Methodology

Nominations for the awards were accepted between Dec. 4, 2023, and Feb. 12, 2024. To be eligible for nomination, individuals had to be at or above the director level at a provider organization or insurer. Researchers, public policy officials, and suppliers and vendors were also eligible for nomination.

Modern Healthcare's editorial staff reviewed and evaluated all nominees based on three criteria:

• Specific initiatives that have been launched to address a community health need, streamline consumer or patient access to services, improve an organization's safety metrics, or improve an organization's financial performance
• Specific steps taken to advance a culture of innovation in their organization or across the overall healthcare industry
• Descriptions of how a team or organization worked together to be innovative, whether a particular project was part of it, and any quantifiable clinical/financial results

Meet the honorees

According to Modern Healthcare, the most innovative organizations for 2024 are:

• AdventHealth – East Florida Division, which used technology, including a virtual nursing program, to improve nurse staffing
• Allegheny Health Network's Center for Inclusion Health, which uses evidence-based interventions to meet the healthcare needs of underserved or marginalized communities
• CalvertHealth Medical Center, which launched a pilot program with a triage center to reduce ED wait times, leading to an 89% reduction in patients who left the ED without being seen
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, which helped further pediatric medical advancements, including cell and gene treatments for cancer
• General Catalyst, which launched a health assurance network with 21 health systems and has invested in several digital health companies
• Hackensack Meridian Health, which established the Center for Discovery and Innovation and the HMH Research Institute
• MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, which created a pediatric ICU telehealth initiative and launched a remote monitoring system that halved the average fall rate per 1,000 patient days
• Mount Sinai Health System, which partnered with artificial intelligence (AI) company RenalytixAI to create an AI detection system that reduces preventable dialysis and chronic kidney disease expenses
• Oshi Health, which developed a virtual clinic model led by gastroenterologists and other clinicians to offer nutrition support, health coaching, prescription medication, and personalized care plans
• Tampa General Hospital, which partnered with GE HealthCare to advance AI and predictive analytics to improve care coordination, quality of care, patient safety, and more

The most innovative individuals for 2024 are:

• Feby Abraham, EVP and chief strategy and innovations officer at Memorial Hermann Health System
• Feyi Olopade Ayodele, co-founder and CEO of CancerIQ
• Nancy Beran, VP and chief quality officer for ambulatory at Northwell Health
• Jay Carlson, medical director of oncology service at Mercy and clinical chair of Mercy Research
• Fatimah Loren Dreier, executive director of the Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education
• Jeff Elias, director of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery at UVA Health
• Onyinyechi U. Enyia Daniel, VP of data and analytics strategy and partnerships at Highmark Health
• Brendan Harris, president of UPMC for You and state programs at UPMC Insurance Services Division
• Camille Harrison, EVP of Medicare and chief innovation and experience officer at Florida Blue and Guidewell
• Olugbemiga Jegede, VP of clinical care – health equity at Cone Health
• Erfan Karim, executive director of Express Care and assistant VP of mobile integrated health at NYC Health + Hospitals
• Neil Parikh, CMO at Thirty Madison
• Chevron Rariy, chief health officer and SVP of digital health at Oncology Care Partners
• Michael Schlosser, SVP, care transformation and innovation at HCA Healthcare
• Medhi Shishehbor, president of University Hospitals Harrington Heart and Vascular Institute
• Lynn Simon, president of healthcare innovation and CMO at Community Health Systems
• Nick Stepro, chief product and technology officer at Arcadia
• Tammy Sun, co-founder and CEO of Carrot Fertility
• Ramita Tandon, chief clinical trials officer at Walgreens
• Sara Vaezy, EVP and chief strategy and digital officer at Providence
• Sarah Wakeman, senior medical director for substance use disorder at Mass General Brigham
• Todd Walrath, founder and CEO of ShiftMed
• David Williams, EVP and CMO at CareSource
• Laura Wilt, SVP and chief digital officer at Sutter Health
• Shephali Wulff, system VP of quality and safety at SSM Health

(Modern Healthcare press release, 4/8; Modern Healthcare methodology, accessed 4/9; Modern Healthcare "Innovator Organizations – 2024," accessed 4/9; Modern Healthcare "Innovators Awards – 2024," accessed 4/9)

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