The Beat (HLTH)

We recognize that nutrition is the front line of health care.

But it’s challenging for patients to sustain lasting changes to their eating habits outside the clinical environment.

Can technology help us promote healthy eating after a patient leaves the hospital or exam room? How do we deliver a customized digital nutrition coaching experience that keeps users engaged for the long-term?

Vanessa Rissetto and Tamar Samuels are the registered dieticians behind Culina Health, a personalized virtual nutrition coaching platform designed to make nutrition accessible and sustainable for everyone.

On this episode, Vanessa and Tamar join host Dr. Jessica Shepherd to discuss what differentiates Culina from other nutrition apps and describe the role of automation in the personalized nutrition space.

Vanessa and Tamar explain why ongoing engagement is key in changing the way a patient eats and how the Culina Health team addresses the emotional aspects of food.

Listen in to understand how Culina collaborates with providers to support their patients and find out how Vanessa and Tamar’s app empowers users to set their own goals, learn about what’s healthy and lead the change process.
 

Topics Covered

• What differentiates Culina Health from other nutrition apps on the market
• The role of automation in the personalized nutrition space
• How to support patients around nutrition once they leave the hospital or clinic
• Why it’s crucial to address the emotional aspect of eating habits
• Vanessa & Tamar’s insight on the addictive nature of sugar
• Why ongoing engagement is key in changing the way a patient eats
• How Culina helps users set their own goals and lead the change process
• How to deal with a weight management patient who’s having a bad day
• How Vanessa & Tamar educate patients around what’s healthy (based on their medical condition)
• What Culina Health is doing to create community among its users
• How Culina works with providers to support patients and collaborate care

Connect with Vanessa Rissetto & Tamar Samuels

Culina Health

Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd

HLTH

Dr. Shepherd on Twitter

Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn

Resources

‘Obese Children Show Hyperactivation to Food Pictures in Brain Networks Linked to Motivation, Reward and Cognitive Control’ in the International Journal of Obesity

About Ricardo Berrios:

Ricardo C. Berrios is a seasoned entrepreneur and senior executive with over 25 years of experience building and leading businesses in technology, healthcare, manufacturing, e-commerce, and retail. As the founding CEO of Adhera Health, he is pioneering digital solutions for families managing pediatric chronic conditions. Ricardo's expertise lies in leveraging technology to improve the patient experience, demonstrated by his leadership in developing Adhera's AI-powered digital companion platform. He has a proven track record in operational management, including team building, business development, and strategic marketing. Ricardo's global perspective, honed through cross-border initiatives in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific, informs his innovative approach to healthcare.

About Luis Fernandez:

Dr. Luis Fernandez is a digital health innovator with over 20 years of experience, driven by a personal commitment to improving healthcare access and equity. As Chief Scientific Officer at Adhera Health, he leads the development of their AI-powered digital companion platform, focusing on supporting families of children with chronic conditions. Luis combines expertise in AI and behavioral science to create inclusive and responsible solutions. His extensive research background, including work in mobile health, wearables, and gamification, informs his approach to personalized healthcare. Luis's global experience spans various countries, including Spain, Norway, Qatar, and the US, providing him with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities in digital health.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Healthcare innovation often faces implementation challenges due to slow processes and monolithic systems in countries with strong public healthcare.
• While European healthcare systems provide broad access, disparities exist and often receive less attention than in the US.
• A key difference between the US and Europe regarding healthcare innovation lies in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Data privacy regulations, particularly in Europe, can create challenges for AI development.
• Transparency and user experience are vital in healthcare technology. Explainable AI and streamlined consent processes are crucial for building trust and empowering families.

Resources:

• Connect with and learn more about Ricardo Berrios on LinkedIn.
• Follow and connect with Luis Fernandez on LinkedIn.
• Discover more about Adhera Health on their LinkedIn and visit their website.

About Max Cohen:

Max Cohen serves as the CEO and Co-founder of Sprinter Health, headquartered in California. The company deploys W-2 employees, dubbed "Sprinters," equipped with the medical assistant, phlebotomy, and Community Health Worker expertise, directly into households to engage patient populations that may otherwise be disengaged. Sprinter collaborates with health plans and health systems, offering preventive services with no copay or deductible. Prior to launching Sprinter Health, Max held the position of VP of Mobile at Oculus, and following the acquisition by Facebook continued to oversee various initiatives including Mobile VR, Mobile and Platform Products, and Media. Before his tenure at Oculus, Max contributed to the Product team at Google in Los Angeles and gained experience at McKinsey and Company, as well as Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works. Max holds a BSE in Electrical Engineering and a BS in Physics from Duke University, supplemented by an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Sprinter Health revolutionizes healthcare delivery by deploying W-2 "Sprinters" with diverse medical skills into homes, targeting under-engaged patient populations and bridging care gaps.
• By partnering directly with health plans and systems, Sprinter Health offers preventive services with no financial barriers, promoting accessibility and proactive care.
• Max Cohen's background at Oculus and Google informs Sprinter Health's innovative approach, prioritizing patient engagement and efficient execution.
• Sprinter Health's commitment to quality care is reflected in its high patient satisfaction ratings, demonstrating the effectiveness of in-home healthcare solutions.
• Strategic expansion plans aim to maximize market impact by prioritizing regions with existing business partnerships and potential for growth.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Max Cohen on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Sprinter Health on LinkedIn and their website.

Morgan Health is focused on improving the quality, equity, and affordability of employer-sponsored healthcare in the U.S. by investing capital in companies focused on improving healthcare in the commercial marketplace.

As the Head of Healthcare Innovation at Morgan Health, Rivka Friedman is focused on improving the quality, equity, and affordability of employer-sponsored healthcare in the U.S. by accelerating the adoption of new approaches to care delivery.

On this episode, Rivka joins hosts Dr. Jessica Shepherd and Dr. Jordan Shlain to discuss how Morgan Health is working to invest in companies that share their vision of BETTER care.

Listen in as Rivka shares how you build trust in the healthcare system and the three things that need to align to improve healthcare for the future.
 

Topics Covered

• The focus of Morgan health in improving employer-sponsored healthcare
• The key lessons Morgan Health learned from the failed Haven
• Rivka weighs in on the trend of the productization of healthcare
• Rivka shares a few of the companies they are currently working with
• How Morgan Health defines accountable care
• Rivka shares what success looks like for Morgan Health
• The 3 Biggest challenges Morgan Health is facing
• How to build trust in the healthcare system
• Rivka shares what motivates her to keep going to improve healthcare

Connect with Rivka Friedman
Rivka on LinkedIn

Morgan Health

Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd, Dr. Guatam Gulati & Dr. Jordan Shlain

HLTH

Dr. Shlain on Twitter

Dr. Shlain on LinkedIn

Dr. Jessica Shepherd MD
Dr. Shepherd on Twitter
Dr. Gulati on Twitter

Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Resources 
A Visual Approach to Leverage Points - The Donella Meadows Project

Embold Health

Vera Whole Health

Centivo
LetsGetChecked
   

Introductory Quote
[30:18]
“One key goal for us across all of our teams is figuring out what works and then scaling it. To do that, we have to try a lot of things and fail. So that's part of our job, launching these pilots, and then letting a bunch of them not work, and being honest and open both about our successes and our failures.”

In this episode, they discuss:

• Building consumer trust in generative AI is essential for its success in health care.
• Deloitte plays a significant role in the health care sector, serving various stakeholders.
• A majority of consumers believe generative AI can reduce wait times and costs.
• Skepticism towards generative AI has increased among consumers over the past year.
• Distrust in AI tools is linked to concerns about bias and privacy.
• Health care data is a high-value target for cyber adversaries.
• Generative AI can enhance the patient-physician relationship if used correctly.
• Transparency and ethics are crucial in the deployment of generative AI.
• Healthcare organizations must educate both patients and clinicians about AI.
• Deloitte assists organizations in navigating the complexities of AI implementation. 

Learn more about Deloittes research here : 

Building and maintaining health care consumers’ trust in generative AI

https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/health-care/consumer-trust-in-health-care-generative-ai.html

A little about Jen:

Jen Sullivan, Principal, Deloitte & Touche LLP, is a seasoned and innovative cyber strategy leader with 28 years of experience in technology and cybersecurity, with 24 years of deep focus in life sciences and health care. Her technical infrastructure background has expanded throughout her tenure to a range of security areas including cyber strategy, threat detection and response, data protection and privacy, regulatory compliance, and technical resiliency. Jen serves some of the industry’s largest and most complex clients and leads Deloitte’s Cyber Strategy and Transformation practice. Beyond client service, she has held pivotal leadership roles in talent and business transformation and has a deep passion around health equity. Jen serves on Deloitte’s Cyber executive leadership team, is a leader in Women in Cyber and is the Advisory Life Sciences & Health Care Generative AI leader.

About Harpaul Sambhi:

Harpaul Sambhi is the CEO and Co-Founder of Magical and a Limited Partner at Various VC funds. He previously worked as an Advisor at On Deck, an Entrepreneur In Residence at Bain Capital Ventures, and a former Product Manager at Microsoft. Harpaul attended the University of Waterloo.

Things You’ll Learn:

• AI is evolving from simple automation to Agentic AI, which can learn, adapt, and make decisions.
• Healthcare workers spend too much time on administrative tasks, but AI can automate these and improve patient care.
• RPA is becoming obsolete, while Agentic AI offers a more flexible and intelligent solution.
• AI in RCM can reduce denials, lower costs, and speed up reimbursements, improving financial performance.
• Successful AI implementation requires clear goals, collaboration, and adaptability.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Harpaul Sambhi on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Magical on their LinkedIn and website.

About Mark Gee:

Mark Gee is the Chief Growth Officer at Medecision, driving the expansion of Aerial™, a cloud-based healthcare solution that improves health outcomes, reduces costs, and enhances engagement for value-based care organizations. With extensive experience in healthcare leadership, including roles at WellSky, Ciox/Datavant, and ERT, Gee has launched innovative care solutions and spearheaded data-driven strategies to optimize operations. Holding an M.S. in Instructional Design and Lean Systems Management, he excels in disruptive innovation and strategic growth, positioning Medecision as a leader in transforming healthcare delivery and operational efficiencies.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Medecision's platform, Ariel, is designed to accept any data format and process it in real time, a crucial factor for unlocking potential use cases and overcoming the limitations of rigid systems. 
• Traditional care management is failing because it focuses on the sickest 20% of patients, overlooking rising-risk individuals. 
• Medecision's core goal is to deliver proactive care and act as a safety net for patients by identifying problems earlier. 
• Many healthcare organizations have rigid data schemas that slow down implementations and limit the use of valuable data. 
• Medecision created hyper-personalized care journeys with micro cohorts that adapt and learn from each individual's conditions. This approach allows the system to surface needs and provide appropriate resources in real time.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Mark Gee on LinkedIn.
• Follow Medecision on LinkedIn and visit their website.

About Scott Schell:

Dr. Schell is an accomplished senior executive, surgeon, and healthcare futurist with over 30 years of experience spanning the healthcare, biotech, and technology sectors both in the US and globally. His leadership roles have included CEO, CMO, Chair, Director, and Executive Consultant, and he brings an extensive background that includes healthcare delivery and operations, pharma, medical devices, clinical trials, and data science.   

In his leadership roles, Dr. Schell has a proven track record of driving growth, improving operational performance, and creating transforming innovation, through a variety of diverse healthcare contexts. He leads the development and implementation of large-scale population health and predictive analytics platforms at organizations like Alere, the Cleveland Clinic, and UPMC. A serial entrepreneur, he has founded and exited five healthcare startups and served as Managing Partner for a private equity firm with a portfolio of digital health assets.  

Things You’ll Learn:

• Healthcare is undergoing a digital revolution, prioritizing patient experience, efficient call center operations, streamlined financial services, and enhanced access.
• AI and machine learning are pivotal in healthcare, boosting patient experiences, expediting authorizations, and optimizing operations.
• The healthcare industry must start digital transformation projects by identifying key solutions, embracing change management, and establishing an accountable leadership team.
• Dr. Scott warns against AI pitfalls like hallucination, offering tips for a robust transformation start.
• Dr. Scott stresses tech solutions, change management, and proactive leadership for successful automation.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Scott Schell on LinkedIn.
• Follow Cognizant on LinkedIn and visit their website.

We know that healthy, fresh food improves health outcomes. But what if you live in a food desert? Or you depend on food stamps to feed your family?

