I don’t know about you, but my head is spinning these days. So much happening at such an incredible speed. While it may sound like I’m talking about the typical workday for health IT leaders in fast paced organizations, I’m referring to the bigger picture of our federal government under the new administration. I’ve not written a blog in several weeks – in part for loss of words and in part because I’ve had a partial work break spending time in warmer climates.

In the spirit of amplifying important messages from others, my re-entry to blogging is to share an important blog written recently by my StarBridge Advisors colleague, David Muntz – “Protecting Trusted Guardrails: The Perils of Removing Essential Protections”. David has firsthand experience working in the federal government. He left his CIO role at Baylor Health in 2012 to accept a White House appointment to serve as the first Principal Deputy National Coordinator and CIO at ONC (Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator) through the following year. He was a member of HHS’ Chief of Staff Council and Chair of the Federal Health Architecture and mHealth Councils.

The message in his blog is a strong one that health IT leaders can relate to.

Guardrails, whether physical, organizational, or ethical exist for a reason. They safeguard patient safety, data privacy, free expression, and public trust while ensuring that critical institutions operate with integrity and accountability. When these safeguards are dismantled or weakened, the risks to individuals, organizations, and society become profound.

David explores the vital role of independent oversight, regulatory protections, and ethical leadership, drawing on his decades of experience in healthcare, government service, and executive leadership. Recent mass firings and policy shifts raise urgent concerns about transparency, security, and long-term stability.

Key questions that apply to our work as health IT leaders:

• What happens when critical oversight is removed?
• How do we ensure ethical governance in a rapidly evolving world?
• What are the long-term consequences of dismantling trusted institutions?

Now more than ever, we must stand for principled leadership, responsible governance, and a commitment to the greater good. We must uphold the values that sustain our institutions and protect our future.

I encourage you to read his blog and as always stay informed, vigilant and engaged.

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