Brian also discusses how hospitals and health systems can use data to identify these disparities and work with commun
Florida's Workforce Shortage: Remedy for the Future of Care
As Florida’s population ages, healthcare systems are facing a growing need for highly skilled workers. In this conversation, Nikki Daily, chief team resources officer at BayCare Health System, discusses how the organization is addressing that challenge by building career pathways, developing apprenticeships, and partnering with community organizations to create opportunities for the healthcare wor
Frontiers: Connected Rural Maternal Care, Closer to Home
Being rural doesn’t have to mean being disconnected. Hear how hospitals are using technology-enabled care and strong regional partnerships to connect rural communities with clinical expertise and expand access to nearby maternal care.Featured in this episode are leaders from Avera Health, Banner Health and Dartmouth Health.For more information on rural maternal care in America, please visit https:
Putting Primary Care First: A Blueprint for Community Health
Primary care is becoming a critical strategy for hospitals and health systems looking to improve access, coordinate care and keep patients healthier outside the hospital. In this Leadership Dialogue conversation, Marc Boom, M.D., president and CEO of Houston Methodist and the 2026 AHA board chair, talks with David Banks, president and CEO of AdventHealth. They discuss the organization's strategy t
Frontiers: The People Powering Rural Maternal Care
Rural hospitals are rethinking how they build and sustain the teams behind maternal care. In part two of this special three-part Advancing Health podcast series, hear how leaders are creating new pathways into the workforce, investing in training, and bringing together the skills and expertise needed to support families in rural communities.Featured in this episode are leaders from Banner Health,
From Alzheimer’s Research to Rural Care at Banner Health
Medical research only changes lives when it reaches the patients who need it. In this conversation, Corey Casper, M.D., senior vice president and chief research officer at Banner Health, and professor of clinical translational science at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, explores how Banner Health is using clinical research, technology and strategic partnerships to bring new discoveri
Frontiers: Committing to Rural Maternal Care
What happens when leaders decide that maternal care belongs in their community — and commit to making it work? In part one of this special Advancing Health podcast series, hear how rural hospital leaders are turning that commitment into action and finding new possibilities for sustaining maternal care close to home.Featured in this episode are leaders from Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Rochester Region
Stopping Workplace Violence Before It Starts
Building trust with patients before a crisis can be one of the most powerful tools in preventing violence in healthcare settings. In this conversation, Tom Saggio, R.N., director of behavioral health operations at St. Louis Children's Hospital, explains how the hospital's teams are using proactive intervention, behavioral assessments and de-escalation techniques to improve safety for patients, fam
Welcome to "Frontiers: A Rural Maternal Health Podcast"
What does it take to sustain maternal care in rural communities?In this special Frontiers podcast series from the American Hospital Association, we explore the people, ideas and innovations working to ensure mothers and families can access high-quality maternal care close to home.Hear directly from rural hospital leaders who are tackling the challenges facing maternal health, strengthening their c
Safer Care Through Simulation
Healthcare simulation is becoming far more than a training exercise. In this conversation, Clint Pridgen, vice president of business development and hospital strategy at Laerdal Medical, explores the future of healthcare simulation, including data-driven training, workplace safety, quality improvement and emerging technologies. Hear how healthcare organizations can turn simulation insights into me
Top 3 Healthcare Cyber Threats in 2026
Cyberattacks against hospitals are growing in scale and sophistication, putting patient care, critical infrastructure, and millions of healthcare records at risk. In this conversation, the American Hospital Association's John Riggi, national advisor for cybersecurity and risk, and Scott Gee, deputy national advisor for cybersecurity and risk, break down the three biggest cyber threats facing healt
Why Age-Friendly Care Is Becoming a Healthcare Standard
From reducing falls and readmissions to focusing on what matters most, age-friendly care is changing healthcare delivery for older adults. In this conversation, Rani E. Snyder, president of The John A. Hartford Foundation, discusses how the movement is gaining momentum in hospitals and health systems across the country, and how the AHA's new Age-Friendly Healthcare Impact Award aims to inspire eve