What if you could get fresh produce delivered straight to your door as a benefit of your health plan?

Ashley Turner is Founder and CEO of FarmboxRx, a national brand on a mission to promote health equity through nutrition and health literacy.

Ashley’s experience as a single mom on food stamps drives her advocacy in advancing food security and bringing educational resources to underserved populations.

On this episode of HLTH Matters, Ashley joins host Dr. Jessica Shepherd to explain how the concept of food as medicine inspired the creation of FarmboxRx and explore how the company evolved to focus on patient engagement.

Ashley describes how CMS’s emphasis on health equity helped FamboxRx gain traction and discusses the pilot program that proved its value as a care management intervention.

Listen in for insight on how the FarmboxRx benefit helps Medicare and Medicaid enrollees feel cared for and learn how Ashley’s team provides healthy food and promotes health literacy among its members.

Topics Covered

• The challenges Ashley faced in trying to eat healthy on food stamps in a food desert
• How the concept of food as medicine inspired the creation of FarmboxRx
• How FarmboxRx evolved to become a patient engagement company
• Why it was challenging to get health plans to offer FarmboxRx as a benefit early on
• How CMS’s focus on health equity helped FarmboxRx gain traction
• The pilot program that proved FarmboxRx’s value as a care management intervention
• How FarmboxRx promotes health literacy and drives other healthy behaviors among members
• The benefit of having lived what Medicare/Medicaid members are going through
• How Ashley visualizes herself as a disruptor in the healthcare space
• How FarmboxRx’s call center addresses food insecurity through member engagement

Connect with Ashley Tyrner

FarmboxRx

Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd

HLTH

Dr. Shepherd on Twitter

Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn

Resources

CMS Supplemental Benefits for SSBCI Enrollees

Stores Accepting SNAP Online

Seema Verma

Chiquita Brooks-LaSure

FarmboxRx’s Partnership with Molina Healthcare of NM

HEDIS Health Plan Ratings

Social Determinants of Health

About Theresa Demeter:

Theresa Demeter is an entrepreneurial executive administrator with 30 years of healthcare performance and operational experience. As a Managing Director at Tegria, she brings her passion for conceptualizing and implementing innovative solutions that drive quality and performance improvement to optimize patient outcomes. Theresa developed Tegria’s offering that helps healthcare organizations prioritize and operationalize their health equity strategy and mitigate the harmful effects of implicit bias through macro-simulation. 

Prior to joining Tegria, Theresa drove the formation and expansion of InSytu, a national leader in clinical process improvement consulting powered by macro-simulation.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Big Data collection and collaboration from different healthcare organizations can accelerate patient care.
• Tegria offers services to help organizations optimize their EHR workflows and proficiency.
• Regarding home health, Tegria helps healthcare organizations develop the right-sized customized technologies, tools, and strategies to create their programs.
• Virtual technologies and tools can upskill providers in remote locations to keep their community better, longer, and safer with more efficient care at a lower cost.
• AI and ML tools in healthcare seek to improve automation and intelligent decision-making, standardizing patient care and predicting patients that might be coming in.

Resources:

• Connect and follow Theresa Demeter on LinkedIn
• Follow Tegria on LinkedIn 
• Discover the Tegria Website.

About Taha Kass-Hout:

Taha Kass-Hout, MD, MS is the Director of Machine Learning and Chief Medical Officer at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and leads AWS Health AI strategy and efforts. He led teams at Amazon responsible for developing the science, technology, and scale for Covid-19 lab testing, including Amazon’s first FDA authorization for testing our associates—later offered to the public for at-home testing. A physician and bioinformatician, Taha served two terms under President Obama, including as the first Chief Health Informatics officer at the FDA. During this time as a public servant, he pioneered the use of emerging technologies and the cloud (the CDC’s electronic disease surveillance) and established widely accessible global data sharing platforms: openFDA, which enabled researchers and the public to search and analyze adverse events data, and precisionFDA, part of the Presidential Precision Medicine initiative. Taha holds Doctor of Medicine and Master of Science in biostatistics degrees from the University of Texas and completed clinical training in Interventional Cardiology at Harvard Medical School’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Amazon invented the cloud with Amazon Web Services, the widely available and adopted cloud platform with over 200 features and services from data centers worldwide. 
• AWS helps healthcare and life science customers with breakthrough and ever-evolving medical innovations.
• In the last ten years, digitized medical record data went from 15% to almost 98%. 
• Although medical records are digitized, about 97% of this data goes unused.
• Amazon HealthLake allows customers to store, transform, and analyze their structured and unstructured health information in the cloud at a petabyte scale. 
• Amazon HealthLake has an Imaging service and an Analytics service.
• Just looking at medical imaging, 5.5 billion studies and procedures are done every year globally, which doubles the amount made ten years ago.
• Healthcare costs $8 trillion globally, and yet, 40% of the world’s population currently doesn't have access to care.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Taha Kass-Hout on LinkedIn.
• Follow Amazon Web Services on LinkedIn.
• Discover the Amazon Web Services Website.

Healthcare is a $4 trillion industry just waiting to be disrupted. But because people’s lives are at stake, we must disrupt the space responsibly.

And that’s why every digital health company needs clinical experts on their teams and advisory boards.

Ruby Gadelrab is Cofounder and CEO of MDisrupt, a health advisory platform on a mission to organize the world's digital health products by performance through clinically crowdsourced data generation.

Ruby has created a two-sided marketplace that pairs domain experts in healthcare with digital health companies in desperate need of high quality, actionable expertise.

On this episode, Ruby joins hosts Dr. Jordan Schlain and Dr. Jessica Shepherd to explain why there is so little clinical representation in digital health startups and how MDisrupt pairs health tech companies with the right expert at the right time.

Ruby describes how MDisrupt vets clinicians to become part of its health expert network and discusses how clinicians are compensated for their time.
 

Listen in to understand the benefits of a having a medical advisory board and learn how MDisrupt helps health tech innovators accelerate their path to market and drive adoption.
 

Topics Covered

• Ruby’s take on what it means to disrupt healthcare responsibly
• Why it’s crucial for health tech companies to have clinical expertise on their teams
• How MDisrupt provides an on-demand health expert marketplace
• Ruby’s vision for MDisrupt to organize the world’s digital health products by performance
• How MDisrupt vets clinicians to become part of its health expert network
• How clinicians are compensated for being part of MDisrupt
• Why there is so little clinical representation in digital health startups
• Why health tech companies without medical advisory boards struggle with adoption
• How Ruby’s team pairs a health tech company with the right expert at the right time
• The market insight that inspired Ruby to build MDisrupt
• How to assess your current advisory board and align incentives appropriately
• Leveraging digital health to support underserved populations

Connect with Ruby Gadelrab

MDisrupt

Connect with Dr. Jordan Shlain & Dr. Jessica Shepherd

HLTH

Dr. Shlain on Twitter

Dr. Shlain on LinkedIn

Dr. Shepherd on Twitter

Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn

Resources

Instacart Health

Oura Ring

CGM Devices

Invitae

23 and Me

About Chris Benecchi:
Chris Benecchi is the Chief Operating Officer at Sage Therapeutics, where he leads global commercial strategy, medical affairs, and business operations. With a passion for public health and personal experience with postpartum depression, Chris is dedicated to driving impactful change in maternal mental health.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Reframing conversations around maternal mental health is essential for addressing this critical issue.
• Postpartum depression remains prevalent, highlighting the need for innovation in addressing maternal mental health needs.
• Collaboration and grassroots efforts can play a pivotal role in helping to drive change within the healthcare ecosystem.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Chris Benecchi on LinkedIn.
• Follow Sage Therapeutics on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and visit their website. 

About Diana Gelston:

Diana Gelston is the chief commercial officer of Best Buy Health for Best Buy Co. Inc. In her role, she is responsible for building and strengthening the company’s commercial relationships that aim to enable care at home for everyone.  

Diana leads a large, diverse team in creating and executing high-impact, go-to-market strategies that support the company’s mission to enrich and save lives through technology and meaningful connections. At Best Buy Health, she is focused on developing integrated technology services and offerings that support consumers wherever they are on their health journey and improve the care-at-home experience.  

Previously, Diana has successfully launched and developed more than a dozen sales and marketing teams in tech, medical devices, digital health, and healthcare information systems at Amazon Business Healthcare, Fresenius Medical Care, Philips Healthcare, and other innovative start-ups.  

Diana earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and a certificate in Leadership Development and Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School. 

About Carrie Shaw:

Carrie Shaw, CEO and founder of Embodied Labs, works at the intersection of storytelling, immersive experience design, and caregiver education. She holds both a bachelor’s degree in Global Public Health and a master’s in Biomedical Visualization. After returning from the Dominican Republic, where she served as a Peace Corps Health Educator, Carrie became the primary caregiver to her mother, who was living with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. This opened Carrie’s eyes to the needs of the aging services workforce. Carrie speaks to global audiences about her personal journey as a young adult caregiver and her experience as an entrepreneur building a venture-backed digital healthcare company that is revolutionizing the way healthcare providers, caregivers, and patients learn about human health through immersive experiences.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Embodying the experiences of others through immersive training has proven to be a game-changer for Best Buy Health.
• Connecting on a personal level, whether it's with a patient, caregiver, or consumer, has revolutionized the approach to care and technology support.
• Individuals retain and internalize knowledge in a way traditional training methods can't offer through immersive experiences.
• An empathy approach is particularly impactful for the healthcare and technology sectors, making training more effective and memorable for employees.
• Building a world focused on empathy and thoughtfulness is critical for meeting the diverse needs of individuals as they age.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Carrie Shaw on LinkedIn.
• Follow Embodied Labs on LinkedIn and visit their website.
• Connect with and follow Diana Gelston on LinkedIn.
• Follow Best Buy on LinkedIn and visit their website.

Even those of us who are motivated to improve our health have a hard time getting answers from the traditional healthcare system.

Clinicians are trained to diagnose and treat disease but have little experience in preventative medicine.

So, where do we go to assess our current level of health and start making choices that will improve both quality and length of life?

Dugal Bain is Cofounder and CEO of Lifeforce, a proactive health and longevity platform that empowers people to think clearer, feel stronger and live longer.

Dugal has built a career around using technology to open access to better quality health care, holding leadership positions in finance, management consulting and health tech across three continents.

On this episode of The Beat, Dugal joins hosts Dr. Gautam Gulati and Dr. Jessica Shepherd to discuss the future of longevity and disease prevention.

Dugal describes the connection between lifestyle and health span and explains how the Lifeforce team identifies appropriate behavior changes and keeps members motivated for the long term.

Listen in for insight on training clinicians in longevity medicine and learn Dugal’s top three not-so-obvious strategies for improving your health.

Topics Covered

• How becoming a parent inspired Dugal to build Lifeforce
• How identifying a deeper purpose behind your health goals drives behavior change
• Understanding the connection between lifestyle and health span
• How Dugal thinks about educating clinicians on the benefits of functional medicine
• What to expect when you become a member of Lifeforce
• How the Lifeforce team keeps members motivated for the long term
• How Dugal’s team differentiates among longevity therapies that are hype, hope or reality
• Dugal’s top 3 not-so-obvious strategies for improving your health
• How we might get unmotivated people to engage with services like Lifeforce
• Lifeforce’s efforts to train practitioners on proactive care and longevity medicine
• Dugal’s insight around stem cells and contrast therapy

Connect with Dugal Bain

• Lifeforce

Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd & Dr. Gautam Gulati

• HLTH
• Dr. Shepherd on X
• Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn
• Dr. Gulati on X
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Introduction: 

In today’s episode, Sandy sits down with Dr. Dipul Patadia, MD, Senior Director, and Industry Advisor at Salesforce. Together, they explore how Salesforce is shaping the future of healthcare through Agentforce, an innovative AI tool designed to streamline healthcare processes and improve customer care.

As AI-powered agents become an everyday part of healthcare, Dr. Patadia addresses common concerns around their implementation for administrative tasks. He also shares insights into how Agentforce ensures smooth operations while maintaining essential safeguards for patient care.

