More Health, Less Healthcare

In this episode, Peter Boland zooms out to examine why maternal health outcomes in the U.S. are a direct result of the systems and policies we build, not random chance. Too often, policy treats pregnancy as a brief event—missing the reality that maternal health is a long-term continuum stretching from pre-pregnancy, through birth, and into the year after.It’s not enough to offer coverage on paper or just measure outcomes—someone has to be responsible for improving them. Tying incentives, contracts, and regulations to real results is key. Listen to the episode for the full story on how smarter policy can save lives and deliver real value—financially and in human well-being.

In this thought-provoking episode of Author Podcasts, Peter Boland introduces the "More Health, Less Healthcare" series by asking a bold question: What if our healthcare system isn't truly designed to create health, but rather to respond to illness? Using maternal health as a lens, Peter Boland explores the disconnect between what we claim to value and what our system actually delivers.A Shortage of Health, Not Medical Care: Despite leading the world in healthcare spending, the U.S. continues to struggle with outcomes in life expectancy, chronic disease, and especially maternal health.Maternal Health as a Mirror: Our approach to maternal health reveals what our society truly values and exposes gaps in investment and design.We Know What Works: Stable housing, nutritious food, consistent maternity care, mental health support, and reliable primary care are proven solutions, yet often treated as optional rather than essential.A System Built for Sickness: The U.S. pays generously for complications and crisis interventions, but invests only cautiously in prevention and early, continuous support.The Hidden Tax on Motherhood: Many costs and stresses facing mothers and families are embedded in how we design coverage and assign accountability—not just "bad luck," but predictable outcomes of the system.Changing Incentives Is Key: Real change requires revisiting payment models, benefit design, and the deep incentives embedded in our health care organizations.From Pilots to Practice: It's not enough to run small experiments—maternal health needs to be central to the mission, operations, and leadership accountability.Peter Boland closes with an invitation: If we can’t organize our healthcare system around something as fundamental as maternal health, how can we claim to be serious about health in any other area?

This week on More Health, Less Healthcare, Peter Boland shines a spotlight on a concept that rarely appears in our benefit dashboards but shapes the lives of our patients, members, and colleagues daily: weathering. What is Weathering?As Peter Boland defines, weathering is what happens when people spend years inside systems—healthcare, employment, social services—that treat their bodies as expendable while blaming them for poor outcomes. It’s the cumulative, grinding effect of:Racism, sexism, and povertyChronic stress and bureaucratic hurdlesUnstable housing and low-wage workYou see it in the 35-year-old who looks 50, in the Medicaid member labeled ‘non-compliant’ after years of navigating prior authorizations. This isn’t just a sad coincidence. As Peter Boland reminds us, weathering is a product of how our systems are built and run.This weekend, wherever you work, notice one place where your organization is weathering people—a policy, a denial pattern, even a tone of voice. In your next meeting, ask: What would it take to stop? Not to pilot around it or build a workaround, but to actually stop.It’s an uncomfortable conversation, but one that matches the stories we say about equity and health.If you’re having these conversations—or struggling to start—I’d love to hear from you. Forward this episode to someone who sits in the rooms where decisions are made.Let’s move from “normal collateral damage” to “completely unacceptable.”

We’re thrilled to feature Arlene, acclaimed author and professor at the School of Public Health in Michigan, recently honored by the National Academy of Medicine for her groundbreaking discovery of “weathering.” In this powerful conversation, Arlene unpacks the toll that chronic social stressors and systemic injustice have on physical health, regardless of individual habits or genetics.

