Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: Conversation with Dr. Robert Insoft

Guest: Dr. Robert Insoft, Neonatologist and COO, Franciscan Children’s Campus, Boston Children’s Hospital System
Host: Scott King, Becker's Healthcare
Date: September 28, 2025
Duration: ~10 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode features a concise but insightful conversation with Dr. Robert Insoft, a practicing neonatologist and the Chief Operating Officer at Franciscan Children’s Campus, part of the Boston Children’s Hospital System. Dr. Insoft shares his journey in healthcare leadership, diving into the unique challenges of integrating smaller healthcare entities into larger systems, the evolving role of the COO, and his personal philosophy on supporting staff for optimal patient care.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dr. Insoft’s Background and Experience

• [00:37] Dr. Insoft is a practicing pediatrician and neonatologist with over 25 years of experience.
• He has held chief roles at two major perinatal centers, served as a health system Chief Medical Officer, and now serves as COO.
  • Quote: "I'm trained as a pediatrician, which is still near and dear to me because I still practice." — Dr. Insoft [00:37]

2. Biggest Responsibility as COO

• [01:18] Managing a team of leaders and ensuring staff are empowered to provide efficient, compassionate care.
  • Quote: "My biggest responsibility is managing a team of leaders...making sure they’re doing the best job possible in providing the best care to our patients and families." — Dr. Insoft [01:18]

3. Proud Accomplishments: Integration and Cultural Transition

• [01:57] Leading staff through integration into a larger healthcare system, navigating both excitement and apprehension.
  • Emphasis on respecting the history and culture of smaller entities during the integration process.
  • Quote: "Just because you're bigger doesn't mean you're always better, but you are different...what our staff has learned and been through is respected." — Dr. Insoft [02:41]

4. 2025 Organizational Goals

• [03:34] Divided into:
  • Efficiency goals focused on cost-effective care.
  • Departmental integration into the larger healthcare system.
  • Maintaining a high-quality patient experience amidst organizational transitions.
  • Quote: "We're looking at certain key efficiency goals…departmental integrations…delivering high quality patient experience." — Dr. Insoft [03:34]

5. Delivering High-Quality Care

• [04:29] Dr. Insoft’s philosophy has shifted: staff engagement is now prioritized as the foundation for excellent patient care.
  • Quote: "You have to have an engaged, high quality, positive thinking staff. Because if you don’t have that, then high quality care is not something you’re ever going to achieve." — Dr. Insoft [04:29]

6. Challenges for Healthcare Staff

• [05:28] Main headwinds:
  • Doing more with less in a resource-constrained environment.
  • Adapting to new, fluid organizational structures instead of traditional hierarchies.
  • Flexibility is key: roles and reporting structures change rapidly based on institutional needs.
  • Quote: "You need to be fluid and malleable as to how you need to set up your organization to meet whatever your specific goals and needs are." — Dr. Insoft [05:28]

7. The Evolving COO Role

• [06:29] Distinctive feature: maintaining oversight and integration across all organizational segments.
  • COOs must ensure departments don't work in silos and that all decisions align organization-wide.
  • Quote: "You have to let people know that they can’t work in silos...Everything touches each other." — Dr. Insoft [06:29]

8. Multitasking & Time Management as COO

• [07:45] Both multitasking and efficient time management are crucial; self-awareness about work style is important for success.
  • Quote: "To be an effective chief operating officer, you have to be somebody who is willing to and excited by multitasking." — Dr. Insoft [07:45]

9. Leadership Evolution & Listening

• [08:19] Personal growth means embracing feedback, listening more, and empowering staff.
  • Quote: "Like every other healthcare leader hears, listen more, speak less. That’s first and foremost." — Dr. Insoft [08:19]
  • Staff empowerment and support are essential for strong organizational relationships and outcomes.

10. Learning from Other Leaders

• [09:09] Dr. Insoft reflects on learning both positive and negative lessons from past healthcare leaders, shaping his own leadership approach.
  • Quote: "You learn what works well and what doesn’t. And that’s the part about growing in any particular healthcare role." — Dr. Insoft [09:09]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Just because you're bigger doesn't mean you're always better, but you are different." — Dr. Robert Insoft [02:41]
• "You have to have an invested, high quality, well trained, again, happy staff because that's going to be what you need to deliver high quality care." — Dr. Insoft [04:29]
• "Listen more, speak less. That's first and foremost." — Dr. Insoft [08:19]

Summary for Non-Listeners

Dr. Robert Insoft offers a candid look inside the transition and integration process as a pediatric leader and COO, thoughtfully describing the importance of staff engagement, adaptation in leadership roles, and respecting institutional histories during mergers. His practical insights emphasize that true healthcare quality starts with investing in and uplifting staff, not just patients. Dr. Insoft’s evolution as a leader is rooted in active listening, openness to change, and learning from both inspiring and challenging examples in his career.