In this episode, they talk about:

• How Salesforce ensures safe use of AI agents with human oversight in healthcare
• Autonomous AI agents vs. assistive agents: How Salesforce is revolutionizing digital healthcare support
• Leveraging Salesforce’s AI expertise to create the most effective agents for healthcare
• The story behind Einstein: how Salesforce’s AI can transform healthcare operations

A Little About Dr. Patadia:

Dr. Patadia is a practicing emergency medicine physician. He serves as the Head of Health System Strategy and Innovation at Salesforce where he aids in contextualizing health systems’ needs with new and existing technology capabilities. Before joining Salesforce, Dr. Patadia came from Ascension and Advocate Health where he served as a Chief Medical Officer, leading clinical initiatives, and operations for two of its high-acuity hospitals. He has been instrumental in facilitating digital transformation, growing specialty service lines, improving quality outcomes, and designing innovative value-based care strategies.

Over time, drug development has become more and more challenging.

Success rates of clinical trials hover in the single digits, and the cost of developing a new treatment is greater than $2.5B.

So, what can we do to make drug discovery faster, less expensive and more successful? How might advancements in machine learning and the availability of biomedical data revolutionize the drug design process?

Daphne Koller is the CEO of Insitro, a company that is rethinking drug discovery using machine learning. She spent 18 years as a professor in the computer science department at Stanford before leaving to build the education platform Coursera. In 2016, Daphne returned to her passion for improving human health with machine learning, first as Chief Computing Officer at Calico Labs and then as the Founder of Insitro.

On this episode of The Beat, Daphne joins host Dr. Gautam Gulati to explain how her experience with her father’s autoimmune condition informs her work and why we need to rethink the fundamental categorization of disease. Daphne describes how releasing machines from our preconceptions of what’s important uncovers new science around the drivers of disease and serves as a critical starting point for developing new interventions. Listen in for Daphne’s insight on leveraging machine learning to improve clinical trials and learn why data collection should be part of the fabric of every biopharma company.

Topics Covered

• Daphne’s background in machine learning, biology and medical data
• How Daphne’s experience with her father’s autoimmune disease informs her work at Insitro
• Why we need to rethink the fundamental categorization of what disease is
• Daphne’s insight on the history of machine learning and the danger in overhyping what the technology can do
• The pros and cons of using end-to-end learning to make predictions
• How releasing machines from preconceptions of what’s important helps uncover new science
• Why understanding the drivers of disease is a critical starting point for developing new interventions
• Why data collection should be part of the fabric of every biopharma company
• How Daphne’s work in machine learning can be used to improve clinical trials
• Why now is the right time for a company like Insitro
• How Daphne thinks about privacy and issues of informed consent

Connect with Daphne Koller

Insitro
 

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati

HLTH

Dr. G. on LinkedIn

Dr. G. on Twitter
 

Resources

Coursera

Art Levinson at Calico

Dr. Hal Barron at GSK

Aducanumab

Chasing My Cure: A Doctor’s Race to Turn Hope into Action by David Fajgenbaum

Insitro’s Partnership with Gilead

UK Biobank

Introductory Quote

[5:34] “What I really wanted to build was a company that rethought drug discovery and development from the ground up, using machine learning as a foundational tool.”

Topics Covered

• Daniel shares why companies like Uber are getting involved in the future of healthcare
• How DispatchHealth is using technology to provide safe and efficient home healthcare services and the different ways patients can access it
• Learn about the Quadruple Aim of healthcare and how DispatchHealth is achieving it through its service
• The potential benefits of home healthcare
• How DispatchHealth is using technology to improve its follow-up process and operations
• How patients' willingness to open their homes provides valuable insights into their social determinants of health
• The benefits of recovering in the comfort of one's own home
• Daniel shares the different types of healthcare engagement, including digital-only, telehealth, in-person interaction, and healthcare at home, and the potential for healthcare at home to provide access and equity on a global scale

Connect with Daniel Graf

• Daniel on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd & Dr. Gautam Gulati

• Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn
• Dr. Shepherd on Twitter
• Dr. Gulati on Twitter
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Resources

• DispatchHealth
• ViVE

About Steve Cagle:

Steve Cagle is CEO and a board member of Clearwater, a leading cybersecurity and compliance partner to organizations across the healthcare ecosystem. He assumed the CEO position at Clearwater in May 2018, bringing extensive experience leading, innovating, and scaling healthcare and technology businesses, including having guided a number of companies through critical transformation periods. 

Formerly, Mr. Cagle was president and CEO of Moberg Pharma North America, a subsidiary of Moberg Pharma AB (OMX:MOB), a publicly traded Swedish pharmaceutical company. Prior to its acquisition by Moberg AB, Mr. Cagle was president and CEO of Alterna LLC, a consumer healthcare products company. 

Prior to joining Alterna, Mr. Cagle was a principal and executive team member of Sparta Systems, Inc., a software company that provides enterprise quality and compliance management software to pharmaceutical and medical device companies. During his nine-year tenure with the company, he served in numerous leadership positions, including marketing, sales, operations, and product innovation, and was responsible for sales and marketing programs, which contributed to Sparta’s leadership position in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries and to its 100-fold sales growth. 

Mr. Cagle serves as the executive chairman of CMP Pharma, and he has guided its transformation to an institutionally owned specialty pharmaceutical company. He also serves on the board of the Association of Executives in Healthcare Information Security, one of the leading organizations advancing cybersecurity best practices across the industry. Mr. Cagle holds a Master of Business Administration from New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Rutgers Business School in New Brunswick, N.J.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Cyberattacks are not just about data; they can disrupt critical healthcare services.
• Establishing a culture of cybersecurity is essential, with boards and executives being accountable.
• The healthcare ecosystem requires a shared responsibility for cybersecurity.
• Continuous risk analysis is essential to ensure organizations remain secure amid evolving threats.
• Federal initiatives, like the HHS cybersecurity strategy, indicate an increased focus on healthcare cybersecurity.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Steve on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Clearwater on their LinkedIn and website.

Topics Covered

• The potential of newer technologies like generative AI to eliminate friction in clinical environments
• Overcoming physician apprehension towards technology adoption and introducing ambient experience in healthcare
• The importance of physician adoption coaching and building psychological safety with providers
• The use of simulations and VR in training for medical students
• The need for a pause in healthcare technology implementation to focus on the art of practicing medicine
• The importance of sharing knowledge and ideas among medical institutions
• Why patient-centered care and patient-reported outcomes still need to stand at the center
• The evolving definition of a "good doctor"

Connect with Andrea Daugherty

• Andrea Daugherty on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd & Dr. Gautam Gulati

• Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn
• Dr. Shepherd on Twitter
• Dr. Gulati on Twitter
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Resources

• Dell Medical School
• ViVE

How can we transform patient health through personal and predictive care?

By taking it home.

Sheeza Hussain is the Chief Commercial Officer of Biofourmis, a global leader in digital therapeutics. Biofourmis has a vision to improve the delivery of healthcare by treating patients with chronic and acute medical conditions outside of the hospital utilizing advanced technology.

On this episode, Sheeza joins hosts Dr. Gautam Gulati, Dr. Jessica Shepherd, and Dr. Jordan Shlain to discuss how Biofourmis is using continuous vitals monitoring to prevent adverse events before they happen, allowing patients to get healthy at home.

Listen as Sheeza shares Biofourmis' mission to expand AI into people’s  lives by creating innovations that meet patients at home. Scientific studies support the fact that patients recover more comfortably in their own environment and now technology is making it possible for aging to happen at home.

Topics Covered

• How Biofourmis is like the OnStar for your health
• An inside look at the data and the analytics of Biofourmis’ bio vitals index
• The 3 tools the Biofourmis platform uses to customize care
• The partnerships required for hospital-at-home patient selection
• Sheeza’s passion for the future and how demand is increasing for patients to receive their care at home

Connect with Sheeza Hussain

• Sheeza Hussain on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati, Dr. Jordan Shlain, & Dr. Jessica Shepherd

• Dr. Gulati on Twitter
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn
• Dr. Shlain on Twitter
• Dr. Shlain on LinkedIn
• Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn
• Dr. Shepherd on Twitter

Resources

• Biofourmis
• ViVE

HLTH Matters EP02

Integrated Care Built Around the Human Being—featuring Mark Ganz of Cambia Health Solutions

In every other area of our lives, service providers are accountable to their customers. If they fail to provide both quality and value, people vote with their feet. But in healthcare, we’ve traded away that control to the insurance company, and the result is an increasingly dehumanizing system that looks at people as vessels of disease to be fixed rather than people in need of healing. How can we bring that critical patient-caregiver relationship back and design an integrated approach to care that builds around the human being?

Mark Ganz is the CEO of Cambia Health Solutions, a family of companies working to create a person-focused and economically-sustainable healthcare system. Cambia’s health plans, innovative technology and strategic investments deliver consumer-centric solutions that make care more affordable and accessible. Mark has dedicated his career to designing a seamless, end-to-end healthcare experience around the needs of people and their families, and he was named 2014 Healthcare CEO of the Year by Portland Business Journal.

On this episode of The Beat, Mark joins Dr. Gulati to explain how his father (a physician himself) was treated by the healthcare system at the end of his life and how that inspires Cambia’s human-first approach. He describes how we lost the humanity in healthcare, weighing in on how technology and the economic model have severed the relationship between the patient and caregiver. Listen in for Mark’s insight on pricing technology to the market, not the insurance payment model, and learn how Cambia is taking an integrated approach to care that centers on the human experience.

Topics Covered

• How Mark’s dad was a family doctor in the full sense of the word
• How Mark’s dad was treated by the system at the end of his life
• Cambia’s commitment to start with a deep respect for families
• Physicians as administers of technology vs. healers of people
• The dehumanizing impact of the economic model in healthcare
• How we traded away control to insurance companies for convenience
• Cambia’s work around palliative care as part of an integrated approach
• Pricing tech to the market rather than the insurance payment model
• How Mark is inspired by the Porter & Teisberg article in HBR

Connect with Mark Ganz

Cambia Health Solutions

Mark on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Gulati, Dr. Shlain & Dr. Kuku

HLTH Conference

Dr. Gulati’s Website

Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Dr. Gulati on Twitter

Dr. Shlain on LinkedIn

Dr. Shlain on Twitter

Dr. Kuku on LinkedIn

Dr. Kuku on Twitter

Resources

HealthSparq

Echo Health Ventures

GNS Healthcare

Redefining Healthcare: Creating Value-Based Competition on Results by Michael E. Porter and Elizabeth Olmsted Teisberg

‘Redefining Competition in Healthcare’ in Harvard Business Review

About Ron Emerson:

Ron Emerson RN BSN is the Global Healthcare Lead at Zoom. He is a former member of the board of Directors for the American Telemedicine Association and Chair of the Industry Council. He has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry having worked on several Telemedicine programs in 46 countries. He is recognized as a thought leader in  Telehealth,  having developed a variety of innovative telehealth applications, and consulted on telehealth deployments worldwide. He also held the position of Executive Director for a large telemedicine operation in the United States, where he was responsible for the efficient provision of services to 350 sites. Mr. Emerson was the previous recipient of the American Telemedicine Association Industry Council Award for his leadership in the advancement of Telehealth.

Things You’ll Learn:

• From 1960 to 2010, the cost of healthcare in the United States increased five times the gross domestic product.
• Zoom grew from 10 million daily participants to 300 million in three years since the COVID-19 pandemic began, becoming the market share leader in the US for telemedicine.
• In 2020 there were about 450 million telemedicine visits in the United States. 
• During 2020, the largest centers of care held up to 90% of their visits virtually, which many patients came to like and still choose nowadays.
• Zoom holds an annual conference called Zoomtopia, where they bring together thought leaders and announce big announcements.
• A hospital's revenue comes in whenever a patient walks through their doors, a concept that is the basis of most incentivization systems around health systems.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Ron Emerson on LinkedIn.
• Follow Zoom on LinkedIn.
• Check Out the Zoom Healthcare Website.
• Explore Zoom’s additional features like Zoom Phone, Zoom Webinars, Zoom IQ for Sales, Zoom Events,  and Zoom Contact Center.

People talk about cost savings or about longevity but if you frame it with how many doctor visits you’re going to have per year, you want that to be the lowest number not the highest number. So, how do we prevent people from getting into an ICU? How do we do this when on the other side with capitalism you have people saying, “how do we get more people in here?” There’s this real tension in the health care system.

