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In late June, Angela Davis was named CFO of Juneau, Alaska-based Bartlett Regional Hospital. 

With nearly three decades of experience in healthcare finance under her belt, Ms. Davis brings a people-centered, purpose-driven leadership style to her work, with an emphasis on long-term stability, transparency and trust.

Becker’s connected with Ms. Davis to discuss the top priorities in her new role, the leadership lessons that have shaped her throughout her career and advice for incoming leaders in healthcare finance.

Editor’s note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Question: With over 28 years of financial leadership experience, what lessons have most shaped your approach to leading financial operations in healthcare? How will you take these lessons into your new role?

Angela Davis: One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that financial leadership must be rooted in purpose — serving not just the bottom line, but the people and communities behind it. Building trust through transparency, responsiveness, and partnership across departments is essential to aligning resources with meaningful outcomes. I’ve seen time and again that when teams feel supported and operations are clear, strong financial performance follows naturally. In this role, I will bring both financial discipline and a deep commitment to the long view — ensuring that each decision strengthens the organization’s ability to thrive, grow and deliver excellent care for years to come.

Q: What are your top two or three  priorities in your first six months as CFO? How do you plan to ensure financial sustainability while supporting community-focused care?

AD: My immediate priorities include strengthening financial reporting and forecasting, improving cost transparency across service lines and aligning capital and workforce planning with long-term service delivery needs. I believe strong financial operations create the foundation for innovation, staff engagement, and patient-centered care. To that end, I’ll work closely with clinical and operational leaders to ensure financial decisions support both excellence today and sustainability for the future. At Bartlett, our mission to provide excellent care for the people of Juneau and southeast Alaska will guide how we prioritize, invest and lead. And our C.A.R.E. values — courtesy, accountability, respect and excellence — will remain central to how we support one another, grow together and serve our community with integrity.

Q: What advice would you offer to emerging leaders in healthcare finance looking to make a lasting impact in their organizations?

AD: Be curious, be present and always remember that healthcare finance is about people — not just numbers. Take time to understand how financial decisions shape the experience of patients, staff, and the broader community. Build relationships across teams, listen actively and lead with both clarity and empathy. A lasting impact comes from earning trust, being a responsible steward of resources, and consistently aligning decisions with a shared commitment to care. Embrace technology to drive efficiency, transparency and better decision-making while staying informed about emerging trends that shape the future of healthcare finance and governance. These key pillars leave a lasting positive impact on the patients, staff and organization.
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Members of the National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United, are set to strike July 24 at Ascension St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore — marking the nurses’ first-ever strike.

The union represents more than 600 nurses at the hospital, according to a July 14 committee news release. Ascension St. Agnes is part of St. Louis-based Ascension, which has approximately 99,000 employees.

Workers voted to authorize a strike in May, though the hospital and union have been negotiating a new labor contract since January 2024. Ascension told Becker’s the hospital has been committed to reaching a deal “that respects our nurses’ right to choose whether or not to be dues-paying union members, addresses safe staffing and provides market-competitive wages. In May, St. Agnes drove the implementation of an average wage increase of 9% for full and part-time nurses because it was the right thing to do as bargaining continued.” 

The union contends Ascension management has failed to address nurses’ concerns about what it describes as short staffing, unsafe floating assignments and problems with RN retention. “We want to give our patients the best care at all times, but that is difficult to do when we are stretched too thin,” Nicki Horvat, RN, said in the committee release.

“We remain focused on continuing to bargain in good faith to reach a successful conclusion of these negotiations while ensuring continued access to care for our patients during NNU’s strike,” the hospital added.
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Albemarle, N.C.-based Atrium Health Stanly plans to launch a virtual nursing program thanks to a $1.45 million grant.

The grant is the largest of several funded through a $4 million gift to the Atrium Health Foundation from the Duke Endowment. Atrium Health Stanly will become the first rural North Carolina hospital fully wired for virtual nursing. The program is expected to create 50 new jobs.

“We are grateful to the Duke Endowment for embracing Atrium Health’s forward-thinking approach to meeting our evolving needs for nursing care,” said Marietta Abernathy, DNP, RN, facility executive for Atrium Health Stanly, in a July 11 news release. “Having cameras in every room will enable our bedside nurses to focus on direct patient care while virtual nurses provide continuous monitoring and timely interventions, helping to reduce hospital readmissions and improve outcomes.”

Atrium Health’s parent system, Charlotte, N.C.-based Advocate Health, has one of the largest virtual nursing presences in the country. But the care model has been slower to roll out in rural areas.

