As America’s population ages, hospitals and health systems are reimagining how to deliver care that honors dignity, independence, and what matters most to patients. In this conversation, Jon Zifferblatt, M.D., executive vice president and chief strategy officer at West Health, and Diane Wintz, M.D., critical care specialist and medical director of the Trauma Program at Sharp Memorial Hospital, discuss the creation of the Generational Health program — a collaborative partnership for older adult care that integrates geriatric emergency departments, surgical pathways and community programs. Learn how this partnership is transforming outcomes and offering a national blueprint for older adult care.

To learn more about West Health, visit: https://westhealth.org/ 

To learn more about Sharp Memorial’s Generational Health Program, visit: https://www.sharp.com/services/generational-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.