A Strategic Approach to Health System Partnerships

AHA Leadership Scan: A Series of Virtual Panel Discussions  

A Strategic Approach to Health System Partnerships 

Wednesday, November 18, 2026 
1 - 2 p.m. Eastern; noon - 1 p.m. Central; 10 - 11 a.m. Pacific  

For many hospitals and health systems, strategic partnerships are increasingly becoming an important avenue for expanding the capabilities needed to achieve long-term objectives. Hospitals seeking partnerships also often serve vulnerable communities and face considerable financial pressures, meaning that mergers are frequently essential to maintain service lines, workforce stability and access to care. As the health care landscape continues to evolve, leaders are thinking more broadly about how partnerships can strengthen their organizations and enhance their ability to serve their communities over the long term.  

In this Leadership Scan discussion, experienced healthcare leaders who have navigated significant partnerships and integration efforts will join experts from Juniper Advisory for a conversation about the evolving health system partnership landscape and the strategic opportunities partnerships can create. Panelists will share firsthand perspectives from their own experiences, including how they approached growth, evaluated strategic opportunities, established clear objectives and positioned their organizations for successful integration.  

The conversation will also examine how leaders can think about scale, organizational fit, and integration, while maintaining alignment around mission, strategy and the communities they serve.

Attendees Will Learn:

• How the hospital partnership landscape, and strategic role partnerships can play in growth and integration, has evolved.
• How experienced health care leaders have approached partnerships as part of a broader growth and organizational strategy. How hospital and health system boards can establish objectives, evaluate strategic opportunities and maintain alignment throughout the partnership and integration process.
• How leaders can evaluate the role of scale, organizational fit and integration in positioning their organizations for long-term growth and success. 

Session Panelists:

Chris Benson, FACHE, CMPE 
Managing Director 
Juniper Advisory 

Rex Burgdorfer 
Partner 
Juniper Advisory

Brian Hoerneman, MD 
Chief Executive Officer 
Marshfield Clinic Health System 

AHA Moderator:  

Jen Porter 
Senior Vice President, Field Engagement 
American Hospital Association

By attending the AHA Leadership virtual panel discussion "A Strategic Approach to Health System Partnerships " offered by the AHA, participants may earn up to 1 ACHE Qualified Education Hour toward initial certification or recertification of the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) designation.