Vin Gupta, MD, MSt, MPA, is a Critical Care Pulmonologist, Senior Principal Scientist and Chief Medical Officer of COVID-19 Response at Amazon, and Affiliate Faculty at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, part of the University of Washington. Vin previously served as Principal Scientist at Amazon Care and, prior to that, was part of the Apple Clinical team in a part-time capacity working on its pulmonary roadmap for the Series 6 Apple Watch. Additionally, he served as health advisor on the Biden-Harris Transition’s COVID-19 Response team, and currently serves as a senior medical advisor to several organizations, including T-Mobile, Inc, Thermo Fisher Scientific, the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Mariners. Though, his background doesn’t stop there.

On this episode of The Beat, Vin joins hosts Dr. Gautam Gulati and Dr. Jordan Shlain to discuss the future of public health and the pandemic response within Amazon care and how they are working through tension found in the healthcare system. Vin describes the steps being taken to make the majority of primary care virtual for patients with prevention in mind rather than sickness alone. Listen in for insight on telemedicine and telehealth and how Amazon’s virtual health care compares to other providers.

Topics Covered

• Vin’s background that’s led him to where he is now with Amazon
• Vin’s insight on the healthcare system working with doctors that want to prevent transactions from a system that wants transactions
• Vin’s insight on how the increase of savvy patients is affecting the health care system
• The innovations that have developed because of the pandemic and why they should become permanent
• What Telemedicine is and why it needs to be talked about more
• Why it’s so important to have a user friendly telemedicine platform and how Amazon does that well
• Navigating how to best scale telehealth services
• Vin’s insight on Amazon’s virtual healthcare system compared to all the other virtual plays available
• How Vin defines health as living a long life filled with wellness
• How Vin defines healthcare to him as focusing on prevention, not sickness

Connect with Vin Gupta

Vin Gupta on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Jordan Shlain

HLTH

Dr. Shlain on LinkedIn

Dr. Shlain on Twitter

Resources

Amazon Care

Introductory Quote

[3:19–3:30]

“The goal here is how do we actually virtualize most of primary care and do so in a way that’s clinically meaningful - that makes people feel reassured that they’re getting high quality care, they’re not making any sacrifices?”

About Julia Hu:

Julia Hu is an American entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Lark. Founded on the personal experience of having grown up with an undiagnosed chronic condition, Julia is passionate about bringing compassionate care to those struggling with or at risk of chronic disease. Hu was named one of the “Top 10 Women in Tech” by Forbes and was a winner of Inc. Magazine’s “30 under 30”. Prior to founding Lark in 2011, Julia ran a global startup incubator, the Clean Tech Open, built a sustainable construction startup and was an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Stanford’s StartX incubator. She is on the board of the Council for Diabetes Prevention and a Singularity University faculty member. Hu received her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees at Stanford University and half of an MBA from MIT Sloan before founding Lark. Julia loves to stay fit with hip hop.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Lark Health helps, through conversational AI, anyone struggling with a chronic condition, or at high risk of chronic disease, to live a happier and healthier life.
• Lark Health has been clinically effective in managing pre-diabetes in areas with shortages of healthcare professionals.
• If not for the Lark Virtual Diabetes Prevention Program, only 5% of the population in those areas would have had access to in-person care services.
• Conversational AI and remote patient monitoring can provide care delivery in chronic preventative and behavioral health areas.
• It took Lark seven years to train their AI with a million and a half patients before they started getting clinical equivalents to live nurses for the disease states the platform covers.
• In a post-COVID world, Lark provides an excellent opportunity to turn healthcare into a system that services each patient individually to their needs.

Resources:

• Follow and connect with Julia Hu on LinkedIn
• Follow Lark Health on LinkedIn
• Discover more about Lark Health on their Website

About Steve Kraus:

Steve Kraus is a partner at Bessemer in the Cambridge office and a world-renowned healthcare investor. He is the author of Bessemer’s 10 Laws of Healthcare,  Benchmarks for Growing Health tech Businesses, and is a co-host of A Healthy Dose podcast. Steve currently sits on the boards of Bright Health Group, Headspace Health, Groups, Qventus, AspenRx, HouseRx, Oshi Health, Folx Health, Mural Health, Alcresta and US Health Partners.

Prior to joining Bessemer, Steve worked for a growth-stage, private equity firm and as a management consultant at Bain & Company. He has also worked on several different political campaigns throughout his career.

He serves as an Observer at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, an advisor to Boston Children’s Hospital and the Harvard Business School’s Center for Entrepreneurship, and on the investment committees of BCBS Massachusetts and Rock Health.

Steve graduated from summa cum laude from Yale University and earned his MBA from Harvard, where he was a Baker Scholar.

Things You’ll Learn:

• With a dedicated healthcare practice for over 40 years, Bessemer brings a unique advantage by integrating partners with diverse industry expertise and networks. This approach allows them to make strategic investments in various industries, including healthcare, software as a service, fintech, consumer, and crypto.
• The Intersection of Healthcare and AI: One of the fascinating topics discussed is how Bessemer leverages the convergence of healthcare and AI.
• By combining Bessemer’s healthcare team's knowledge with a deep AI team, they have built one of the most extensive portfolios in healthcare AI today. This focus on innovation and emerging technologies positions them to tap into the potential of AI to drive down costs, improve outcomes, and revolutionize the healthcare industry.
• Navigating the Current Landscape: With recent economic challenges, including market downturns and valuation adjustments, the VC industry has faced some headwinds. However, Steve Krause highlights that the current valuation reset has created opportunities for investors.
• Steve emphasizes that the healthcare sector, in particular, holds immense potential, and as the public markets open up, the next cohort of healthcare tech companies will emerge, propelling the industry forward.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Steve Kraus on LinkedIn.
• Follow Bessemer on LinkedIn and visit their website.

If you think about our phones, we all essentially have the same phone yet, it’s a deeply personalized experience for each one of us. What if healthcare was like that? -  Personalized and holistic, thinking about you, where you are.

Vivian S. Lee, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., is the President of Verily Health Platforms, overseeing all health care platforms, including Onduo, Healthy at Work, and Verily’s Value Suite, among others. She is also the author of The Long Fix: Solving America’s Health Care Crisis with Strategies that Work for Everyone. As a healthcare executive, she formerly served as the medical school dean, SVP, and CEO of the University of Utah Health, a $3.5 billion integrated health system and health plan that ranked first among university hospitals in quality and safety. Over her career as an NIH-funded MRI researcher, she has published over 200 articles in leading journals including JAMA and the New England Journal of Medicine and received the Gold Medal of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

If that wasn’t enough, Dr. Lee was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2015 and was ranked #11 among Becker’s 100 most influential people in healthcare in 2019. A Rhodes Scholar, she is a graduate of Harvard College, Oxford University, Harvard Medical School, and NYU Stern School of Business.

On this episode, Vivian joins hosts Dr. Gautam Gulati and Patricia Bradley to discuss the intersection of health and tech and how it can be very transformative on health care. She describes strategies to solve America’s healthcare crisis and how these strategies can not only work for everyone, but also advance healthcare faster than ever before. Listen in for insight on the future of health platforms and the potential they have to advance population health.

Topics Covered

• Vivian’s background in medicine and what she does now with Verily
• Insight on Vivian’s book, The Long Fix: Solving America’s Health Care Crisis with Strategies that Work for Everyone
• What the average individual can do to contribute to the ongoing change of healthcare
• Where all the costs of healthcare are coming from
• The Surf and Turf Problem
• How the healthcare system is only designed to treat instead of prevent
• What Vivian took away when writing her book
• Who Verily is and their purpose
• Vivian’s insight on how much more personal healthcare could be and the goal around that
• Vivian’s insight on how unique and personalized healthcare could and should be
• The ways Onduo plans on providing more personal results and solutions for people
• The vision of Verily Health Platforms
• How Vivian defines health as the ability to really live our lives in a productive, comfortable and safe way
• Vivian’s belief that healthcare for every single person in America is the answer to health

Connect with Vivian Lee

Verily

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati

HLTH

Dr. Gulati on Twitter

Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn
 

Resources

The Long Fix: Solving America’s Health Care Crisis with Strategies that Work for Everyone

Onduo

Healthy at Work

Verily’s Value Suite

Introductory Quote

[19:05–19:34]

“Even though my book is called The Long Fix, I’m hoping that it’s going to be less long now because of the pandemic and the acceleration of these digital health approaches that can be a lot more personalized and holistic, and thinking about you, where you are. So, if you think about our phones, we all essentially have the same phone...but yet it’s a very deeply personalized experience for each of us. Now, think about if healthcare were like that.

About Rajeev Singh:

Rajeev Singh is the CEO and chairman of the Board of Directors at Accolade (Nasdaq: ACCD). He joined Accolade as CEO in November of 2015, leading the organization’s strategy and operations through high growth.   

In 2020, Singh led Accolade through one of the first digital healthcare Initial Public Offerings of the year. The following year, he led the company through nearly $1 billion in acquisitions of 2nd.MD, PlushCare, and HealthReveal. Accolade now works with over 700 employers and health plans serving over 11 million people across the United States.  

Prior to joining Accolade, he co-founded Concur, the global leader in travel and expense management, in 1993. Concur went public (Nasdaq: CNQR) in 1998 and grew to more than $800mm in revenue, over 4,000 employees, and more than 25,000 customers before being acquired by SAP AG for $8.3 billion in 2014. Singh was president and chief operating officer as well as a member of the board of directors at Concur.  

Singh graduated from Western Michigan University with a BSE. Today, he serves on the board of Avalara (NYSE: AVLR), a top provider of cloud-based tax compliance automation for businesses; Amperity, an intelligent customer data platform; Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation; and the University of Washington Foundation. He lives in Seattle with his wife, Jill, and their 2 children. 

Things You’ll Learn:

• Accolade defines health equity as the responsibility to ensure everyone has the inalienable human right to high-quality healthcare. 
• If you live in specific neighborhoods in the United States or are part of a particular minority group, you might not have access to a primary care physician. 
• The LGBTQ+ population struggles to find the primary care and behavioral health they need within a shared life experience.
• The biggest financial challenge most people face in their lives is affording healthcare.
• 2020 made access to virtual care mainstream in the United States, creating an opportunity that has to be embraced. 

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Rajeev Singh on LinkedIn.
• Follow Accolade on LinkedIn.
• Explore the Accolade Website.
• Reach out to Rajeev at RajeevSingh@Accolade.com. 

About Misty Grambow:

Misty Grambow is a results-driven sales executive with over 26 years at U.S. Bank/Elavon, Inc., specializing in healthcare, higher education, and nonprofit sectors. As VP of Healthcare and Nonprofit, she leads strategic initiatives to drive growth, develop key partnerships, and optimize payment solutions. With deep expertise in lead generation, prospect engagement, and sales negotiations, Misty has a proven track record of expanding client relationships and delivering impactful solutions. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, she excels in fostering business success through innovation and collaboration.

About Tom Priedeman:

Tom Priedeman is a seasoned financial executive with over a decade at U.S. Bank, specializing in healthcare corporate banking and capital markets. As Division Manager of Middle Market Healthcare, he leads a team providing corporate finance advisory, capital solutions, and working capital optimization for healthcare firms under $1 billion in revenue. Previously, he held senior roles at J.P. Morgan. With an MBA from Duke University and a background in accounting, Tom excels in strategic financial solutions and client growth.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Financial services are playing a crucial role in driving change in healthcare, particularly by addressing payment challenges and streamlining revenue cycle management. US Bank's commitment to providing capital and innovative payment solutions is making a tangible difference for healthcare providers.
• AI holds immense potential for improving the efficiency and patient experience in healthcare, but it also brings significant cybersecurity implications that must be carefully managed.
• Integrating payment solutions into the healthcare journey is essential for improving patient financial satisfaction and increasing revenue streams for healthcare providers. 
• Healthcare systems should prioritize user-friendly payment options, transparent billing practices, and proactive communication with patients about their financial responsibilities.
• Healthcare organizations need comprehensive solutions that address patient and non-patient payment challenges and can be customized to their specific culture and needs.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Misty Grambow on LinkedIn.
• Follow and connect with Tom Priedeman on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about U.S. Bank on their LinkedIn and website.

About Dr. Carolyn Jasik:

Carolyn is a board-certified physician with a background in health technology startups, multidisciplinary care, education, and research. As Chief Medical Officer at Omada, she uses her diverse expertise to improve user experience and introduce integrated healthcare solutions. Before joining Omada, Carolyn spent 14 years at the University of California as an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Clinical Instructor at San Francisco General Hospital. She also served as Vice President of Medical Outcomes at Mango Health, a digital health startup. Carolyn earned a Bachelor's in Public Policy from Princeton University, a Medical Degree from the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine, and completed her research training at the University of California, San Francisco. She is board-certified in clinical informatics, adolescent medicine, and pediatrics. At Omada, Carolyn supports clinical and research teams, contributing to the development of innovative healthcare solutions.

