Advancing Health

American Hospital Association

Advancing Health is the American Hospital Association’s award-winning podcast series. Featuring conversations with hospital and health system leaders and front-line staff, Advancing Health shines a light on the most pressing health care issues impacting patients, caregivers and communities.

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20 episodes
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Episodes20

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Today · 14 min
The "Phygital Ecosystem" Behind Better Patient Care
What does it take to create a truly connected patient experience? In this conversation, Jennifer Bollinger, chief consumer and brand officer at Sutter Health, discusses how a "phygital ecosystem" approach creates a seamless experience between virtual and in-person care. Learn how Sutter Health is eliminating friction, improving patient engagement, and using technology to make healthcare more connected without losing the human touch.
Wednesday · 16 min
In 20 Years: The Future of Healthcare
What will healthcare look like in 20 years? In this conversation, Jackie Gerhart, M.D., chief medical officer at Epic, Thomas McGinn, M.D., chief physician executive officer at CommonSpirit Health, and Zia Agha, M.D., chief medical officer at West Health, discuss the rapid pace of healthcare's evolution, and what that means for physicians, patients and health systems. From continuous care and workforce challenges to stronger patient relationships and emerging technologies, this conversation examines the changes shaping the next generation of healthcare and beyond.
August 3 · 19 min
Crime Victim Compensation: A Critical Hospital Resource
After a mass violence incident, recovery extends far beyond emergency care. In this conversation, Anne Seymour of the National Mass Violence Center, and Michael Schmidt, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina, explain how crime victim compensation programs can help survivors of mass violence cover medical bills, mental health care, transportation and other recovery costs. Learn what every hospital leader should know about these resources, and how they can make them easier to access for survivors.
July 29 · 15 min
How Boards Should Engage in AI Decision-Making
Artificial intelligence is reshaping healthcare, and hospital boards can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines. In this conversation, Ajay Gupta, board vice chair for Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, explains how trustees can confidently guide AI adoption while protecting patients and supporting innovation. Learn the key questions every trustee should be asking as AI becomes a critical part of healthcare's future.
July 27 · 9 min
How APPs Can Ease the Healthcare Workforce Crisis
Hospitals and health systems can't meet growing patient demand without fully leveraging advanced practice providers (APPs). In this conversation, Leslie Clayton, program director for Program director for Advanced Practice at M Health Fairview, and chair of the AHA's APP Leadership Advisory Group, explains why investing in APP leadership is now essential to addressing workforce shortages, expanding access to care, and preparing organizations for what is ahead.
July 22 · 12 min
AI in Healthcare: Hidden Cybersecurity Risks
As healthcare rapidly adopts artificial intelligence, protecting the data behind it has never been more important. In this conversation, John Riggi, the AHA’s national advisor for cybersecurity and risk, and Edward You, former FBI Supervisory Special Agent and founder of EHY Consulting, discuss why healthcare organizations must look beyond AI tools and focus on protecting the data, governance and supply chains that power them. Edward also shares why health data has become one of the world's most valuable assets, how foreign threats could reshape healthcare innovation, and what leaders should do now to build a secure AI strategy.
July 20 · 18 min
Giving Families and Kids an upSTART for Better Health
The earliest years of life shape a child's health, development and future. In this conversation, Nancy Correa, DrPH, director of population health at Texas Children's Hospital, and Beth Van Horne, DrPH, director of research for the Division of Public Health Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, discuss the upSTART program, a comprehensive initiative that combines homegrown innovation with evidence-based care. They share how the program evolved from identifying developmental delays in children to creating multiple integrated programs that support pregnancy, postpartum mental health, early literacy, language development, positive parenting, and connections to community resources.
July 15 · 19 min
Bridge to Care: Better Care Transitions for Opioid Use
Improving care transitions is one of the most effective ways health systems can improve outcomes for patients with substance use disorders. In this conversation, the team from the University Medical Center New Orleans - LSU School of Medicine's Benjamin Springgate, M.D., professor of Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine, and Seth Vignes, M.D., assistant professor of Internal Medicine, share how integrated care models, addiction consult services and peer navigators are improving care transitions and increasing access to evidence-based treatment. This work was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $910,000 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
July 13 · 15 min
Bridge to Care: Strengthening Opioid Recovery
The most important part of recovery may begin before a patient ever leaves the hospital. In this conversation, Heidi Bray, DNP, nurse practitioner and hospitalist at Providence St. Peter Hospital, explores how hospitals can improve opioid use disorder treatment through stronger discharge planning, medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and better connections to community care. She also highlights the challenges rural patients face and the innovative work of the Bridge to Care Collaborative to ensure recovery continues beyond the hospital walls. This work was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $910,000 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
July 8 · 19 min
From Hospital to Home: The Power of Connected Care