Pregnancy and the Heart: Why Teamwork Matters
Maternal mortality remains a critical challenge in the United States, and many pregnancy complications are linked to chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease. In this conversation, Kardie Tobb, D.O., a non-invasive preventative cardiologist at Cone Health, explains how multidisciplinary teams are breaking down clinical silos, emphasizing preconception care, and coordinating care
The First Chapter: Literacy and Bonding in the NICU
How can hospitals help NICU parents feel informed, empowered and connected to their babies during one of the most stressful moments of their lives? In this conversation, Gabriela Jimenez Thompson, program lead of Our Story Begins at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, and Liliana Escobar, R.N., NICU head nurse at Bellevue Hospital Center, share how the Our Story Begins program uses books, reading, la
Elevating the Patient Voice: Building Partnerships in Care
For healthcare organizations pursuing better quality and better outcomes, the patient voice needs to be more than a checkbox. In this conversation, Caroline DeLongchamps, director of the patient-and family-centered care program at MUSC Health, shares her powerful personal story and explains how patient and family-centered care can improve quality, strengthen trust, and transform how care is design
Care Without the Wait: Rethinking Access to Healthcare
Getting patients the care they need shouldn't mean navigating weeks of appointments, uncertainty and distance. In this conversation, Baligh Yehia, M.D., president of Jefferson Health, shares how the organization is rethinking healthcare access through same-day cancer care, virtual primary care, home-based services, and expanded access to clinical trials.
A Leadership Playbook for Age-Friendly Care
Building an age-friendly health system requires more than clinical excellence — it demands leadership, strategy and systemwide commitment. In this conversation, Michele Frankel, deputy market president for Northwell Health's Eastern Market, and Susan Kwiatek, DNP, vice president of aging and supportive care and leader of Northwell Health's Institute for Healthy Aging, reveal how one of the nation
The "Phygital Ecosystem" Behind Better Patient Care
What does it take to create a truly connected patient experience? In this conversation, Jennifer Bollinger, chief consumer and brand officer at Sutter Health, discusses how a "phygital ecosystem" approach creates a seamless experience between virtual and in-person care. Learn how Sutter Health is eliminating friction, improving patient engagement, and using technology to make healthcare more conne
In 20 Years: The Future of Healthcare
What will healthcare look like in 20 years? In this conversation, Jackie Gerhart, M.D., chief medical officer at Epic, Thomas McGinn, M.D., chief physician executive officer at CommonSpirit Health, and Zia Agha, M.D., chief medical officer at West Health, discuss the rapid pace of healthcare's evolution, and what that means for physicians, patients and health systems. From continuous care and work
Crime Victim Compensation: A Critical Hospital Resource
After a mass violence incident, recovery extends far beyond emergency care. In this conversation, Anne Seymour of the National Mass Violence Center, and Michael Schmidt, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina, explain how crime victim compensation programs can help survivors of mass violence cover medical bills, mental health care, transportatio
How Boards Should Engage in AI Decision-Making
Artificial intelligence is reshaping healthcare, and hospital boards can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines. In this conversation, Ajay Gupta, board vice chair for Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, explains how trustees can confidently guide AI adoption while protecting patients and supporting innovation. Learn the key questions every trustee should be asking as AI becomes a critical part of heal
How APPs Can Ease the Healthcare Workforce Crisis
Hospitals and health systems can't meet growing patient demand without fully leveraging advanced practice providers (APPs). In this conversation, Leslie Clayton, program director for Program director for Advanced Practice at M Health Fairview, and chair of the AHA's APP Leadership Advisory Group, explains why investing in APP leadership is now essential to addressing workforce shortages, expandin
AI in Healthcare: Hidden Cybersecurity Risks
As healthcare rapidly adopts artificial intelligence, protecting the data behind it has never been more important. In this conversation, John Riggi, the AHA’s national advisor for cybersecurity and risk, and Edward You, former FBI Supervisory Special Agent and founder of EHY Consulting, discuss why healthcare organizations must look beyond AI tools and focus on protecting the data, governance and
