In 2026, traditional healthcare leaders are facing nontraditional power dynamics. That’s why we’re kicking off the new year with a two-part series focused on the trends and challenges CEOs must be prepared to navigate in the year ahead.

In Part 1, hosts Rachel (Rae) Woods and Abby Burns sit down with Advisory Board experts Natalie Trebes and Max Hakanson to unpack how the shrinking safety net is reshaping access to care – and why every CEO needs to prepare for the ripple effects.

Coming next week: In part two of our What CEOs Need to Know in 2026 series, we’ll take a closer look at the spillover effects resulting from the diffusion of power and control.

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A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

In 2026, Radio Advisory is diving into the biggest questions shaping the future of healthcare. We aren’t just here to talk about challenges, we’re here to help you determine your next best action. Our first episode of the year drops Tuesday, January 13. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

We want to hear from you. What do you want to hear about in 2026? Where are you seeing opportunities or facing challenges you think we should explore? Email us at [email protected]

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Advisory Board is here to do two things: tackle the toughest questions keeping healthcare leaders up at night, and push leaders' thinking on the questions they aren’t asking – but should be. In 2025, we navigated a landscape of major shifts, from policy changes, the growing presence of AI, drug innovations, and more. As we head into 2026, we are keeping that momentum going to deliver the insights you need to stay ahead.

That’s why this week, hosts Rachel (Rae) Woods and Abby Burns pass the microphone to six Advisory Board researchers to preview their top questions and topics on our research agenda for the new year. They’ll unpack what they’re researching, why it matters, and why these topics deserve your attention.

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We want to hear from you. What are your challenges? Where are you seeing opportunities? Email us at [email protected]

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How We Approach Behavioral Health Integration | evolvedMD

A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

The national spotlight on food and chronic disease management is intensifying, especially given the momentum of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement. This presents an opportunity to finally move the needle on incorporating healthy food and nutrition into care delivery — but our traditional healthcare system is not set up to do this well, or at scale. Healthcare leaders need to learn from the experts who have been doing this work successfully in their communities.

That’s why this week, live from Advisory Board’s Nashville Summit, host Abby Burns speaks with Tomi Ogundimu, Chair of the Board of DC Greens, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., and Angela Fitch, MD, Cofounder and Chief Medical Officer of Knownwell, a comprehensive primary care and metabolic health clinic. Our guests will share what it looks like to put the principles of “food as medicine” into practice and how the traditional delivery system can adapt to help realize these principles at scale.

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The state of the industry: Key insights for 2026

A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

In last week’s episode, Advisory Board experts explored why leaders have a responsibility to combat rising patient distrust. The challenge? Most providers aren’t prepared — and often haven’t been taught — how to respond effectively.

Distrust isn’t just about debunking misinformation. The combination of low-quality research and panic headlines has made it harder for both providers and patients to separate credible science from misinformation. But there are actionable strategies leaders can use to identify what fuels mistrust and effectively communicate with patients in ways that build confidence.

This week, host Rachel (Rae) Woods sits down with Dr. Emily Oster — economist, Brown University professor, New York Times bestselling author, and Founder & CEO of ParentData — to unpack her approach to effective health communication. Throughout the episode, they unpack why scientific skepticism is growing and why the delivery of health information — not just expertise — is critical to engaging patients.

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2025 Advisory Board December Virtual Summit

Discover how Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs) are transforming employer benefit strategies to support whole-employee health and well-being.

Sign up for our Dec. 16 webinar: The state of the industry: Key insights for 2026

A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

Patient dissatisfaction with the healthcare system has long been a concern — but today, it’s something far more serious: outright distrust. Between 2023 and 2025, the share of Americans who don’t trust their doctor at all to make the right recommendations jumped by eight percentage points. Now, nearly one in six patients lack confidence in their physician.

Let’s be clear: patient distrust may not be the fault of health leaders — but it is absolutely their problem to solve. Rebuilding trust is a business imperative because distrust affects clinical quality, workforce stability, public health, and the financial health of organizations.

In this episode, host Rachel (Rae) Woods sits down with Advisory Board experts Morghen Philippi and Matt Cornner to unpack how the industry reached this point, why trust is a strategic asset, and what health leaders can do to start rebuilding it.

