Name: Megan Reyna, MSN, RN

Title: Chief Operating Officer, Population Health, Bon Secours Mercy Health

Megan Reyna, MSN, RN serves as chief operating officer, Population Health, at Bon Secours Mercy Health. In this role, she is responsible for the performance of our Accountable Care Organizations/Clinically Integrated Networks, recruiting participating primary care providers and increasing new Medicare lives into our value-based programs.

Reyna is an established clinical health care executive with over 18 years of experience in operations and value-based care. Reyna joined BSMH from Advocate Health (previously known as Advocate Aurora Health), where she served as the Group Vice President in Population Health. Reyna was accountable for assisting her organization in achieving national quality and value-based care outcomes. Her work and influence has spanned many states, services lines, hospital sites and more.

She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing with honors from Marquette University and a master’s degree in nursing administration with honors from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Reyna’s been a speaker and panelist at numerous national conferences, and featured in various trade publications, discussing topics including ACOs, value-based care, digital quality reporting, the primary care landscape and health equity.

She currently serves on the board of directors for the National Association of ACOs (NAACOS) and is a pre-rule making committee member on the Partnership for Quality Measurement (Battelle).

1. How effective do you think disease prevention efforts are in your community?

Disease prevention efforts have improved meaningfully over the past decade, particularly with expanded access to preventive services, stronger care management programs, and increased focus on addressing social determinants of health. We’ve seen gains in areas like vaccination rates, cancer screening, and chronic disease management through value-based care models.

That said, effectiveness is still uneven. There are persistent disparities across neighborhood and communities driven by socioeconomic factors, access to care, and trust in the healthcare system. While we’ve built a strong foundation, there is still significant opportunity to better align prevention strategies with community-specific needs and scale what’s working more consistently.

2. How would you describe the collaboration between healthcare providers and public health professionals in your area?

Collaboration has strengthened, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, which created shared urgency and clearer lines of communication between health systems and public health agencies. In Chicago (where I live), there are more formal partnerships, data-sharing efforts, and joint initiatives than we saw historically.

However, collaboration is still not as seamless as it could be. Data interoperability, funding silos, and differing priorities can limit impact. There’s an opportunity to move from episodic collaboration to more sustained, integrated partnerships especially around prevention, behavioral health, and addressing health inequities.

3. How often do you encounter misinformation about health or disease prevention, and how does it affect your work?

Misinformation is something we encounter regularly, whether it’s related to vaccines, chronic disease management, or preventive screenings. It can significantly impact patient engagement, adherence to care plans, and overall trust.

From a population health perspective, it requires us to invest more in patient education, community engagement, and culturally competent communication. It also reinforces the importance of trusted messengers like community leaders, primary care providers, and care coordinators who can meet patients where they are and help counter misinformation effectively.

4. What are the most common health issues you see in the population you serve?

The most common issues are largely consistent with national trends but often more pronounced in certain communities. These include chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, as well as behavioral health challenges like anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders. We also see a significant impact from social determinants of health like food insecurity, housing instability, and transportation barriers, which often exacerbate these conditions. Addressing these upstream factors is critical to improving long-term outcomes.

5. How did your education and training prepare you for your current position?

Population Health was not a formal field of study when I was in school. However, my training as a nurse provided a strong foundation in evidence-based practice and quality improvement. It also shaped how I approach data, helping me translate large data sets into practical, actionable, and realistic opportunities for improvement. I consistently rely on data to guide decision-making and to identify where we can have the greatest impact.

That said, many of the skills required in this role, such as navigating complex stakeholder relationships, driving system-level changes, and addressing social determinants of health, have been developed through experience. They have also been strengthened by a willingness to listen, collaborate, and continuously learn from others. Population health is inherently interdisciplinary, and ongoing learning has been essential to adapting to the field’s evolving demands.