Giving Families and Kids an upSTART for Better Health
The earliest years of life shape a child's health, development and future. In this conversation, Nancy Correa, DrPH, director of population health at Texas Children's Hospital, and Beth Van Horne, DrPH, director of research for the Division of Public Health Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, discuss the upSTART program, a comprehensive initiative that combines homegrown innovation with evid
Bridge to Care: Better Care Transitions for Opioid Use
Improving care transitions is one of the most effective ways health systems can improve outcomes for patients with substance use disorders. In this conversation, the team from the University Medical Center New Orleans - LSU School of Medicine's Benjamin Springgate, M.D., professor of Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine, and Seth Vignes, M.D., assistant professor of Internal Medicine, share ho
Bridge to Care: Strengthening Opioid Recovery
The most important part of recovery may begin before a patient ever leaves the hospital. In this conversation, Heidi Bray, DNP, nurse practitioner and hospitalist at Providence St. Peter Hospital, explores how hospitals can improve opioid use disorder treatment through stronger discharge planning, medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and better connections to community care. She also highlig
From Hospital to Home: The Power of Connected Care
Healthcare doesn't end when patients leave the hospital — and neither should the support they receive. In this conversation, Ryane Jackson, vice president of Community Health Network at Memorial Hermann Health System, explains how the system is creating seamless connections between clinical care and community resources to improve long-term health outcomes. Learn how these solutions are helping pat
Why Early Literacy Screenings Belong in Pediatric Care
What if a routine pediatric checkup could help shape a child's success in school — and throughout life? In this conversation, Nationwide Children's Hospital's Sara Bode, M.D., pediatrician and medical director of School Health Services, and Carneshia Edwards, lead of the Kindergarten Readiness program, share how pediatric providers are using literacy screenings during routine well-child visits to
Rural Health Transformation Fund: One Year Later
One year into the Rural Health Transformation Fund, what's working and what's next? In this conversation, Maya Sandalow, associate director of the Health Program at the Bipartisan Policy Center, shares how states are investing in rural hospitals, telehealth and workforce development, to improve care across rural America. Learn where funding is making the biggest impact — and where challenges remai
More Than Medicine: Community Care for Advancing Health
Care teams know that lasting health begins outside the exam room. In this Leadership Dialogue conversation, Marc Boom, M.D., president and CEO of Houston Methodist and the 2026 AHA board chair, speaks with Donna Lynne, CEO of Denver Health, to discuss how a large safety-net health system is improving health outcomes by addressing housing insecurity, food access, behavioral health and other social
The Next Outbreak: Hantavirus, Ebola, and Hospital Readiness
A rare hantavirus outbreak aboard an international cruise ship became a real-world test of America's infectious disease preparedness infrastructure. In this conversation, Angela Hewlett, M.D., professor of infectious diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and medical director of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, explains how her team helped monitor and care for Americans exposed to
A Rural Solution to the Geriatric Mental Health Crisis
One of the biggest healthcare challenges of the next decade may already be here: caring for the mental health needs of older adults. In this conversation, leaders from Cottage Hospital and Sharon Hospital (part of Northwell Health) share how specialized geriatric behavioral health programs are helping older adults receive compassionate, comprehensive mental health care close to home. Learn why inv
How a Father-Daughter Team Is Strengthening Rural Maternity Care
Some fathers pass down a family business. One doctor passed down a calling. In this conversation, Southwest Health's Kevin Carr, M.D., family medicine physician, and Melissa Carr, M.D., OB/GYN, reflect on the joy of practicing medicine together, delivering babies side by side, and caring for generations of families in rural Wisconsin as a father-daughter duo. Their story offers a powerful look at
NYU Langone's Recipe for Better Hospital Food
Some of New York City's most impressive meals aren't being served in restaurants — they're being served in hospitals. In this conversation, Dan Dilworth, senior director of food and nutrition services at NYU Langone Health, discusses how the organization built one of the most ambitious hospital food programs in the country, serving 9,000 meals a day while prioritizing nutrition, sustainability an
