On this episode, EvidenceCare's CEO, Bo Bartholomew, interviews Bill Sheahan - Chief Innovation Officer for MedStar Health and Executive Director of the MedStar Institute for Innovation - and Bo Wilkes - President of Ballad Ventures and Managing Director of Ballad Health Innovation - on how they've helped create cultures of innovation in their health systems.
Key Takeaways:
- Health systems must balance maximizing their core services while also transforming for the future.
- The culture of healthcare organizations can be a barrier to innovation, but change is necessary for long-term success.
- Tracking and managing initiatives is a challenge, but tools and processes can help ensure alignment and prioritize resources.
- Innovation requires collaboration and buy-in from all levels of the organization, including frontline staff and executives.
- Strategic planning, change management, and data-driven decision-making are essential for successful innovation in healthcare.
Bill Sheahan Bio:
William “Bill” Sheahan is chief innovation officer and a vice president of MedStar Health, as well as the executive director of the MedStar Institute for Innovation, which explores, builds, and scales new ideas that shape the future success of MedStar Health.
Since assuming these roles in July 2021, Sheahan has collaboratively worked to redesign the MedStar Institute for Innovation operating framework to both build upon over a decade of history since its inception, and to drive new and sustained value from applied innovation. He reports to the president and chief executive officer of MedStar Health and serves as a member of the MedStar Health leadership team.
Sheahan joined MedStar Health in 2013 as the executive director of the MedStar Health Simulation Training & Education Lab (SiTEL), a team of more than 100 experts that creates, deploys, and commercializes education products used at MedStar Health and by healthcare organizations in more than 40 states. He later became the founding executive director of the MedStar Telehealth Innovation Center in 2017 to support and coordinate telehealth and other digital care activities systemwide, which MedStar Health grew exponentially in response to COVID-19.
Earlier in his career, Sheahan spent three years leading an academic research program at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. Prior to that he had a decorated 15-year career as a paramedic, educator, and public safety leader, culminating with nine years spent as the chief officer of a county government-based emergency services organization in New York. Sheahan holds a master’s degree in public administration.
Bo Wilkes Bio:
Bo Wilkes is a healthcare strategist with an entrepreneurial spirit. For almost 15 years, he has worked in a variety of roles within a traditional healthcare system – from strategy to operations to governance. Now, Bo is tasked with creating a culture of innovation and transformation through the Ballad Health Innovation Center. Simultaneously, he acts as an enabler of strategic value creation through Ballad Ventures.
Bo leads a diverse team within the Innovation Center consisting of lean thinkers, project managers and entrepreneurs to develop and drive an innovative culture for a 21-hospital system serving rural Appalachia in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. The intent of the Innovation Center is to assess potentially disruptive technologies and clinical advancements while intentionally leveraging innovative opportunities to transform the way we deliver care.
In conjunction with the Innovation Center, Bo leads Ballad Ventures. This capital platform focuses on investing in innovation ideas which transform the healthcare experience, cost, access and outcomes. As the venture capital arm of Ballad Health, the wholly owned subsidiary seeks opportunities which drive the mission, vision and strategic initiatives of the organization.
Prior to serving in his current capacity, Bo served as Chief of Staff for the Executive Chair and President of Ballad Health. Within that role, he was responsible for providing a variety of management and professional support for the executive leadership with an emphasis on planning, performance management, operational efficiency and effectiveness, and organizational development, as well as direct oversight of the enterprise’s governance structure. Prior roles within the organization include serving as administrator of Johnson City Medical Center and Indian Path Community Hospital, as well as leading growth within the organization’s strategic planning department.
Entrepreneurial in nature, Bo has also served as an interim CEO for a pelvic floor therapy start-up operating throughout the Eastern Seaboard. The work has led him to develop an understanding of venture capital and landed him an opportunity as Executive-in-Residence with LRVHealth (Boston, Mass.). Additional past experiences include production manager responsibilities for ESPN with a base of operations throughout North America.
Bo holds a master’s degree in Public Health from East Tennessee State University and a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences from Clemson University. Certificates include the Professional Innovators Program from University of Michigan’s College of Engineering.
---
The Better Care Podcast is produced by EvidenceCare.
Sign up for email updates when new episodes are released.
---
Follow Bill Sheahan and Bo Wilkes:
Bill Sheahan LinkedIn
Bo Wilkes LinkedIn
Follow MedStar Health
LinkedIn
Twitter
Follow Ballad Health
LinkedIn
Twitter