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2025 Advisory Board December Virtual Summit

A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

We’re in the midst of an AI gold rush. Every corner of healthcare is racing to harness generative AI for productivity and cost savings. But here’s the catch: healthcare isn’t Silicon Valley. The mantra of “move fast and break things” doesn’t work in a high-risk, complex environment. When it comes to AI in healthcare, safety and effectiveness must come before speed.

This week on Radio Advisory, guest host and Advisory Board digital health expert Ty Aderhold sits down with David Woods, Mike Rayo, and Dane Morey from the Cognitive Systems Engineering Lab at The Ohio State University. Drawing on new research about how AI changes human decision-making, they unpack the risks and realities of AI in healthcare, challenge common misconceptions, and ask critical questions—like whether AI can recognize and communicate its own errors.

Bottom line: There is no risk-free use of AI in healthcare. To truly evaluate safety and effectiveness, leaders must assess AI-human systems as a whole—not in isolation.

Plus, stay tuned for an update on the end of the longest government shut down in U.S. history, and the healthcare programs (still) caught in the crosshairs.

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[Dec. 4] The healthcare leader's to-do list for successful AI adoption

3 ways to get the most out of contingent nursing workforce partnerships

A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

Nearly 16 million veterans live in the United States, and while 9 million receive care through the Veterans Health Administration, about 40% rely entirely on civilian healthcare. That’s where the challenge begins: many veterans are navigating a system that isn’t designed for their unique health needs.

Veterans outside the VA system often face barriers that lead to poorer outcomes—delays in diagnosis, fragmented care, and overlooked service-related conditions. The healthcare system must do better.

In this episode of Radio Advisory, host Rachel (Rae) Woods talks with Optum Serve experts Christi Kruse and Christine Erspamer about what it takes to close this gap. Drawing on their in-depth ethnographic research, Christi and Christine explore why understanding the veteran patient journey is critical, how to integrate data-driven population health strategies, and the role of publicly available tools and guidelines, along with other practical solutions.

The conversation doesn’t stop at veterans. These insights can help healthcare leaders better serve other vulnerable populations, too.

Stay tuned through the end of the episode for a special message from Optum Serve CEO Ed Weinberg, as he shares how Optum Serve is honoring the lived experiences of veterans and military families, and calls on clinical providers to lead with compassion, consistency, and purpose.

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Join us for an upcoming State of the Industry webinars, where Advisory Board experts will challenge three long-standing assumptions about the healthcare industry — and reveal the powerful new dynamics reshaping the future.

Learn more about Optum Advisory: Healthcare consulting services

A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

Nurse turnover rates have improved since the pandemic peak, but that doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods: 40% of nurses report that they intend to leave their job within five years. As nurse leaders turn their attention from fighting fires to finding strategic levers for nurse retention, they may be missing a surprising opportunity: career pathing.

Nurse career pathing has traditionally aimed at a core goal: to keep nurses at the bedside for as long as possible. But our research found that, to build a sustainable nursing workforce, nurse leaders need to focus on nurse engagement—not just retention.

This week, host Abby Burns sits down with Advisory Board nursing experts Miles Cottier and Allyson Paiewonsky. They break down the state of the nursing workforce and what it looks like to do career pathing in a way that better balances nurses’ needs with those of the organizations. Hint: the path may look less like a ladder, and more like a branching river.

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Explore how Advisory Board resources can support your organization's journey

A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

In 2025, health systems are facing a relentless set of headwinds—from policy upheaval and shifting demographics to rising costs and rural access challenges. For some organizations, these pressures form a perfect storm.

At Advisory Board’s Chicago Summit, host Rachel (Rae) Woods sat down with MaineHealth COO Kelly Elkins to explore how the $4B, 13-hospital Academic system is navigating these pressures without defaulting to survival mode. MaineHealth has achieved three consecutive years of $100M margin improvement by focusing on operational efficiency, scenario planning, and a three-lane growth strategy: strengthening core services, expanding into ambulatory care, and investing in adjacent businesses.

Learn more about their approach—including their partnership with Optum Advisory—to sustain and scale care delivery across Maine and New Hampshire.

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Strategic Planner's survey 2025

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A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.