Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Episode: Leading Through Change: How Healthcare Executives Can Turn Disruption into Momentum
Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Erica Spicer Mason
Guest: Tammy Kenobi, Executive Vice President, KoroHealth

This episode delves into the evolving landscape of healthcare leadership, focusing on how executives can harness disruption—particularly technological innovation like AI—for positive momentum instead of being destabilized by constant change. Tammy Kenobi draws on 25 years of cross-sector healthcare experience to discuss trust, adaptability, the integration of AI, and practical leadership advice relevant for today's healthcare leaders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Tammy Kenobi’s Healthcare Journey

• Background: Tammy has 25 years in healthcare, spanning academic medicine, acute and post-acute care, and now technology enablement with KoroHealth.
• Current Focus: Leading Chargemaster and clinical revenue integrity teams at KoroHealth.
  "I've been in healthcare for close to 25 years... what I've gravitated towards is the healthcare technology and technology enablement." (00:42)

Principles of Leading Through Disruption

• Trust & Relationships: Building trust internally (within teams and across the organization) and externally (with clients) is foundational.
• Transparency & Communication: Frequent, honest communication prevents misinformation and supports adaptation to rapid change.

  "People tend to create their own story if we aren't providing that for them." (02:53)

• Compassion: Leading with compassion, understanding the impact of change, and offering support is critical.

Adaptability as a Necessity

• Nimbleness through Technology: Having multiple SaaS platforms enables KoroHealth to stay flexible and proactive, supporting client hospitals to adapt quickly. "Coral Health has so many SaaS platforms, we do have the ability to be a little more nimble... It keeps us in a more proactive mode if we can be..." (03:59)

• Risks of Inertia:

  • Standing still means falling behind, financially and in terms of patient care.
  • Proactivity and modernization prevent being overwhelmed by external pressures.
  • Even seemingly “mundane” tasks like chargemaster management are foundational for sustainable operations.

  "The biggest risk of standing still is that organizations will not only fall behind, but they start to face these mounting financial pressures, which lead then to a potential risk when it comes to patient care." (05:23)

AI: From Hype to Meaningful Innovation

• Key to Success: Clear goals, strong governance, continuous validation, and robust data protection.

• AI as “Augmented Intelligence”:

  • Tools should support, not replace, clinical judgment.
  • Human oversight is essential.

• Human-Centered Design: Clinicians’ input continuously shapes product development and deployment to ensure relevance and trust.

  "Success starts with clear goals and expectations for what the AI can achieve... you have to couple that with a strong governance framework." (07:56)

  "Our tools are designed to support and enhance clinical judgment, not replace it." (08:38)

Building Trust Amid Transformation

• Project Failure Risks: Up to 95% of projects fail due to misalignment and lack of buy-in.

• Executive Ownership: Direct engagement from leadership ensures alignment between tech priorities and business needs.

• Inclusive Engagement: Frontline clinician involvement in the design and implementation process is vital.

• Human-Centered Approach: Incorporating feedback from 300+ clinicians creates goodwill and tailored, effective solutions.

  "If we don't have [executive ownership], it creates kind of a disconnect between what are a lot of times technical priorities and the business needs." (10:06)

  "If I don't help you improve your process, you're just going to be frustrated at my technology six months down the road." (10:44)

Leadership for the Future: Key Qualities

• Strong Collaboration: Leaders must work across disciplines, engaging both financial and clinical stakeholders.

• Continuous Learning: The rapid evolution of tech and regulations means leaders need to remain curious and adaptable.

• Change Agency: Not just embracing change for its own sake, but challenging organizations to improve and deliver better outcomes.

  "We need leaders who are curious, eager to learn... and also challenge us both personally and then professionally in our organizations to become the best version of ourselves." (12:42)

  • KoroHealth’s leadership mantra: "Smarter people, smarter tech, smarter outcomes." (13:58)

Memorable Quote & Core Advice

Leadership Advice:

• "Always listen more than you speak. Strive to keep an open mind and be inclusive, because that's how you build trust and collaboration." (14:48)
  • Shared by Tammy Kenobi, originally from an early mentor. Tammy keeps this advice visible as a constant leadership reminder.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Transparency:
  "People tend to create their own story if we aren't providing that for them." (02:53)

• On AI Responsibility:
  "At what point does not using AI become irresponsible for us as leaders and organizations?" (05:10)

• On Change:
  "If we don't help clients think out of the box and think different than they have in the past, they get behind the curve, which is much harder to come from." (06:36)

• On Inclusion in Tech Design:
  "If I don't help you improve your process, you're just going to be frustrated at my technology six months down the road." (10:44)

• On Leadership Qualities:
  "We need leaders... who are curious, eager to learn, committed to understand how the new regs or technologies can drive success for their teams..." (12:25)

• Leadership Mantra:
  "Smarter people, smarter tech, smarter outcomes." (13:58)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:42 | Tammy describes her healthcare background and career evolution | | 02:16 | Key leadership principles for navigating disruption | | 03:59 | Importance of adaptability and technology in rapid change | | 05:02 | Risks of standing still and creating urgency for transformation | | 07:56 | Distinguishing hype from innovation in AI | | 09:44 | Bridging trust gaps and achieving alignment in transformation | | 12:05 | The leadership qualities needed in the coming years | | 14:38 | Tammy’s core piece of leadership advice and mentor story |

Conclusion

This concise yet deep discussion offers frontline insights on how executives can lead through disruption, emphasizing trust, purposeful innovation (especially with AI), and sustaining momentum through collaboration, continuous learning, and an agent-for-change mentality. Tammy Kenobi’s expertise and actionable advice—especially around listening and inclusivity—resonate as timeless leadership essentials for any healthcare organization facing world-changing industry shifts.