We just launched a powerful new episode of the More Health, Less healthcare podcast—and trust us, you don’t want to miss this one! Peter Boland takes us deep into the world of nonprofit healthcare to reveal the surprising contradictions that shape the system, using Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina as a live case study.If you’ve ever wondered why “nonprofit” doesn’t necessarily mean “mission accomplished,” this conversation will challenge your assumptions and spark new ideas about what true impact looks like in community health.What You’ll Learn: The 5 Essential KeysThe Nonprofit Paradox Explained – Discover why nonprofit health plans, even with noble intentions, often remain tied to a model that benefits more from illness than wellness.What Blue Cross North Carolina Is Doing Right – Explore inspiring real-world initiatives, from multimillion-dollar investments in housing and primary care to long-term commitments through foundation work.How Nonprofit Plans Could Level Up – Hear bold strategies for building lasting change, like integrating social health services directly into benefits rather than treating them as side projects.Bringing Community Voices Into the Boardroom – Learn how health organizations can shift power by including local voices in decision-making—and even offering board seats to those most affected by poor health.What Real Accountability Could Look Like – Understand what happens when executive incentives and public reporting align with tangible community health outcomes.Fun Fact of the Episode 🥳Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina invested $10 million over ten years to help communities tackle the root causes of poor health—empowering residents to define what improvement truly means for them. That’s not just philanthropy; it’s community-driven innovation in action!

We’ve just dropped a brand new episode you won’t want to miss: “More Health, Less Healthcare: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Part 2.” Hosted by Peter Boland, this episode dives deep into what happens after a health plan truly listens to its community—and why good intentions alone might not bend the cost curve for everyday families.🌟 Here are 5 keys you’ll learn in this episode:1.     The Power of Real Listening: Why Blue Cross MA sat down with factory workers, teachers, union stewards, and more—and what they discovered that actuarial tables miss.2.     Beyond “Business as Usual”: How Dr. Tom Hawkins is using data (and heart) to pinpoint and close health gaps, and why insurance data just isn’t enough.3.     Equity vs. Cost: The surprising truth about why plan premiums keep rising even as equity programs get stronger—and what needs to change for both to win.4.     Partnerships that Work: How cross-sector collaboration (health plans, employers, hospitals, civic groups, community members) could transform the whole equation.5.     The Moral (and Financial) Equation: Why doing the right thing for the right reason isn’t enough if the price isn’t right, and how to realign dollars and ethics for true impact.🎉 Fun Fact from the Episode: Did you know the community voices—teachers holding off on prescriptions, single moms managing on the edge, and union stewards juggling bills—aren’t just “data points”? Peter Boland reveals they’re the “focus group” shaping the Health Care Handbook! Their lived experiences are at the heart of real health solutions.

We’re excited to announce the release of Part 2 of our conversation with Jason Gale on the More Health, Less Healthcare podcast! This episode is packed with honest insights, global perspectives, and a healthy dose of optimism for tackling the chronic aftermath of COVID-19 and future pandemics.IntroductionIn this episode, Peter Boland welcomes back Jason Gale, a Bloomberg News journalist with decades of experience in pandemic preparedness. Together, they dive into the controversial and often overlooked realities of Long COVID, chronic illness, and how we can build better systems (and trust!) for the future.5 Keys You’ll Learn:1.     Who’s Been Seen—and Who’s Been Invisible: Discover how essential workers, nursing home residents, and communities with health inequalities were disproportionately impacted, and why chronic illness still flies under the radar.2.     Why Chronic Conditions Remain in the Shadows: Learn the surprising reasons chronic care doesn’t get the funding, media, or public interest it deserves—even as it grows.3.     The Importance of Trust in Public Health: See how fractured trust in institutions and science became a major roadblock, and explore inspiring examples from Denmark and grassroots messengers.4.     Lessons from Around the World: What did other countries do right? Understand Jason’s take on countries like South Korea, Denmark, and Vietnam, and why separating politics from science matters.5.     What’s Next? Preparing for Future Pandemics: Hear Jason’s candid thoughts on why another pandemic is inevitable—and what actionable steps we can take to respond smarter, measure chronic impacts, and build unified, consistent public health funding.Fun Fact from the EpisodeDid you know the trusted messenger for health information might be your hair salon—not your clinic? Peter Boland and Jason Gale discuss how trust can be found in unexpected places, and how grassroots communication makes all the difference!

