Contributor: Katherine Clark, MD'15, WG’15

Our board has jumped right into action with our virtual summer meet-and-greet to kick-off our programming and initiatives. There was record registration for record registration for September’s Career Development webinar, “The Land of Oz: Behind the Hiring Curtain in Healthcare and Life Sciences.” And we’re now planning our reception at the JPM conference in January and gatherings at upcoming industry conferences, as well as co-hosting local events with other MBA alumni programs. As always, please feel free to reach out to volunteer and join us. Read more.

This eclectic standing column features insightful musings, words of wisdom, life lessons, and stepping-stones to business success. This month's philosopher is Charlie Robinson, WG'15, the head of community health and safety net initiatives at L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest publicly operated health plan in the nation, serving more than 2.7 million individuals in Los Angeles County. Read more.

Contributor: Jessica Homann

As the leadership paradigm has shifted from profit-centric to people-centric, successful healthcare organizations have realized that profits naturally follow when people feel supported and valued. Happy, engaged employees are more productive, loyal, and achieve better results. By being in tune with the team, leaders can be more empathetic and compassionate, allowing them to provide real-time solutions to alleviate burnout and enhance experiences for both caregivers and patients. Read more.

Contributor: Vidya Murthy, WEMBA’42 

Hospitals have been in the headlines for nearly a decade for information security issues. While the baseline for information security knowledge has been steadily rising for all stakeholders, the price tag has followed suit, now averaging nearly $11M per breach.

Government expectations have been changing and forcing healthcare to update de facto processes. This means business models must be updated to account for new risks, and teams staffed to meet growing demand.

While each of these facets in isolation requires dedicated efforts, healthcare is uniquely impacted in a couple unique ways that should be highlighted. Read more.

Contributors: Jennifer L. Tomasik, SM, FACHE and Chris Hugill, MBA

In the previous two installments in this series (Part 1 and Part 2), we shared insights about the strategic and organizational implications of leadership transition within healthcare. This third installment focuses on how leadership transitions can advance an organization’s culture. Read more. 

Contributors: Wren Keber and Lisa Soroka

As providers engage or re-engage with their payer partners, there are a range of value-based arrangement opportunities to explore. Many of these models are built on the same structural foundation as in the pre-pandemic era, but there are certain styles that are becoming more common. Read more. 

Contributor: Linda Roszak Burton, ACC, BBC, BS and Betsy Chapin Taylor, FAHP

This is the first in a series of articles offering a continuum for supporting physician well-being, improving patient relationships through shared core values of trust, respect, and commitment, and resulting in satisfaction, loyalty, and continuity of care. The catalyst along this continuum is the transformational, evidence-based power of gratitude and the associated psychology and neuroscience evidence-based practices. Read more. 

Contributor: Anne-Maree Cantwell, MD, MA'86, WG'86

In recent years the healthcare industry has seen a rise in physician burnout, which has become a growing concern. Physicians are particularly vulnerable to burnout due to long hours, excessive paperwork, and the pressure of providing high-quality patient care. Now with the advent of ChatGPT and Generative AI, some of the physicians’ daily tasks can be performed by technology, potentially freeing up more time for the doctor to spend with patients and thereby reduce feelings of burnout. Read more. 

Contributor: Mateo Guerrero, WG'24

This past spring semester a team of six Wharton MBA students joined Akoma Health for a 3-month engagement that culminated with an on-site client visit to Lagos, Nigeria. Lilly Guo (WG’24), Hannah Zhang (WG’24), Kaja Grzywaczewska (WG’24), Bernadette Ikhena (WG’24), Josh Wong (WG’24), and Mateo Guerrero (WG’24) joined the Global Health Volunteer’s team to provide guidance and recommendations on Akoma’s self-therapy solutions. Read more.

Step into the mindset of a diverse set of 40 healthcare leaders and Wharton alumni. Gain insight and career inspiration from successful people including a doctor, CFO, partner, senior Vice President, healthcare policy advisor, CFO, partner, scientist, marketing professor and administrator. They shared their thoughts with The Wharton Healthcare Quarterly over the last 10 years. The healthcare industry has changed dramatically, but there’s a common thread in their remarkable success. Purchase here.

In an increasingly complex world where leaders are in short supply, people of all personality types are needed to lead. This is a book by a quiet leader for current and aspiring quiet leaders, building on the experiences of experienced quiet leaders who have also road-tested different ways to be effective without being the loudest person in the room. Learn more. 

This book is about a 14-year-old high-functioning autistic teenage boy whose world is comprised of his mom, his favorite Soho Glob cookies, a Ninja named Naruto, baseball stats, and chess. Alfred has difficulty making friends until his mom decides it's time to change things up and hires Coach.

Readers tell me this book is for everyone in reminding us of some “social basics.” For me, it is about possibilities and positivity; doing a personal inventory of where we need to strengthen ourselves, and being the best coach we can be for those we love. Learn more. 

Navigating the healthcare system in the United States can be one of the most difficult and complicated journeys you can take. It can be confusing and daunting for the savviest individual, even for those with a medical background. A doctor and a patient team bring you lessons, insights, and tips to help you get the care you need and deserve. Learn more.