As we wrap up 2023, Healthcare Brew checked in with a handful of experts from across the industry to see what they’ve planned for the new year.
Six leaders—including CEOs of major health systems—shared with us what they consider their biggest achievements of 2023 and their resolutions for the new year.
“There is no work more worth doing than promoting individual and community health. It’s our obligation and responsibility,” Michael Dowling, president and CEO of New York-based Northwell Health, told Healthcare Brew. “In 2024, we must be at our best and succeed in a world of continuous change.”
Biggest accomplishments of 2023
Dowling said Northwell’s top achievement of 2023 was its “continuous reach to educate” about gun violence.
“We now have more than 50 of the leading CEOs in healthcare committed to working together to promote awareness and safety,” Dowling said.
Prathibha Varkey, president of the Mayo Clinic Health System in Minnesota, said her team’s biggest accomplishments this year included “enhancing Mayo Clinic care and excellence close to home through seamless integration of digital health and in-person visits.”
Somi Javaid, founder and lead chief medical officer of women’s healthcare provider HerMD, said her biggest accomplishment was closing an “oversubscribed round” of funding and opening two new women’s health centers in Indiana and New Jersey.
Emily Gallo, SVP and general manager of OptiFreight Logistics at medical supplier Cardinal Health, said her biggest accomplishment was serving “17 of the top 25 healthcare supply chains.”
Ramita Tandon, chief clinical trials officer at Walgreens, cited her team’s work in expanding access to clinical trials. “Historically, only 5% of the US population participates in clinical trials, and this year, our team helped bridge that gap to bring hope and better health outcomes to under-resourced communities,” Tandon said.
Adriana Krasniansky, head of research at digital health strategy group and venture fund Rock Health’s advisory arm, said she’s particularly proud of the research her team completed on Medicaid and pediatric digital health.
“This was the first time Rock Health has publicly shared investment data related to either of these important communities, and giving them visibility in our dataset is a critical step in motivating market innovation,” she said.
Resolutions for the new year
Dowling’s New Year’s resolution is to stay healthy so he can continue his work with Northwell and “strive to make a difference,” he said.
Both Varkey and Javaid echoed a similar sentiment. Varkey said her resolution is to prioritize her well-being, and Javaid said her goal is to “show up healthy and balanced” for her family and her teams.
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Gallo’s resolution is to advance Cardinal’s work around diversity, equity, and inclusion, building on her experience as cochair of Proud, Cardinal’s employee resource group for LGBTQ+ workers and allies.
Tandon wants to continue her “to drive inclusivity and accessibility” for Walgreens customers and “ensure clinical trials are offered to everyone,” she said.
Krasniansky wants to spend more time exploring primary datasets.
“Making time for primary research helps me think critically about how data perception drives industry dynamics and spurs new Rock Health project ideas,” she said.
Looking to 2024
In 2024, Dowling looks forward to US political leaders focusing on “substantive issues to improve the circumstances of all Americans.” “Instead of being purveyors of grievance and negativity, they should unite, promote a sense of unity, and build trust,” he said. “In other words, stop behaving badly—demonstrate what real leadership should be all about.”
Varkey is looking forward to “listening more deeply to our staff and investing further in growing and empowering our leaders and staff while continuing to focus on a relentless pursuit of organizational excellence.”
Javaid said HerMD plans to open more women’s health centers and an e-commerce shop where patients can buy curated healthcare products.
Gallo is excited about “a new and even more exciting chapter of innovation in 2024.”
“I’m energized that data-driven insights will be the foundation on which we—and the entire industry—build on,” she said.
Tandon said that 2024 “will be an exciting year” for Walgreens, as her team plans to open more clinical trial centers to focus on disease areas including early cancer detection, women’s health, and obesity.
“This will reinforce the powerful role community health workers like pharmacists and our physical footprint play in community-centered research, as we are offering more people access to these novel therapies than ever before,” Tandon said.
Krasniansky said she’s most looking forward to diving into Rock Health’s 2023 Consumer Adoption survey, which provides insight into how consumers are using digital health.
“I think we’re moving beyond the Covid-era storyline of ‘telemedicine for the masses’ and are now pushing into really interesting territory exploring Americans’ adoption of wearable/home devices, attitudes toward health data management, and the roles of digital in supporting different chronic conditions,” she said.
Shannon Young contributed to this report.