Healthcare Champions (S2E2): Making healthcare work for real people – Monica Engel

Lessons + insights from S2E2 of BarkleyOKRP’s Healthcare Champions Podcast

Monica Engel brings three decades of experience in healthcare to a brutally honest conversation about why consumer trust has eroded and what it will take to rebuild it. From navigating the Affordable Care Act (ACA) reforms to leading Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial strategies, she’s seen firsthand how complexity, finger-pointing, and lack of transparency fuel frustration. 

Whether it’s surprise billing, broken communication, or the crushing admin load on providers, the system has lost sight of its north star: the patient. Monica argues that consumers want clarity and that building trust starts with making systems work for them.

She also calls out the paralysis in payer-provider collaboration and urges leaders to move beyond Band-Aid solutions and toward bold, systemic overhaul. From task forces that include authentic consumer voices to a culture of innovation that embraces fast failure, Monica lays out a blueprint for long-term impact. She’s clear: the next generation of healthcare leaders must show up with humility, courage, and the willingness to admit what’s not working. Because we’re not just building for others anymore, we’re building for ourselves, too.

Healthcare Champions captures stories from visionaries at the forefront of healthcare business strategy and innovation. Each episode highlights healthcare industry opportunities that could drive real impact from individuals who are champions of real change.

To explore more episodes of Healthcare Champions, click here

Are you looking for a partner who creates gravity for your brand with ideas that attract and keep your customers for life? Contact Sam Meers, EVP, Healthcare, at smeers@barkleyokrp.com