252: Contain, extract, recover: Inside the Ardent Health cyberattack

In this special live episode from the 2025 Advisory Board Summit, Ardent Health Services President & CEO Marty Bonick and Chief Digital and Transformation Officer Anika Gardenhire recount the harrowing story of a ransomware attack that brought their 30-hospital system to a standstill on Thanksgiving Day 2023.

Cyberattacks on healthcare systems are becoming more frequent, more sophisticated, and more devastating. Just 60 days into her role, Anika led the charge to contain the breach, extract the threat, and recover operations in a record-setting 12 days. From ransom messages appearing on medical devices to disconnecting their entire system from the internet, this episode explores what it takes to lead through crisis, act decisively, and build true cyber resilience.

This candid conversation underscores why leaders must embrace transparency even when sharing worst-case scenarios. Because learning from difficult moments is how health leaders build stronger, more resilient systems.

Links:

• Ardent Health
• Cybersecurity in healthcare
• Paint a picture of a cyber-resilient organization
• Cybersecurity in healthcare demands resiliency, not reactivity
• Advisory Board Summits

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A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.