Jerry Penso, MD, MBA, President and CEO, AMGA

Health systems have spent years acquiring practices and expanding physician enterprises, yet many continue to face challenges operating as fully integrated organizations. Jerry Penso, MD, MBA, President and CEO of AMGA, brings insights from health system leaders nationwide on the operational, financial, and cultural realities shaping integration today. The discussion examines why integration efforts often stall after acquisition, what distinguishes systems that are making meaningful progress, and how leading organizations are rethinking the physician enterprise as a strategic driver of long-term value.

Rachael Jones, MPA, CEO, Syntax Health (a Lightbeam company)

Value-based care is evolving quickly, but many organizations still struggle to align contracting strategy with clinical and financial performance. Rachael Jones, CEO of Syntax Health (a Lightbeam Company), joins Dr. Brian McDonough to discuss where healthcare leaders are underestimating risk, why traditional contract modeling continues to create friction, and how stronger payer-provider collaboration can improve outcomes on both sides. From transparency and smarter negotiations to preparing for the next phase of value-based care, this conversation offers timely insights for executives navigating transformation across healthcare delivery.

Dr. Stephen Beeson, founder of Practicing Excellence and one of healthcare's most influential voices on clinical and leadership development, joins Dr. Brian McDonough to explore why investing in human capacity may be the most powerful lever healthcare organizations have. From burned-out clinicians to overstretched teams, Dr. Beeson makes the case that skill-building — done right and at scale — can drive measurable change without adding to the burden. A conversation about what it actually takes to help people in healthcare perform at their best.

The Executive Pulse is coming soon — stay tuned