Celebrating 15 Years

Traci

Granston, MD

SVP Clinical Strategy

Cohere Health

Kirkland,

Washington

2025 Cohort

Industry

Healthcare

Area of Expertise

Artificial Intelligence

Immediately Qualified to Serve

Nominating and Governance

Previous Board Experience

Nonprofit, Private

An expert in healthcare-related AI usage, Traci currently serves as SVP of Clinical Strategy for Cohere Health, a 1,000-person MedTech company in rapid growth, focused on the use of data science, machine learning, and AI-based automation to improve prior authorization, optimize patient outcomes, and reimagine possibilities for care. In this role, and her earlier tenure as Medical Director with the organization, Traci has helped the company chart their course within this exciting new field and has worked extensively on training the needed AI models for the company’s flagship Cohere Unify™ Platform. She has championed adoption of numerous new risk management, governance, and compliance frameworks within the company to minimize potential liability—leading the company to score an average 96% pass rate on all audits. This mindset stems heavily from her own 20 years of direct medical practice, where she has the distinction of never facing a single malpractice suit or inquiry. Prior to her work at Cohere, Traci served as a Partner, Orthopedic Surgeon, and Board Member/President at Proliance Orthopedic Associates, overseeing $100M in P&L and playing an instrumental role in building/scaling the company into a profitable 175-employee operation performing over 6,300 annual surgeries. In addition to helping the practice navigate a maze of complex, ever-changing regulatory requirements, she was a consistent driver of innovation and revenue improvement. Among her many accomplishments, she was the guiding force behind the company’s groundbreaking ocering of Ortho-only urgent care, transforming an abstract new product vision into a highly successful $1.6M line of business with a 32.7% profit margin. Additionally, she serves on SullivanCotter’s board. She was first recruited for their Tech Advisory Committee and was quickly added as a non shareholder board member. She also serves on the DE&I committee and compensation committee and is now advising for Clinician Nexus (SullivanCotter portfolio company). Prior to her leadership and private practice roles, Traci began her career in pharmaceutical development, at Immunex (Amgen), in addition to working for MetroHealth LifeFlight in Cleveland, where she led trauma response teams, gained
skills in cross-disciplinary collaboration, and made swift, life-saving decisions for hundreds of rescue flights.

Code of Conduct: Governing Data & Emerging Tech

Boards are no longer observers of emerging technology; they are stewards of how it’s governed. This panel goes beyond awareness to examine how directors can structure oversight, define accountability, and measure governance effectiveness in AI, data use, and digital innovation. Panelists will share practical strategies for building governance systems that ensure transparency, ethical decision-making, and responsible innovation at scale.

Your First Board Meeting: A Director’s Playbook

Designed for aspiring and newly appointed directors, this session offers practical guidance on how to step confidently into your first boardroom. Learn what to expect in early meetings, how to contribute with purpose, and how to quickly build credibility and trust among seasoned peers. Gain insight into board dynamics, unspoken protocols, and the critical questions new directors should be ready to ask and answer.

Tactics that Work: Case Studies in Navigating Shareholder Activism

In this tactical, director-focused session, participants will engage in case-based exercises to dissect real campaigns and pressure scenarios. From activist letters to proxy fights, explore how boards can craft strategic responses that reinforce governance integrity, protect corporate reputation, and align with long-term priorities. Walk away with actionable tactics and frameworks to strengthen board preparedness in the face of growing investor scrutiny.

Inside the Boardroom: Resilience Planning in Action

This interactive session places directors inside the boardroom during moments of disruption. Through tabletop exercises and real-world scenarios, participants will explore how boards can apply structured frameworks to assess geopolitical risk, anticipate threats, and make decisive decisions under pressure. Designed as a classroom-style session, this breakout provides practical tools to strengthen oversight and build a proactive board response strategy in an increasingly uncertain world.

Reputation & Response: How Boards Navigate Shareholder Activism

As shareholder activism intensifies, boards face mounting pressure to defend strategy, protect corporate reputation, and engage stakeholders with clarity. This panel brings together seasoned directors to explore how boards can respond effectively while maintaining credibility, board alignment, and stakeholder trust. Hear real-world insights on navigating activism in today’s high-stakes, high-visibility environment.

Navigating Global Markets: Trade, Tariffs, and Supply Chain Strategy

As global disruptions reshape business models, this panel will explore how boards can navigate the practical complexities of trade, tariffs, and supply chain shifts across regions. Panelists will share how directors are guiding companies through regulatory changes, sourcing challenges, and new market risks, while seizing opportunities for growth and operational agility.

Strengthening Oversight: Risk Management and Board Resilience

This keynote will equip directors to think globally about risk through the lens of geopolitical foresight, cross-border tensions, and long-term instability. Learn how boards can strengthen oversight and guide enterprise-wide resilience by anticipating disruption and embedding a proactive risk culture in a changing world.