Becker’s Healthcare Podcast William A. Wertheim, Executive Vice President at Stony Brook Medicine
Mar 8, 2026
William A. Wertheim, Executive Vice President at Stony Brook Medicine and practicing internist who runs a multi-hospital academic system. He talks about embedding care into local communities and opening a freestanding emergency center in East Hampton. He covers structural transformation and shared governance to align clinical and academic priorities. He also discusses leadership visibility and communication during growth and change.
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Regulation And Workforce Drive Tech Adoption
- Health systems face twin pressures from changing regulations and workforce shortages that force strategic consolidation.
- William A. Wertheim highlights technology like AI note tools and revenue-cycle software as tactics to offset cost and staffing gaps.
East Hampton Emergency Center Cut Travel Times
- Stony Brook embedded care into local communities by opening a freestanding emergency department in East Hampton.
- Wertheim noted summer travel times to Stony Brook Southampton could be two to three hours, making the new ED crucial for timely access.
Shared Governance Aligns Clinical And Academic Goals
- Structural transformation and shared governance align clinical and academic priorities across a large system.
- Wertheim argued organizational structure must mirror stated vision to enable community-focused care and sustainable operations.