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HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | JUNE 29, 2026 23 POWE R 25 | HE ALTHCARE S onja LaBarbera is president and CEO of Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, a rehabilitation-focused healthcare system providing inpatient and outpatient care. She has focused on expanding clinical services, workforce development, education and research initiatives during her tenure. Under her leadership, Gaylord has expand- ed residency training programs, strength- ened research and innovation efforts and grown outpatient rehabilitation services deeper into the community. She is also a national advocate for long-term acute care hospitals, focusing on policy, reimburse- ment and patient access issues. Over the past year, Gaylord expanded its outpatient footprint and volume by nearly 30%, including growth into Fairfield County, and opened additional hospital beds to support acute care partners, LaBarbera said. The organization also launched an inter- ventional pain center and regenerative medicine programs offering non-opioid and non-surgical pain management op- tions. LaBarbera also oversaw the creation of a formalized Center for Education focused on workforce development and clinical training programs. If you could change one thing in the healthcare industry, what would it be? I would advance payment reform that re- wards prevention, wellness and long-term health outcomes. A system designed to keep people well, rather than just treat illness, will deliver better results for patients, providers and communities alike. D r. Andrew "Andy" Agwunobi is CEO and executive vice president for health affairs at UConn Health and CEO of the UConn Health Community Network. The academic medical center includes a teaching hospital, faculty practice, schools of medicine and dental medicine, graduate P aula Greenberg leads Women's Health Connecticut, a statewide women's health management services organization supporting more than 200 physicians and 100 advanced practice providers serving over 300,000 patients annually. S hannon R. Sullivan is president and CEO of Connecticut Children's, the state's only health system dedicated exclusively to children. A social worker by training, she has more than 20 years of healthcare leadership experience. Prior to joining Connecticut Children's, Sullivan served as president and chief oper- programs, research facilities and biotech- nology incubator space. Over the past year, Agwunobi has led a major expansion of the UConn Health Community Network. Following the acqui- sition of Waterbury Hospital, UConn Health advanced affiliation agreements with Day Kimball Hospital and Bristol Hospital, extending its reach into northeastern and central Connecticut. The growing network, which also includes a recently acquired children's psychiatric facility in Middletown, is expected to ex- pand to 925 beds as UConn Health seeks greater scale in Connecticut's increasingly consolidated healthcare market. UConn Health also continued to earn national recognition for quality and patient safety. John Dempsey Hospital received its 10th consecutive "A" grade from Leapfrog, the School of Medicine surpassed $100 million in annual research funding, and clinical demand continued to grow, with net patient revenue exceeding $1 billion. What is one change that would make Connecticut more competitive economically? Continuing to strategically position Con- necticut as a national leader in next-gen- eration technologies, including quantum computing and artificial intelligence, will be essential to driving innovation, econom- ic growth and long-term competitiveness. She oversees clinical programs and operations, including strategy, technology, quality, risk, outcomes and financial per- formance. Greenberg's recent focus has included expanding access to care through virtual and after-hours services, including behavioral health support, gestational di- abetes management, nutrition counseling, menopause care and expanded in-office breast imaging. Looking ahead, the organization is navigat- ing workforce and technology challenges, including the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Greenberg said sustaining a strong workforce and organi- zational culture will be key. The organization is also investing in intern- ships and practicums to help build a talent pipeline for technical and clinical roles, including sonography, mammography and laboratory services. If you could change one thing in the healthcare industry, what would it be? One of the biggest opportunities in health- care is restoring trust through transparen- cy, communication and a strong focus on patient outcomes. Additionally, accelerating the shift toward preventive, value-based care to improve long-term health outcomes and make care more sustainable for everyone involved. ating officer of Women & Infants Hospital in Rhode Island, where she oversaw a financial turnaround, expanded access to care and supported programs focused on maternal and child health disparities. Over the past year, Connecticut Children's opened a new eight-story clinical tower that includes private neonatal intensive care unit rooms designed to support pa- tient care and family experience. The orga- nization also marked its 30th anniversary with its "Then. Now. Next." campaign while continuing to expand pediatric specialty care and statewide partnerships. Sullivan said Connecticut Children's contin- ues to face industrywide pressures related to reimbursement, workforce shortages and rising healthcare costs, while also focusing on innovation, specialty growth and expanding access to pediatric care across Connecticut. If you could change one thing in the healthcare industry, what would it be? I would strengthen investment in pre- vention, primary care and mental health resources for children. Too often, healthcare rewards treating ill- ness instead of building healthier commu- nities upfront. Investing earlier in children and families creates better long-term outcomes, stronger communities and ul- timately a healthier and more sustainable healthcare system for everyone. Shannon R. Sullivan President & CEO Connecticut Children's Employees: 3,800 Education: Bachelor's degree, social work, Providence College; master's degree, healthcare leadership, Brown University; master's degree, social work, Boston College Dr. Andrew Agwunobi CEO and EVP of Health Affairs UConn Health CEO UConn Health Community Network Education: MBA, Stanford Graduate School of Business; medical degree, University of Jos Nigeria Paula Greenberg President & CEO Women's Health Connecticut Inc. Employees: 1,300 Education: Bachelor's degree in nursing, University of Connecti- cut; MBA, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Sonja LaBarbera President & CEO Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Employees: 1,045 Education: Bachelor's degree in education of speech and hearing handicapped, State University of New York College at Fredonia; master's degree, speech-language pathology, State University of New York College at Fredonia; master's degree, organizational leadership, Quinnipiac University