The $4 million in grants also includes $559,000 for Atrium Health to study the effects of DAX Copilot‘s Spanish-language translation capabilities, $775,000 to develop online scheduling for Atrium’s school-based virtual clinics, and $755,000 to support a dedicated headquarters and apprenticeship positions for the Health Sciences Academy at Monroe, N.C.-based Atrium Health Union.
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The number of emergency department visits for COVID-19 is growing across 11 states and likely growing in 14 others, according to CDC data published July 11. 

The data helps visualize whether the number of new respiratory infections is growing or declining, but the model does not provide the actual number of current SARS-CoV-2 infections. 

COVID-19 infections usually peak during winter months and late summer, according to the CDC. Nationally, wastewater data shows COVID-19 activity is “low.”

However, ED visits for COVID-19 are increasing in Alabama, California, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Texas and Virginia. They are likely growing in Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wisconsin. 

An emerging COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, could be contributing to the recent increase in COVID-related ED visits. One symptom of NB.1.8.1 is a severe sore throat, which has been nicknamed as “razor blade throat,” according to ABC News. 
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The mortality rate among registered nurses in the U.S. was more than two times higher than the mortality rate among physicians between 2020 and 2022, according to a study published Feb. 24 in JAMA Internal Medicine. 

Researchers from Boston-based Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital used data from the National Vital Statistics System to compare mortality among healthcare, including physicians, registered nurses and physician assistants. 

Here are five notes from the study:

Among physicians, registered nurses and physician assistants ages 25 to 74 years old between 2020 to 2022, registered nurses had the highest all-cause mortality rate.

OccupationDeaths per 100,000Physician assistants416.1Physicians269.3Registered nurses550.9

During the same time period, registered nurses had higher mortality rates compared to physicians and physician assistants across 13 causes of death. Physician assistants had a higher mortality rate for liver disease and hypertension. 

Cause of death (per 100,000 person-years)Physician assistantsPhysiciansRegistered nursesNeoplasms116.589.5134.3Heart disease72.340.598COVID-1940.622.557.2Injuries22.516.639Suicide16.312.117.4Stroke16.28.817.7Diabetes13.56.822.1Liver disease14.45.814.1Alzheimer’s disease33.35.6Respiratory diseases10.33.320Septicemia3.93.18Parkinson’s disease2.22.93.3Kidney disease32.78.3Hypertension6.52.66.2Influenza5.82.66.6

Among physicians only, female physicians had higher mortality rates from neoplasms and chronic lower respiratory diseases compared to male physicians.Black female physicians had the highest mortality rate among all physician subgroups.

Black healthcare workers had a higher mortality rate than white healthcare workers across all occupations, but the ratio was largest among physicians. The largest mortality ratio differences among Black and white physicians were seen in neoplasms, heart disease and COVID-19.

“Although physicians and most healthcare workers experienced lower mortality rates compared with the general population, this benefit did not fully extend to female individuals or racial and ethnic minority groups,” the study authors wrote. “Renewed efforts are needed to address health inequities within the healthcare workforce.”

Read the full study here.
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AstraZeneca’s drug candidate baxdrostat lowered systolic blood pressure in a phase 3 clinical  trial involving patients with uncontrolled or treatment-resistant hypertension. 

In the trial, patients who received either 1 mg or 2 mg of baxdrostat once daily had a greater reduction in mean seated systolic blood pressure after 12 weeks compared with those who received a placebo, according to a July 14 news release from the drugmaker. 

Participants continued their existing antihypertensive treatments during the study, the release said. 

AstraZeneca said it will share data with regulators and present results from the study at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in August. 
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President Donald Trump has announced new tariff actions targeting major U.S. partners, including the European Union, Mexico and Canada. 

Here are five things to know: 

President Trump said that all imports from the EU and Mexico would face a 30% tariff starting Aug. 1, excluding sectoral tariffs such as the 25% auto tariff, CNN reported July 13. He posted letters to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyan and Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, stating the tariffs were intended to achieve more “balanced and fair trade.”

Ms. Leyan said a 30% tariff would hurt supply chains, businesses and consumers, adding that the EU “will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required.” French President Emmanuel Macron echoed the view, writing in a post to X, “In particular, this implies speeding up the preparation of credible countermeasures, by mobilising all the instruments at its disposal, including anti-coercion, if no agreement is reached by August 1.”

