Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Robert Brunswick, Chairman of the Board at Hoag Hospital and Co-Founder of Hoag Innovators
Nov 2, 2025
Robert Brunswick, the Chairman of the Board at Hoag Hospital and co-founder of Hoag Innovators, dives into transformative healthcare philanthropy. He discusses the unique venture philanthropy model that funds cutting-edge, physician-led innovations. Key topics include the Vectra 360 technology for detecting skin cancer, an AI fetal monitoring system reducing unnecessary cesareans, and efforts for early multiple sclerosis detection. Brunswick emphasizes member engagement and the importance of creating sustainable funding for ongoing innovations.
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Founding A New Philanthropic Model
- Robert Brunswick and his wife Kitty founded Hoag Innovators in 2017 to create a new philanthropic model focused on funding clinician innovations.
- They approached donations like investments and aimed to attract like-minded givers to fund physician-led projects.
Engaging Donors Through Investment-Style Pitches
- Hoag Innovators blends Shark Tank, TED Talk and private equity formats to vet physician pitches.
- This structure engages donors and treats grants as measurable investments rather than anonymous gifts.
Vectra 360 Transforms Skin Cancer Care
- Innovators funded Vectra 360 whole-body 3D imaging, using 92 cameras to image the body in under two seconds and improve skin cancer detection.
- The technology reduced unnecessary biopsies and helped attract new clinicians to Hoag.