Things You’ll Learn:

• GLP-1 medications require comprehensive wraparound support, including lifestyle changes, mental health, and physical therapy, for effective and sustainable outcomes. The speed of weight loss, rather than the GLP-1 itself, is often the primary driver of muscle mass reduction.
• Many individuals on GLP-1s aim to eventually discontinue the medication, making long-term lifestyle planning a crucial part of the treatment.
• Stopping GLP-1s abruptly can trigger rebound weight gain due to the body's natural metabolic response.
• AI's role in healthcare should be focused on enhancing human care delivery, not replacing the crucial empathetic connection.
• The future of healthcare will include advanced primary care that addresses the gaps between traditional doctor visits.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Dr. Carolyn Jasik on LinkedIn.
• Discover more about Omada Health on LinkedIn and their website.

About Zane Burke:

Zane Burke is the CEO of Quantum Health, where he leads efforts to revolutionize healthcare navigation through innovative solutions that combine technology with a human touch. With a background in both healthcare IT and executive leadership, Zane brings a wealth of experience to his role. Prior to joining Quantum Health, he served as CEO of Livongo Health, Inc., and as President of Cerner Corporation, where he drove significant advancements in healthcare technology. Zane is known for his commitment to improving healthcare delivery and making it more efficient and patient-centered. He holds both an undergraduate degree and an MBA from Kansas State University. Passionate about creating great healthcare experiences and addressing societal imbalances, Zane is a visionary leader dedicated to driving sustainable innovation in the healthcare industry.

Things You’ll Learn:

1. The integration of advanced technology with personalized human interaction significantly enhances healthcare experiences.
2. Quantum Health's pharmacy navigation solution helps reduce pharmacy costs, especially for specialty medications, by providing cost-effective alternatives at the point of care.
3. Streamlining healthcare processes makes them more efficient and less cumbersome for both patients and providers.
4. Similar navigation solutions could be applied to other areas of healthcare, such as surgery and oncology, to improve outcomes and manage costs.
5. Quantum Health's commitment to leveraging artificial intelligence creates seamless consumer experiences and drives down healthcare costs.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Zane Burke on LinkedIn and X.
• Follow Quantum Health on LinkedIn and visit their website. 

About Aamer Mumtaz:

Aamer is a healthcare operations and growth expert with over 20 years of broad-based experience as a transformation leader. In addition to advising complex healthcare systems and facilities on strategies to address systemic operational and strategic challenges, Aamer has served as a successful growth and operations executive in multiple digital health labor marketplaces. He has a particular focus on workforce transformation and is passionate about developing and implementing equitable and sustainable labor solutions in healthcare.

Things You’ll Learn:

• There was about a 27% turnover for nursing in the United States in 2022; after 2023 more than half of healthcare systems will be in a severe shortage.
• A third of all staffing dollars and a quarter of all staffing hours are provided by contract labor. 
• Most travel nursing contracts range from 12 to 13 weeks on average.
• Nurses have never had the right financial structures or incentives to consider patient care a career.
• ShiftMed works with W-2 employees and pays their payroll taxes, giving them workers' compensation and other benefits like transportation.
• ShiftMed allows health systems and facilities to book employees weeks in advance and change their needs as the time comes close. Still, it also allows them to book guaranteed shifts, which are appealing to employees as they will have some security.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Aamer Mumtaz on LinkedIn.
• Follow ShiftMed on LinkedIn.
• Explore the ShiftMed Website.

About Harlan Levine:

Harlan Levine, M.D., is president of health innovation and policy.  He also serves as the chair of the board of AccessHope™, a spinout company from the City of Hope that is focused on serving the employer market and making leading-edge cancer care available to all, regardless of geographical location.

Prior to the City of Hope, Dr. Levine held executive roles at UnitedHealth Group, Towers Watson, and Anthem Inc. He currently serves as a board member and secretary for BioScienceLA, as a member of the Keck Graduate Institute’s Board of Trustees, and as a board member for Vida Health, Active Life Scientific, and Reimagine Care.  He is on the advisory board for Innovaccer and Laguna Health. For 10 years, he has been a strategic advisor to the founder/chairman of the board of Quantum Health, and now chairs its external clinical advisory board.  In addition, he is a member of the Accessibility and Affordability Working Group for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and a senior fellow for Health Evolution Forum’s New Models of Care Delivery.

He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and licensed by the Medical Board of California. He earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard College and his medical degree from the University of California San Francisco. He interned at Mount Zion Hospital and Medical Center in San Francisco and completed his residency in internal medicine at Cedars-Sinai Health System in Los Angeles.

Things You’ll Learn:

• City of Hope's Distinctive Strategy: Integrating state-of-the-art research with patient-centric care. Their outreach to underrepresented markets and the introduction of a mobile van for prevention and screening empower communities with NCI-level care accessibility.
• Dr. Harlan emphasized how social determinants of health, including the cost of care, transportation challenges, and insufficient culturally relevant education, contribute to inequalities in cancer care.
• The importance of collaboration, policy adjustments, and the integration of community and academic oncologists. 
• The initiatives at City of Hope, including the affiliated company Access Hope, aim to provide expert opinions and cutting-edge cancer care to diverse populations.
• Gain an understanding of the obstacles that create barriers for patients to access the latest advancements in cancer treatment and assess the effects of limited networks on fair access to care.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Harlan on LinkedIn.
• Follow City of Hope on LinkedIn.
• Visit the City of Hope website here.

About Kaveh Safavi:

Kaveh helps organizations harness the promise of technology and human ingenuity to humanize healthcare. He works with providers, health insurers, and public and private health systems in the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific. A seasoned executive, Dr. Safavi brings more than three decades of leadership experience to Accenture Health. Prior to joining Accenture in 2011, Dr. Safavi led Cisco’s healthcare practice. Before that, he was chief medical officer of Thomson Reuters’ health business, vice president of medical affairs at United Healthcare, and had leadership roles at HealthSpring and Humana. Among his many accomplishments was establishing one of the Midwest’s first electronic-health-record-enabled primary care practices.

Dr. Safavi has published numerous papers and is often interviewed and quoted on his expert healthcare knowledge in various media publications, including The Wall Street Journal, the BBC, The New York Times, Consumer Reports, US News and World Report, Harvard Business Review, and The Economist. He earned an M.D. from Loyola University School of Medicine and a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law and completed a residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical Center. An adjunct lecturer of Health Enterprise Management at Kellogg School of Management-Northwestern University, Dr. Safavi also serves on the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences’ Board of Visitors–at Northwestern University, is a member of the Easterseals National Board of Directors and is a lifelong Chicagoan

Things You’ll Learn:

• The power asymmetry between doctors and patients in healthcare needs to be balanced. 
• Empowering patients and harnessing technology can humanize healthcare and create a better care system.
• Generative AI is a game-changer in healthcare. It can save hours of time by automating language-based tasks like reading, writing, and content creation. This frees up healthcare professionals to focus on higher-value work.
• Generative AI has tremendous potential to address workforce challenges in healthcare. By augmenting or substituting certain tasks, it can help bridge the gap amidst a scarcity of healthcare professionals. 
• Responsible use of generative AI and clear guidance are crucial to avoid potential risks and ensure patient safety.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Kaveh Safavi on LinkedIn.
• Follow Accenture on LinkedIn.
• Visit the Accenture website here.

About Melissa Sherry:

Melissa Sherry is the VP of Social Care Integration at Unite Us and designs payment technology to increase funding for community programs. She holds an M.P.H and a Ph.D. from the Department of Health Policy and Management at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Unite Us is building coordinated care networks to make sure individuals’ basic needs are met and their social care journey is achieved.
• Housing is an important social determinant in patients’ care in terms of access and quality.
• Determinants like access to electricity, food, and medication all work in a snowball effect.
• Unlike healthcare language, the language around social care is currently being standardized by projects like the Gravity Project and Unite Us.
• Unite Us is using technology, along with structured data, in order to allow referrals to be easily sent through its platform.
• Social needs affect outcomes across all different sectors, including healthcare.

Resources:

• Connect and follow Melissa Sherry on LinkedIn.
• Follow Unite Us on LinkedIn.
• Discover the Unite Us Website.
• Explore the Gravity Project Website.

Several years ago, leading VC Marc Andreessen proposed the notion that innovation happens through a process of unbundling and rebundling.

Healthcare is no exception.

Through the micro-specialization of companies, we’ve witnessed a great deal of unbundling in the industry. Now, we’ve begun the process of rebundling.

So, what does this mean for the future of healthcare tech? And how do venture investors leverage this idea to decide which digital health startups deserve funding?

Dr. Vineeta Agarwala is General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, where she leads investments for the a16z bio and health fund across digital health care delivery, biotech and life sciences tools and diagnostics.
 

Dr. Agarwala has a special interest in companies leveraging unique datasets to improve healthcare delivery, and she serves on several healthcare portfolio company boards, including Memorial Health, Thyme Care and Waymark.
 

On this episode, Dr.  Agarwala joins host Dr. Guatam Gulati to discuss what health payviders are doing to aggregate the best technology for specialty care and how we might integrate such specialized health tech into already complicated workflows.
 

Dr. Agarwala shares her take on the successes and failures of digital health in the last decade, describing how healthcare tech has been transformative for certain patient populations and why she sees most remote connected wearables as a missed opportunity.

Listen in to understand how the high bar for fundraising is changing the way a16z makes decisions and get Dr. Agarwala’s advice for aspiring founders in healthcare tech.
 

Topics Covered

• How Dr. Agarwala thinks about the unbundling and rebundling of services in healthcare
• What health payviders are doing to aggregate the best possible technology across large numbers of specialty care areas
• How we might integrate specialized health tech into already complicated workflows (and why it’s such a challenge)
• Dr. Agarwala’s take on patients, providers and payers as joint custodians of healthcare data
• The pros and cons of imposing a government tax on corporations to access healthcare data
• How digital health has been transformative for some small patient populations, health systems and provider practices
• Why Dr. Agarwala sees remote connected wearables as a failure in the absence of intelligent care management
• How the high bar for fundraising has changed the way a16z makes healthcare tech investment decisions
• Why a16z is encouraging its portfolio companies to adopt a lean business model
• Why now is a phenomenal time to start a company in the healthcare technology space
• How Dr. Agarwala’s experience with her grandfather’s death informs her work at a16z

Connect with Dr. Vineeta Agarwala

Dr. Agarwala at Andreessen Horowitz

Dr. Agarwala on Twitter

Dr. Agarwala on LinkedIn
 

Connect with Dr. Guatam Gulati

HLTH

Dr. Gulati on Twitter

Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Resources

Julie Yoo at Andreesen Horowitz

Thyme Care

About Ian Wijaya:

Ian Wijaya is the Co-Head of Lazard’s North America Healthcare practice. Ian joined Lazard in 2011 and co-founded the Firm’s healthcare services practice, with a focus on M&A, strategic advisory, and recapitalization advisory for managed care insurance payers, providers across the continuum of care (e.g., acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, post-acute care, etc.), PBMs, distributors, payor and provider services companies, HCIT, and digital health companies.

Ian is a member of Lazard’s Opinion Committee and the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Healthcare, as well as a Corporate Leader on the Council on Foreign Relations.

Ian has advised on more than $250 billion of corporate finance transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, financial restructurings and reorganizations, joint ventures, and other matters, and has advised on several of the largest and most transformative M&A transactions in healthcare, including three of the largest in recent history.

Prior to joining Lazard, Ian was an investment banker at Greenhill & Co. in New York, where he focused on healthcare M&A but also provided M&A advice to companies in the technology and retail sectors. Prior to Greenhill & Co., he worked in the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs & Co. and the financial restructuring group of Houlihan Lokey in New York.

Ian has an M.B.A. in Finance and Strategy from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a B.A. (cum laude) from Dartmouth College.

