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January 9, 2025: Duc Lai, CISO and VP of the University of Maryland Medical System, shares a compelling journey from war refugee to military academy graduate, and ultimately, to a leading cybersecurity professional. How do military leadership lessons shape the approach to defending against evolving threats like ransomware? What happens when the human element—rushed healthcare providers and vast networks—becomes the primary vulnerability? Duc discusses the balance between enabling efficiency and ensuring security, quantum computing, and third-party risks in this impactful episode. Key Points:02:32 Military Experience and Leadership Lessons10:54 Challenges in Healthcare Cybersecurity14:17 Balancing Technology and Human Factors19:04 Future Threats and Innovations27:09 Advice for Aspiring Cybersecurity ProfessionalsSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

January 7: Today on the Conference Channel, Erica Williams, Regional Technology Officer - Texas at Ascension speaks with Chani Cordero, Chief Information Officer at Brooke Army Medical Center.  The conversation delves into Chani's career journey from joining the military to becoming a CIO in Texas. Chani shares the story of facing a significant career setback and how it led her to explore new opportunities and eventually thrive. She discusses the importance of mentorship, building resilience, and learning to navigate workplace dynamics. The episode highlights key insights on turning challenges into growth opportunities and the importance of fostering the next generation of leaders. What can we learn from Chani's experience about overcoming adversity? How can healthcare leaders inspire and mentor upcoming talent?Subscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

January 2, 2025: Andrew Rosenberg, CIO of Michigan Medicine, explores the intricate interplay between technology, innovation, and healthcare consolidation. How do massive health systems approach merging operations while preserving unique local practices? What does the future hold for CIOs as digital transformation reshapes their roles? Andrew reflects on the challenges of transitioning to the cloud at scale, balancing business continuity with modernization, and the evolving role of AI and digital platforms. Key Points:03:21 Healthcare Consolidation Trends09:04 The Evolving Role of the CIO17:07 Cloud Migration and Strategy27:43 Business Continuity in the Cloud Era34:36 Closing Thoughts and Future InsightsTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

December 30, 2024: Bill Russell, Drex DeFord, and Sarah Richardson join Meghan Trevorrow to discuss what defines culture in health IT teams, and how leadership shapes its evolution. What role does character play in shaping team performance, and how can leaders cultivate resilience, trust, and transparency within hybrid workforces? Through personal stories of turnarounds, tough decisions, and building high-performing teams, our guests share insights on navigating conflict, embracing generational differences, and maintaining alignment with organizational goals. Can culture withstand change, or does every new addition reshape it?Key Points:01:42 Challenges in Merging Cultures12:17 Fostering Collaboration and Trust18:07 Engaging with Clinical Staff27:36 Embracing Conflict in IT Culture35:09 Balancing Lifestyle and Work in IT38:20 Dealing with High Performers and Culture Killers43:12 Lessons from SportsSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

December 17: Today on TownHall, Bill speaks with Jim Matney, President and Chief Executive Officer at Colquitt Regional Medical Center. Jim shares the organization's journey from struggling to attract physicians to developing successful residency programs and expanding facilities in rural Georgia. The discussion highlights Colquitt's use of MEDITECH’s Expanse EHR platform to enhance patient care, increase efficiency, and support comprehensive healthcare services, contributing to 19 consecutive A’s in the Leapfrog Group Hospital Safety survey.Jim also emphasizes the importance of economic principles in healthcare management, the role of customized dashboards in tracking key metrics, and innovative approaches to health equity and patient safety in the region. How can rural healthcare systems thrive despite the challenges they face? What role does leadership play in transforming the quality and efficiency of care?See MEDITECH’s approach to Value and Sustainability.   Subscribe: This Week Health Twitter: This Week Health LinkedIn: Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

December 16, 2024: In 2024’s Final UnHack (the Podcast) Drex takes us through the year in a flash, highlighting everything from the Change Healthcare incident, Wizard Spider, and 23andMe data mishaps. Remember to stay a little paranoid, and we’ll see you in 2025.Key Points:01:24: January01:54: February 02:36: March03:12: April Fools04:04: April04:45: May05:07: June05:50: July06:26: August07:41: September08:36: October09:34: November11:24: DecemberSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

December 12, 2024: Myra Davis, CIIO at Texas Children’s Hospital, joins Bill to explore the crossroads of technology, innovation, and patient care. How does a healthcare giant like Texas Children’s leverage AI and advanced analytics to unlock the goldmine of data for better patient outcomes? What does it take to design a cutting-edge hospital that stays relevant in a rapidly evolving tech landscape? Myra shares a rare inside look at the methodology behind their innovation hub and the challenges of balancing standardization with forward-leaning technology.Key Points:02:11 Building a New Hospital07:32 Open Scheduling 19:37 Leadership and Team Building22:33 AI and Data Utilization in Healthcare28:02 Future of Technology in HealthcareSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

December 11, 2024: Adam McMullin, CEO of AvaSure, joins Bill to explore pressing questions: How are health systems reimagining infrastructure to enhance clinical workflows? Can virtual care platforms bring the joy back to nursing while addressing post-pandemic staffing challenges? As large language models, computer vision, and AI integrations redefine care environments, are health systems ready for the tipping point of automation?Key Points:01:31 Efficiency and Automation06:46 AvaSure's Platform and Integration14:18 Device in Every RoomSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

December 10: Today on TownHall, Sarah speaks with Ratana Kong DeLuca, Vice President of Professional Services at First Health Advisory about cybersecurity. Ratana shares her extensive experience in the industry, focusing on the necessity of cybersecurity for patient safety and operational efficiency. The conversation covers strategic elements of a strong cyber resilience strategy, navigating limited resources, the importance of external expert perspectives, and fostering diversity in cybersecurity roles. How do organizations stay creative in their cyber resilience strategies? What are the best practices for keeping up with emerging threats? They also address maintaining vigilance against emerging threats and the significance of mentoring and creative approaches in cybersecurity education. Ratana emphasizes the value of people in cybersecurity beyond technology and shares personal insights into her career journey, stressing the importance of making cybersecurity engaging and relevant in today's fast-paced information environment.Subscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

December 9, 2024: What does it take to transform fear into fulfillment and build a career that aligns with your passions? In this inspiring episode of Flourish, host Sarah Richardson sits down with Dawn Whitney, CEO of ElevateX Leadership Collective, to uncover the secrets behind leadership success. From creating a personal board of directors to mastering the “Choose Again” method, Dawn shares practical tools for overcoming self-doubt, building networks, and fostering meaningful professional and personal growth. Whether you’re an aspiring leader or a seasoned professional, this conversation has insights to propel you forward.Key Points:03:03 Dawn Whitney's Entrepreneurial Journey05:19 Overcoming Challenges and Building Confidence12:53 Networking and Personal Development29:20 Building a Supportive Personal Network31:37 Crafting Your Personal Statement38:53 The Choose Again Method and Final ThoughtsSubscribe: This Week HealthTwitter: This Week HealthLinkedIn: Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer