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Chartis adds AI expertise to accelerate healthcare innovation. With the acquisition of Leap AI, Chartis is growing its Center for AI & Digital Transformation to pursue the development of bespoke artificial intelligence for healthcare organizations. By Andrea Fox, Senior Editor | March 19, 2026 | 1:39 PM Chartis has acquired Leap AI, a vendor of generative artificial intelligence for operating room workflows, including surgical scheduling, real-time performance and resource utilization, and patient care monitoring tools and communications. WHY IT MATTERS The consulting and advisory firm's plan is to design and deploy healthcare AI with its clients, said Tom Kiesau, Chartis' chief AI and digital officer. "As AI becomes industrialized across healthcare, organizations risk losing the ability to innovate against their unique friction points," Kiesau said in the announcement. "Off-the-shelf platforms can't match solutions built around an organization's specific challenges, data and operations." The company's senior leaders have joined the Chartis Center for AI & Digital Transformation as Chartis Leap AI Studio. "By combining that foundation with Leap AI's entrepreneurial energy and technical depth, we'll deliver AI solutions that meaningfully improve how healthcare organizations operate and how patients experience care," said Ali Paasimaa, senior partner and head of Chartis Leap AI, in the statement. THE LARGER TREND Chartis works with more than 1,900 providers, payers, technology innovators, retail companies and investors annually to transform healthcare operations, according to the firm. With the acquisition of the DES Health Consulting team and the creation of the Chartis Center for Burnout Solutions three years ago, the firm has focused heavily on how helping healthcare organizations address workplace friction by improving employee retention and satisfaction for both physicians and nurses. Kiesau told Healthcare IT News last year about his long-term vision for both clinical and operational AI - creating and evolving AI models and governance, and inventing new approaches in how healthcare is delivered. "Demand is up, supply is down, so AI has implications on how we create more supply," he said on HIMSSCast. "We have to leverage new capabilities and transform the delivery model, and AI is part of every facet of that approach." ON THE RECORD "Leap AI brings deep healthcare expertise in AI development and product design, along with experience launching complex, first-of-their-kind solutions," Kiesau said in the statement. Andrea Fox is senior editor of Healthcare IT News. Email: [email protected] Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.

Children's Wisconsin welcomes Harrison Burns as Chief Strategy Officer. Children's Wisconsin Media Relations Children's Wisconsin has named Harrison Burns its new Chief Strategy Officer. In this role, Burns will guide the organization's long-term strategy, which includes identifying new opportunities to meet the evolving needs of children and families, advancing innovative and market-specific growth strategies, establishing and implementing new partnerships while solidifying existing ones, and strengthening the organization's position as a national leader in pediatric health care. "Harrison brings exceptional insight and deep health care experience to our organization," said Gil Peri, President and CEO at Children's Wisconsin. "He has a proven track record in developing and implementing bold strategic plans, and he excels in solving complex problems with data-driven approaches. I know he will play a critical role in advancing our vision for making Wisconsin's kids the healthiest in the nation." Burns is responsible for helping further strengthen the nationally recognized clinical programs of Children's Wisconsin, deepening its commitment to community health and expanding access to care and services across the region. He will foster strategic partnerships at the local, regional and national levels to broaden the organization's reach and impact. The Strategic Planning, Marketing and Communication functions report to Burns. Burns joins Children's Wisconsin from The Chartis Group, a national consulting firm that advises many of the country's leading health care organizations, where he most recently served as a partner. During his time with The Chartis Group, he led or supported strategic planning engagements for more than 30 academic health systems, integrated delivery networks and children's hospitals. "It's a privilege to join Children's Wisconsin, whose unwavering commitment to kids goes beyond treating illness to elevating health and well-being in every community we serve," said Burns. "I'm honored to work with this remarkable team to build strategies that will strengthen that mission, advance new approaches in pediatric care and expand access for children and families across Wisconsin and beyond." Prior to his time with The Chartis Group, Harrison worked at Xcenda, a life sciences consulting firm, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Throughout his career, he has authored numerous publications related to health care strategy and transformation, and he has been a frequent speaker at industry conferences and board retreats. Harrison earned his Master of Business Administration at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina. Children's Wisconsin Media Relations Children's Wisconsin is the region's only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. In fact, everything Children's Wisconsin do at Children's Wisconsin is focused on making the kids of Wisconsin the healthiest in the nation. Burns will oversee the Children's Wisconsin Strategic Planning, Marketing and Communication functions. Located at 2575 E. Evergreen Dr. in Appleton, urgent care will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. The annual rankings recognize the top pediatric facilities across the United States.

Chartis, a leading healthcare advisory firm, today announced that it has acquired Healthlink Advisors, a digital and technology consulting firm... Read More