4 Insights on how CMOs collaborate across teams to drive business growth while improving quality of care

By Harry Leider, MD, MBA , a seasoned healthcare executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in digital health, population health, diagnostics, and biotechnology. He is now the founder of Leider Healthcare Solutions, a business that provides fractional Chief Medical and Strategy Officer support to a wide range of emerging healthcare companies. Among his many executive roles, as the former CMO of Walgreens, he pioneered offering the retail giant’s customers a suite of innovative digital health and telemedicine solutions. As CEO of ZEO Scientifix led the development of powerful regenerative medicine therapies. Harry has also served on the boards and advisory panels of leading companies, driving innovation and impactful solutions across the healthcare landscape.

Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) are uniquely positioned at the nexus of clinical leadership, operational strategy, and business growth. Their role extends beyond medical oversight—they are the architects of collaboration, the stewards of innovation, and often the voices advocating for care pathways that drive improved health and financial outcomes. In a world where musculoskeletal (MSK) care ranks among the top cost drivers, the need for cross-functional collaboration has never been more urgent.

As CMOs, we are tasked with more than ensuring clinical excellence. We are strategic integrators, bridging the gap between clinical, financial, and operational priorities. A recent study by Harvard Business Review found that 70% of CMOs believe their influence extends into financial and operational domains—a clear indication of the evolving nature and importance of this role.

"Building bridges where silos to ensure that clinical solutions meet customers’ needs and drive business success" has become a hallmark of effective healthcare leadership. This approach allows CMOs to navigate complex organizational structures and foster collaboration across traditionally disconnected teams.

Effective collaboration is the linchpin of success for CMOs. Here's how collaboration drives both business growth and care improvement:

1.???? Aligning Clinical and Financial Priorities:

CMOs often partner with CFOs to evaluate the ROI of new clinical solutions. In MSK care, for instance, this could mean investing in AI and predictive modeling tools to identify patients with osteoarthritis that will benefit from interventions that can prevent expensive knee replacement surgery.

2.???? Empowering Operational Teams:

Collaboration with IT and operations ensures the seamless integration of innovations.? For example, the combination of telemedicine evaluation of MSK patients combined with home visits requires collaboration across operations, clinical, and operations business units.

3.???? Creating a Culture of Innovation to Meet Clients’ Needs:

Building relationships with HR and wellness teams can lead to transformative wellness programs. Workplace initiatives addressing MSK conditions have shown a 20% reduction in absenteeism within the first year.

MSK conditions affect 1 in 2 adults and are responsible for billions in lost productivity annually. CMOs play a critical role in addressing this by:

·?????? Promoting Prevention: Early intervention and physical activity programs can reduce the onset of MSK disorders.

·?????? Investing in Innovation: Solutions like Apos, a precision therapy for MSK pain, combining an innovative personalized footworn medical device and PT treatment programs, exemplify how technology can mitigate the impact of MSK conditions, clinically and financially.

·?????? Breaking Down Silos: Aligning stakeholders across payor, provider, and employer domains is essential for a unified approach to care.

What happens when a CMO identifies a treatment as clinically effective and financially beneficial, but final decisions rest with the executive team in a client organization.

This is a common challenge but one that can be navigated with strategic influence:

1.???? Build Consensus Early:

Engage with executive team members from the outset. Present clear data demonstrating the proposed solution’s clinical and financial benefits.

2.???? Leverage Patient and Provider Stories:

Share compelling narratives that humanize the impact of the proposed solution. Real-life examples resonate more deeply than numbers alone.

3.???? Foster Cross-Departmental Champions:

Identify allies within finance, HR, and operations who can amplify your case and advocate for the treatment.

4.???? Present a Holistic Business Case:

Include potential cost savings, improved employee satisfaction, and reduced absenteeism in your proposal to appeal to broader organizational goals.? Consider offering “guarantees” for key clinical and financial outcomes in a new client contract.

5.???? Create Pilots for Proof:

Suggest a small-scale pilot program to demonstrate the treatment’s effectiveness and ROI, lowering the perceived risk of adoption.

“As a CMO, I’ve often faced the challenge of advocating for treatments that align with clinical evidence and financial savings, only to encounter organizational roadblocks. Effective leadership demands perseverance. By building coalitions, sharing compelling data, and fostering a culture of innovation, I’ve witnessed transformative changes that benefit patients and drive measurable business results

Healthcare transformation is a collective effort. CMOs are uniquely positioned to lead this change, particularly in high-cost areas like MSK care, where there is a compelling opportunity to simultaneously improve health outcomes and reduce unnecessary medical spending. By embracing collaboration, leveraging technology and innovation, and prioritizing outcomes, we can achieve both clinical excellence and business growth.”

The newsletter is brought to you by AposHealth’s flagship solution Apos?.

Over 150,000 people worldwide have already been treated for knee, lower back, and hip pain- with Apos?, enjoying a better life while simultaneously reducing healthcare costs for themselves, insurance companies, and employers.

Learn more at www.aposhealth.com