Keynote Day 2 at CHIME Fall Forum
Read all our posts on this year’s CHIME Fall Forum
From regulatory shifts and cybersecurity threats to interoperability hurdles and emerging technologies, this session cut through the noise to get real about what it takes to lead at the edge of change. This keynote session brought together senior healthcare executives to explore how leadership, innovation, and resilience shape transformation in today’s health systems. The conversation focused on leading with clarity, strengthening culture, and using technology to improve patient-centered outcomes, and moderated by Terri Couts.
Leadership at the Edge of Change
- Carol Burrell (Northeast Georgia Health): Made the bold choice to transition to Epic despite risks and costs, proving that clarity, conviction, and values drive sustainable success.
- Dr. Rasu Shrestha (Advocate Health): Emphasized that leadership is not about providing certainty—it’s about providing clarity amid uncertainty. Advocate Health grew from $6B to $36B by focusing on scale, impact, and mission.
- Ryan Simpson (Methodist Health): Encouraged helping teams become comfortable with being uncomfortable and learning from past challenges to build confidence.
Building Resilient Cultures
Culture is the foundation of organizational resilience. They tied strength and adaptability to their mission and values.Advocate’s “Rise and Reshape” pandemic strategy turned crisis into opportunity, launching one of the nation’s largest Hospital-at-Home programs and proving that values-driven leadership fuels transformation.
Innovation with Purpose
Innovation must improve care, not just add tools.
- Leaders stressed the need to operationalize technology, not just implement it.
- Patient and Family Advisory Councils ensure digital initiatives enhance real-world experiences.
- The shift from “bricks and mortar” to “clicks and mortar” reflects connected care using AI, sensors, and virtual tools.
Lessons and Future Outlook
- Front line feedback is essential to real improvement.
- Strategy fails without cultural readiness.
- Generative AI and robotics will redefine clinical care, ignoring them risks being left behind.
- Balance innovation with operational stability and human-centered design.
Defining Success
- Ryan: Success is delivering the care you’d want for your own family.
- Rasu: Success means improving community health and equity.
- Carol: Success is leaving an organization stronger, mission-aligned, and sustainable.
Closing Messages
- Healthcare leadership isn’t about disruption, it’s about turning disruption into momentum.
- Resilience is a discipline. Innovation is a mindset.
- Digital transformation isn’t about technology, it’s about people and outcomes.