Healthcare’s next frontier: Balancing innovation with ethical responsibility

The 25th annual Kellogg Business of Healthcare Conference (KBHC) brought together nearly 400 attendees across several healthcare sectors. “Broadening the aperture: Expanding perspectives around innovation in healthcare” served as this year’s conference theme, exploring a wide range of topics including digital health, healthcare policy and leadership in healthcare.

The keynote sessions and panels offered insights and compelling dialogue around the healthcare ecosystem including the role of AI in healthcare. Speakers included Dr. David Rhew ’92 MD, global chief medical officer and vice president of healthcare at Microsoft; Ricky Goldwasser ’98 MBA, former head of healthcare, investment banking and equity research at Morgan and board member at Amwell; Lidia Fonseca, chief digital and technology officer at Pfizer; Akshay Kapur, senior partner at McKinsey & Company’s Chicago office; Dr. Sanjay B. Saxena, ‘94, ‘99 MBA, MD, senior partner and managing director at Boston Consulting Group and Craig Garthwaite, professor of strategy and the director of the healthcare program at Kellogg.

Here are some key insights from this year’s KBHC, and hear from some of The Healthcare Club members on why they’re pursuing a career in healthcare at Kellogg. 

AI is a proactive partner in improving patient care

Dr. Rhew highlighted how AI can shift healthcare from reactive to proactive. Using multimodal datasets, AI can identify at-risk individuals through disease screening, stratify risk and triage patients. Rhew gave compelling examples of AI being used to analyze vocal biomarker data as well as canary photos to identify patients at risk of disease. 

The Future of Medicare Advantage featured Paula Daniliuc Sullivan, chief population health officer at Oak Street Health, discussing how Oak Street leverages AI technology to help streamline administrative processes. Sullivan emphasized how their AI scribe technology has empowered clinicians to focus more on patient care and less on documentation — a change so successful that they scaled it across all their clinics. 
 

Accelerating drug discovery and manufacturing with AI 

Exploring the power of AI in drug discovery, Fonseca explained how generative AI can accelerate the identification of novel cancer drug targets by up to 25-30%. She also shared how AI in manufacturing is helping define optimal process parameters — known as the "Golden Batch" — and can detect real-time anomalies, improving product yield by 10% and reducing cycle time by 25%. This technology promises faster delivery of medicines to patients. 

Proving return on investment is key

Both Dr. Rhew and Dr. Saxena underscored the importance of proving the value of AI initiatives and investments whether through time efficiencies, higher reimbursements or other cost savings.  

Goldwasser and Kapur also touched on proving the value of AI during their healthcare investing trends discussion. Kapur noted that healthcare AI companies are set to lead IPO trends, with their success depending on their ability to demonstrate sustainable long-term value. 

Responsible AI must be top of mind

During the AI in MedTech panel, discussions focused several topics including the latest innovations with predictive modeling, accelerated research and development and the importance of ethical AI. Among the panel participants was Sabina Ewing, senior vice president of business and tech at Abbott, who emphasized how trust, transparency and ethical considerations must always guide innovation. She reminded the audience that just because data can be collected, doesn’t mean it should be used indiscriminately.

What MBA students are saying about healthcare at Kellogg 

Mackenzie Anderson ’26 Two-Year MBA Program 
Incoming Co-Chair of Kellogg Business of Healthcare Conference

“The Healthcare Strategy class with Professor Craig Garthwaite has deepened my appreciation for just how complex and interconnected the healthcare industry really is — far beyond payers and providers.

“One of the most memorable case studies we tackled focused on healthcare payment in the United States. Covered during the first week of the quarter, this case set the tone for my formal business of healthcare education at Kellogg. One striking statistic that resonated with me is that, as of 2021, healthcare expenditures comprised 18.3% of the U.S. gross domestic product. I had known that healthcare played a huge role in our economy but seeing that number laid out so plainly really underscored just how much this system impacts every person in the country — and beyond.

“I also really appreciate Professor Garthwaite’s emphasis on developing and defending strong viewpoints — something that will be crucial as we step into leadership roles in this space. Engaging in these discussions has reinforced the importance of critical thinking and strategic decision-making in an industry that touches millions of lives every day.” 

Sonia Salunke ’26 Two-Year MBA Program 

“At Kellogg, I have leaned on alumni for support from understanding niche roles in health tech to navigating career transitions. One of my earliest experiences with the Kellogg healthcare alumni community was at the annual happy hour Kellogg hosts during the JPM Healthcare Conference in San Francisco. I saw firsthand how accomplished and supportive the network was. 

“For my senior executive capstone, I interviewed an alum who had transformed a consulting project with a professor into a full-time role, becoming the first professional hire at the company. He shared something that has stayed with me: ‘A Kellogg e-mail address can get you in the door at the highest levels of an organization, it’s up to you to make the most of that opportunity.’ A coffee chat with another alum led to my summer internship. 

“Hosting alumni on the Kellogg Healthscape podcast has helped me unpack the healthcare landscape and unlock industry insights. I’ll be traveling to the inaugural China Healthcare Deep Dive to connect with Kellogg alumni and gain insight into global healthcare markets. 

“At every stage, Kellogg alumni have provided invaluable guidance, opening doors I didn’t even know existed. Their willingness to mentor and connect has been instrumental in my MBA journey.” 

Terri Zhong ’26 Accelerated Evening & Weekend MBA Program

“As a healthcare consultant, I came to Kellogg eager to deepen my expertise, but I’ll be leaving with something far greater: a completely transformed perspective on leadership in the industry. I now approach leadership with a focus on empathy, collaboration and adaptability; knowing that the best solutions come from empowering others. Whether debating the future of healthcare in class or working on a case study, I’ve learned that leadership in this industry is about more than solving problems; it’s about bringing people together to tackle them. 

“The school’s Healthcare Deep Dive classes have been pivotal, pushing me to think beyond traditional frameworks and focus on creating value in a system that often feels fragmented. Courses like Value Creation in Biotech have opened my eyes to the delicate balance between innovation and accessibility, while attending events featuring healthcare leaders have given me a front-row seat to how they navigate challenges like digital transformation and policy changes.  

“For anyone passionate about healthcare, Kellogg is the place to grow not just as a professional but as a leader.”  

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