Healthcare does not change through technology alone. It changes through leadership, policy decisions, and the ability to adapt complex systems over time.
In this episode, Tom Priselac brings the perspective of a healthcare executive who has led at the system level. From guiding Cedars-Sinai’s transformation into a major health system to shaping national conversations through the American Hospital Association, Tom offers a grounded view of what it takes to deliver high-quality care at scale. He reflects on the Affordable Care Act era, the pressures facing Medicaid, and the importance of aligning access, safety, and financial sustainability.
John Brownstein complements that view with a lens focused on innovation and public health. As Chief Innovation Officer at Boston Children’s Hospital and a professor at Harvard Medical School, John has spent his career translating data into action. He shares how epidemiology, entrepreneurship, and digital tools can strengthen healthcare delivery, improve preparedness, and expand access when used responsibly.
This conversation is about what it truly takes to move healthcare forward. Not quick fixes, but steady leadership, thoughtful innovation, and collaboration across institutions.
Key Topics Discussed:
- The Affordable Care Act’s long-term impact on coverage and costs
- Medicaid’s role in pediatric access and equity
- Why coverage alone does not guarantee access
- Hospitals as part of the public health infrastructure
- Erosion of public trust in science and institutions
- AI in disease surveillance, diagnosis, and clinical education
- Using technology to support clinicians and families responsibly
About Tom Priselac:
An advocate for improving quality and access in healthcare, Tom Priselac has developed strategic and operational innovations to foster high-quality, safe and efficient care for patients. Under his leadership, Cedars-Sinai has earned an international reputation for quality care, community service, research and education while evolving from a community hospital to a major health system that continues to expand to better serve patients.
Tom’s perspectives on healthcare delivery and policy are sought by a wide variety of groups. He is a past chair of the American Hospital Association Board of Trustees and a past chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges. He was chair of the American Hospital Association in 2009, during the development of Affordable Care Act. He also formerly chaired the California Hospital Association and the Hospital Association of Southern California.
Among his leadership roles in organizations working to strengthen the communities of Los Angeles, Tom is a member of the Board of Councilors of the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Civic Alliance, the Los Angeles Coalition for the Economy and Jobs, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.
He has received numerous awards for leadership in healthcare and his commitment to improving the health of the underserved, including the American Hospital Association’s Distinguished Service Award, the AAMC Distinguished Service Award, the Special Needs Network’s Distinguished Community Champion Corporate Leadership Award and the Charles R. Drew University Board of Trustees Medal of Honor.
Tom writes and speaks on a variety of policy issues related to the delivery and financing of healthcare, healthcare quality and safety, and the adoption and implementation of information technology. He is an adjunct professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, where he teaches principles of organizational leadership.
About John Brownstein:
John Brownstein is an epidemiologist and senior leader at Boston Children’s Hospital, currently serving as both Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer. He also holds a professorship at Harvard Medical School and is a Medical Contributor at ABC News.
In addition to his current roles, John has a background in entrepreneurship, having co-founded Circulation, Inc. (acquired by Modivcare) and Epidemico (acquired by Booz Allen Hamilton), and has served as a healthcare advisor to Uber.
