Network Strategic Insights from Onora

Leaning Into The New Year — Leading The Way

As we begin 2026, we face the urgency and opportunity to design a shift of our region’s healthcare and emergency response readiness.  We’re being called upon to continue the evolution of our approaches, intentionally engage with new partners, and lead a deepened commitment to resilience here in Washington. The imperative of this work has never been clearer – spanning local and statewide efforts and extending nationally, during a time of significant change. The conversations, investments, and coordination happening now will shape how well our healthcare system responds when crisis strikes, and how effectively our communities, workforce, and economy are protected.

I am honored to now serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Network, a reflection of the Network’s growth and evolution, and thrilled to be joined by our new 2026-27 Board chair, Jason Biermann, Adjunct Faculty, University of Alaska Fairbanks and former Director of Emergency Management for Snohomish County. We are also welcoming two new Board members, Joseph “Joey” Rodrigues, Executive Director, Olympic Ambulance and Washington Market Executive for the Metro West family of companies, and Atousa Salehi, MD, MBA, FACEP, a physician executive leader in healthcare and public health. Their leadership – and that of our entire Board — strengthens our governance and reflects the depth of commitment across our healthcare and preparedness community.

I also want to recognize the transition of our longest standing Board Chair, Jennifer Graves, MS, RN, who stepped down from the Network board after eight years of board service and leadership during some of our state and country’s most challenging times.  Jennifer’s leadership and partnership was instrumental in the ongoing growth of the Network and our work to advance our mission. In recognition of her decades of involvement, leadership and service to this work, in partnership with our Board we are  proud to announce that in 2026 we will launch the inaugural Jennifer Graves Excellence in Leadership Award to honor and recognize a dedicated leader who embodies a commitment to healthcare and patient centered readiness and resilience. Stay tuned for more information and call for nominations later this spring! Reflecting her legacy and the outstanding leadership of our Board and staff, we are uniquely positioned to strengthen existing partnerships and drive the work to reimagine and implement sustainable healthcare crisis planning that serves all when they need it most.

Championing Sustained Investments in Healthcare Resilience

2025 presented many uncertainties and threats in the federal funding environment for healthcare resilience with the proposed elimination of the federal Hospital Preparedness Program at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. This funding has been the cornerstone of federal investment in healthcare readiness and health care coalitions in our state and across the nation. We are very pleased to share that the proposed FY26 Labor-HHS appropriations bill restores the Hospital Preparedness Program funding with bipartisan agreement. Its elimination would significantly reduce the healthcare response capabilities in our state, including the work the Network leads, and amplify the vulnerabilities across our healthcare ecosystem at a time of increasing threats and urgency. The Network was steadfast in our focus this fall to educate our elected officials on the impacts of this program here in Washington and lend our unique expertise to raise awareness about the impacts and importance of this funding across the country.  We are grateful for the new relationships we were able to establish to support this outcome.

Elevating the Conversation

In January I led a discussion at the State of Reform conference in Seattle focused on strengthening healthcare crisis readiness at the state and local levels. This conversation kicked off many similar conversations centering on a necessary shift: greater shared ownership and investment in preparedness closer to where impact is felt. Leaders from local, state, and national perspectives underscored why readiness matters not only for patient care, but for workforce stability, business continuity, and economic resilience.

What emerged from the discussion was the imperative for the entire healthcare ecosystem, including EMS, supply chain partners, private industry, public health, emergency management, alongside healthcare providers and the Network as a neutral convener—to work beyond traditional portfolios and geographies. The evolving landscape demands new ways of working together, particularly through stronger public-private coordination. This direction is well aligned with the newly released 2026-29 ASPR Strategic Plan, which calls for strengthening preparedness through state and local resiliency and emphasizes disaster readiness is a shared responsibility across government, the private sector, communities, and individuals.

FIFA 2026 World Cup — What You Don’t See

The Network continues to co-lead Washington State’s 2026 FIFA World Cup mass casualty incident (MCI) planning.  We bring together statewide planning through the FIFA World Cup Regional Healthcare Planning and Preparedness Coordination Workgroup. This effort connects healthcare providers, emergency management, local health authorities, EMS agencies, and tribal partners across Western, Central, and Eastern Washington. The workgroup serves as a critical forum to share information on scheduled FIFA events and planning efforts, align strategies across jurisdictions, and integrate regional and county-specific plans into a cohesive, statewide readiness posture.

Grounded in Strategic Focus:

As a reminder, our strategic focus remains clear:

• Strengthening System Readiness: Advancing regional and statewide coordination, surge planning, and 24/7 operational support.
• Partner Collaboration in Action: Deepening connections across healthcare, public health, and emergency management to enable a unified response capability.
• Regional and National Advocacy and Alignment: Engaging statewide and national partners to shape sustainable preparedness funding and protect critical infrastructure.
• Emerging Priorities: Preparing for major events like FIFA 2026 and advancing our role in national readiness frameworks, including the National Disaster Medical System—built on more than a decade of collaboration.

The year ahead will require continued leadership, alignment, and shared responsibility. I am grateful to work alongside partners who understand that readiness is not a single plan or moment, but an ongoing commitment to protecting lives and sustaining our healthcare system when it matters most.

Looking ahead with you as our partner.