Dr. Airica Steed Shares Vision for Transforming Healthcare on the American Journal of Healthcare Strategy Podcast

Dr. Airica Steed Shares Vision for Transforming Healthcare on the American Journal of Healthcare Strategy Podcast

CLEVELAND, OH / ACCESSWIRE / January 7, 2025 / The healthcare landscape is undergoing unprecedented change, yet the path toward an equitable, patient-centered system remains fraught with challenges. Dr. Airica Steed-an accomplished healthcare executive, advocate for health justice, and a fourth-generation nurse-has dedicated her career to tackling these systemic obstacles head-on. Recently, Dr. Airica Steed joined The Strategy of Health podcast by the American Journal of Healthcare Strategy to share her forward-thinking insights on how healthcare leaders can rebuild trust, address disparities, and fundamentally transform care delivery.

Drawing on her extensive experience as a fourth-generation nurse and healthcare executive, including her tenure as the President and CEO of a nearly 200-year-old public health system, Dr. Steed offered clear strategies for tackling urgent issues like social determinants of health (SDOH) and systemic inequities.

Breaking Barriers Through Representation

Healthcare remains one of the least diverse professional fields, especially in leadership roles. Dr. Steed highlighted this disparity with compelling statistics, noting how few healthcare executives or practitioners reflect the communities they serve.

Her appointment as the first woman of color and the first nurse to lead a major Cleveland health system was groundbreaking. But for Dr. Steed, it was more than a personal milestone; it was a reminder of how urgent representation is for building trust. She noted that when healthcare leadership reflects the diverse identities of the patient population, it opens doors for cultural understanding and deeper connections.

"Representation isn't an abstract ideal; it's at the core of how we build credibility and trust within our communities," Dr. Steed emphasized. By setting an example, she aims to inspire healthcare organizations to cultivate and advance diverse talent pipelines that mirror the makeup of their communities.

Turning Personal Tragedy Into Advocacy

Dr. Airica Steed's passion for systemic change is deeply rooted in personal loss and lived experiences. Her family's battles with devastating health outcomes-and her own encounter with preeclampsia-gave her firsthand perspective on the inequalities embedded in America's healthcare systems. These experiences not only shape her personal narrative but also fuel her professional mission.

One stark example she highlighted was the United States' dismal maternal mortality rates, which are alarmingly high even compared to some resource-limited countries. Such inequities spurred her determination to work at the highest levels of healthcare leadership to advocate for sweeping changes.

"You can't fix what's broken unless you truly understand the system's cracks," she remarked, explaining that lived experience has been her greatest teacher in pushing for equitable care.

Tackling Social Determinants of Health

One of the most striking insights Dr. Steed shared was her focus on addressing social determinants of health (SDOH), factors such as housing, education, income, and food security that significantly influence health outcomes. She pointed out a critical reality that many in healthcare may overlook-up to 80% of an individual's health is shaped by these non-clinical factors.

For Dr. Airica Steed, the challenge is clear. Lifesaving advances in medicine mean little if fundamental societal conditions go unaddressed. Whether it's creating access to primary care or helping families escape cycles of poverty, Dr. Steed believes healthcare organizations must step beyond traditional boundaries to tackle these pervasive issues. Doing so, she argued, is not just the right thing to do-it's vital for meaningful population health management.

Engaging Communities to Build Trust

Dr. Airica Steed emphasized that addressing healthcare disparities starts at the community level. To mend the fractures in trust that marginalized populations often feel toward healthcare institutions, leaders must actively engage these communities.

"You need more than words; you need actions," Dr. Steed asserted, advocating for visible, sustained community collaboration. Her solutions included community listening sessions where residents could voice concerns, and advisory councils that bring local leaders directly into healthcare decision-making spaces. She also spoke about hosting free health fairs and outreach programs to genuinely engage with those who often feel left behind by the system.

Dr. Steed described these initiatives as essential for creating equity from the ground up. By listening and responding to the voices of those most affected, healthcare leaders can begin to rebuild credibility and offer solutions that resonate with real people.

Collaboration and Accountability Across Stakeholders

While Dr. Airica Steed calls on healthcare organizations to lead the way, she stressed that solving systemic inequities requires a collective effort. Government agencies, policymakers, and community organizations must collaborate with healthcare providers to drive change.

"If we isolate health equity initiatives to hospitals or boardrooms, we will fail," she explained. Instead, multi-stakeholder accountability-with clear policies and genuine community engagement-can address inequities such as food deserts, poor housing conditions, and environmental hazards. For Dr. Steed, this interconnected approach is vital to fostering sustainable change.

A Vision for the Future

Dr. Airica Steed's ultimate goal is bold yet practical-she seeks to reshape healthcare systems to empower patients so effectively that communities remain healthy and hospital beds stay empty. Through leadership rooted in empathy and an unwavering focus on collaboration, Dr. Steed is laying a foundation for health systems that prioritize equity, prevention, and trust.

Her message is clear: correcting the inequities in healthcare will take time, persistence, and deliberate action. But by focusing on representation, addressing SDOH, deeply engaging communities, and fostering cross-sector accountability, the industry can chart a path toward a profoundly transformed system.

About Dr. Airica Steed

Dr. Airica Steed stands out as a trailblazing healthcare leader whose dedication to equity is both personal and professional. From achieving $300 million in healthcare improvements to advancing maternal health advocacy, her career exemplifies visionary leadership. Recognized as one of Modern Healthcare's 100 Most Influential Leaders and a mother of four, Dr. Steed continues to champion healthcare transformation at both systemic and grassroots levels.

Her story-and the strategies she shared on The Strategy of Health podcast-serves as a testament to what's possible when leadership and advocacy align. Dr. Steed's work is a call to action for all in healthcare, reminding us that building a patient-first system is not just an aspiration but an urgent necessity.

To learn more about Dr. Airica Steed visit: https://drairicasteed.com/

Dr. Airica Steed
Email: asteed@brkthroughpartners.com

SOURCE: Dr. Airica Steed