Costs of Care

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

⭐️ New STARS Publication in BMJ Leader! ⭐️

We are excited to announce the publication of our collaborative work, “A learner-driven, longitudinal model for high-value care education: early outcomes from the STARS program,” in BMJ Leader! 📖

This study examines the impact of Students and Trainees Advocating for Resource Stewardship (STARS) and its potential to foster lasting engagement with high-value care among medical trainees.

Participants reported that STARS influenced how they consider healthcare costs, discuss medical overuse, and recognize the impact of costs on patients. Many also connected their participation to subsequent leadership activities, quality improvement projects, educational initiatives, and scholarly work.

These findings highlight the potential of learner-driven, longitudinal models to shape future physicians and catalyze meaningful professional development in high-value care. 🌟

Congratulations and thank you to all of our collaborators who contributed to this work and continue to advance high-value care education!

📖 Read the full publication in BMJ Leader:
https://doi.org/10.1136/leader-2026-001625

08/18/2026

🌟 REMINDER: 1 MONTH UNTIL STARS 2026! 🌟

On September 18, the STARS National Conference will bring together students, faculty, and healthcare leaders in Chicago to advance high-value, patient-centered care.

We’re still seeking sponsors to help make this inaugural conference accessible to more learners:

✈️ Travel Sponsor — $5,000
🍽️ Meal Sponsor — $2,500

Your support helps bring students and faculty mentors together to share their work, build connections, and shape the future of healthcare.

Interested in supporting the next generation of healthcare leaders? Learn more & become a sponsor: https://stars.costsofcare.org/stars-sponsor/

Please share with organizations that may be interested! 🙌

08/12/2026

🏆 Nominations are now open for the 2026 Steven Schroeder Award for Outstanding Healthcare CEO!

Healthcare leaders have the power to make care safer, better, and more affordable for the communities they serve.

Presented by Costs of Care and The Leapfrog Group, this award recognizes a hospital or health system CEO who demonstrates courageous and ethical leadership in advancing both the quality and affordability of healthcare.

Do you know a CEO who is leading meaningful change and making a measurable difference for patients and communities? Nominate them today!

📅 Nominations are open through October 2, 2026.

👉 Submit a nomination: https://costsofcare.org/steven-schroeder-award-for-outstanding-healthcare-ceo/

👉 Read the press release here: https://www.prweb.com/releases/costs-of-care-and-the-leapfrog-group-now-accepting-nominations-for-the-annual-steven-schroeder-award-for-outstanding-healthcare-ceo-302848631.html

Has your healthcare CEO been working tirelessly to improve the quality and affordability of healthcare in your community? If so, please nominate your CEO for the prestigious Steven Schroeder Award

07/29/2026

⭐️ We have a new publication on High-Value Care Career Pathways! ⭐️

Our Costs of Care team, led by Costs of Care Director Dr. Meera Ragavan, MD, MPH, explores four career pathways that can help trainees turn an early interest in high-value care into sustainable professional roles:

🔹 Education
🔹 Care Delivery Research
🔹 Quality & Operations Leadership
🔹 Commercial Innovation

In this new article, Dr. Ragavan and our team highlight how trainees can build careers dedicated to advancing high-value care and creating a healthcare system that is more equitable, affordable, and patient-centered.

Dr. Ragavan is a cancer care delivery research scientist and thoracic medical oncologist at Kaiser Permanente Northern California. She was the 2022–2023 Costs of Care Fellow and continues to champion equity and affordability in cancer care delivery.

📖 Read the full article on HVC Career Pathways:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11606-026-10579-0

The healthcare cost crisis in the USA has become unsustainable, with patients facing rising premiums and deductibles and providers unable to meet their bottom lines, forcing practice mergers and buyouts that further exacerbate gaps in care access. Promoting high value care has been a stated priority...

