Subscribe to the pod Pre-Register for Our Live Webinars

A Conversation with Cynthia Brandt, PhD, Chief Executive Officer & President, Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health

Cynthia Brandt, PhD

Chief Executive Officer &
President, Lucile Packard
Foundation for
Children’s Health

Cynthia Brandt was thrilled to join the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health as president and CEO in 2018.

Now she is on a mission—with the outstanding team at the Foundation—to unlock philanthropy to improve health for all kids and moms, in Silicon Valley and around the world.

During 20+ years in fundraising and communications, Cynthia has contributed to important missions and great teams as Campaign Director for the Smithsonian Institution, VP for Advancement at Mills College, and Associate Dean for External Relations at Stanford University’s School of Humanities & Sciences. She is grateful and motivated to give back because others’ generosity allowed her to pursue a PhD and MA in sociology at Stanford and a BA in English and fine arts at Vanderbilt.

Cynthia is passionate about the potential for science to heal humanity and the planet. She is emphatic that this work must be grounded in empathy and a commitment to lift up all people equally.

A Conversation with Cynthia Brandt, PhD, Chief Executive Officer & President, Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health

Dr. Cynthia Brandt joins Eric to discuss her mission to unlock philanthropy to improve health for children and mothers around the world through the foundation, which directs all fundraising for the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford and for the maternal and children’s health programs at Stanford University School of Medicine. Cynthia shares some “bright spots” in children’s healthcare today. In addition to the foundation’s mission, the discussion also touches on topics from health equity to the evolution of philanthropy in healthcare.

Cynthia Brandt, PhD

Chief Executive Officer &
President, Lucile Packard
Foundation for
Children’s Health

  • SUBSCRIBE

    to the Bright Spots in Healthcare Podcast

Excellent programming.  This was my first time attending, and I will be a regular listener. Topics are relevant and timely.

— Margot Ozyp, Vice President, Contract Operations and Performance, Equality Health

I learn something practical every time I tune in!

— Heather Peterman, Director of Healthcare Research and Quality, Minnesota Department of Health Services

These webinars are very helpful and relevant.  They are easy to listen to and have a great variety of topics, speakers and information.  The pace is really engaging.

— Michelle Nelson, Senior Director, Health Improvement, United Regional Health Care

Great conversation about real-life problems caring for real-life patients!!!

— Kim Tjanden, Medical Director, Community Health, CentraCare

Enjoy your programming. Always much needed and relevant information.

— Mary Freeman, Director, Baptist Memorial Health Care

The topics were directly aligned with our company’s missions!

— Tracy Fennessy, Senior Relationship Manager, Business Development & Community Health, Point32Health

Who knew there would be a podcast about my actual job? I appreciate hearing how others are navigating the health plan world.

— Hayley Peebles, Lead Care Manager, Network Health

The Bright Spots series is always very well organized. Provides insight and recapping of key points. Happy to never be lectured or read to, but rather a great productive conversation style.

— Marie Wendt, Director of Clinical Quality & Care Management, Great Lakes Physicians Organization, P.C.

Your programming is spot-on for presenting new and innovative ways to improve health outcomes and care to our members.

— Shelley Krawchuk, RN, CPHQ, Clinical Program Manager, Health Net, Inc

I appreciate the well-balanced nature of the presentation. It gave me great ideas that can be easily implemented.

— Eileen Esposito, Vice President, Ambulatory Clinical Practice, Catholic Health

This is a great opportunity to bring together experts and have an open conversation. There are so many questions. One whole session could be on questions about how engaging it is! Thank you!

— Tracey Greene, Vice President, Personalized Health, Aetna National Medicaid

I picked up quite a bit that I had not considered with SDoH digital divide. It was especially interesting to hear from the panelists their thoughts and the programs they have put into place to improve the member experience, as well as barriers with language and culture. Thank You!

— Jesse Stakes, Associate Director, Clinical Quality, United Healthcare

Great information! Very timely and relevant to what is happening in healthcare.

— Laurie Evans, Director, Business Analytics, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee

The session inspired ideas and initiatives to share across my team at Humana on how we can strengthen our service delivery and implement these strategies in the buildout of new lines of business.

— Nicole Bell, Senior Market Development Professional, Humana

My first time connecting with Bright Spots and I am hooked! We are all managing through uncertainty and this group has amazing thinkers in their field, living in this real healthcare world and providing clarity for the future.

— Robert Santilli, CEO, Gunnison Valley Health

Your programming provided a real-world perspective. This approach created relatability; moreover, it will be easy to apply some of the work to enhance the patient experience.

— Leslie Marsh, CEO, Lexington Regional Health Center

Excellent overview of value and importance of video marketing; as a medical director myself, it opened my eyes to various opportunities for our health system to improve.

— Gerard Isenberg, MD, Chief Medical Quality Officer, University Hospital Cleveland Medical Center

A pirate’s bounty of meaty information!

— Julianne Eckert, Director, Quality Improvement, Clover Health

Menu

Subscribe to the Pod
Pre-Register For Webinars

Secure Payment

The Medicare Advantage Leadership Council (MALC) is an invitation-only peer community for senior Medicare Advantage leaders to exchange proven strategies and real-world “bright spots” across STARS, CAHPS, HEDIS, benefit design, risk adjustment, operations, and provider partnerships.

By activating your Medicare Advantage Leadership Council (MALC) membership, you’re choosing to be part of a small, trusted peer community of leaders who believe progress happens through honest conversation, shared learning, and the willingness to challenge what’s comfortable.

If you’re here, you likely already know: doing this work well can’t happen in isolation.

Membership is limited and approved by Bright Spots Ventures.

Activate your 2026 membership

$695/yr.
Pay with Stripe

☐ I acknowledge and agree to the MALC Membership Terms & Conditions.