Keeping Up the PACE

1 in 31 children in the US are identified with autism by age 8. For families concerned about a child’s development, waiting months or even years for answers can feel overwhelming. OSF HealthCare is changing that with the Embedded Autism Screening and Evaluation (EASE) program, creating a faster, more supportive path to autism evaluation and next steps.Join us as we discuss how EASE connects eligible children ages 2 to 6 with streamlined evaluations, what families can expect during the process and why early evaluation matters. You’ll also hear how the program helps families get recommendations, therapies and support sooner, whether or not a child receives an autism diagnosis.Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Terry Ho, MD, the managing medical director for pediatrics with OSF Medical Group, and Amy Zimmerman, APRN, project manager for EASE, about the collaboration and innovation behind this new approach to autism evaluation.Speaker Highlights:Terry Ho, MDManaging Medical Director, PediatricsOSF Medical GroupAmy Zimmerman, APRNProject Manager, EASEOSF HealthCareConnect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated

When surgery involves the brain or spine, precision is key. OSF HealthCare is the first health care system in Illinois, and one of the first in the US, to use a new technology that provides greater accuracy for some of the most complex neurological procedures.Join us as we discuss how the OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute is using the Medtronic Stealth AXiS™ Surgical System to support more targeted, minimally invasive brain and spine procedures. The technology includes AI-powered planning, real-time navigation and robotic-assisted technology to assist with high-risk, advanced operations that treat the most challenging conditions.Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Andrew Tsung, MD, vice president of OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute, and Max Kahn, MD, a neurosurgeon with OSF HealthCare, about what this innovative technology means for surgeons and patients, and what advances in neurosurgery could mean for the future of neurological care.Speaker Highlights:Andrew Tsung, MDVice PresidentOSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological InstituteMax Kahn, MDNeurosurgeonOSF HealthCareConnect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated

The OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute opened in Peoria in 2024 with a mission to transform cancer care through innovation, research and expanded access to treatment. Less than three years later, the institute is helping shape the future of oncology across Illinois and beyond.Join us as we explore the growth and impact of the OSF Cancer Institute. We’ll discuss the expansion of medical oncology services, an increase in access to clinical trials, advances in research and the introduction of new programs focused on survivorship and theranostics. We'll also touch on what lies ahead as cancer care continues to evolve and how OSF is working to bring world-class care to Central Illinois.Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Robert McWilliams, MD, deputy director of the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute, and Ryan Luginbuhl, vice president of the Oncology Service Line for OSF HealthCare, about the institute's accomplishments and their vision for the next decade of cancer care.Speaker Highlights:Robert McWilliams, MDDeputy DirectorOSF HealthCare Cancer InstituteRyan LuginbuhlVice President, Oncology Service LineOSF HealthCareConnect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated

Combining pharmacology and genomics helps doctors choose the right drugs and correct doses for each person’s genetic makeup, aiming to make treatments safer and more effective.Join us as we explore pharmacogenomics and its importance in developing personalized care that helps patients get the right treatment quickly. We’ll explore how OSF HealthCare is beginning to use this process in cancer treatment, including one drug-and-gene pairing designed to help prevent known unwanted side effects.Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Sandy Salverson, PharmD, senior vice president, Pharmacy Services and chief pharmacy officer, OSF HealthCare, and Ryan Loudermilk, director, Performance Improvement, OSF HealthCare, to discuss the benefits and limitations of pharmacogenomics, what patients should know, and what may be next as OSF continues exploring this approach.Speaker Highlights:Sandy Salverson, PharmDSenior Vice President, Pharmacy Services and Chief Pharmacy OfficerOSF HealthCareRyan LoudermilkDirector, Performance ImprovementOSF HealthCareConnect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated

For centuries, medical errors were met with blame and punishment. Today, health care leaders know that safer care begins with something far more powerful – trust.Join us as we explore how building a culture of openness, accountability and continuous improvement helps protect patients and supports the people who care for them. The conversation looks at how OSF HealthCare approaches quality and safety across its hospitals, clinics and communities, including the systems and processes designed to prevent harm, reduce errors and improve the patient experience.Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Stephanie Stovall, MD, chief quality officer for OSF HealthCare, and Joseph Gregory, MD, president of OSF Medical Group. Together, they bring Ministrywide leadership experience and clinical insight to a timely conversation about how health care organizations can strengthen safety, earn trust and keep patients at the center of every decision.Speaker Highlights:Stephanie Stovall, MDChief Quality OfficerOSF HealthCareJoseph Gregory, MDPresidentOSF Medical GroupConnect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated

There are more than 280 active children’s hospitals in the United States. OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois is the third-largest pediatric hospital in Illinois and the most comprehensive hospital for kids downstate. With 136 beds and more than 140 pediatric subspecialists, OSF Children’s Hospital cares for more children in Illinois than any hospital outside of Chicago. Join us as we discuss how OSF Children’s Hospital brings highly specialized pediatric care close to home for children who may not otherwise have access to this level of expertise. We’ll also reflect on the deep roots of the OSF HealthCare Mission in this work, beginning with the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis caring for orphans in Germany, and how that calling continues today through a commitment to help every child who comes to us for care, no matter what it takes. Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Meg Zakrzewski, president, and Charles Aprahamian, MD, surgeon-in-chief, from OSF Children’s Hospital, about the countless ways their team is making an impact for kids and families across the communities they serve. Speaker highlights:Meg ZakrzewskiPresidentOSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois Charles Aprahamian, MDSurgeon-in-ChiefOSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of IllinoisConnect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated

Each year, about 230,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. While it remains the deadliest form of cancer, more people are surviving thanks to early detection.Join us as we explore how OSF HealthCare is expanding lung cancer screening efforts with advanced technology, helping more people get screened earlier and improving opportunities for early detection. These advancements support early intervention and contribute to faster treatment and better outcomes.Host Shelli Dankoff speaks with Jun Zhang, MD, PhD, vice president of Oncology Research at the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute, and Richard Ginnetti, MD, managing medical director for OSF Medical Group at OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center, about how OSF is using innovation to strengthen lung cancer screening and what that looks like in practice.Speaker highlights:Jun Zhang, MD, PhDVice President, Oncology ResearchOSF HealthCare Cancer InstituteRichard Ginnetti, MDManaging Medical Director, OSF Medical GroupOSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical CenterConnect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated

Most people want to remain in the comfort of their own homes as they age, but sometimes, doing so safely requires extra support.Join us as we revisit OSF PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), a unique model that combines health care, insurance and supportive services to help older adults maintain independence and quality of life at home. Since launching in the greater Peoria area in 2024, OSF PACE has continued to grow, meeting the needs of a population that overwhelmingly prefers to age in place.Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Nathan Pritzker, executive director of OSF PACE, and Matthew Gorman, DO, medical director of Care Management at OSF HealthCare, to discuss how the program works, who qualifies and the real impact it’s having on patients, families and the health care system.Speaker highlights:Nathan PritzkerExecutive Director, OSF PACEOSF HealthCareMatthew Gorman, DOMedical Director, Care ManagementOSF HealthCareConnect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated

Heart valve disease affects an estimated 11 million Americans, with risk increasing significantly as we age.Join us as we explore how OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute is at the forefront of the latest advancements in heart valve procedures. We’ll highlight the growth of the structural heart program at OSF, including milestones in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), the expansion of MitraClip procedures for mitral valve regurgitation and the recent introduction of TriClip for tricuspid valve repair — making OSF one of only two locations in Illinois offering this option.Host Shelli Dankoff chats with OSF cardiologists Ashvarya Mangla, MD, and Sudhir Mungee, MD, about common types of heart valve disease and how minimally invasive procedures can offer effective treatment with shorter hospital stays and recovery times.Speaker highlights:Ashvarya Mangla, MDInterventional and Structural CardiologistOSF HealthCare Cardiovascular InstituteSudhir Mungee, MDDirector, Structural HeartOSF HealthCare Cardiovascular InstituteConnect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated

Join us as we explore how innovation, collaboration and deep clinical focus at OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute are reshaping care for some of the most complex cancer cases. We discuss treatment of gynecologic carcinosarcomas and hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) cancers, rare and aggressive diseases that require highly coordinated care. OSF Cancer Institute is advancing treatment through specialized surgical techniques, multidisciplinary teams and research initiatives, including clinical trials. From evolving treatment approaches to what’s coming next, the episode highlights how OSF is working to improve outcomes for patients facing daunting diagnoses.Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Michelle Rowland, MD, a gynecologic oncologist specializing in rare uterine cancers, and Chandler Wilfong, MD, a surgeon focused on liver, pancreas and bile duct cancers. Together, they share their expertise, reflect on what drew them to these challenging specialties and discuss the impact of having comprehensive cancer resources available for patients and providers.Speaker highlights:Michelle Rowland, MDGynecologic OncologistOSF HealthCareChandler Wilfong, MDSurgeonOSF HealthCareConnect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated