Navigating Executive Communications in a Politically Charged Health Care Landscape
Amid political pressure and declining public trust, Nationwide Children’s takes a disciplined approach to executive thought leadership.
// By Althea Fung //
Public trust in institutions is eroding, and health policy debates are increasingly polarized. Health care leaders now face growing pressure to speak publicly on issues that blend medicine, politics, and public perception. For executive communications teams, the critical question is not whether to engage, but how and when to do so for maximum credibility.
Jeb Phillips, manager of executive and public affairs communications, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
At the 2025 SHSMD Connections conference in Dallas, Jeb Phillips, manager of executive and public affairs communications at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, offered a targeted thought-leadership framework. This framework guides organizations to prioritize credibility, internal alignment, and disciplined restraint amid shifting public trust in health care.
“We’re operating in a moment where people are looking for a source of truth — and they’re not always finding it in the places they used to,” Phillips said in a recent interview. “When trust in institutions starts to fracture, health care can’t afford to sit on the sidelines, especially when patient care and community health are at stake.”