• Illinois: According to new data from executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 111 hospital CEOs left their roles in 2025, a 7% increase from the 104 who left in 2024. During the fourth quarter of 2025, there were 16 hospital CEO exits, with nine in October, three in November, and four in December. Although there were slightly more hospital CEO departures in 2025 than in 2024, the total number of CEO exits across 29 industries and sectors was lower in 2025 than in 2024. In 2025, there were a total of 2,032 CEO departures, compared to 2,221 in 2024. "The election seemed to set off a wave of leadership exits at the end of 2024 and into the start of last year," said Andy Challenger, workplace and labor expert and chief revenue officer at Challenger, Gray & Christmas. "But after months of rapid-fire change in the face of geopolitical unrest, policy shifts, economic uncertainty and evolving technology, companies are signaling some stability." (Gooch, Becker's Hospital Review, 2/4)
• Minnesota: Medtronic recently announced that it would acquire CathWorks for up to $585 million. The acquisition will help Medtronic expand its interventional cardiology portfolio. In 2022, the companies formed a strategic partnership and co-promotion agreement for CathWorks' noninvasive technology to assess coronary physiology. Until the deal is finalized, CathWorks will operate independently. According to Medtronic, the acquisition is expected to close by the end of fiscal year 2026, pending clearance from the Federal Trade Commission. (Jeffries, Becker's Hospital Review, 2/3)
• New York: Last month, the United States officially withdrew from WHO, terminating all government funding to the organization and recalling all assigned employees and contractors. After the United States' withdrawal, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced that his state would be the first to join WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). Since then, both Illinois and New York City have also announced they would be joining GOAN. According to state officials, Illinois' participation in GOARN means that it would be "directly connected to timely global alert, expert public health networks, and international response capabilities essential to protecting Illinois residents from emerging disease threats." Separately, New York City acting health commissioner and CMO Michelle Morse said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is joining GOARN to "prevent disease outbreaks and public health emergencies and to protect New Yorkers and visitors from them." (Brams, The Hill, 2/3; Suter, The Hill, 2/5)

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