Things You’ll Learn:

• The candid examination of market barriers and what it takes to finalize deals in turbulent times.
• The healthcare tech market demands investments in businesses with sustainable unit economics and the potential for operating leverage, promoting a balance between profit and growth.
• Strategic buyers and private equity are looking for healthcare services that can enhance supply chain visibility, manage costs efficiently, and improve patient outcomes through tech-enabled solutions.
• AI stands poised to revolutionize healthcare across several domains, with an emphasis on clinical decision support, population health management, and automation of administrative tasks.
• AI in healthcare will likely boom in 3 areas: clinical support, population health management, and operational automation. 

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Ian Wijaya on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Lazard on their LinkedIn and website.

About Yuechen Zhao :

Yuechen is a Partner at GSR Ventures, where he focuses on early-stage investments in enterprise software and consumer platforms. Prior to GSR Ventures, Yuechen founded a personalized travel startup and built products at Google, Uber, and Meixin (fintech). Yuechen received his BA in Computer Science from Harvard University.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Despite public and private market fluctuations, a steady, long-view approach in investment strategy remains central, with a focus on substantive innovations with enduring value.
• Emerging AI technologies offer transformative potential in healthcare accessibility and patient empowerment.
• Successful investing is anchored in a decade-long commitment and the intimate support between founders and investors that goes beyond mere financial transactions.
• As investment climates shift and the health tech scene faces valuation declines, GSR Ventures strategizes to remain steadfast, resourceful, and committed to its portfolio companies.
• Entrepreneurs need market momentum and passion for problem-solving to sustainable business models that promise scalability and defensibility.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Yuechen Zhao on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about GSR Ventures on their LinkedIn and website.

About Stephen Hahn:

Stephen M. Hahn, M.D., is CEO-Partner of Flagship Pioneering and Chief Executive Officer of Harbinger Health. Steve joined Flagship in June 2021 as Chief Medical Officer of its Preemptive Health and Medicine Initiative, which is creating a new field that aims to protect, maintain, or improve people’s health before they get sick. Steve will continue as a strategic advisor to the Initiative.

Steve brings two decades of distinguished leadership in healthcare strategy, oncology medical practice, and translational/clinical research to this role. He served as the 24th U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner from 2019 to 2021, overseeing both COVID and non-COVID regulatory affairs, including therapeutics and vaccine development, devices, diagnostics, and clinical trials.

Steve focused his translational research efforts on evaluating the tumor microenvironment, signal transduction pathways involved in tumor response to therapies, and proton therapy. He has authored more than 220 peer-reviewed original research articles and has experience developing medical products.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Harbinger's mission is to find diseases early, before symptoms arise, to improve treatment outcomes and save lives. 
• Their focus on developing accessible and affordable diagnostics will revolutionize healthcare.
• Dr. Hahn’s insights into Harbinger's innovative blood test, leveraging machine learning and AI to detect specific genetic signatures of cancer in the bloodstream. 
• This technology has the potential to revolutionize cancer screening and diagnosis.
• The importance of building trust in healthcare. Access to affordable and reliable testing is vital, and Harbinger is committed to making its technologies accessible to all, regardless of location or socioeconomic status.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Stephen Hahn on LinkedIn.
• Follow Harbinger Health on LinkedIn and visit their website.

About Omar Nagji:

Omar Nagji is the Chief Commercial Officer of Memora Health, the leading technology platform for virtual care delivery and complex care management.

Prior to joining the Memora team, Omar helped co-found the Healthcare team at Lyft, where he was responsible for developing and executing the strategy that took Lyft Healthcare from its infancy to an industry and thought leader in the non-emergent medical transportation space.  Before Lyft, Omar spent more than 15 years across multiple verticals within the healthcare ecosystem – beginning at Stockamp, now Huron Consulting, where he implemented patient throughput strategies at UPenn, Baylor Scott and White, and UC Health. He went on to build and lead successful Enterprise initiatives across the Revenue Cycle, Digital Pharmacy, and Reputation Management spaces at companies including MedeAnalytics, VisiQuate, Alto Pharmacy, and Podium.

Omar Nagji also serves as a Strategic Advisor to companies such as Force Therapeutics, Angle Health, and SendaRide. He earned his BS from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he studied Health Policy and Administration.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Memora Health is the leading technology platform for virtual care delivery and complex care management.
• Emails have a 20% read rate, and messages sent on mobile apps have a read rate between 30 to 40%.
• 98% of all text messages are read. 90% within the first 3 minutes.
• A text-based approach to communicating with patients is equitable as it doesn’t rule out those who don’t have a smartphone.
• Memora’s clients have an average 91% initial user activation rate and a 74% user engagement rate after 60 days of use.
• The workforce shortage challenge can be addressed with innovative solutions.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Omar Nagji on LinkedIn.
• Follow Memora Health on LinkedIn and Twitter.
• Explore the Memora Health Website.
• Listen to the Care Delivery podcast on the Outcomes Rocket here.

Sandy Vance and Peter Horadan, CEO of Vouched, discuss how Vouched uses AI and automation to verify identities in Telehealth. When you go to a doctor’s office, the receptionist checks your ID. As healthcare providers continue to conduct appointments virtually, how can they verify their patients’ identities digitally? Vouched uses artificial intelligence and automation to check the validity of patient IDs and verify that the person on the virtual appointment matches that identity. They discuss applications, success stories, and more. 

In this episode, they discuss:

• How Vouched helps doctors and hospitals deal with challenges and identification requirements unique to healthcare
• How Vouched removes friction in the Telehealth space
• The steps Vouched takes to ensure that documents are real and match the patient
• How Vouched helps healthcare organizations stay compliant with HIPAA and other healthcare compliance requirements
• The role Vouched plays in cybersecurity, and how Vouched protects itself from attacks
• The emergence of AI agents in 2025
• Real-world success stories from Vouched’s customers

A little about Horadan:

Peter Horadan is the CEO of Vouched, a provider of AI-powered identity verification in the healthcare space. He founded Lockstep, developed the first connected accounting platform, and led its successful acquisition by The Sage Group.

Previously, Peter drove Avalara's growth towards its IPO and held technology leadership roles at Concur Technologies and Microsoft. His expertise in SaaS and his strategic vision fuels Vouched’s innovation in digital verification.

Vouched is a rapidly growing company, and was recognized in Inc. 5000’s Fastest Growing-Companies List. It also made the Deloitte Fast 500 in 2024. As healthcare providers continue to use Telehealth to make appointments more convenient, Vouched fills an important role in identity verification, patient satisfaction, and compliance.

About Rekha Kumar:

Dr. Rekha Kumar is a globally recognized leader in the field of Obesity Medicine, currently holding the position of Chief Medical Officer at Found, a weight care platform. With a past role as the medical director of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, Dr. Kumar has shared her insights on the international stage regarding the medical evaluation and treatment of obesity. 

Contributing significantly to her field, she has authored various papers and textbook chapters and serves as an Associate Editor for the Obesity Journal. Her expertise extends to diverse topics, including the clinical assessment of patients with obesity and metabolic syndrome, the impact of obesity on reproductive health and fertility, and thyroid disease. 

Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Kumar has actively participated in global health initiatives, exploring the landscape of metabolic diseases in countries like India, China, and Tanzania. She is a valued member of the board of advisors for the Duke Global Health Institute and holds Board Certifications in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism, and Obesity Medicine.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Obesity is a heterogeneous disease. What works for one person may not work for another.
• Found's outcomes boast a 90% success rate, with patients achieving a 10% body weight loss in one year.
• Research says 40% of adults and 20% of children have obesity. The US obesity treatment market is about $15 billion. The US weight loss market is about 160 billion.
• There’s a biological component to obesity; it’s not just willpower, diet, and exercise.
• The root cause of each person’s weight gain can be vastly different.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Rekha Kumar on LinkedIn.
• Follow Found on LinkedIn and visit their website.

If we want to get healthier and reverse chronic conditions, we can only get so far doing it alone. So, what can we do and who can we work alongside, to reverse chronic disease not only in ourselves but in the entire U.S.?

Jahangir Mohammed is the Founder and CEO of Twin Health. Twin is transforming the way the industry approaches chronic disease management by utilizing its Whole Body Digital Twin™ technology to heal damaged metabolic function and achieve unparalleled chronic disease reversal outcomes. Prior to Twin Health, Jahangir was the Founder/CEO of Jasper Technologies and prior to that, he was the Founder/CEO of Kineto Wireless.

On this episode of The Beat, Jahangir Mohammed and Dr. Lisa Shah joins hosts Dr. Gautam Gulati and Dr. Jordan Shlain to discuss the future of understanding human metabolism in order to reverse chronic disease. They describe exactly what their whole person treatment program (the Digital Twin) looks like and the impact it has had on people. Listen in to hear how Twin Health plans to reverse chronic disease in 1 million people in the US in 5 years with their reversal technology.

Topics Covered

• Jahangir background prior to Twin Health with Jasper Technologies and Kineto Wireless
• What inspired Jahangir to create Twin Health
• How Twin’s Reversal Technology works
• The mass amount of chronic diseases seen in over 1 billion people
• What 5 things Twin Health measures for each patient
• What the whole person treatment program (the Digital Twin) looks like
• Insight on preventing chronic disease
• Why people stick with Twin Health
• How Jahangir defines health as physical and mental longevity
• How Lisa defines healthcare as quality, trust, accountability and safety

Connect with Jahangir Mohammed

Twin Health

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati & Dr. Jordan Shlain

HLTH

Dr. Gulati on Twitter

Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Dr. Shlain on LinkedIn

Dr. Shlain on Twitter

Introductory Quote

[1:49–2:13]

“The impact of what we do, we believe could literally revolutionize human health. As we look around, one of the largest categories of diseases and conditions that is conflicting humanity is chronic metabolic diseases…So many of them. Affecting more than 1 billion people around the world. It’s incredible.

About Dr. Eve Cunningham:

Eve Cunningham, MD MBA, the Chief of Virtual Care and Digital Health at Providence, and an active member of the HIMSS community. Throughout her career, she's balanced surgical skills as a gynecologist with incubating and scaling digital assistant products for providers at Providence.

Balancing career with spouse and three children has been her biggest challenge. She advises working mothers to customize their balance based on beliefs, resources, and support. As a leader, she's sensitive to her team's challenges, balancing work and life.

Her future challenge is navigating healthcare transformation and integrating AI/ML technology into clinical workflows, advocating for clinician involvement to ensure responsible use.

Cunningham believes the future of health information and technology for women is bright, with more entering the field and changing gender ratios emphasizing value and competency.

Motivated by mentorship, she resonates with Steve Jobs' quotes on teamwork and revolutionary change. Cunningham is proud to serve on HIMSS committees and recently participated in the CMIO Panel at HIMSS22, focusing on innovations to address burnout and administrative burden.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Innovation in healthcare is not just about technology; it's about solving real challenges like workforce shortages and care fragmentation.
• Virtual care isn't just for minor issues; it spans from primary care to post-acute services, improving access and outcomes.
• Omnichannel healthcare aims to provide seamless care across different platforms, but regulatory hurdles and privacy concerns remain significant barriers.
• Collaboration between clinicians and tech experts is essential for meaningful innovation in healthcare.
• Successful healthcare transformation requires a holistic approach, considering both clinical outcomes and financial sustainability.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Eve on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Providence on LinkedIn and their website.

About Leo Barella:

Leo Barella is a results-driven technology leader with a passion for leveraging cutting-edge solutions to transform the healthcare industry. As the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Takeda, Leo is dedicated to driving innovation and digital transformation to improve patient quality of life and enhance operational efficiency.

Throughout his career, Leo has successfully led cross-functional teams and delivered strategic initiatives. His expertise lies in developing and implementing technology strategies, driving digital innovation, and optimizing processes, people, data, and technology to support business growth. Leo has spearheaded the adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics to drive insights and improve decision-making processes.

Deeply committed to fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation, Leo empowers teams to think creatively and embrace change. By cultivating strong partnerships with internal stakeholders, external partners, and industry experts, he has successfully implemented transformative technology solutions that have significantly impacted patient care and business outcomes.

Things You’ll Learn:

1. The role of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is evolving to focus on driving enterprise strategy and maximizing ROI.
2. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are transforming industries, particularly healthcare.
3. Leading Takeda's cloud program, Leo provides insights into the benefits and challenges of cloud transitions.
4. CTOs play a crucial role in making strategic decisions that increase ROI and promote organizational growth.
5. Optimizing organizational structure varies for services-based and product-based companies.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Leo Barella on LinkedIn.
• Follow Takeda on LinkedIn and visit their website.

