Scott Becker - 10 Stories We Are Following Today at Becker's Healthcare 3-17-26

In this episode, Scott Becker highlights 10 key healthcare stories including Leapfrog Group’s survey ruling, Fitch Ratings downgrade concerns,rising cyberattack risks, and industry consolidation trends.

In this episode, Mark Whalen, Executive Vice President and Enterprise Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Thomas Jefferson University Health, discusses integrating Lehigh Valley Health Network and building a unified culture across a growing system. He also shares Jefferson’s dual transformation strategy focused on improving access, strengthening operations, and positioning the organization for long term growth.

In this episode, Dr. Katie Boston-Leary, Senior Vice President of Equity and Engagement at the American Nurses Enterprise, discusses the ongoing nursing workforce challenges, including maldistribution, specialty gaps, and rural shortages. She also shares her perspective on leadership, equity in healthcare, and how technology and AI could help reduce administrative burden and improve patient care.

In this episode, Vic Schmerbeck, Chief Executive Officer of Emerus, discusses the rapid growth of neighborhood hospitals and how partnering with health systems can bring care closer to communities. He shares insights on improving access, lowering costs, leveraging technology, and building strong teams to support the future of care delivery.

In this episode, Nida Shekhani, Chief Strategy Officer and Deputy COO at Fred Hutch Cancer Center, discusses Project Redwood, a major effort to redesign care delivery and support long term growth. She also shares perspectives on expanding patient access, navigating research funding uncertainty, and leveraging data and AI to shape the future of cancer care.

In this episode, David Fessel, MD, former University of Michigan radiologist turned author, coach, and speaker, shares how emotional intelligence drives better leadership, resilience, and relationships in healthcare. He explores practical micro practices, the power of feedback, and how awareness and positive emotions can help clinicians and executives thrive.

In this episode, Michelle McMacken, MD, Executive Director of Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals, discusses expanding a systemwide lifestyle medicine program focused on preventing and improving chronic disease through nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, and community support. She also shares how interdisciplinary care teams and group medical visits are helping patients achieve lasting health improvements.

In this episode, Salim S. Hayek, MD, Chair for the Department of Internal Medicine and Chief Transformation Officer, UTMB, discusses how AI driven referral triage and operational redesign can reduce administrative burden and improve patient access. He also shares how health systems can build strong foundations for growth amid financial pressure and regulatory uncertainty.

In this episode, Bashir Agboola, DBA, MBA, MSc, CHCIO, CDH-E, Managing Partner at Interdym and former executive at Hospital for Special Surgery, discusses moving from AI experimentation to sustainable execution in healthcare. He shares insights on ambient documentation, predictive analytics, structured governance, and how disciplined strategy turns digital investments into measurable clinical and financial impact.

In this episode, Ravi K. Bashyal, MD, Vice Chairman of Patient and Provider Experience at Endeavor Health and Clinical Assistant Professor at University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, shares how patient centered culture, standardized pathways, and surgical specialization have built the busiest orthopedic hospital in Illinois. He discusses outpatient joint replacement, system wide growth, and why humility and human connection remain at the core of high performance care.