The Orange County Business Journal’s Healthcare Roundtable brings together the region’s most influential healthcare leaders for an in-depth, solutions-driven discussion on the future of care. Featuring executives from leading organizations, including hospital systems, health plans, research institutions, and community health initiatives, this Q&A explores the most pressing issues shaping healthcare today—from preventive care and behavioral health to innovation, technology, and access.
Through expert insights, this roundtable highlights how Orange County’s healthcare ecosystem is evolving to meet growing demand while improving outcomes and managing costs. Leaders discuss the critical shift toward preventive and value-based care models, the integration of data, AI, and virtual health, and the importance of coordinated systems that prioritize early intervention and whole-person care.
The conversation also underscores Orange County’s role as a hub for healthcare innovation, driven by collaboration between providers, universities, and research institutions. From breakthrough treatments and clinical trials to community-based care initiatives, the region continues to lead in advancing patient-centered solutions.
This exclusive roundtable offers the business community valuable perspective on the strategies, challenges, and opportunities defining healthcare in Orange County—and what lies ahead for one of the region’s most vital industries.
PARTICIPANTS
| Beth Andersen | CA Commercial Business | Anthem Blue Cross |
| Barry Arbuckle, PhD | CEO | MemorialCare |
| Robert T. Braithwaite | President & CEO | Hoag |
| Kimberly Chavalas Cripe | Co-President & CEO | Rady Children’s Health |
| Shawn Farrokhi, PT, Ph.D. | Chair & Professor | Dept. of Physical Therapy Chapman University |
| Phil Franks | CEO | Be Well OC |
| Brian Helleland | Chief Executive | Orange County / High Desert Providence South Division |
| Yunkyung Kim | COO | CalOptima Health |
| Chad T. Lefteris | President & CEO | UCI Health |
| Dawn Maroney | President | Alignment Health |
| Kim Mikes, MBA, BSN | CEO | Hoag Orthopedic Institute |
| Payman Roshan, MBA | Senior Vice President & Area Manager | Kaiser Permanente Orange County |
| Stephen E. Thorne IV | Founder & CEO | PDS Health |
| Annette M. Walker | President | City of Hope Orange County |
