On August 28, 2025, SEI proudly partnered again with the National Capital Healthcare Executives (NCHE) to host a dynamic evening of insight, innovation, and collaboration at our Washington, D.C., office. The event, titled Operational Excellence in Healthcare: Reimagining Care Delivery Through Systems Thinking, brought together healthcare leaders from across the region to explore how systems thinking can transform care delivery in complex environments.
A Night of Insight and Impact
The evening began with a vibrant networking session, where attendees connected over shared challenges and aspirations in healthcare operations. This was followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion moderated by JC Zark, Director of Operations at Glass Raven Consulting.
Featured Panelists:
- Dr. Saira Aslam, SVP & COO, MedStar Washington Hospital Center
- O. Ben Carroll II, AVP of Healthcare Operations, A.T. Augusta Military Medical Center
- Josh Cherrix, Director, Cancer Service Line Business Operations, UVA Health
- Bianca Nguyen, MHA, Strategy & Operations Consultant & Healthcare Specialist, SEI New York
Together, these distinguished leaders shared their perspectives on:
- Leveraging systems thinking to streamline operations
- Designing patient-centered care models
- Navigating organizational complexity with agility
- Driving sustainable improvements across service lines
Systems Thinking Perspectives That Matter
A highlight of the evening was hearing how each panelist applied systems thinking across three levels of impact—self, team, and health system—to shape their own careers and create meaningful organizational change.
- At the personal level, panelists reflected on how cultivating self-awareness, resilience, and adaptability enables leaders to better navigate complexity and model the behaviors they hope to see in their organizations.
- At the team level, panelists discussed the importance of viewing teams as interconnected systems where communication, trust, and shared purpose directly influence outcomes. Practical takeaways included fostering psychological safety, aligning roles to strengths, and creating feedback loops that empower frontline staff to continuously improve care delivery.
- At the health system level, panelists emphasized the need to break down silos and approach challenges—whether patient flow, workforce management, or technology adoption—as opportunities to design integrated solutions. They encouraged attendees to consider not only the immediate impacts of decisions but also their downstream effects across the organization.
The discussion provided attendees with actionable ideas to take back to their own work: investing in personal growth to strengthen leadership capacity, enabling their teams to function more cohesively, and approaching system-wide initiatives with a holistic, interconnected lens.
Why It’s Critical to Optimize Healthcare Delivery
Healthcare organizations face increasing pressure to deliver high-quality care while managing costs and complexity. Systems thinking offers a powerful framework to:
- Identify interdependencies across departments
- Optimize workflows and resource allocation
- Foster collaboration and innovation
At SEI, we believe operational excellence begins with thoughtful design and strategic execution. Events like this reflect our dedication to advancing healthcare through meaningful dialogue and actionable insights. Stay tuned for more events and thought leadership from SEI as we continue to support transformation across industries.