We just dropped a fresh episode you won’t want to miss! This week, Peter Boland spotlights the groundbreaking work at Boston Medical Center (BMC)—a national leader in social care and health equity. If you think hospitals are just about prescriptions and checkups, think again! BMC is rewriting the playbook for what community healthcare can be.Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:Food as Medicine: Learn how a simple food pantry sparked a full-fledged movement—BMC now distributes over a million pounds of healthy food each year and even grows fresh produce on its rooftop farm.Whole-Family Care: See how real health care means supporting the entire family, from free cooking classes for moms like Martha to programs that boost kids’ health and well-being.Connecting Social Needs to Medical Care: Explore how the Thrive Screener helps patients get assistance with housing, food, and even legal aid—right from their clinic visit.Empowering Clinicians & Leaders: Get practical takeaways for doctors and health leaders on how to make equity an everyday practice, not just a mission statement.Transforming Communities: Discover how hospitals can work hand-in-hand with local neighborhoods to create affordable housing, good jobs, and lasting change—not just patch up problems in the ER.Fun Fact: BMC’s first “food program” was literally a few cans of vegetables tucked in a doctor’s desk drawer. Fast-forward a few years, and they now run a 2,700-square-foot rooftop farm and the nation’s first hospital teaching kitchen. Talk about a major “grow up” story!Would you like me to adapt this version for a social media caption or podcast show notes format next?

We’re back with a brand new episode of the “More Health, Less Healthcare” podcast! This week, Peter Boland brings the heat (and plenty of food for thought) as he digs into the BIG questions left in the wake of COVID-19—and why health equity is the conversation we can’t afford to ignore.Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:The Real Lessons of COVID: Why we need to talk (and keep talking!) about what went right, what went wrong, and what it means for our choices moving forward.The Heroes Amidst the Havoc: How frontline healthcare workers and essential service folks truly kept the world spinning—and why they deserve more than just a round of applause.The Truth About Our Healthcare System: Peter Boland breaks down why our “sickness care” model is stalled out—and how it’s impacting not just today, but the prosperity of future generations.What Health Equity Really Means: Discover how tackling health disparities isn’t just about being “fair”—it’s about saving billions, boosting community health, and even shoring up national security.Hope & Real Solutions: Yes, it sounds tough, but there are organizations and communities leading the way with equity-aligned models that work. Get inspired by what’s already possible!Fun Fact: Did you know Peter Boland points out that, unlike other countries, the U.S. still hasn’t had a true national conversation about the good, the bad, and the lasting lessons of the pandemic? Talk about an important dinner table topic!Thanks for tuning in and being part of this important dialogue. This episode isn’t just about what’s broken—it’s about the real steps we can all take to generate more health (and less sickness) for everyone.