When Healthcare and Housing Work Together, Lives Change
What if a hospital stay could be the first step out of homelessness? In this conversation, Sarah Stella, M.D., director of Denver Health's Housing Outreach, Partnerships and Engagement (HOPE) program, reveals how Denver Health is helping some of the community's most vulnerable patients move from crisis to stability. Bringing together hospitals, housing providers, social services and community part
Feeding Health: The Fight Against Childhood Food Insecurity
Food insecurity affects far more than hunger. It influences physical health, mental well-being, academic performance, and long-term outcomes for children and families. In this episode, Stormee Williams, M.D., senior vice president and chief health equity officer at Children's Health, shares how her team is identifying food insecurity, why access to healthy food matters just as much as access to fo
Real Solutions to Workplace Violence
What does it take to make hospitals safer for healthcare workers? In recognition of #HAVHope Day, Sarah Hunter, president of Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, explores the innovative approaches her team is using to reduce workplace violence. From a simple but effective buddy system to stronger partnerships with public safety agencies and community leaders, hear real-world solutions that help healthcare
Innovative Models to Strengthen Behavioral Healthcare
As demand for behavioral health services continues to grow, hospitals are searching for ways to expand both care and the care teams themselves. In this Leadership Dialogue conversation, Marc Boom, M.D., president and CEO of Houston Methodist and the 2026 AHA board chair, speaks with John Santopietro, M.D., senior vice president at Hartford HealthCare and physician-in-chief of its Behavioral Health
Why Hospitals Must Use AI Responsibly
The future of healthcare will be shaped not only by artificial intelligence, but by how thoughtfully organizations choose to implement it. In this conversation, Daniel Daly, Ph.D., executive director of the Center for Theology and Ethics in Catholic Health at the Catholic Health Association, explores the ethical future of AI in medicine, why all efficiency should serve compassion, and what healthc
The New Model Predicting Teen Mental Health Risks
Teen mental health crises are rising — but what if providers could intervene before symptoms fully take hold? In this conversation, Duke University School of Medicine's Jonathan Posner, M.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and Matthew Engelhard, M.D., P.h.D., assistant professor of the Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, break down the "Duke PMA" — an AI-powered predi
The 5 Biggest Patient Safety Lessons for Health Care Boards
What should every hospital board member know about quality and patient safety? In this conversation, Elizabeth Mort, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer at Joint Commission, breaks down the five critical priorities boards must focus on — from quality metrics and risk transparency, to accreditation readiness and patient safety culture. Discover how stronger board leadership can help hosp
More Than Survival: Healing Trauma From Violence
What happens after a survivor of violence leaves the hospital? For many patients, the physical wounds are only the beginning. In this conversation, Elinore Kaufman, M.D., medical director of the Penn Trauma Violence Recovery Program, and Michele Volpe, chief operating officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, share how hospital-based violence intervention programs are helping patien
When Partnerships Bring Care Closer to Kids
For families living in poverty, accessing health care can feel out of reach — buried beneath challenges like transportation, childcare and job insecurity. In this conversation, Alejandro Quiroga, M.D., president and CEO of Children's Mercy Kansas City, and Mary Esselman, president and CEO of Operation Breakthrough, explore how one innovative partnership in Kansas City is changing that reality by b
Words Matter: Reducing Stigma in Substance Use Disorder Care
For millions facing substance use disorders, stigma isn’t just harmful — it’s a barrier to survival. In this conversation, three leaders from CommonSpirit Health explore how the organization is confronting stigma head-on through education, storytelling and culture change. They also reveal how shifting language, training and grassroots efforts are helping patients feel seen and heard on their road
Menopause Matters: Closing Gaps in Care and Awareness
