Inspired by insights within their book, From Competition to Collaboration: How Leaders Cultivate Partnerships to Drive Value and Transform Health, by Bob Sachs and Tracy Duberman, we explore what it takes to lead with clarity, resilience, and a spirit of partnership in today’s complex healthcare landscape.
Healthcare today stands at a critical crossroads. The pressures are mounting—rising costs, workforce strain, widening health disparities, political uncertainty, and a public that’s losing trust. These aren't isolated issues. They're systemic signals calling leaders to rise—not just within their own organizations, but across the health ecosystem as a whole.
To meet this moment, leaders must shift from operating in silos to co-creating sustainable, people-centered solutions that address health at scale. But how?
The path forward is not simple. It’s complex, interdependent, and urgent. Below are five critical requirements for driving change—paired with real-world steps leaders can take to turn chaos into coordinated progress.
1. Align Around Shared Health Goals
The health ecosystem has long been fragmented—providers, payers, pharma, tech, and policymakers working in parallel, not partnership. But systemic transformation demands that we align around shared outcomes: health, affordability, equity, and access.
“The role of a leader is to ensure vying parties coalesce around common values, programs, and missions to drive progress and improve health outcomes.” — Michael Dowling, President & CEO, Northwell Health
What leaders can do:
• Convene multi-sector collaborations focused on regional health improvement.
• Redesign incentives through value-based care and long-term contracts that prioritize prevention.
• Elevate shared metrics across sectors to hold each other accountable for results.
2. Build Interoperability and Radical Transparency
In a system fueled by data, the inability to share it—cleanly, securely, and in real time—is a major barrier to progress. Transparency around quality, cost, and outcomes builds trust, improves decision-making, and empowers patients.
What leaders can do:
• Adopt open data standards across IT systems.
• Create shared data dashboards with community partners.
• Embrace transparency as a lever for equity, not just compliance.
3. Invest in Next-Generation Leadership
Today’s problems can’t be solved with yesterday’s playbook. Leaders now must think systemically, act adaptively, collaborate across boundaries, and center equity in every decision.
“The CDC alone cannot fulfill our mission of protecting health and improving lives. This has to be a team effort.” — Dr. Mandy Cohen, Former Director, CDC
What leaders can do:
• Redesign leadership development programs to build adaptive, equity-focused competencies.
• Create interprofessional learning labs that span silos.
• Mentor and elevate diverse leaders who bring new perspectives and lived experience to the table.
4. Advocate for a Stable Policy and Investment Environment
Healthcare innovation thrives on clarity and confidence. Yet shifting regulations, funding uncertainty, and political gridlock can undermine even the most promising efforts.
What leaders can do:
• Partner with policymakers to advocate for sustainable, evidence-based regulations.
• Co-invest in long-term strategies (e.g., behavioral health, rural health, AI-enabled care) that meet community needs.
• Lead with a long view—balancing quarterly results with generational impact.
5. Engage Locally, Act Boldly
Health doesn’t happen in hospitals. It happens in neighborhoods, homes, schools, and communities—especially those historically underserved. National change starts with deep, local trust.
“When we get that right, we don’t just improve healthcare – we create lasting value for patients, healthcare systems, and the wider economy.”— Dr. Thomas Schinecker, CEO, Roche Group
What leaders can do:
• Partner with community-based organizations as equal co-creators, not just grantees.
• Invest in community health workers and peer navigators.
• Listen with humility, lead with trust, and share power authentically.
Leading Through the Chaos
To lead in this era is to embrace paradox: To move fast while building trust. To drive efficiency while honoring equity. To lead boldly while listening deeply.
This is not a solo endeavor. It’s a collective challenge—and a moral imperative.
Healthcare leaders who rise to meet it will not only improve care. They will help restore faith in our systems, rebuild community well-being, and reimagine what’s possible when we act as one.
The chaos is real. But so is the opportunity.