The IHF gathered global insights from members worldwide to publish articles in the Summer 2025 issue of the Frontiers of Health Service Management journal (ACHE, USA).

In her editorial introducing the Summer 2025 issue, Carla Jackie Sampson, Editor of Frontiers of Health Services Management, stated the case for global perspectives in US healthcare leadership.

“By studying global approaches, US healthcare leaders still have the chance to elevate care delivery standards, enhance access, and optimize outcomes. In this linked world, leaders may adapt new ideas from abroad. These solutions await necessary tailoring for the complexities and dynamism of the American healthcare landscape. With this global approach, we may discover that the future of healthcare lies in synthesizing diverse ideas, adapted with precision to local contexts. For those still questioning whether looking beyond US borders yields tangible benefits, the answer is simple: The lessons are abundant, the stakes are high, and the opportunities to transform are limitless.”

The five featured articles from IHF members focus on the themes of:

• digital transformation
• innovation
• patient safety
• value-based care
• leadership development.

Harold F. Wolf III, President and CEO, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), shared his insights in the article “Global healthcare enters a transformative era of accelerating technology”, exploring the path forward that digital health transformation offers in improving efficiency, expanding access, and enabling proactive care, to build a more sustainable, equitable, and patient-centred healthcare system.

David E. Entwistle, President and Chief Executive Officer, Stanford Health Care, focused on “Essential innovation: Thriving amid significant change”, where he shared several approaches to driving progress by prioritizing three areas for innovation that are essential for systems navigating a rapidly changing industry: (1) ensuring access to timely care amid resource constraints, (2) fostering local innovation and knowledge sharing, and (3) strengthening support for healthcare workers globally.

Dr Jonathan B. Perlin, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Joint Commission and Joint Commission International, Dr Neelam Dhingra, Vice President and Global Chief Patient Safety Officer, Joint Commission International, and Kevin Zacharyasz, Director of Healthcare Sustainability, The Joint Commission and Joint Commission International, authored a piece on “Achieving a sea change in world-class care, from safety to sustainability”. They considered that global healthcare has become exceedingly complex – clinically, financially, administratively, and even politically – and that several key areas of focus remain at the forefront of the international patient safety movement – from capacity strengthening to healthcare equity and sustainability.

Richard L. Gundling, Senior Vice President Professional Practice, Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), covered “Hearing the voice of the patient in value-based care initiatives: Lessons from international experiences”, sharing lessons learned from hospitals that have implemented patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) in clinical care and signposting selected resources for healthcare organizations beginning their PROMs journey.

And from the IHF Secretariat and Geneva Sustainability Centre team, Ronald Lavater, Sylvia Basterrechea, and Andrew N. Garman contributed an article on “International healthcare leadership: The global pursuit of a healthier future”. They presented insights from four global healthcare leaders, who discuss their backgrounds, leadership approaches, and the influence of international learning on their own journeys, especially in regard to environmental sustainability, as well as recommending practical ways to connect with international learning communities to expand access to innovative solutions. The leaders featured in this article are all members of the IHF Governing Council: Dr Henry Gallardo, Director General of Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá (FSFB), Colombia; Dr Muna Tahlak, Chief Medical Officer at Dubai Health and Vice Provost of Clinical Practice at MBRU, as well as Chief Executive Officer of Latifa Hospital, Dubai; Dr Eugene Fidelis Soh, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, Population Health (National Healthcare Group, Singapore), Executive Director, Centre for Healthcare Innovation (National Healthcare Group, Singapore), Chairman of the Centre for Healthcare Innovation (CHI) Co-Learning Networks; and Dr Zeenat Sulaiman Khan, Regional Chief Executive Officer Aga Khan Health Service, East Africa (AKHS-EA) and Global Head of Quality, Clinical Programs, and Projects for Aga Khan Health Services.

With sincere thanks and appreciation to all contributors for dedicating their time and expertise to support the IHF’s commitment to global learning for local action. Insights from these IHF Members and many other global healthcare leaders will be part of the programme at the 48th IHF World Hospital Congress in Geneva, Switzerland, from 10 t0 13 November 2025.