CANCERX Champions Lead Innovation Discussion at HIMSS25

CancerX Champions from Advocate Health and Moffitt Cancer Center joined together for an insightful panel at HIMSS25 this month.

The panel, titled "Financial Pressures in Health Systems: Responsible Innovation for Sustaining Missions," explored how leading healthcare organizations are leveraging innovation to generate revenue while fulfilling their core missions.

Xavier Avat, EVP and Chief Business Officer at Moffitt Cancer Center, and Rasu Shrestha, MD, MBA, EVP and Chief Innovation & Commercialization Officer at Advocate Health, shared their organizations' approaches to innovation in the face of financial challenges. They were joined by Lindsay Deneault, AVP of Partnership Development at Advocate Health, and Kamal Jethwani, MD, MPH, VP of Digital Innovation at Moffitt Cancer Center, who moderated the discussion.

The panel highlighted successful innovation models from both organizations, including Moffitt's "Studio Model" for developing ideas from concept to commercial success, and Advocate Health's significant investments in innovation districts like The Pearl in Charlotte and the Innovation Quarter in Winston-Salem. These initiatives demonstrate how health systems can create thriving innovation ecosystems while generating economic impact.

Digital solutions and AI were emphasized as critical tools for extending life-saving missions, with both organizations showcasing how they curate, catalyze, and convert innovative ideas into measurable value. The panelists discussed the importance of strategic partnerships, innovation engine capabilities, and technology transfer in creating sustainable healthcare innovation.

The CancerX community continues to benefit from the leadership of these forward-thinking executives who are pioneering new approaches to healthcare innovation while addressing financial pressures. Their work exemplifies how responsible innovation can help sustain and expand vital healthcare missions, particularly in cancer care and research.