President Trump also imposed 35% tariffs on Canadian goods, effective Aug. 1, ABC News reported July 11. In a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, he cited fentanyl trafficking and unfair trade practices. In addition, President Trump warned that any further retaliation would result in even higher U.S. tariffs. In response, Mr. Carney posted a 114-word statement on X stating, “Throughout the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government has steadfastly defended our workers and businesses. “We will continue to do so as we work towards the revised deadline of August 1.”

Mexico’s Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard posted on X that a Mexican delegation told U.S. officials that the tariff rate would be “unfair treatment and that we did not agree.” In a speech July 12, Ms. Sheinbaum stated, “The letter clearly states that the aim is to reach an agreement so that these tariffs are not imposed,” and added that she is confident about reaching an agreement with the U.S.

President Trump warned that tariffs of up to 200% could soon hit pharmaceutical imports. Analysts at UBS and Barclays warned that the move would raise drug prices and compress margins, CNBC reported July 11. “A 200% tariff would inflate production costs, compress profit margins, and risk supply chain disruptions, leading to drug shortages and higher prices for U.S. consumers,” Barclays wrote to the news outlet. UBS said a 12-18 month grace period is insufficient time to move manufacturing to the U.S.

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Here are six new drug shortages and discontinuations, according to drug supply databases from the FDA. 

Levothyroxine sodium tablet: EMD Serono has discontinued all presentations of Euthyrox levothyroxine tablets, an endocrinology drug prescribed for thyroid hormone replacement. Discontinued strengths include 25 ug to 200 ug tablets in multiple packaging formats. The discontinuation is due to the end of manufacturing. 

Morphine sulfate injection: Hospira has discontinued the manufacture of three presentations of morphine sulfate injection, an analgesic used to manage pain. The discontinued formulations include 4 mg/1 mL, 8 mg/mL and 10 mg/mL injections. The discontinuation is due to the end of manufacturing. 

Octreotide intramuscular injection kits: Teva has reported a shortage of 10 mg, 20 mg and 30 mg kits of octreotide acetate intramuscular injection, a drug used in endocrinology and oncology. No reason for the shortage has been provided. Novartis has Sandostatin LAR Depot kits available. Teva estimates resupply of the 10 mg kits in mid-June 2025 and the 20 mg and 30 mg kits in late June. 

Oseltamivir phosphate capsule: Genentech has discontinued Tamiflu 30 mg capsules, an antiviral medication used to treat influenza. The discontinuation is due to the end of manufacturing. 

Potassium chloride tablet, extended release: Mylan Pharmaceuticals has discontinued four presentations of its Potassium chloride tablet, used in endocrinology/metabolism and gastroenterology. Discontinued formulations include 8 mEq tablets. The discontinuation is due to the end of manufacturing. 

Scopolamine transdermal system: Baxter and Teva have reported shortages of scopolamine transdermal patches, used to prevent motion sickness and nausea. Affected products include Baxter’s 1.5 mg patches and Teva’s 1.3 mg patches. Neither manufacturer provided a reason. Alternatives are available from Ingenus, Viatris, Padagis, Rhodes and Zydus. Teva expects some resupply between July and October 2025, while Baxter has not provided an estimated release date. 

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Massachusetts HHS secretary Kate Walsh has stepped down from her position after more than 40 years in healthcare. Kiame Mahaniah, MD, succeeded Ms. Walsh on July 14.

Prior to her role as state HHS secretary, Ms. Walsh served as CEO of Boston Medical Center for 13 years, according to a July 11 news release.

Ms. Walsh will continue to serve Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey as a senior advisor on health and human services matters.

Prior to his appointment, Dr. Mahaniah served as undersecretary of health for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. He also served as CEO of Lynn (Mass.) Community Health Center. 
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The FDA published a database containing more than 200 letters to pharmaceutical companies detailing why the agency initially refused to approve their products, The New York Times reported July 10. 

FDA officials described the move as a form of “radical transparency.” The documents, known as complete response letters, outlined early concerns about drugs that were eventually approved. Letters about products that were never approved were not included. 

“For far too long, drug developers have been playing a guessing game when navigating the FDA,” said Marty Makary, MD, the agency’s commissioner, in a statement to the Times. “Drug developers and capital markets alike want predictability.” 

HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon acknowledged that many of the letters were public already, but said it is the first time a centralized database has been made available. 

A review of the letters addressed to companies showed that they often revolved around problems discovered in manufacturing facility inspections and others outlined concerns about drug safety or effectiveness. 

One letter showed why the agency initially declined to approve testosterone drug Jatenzo, then being developed by company Clarus Therapeutics. The letter said the drug could increase blood pressure, raising the risk of major heart problems and concluded that the drug’s risks outweighed its benefits. 
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