Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: Interview with Robert Brunswick, Chairman of the Board at Hoag Hospital & Co-Founder of Hoag Innovators

Date: November 2, 2025
Host: Chanel Bunger
Guest: Robert Brunswick

Episode Overview

This episode centers on Robert Brunswick’s journey with Hoag Hospital and the innovative philanthropic group, Hoag Innovators. Brunswick shares insights into what inspired the founding of Hoag Innovators, the unique investment-like model for funding healthcare innovation, successful projects to date, and advice for other health systems seeking to emulate this approach. The conversation is rich with examples, results, and philosophical takeaways for healthcare leaders and philanthropists.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Robert Brunswick and Hoag Innovators

[00:20 – 01:02]

• Robert’s background: Real estate investment manager at Buchanan Street Partners; 15+ years of involvement with Hoag in various capacities; currently Chairman of the Hoag Hospital Board.
• Founding Hoag Innovators: Co-founded in 2017 with his wife, Kitty, to advance philanthropy in healthcare through direct, discretionary investment in innovation.

2. How Hoag Innovators Works: A “Shark Tank Meets TED Talk” Approach

[01:12 – 06:31]

• Founding philosophy: Desire to move beyond traditional ‘grateful patient’ giving, allowing donors direct input and visibility into outcomes.
• Growth and success: 120 members; $30M+ contributed; 28 investments to date. Growth is accelerating.
• Funding model: Combines elements of Shark Tank (doctors pitch innovations), TED Talk (sharing of knowledge), and private equity (investment mindset) to select which projects receive funding.
  • "Let's make a donation into innovation. Let's maintain discretion as to where our money goes, let's bring to bear results, let's treat our investment like an investment..." – Robert Brunswick [01:33]
• Impact: Attracts clinicians interested in working where innovation is institutionally supported.

Notable Funded Innovations and Outcomes

• Vectra360 (Whole Body 3D Imaging Technology):

  • First in California to adopt this tech, uses 92 cameras for full-body imaging in under 2 seconds.
  • Improved skin cancer detection and reduced unnecessary biopsies.
  • "This has been a game changer" – Robert Brunswick [02:26]

• Handheld Digital Dermascopes:

  • Supplements conventional practice with improved lesion analysis.

• Perigen Vigilance (AI Fetal Monitoring System):

  • AI-driven system for analyzing maternal and fetal data in real time; reduces errors and delays.
  • Contributed to a 15–20% drop in unnecessary C-sections at Hoag, demonstrating tangible results.
  • "Despite clinical expertise, manual assessments by doctors can be sometimes delayed and errors can be made. So this Perigen Vigilance is kind of an AI powered system..." – Robert Brunswick [03:34]

• Translational Research Lab:

  • Enables "bench to bedside" innovation, e.g., testing new cancer treatments.
  • Also supports the world's first blood test project for early-stage multiple sclerosis detection.

• Continuous Pitch Events:

  • "Just last week, four doctors pitched to us and we awarded a million dollars to three new forms of innovation..." [05:53]
  • Demonstrates ongoing engagement and excitement among Hoag's physicians.

3. The “Shark Tank” Dynamic: Member Engagement and Decision Making

[06:31 – 07:30]

• "Who's the Kevin in the organization?"—A playful reference to Kevin O’Leary from Shark Tank.
• Brunswick explains that all 120 members vote, ask tough questions, and directly engage with clinicians:
  • "There’s many Kevins and others in the room because... they all have a vote... They have a say, they have discretion, they learn, and they have access to these doctors." [06:38]

4. Vision for the Future: Growth, Permanence, and Spreading the Model

[07:33 – 09:48]

• Focus is on long-term sustainability, creating an endowment for perpetual funding.
  • “The hardest part of innovators has been established... where can we go from here? ...Building this so it has permanence and we have an endowment in perpetuity.” [07:49]
• Hoag’s hybrid identity as a “privateemic” institution allows for nimble innovation, combining qualities of both academic and community hospitals.
  • “We have clinicians that now can have a quicker path to success in onboarding their innovation... compared to a more academic, slower moving, more bureaucratic institute.” [08:45]
• Interest from other institutions is growing; being featured on podcasts like this is helping spread the word.

5. Advice for Replicating Hoag Innovators’ Model in Other Health Systems

[09:48 – 11:57]

• Core principle: Continuous reinvention is key in both business and philanthropy.
• Vital ingredients: Passionate leadership and ongoing engagement to fuel innovation.
  • "All of these... reinventions, if you will, this innovation of philanthropy, we call ourselves innovators, but we've innovated philanthropy, and you need to continue to innovate philanthropy..." [10:23]
• Appealing to new generations: Average age of Hoag Innovators is 10–15 years younger than typical donors. They desire active engagement and learning over traditional ROI.
  • “They want to learn, they want engagement, they want psychic income. They don’t need an ROI of conventional means.” [11:25]
• Structure: Advisory board brings in new ideas and maintains dynamism.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Innovation Philanthropy:
  • “Let’s treat our investment like an investment and let’s see if we can attract other like minded givers to that concept.” – Robert Brunswick [01:37]
• On Donor Engagement:
  • “In philanthropy, you give your money and you never really know where it goes exactly... We're trying to provide a younger set of innovators or philanthropists with something that's more engaging, where they have a vote, they have a say, they have discretion…” [06:45]
• On Hoag’s Unique Model:
  • “We kind of have the best of both worlds where we have clinicians that now can have a quicker path to success in onboarding their innovation than what they might otherwise be able to obtain at a more academic, slower moving, more bureaucratic institute.” [08:45]
• Advice for Others:
  • “You need to continue to innovate philanthropy and reinvent that. So I would just task everyone with that knowledge that every day there's a new chapter in this evolution…” [10:41]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:20] Robert Brunswick’s introduction and background
• [01:12] Hoag Innovators’ mission and growth
• [02:26] Vectra360 technology and impact
• [03:34] AI fetal monitoring and maternal health innovations
• [04:50] Translational research and early MS detection
• [05:53] Ongoing pitch days and recent awards
• [06:38] Voting and “Shark Tank” atmosphere among members
• [07:33] Vision for the next phase of Hoag Innovators
• [09:48] Advice for health systems looking to build similar programs
• [11:25] How new philanthropists differ from traditional donors

Final Thoughts

Robert Brunswick’s conversation offers a compelling vision of how healthcare philanthropy can be innovative, participatory, and results-oriented. The Hoag Innovators’ model stands out for its transparency, member engagement, and measurable impact on patient care. Brunswick encourages other health systems to adopt a reinvention mindset, providing opportunities for both donors and clinicians to be directly involved in transformative change.

The episode closes with mutual appreciation and a hope to inspire similar models elsewhere.