Navigating Change, Securing Our Future with CEO Jeff Sollis

As health systems across the country face mounting financial and operational challenges, St. John’s Health is rising to meet the moment—working tirelessly to preserve access to high-quality, compassionate care in Teton County. In this candid conversation, CEO Jeff Sollis shares his outlook on the national and local trends shaping health care today, and how St. John’s Health is boldly positioning itself for a sustainable and impactful future. It’s a call to action—for all of us—to be part of securing that future through visionary support and philanthropic leadership.

What’s your perspective on the current landscape of health care, both nationally and here at home?

The truth is, health care is in a time of deep transformation—and it’s not without its challenges. Across the country, health systems are facing shrinking margins, rising costs, higher levels of uncompensated care, and increasingly complex policy environments. Reimbursements are down, labor costs are up nearly 20% in just a few years, and insurance denials and delays continue to grow. That’s the national reality—and we’re not immune to it.

Here in Jackson, we face our own unique pressures. The cost of living affects both our workforce and our patients. Our payer mix continues to shift away from commercial insurance. And many providers now require employment by the health system in order to remain in the community. At the same time, local tax revenue is threatened, and recruitment remains difficult—especially in key areas like OB/GYN and general surgery.

That sounds daunting. How is St. John’s Health responding?

We are being proactive, not reactive. Despite these headwinds, I remain optimistic about our future. We’re focusing on areas where we can grow services that generate margin—like oncology, GI, and diagnostic imaging. We’re managing expenses rigorously, maintaining a healthy balance of assets and liabilities, and making deliberate decisions to avoid taking on excess debt. Our focus remains on long-term sustainability.

We’ve also made a strong commitment to our people. That means continuing to invest in workforce housing and ensuring our compensation is competitive. It means recruiting top talent—11 new providers joined in the last year—and supporting them with the tools and team they need to thrive.

What role does philanthropy play in meeting these challenges?

Philanthropy is absolutely essential. It allows us to move faster, think bigger, and protect access to the services our community needs most. Whether it’s expanding our oncology program, supporting behavioral health initiatives, or providing housing solutions for our workforce—philanthropic dollars make it possible.

We’re also thinking long-term. That means focusing on legacy giving and growing our endowment to support St. John’s Health for generations to come. Every gift, large or small, is a statement of belief in local care and a stronger, healthier future for our region. We don’t take that trust lightly—and we’re committed to stewarding it with care.

What gives you hope right now?

A lot, actually. There’s innovation happening nationally—AI, robotics, personalized medicine, and a shift toward value-based care. That inspires me. But more locally, it’s our people. It’s our leadership, our clinical team, our Board, and our community of partners. It’s the incredible generosity of donors who believe in our mission and are helping us expand services like radiation oncology at St. John's Health.

We’ve built a reputation that draws exceptional providers to this community, and we have the geography and the distance from large systems to preserve our independence—if we steward it well.

What’s your message to the community as we look ahead?

St. John’s Health is committed to remaining a strong, independent health system. That’s not a static goal—it’s something we have to work at every day. We’re focused on three priorities: driving quality and operational excellence, strengthening and supporting our workforce, and enhancing the breadth and depth of care for our community.

We know what it takes to weather difficult seasons: clear priorities, community trust, and long-term vision. With continued partnership and philanthropic support, I believe we can not only endure this moment—but emerge even stronger.

CEO Jeff Sollis shares insights on community behavioral health needs at the 2024 Becoming Jackson Whole SUMMIT: Giving Rise to a Mindful Community, held October 10–11, 2024 at the Center for the Arts.