What We Are
The Belmont Collaborative for Health Systems Innovation (BCHSI) is a healthcare action collaborative that turns bold ideas into tested, sustainable solutions for the whole-person health journey.
Rooted in Belmont’s medical school and Nashville’s $70B+ health economy, BCHSI operates as a distinct entity that brings together clinicians, entrepreneurs, payers, funders, and community voices to co-design and scale innovations that put people—body, mind, spirit, and community—first.
By educating future physicians as human-first change agents and by proving solutions in real-world settings, BCHSI strengthens both the medical school and the broader health ecosystem. Our work ensures that ideas don’t stall at concept but are validated, scaled, and sustained where they matter most—at the frontlines of care.
What Makes Us Different?
We say we’re transforming healthcare. That starts with redefining who it’s for. Traditional systems center institutions, not individuals. But the future belongs to those who design around the whole person as consumers - recognizing people’s full health journey, not just their episodic care.
Our Premise
An individual isn’t just a “patient”—they’re an essential force in the health economy. They bring data, make choices, and influence others through trust, loyalty, and advocacy. It’s time to center the system around the whole person, elevating their role in shaping health decisions, experiences, and outcomes.
What Changes
- Research shifts from clinical validation to real-world usability.
- Technology moves from provider tools to individual experience.
- Innovation is measured by loyalty, advocacy, and adoption.
- Partnerships are evaluated by the value they unlock for the whole person.
Why Now
People expect healthcare to match the personalization and responsiveness of other industries. BCHSI collaborates with individuals to design systems that reflect their needs and daily realities.
What We Offer
We offer a platform others don't:
- Curate teams → Turning ideas into outcomes
- Provide process clarity → Moving from signal to structure
- Create pathways to scale → Partners share ownership
- Serve as a launch platform → Taking concepts to impact
BCHSI Lifecycle Stages
CONVENE + CURATE
We don't just gather people—we build the right ventures. Operators, funders, clinicians, investors, and system leaders. The value is in who's in the room.
ACTIVATE
We don't just test ideas—we test them where they matter. Real teams, real systems, real patients. From concept to collaboration.
SUSTAIN
We don't just launch—we build to last. Partnering, securing, and supporting thriving innovation networks without infrastructure fads.
BCHSI Offerings
CONVENE + CURATE
- Innovation Labs
- Real design spaces for experimentation and co-creation across disciplines.
- Venture Matchmaking
- Matching system needs with solutions from founders and startups.
- Design Convenings
- Workshops that bring stakeholders together to solve systemic health challenges.
- Voices of Teaching
- Forums for sharing stories and lessons from frontline practitioners.
ACTIVATE
- Proof-of-Concept Sprints
- Time-bound pilot projects that test innovations in real-world settings.
- Structured System Pilots
- Guided pilot programs designed for scalability and measurable outcomes.
SUSTAIN
- Next-Phase Strategy & Capital Pathways
- Support for ventures moving from pilot to operational scale.
- Data + Storytelling for Sustainability
- Tools and frameworks to demonstrate impact and attract ongoing investment.
- Momentum Tracking
- Continuous assessment and insights to keep innovation efforts aligned and thriving.
Who This is For
BCHSI engages those who can shape, fund, implement or scale new ideas:
- Health systems testing or scaling innovation
- Startups seeking validation or integration
- Employers focused on workforce health
- Civic and policy organizations aligned with population health
How You Can Engage
- Fund or co-lead pilot projects
- Join design teams as partners
- Join the Partner Coalition for early access
Join Us in Shaping the Future of Healthcare
The Belmont Collaborative for Health Systems Innovation is a hub for bold ideas and transformative solutions. We welcome partnerships, collaborations, and conversations with those who share our vision of a smarter, more compassionate, and patient-centered healthcare system.
Faculty
Douglas P. Slakey
Email: douglas.slakey@belmont.edu
Office Location: FCOM 6111
Marquinta Harvey
Email: marquinta.harvey@belmont.edu
Office Location: FCOM 6104
Karen Lewis
Email: karen.lewis@belmont.edu
Office Location: FCOM 2110
Richard Lyn-Cook
Email: richard.lyncook@belmont.edu
Office Location: FCOM 6110
Jamie Shaffer
Email: jamie.shaffer@belmont.edu
Office Location: FCOM 6608
Claudia Guerrazzi Young
Email: claudia.young@belmont.edu
Office Location: Barbara Massey Hall 451
Administration
Arlene M. Nitsche
Email: arlene.nitsche@belmont.edu
Office Location: FCOM 6108
Warren Skea
Connect with Us
We’d love to hear from you! Do you have questions, ideas, or want to collaborate? Let’s work together to improve healthcare.