Tariffs are the talk of the town.

With tariffs placed on China and the threat of more being placed on pharmaceuticals, every corner of healthcare is already affected by the tariffs or likely to be impacted before long.

Healthcare Brew compiled what executives across various sectors of the industry have said about tariffs, how they’re influencing healthcare businesses, and how the execs are working to combat any negative consequences.

Hospitals. Despite the fact that US hospitals import a lot of supplies from overseas—including medical devices and supplies worth $75 billion in 2024, as Healthcare Brew previously reported—multiple large health systems have downplayed tariffs in recent earnings calls.

Here’s a rundown of what industry leaders are saying about tariffs.—MA

After 23 years as CEO of New York’s largest health system, Northwell Health, Michael Dowling is moving on—sort of.

“I’m stepping down, but I’m not stepping away,” he told Healthcare Brew. On Oct. 1, he’ll be succeeded by John D’Angelo, who’s been with the health system for more than 25 years and currently serves as EVP, market president, and chief of integrated operations.

“Michael has done an exceptional job over the last many decades creating a culture within our organization of teamwork, of optimism, and a group that is always striving to do better,” D’Angelo told Healthcare Brew. “This transition is not a revolution—it’s an evolution.”

Dowling said he will stay on to support the system as an advisor, giving special focus to issues including gun violence, mental health, and leadership development.

Click here for more from the two leaders.—CC, MA

At the end of 2024, Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai Health System appointed Mouneer Odeh as its inaugural chief artificial intelligence officer, a role in healthcare that’s been growing over the last few years.

Odeh has years of experience in healthcare data and analytics, most recently as VP of analytics at Virginia-based Inova Health System. He came into the role as artificial intelligence (AI) use is growing in the industry, from ambient scribes that take notes with clinicians to hearing devices with deep neural network technology.

At Cedars-Sinai, Odeh is in charge of implementing new technologies such as those AI scribes as well as tech that can scan images like X-rays and write job descriptions. In the future, he said the health system may explore revenue cycle management and capacity management, helping how patients move through the health system. For now, though, his day-to-day is focused on safely introducing new tech and meeting patients where they are.

“The space is evolving so rapidly that the future is happening now,” he said.

Odeh spoke with Healthcare Brew about the new(ish) job and the future of AI in the industry.

Read more from Cedars-Sinai’s chief AI officer here.—CM