ACHE

Are you waiting for certainty (or worse, perfection) before you act? A powerful new book insists healthcare’s future belongs to those with the courage to think and lead differently. Dr. Cheryl Pegus, a physician, a health system executive, and an industry innovator, has sat in the room where the hardest calls get made. In "The Optimistic Leader’s Guide to Healthcare: Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity," she shares what she’s learned… and calls on healthcare leaders to change how we think about our profession and our role in it. Readers will learn how to: 🔹 Build agile, data-driven organizations that center people 🔹 Protect the “franchise”: your own energy, purpose, and well-being. (This isn’t selfish, it’s strategic!) 🔹 Become aggressive lifelong learners who understand today’s business realities The guide arms leaders across the healthcare continuum with actionable strategies to reframe uncertainty as a catalyst for meaningful progress. 📱 If you lead in healthcare (or aspire to), secure your copy today! Available in eBook and print pre-order. 👉 Learn more and order via the link in our bio!

✨ Congratulations to the ACHE 2026–2027 Administrative Fellow and Summer Enrichment Program interns. We're thrilled to introduce: 2026-2027 Stuart A. Wesbury Jr. Administrative Fellow: 🔹 Neeharika Balaji 2026 Summer Enrichment Program Interns: 🔹 Kyanna Montoya 🔹 Diana Rios ACHE extends its gratitude to these emerging leaders for their commitment to healthcare excellence, and we look forward to working with each of you. Welcome to team ACHE!

⚕️ As the U.S. health system has grown, its dependence on private investments by individuals, retirement funds, family offices and corporate asset managers has increased. Today, private equity funds own: 🔹 9% of U.S. hospitals 🔹 23% of all privately owned hospitals 🔹 7% of medical practices 🔹 11% of nursing homes 🔹 6% of home care services. Private equity investing in healthcare services will remain strong in 2026, according to the global consulting firms Bain & Company and McKinsey, for three reasons. Investors believe: 1) The advantages of scale and efficiency are recognized and will continue 2) Healthcare services demand will remain strong 3) Management by experienced private equity fund general partners is valued. To some in healthcare services, private equity ownership of service providers is a threat. To others, it’s a stimulus for competing more strategically and effectively. Read the full article by Paul H. Keckley, PhD, in Healthcare Executive magazine, available to all ACHE members. Link in bio.

⭐ As healthcare evolves, so do leadership expectations. Listen to the full Healthcare Executive podcast with this year's Gold Medal Award recipient, Jack Lynch III, retired president/CEO of Main Line Health.

💡 Why Depression Screening, and Why Now? Depression remains one of the most common and costly conditions in U.S. healthcare, affecting more than 21 million adults and driving billions in annual costs, according to a 2021 article in the journal Pharmacoeconomics (“The Economic Burden of Adults with Major Depressive Disorder in the United States (2010 and 2018)).” Yet, despite its prevalence, screening has historically been inconsistent, especially outside of primary care. For Northwell, this gap became a priority during its 2023 population health redesign. Leadership recognized that behavioral health needed to be treated as a core quality domain, not an ancillary service. Northwell Health, N.Y., embarked on that journey by integrating universal depression screening across more than 500 ambulatory sites. WHAT WAS THE RESULT? A sustainable, systemwide model that normalized mental health conversations and improved patient care. The full article by Ramsey Abdallah, DHA, FACHE, PMP, Christine Dolinski, and Alaine Rizzuto is available in the latest Healthcare Executive magazine or the link in our bio.

☑️ This was the experience for Jamil Kasmani, MD, FACHE. What was your journey to becoming a Fellow like? Share your experience in the comments. If you're considering pursuing your FACHE credential, now is the time to take the next step in your journey. Learn more in the link in our bio or visit ache.org/fache

✨ Join us for a conversation with Jack Lynch III, FACHE, retired president/CEO of Main Line Health. He discusses the importance of community, innovation, and resilience in healthcare leadership. The Healthcare Executive podcast is available wherever you get podcasts - link is in our bio!

💡 The U.S. healthcare field stands at a critical inflection point. Health systems of every size are witnessing the devastating effects of the healthcare “polycrisis”. A convergence of: ➡️ Commercial payer pressures ➡️ Inflation ➡️ Workforce challenges ➡️ Policy uncertainties Even amid these headwinds, leaders must find promise and optimism about healthcare’s future. The same forces creating disruption also present opportunities to build sustainable organizations, reimagine care delivery and strengthen the workforce—all with the ultimate goal of better serving the health and wellness of the communities that depend on us. By building resilient health systems, leaders can transform disruption into opportunity, ensuring healthcare infrastructure not only survives but also thrives. Read the full article by Erik Wexler, president/CEO of Providence St. Joseph Health, in the newest edition of Healthcare Executive magazine.

☑️ What was your journey like to become a Fellow? This was the experience for Dionne Blackwood, FACHE. Share your experience in the comments. If you're considering pursuing your FACHE credential, now is the time to take the next step in your journey. Learn more in the link in our bio or by visiting ache.org/fache.

📣 Coaching can easily be confused with mentoring, but the two are very different. The role of a mentor is often informal and regularly focuses on a career challenge or advice on a next step. Some mentoring relationships can be pivotal and have a lasting impact on one’s career. Coaches serve more as trained listeners and observers, nudging people to think through things in a structured way. They ask questions, probe and offer an environment to help others discover insights and solutions. Coaches can help leaders pause and look for pathways to solve problems and challenges in new ways. If you watched any of this year’s Winter Olympics, you saw performances and achievements by athletes from around the world that were nothing short of breathtaking. While each of those Olympians displayed immense dedication and courage to compete bravely on the world stage, they undoubtedly had something else as well: strong coaching that allowed them to reach further and be their best. It turns out the same is true for leadership. Coaching can release the power of purpose and courage to drive performance to new heights. That could be why many organizations across our field use coaching to drive success and guide potential. While some in the past may have used coaching as a remedial tactic, today many leaders see it as an essential strategic investment that strengthens individuals, teams and organizations as a whole. ✅ At a time of rapid change and unpredictability, marked by burnout and retention challenges among hospital leaders and front-line staff, adopting a culture of coaching may help organizations meet the moment. Coaching can support leaders navigate complexity, while at the same time building the skills needed to work effectively across disciplines, departments and systems, fostering adaptability, resilience and results. The ripple effect can help create stronger organizations that are better equipped to provide the safest, quality care for our patients and communities. Read the full article by Deborah J. Bowen, FACHE, CAE, in the newest edition of Healthcare Executive magazine! 🎉

We’re looking for bold thinkers and innovative leaders to help shape the conversation. The next Congress on Healthcare Leadership takes place March 22–24, 2027, at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and we’re planning an even more dynamic experience. We invite you to submit a proposal for a 1- or 1.5-hour session that challenges perspectives, sparks new ideas and delivers real-world impact. This is your opportunity to influence the future of healthcare leadership. If you’re ready to inspire, innovate and lead, we want to hear from you. Submit your proposal by Thursday, May 28, and be part of shaping what’s next in healthcare leadership. Learn more and submit via the link in our bio!

⬆️ Moving On Up! ⬆️ Congratulations to the ACHE members who were recently promoted, changed positions or retired—see the full list in the newest edition of Healthcare Executive magazine! 🎉 Check out the full list in the link in our bio.