The Legacy of Dr. G. Duncan Finlay – Episode 6

The Rothman Index, developed by Dr. Michael Rothman and his brother Steven, is a pioneering patient acuity score designed to help clinicians recognize patient deterioration earlier and more clearly. Presented as an easily understood, color-coded graph that updates in real time, the Index displays upward and downward trends in patient condition at a glance—transforming complex clinical data into actionable insight. But from its very beginning, the Rothman Index was shaped not only by analytics and data science, but by the vision and trust of one physician-leader: Dr. G. Duncan Finlay, whose willingness to embrace unconventional ideas made the work possible.

In this episode of The Michael Rothman Podcast, Dr. Michael Rothman—Advisory Data Scientist at Spacelabs Healthcare—steps away from technical discussion to share a deeply personal story. Dedicated to the life and impact of his close friend, colleague, and mentor, Dr. G. Duncan Finlay, the episode traces how Dr. Finlay’s leadership enabled the earliest work that led to the Rothman Index and shaped more than two decades of clinical innovation that followed.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Rothman recounts how, in the wake of his mother’s preventable death, he and his brother approached Dr. Finlay—then CEO of Sarasota Memorial Hospital—with an unusual request: access to the hospital, its clinicians, and its data, despite having no formal medical background. What might have been dismissed outright instead became the foundation of something transformative, because Dr. Finlay chose curiosity over convention.

The main topics of discussion…

• How Dr. Duncan Finlay’s trust and openness as a hospital CEO enabled the early investigation that led to the Rothman Index
• Why leadership curiosity and moral courage matter as much as analytics in advancing patient safety
• The lasting personal and professional impact of working with leaders who genuinely believe in shared success

Dr. G. Duncan Finlay, MD, was a widely respected physician leader who served for decades at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, including as Chief Medical Officer and President and CEO, while influencing healthcare innovation well beyond a single institution. Following his retirement from SMH in 2005, he remained a sought-after healthcare executive, serving in senior leadership roles—including President and CEO of the F.A.R. Institute—while continuing to support philanthropic initiatives such as the G. Duncan Finlay Health Careers Scholarship program. He is remembered by colleagues, clinicians, and community members alike for his visionary leadership, intellectual curiosity, generosity, and deep commitment to improving patient care.

Article written by MarketScale.