JPM Health Week always brings the industry together—onstage and off. During #JPM2026, we joined a Chief gathering with leaders across biotech, medtech, and digital health to talk candidly about what’s shaping healthcare right now.
Ahead of the event, participants were surveyed on the biggest pressure points facing healthcare organizations today: talent and organizational capacity; pricing, access, and reimbursement; capital availability and investor expectations; clinical development timelines; commercial readiness and launch execution; and regulatory uncertainty.
Panelists explored the industry’s key headwinds and tailwinds before breaking into sector-specific discussions. A few themes that resonated:
- AI With Accountability: AI is accelerating discovery, care delivery, and how teams work—but leadership, trust, and governance will ultimately define real impact. How D&A can help: We help organizations build trust through clear, credible communications grounded in stakeholder engagement—so innovation is understood, not feared.
- Burnout Is a Systems Problem: Employee burnout isn’t driven by change itself; it’s driven by confusion and chaos. Change is inevitable—clarity is not. How D&A can help: Strong internal communications create alignment, prioritize what matters, and give teams clarity in moments of rapid change.
- The Rise of the “Agility Quotient”: In an uncertain policy and funding environment, resilience and adaptability matter more than ever. Today’s leaders need AQ (agility) alongside IQ and EQ. How D&A can help: Grit and resilience are core to how we work—helping teams navigate complexity, adapt quickly, and move forward with confidence.
- Values as a Strategic Anchor: In volatile times, clear organizational values provide a critical compass for difficult operating and investment decisions. How D&A can help: As an equity-first, full-service communications firm, we help organizations articulate and activate values in ways that guide decisions, build credibility, and earn trust.
- Investing in a 90% Failure Industry: In biotech, where most programs don’t make it, investors are looking closely at intellectual property—how early and how broadly it’s filed—and who owns the data, especially in the age of AI. How D&A can help: We translate complex science, data, and risk into clear narratives that resonate with investors, partners, and regulators.
- Equity in the Age of Consumer Health: Patients are gaining more control over their health, but access remains uneven. With more uninsured people projected in 2026 than ever before, affordability and inclusion remain central challenges. How D&A can help: We design communications that center real people, reduce barriers to understanding, and support access across diverse communities.
- Technology Can’t Replace Humanity: As innovation accelerates, the human side of healthcare becomes even more essential. At the end of the day, this work is about improving and saving lives. How D&A can help: We help organizations lead with humanity—clarifying purpose, building trust, and keeping people at the center of innovation. We ensure that as technology advances, the human impact remains front and center—elevating patient, caregiver, and community voices alongside innovation.
Grateful for the thoughtful dialogue and insights shared by Alicia Tozier, Kate Masschelein, and Anisha Shetty Gulati, and for the chance to be part of these conversations during JPM week.
If your organization is navigating change, growth, or uncertainty in healthcare, let’s talk. We’d love to explore how D&A can support what’s next.
