In each newsletter’s popular Take Five feature, we share a five-question interview with leaders in health care delivery, payment, or policy in New Jersey. We highlight leaders from organizations we work with regularly, who span all sectors of health care and policy, and who provide a wide and valuable perspective on the challenges and opportunities they see in health care.

Enabling our members to learn from and engage with each other is an essential part of our work at the Quality Institute. Over the years, we’ve found that building trusted relationships and working together toward common goals can bring about policy and payment change.  Yes, the incremental nature of change in health care can be maddening. But trust and common goals — along with accountability — are essential to driving meaningful and lasting improvements in health care safety, quality, and affordability.

Every year, we review the year’s Take Fives to share the most viewed and assess the focus area themes for the year. In 2025, several key themes emerged: strengthening insurance coverage and access to care; supporting and expanding the health care workforce; sharing the growing role of academia in health care in New Jersey; and addressing the gaps in our mental health system. We also featured the Quality Institute’s growing staff and portfolio of work.

I invite you to take a look at the Take Fives from 2025, especially if you missed any. I am certain you will learn something you didn’t already know. I do every time I get to the end of one of our interviews. And, as always, please reach out and share ideas for leaders and organizations you’d like us to feature.