By Shane Reeves, PharmD, CEO
When I graduated from pharmacy school in 1994, I knew a great deal about medications — but very little about building and leading a business. Early in my career, I made a commitment to read one business or finance book each month so I could become better equipped to lead a growing healthcare company and thoughtfully prepare for the future.
One of the books published that same year was Built to Last by Jim Collins. Long before Collins became widely known for Good to Great, he studied what allows certain organizations to endure and thrive for decades while others eventually fade away.
One principle from that book has stayed with me over the years: “Preserve the Core – Stimulate Progress.”
The idea is simple but powerful. Great companies protect a small set of timeless core values while remaining willing to adapt, innovate, and evolve everywhere else necessary to move the organization forward.
That philosophy has become increasingly meaningful to me as I think about the future of TwelveStone Health Partners.
Healthcare is constantly changing–technology continues to advance, reimbursement models evolve and patient expectations grow. The pace of change in our industry is significant, and organizations that refuse to adapt often struggle to remain effective over time.
But while many things around us continue to change, the core of who we are at TwelveStone must remain constant.
Our commitment to honoring God, delivering patient-first care, maintaining clinical excellence, acting with integrity, and investing in exceptional people continues to guide every decision we make. Those values are not simply part of our culture — they are the foundation of why TwelveStone exists.
Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how deeply those values impact patients. One patient recently shared that during a difficult infusion visit, our team paused to pray with them before treatment began. Moments like that do not replace clinical expertise, but they reflect the compassionate environment we strive to create every single day.
At the same time, preserving our core values does not mean resisting change. In fact, I believe strong organizations embrace innovation precisely because they are confident in who they are.
For TwelveStone, stimulating progress means continuing to expand infusion center access across the Southeast, strengthening partnerships with specialty physician groups and hospital systems, embracing technologies that improve the patient experience, pursuing strategic growth opportunities, developing innovative payer relationships, and reimagining workforce models that support the future of healthcare delivery.
Our goal is not growth for growth’s sake. Our goal is sustainable impact — helping more patients receive exceptional infusion care closer to home while building an organization designed to endure for generations.
“Many healthcare companies confuse tradition with principles.
Jim Collins
Keep the principles sacred. Keep the practices flexible.”
I believe that perspective is especially important in healthcare today.
The healthcare landscape will continue to evolve. New technologies will emerge. Care delivery models will shift. My hope is that TwelveStone will always remain firmly grounded in the values that generate incredible patient experiences, while having the courage and wisdom to continue moving forward.
That is how lasting organizations are built.
