Healthcare spending in the U.S. has risen sharply over the past two decades, reaching $5.3 trillion and accounting for nearly 18% of the national economy. Despite this investment, multiple national and international studies continue to indicate that quality of care and health outcomes do not consistently align with spending levels, especially when compared with peer nations. In addition, significant disparities persist for communities facing substantial social determinants of health, highlighting ongoing gaps in access and equity.

At the same time, the healthcare sector is grappling with a complex set of operational, financial and workforce challenges. These pressures underscore the need for innovative, data‑driven solutions. The rapid emergence of AI-enabled methods, advanced analytics and digital health technologies provide a timely opportunity to rethink care delivery, improve efficiency and support more equitable outcomes.

Given this evolving landscape, there is a compelling opportunity for the School of Management to strengthen its role as a thought partner and research collaborator in healthcare. Engaging more intentionally in this domain would allow us to contribute meaningfully to one of society’s most critical challenges while expanding the school’s scholarly impact, visibility and interdisciplinary footprint. 

To strengthen healthcare-related research and create a welcoming forum for faculty with interest in this domain, the school’s Research Committee is once again hosting a series of conversations with experts across the healthcare landscape, with the encouragement and support of Dean Ananth Iyer. Invited speakers include distinguished leaders and seasoned practitioners whose perspectives the many diverse facets of this field.

Healthcare touches a wide range of disciplines, from operations and technology to policy, equity and clinical practice, so we have intentionally curated speakers who bring deep expertise and real-world insight. These informal conversational-style sessions will spark ideas, highlight emerging opportunities and encourage meaningful dialogue that may lead to publications, external partnerships and grant opportunities

We look forward to building a vibrant and supportive community around this important area of inquiry. 

How the Erie County Department of Health Responds to Emerging Population Health Needs
Gale Burstein, MD, MPH, FAAP
Commissioner, Erie County Department of Health
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Dr. Gale Burstein will provide an overview of Erie County Department of Health and its core public health functions, emphasizing how the department anticipates and responds to emerging population health needs. Her expertise in infectious disease, epidemiology and community health leadership underscores the region’s evidence‑based, equity-focused approach to prevention and response. Burstein’s discussion will highlight public health infrastructure and decision-making frameworks and how they relate to data and surveillance tools. She will also introduce opportunities to improve efficiencies and expand virtual services and potential next steps in AI use and science-based innovations.

Therapeutic AI Use
Gavin Raffloer, PhD
Owner, Wisely AI Consulting

For the years 2025 and 2026, the No. 1 most reported use of AI chatbots has been “therapy and companionship.” Raffloer’s talk will cover the past and present of this phenomenon, with a particular focus on the driving factors behind therapeutic AI use in the post-ChatGPT era. Through a mix of computational, qualitative, and quantitative approaches, he will provide an overview of  several studies that aim to understand the people who do and don’t use AI for their mental health. These studies result in a predictive model of what personal attributes and experiences inform whether someone will turn to AI chatbots when seeking therapeutic support. Finally, Raffloer will discuss how regulatory bodies, mental health providers, and AI companies are all responding to this fascinating user behavior.

Panel Discussion: The Future of Healthcare Leadership, Policy, and AI
Donald Boyd, MBA '97
President and CEO, Kaleida Health

Cynthia Khan, BS '95. MBA '97
Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning, Northwell Health

Healthcare is undergoing profound change. New policies, workforce pressures, rising patient expectations and advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping how care is delivered and managed. We invite you to join senior leaders from two major health systems for a discussion of the challenges and opportunities facing healthcare organizations today.

The conversation will explore the impact of healthcare policy, efforts to address social determinants of health and the growing influence of consumer-driven care. It will also examine how organizations are responding to disruption from technology firms, retailers and private equity. The panelists will share their perspectives on how these changes are affecting patients, providers and communities.

The discussion will also address the growing role of AI in healthcare. How should AI be used in clinical and managerial decision making? How can organizations balance innovation with ethics, governance and patient trust? What role do patient and social navigators play in improving outcomes and experiences?

The panelists will also reflect on a broader question facing healthcare leaders: What strategic choices must organizations make today to remain relevant, sustainable and effective over the next decade? This session will provide practical insights from experienced healthcare leaders while highlighting important opportunities for future research, learning and collaboration.