Liz Lewis

Director of Product, CommonWell Health Alliance

What inspired you to pursue a career in healthcare IT leadership, and how has your journey evolved in this field over the years?

My journey into healthcare IT started at a cardiology practice during high school and college, where I got a front-row seat to the shift from paper charts to electronic health records (EHRs). Seeing firsthand how technology could transform workflows ignited my passion for improving healthcare through IT. In grad school, I dove deeper, focusing on healthcare communication and researching the experiences of veterans—exploring how to ensure they receive the care needed to thrive. That mission of driving better outcomes has been a consistent thread in my career.

My leap into interoperability came at Greenway Health, where I built lab and scheduling interfaces, gaining hands-on experience with how data exchange impacts care. Later, as a contractor with DirectTrust, I launched an EHR roundtable to unite leading vendors in solving shared challenges. It was a collaborative effort that snowballed into broader discussions across the industry.

Four years ago, I joined CommonWell full-time, where I now oversee products, services, and member engagement, helping organizations align their use cases with our mission of seamless data sharing. From the start, my focus has been clear: empowering better data exchange to improve patient experiences. That mission fuels everything we do at CommonWell today.

Given the rapid advancements in healthcare technology, how do you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and ensure your team remains innovative and adaptable?

We stay connected through industry events, conferences, and active participation in communities like Carequality and QHIN TM which give us valuable insights into the evolving landscape. LinkedIn has also become a key resource for industry updates, with colleagues sharing impactful ideas. Our membership network of 80+ health IT organizations is another vital resource. Through regular committee meetings, we gather feedback and collaborate on shared challenges, reinforcing our community-driven approach.

We also engage with diverse vendors—some integrate directly with us, others through different systems—providing a broad perspective that strengthens our collective efforts.

AI is a hot topic, and our stance is clear: its potential is immense, but it’s only as good as the data behind it. Clean, reliable data is critical to avoid flawed outcomes. By combining collaboration, shared insights, and thoughtful leadership, we’re committed to driving progress while addressing interoperability’s remaining hurdles.

What do you believe are the most pressing challenges currently facing the healthcare IT industry?

Trust is one of the biggest challenges in healthcare interoperability. While CommonWell operates as a trusted network where all members follow the same rules, specifications, and contracts; trust across the broader industry has eroded. Some players operate in gray areas or fail to adhere to expected standards, undermining the collaboration needed to advance interoperability.

Another key challenge is the limited scope of data use cases. Currently, most interoperability efforts focus on treatment, requiring providers to assert they are actively treating a patient to access their clinical information. This narrow focus excludes legitimate use cases for payment and healthcare operations, leaving some stakeholders feeling left out.

To move forward, the industry must restore trust by holding all participants accountable to consistent guidelines, ensuring appropriate data usage, and expanding use cases to include broader needs. By tackling these issues, we can better support improved patient outcomes and provider decision making.

What strategies do you employ to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion within your healthcare IT team, and why do you consider this important?

At CommonWell, flexibility and inclusivity are part of our culture, starting at the top with our Executive Director. This tone makes it easy for leadership, myself included, to foster an environment where everyone feels supported and valued.

As a small organization, it’s notable that 75% of our full-time employees are women. It’s empowering to see a predominantly women-led team running one of the largest national networks for clinical data exchange.

Our culture is open and collaborative. We prioritize regular touchpoints, ensuring everyone has a voice. Unlike past experiences where leadership time was deprioritized, at CommonWell, meetings are consistent, and everyone is encouraged to share their priorities and challenges. This inclusivity strengthens our teamwork and ensures we’re aligned in driving our mission forward.

What are ways you create balance between your work and personal life?

I used to work evenings regularly, but now I only do so when absolutely necessary. My best advice? Maintain a structured schedule. Block out time on your calendar to avoid back-to-back meetings. Spending eight consecutive hours in meetings isn’t productive, it leaves no room for creativity or actually getting work done.

I put everything on my calendar—doctors' appointments, my daughter’s activities, Pilates, and meetings—and my team can see it all. This transparency helps prioritize commitments and sets clear boundaries.

The key is recognizing that there will always be more work than you can finish in a day. If you’re like me, constantly brainstorming ways to improve, you naturally add more to your plate. That’s why I prioritize ruthlessly and keep a tight to-do list.

It’s about managing your time wisely while ensuring your family gets what they need. Work will still be there tomorrow, but those precious moments with family can’t wait. Prioritizing them keeps everything in balance

What advice would you give to aspiring women who want to reach executive positions in healthcare IT or leadership roles in the healthcare industry in general?

Be authentic. You don’t need to know everything—ask for help, seek clarification, and welcome feedback. Authenticity builds trust and helps you grow.

My advice is to put yourself out there: ask tough questions, embrace difficult answers, and stand up for what you believe is right. The challenges in health IT today aren’t bound by gender, and diverse perspectives are crucial to finding solutions. Whether your role is in product management or another area, your voice matters.

There will be times when you advocate for a decision and lose. I’ve experienced that—presenting data, making my case, and still being overruled. Instead of letting it discourage me, I moved forward, focusing on how to make things better despite setbacks.

Healthcare in America is complex and often messy, but at its core, this work is about improving patient care. Use every challenge as a steppingstone toward that shared goal, and don’t let obstacles define your journey. Resilience and a clear focus on the bigger picture will guide you.