06/16/2026

🌟 Support the Future of High-Value Care: Sponsor the First-Ever STARS National Conference! 🌟

We’re excited to share a unique opportunity to support the next generation of healthcare leaders through the Students and Trainees Advocating for Resource Stewardship (STARS) program, an initiative of Costs of Care.

Since its launch, STARS has engaged 800+ students from over 60 medical schools nationwide, leading more than 100 quality improvement projects, curricular innovations, and national presentations focused on advancing high-value, patient-centered care.

📍 On September 18, 2026, STARS will host its first-ever National Conference at the Gleacher Center in Chicago, bringing together students, faculty mentors, and healthcare leaders from across the country to showcase student-led initiatives, foster collaboration, and amplify the voices of future physician leaders.

We are currently seeking sponsors to help make this event accessible to more learners:

✈️ Travel Sponsor – $5,000

* Supports travel expenses for 5 medical students and/or faculty mentors

🍽️ Meal Sponsor – $2,500

* Helps provide meals for conference attendees

Sponsors will receive recognition on conference materials and in acknowledgment communications sent to participating medical school deans.

If your organization is passionate about medical education, value-based care, and empowering future healthcare leaders, we would love your support.

Learn more about sponsorship opportunities here: https://stars.costsofcare.org/stars-sponsor/

01/29/2026

Still energized from the 2026 STARS Costs of Care National Leadership Summit! 💫

Incredible to see students from across the country leading conversations on high-value, patient-centered care and real ways to reduce unnecessary services. Throwing it back to last year’s powerful workshops and student innovation — this community just keeps growing stronger as we continue to build a value-driven future of healthcare.

01/14/2026

📣 STARS 2026 National Leadership Summit | This Weekend 🌟

We’re thrilled to host the STARS 2026 National Leadership Summit, a nationwide gathering of future physician leaders committed to high-value, patient-centered care.

💡 Interactive virtual summit for all student Ambassadors

📘 National curriculum on high-value care & leadership

🤝 Mentorship & project planning

🗺️ Nationwide impact

🏫 28 medical schools

👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️ 108 student leaders

🎓 40 faculty mentors

From coast to coast—and across institutions—this summit represents a shared mission: advancing resource stewardship, outcomes that matter to patients, and sustainable healthcare systems.

A huge thank-you to our partner institutions and sponsors, including William Carey University COM, Creighton University, University of Queensland–Ochsner Clinical School, and SCAN Health Plan, for supporting the next generation of healthcare leaders.

🚀 The future of high-value care is collaborative—and it starts here.

12/17/2025

Huge congratulations to Hartford HealthCare President and CEO Jeffrey A. Flaks on being honored with the Steven Schroeder Award for Outstanding Healthcare CEO in partnership with The Leapfrog Group! 🎉 Your leadership and dedication to better, safer healthcare make a real difference—so proud to see you recognized.

Learn more about the Press Release Here: https://www.prweb.com/releases/costs-of-care-and-the-leapfrog-group-honor-hartford-healthcare-ceo-jeffrey-a-flaks-with-steven-schroeder-award-for-outstanding-healthcare-leadership-302642030.html

11/18/2025

⏰ Two Weeks Left to Join STARS 2026! 🌟

Across the country, medical schools are stepping up to transform the future of healthcare through the STARS program. With only two weeks left to enroll for the 2026 cohort, we’re proud to welcome an inspiring group of institutions 🎓 already committed to teaching cost-conscious, patient-centered care: William Carey University (Sponsor School), University of Chicago, Baylor, Texas A&M, UT San Antonio, Mount Sinai, Penn State, Quinnipiac (Netter SOM), UC San Diego, UCSF, UMass Chan, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

📅 Enrollment Deadline: December 1, 2025

If your school hasn’t joined yet, there are just 2 weeks left to be part of the national STARS network for high-value, patient-centered care!

👉 Faculty: Enroll your school here

🔗 stars.costsofcare.org

📬 Questions? Email [email protected]