Dr. Steve Davis, President and CEO of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, believes in the power of prevention, innovation, and people-first leadership to drive meaningful change in healthcare. In this episode, Dr. Davis shares his journey from aspiring biomedical engineer to pediatric healthcare leader. A pivotal moment in medical school shaped his commitment to pediatrics and reinforced his belief that investing in child health is the key to lifelong well-being. As a leader, he reflects on lessons from the pandemic, the impact of empowering frontline employees, and the role of AI in reducing clinician burnout and improving patient care. Dr. Davis also offers advice to future healthcare leaders, emphasizing the value of lifelong learning, collaboration, and staying connected to the people they serve. In this episode, you will learn:

• Why prevention in childhood is key to lifelong health

• How empowering frontline employees fuels innovation

• The role of AI in improving patient care and reducing burnout

Things to listen for: (00:00) Intro

(00:55) Dr. Steve’s early life and education

(01:20) Choosing a medical path

(02:10) Defining moments in medical school

(03:23) The shift to pediatrics

(09:41) Leadership and innovation during the pandemic

(10:59) Empowering employees for better healthcare

(19:05) Transition from provider to administrator

(29:08) Addressing burnout and embracing AI

(37:16) How to stay open to opportunity

(40:13) The impact of leadership