Menopause affects half the population — yet it remains one of the most overlooked areas in modern health care. In this conversation, University of Illinois Chicago's Pauline Maki, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry, psychology, and obstetrics and gynecology, and Makeba Williams, M.D., professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, unpack why menopause care is finally having a breakthrough m
Advocacy to Address Health Care Access and Affordability
In this Leadership Dialogue conversation, Marc Boom, M.D., president and CEO of Houston Methodist and the 2026 AHA board chair, speaks with Stacey Hughes, executive vice president of government and public policy at the American Hospital Association, about the forces shaping health care affordability — from federal budget concerns to patient access challenges. They discuss how hospitals and health
When Birth Isn’t Joyful: Supporting Postpartum Trauma
Childbirth is supposed to be one of life’s most joyful moments — but for many parents, the reality of birth trauma can have lasting emotional and physical impacts. In this conversation, Katie Au, M.D. and Katherine Jorda, M.D., directors of the Perinatal Trauma Clinic at Oregon Health & Science University, explore how trauma can emerge during pregnancy, labor or postpartum. They also discuss w
Fixing the Nursing Shortage with Local Talent Pipelines
What does it take to turn a nursing shortage into a workforce pipeline? In this conversation, Denzil Ross, president of Indiana University Health South Region, and Erik Coyne, chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College–Bloomington, discuss how the organizations' partnership is using philanthropic investment to broaden nursing education for aspiring nurses. With expanded training facilities and flexi
A Child's Health Starts in Communities
The biggest threats to children’s health aren’t always clinical — they’re happening in communities every day. In this conversation, Mary Kate Daly, senior vice president and chief of community health of the Patrick M. Magoon Institute for Healthy Communities at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, explains how long-term investments, powerful community partnerships, and a first
Youth Mental Health Can’t Wait
Youth mental health is at a critical juncture, with rising demand and limited access to care across communities. In this conversation, David Stark, chief of government and external affairs and philanthropy officer at UnityPoint Health, shares how a major philanthropic investment is helping expand mental health services for children and adolescents. Learn how a “no wrong door” model is transforming
A New Solution to Medical Debt
Millions of Americans are burdened by medical debt — but solutions are emerging. In this conversation, Undue Medical Debt's Allison Sesso, president and CEO, and Eva Stahl, vice president of policy, engagement and research, share how the organization has helped eliminate over $27 billion in patient debt, and how hospitals are partnering with Undue Medical Debt to help relieve financial burdens for
The CMO’s Role in Better Outcomes
The role of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) is rapidly evolving as health care systems focus on the present and future. In this conversation, Phillip Chang, M.D., chief medical and quality officer of CommonSpirit Health, shares insights on measuring data and quality, leading clinicians through change and building a more patient-centered future.
How Rehab Hospitals Can Ease Acute Care Overload
As hospitals face rising demand, staffing shortages and overcrowded ERs, how can America's health care system keep up? In this conversation, Scott Edelman, executive director of Burke Rehabilitation, shares how post-acute care hospitals are helping relieve pressure on acute care facilities, and how these rehab centers act as a critical safety valve to improve patient flow, reduce length of stay an
AI in Clinical Care: Reducing Risk and Improving Outcomes
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the future of health care — from predictive early warning systems that detect patient deterioration to ambient AI tools that streamline clinical documentation. In this Leadership Dialogue conversation, Marc Boom, M.D., president and CEO of Houston Methodist and the 2026 AHA board chair, speaks with Amy Rockman, director of the Artificial Intelligence Ce
A New Prescription for Community Health
Improving community health requires more than clinical care alone. In this conversation, Venita Owens, president of Baylor Scott & White Health and Wellness Center, and Andrea Hayes, manager of marketing and public relations for Baylor Scott & White, discuss how medical care, nutrition, education and fitness are coming together to support underserved populations in Dallas.To learn more abo
Rethinking Primary Care to Support Medically Complex Patients
Some patients don’t need more care — they need a different kind of care. In this conversation, leaders from University of Utah Health share how an intensive primary care model is reducing hospital utilization and improving patient stability.
Encore: Fighting Hypertension Through Community Collaboration
In this Advancing Health encore episode, Duke University's Anna Tharakan, lead project manager on Closing the Gap on Hypertension Disparities, and Bradi Granger, Ph.D., research professor at Duke University School of Nursing and director of the Duke Heart Center Nursing Research Program, discuss how Duke’s team is closing hypertension disparities by integrating community health workers, student am
Better Teams, Better Mental Health Care
As demand for mental health care rises, primary care clinics are expanding how they support patients. In this conversation, John Muir Health's Jeremy Fish, M.D., director of the Family Medicine Residency Program, and Pilar Corcoran-Lozano, PsyD, behavioral health core faculty and supervising psychologist of the Co-Training Program, discuss how training physicians and behavioral health professional
2026 AHA Health Care Workforce Scan: AI and the Future of Staffing
Health care leaders are facing workforce shortages, rising burnout and growing demand for care. So, what’s working — and what's next? In this conversation, Gratia Pitcher, M.D., chief medical officer and patient experience dyad leader with Essentia Health, and Larissa Africa, vice president of health care workforce solutions with Staff Garden by Ascend Learning, discuss findings from the 2026 AHA
Hospitals Beyond the Walls: Advancing Community Health
Hospitals impact far more than what happens inside their walls. In this conversation, Doug Brown, partner with Manatt Health and current chair of the American Hospital Association's Foster G. McGaw Prize Committee, discusses how hospitals are tackling food insecurity, workforce development, safe neighborhoods, and other social drivers of health through authentic community partnerships. Discover wh
From Closure to Comeback: A Rural ICU Is Reborn
In this Leadership Dialogue conversation, Marc Boom, M.D., president and CEO of Houston Methodist and the 2026 AHA board chair, sits down with Mark Boucot, president and CEO of WVU Medicine Potomac Valley Hospital, to explore how rural hospitals can leverage technology and partnerships to deliver care close to home. From reopening a shuttered ICU to launching a low-cost virtual ICU partnership, Bo
Rebuilding Georgia’s Rural Pediatric Pipeline: Part Two
What does it take to ensure every child — no matter his/her ZIP code — has access to pediatric care? In part two of this conversation, leaders from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Mercer University School of Medicine reveal how targeted pediatric scholarships and deep community partnerships are building a sustainable pipeline of pediatricians committed to serving rural communities.Miss Part O
Rebuilding Georgia’s Rural Pediatric Pipeline: Part One
Across rural Georgia, more than 60 counties lack a single pediatrician. In this conversation, Jean Sumner, M.D., Dean of Mercer University School of Medicine, and Marc Welsh, vice president of child advocacy at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, share how an innovative public-private partnership is transforming access to pediatric care and building pipelines of rural-ready physicians.Listen to Part
Encore: Revolutionizing Rural Cardiac Care
In this Advancing Health encore episode, Josh Neff, CEO of CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital, discusses a new cutting-edge communication platform that sends patient EKGs directly from the ambulance to the cardiologist in real time. Josh explains how this simple, affordable tool is cutting treatment times and saving lives in one of the nation’s most challenging regions for emergency cardiac care.
Mental Health First Aid: A Proactive Approach to Workplace Violence
Preventing workplace violence in health care takes more than security. In this conversation, Thomas Ahr, senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Hospital Sisters Health System, details how the health system is prioritizing prevention, supporting staff after incidents, and turning safety into a leadership responsibility.
Operation Winter Shield: The FBI's Campaign Against Cyberthreats Part 2
In part two of this conversation, John Riggi, the AHA’s national advisor for cybersecurity and risk, talks with the FBI's Brett Leatherman, assistant director, Cyber Division, and Gretchen Burrier, assistant director, Office of Private Sector, about how nation-state actors are leveraging cybercriminals and AI to disrupt health care. They also discuss how hospitals and health systems of any size ca
Operation Winter Shield: The FBI's Campaign Against Cyberthreats Part 1
In part one of this two-part conversation, John Riggi, the AHA's national advisor for cybersecurity and risk, talks with the FBI's Brett Leatherman, assistant director, Cyber Division, and Gretchen Burrier, assistant director, Office of Private Sector, about the FBI's new campaign against cyberthreats, the surge of cyberattacks in U.S. health care, and what hospitals and health systems can do righ
Inside a Quest for Quality: How Safer Care Is Built at Scale
Behind every safety metric is a leadership decision. In this conversation, Thomas McGinn, M.D., MPH, senior executive vice president and chief physician executive officer at CommonSpirit Health, shares how the organization aligns leadership, standardizes processes, and uses analytics to reduce variation and improve patient outcomes — work that made CommonSpirit Health a 2025 finalist for the AHA Q
The Power of Lived Experience as a Behavioral Health Care Strategy
Is lived experience one of the most underused tools in health care today? In this conversation, JPS Health Network's Zelia Baugh, senior vice president of behavioral health, and Melanie Cooper, peer support specialist, discuss how utilizing peer support specialists can help patients navigate recovery, improve care transitions, and drive better outcomes across inpatient units, outpatient clinics an
When Health Care Is Hard to Navigate: Designing Patient Care Navigation
Even the most experienced health care leaders can feel lost as patients. In this conversation, Ji Im, system senior director of community and population health at CommonSpirit Health, explores why seamless navigation, community partnerships and human connection are essential to reducing friction and improving the health care experience. Ji also shares how her personal health story has reshaped her
Rethinking Health Care Innovation From the Inside Out
In the first Leadership Dialogue conversation of 2026, Marc Boom, M.D., president and CEO of Houston Methodist and the 2026 AHA board chair, speaks with James Merlino, M.D., chief operating officer at Joint Commission, about building a culture of innovation, unleashing the power of new technologies to advance health care, and developing partnerships to access and share expertise, information and b
Cybersecurity on the Health Care Front Lines Against AI and Ransomware
Artificial intelligence is transforming health care — but it’s also giving cybercriminals potential new tools for disruption. In this conversation, John Riggi, AHA’s national advisor for cybersecurity and risk, speaks with Larry Pierce, director of cybersecurity and information security officer for Atlantic Health, about how the growth of AI is reshaping cyber risk in health care, and why physical
"Walk Alongside Them": Beacon Health's Efforts to Reduce Maternal and Infant Mortality
Beacon Health System is taking a community-driven approach to improve health for moms and babies. In this conversation, Beacon Health System's Kimberly Green Reeves, vice president of community impact and partnerships, and Cassy White, director of community impact, share how data, care coordination and community involvement are helping reduce infant mortality in Michigan and Indiana. From home vis
From Data to Impact: A Community Blueprint for Mental Health Access
Mental health is a top community health need nationwide. In this conversation, John Muir Health's Jesse Tamplen, vice president of care coordination, and Jamie Elmasu, director of community health improvement, explain how community health needs assessments (CHNAs), data-driven planning and nonprofit partnerships are expanding access to patients who need it most. Learn how this health system's comm
Simulation on Wheels: How Mobile Training Is Saving Lives in Rural Iowa
When health care emergencies strike in rural America, preparation can make all the difference. In this conversation, Tina Eden, R.N., CEO of Virginia Gay Hospital, and Jacinda Bunch, Ph.D., R.N., assistant professor at the Iowa College of Nursing and senior advisor to Simulation in Motion-Iowa (SIM-IA), dive into how this mobile clinical education program (SIM-IA) is delivering high-impact simulat
Zero Harm Isn’t a Dream: Inside Hartford HealthCare's Patient Safety Revolution
What does it take to transform an entire health system into a national leader in patient safety? Hartford HealthCare didn’t just ask the question — they answered it. In this conversation, Stephanie Calcasola, R.N., chief quality officer and vice president of quality and safety at Hartford HealthCare, unpacks the programs, technology and cultural shifts that drove measurable and nationally-recogniz
Virtual Nursing in Action: Technology That Gives Nurses More Time
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
Encore: Bridging Distances with AI and Telemedicine and Destigmatizing Mental Health for Health Care Workers
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!
