Frank About Health - Healthcare in 2026: What Comes Next?

In this special episode of Frank About Health, we take a clear-eyed look at the forces that reshaped healthcare over the past year—from system-wide disruption and clinician burnout to the rapid rise of AI and the growing influence of voices willing to speak uncomfortable truths. Drawing on insights from leaders, clinicians, advocates, and storytellers including Marschall Runge, Phyllis Quinlan, Dale Atkins, Todd Otten, and Tom Ingegno, this episode goes beyond headlines to examine what actually changed—and why it matters. We explore how AI moved from promise to pressure, how leadership and caregiving were tested under strain, and how media and advocacy became critical tools for accountability and healing. Most importantly, we identify the early signals emerging from 2025 that will shape healthcare decisions in 2026—around trust, ethics, regulation, and the human cost of innovation. This isn’t about predicting the future. It’s about recognizing the patterns already in motion—and understanding what patients, professionals, and communities need to be prepared for next. Understanding what happened in 2025 by discussing highlights of shows that we did and how they are creating trends and solutions that will be explored in 2026.