Advancing Health

What should every hospital board member know about quality and patient safety? In this conversation, Elizabeth Mort, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer at Joint Commission, breaks down the five critical priorities boards must focus on — from quality metrics and risk transparency, to accreditation readiness and patient safety culture. Discover how stronger board leadership can help hospitals build safer systems, improve outcomes and stay ready for the challenges ahead.

What happens after a survivor of violence leaves the hospital? For many patients, the physical wounds are only the beginning. In this conversation, Elinore Kaufman, M.D., medical director of the Penn Trauma Violence Recovery Program, and Michele Volpe, chief operating officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, share how hospital-based violence intervention programs are helping patients heal physically, emotionally and socially after traumatic injury. From preventing PTSD and depression to reducing repeat violent injuries, this innovative approach is connecting survivors and investing in whole-person trauma care throughout Pennsylvania's communities.

For families living in poverty, accessing health care can feel out of reach — buried beneath challenges like transportation, childcare and job insecurity. In this conversation, Alejandro Quiroga, M.D., president and CEO of Children's Mercy Kansas City, and Mary Esselman, president and CEO of Operation Breakthrough, explore how one innovative partnership in Kansas City is changing that reality by bringing true whole-person care directly to the children and families who need it most.

For millions facing substance use disorders, stigma isn’t just harmful — it’s a barrier to survival. In this conversation, three leaders from CommonSpirit Health explore how the organization is confronting stigma head-on through education, storytelling and culture change. They also reveal how shifting language, training and grassroots efforts are helping patients feel seen and heard on their road to recovery.

Menopause affects half the population — yet it remains one of the most overlooked areas in modern health care. In this conversation, University of Illinois Chicago's Pauline Maki, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry, psychology, and obstetrics and gynecology, and Makeba Williams, M.D., professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, unpack why menopause care is finally having a breakthrough moment. They explore the real impact of menopause on the brain and body, the gaps in medical training, and what it will take to deliver better care. With women spending over 40% of their lives in post-menopause, the future of health care depends on getting this right.