Welcome to Strategy of Health by the American Journal of Healthcare Strategy! In this episode, host Cole Lyons sits down with Dr. Matthew Montoya—professor of Systems Engineering at Johns Hopkins and veteran systems thinker—to discuss:-What “systems engineering” really means in healthcare-Dr. Montoya’s career path: from math and engineering to health systems and executive leadership at Johns Hopkins-How systems thinking brings clarity to organizational chaos—and why that matters for patient outcomes-Real-world examples: orchestrating complex projects at scale (like defense, national security, and multi-stakeholder healthcare efforts)-Where AI fits (and doesn’t fit) in system-based problem solving-How healthcare professionals and executives can “get started” with systems engineering or infuse systems thinking into their organizations-Plus: book recommendations like The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge, and practical tips on education and training for healthcare leaders seeking to implement systems approaches.About Dr. Matthew Montoya:Dr. Montoya serves as professor and mentor at Johns Hopkins University’s Systems Engineering and Healthcare Systems Engineering programs, with over 35 years at Johns Hopkins and national recognition as an outstanding instructor and principal chief engineer. His work applies engineering, systems science, and business acumen to tackle complex problems across industries—from healthcare delivery to national security.0:00 – Introduction1:24 – Dr. Montoya’s career, background, and role at Johns Hopkins5:32 – Why systems engineering?9:50 – Clarifying chaos: applying systems thinking in practice15:10 – Case study: large-scale defense health project19:00 – Project management vs. systems engineering in healthcare22:45 – Building “pilot” efforts and measuring outcomes28:00 – The impact of AI tools in systems engineering35:40 – Practical advice for healthcare organizations40:55 – Getting started: mindset, books, and educational resources44:00 – Closing thoughts
