Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Leading Through Change at Strong Memorial Hospital with Deirdre Salanger
Mar 6, 2026
Deirdre Salanger, COO of Strong Memorial Hospital and leader of operations for a regional level 1 adult and pediatric trauma center. She talks about stepping into a new leadership role after maternity leave. Highlights include workforce engagement, juggling access and capacity under financial pressure, disciplined investment in projects, and using digital tools and academic partnerships to drive growth.
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Returning From Maternity Leave Into A New COO Role
- Deirdre Salanger returned from maternity leave and started as COO of Strong Memorial Hospital last summer, onboarding while learning people, culture and the expansive network.
- She dove into regulatory readiness and major capital projects immediately, describing the year as "not an average one."
Prioritize Workforce Support And Engagement
- Prioritize workforce support and engagement because healthcare depends on people and COVID amplified that reality.
- Focus on enabling staff to perform well, improving EMR interactions, and strengthening recruitment and retention strategies.
Balance Access Capacity Across The Care Continuum
- Access and capacity must be balanced across ambulatory, inpatient and post-acute networks amid high demand.
- Federal and state budget shifts, 340B debates, and NIH funding changes directly affect an academic medical center's operations.