About Shannon Klinger:

As Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, Shannon Thyme Klinger leads Moderna’s legal, governance, and corporate compliance efforts.

Ms. Klinger joined Moderna from Novartis (NYSE: NVS), serving as Chief Legal Officer and a member of the Novartis Executive Committee since 2018. Previously, she served as Chief Ethics, Risk & Compliance Officer. During her ten-year tenure at Novartis, she held other roles of increasing responsibility, including as Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer and Global Head of Litigation, General Counsel, and Global Head of Legal at Sandoz, a Novartis division.

Throughout her career, Ms. Klinger’s work has focused on driving long-term business performance and building trust with society, including ensuring access to medicine, protecting innovation with intellectual property, championing the responsible use of data, and enabling excellence in product launches. She is also a committed advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ms. Klinger served on the board of directors of the SIX Group in Switzerland from 2016 to 2020.

Ms. Klinger received her Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Notre Dame. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the District of Columbia Bar.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Moderna has focused on infectious diseases and commits to creating transformative therapies for patients with the power of mRNA.
• The World Health Organization releases a flu strain selection in March or April every year. 
• The Moderna Charitable Foundation was initially endowed with $50 million. 
• The Foundation recently announced $4 million worth of grants in sub-Saharan Africa to organizations focused on clinical training and workforce development on educating about vaccines.
• In 2023, Moderna partnered with the African Union to commit 100 million doses of their most updated variant vaccine for low-middle-income countries. 
• Moderna has a program called mRNA Access, where they partner with researchers and universities worldwide to give them access to their platform, research, and scientific advice, thus tackling public health challenges together.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Shannon Klinger on LinkedIn.
• Follow Moderna on LinkedIn.
• Discover the Moderna Website.
• Check out the mRNA Access Website.
• Visit Moderna’s Charitable Foundation Website.

General Catalyst differentiates itself by including established companies in their portfolio, tackling problems holistically and having an appetite for long-term, multi-year commitments. One of their guiding principles includes building deep relationships while, simply, listening. And it’s working; their approach is affecting major change in the healthcare technology sphere.

Chitra Nawbatt is the Global Head of Health Assurance Partnerships at General Catalyst, a global venture capital firm. Chitra leads strategic partnerships in the expansion and execution of the firm's Health Assurance mission to make quality healthcare more affordable and accessible. Before her career as a growth strategist, Chitra was the New York-based anchor for Reuters International TV, where her live broadcasts were seen by millions across the world. She is a graduate of Harvard Business School and the University of Toronto.

On this episode, Chitra joins Dr. Gautam Gulati and Dr. Jordan Shlain to discuss General Catalyst’s mission to invest in healthcare technology companies that aim to improve healthcare access and affordability worldwide. Chitra reflects on the meaning of Health Assurance, General Catalyst’s foundational focus on human-to-human connections, deep relationship building and collaboration rather than disruption. Listen in to learn how innovating with a 360-degree view of a problem addresses all stakeholder needs, while maintaining alignment of economic interests.

Topics Covered

• The geographic locations in which General Catalyst invests
• What qualities General Catalyst seeks in choosing portfolio companies
• How Health Assurance, or a strong base-level of quality healthcare, encapsulates Chitra’s vision for innovation in healthcare
• How collaboration rather than disruption is a key differentiator in General Catalyst’s approach
• How the pandemic accelerated rapid, forward-thinking change in healthcare, specifically in telehealth
• Why it’s important to expand the vendor-vendee relationship to multistakeholder deep relationship-building
• How problem solving with a 360-degree view increases success and stakeholder – provider, patient and payor – adoption of change
• The ways Chitra uses listening, mutuality and human connection to solve problems
• How mutuality begets progress and success at work and in life

Connect with Chitra Nawbatt

• Chitra on Twitter
• Chitra on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati & Dr. Jordan Shlain

• HLTH
• Dr. Gulati on Twitter
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn
• Dr. Shlain on Twitter
• Dr. Shlain on LinkedIn

About Maria Torroella Carney: 

Dr. Maria Torroella Carney is a highly respected internist, geriatrician, and palliative care physician with a robust background in public health. She is the Chief of the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine and an Associate Professor of Medicine. She also holds the position of Chief of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine for Northwell Health. As the first geriatrician to serve as a health department commissioner in New York State, Dr. Carney has made significant contributions to the field of longevity promotion and the care of vulnerable populations. Her research focuses on advanced care planning, shared decision-making, elder abuse, and capacity assessment. She has received numerous awards for her outstanding community service and leadership.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Hospice is a model of care focused on quality of life, not just end-of-life, and includes comprehensive support services. It's underutilized due to a lack of understanding and difficult decisions required regarding foregoing certain treatments.
• Patients should be able to explore hospice without feeling obligated to stop other care immediately.
• Family caregivers are an "invisible workforce" that requires more support, education, and resources. They are integral to the healthcare team yet often overlooked.
• Elder orphans, those aging without family support, are a growing concern and need early identification and tailored support.
• Geriatric medicine and palliative care are in their infancy and require more attention and specialists to meet their increasing needs. There's an insufficient number of professionals in these fields.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Maria Torroella Carney on LinkedIn.
• Discover more about Northwell Health on LinkedIn and their website.
• Buy Maria Torroella Carney’s The Aging Revolution here.

Health happens inside and outside the four walls of a hospital. Precision health uses data from a wide variety of non-clinical sources to arrive at the best treatment for a person or a community. But how do we use technology to improve the quality of life of a patient? By putting the patient front and center in the data.

Dr. Jess Mega is a cardiologist and the Co-Founder and Chief Medical & Scientific Officer at Verily, a research organization devoted to the study of life sciences. In her role as a cardiologist and caring for patients on the frontline, she felt compelled to bring together technology, life science, and health care to keep up with the next generation of precision health.

On this episode, Dr. Mega joins hosts Dr. Guatam Gulati and Dr. Jessica Shepherd to discuss Verily’s focus on translating technological innovations and scientific insights into partnerships and programs that improve patient outcomes.

Topics Covered

• Why the information that we put into electronic health records is just one fraction of what health really means
• What Dr. Mega sees as the most exciting part of how Verily is mapping human health
• How Verily is marrying the genotype and the phenotype to understand human health data on a much broader scope
• How patients benefit from Verily’s practice of using technology to bridge the gap between their health condition and quality of life
• The 3 tools Verily is using to break through the barriers of precision health
• How having their personal health data creates a more positive patient outcome
• The creative partnerships Verily is forming to drive what the next level of health looks like
• Verily’s 2-pillar approach to creating transparency and forming long-term bonds

Connect with Dr. Jess Mega

• Verily
• Dr. Mega on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Jordan Shlain, Dr. Jessica Shepherd, & Dr. Gautam Gulati

• ViVE
• Dr. Shlain on Twitter
• Dr. Shlain on LinkedIn
• Dr. Shepherd on Twitter
• Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn
• Dr. Gulati on Twitter
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Even before the pandemic, mental health was the #1 cause of disability worldwide.

Yet most people didn’t feel comfortable sharing their mental health struggles and many waited until they were in crisis to ask for help—if they asked for help at all.

So, how can we destigmatize mental health and provide people all over the world with access to ongoing support?

Alyson Watson is the Founder and CEO of Modern Health, a global mental health benefits solution for employers. Modern Health takes a preventative approach to mental health, leveraging clinically validated assessments to offer employees access to their own personalized mental healthcare plan.

On this episode of The Beat, Alyson joins host Dr. Gautam Gulati to explain how she defines health in terms of the mind-body connection and describe how she thinks about mental health on a spectrum. Alyson walks us through the process of using the Modern Health app and discusses the benefit of providing mental health support options beyond traditional therapy. Listen in for Alyson’s insight around the opportunity for innovation in the mental health space and learn how Modern Health is working to make mental health support more accessible to employees around the world.

Topics Covered

• How Alyson’s experience with therapy inspired the creation of Modern Health
• How Alyson defines health in terms of the mind-body connection
• What prompted our growing awareness of mental health needs
• How Alyson thinks about mental health on a spectrum from green to red
• Why technology has a negative impact on our mental health
• Modern Health’s function as a mental health benefits platform for employers
• How Modern Health provides access to personalized mental healthcare plans
• How Alyson’s team keeps employee information confidential (and what data they DO share with employers)
• Providing options for mental health support beyond the therapy-first model
• The opportunity for innovation in the mental health support space

Connect with Alyson Watson

Modern Health
 

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati

HLTH

Dr. G. on LinkedIn

Dr. G. on Twitter

Resources

Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek H. Murthy

International Coaching Federation

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Behavioral Therapy

Motivational Interviewing

Circles by Modern Health

Introductory Quote

[4:46] “Well, it’s really interesting to think about that even before this pandemic hit, mental health was the #1 cause of disability worldwide."

About Ari Brenner:

Ari Brenner is a career-long devotee to improving healthcare delivery and payment models. With a deep track record of recruiting operationally excellent teams, he excels in building digital health products with clear value propositions. Ari has extensive experience navigating the complexities of selling into the US healthcare system, ensuring that his innovations align seamlessly with industry needs and drive meaningful improvements.

Things You’ll Learn:

1. In-House Health uses an automation platform to improve clinical scheduling and healthcare outcomes
2. The company aims to reduce nurse burnout by providing predictability and flexibility in nursing schedules
3. By enhancing schedule accuracy and reducing the time managers spend on scheduling, In-House Health creates organizational efficiencies
4. Better scheduling leads to improved nurse work-life balance, which in turn enhances patient care
5. There is a vision to extend these efficiencies to overall workforce management, optimizing operations across facilities

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Ari Brenner on LinkedIn.
• Connect with and follow Sergey Vasilenko on LinkedIn.
• Follow In-House Health on LinkedIn and visit their website. 

About Jordan Penn:

In the past decade, Jordan Penn has spent his healthcare career as a storyteller, leveraging healthcare data and analytics to follow the patient journey, assist in research, and more. His expert knowledge of medical and pharmacy claims, lab data, and EMR/EHR data has made extraordinary contributions to his clients, he has also been deeply involved with analyzing patient journeys to support HEOR studies.

At Inovalon, Jordan is a Sr. Principal Sales Engineer, working cross-functionally between sales, product, engineering, marketing, and legal to bring new ideas to existing product offerings. When Jordan is not busy bringing healthcare data to life to inform and improve treatment, he enjoys quality time with his wife and daughter in New Jersey and is an avid weightlifter.

Things You’ll Learn:

• DataStream can connect to existing EMRs and is EHR agnostic.
• DataStream seeks to work with clients who lack or have too much data. 
• DataStream helps customers demystify or declutter what they have to assist providers with the insights they need when treating a patient.
• The HITECH act incentivized providers and hospitals to adopt electronic health records, increasing from 10% of hospitals in 2008 to over 95% for hospitals and 85% of providers eight years later.
• The 21st Century Cures Act vouched for interoperability and access to medical patient information without any particular need by the user.
• DataStream can help doctors have information about their patients on their first visit and help them establish an excellent medical relationship with them.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Jordan Penn on LinkedIn.
• Follow Inovalon on LinkedIn.
• Visit the Inovalon Website.

We have come to understand the importance of mental wellness in recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nevertheless, many of us don’t have access to traditional therapy, or we’re hesitant to visit a psychiatrist’s office. And a growing number of people are looking to online therapy as an alternative.

But can you build strong relationship with a therapist virtually? What does quality mental health care look like in a digital landscape?

Dr. Varun Choudhary is a Board-Certified Forensic Psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer at Talkspace, a leading virtual behavioral health company that offers convenient and affordable access to a fully credentialed network of highly qualified mental health providers.
 

Dr. Choudhary has 17 years of experience in behavioral health, providing care to patients in the public sector, correctional arena, private practice and community-based settings. He is a specialist in the realm of teletherapy, population health and collaborative care.
 

On this episode, Dr.  Choudhary joins host Dr. Guatam Gulati to explain the concept of asynchronous text-based therapy and explore the benefits of building a relationship with a therapist online.

Dr. Choudhary discusses the root causes of the mental health crisis in our country, describing how rates of depression and anxiety skyrocketed during the pandemic and why telepsychiatry remains popular while other forms of telehealth are in decline.

Listen in for Dr. Choudhary’s insight on the future of telemental health care and learn how online therapy like Talkspace is democratizing mental wellness around the world.
 

