Industry Veterans Launch Saltgrass Advisory With Focus on AI Strategy

At a time when most health systems are developing strategic plans around artificial intelligence, Saltgrass Advisory, a management consulting firm focused on AI and emerging healthcare technologies, has launched with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) as an initial customer. 

Charleston, S.C.-based Saltgrass said it would partner with healthcare institutions, startups, and investors to accelerate high-impact innovation by helping develop scalable, real-world solutions. It said it would help health system customers with:
• Commercialization and go-to-market execution
• AI strategy, data platforms, intelligent models, seamless integrations, and scalable operations
• Fractional leadership across product, operations, technology, and growth
• 1:1 advisory for institutional leaders and startup founders
• Regulatory, compliance, and policy navigation

As an example of its approach, the firm gave details on its relationship with MUSC on the commercialization of its oncology AI platform, LAMPER, which it says has driven an 80% reduction in support staff burden per patient, a 10–20% increase in clinical trial accrual, and 3 to 4 hours saved per patient across roles. Time-to-appointment readiness has dropped from 1–2 days to under a day. In just one department at MUSC, LAMPER is projected to deliver $2.1 million to $10.2 million in cost savings over five years, while unlocking new revenue through increased patient throughput and clinical trial enrollment, Saltgrass said. 

“Saltgrass Advisory brought the strategic insight and healthcare expertise we needed to define and commercialize our oncology AI innovation,” said Brett Berman, director of operations, MUSC Health, in a statement. “Their team translated academic discovery into real-world impact.”

Saltgrass Advisory leaders have a blend of healthcare, data, and AI expertise. Robert Goodman was a data and AI exec at Deloitte and an executive within Blackstone-and Vista-backed technology companies. Brian Litten's experience includes an IPO with Tabula Rasa in 2016, his roles as CEO of PathForward Oncology and Swift Medical, and leadership across the Blue Cross network. 

Here is the  Saltgrass team roster:
• Brian Litten, Managing Partner – Former digital health founder & CEO
• Robert Goodman, Managing Partner – Former data & AI executive at Deloitte
• Lisa Davis, Principal– Past CIO of top U.S. health plan; Former SVP, Intel Health Solutions
• Munish Khaneja, M.D., Principal – Former health plan CMO, EmblemHealth and HealthEdge
• Drew Narayan, Principal – Former strategy leader at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
• Archana Puthran, Principal – Former AI & digital health leader at UnitedHealth, OptumRx
• Jacob Jesson, Principal – Former EVP & chief revenue and experience officer, Medecision
• Paige Bagby – Principal - Former Ogilvy communications and public relations leader

Saltgrass also features investing and venture studio arms to help launch and scale healthcare AI startups.