Dr. Brian Smolich, Vice President, Health Alliance Quality and Managed Care Operations, Carle Health

This episode features Alan Condon, Editor-in-Chief, and Laura Dyrda, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief at Becker’s Healthcare, discussing key issues shaping the healthcare landscape. They explore the potential impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill, hospital realignment strategies, and the growing influence of ASCs as health systems adapt to financial and care delivery pressures.

In this episode, Scott Becker highlights nine major healthcare developments, including widespread layoffs, a hospital closure in Pennsylvania, a major healthcare fraud takedown, and more.

Mark Rich, President and Member of the Board at Steward Health Care System, joins the podcast to share insights on how the organization is driving innovation in value-based care. He highlights the importance of enhancing patient engagement and advancing price transparency to improve the overall healthcare experience.

Maureen Frowenfeld, MPH, Chief of Staff to the EVP/CAO and Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at University of Maryland Faculty Physicians, joins the podcast to discuss key issues shaping today’s healthcare landscape. She shares her perspective on industry consolidation, the growing shortage of care providers, and the strategic initiatives addressing these challenges. Maureen also offers valuable advice for emerging leaders working to make an impact in an evolving healthcare environment.

In this episode, Rebekah Fincher, Chief Administrative Officer at Conway Regional Health System, shares her journey in healthcare leadership, the critical maternal care needs in Arkansas, and her passion for expanding graduate medical education to strengthen the state’s future physician workforce.

This episode recorded live at the Becker's Hospital Review 15th Annual Meeting features Dr. Christopher Douglas, Houston Market Chief Executive Officer, River Oaks Hospital & Clinics and East Houston Hospital & Clinics. Dr. Douglas shares insights on expanding mobile diagnostics, diversifying payer sources, and building a strong organizational culture through transparency, accessibility, and a people-first leadership approach.

John Ernst, MHA, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Froedtert Hospital & The Medical College of Wisconsin, joins the podcast to discuss Froedtert's commitment to high-quality and safe patient care. He shares how the organization empowers its workforce, emphasizes the importance of leadership accountability, and offers insights into what it takes to guide a complex health system successfully.

Sam Davis, Associate VP at Rush University Medical Center, shares how his team built a more agile and sustainable surgical model by embracing AI-powered operations. He discusses key turning points in shifting culture around data, choosing the right technology partner, and achieving a 12x ROI. Beyond metrics, Davis reflects on the broader impact of aligning surgical capacity with institutional goals.This episode is sponsored by LeanTaas.

Timothy Brown, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at Stony Brook Medicine, joins the podcast to share how his team is harnessing AI and social media responsibly to enhance communication strategies. He dives into the impact of rapidly changing technology on healthcare messaging and offers thoughtful advice for leaders navigating this evolving digital landscape.

Dr. Tony Seupaul, Executive Vice President and Chief Physician Executive with Carilion Clinic, joins the podcast to discuss the ongoing transformation within healthcare systems. He shares how Carilion Clinic has been leveraging AI for over a decade and how those tools have evolved alongside the organization. Dr. Seupaul emphasizes the importance of unity and alignment across health systems as a foundational element for long-term success.