Healthcare doesn't end when patients leave the hospital — and neither should the support they receive. In this conversation, Ryane Jackson, vice president of Community Health Network at Memorial Hermann Health System, explains how the system is creating seamless connections between clinical care and community resources to improve long-term health outcomes. Learn how these solutions are helping patients overcome barriers like food insecurity, housing instability and chronic disease.
July 6 · 16 min
Why Early Literacy Screenings Belong in Pediatric Care
What if a routine pediatric checkup could help shape a child's success in school — and throughout life? In this conversation, Nationwide Children's Hospital's Sara Bode, M.D., pediatrician and medical director of School Health Services, and Carneshia Edwards, lead of the Kindergarten Readiness program, share how pediatric providers are using literacy screenings during routine well-child visits to identify developmental needs early, connect families with resources, and improve long-term outcomes. From the exam room to the classroom, discover how early literacy is transforming children's health and future success.
July 1 · 19 min
Rural Health Transformation Fund: One Year Later
One year into the Rural Health Transformation Fund, what's working and what's next? In this conversation, Maya Sandalow, associate director of the Health Program at the Bipartisan Policy Center, shares how states are investing in rural hospitals, telehealth and workforce development, to improve care across rural America. Learn where funding is making the biggest impact — and where challenges remain. To view the Bipartisan Policy Center's webinar on the Rural Health Transformation Fund, please visit https://bipartisanpolicy.org/event/rural-health-transformation-insights-from-states/
June 29 · 17 min
More Than Medicine: Community Care for Advancing Health
Care teams know that lasting health begins outside the exam room. In this Leadership Dialogue conversation, Marc Boom, M.D., president and CEO of Houston Methodist and the 2026 AHA board chair, speaks with Donna Lynne, CEO of Denver Health, to discuss how a large safety-net health system is improving health outcomes by addressing housing insecurity, food access, behavioral health and other social drivers of health. Learn how Denver Health's innovative programs are reducing hospital stays, strengthening community partnerships, and demonstrating that investing beyond the walls of the hospital can improve patient outcomes and the financial sustainability of care.
June 24 · 17 min
The Next Outbreak: Hantavirus, Ebola, and Hospital Readiness
A rare hantavirus outbreak aboard an international cruise ship became a real-world test of America's infectious disease preparedness infrastructure. In this conversation, Angela Hewlett, M.D., professor of infectious diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and medical director of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, explains how her team helped monitor and care for Americans exposed to the Andes hantavirus strain, the only known hantavirus capable of person-to-person transmission. Dr. Hewlett discusses the critical role of the National Quarantine Unit, the nation's preparedness for emerging infectious diseases, lessons from Ebola response efforts, and what hospitals of every size can do to strengthen outbreak readiness.
June 22 · 20 min
A Rural Solution to the Geriatric Mental Health Crisis
One of the biggest healthcare challenges of the next decade may already be here: caring for the mental health needs of older adults. In this conversation, leaders from Cottage Hospital and Sharon Hospital (part of Northwell Health) share how specialized geriatric behavioral health programs are helping older adults receive compassionate, comprehensive mental health care close to home. Learn why investing in senior behavioral health is becoming increasingly important for hospitals, caregivers and communities alike.
June 17 · 17 min
How a Father-Daughter Team Is Strengthening Rural Maternity Care
Some fathers pass down a family business. One doctor passed down a calling. In this conversation, Southwest Health's Kevin Carr, M.D., family medicine physician, and Melissa Carr, M.D., OB/GYN, reflect on the joy of practicing medicine together, delivering babies side by side, and caring for generations of families in rural Wisconsin as a father-daughter duo. Their story offers a powerful look at the importance of rural maternal health care and the deep connections that make community-based care so special.
June 15 · 15 min
NYU Langone's Recipe for Better Hospital Food
Some of New York City's most impressive meals aren't being served in restaurants — they're being served in hospitals. In this conversation, Dan Dilworth, senior director of food and nutrition services at NYU Langone Health, discusses how the organization built one of the most ambitious hospital food programs in the country, serving 9,000 meals a day while prioritizing nutrition, sustainability and patient choice.
June 10 · 15 min
When Healthcare and Housing Work Together, Lives Change
What if a hospital stay could be the first step out of homelessness? In this conversation, Sarah Stella, M.D., director of Denver Health's Housing Outreach, Partnerships and Engagement (HOPE) program, reveals how Denver Health is helping some of the community's most vulnerable patients move from crisis to stability. Bringing together hospitals, housing providers, social services and community partners, the HOPE program is creating real pathways to recovery and restoring hope for people experiencing homelessness.
June 8 · 15 min
Feeding Health: The Fight Against Childhood Food Insecurity
Food insecurity affects far more than hunger. It influences physical health, mental well-being, academic performance, and long-term outcomes for children and families. In this episode, Stormee Williams, M.D., senior vice president and chief health equity officer at Children's Health, shares how her team is identifying food insecurity, why access to healthy food matters just as much as access to food itself, and how partnerships with schools and food banks are helping create healthier futures for children across North Texas.
June 3 · 11 min
Real Solutions to Workplace Violence
What does it take to make hospitals safer for healthcare workers? In recognition of #HAVHope Day, Sarah Hunter, president of Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, explores the innovative approaches her team is using to reduce workplace violence. From a simple but effective buddy system to stronger partnerships with public safety agencies and community leaders, hear real-world solutions that help healthcare workers focus on what they do best — caring for patients.