Building a Culture of Innovation in Healthcare with Sandra Powell-Elliott

Sandra Powell-Elliott, Chief Innovation and Commercialization Officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, joins David Wright to discuss the intersection of innovation, AI, and commercialization in healthcare. With a background spanning administration, business strategy, and technology adoption, she shares insights on how health systems can embrace automation, foster an innovation-driven culture, and transform care delivery. Key Takeaways: (03:33) Diving into a problem makes finding solutions easier. (06:32) Connecting over key problems can help break down silos. (10:32) Importance of distinctions between managing and leading. (13:14) Cutting costs alone won’t drive success — growth and innovation are key. (16:42) AI should be leveraged as an assistive tool, not just a buzzword. (20:09) Learning to say “no” is a crucial skill in leadership and innovation. (27:55) Driving transformation by pulling together research and innovation. (30:42) Creating an innovative culture starts with engaging all employees as problem solvers. (36:44) Nurses’ workarounds often reveal scalable innovations that can improve efficiency. (39:03) Healthcare’s future lies in personalized, in-home diagnostics and treatment. (40:55) Business models must evolve for health systems to sustain preventive care. Resources Mentioned: Sandra Powell-Elliott - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-powell-elliott-999a609/ Hackensack Meridian Health | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/hackensackmeridianhealth/ Hackensack Meridian Health | Website - https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/ “The Heat Will Kill You First” by Jeff Goodell - https://www.amazon.com/Heat-Will-Kill-You-First/dp/0316497576 “Freedom” by Sebastian Junger - https://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Sebastian-Junger/dp/1982153415 Thanks for listening to the “Disruptive Innovators” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the Champions of Digital Business. #DisruptiveInnovation #Innovation #DisruptiveTech #DigitalBusiness