We’ve just dropped a brand-new episode featuring an inspiring conversation with Dr. Mualik Josie, CEO of Meritus Health, hosted by Peter Boland. Trust us—you won’t want to miss this behind-the-scenes look at the real work driving health equity and building healthier communities. Whether you’re in healthcare or just curious about innovative leadership, this episode is packed with wisdom!Here’s what you’ll take away from this conversation:Turning Vision Into Reality: Discover how Dr. Mualik Josie helped launch Maryland’s first new medical school in over 130 years—and why he believes investing upstream in education pays off for community health.Crisis as Opportunity: Hear how Meritus Health leveraged the COVID-19 pandemic to deepen its commitment to community service, from drive-thru testing to free vaccinations and antibody treatments.Innovating for Equity: Learn why the Lead Council, health equity dashboards, and stratified data projects are game changers for addressing healthcare disparities.Social Determinants of Health in Action: Get inspired by practical solutions to loneliness, transportation, and food insecurity—plus hear about the “Care Caller” program, free van rides, and food pharmacies!Aligning Mission and Margin: Find out how Dr. Josie balances sustainability with bold investments, proving that money can follow when the focus is on quality and access for all.Fun Fact: Dr. Mualik Josie personally volunteers in Meritus Health’s “Care Caller” program, making weekly calls to uplift community members who feel lonely. One of his regulars recently turned 100—and he showed up to her birthday party with flowers!Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H., is the President and CEO of Meritus Health, Inc. Meritus Health, Inc. includes Meritus Medical Center (MMC), the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM), and Brook Lane. The mission of Meritus Health is to improve the health of the community by providing the best healthcare, health services, and medical education. Meritus Health is an academic health system and serves as an anchor for the region with over 4,300 employees. MMC includes a 327-bed medical center, the 250-plus provider Meritus Medical Group, 65-bed Brook Lane Psychiatric hospital, Meritus Home Health, Meritus Equipped for Life, and 25% ownership of Maryland Physicians Care, a 210,000 Medicaid member health plan. MSOM is the first new medical school in Maryland in over 100 years and started its first class of 90 medical school students in 2025. Meritus Medical Center serves over 200,000 people in Western Maryland, southern Pennsylvania, and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Previously, Maulik was the COO and Executive Vice President at the Anne Arundel Health System (AAHS). Prior to AAHS, Maulik was at the American Hospital Association as Associate Executive Vice President and President of the Health Research and Educational Trust. Maulik has also worked at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the University of Pennsylvania Health System, and The HMO Group. Maulik has a Doctorate in Public Health and a Master's degree in Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan. He was Editor-in-Chief for the Journal for Healthcare Quality. He also co-edited The Healthcare Quality Book: Vision, Strategy and Tools (5th edition published in 2022) and coauthored Healthcare Transformation: A Guide for the Hospital Board Member (2nd edition published in 2024) and Leading Healthcare Transformation: A Primer for Physician Leaders (2nd edition published in 2023). Maulik has authored a combination of over fifty peer-reviewed articles, commentaries, and perspectives. Maulik is adjunct faculty at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in the Department of Health Management & Policy, where he teaches annually and professor at MSOM.

We’re excited to announce that Part 3 of our podcast series is now live! In this episode, Peter Boland brings us a whirlwind tour of best practices, lessons, and case studies from some of the most forward-thinking healthcare organizations across the country.Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:1. Mission & Values Matter: Discover why having strong mission and value statements is essential for driving strategy, guiding investments, and sustaining long-term commitment. Peter Bolland dives into the importance of figuring out: are you all in, or just testing the waters?2. Collaboration Is Non-Negotiable: Unpack how cross-cultural and cross-sector partnerships are absolutely necessary for success. No one comes to the table with a perfect record, but working together is the only way forward.3. The Challenge of Power Sharing: Find out why sharing power between healthcare professionals, executives, and the community isn’t just nice—it’s crucial. Peter Bolland gives real-talk on why it’s one of the hardest shifts for any organization.4. Listening to the Patient & Community Voice: Learn the art (and importance!) of deep listening—not just checking a box. Systems can only be improved when both patient and community perspectives are truly heard and valued.5. The Pivotal Role of CHWs & Cultural Health Navigators: Get inspired by stories of Community Health Workers and Cultural Health Navigators who bridge the gap, build trust, and drive health equity—often standing shoulder to shoulder with doctors and nurses in shaping healthier communities.Fun Fact: Did you know that at University Hospital in Kansas City, this whole movement started with just a little card table by the hospital entrance? That’s right! From those humble beginnings, their team of Cultural Health Navigators has grown, becoming an absolutely key asset, especially for serving immigrant and refugee populations.

