Healthcare execs share 2026 predictions

Each year, we speak with a group of executives across the industry on what they think might change for the healthcare world at large as well as their own organizations.

Here’s what they had to say for 2026.

These interviews have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Michael Betz, chief digital officer, Adtalem

The healthcare workforce shortage isn’t going away in 2026, but what’s shifting is the skill set employers are demanding. We’re at an inflection point similar to the internet boom: health systems are starting to prioritize AI-fluent healthcare professionals who can work alongside technology, not resist it.

And it’s not just about training new graduates—current nurses, social workers, mental health practitioners, and other allied health professionals will need to upskill or risk being left behind in a healthcare system that’s fundamentally changing how care is delivered.

Janet Liang, EVP and president of Oscar Insurance, Oscar Health

In 2026, we are focused on bringing employers and consumers more choice through the individual market. We laid the groundwork with [our clinical] plans for many years in the market and are now launching products to help women take control of their menopause experience. We are the first individual market carrier to create this type of product for women over the age of 45 in the ACA, a rapidly growing demographic with limited support and coverage.

Robert Lord, SVP of research and development, Vizient

In 2026, healthcare is approaching a pivotal moment in its use of AI.

Before pursuing large-scale AI initiatives, health systems need confidence built on steady disciplined progress, reliable data, seamless workflow integration, and deliberate change management across clinical and administrative teams. These are the elements that turn AI from isolated pilots into dependable, scalable capability.

This is the year the industry moves from experimentation to execution, and the organizations that get these fundamentals right will set the direction for AI’s role in care delivery for the decade ahead.

Jen Mazur, SVP, Lilly USA Consumer Hub, and general manager, LillyDirect

In 2026, we’ll see pharma’s direct-to-consumer strategies evolve toward more flexible, patient-driven models that meet people where they are, whether that’s home delivery, retail pickup, or digital support tools that complement their care.

One key challenge will be helping patients confidently navigate an increasingly fragmented digital health ecosystem. As more options emerge, ensuring people can easily identify authentic medicine and trusted sources of care—and understand how to access them without friction—will be essential to maintaining trust in healthcare and delivering meaningful patient outcomes.

Chris Toth, CEO, Vantive

In 2026, we are focused on making kidney care and vital organ therapy more accessible, connected, and patient-centric for the people who rely on it every day. For dialysis care, that means expanding adoption of home-based therapy options by supporting patients and care teams with an ecosystem of evidence-based digital tools and services.

From a critical care perspective, we are strengthening our technologies to support clinicians in making informed decisions and delivering the best care possible for critically ill patients. By advancing solutions that meet people where they are—whether that be at home or in the ICU—we can help extend lives, reduce barriers to therapy, and open new possibilities for the people we serve.