Curiosity: The Secret Ingredient Transforming Healthcare

Curiosity isn’t just about asking questions—it’s about seeking answers that matter. At Sutter Health, we turn those answers into bold actions that transform healthcare and improve lives.

I recently had a front-row seat to watch this unfold in a big and exciting way when we launched our first-ever systemwide Innovation Challenge. We put the call out to employees, physicians and advanced practice clinicians to submit creative new ideas to enhance the care we provide and the quality of that experience for both patients and providers. The results were inspiring: over 5,000 people responded, and ultimately 150 teams formed and 246 ideas were submitted—all focused on reimagining how we deliver care.

One idea—a cognitive screening tool for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia that can revolutionize early detection and treatment of cognitive decline—stood out for its potential and was declared the winner. However, every submission was a testament to the power of curiosity and collaboration—from strategies to improve diabetes management to enhancing mental health support for at-risk youth.

We paired the nine finalists with internal subject matter experts and high-caliber external advisors to help them cultivate their ideas and finalize their pitch. And although we selected one “winner,” we now have several new ideas to explore and potentially develop thanks to seed money from generous donors as part of a philanthropy campaign.

You can see a video here and below from “pitch day,” where the finalists presented their ideas. What an incredible day! We heard presentations from teams across the organization on topics as important, complex and wide-ranging as pediatric endocrinology, mental health, patient education, pharmacy and social determinants of health.

To say I’m blown away by the wealth of creativity demonstrated across our organization is an understatement.

What’s most exciting about this experience isn’t just the ideas themselves; it’s the culture that fosters them. Healthcare innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about people. It’s about harnessing diverse perspectives, leveraging expertise and building solutions that make a difference. At Sutter Health—where curiosity is numbered among our core values—we’re committed to empowering our teams to think differently, ask “What if?” and turn those answers into actions that truly matter.

My thanks to our Chief Innovation Officer Chris Waugh and Chief Clinical Innovation Officer Dr. Richard Milani and philanthropic leaders Raya Elias-Petros and Malissa Anne Burke and their incredible teams for leading this initiative and investing the kind of energy and leadership that galvanizes next-level thinking like this.

When curiosity is paired with action, it has the power to change lives—and that’s what makes healthcare innovation so extraordinary. It’s also why I feel so privileged to be part of it.