In Part One, Peter Boland unpacks the high points from the first third of the book, focusing on healthcare delivery systems, and spotlights innovative, purpose-driven organizations aiming to generate more health—not just treat sickness.Here are 5 keys you’ll learn in this episode:Why Our System is Stuck (and How to Get Unstuck)Discover the root causes behind America's sickness-focused healthcare spending—and the insanity of pouring 97% into treatment and only 3% into prevention.How Boston Medical Center Transformed Patient CareLearn the inside story of their pioneering food pantry, rooftop gardens, and true “patient first” philosophy (hint: they even teach families to cook healthy meals!).Breaking the Cycle with Nationwide Children'sFind out how this pediatric hospital in Ohio took on the audacious goal to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty through housing, workforce, education, and economic initiatives.The Power of Zero Defects at Cleveland HospitalHear how a creative “fractal management” system demanded everyone—yes, everyone—be accountable for perfect care, slashing errors and saving millions.Why Collaboration is EverythingSee how the best hospitals aren’t just treating patients—they’re partnering with local communities to share power and expertise, tailoring programs to real needs.Fun Fact of the Episode:Did you know the Boston Medical Center’s food pantry started in one doctor’s desk drawer? Today, it distributes over a million pounds of food per year and features rooftop gardens growing fresh produce for their patients!

This episode of More Health, Less Healthcare explores how University Hospital in Kansas City is breaking barriers to health equity through innovative, on-the-ground programs that truly meet patients where they are.LinkedIn-Newsletter.docx​Hosted by Peter Boland, with guests Gabriella Gardner, Director of Language Assistance, and Deborah Sisco, Manager of Patient Advocacy and Engagement, the conversation spotlights a powerful new hybrid role: cultural health navigators who go far beyond language interpretation to guide immigrant, refugee, and limited English proficiency patients through every step of their care. You’ll hear real stories about how understanding social determinants of health, using Plan-Study-Do-Act cycles to “fail forward,” and adapting approaches to sensitive conversations are transforming experiences across multiple clinics.Listeners will also learn the three essential traits every cultural health navigator needs—lived experience, cultural humility, and a passion for advocacy—and why these qualities are critical in communities where more than 200 languages are spoken each year. The episode closes with an inspiring look at their emerging arts and loneliness initiative, revealing how holistic care can extend far beyond medicine to create connection, trust, and lasting impact.Deb Sisco is the Manager of Patient Advocacy and Engagement for University Health, Kansas City’s Safety Net Hospital and the teaching hospital for the University of Missouri, Kansas City.Deb holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. She spent 25 years in the field of education, serving first as a teacher of children with behavior disorders and emotional disturbances, then as an alternative school principal. During her career in St. Joseph, MO. Deb was named Teacher of the Year, the Midwest Symposium for Leadership in Behavior Disorders Educator of the Year, and received honors from the Buchanan County Juvenile office as well as being named one of “20 Who Count” by the St. Joseph News Press.Deb began a second career at University Health concentrating her efforts on managing special projects throughout the organization that elevate the voice of the patient and inspire compassionate, patient centered care. She manages the processes for screening and assisting patients with the Social Drivers of Health and leads the effort to elevate the voice of the patients and their families through the creation and management of a Patient and Family Advisory Council. Gabriella Gardner is the Director of Language Access, Multicultural Health Navigation and One World Pantry at University Health. She is a professional linguist with over 20 years of experience in the healthcare field as an administrator, interpreter, translator and instructor. Gabriella studied Language and Literature at Arizona State University and at Université Catholique de Lille in France. She has a Master’s in Business Administration and is an American Essential Hospitals Fellow. She is also a graduate of the first Truman Medical Centers Executive Fellowship program where she received a UMKC-Cerner Certificate for Healthcare Leadership from the Bloch School of Management. Gabriella is known for implementing high quality services and programs in multicultural healthcare environments to reduce health disparities and ensure equal access to healthcare for diverse populations. Gabriella Gardner, MBA | Director of Language Access, Multicultural Health Navigation and One World Pantrygabriella.gardner@uhkc.orgUniversity Health | Truman Medical Center