I recently had the opportunity to present at the American Hospital Association’s 2026 Leadership Summit. The theme of this year’s gathering was (Re)Designing Care Delivery and Operating Models for the Future. The event brought together hundreds of healthcare executives to explore innovative solutions for value-based care, capacity management, and a sustainable workforce. The theme of “(Re)Designing Care Delivery” reminded me of our approach over the past few years of “Rewiring”…not just change for change’s sake, but thoughtful…

Recently my grandchildren, whom I call the “littles,” taught me an important leadership lesson. We were walking along a beach without any beach toys, shovels, or fishing gear. They really wanted to go fishing, and my response was, “We can’t; we don’t have any bait or fishing poles.” The littles heard a design problem: If we can’t get to the fish, we will bring the fish to us! Immediately they decided to build a reservoir.…

When we feel anxiety or fear, our brains trigger a response that has been proven by science, a conscious or unconscious choice of fight or flight. We all have a default, and we owe it to ourselves to know our default. I know mine; it is fight. I tend to run toward a challenge rather than run from it. If you are a healthcare executive, you likely have the same default. Flight, or retreat, is…