Advancing 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.

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 mental health care. They also discuss the importance of building workplace cultures where asking for help is seen as a sign of strength, and highlight innovative well-being programs that are improving the lives of the people who care for us.For more information on this vital work, please visit:https://drlornabreen.org/https://drlornabreen.org/allinformentalhealth/about-us/https://www.aha.org/suicideprevention/health-care-workforce/suicide-prevention-guide

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 AI across a complex health care enterprise.

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 military, HCA Healthcare is reshaping safety for both patients and health care workers.  

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 prevention.

Health care professionals dedicate their lives to healing others, yet are among the most at risk for workplace violence. In this Leadership Dialogue conversation, Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health and 2025 AHA board chair, sits down with Claire Zangerle, DNP, R.N., CEO of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) and senior vice president and chief nurse executive of the American Hospital Association, to discuss the now necessary security measures for hospitals and health systems, workplace violence prevention strategies, and the urgent need to advocate for health care worker protections.

In the rural areas of the Four Corners region of the Southwestern United States, every minute counts when a heart attack strikes. In this conversation, 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.

What if the key to transforming patient experience starts with your workforce? In this conversation, Nell Buhlman, chief administrative officer and head of strategy at Press Ganey, and Chris DeRienzo, M.D., chief physician executive at the American Hospital Association, explore the data-backed connection between employee engagement and patient outcomes. With real examples — from transformation teams to leadership engagement — Nell and Chris highlight how intentional culture building translates to measurable gains in safety, trust and patient satisfaction.

What does it take to become a truly age-friendly hospital? In this conversation, Shelley Hart, R.N., clinical nurse specialist at Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital, explores the hospital's inspiring journey toward delivering exceptional care for older adults. Through innovative delirium prevention programs, goals of care conversations, and simple acts of human connection, Shelley shares how the team is creating a hospital experience centered on dignity and purpose.For more information on the AHA's Age-Friendly Health Systems work, please visit https://www.aha.org/center/age-friendly-health-systems

The “4M’s” framework that supports age-friendly health care for older patients continues to expand in hospitals and health systems across the nation. In this conversation, Carolyn Bogard, DNP, R.N., director of care coordination and palliative care at El Camino Health, talks about her system’s use of data to harness the passion care providers feel for improving outcomes and streamlining care delivery for older adults.For the full video podcast, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0BwpAjkQek

The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will present many policy changes and challenges for America's hospitals and health systems. In this Leadership Dialogue conversation, Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health and 2025 AHA board chair, talks with Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association, about the sweeping impacts this legislation will have in the health care field. They break down the $900 billion in Medicaid and ACA marketplace cuts, the real-world effects on communities, and the behind-the-scenes advocacy that helped blunt even deeper damage. This podcast was recorded on July 11, 2025

Cyberattacks on hospitals are urgent threats to patient safety, care delivery and public trust. In this conversation, Ajay Gupta, board chair of Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic and CEO of HSR.health, speaks about the vital role hospital boards play in preparing for and responding to cyber incidents. What strategic questions should boards be asking, and how can cyber preparedness make or break a hospital’s ability to deliver care when it matters most?

Potential Medicaid cuts could have devastating impacts on rural communities, particularly for behavioral health care access. In this conversation, Jon Ulven, Ph.D., behavioral health psychologist and chair of adult psychology at Sanford Health, details the fragile behavioral health landscape in rural America and how Medicaid cuts could deepen gaps in health care access and resources. Dr. Ulven also shares powerful patient stories and a compelling call to action — reminding us what’s truly at stake when access to care disappears.

Legal advocacy isn’t just a tactic — it’s a vital force protecting the future of health care. In this Leadership Dialogue conversation, Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health and 2025 AHA board chair, talks with Chad Golder, general counsel for the American Hospital Association, about the complex legal landscape hospitals and health systems must navigate to ensure continued care for their communities. From high-profile court cases and threats to funding, to the evolving 340B Drug Pricing Program, the stakes have never been higher for health care.

Medical training is intense, and the toll it takes on emotional well-being is often overlooked. In this conversation, Boston Medical Center’s (BMC) Jeff Schneider, M.D., the associate chief medical officer, designated institutional official, and chair of the Graduate Medical Education Committee at Boston Medical Center, and Simone Martell, director of the employee resilience program, discuss how BMC is flipping the script on resident wellness. By providing early access to behavioral health resources and destigmatizing mental health, future generations of medical caregivers at BMC are prioritizing their well-being so they can continue caring for communities in need.