Topics Covered

• The significant shift in the way we think about mental health over the last 10 years
• How the mental health reimbursement system is informed by the regulatory environment
• How Talkspace pioneered the concept of asynchronous text-based therapy
• The benefits of building a relationship with a therapist online (and when it’s more appropriate to meet face-to-face)
• The potential for Talkspace to eventually add brick-and-mortar facilities to its comprehensive care model
• What responsibility platforms like Talkspace bear in reporting potential criminal activity
• How rates of depression and anxiety skyrocketed during the COVID crisis
• Why telepsychiatry use did not drop off after the pandemic like other telehealth services
• Dr. Choudhary’s insight on the root causes of the mental health crisis in our country
• How Dr. Choudhary’s WHY aligns with the Talkspace mission to democratize therapy
• The meditation practice Dr. Choudhary uses to preserve his own mental wellness

Connect with Dr. Varun Choudhary

Talkspace

Dr. Choudhary on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Guatam Gulati

HLTH

Dr. Gulati on Twitter

Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Resources

‘A Study of Asynchronous Mobile-Enabled SMS Text Psychotherapy’ in Telemedicine and e-Health

Healing: Our Path from Mental Illness to Mental Health by Thomas Insel, MD

KFF/CNN Survey on Mental Health in America

Ryan Haight Act

Magellan Health

COVID-19 and Mental Health

Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek H. Murthy, MD

A holistic medical approach using hyper-personalized nutrition protocols, mental health, sleep, movement, mindfulness, and relaxation enables patients to see the whole picture of their health, leading to 85% of patients improving or resolving their chronic conditions within the first year.

Parsley Health is on a mission to make life-changing modern holistic medicine accessible to everyone, anywhere.

Dr. Robin Berzin is the Founder and CEO of Parsley Health. Parsley Health is the nation's leading holistic medical practice designed to help people overcome chronic conditions through personalized holistic medicine that puts food, lifestyle, and proactive diagnostic testing on the prescription pad next to medications. She is also the author of State Change: End Anxiety, Beat Burnout, and Ignite a New Baseline of Energy and Flow.

On this episode, Dr. Berzin joins host Dr. Jessica Shepherd to discuss how Parsley Health is marrying functional medicine with conventional primary care to bring root cause resolution medicine to more patients. 

Dr. Berzin shares the background behind her book, State Change, a 30-day program designed to reset the body, mind, and mood for a higher level of focus, a positive mental state, and peak physical health.

Listen in as Dr. Berzin explains how Parsley Health is digging in to treat conditions such as autoimmune diseases by addressing the health of the whole patient in a telehealth setting.

Topics Covered

• Dr. Berzin explains the background of root cause resolution medicine
• How lifestyle changes can modify chronic conditions
• Why prescriptions aren't the (only) answer
• How Parsley Health is marrying functional medicine with conventional primary care
• How Parsley is reducing the cost of care by transitioning into a membership model-based service
• Dr. Berzin explains the connection between mental and physical health as portrayed in her book, State Change
• How a 30-Day plan can help you move more, feel better, and clear the fog
• What Parsley Health is doing to treat the surging female population diagnosed with autoimmune diseases
• How Parsley is using telehealth to deliver total patient hyper-personalized protocols

Connect with Robin Berzin

Robin Berzin

Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd, Dr. Guatam Gulati & Dr. Jordan Shlain

HLTH

Dr. Shlain on Twitter

Dr. Shlain on LinkedIn

Dr. Jessica Shepherd MD
Dr. Shepherd on Twitter
Dr. Gulati on Twitter

Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Resources 

Parsley Health
State Change: End Anxiety, Beat Burnout, and Ignite a New Baseline of Energy and Flow

Autoimmune Diseases Signs, Causes, and Treatment | How to Get Rid of Immune Diseases
 

Introductory Quote
[26:46]
Where you've been determines where you're going. That first visit with the doctor over video is fully a deep dive, it's an hour long. And we really get to know you as a person. And then we're prescribing from there a highly personalized plan that begins with foods, I always say food isn't like medicine it is medicine. [27:18] And so our prescription plan begins with hyper-personalized nutrition protocols, mental health, sleep, movement, mindfulness, and relaxation.

In this episode, Sandy Vance interviews Parminder “Parry” Bhatia, Chief AI Officer at GE Healthcare, about the integration of generative AI and machine learning in healthcare. They discuss the transformative potential of these technologies in improving clinical efficiency, reducing burnout, and enhancing patient care. Parminder shares insights on recent innovations, the concept of agentic AI, and the importance of responsible AI practices in ensuring safe and effective healthcare solutions. The discussion highlights GE Healthcare's commitment to advancing AI technologies while maintaining a focus on ethical considerations and collaboration with clinical partners.

In this Episode they discuss:

• GE Healthcare is leading in AI and machine learning integration.
• Generative AI is set to revolutionize healthcare data management.
• AI technologies can significantly reduce clinical burnout.
• The Care Intellect application enhances oncology care efficiency.
• Agentic AI offers proactive solutions in complex healthcare scenarios.
• Responsible AI practices are crucial for building trust in technology.
• AI can streamline workflows and improve patient experiences.
• Collaboration with clinical partners is essential for innovation.
• The AI Innovation Lab fosters early-stage research and development.
• GE Healthcare aims to enhance healthcare delivery for over a billion patients.

About Parminder "Parry" Bhatia:

 At GE HealthCare, Parminder is focused on integrating AI across areas including smart devices, across the patient journey, and at the hospital operation level.

GE HealthCare has a long track record innovating in AI, and has topped the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) list of AI-enabled medica devices for three years in a row, with 80+ AI-enabled medical device authorizations. Parminder leads a team that is helping to advance AI integration within medical devices at GE HealthCare, with the ultimate goal of enhancing patient outcomes and creating a world where healthcare has no limits. Parry is part of the company’s internal committee on responsible AI to help ensure that new AI applications are reliable, scalable, and ethically sound. He has been recognized by the AIM “AI 100” 2024 Awards and Constellation Research's Artificial Intelligence 150 “AI 150” list.

Previously, Parminder was Head of Science for Generative AI at Amazon, where he led the development of machine learning and generative AI products including Amazon Comprehend Medical for analyzing medical record data at scale, Amazon Q for developer productivity, and Amazon Bedrock for democratizing access to Large Language Model technologies globally.

He has held previous roles in AI and machine learning at Microsoft and Georgia Tech.

About Mike Montello:

Mike Montello serves as the Senior Vice President, R&D Digital and Tech at GSK, a pharmaceutical company that ranks among the top ten globally and generates over $36 billion in revenue. Oncology, immunology, respiratory disorders, HIV, and infectious illnesses are its strong therapeutic domains. Mike is a sponsor of multiple aspects of GSK's overall digital transformation, including the company's transition to a product-centric structure, its strategic alliances with IT firms, and its digital training initiatives. Building diverse teams and encouraging inclusive leaders are two things that particularly inspire and excite him personally. He gets his energy from speeding innovation through culture. His other main concern is giving GSK's AI machine learning engineers the best quality data in the safest manner possible.

Over his career, Mike has worked to improve healthcare via the use of digital, data, and analytics technologies. Mike held the position of CIO at Quintiles prior to the company's 2018 rebranding as IQVIA. He was in charge of the technological platforms that allowed clinical trials to take place in over 100 nations. Along with leading the product teams that developed the next generation of clinical development data and analytics capabilities, decentralized trial platforms, and supported multiple tech acquisitions, Mike also directed the company's R&D technology strategy following the merger with IMS and Quintiles. In addition to spending several years in IT leadership positions at Shire Pharmaceuticals, Mike spent twelve years working as a management consultant at Accenture, where he developed his basic understanding of biopharmaceuticals and technology. 

Mike has a mechanical engineering degree and graduated from London Business School with an executive MBA.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Every pharmaceutical company needs transformation and acceleration.
• GSK is using AI to identify patients who are most likely to respond favorably to medicines and vaccines by leveraging appropriate data.
• In the pharma sector, there is a constant need to accelerate clinical trials, drug discovery, and the commercialization process.
• Large language models and AI will help us a lot with mundane activities.
• We have to balance the benefits of AI with making sure we're doing things extremely responsibly.
• It's less about the technology and more about serving people with that technology.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Mike Montello on LinkedIn.
• Follow GSK on LinkedIn and visit their website.

Sandy Vance and Jason Warrelmann, the VP of Healthcare & Life Sciences at UiPath, discuss how AI and agentic automation are transforming the healthcare space. Jason also offers customer use cases to expand on real-life digital transformations. UiPath and Jason were at the ViVe event in February; check out the recordings on the ViVE website.

In this episode, they talk about:

• The role that automation plays in the healthcare space: 
  • Humans don’t like being interoperability engines. 
  • Automation is a good universal API and it doesn’t hallucinate. 
• Studies show a high failure rate for AI projects across industries, including healthcare. 
  • A small pilot turns into a big expensive project involving different vendors
  • Technology changes so quickly
  • What kind of ROI will CFOs see?
• Examples of how UiPath is helping healthcare organizations achieve their goals with AI and automation.

A Little About Jason:

Jason Warrelmann leads the Healthcare and Life Sciences Practice at UiPath, which focuses on transforming the healthcare landscape and developing capabilities, integrations, and reusable components that make UiPath a healthcare automation platform, not just a tool that works in healthcare.

About Judith Kulich:

Judith serves as ZS’s lead for patient health and equity, focused on partnering with clients across the healthcare industry to drive meaningful progress in health equity. She is also an elected member of ZS’s Shareholders’ Council where she serves as the chair of the ESG Committee and leads the ZS Practice Council.

Judith has spent much of her 20-plus years in the healthcare industry focused on drug development and bringing medicines to market globally. In recent years, she has expanded her work into healthcare payers and providers, bringing sectors together to address disparities in care and global health inequities. She has led industry collaborations and ZS’s investments and actively contributed to global health equity partnerships.

Judith established and ran ZS’s pipeline and launch strategy practice area. Internally, she led ZS’s San Francisco office and was one of the founders of Women@ZS and our philanthropic arm, ZS Cares, both of which she is still actively involved in today.

Judith holds an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, and a B.S. in industrial engineering and operations research from the University of California, Berkeley.

Things You’ll Learn:

• 74,000 black Americans die every year in the United States due to inequities.
• The economic costs of health inequities in the US are over $300 billion annually.
• There is a lack of representation among minority groups.
• There is also a lack of training and incentives to adopt behaviors that bolster equity across healthcare.
• A third of patients who drop out of their care do so because of drivers of health like transportation, food, and housing, which require their partial or full financial support.
• The other two-thirds of patients that drop out of their programs need help with awareness and care coordination.
• Life sciences stakeholders can expand sites of care and increase representation to improve access.
• Targeting specific disease areas and communities is a great start to closing disparity gaps.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Judith Kulich on LinkedIn.
• Follow ZS on LinkedIn.
• Explore the ZS Website.

Would you rather wait in line at the ER? Or have urgent care come to you?

There is a growing interest in the hospital-at-home model of care. But how do its outcomes compare to care delivered in a traditional setting?

Erin Denholm is Chief Nursing Officer of DispatchHealth, a company that brings the power of the hospital to the comfort of your home.

In her role, Erin works to develop and refine the organization's robust care coordination models, focusing on health equity, social determinants of health and virtual care strategies.

On this episode of The Beat, Erin joins host Dr. Gautam Gulati to discuss the future of hospital-at-home care delivery models.

Erin describes the ecosystem of care DispatchHealth provides and explains why the hospital-at-home model boasts better outcomes and higher patient satisfaction than the traditional healthcare system.

Listen in for Erin’s insight on the cost of hospital-at-home care and learn how the DispatchHealth team identifies and closes gaps in social determinants of health for its patients.

Topics Covered

• What’s behind the growing interest in delivering care outside the traditional healthcare system
• The ecosystem of care DispatchHealth provides (including urgent care, diagnostics and risk population support)
• How patients are referred to DispatchHealth and what the patient journey looks like
• How DispatchHealth partners with hospitals and why it’s not a threat to a hospital’s business model
• Why the cost of hospital-at-home care is at least 20% lower than care delivered in hospitals
• Erin’s take on why hospital-at-home care boasts better outcomes and higher patient satisfaction
• How the DispatchHealth team closes gaps in terms of social determinants of health
• The role AI might play in keeping people out of the hospital system
• Highlights from the recent DispatchHealth study on the benefits of hospital-at-home care
• Satisfaction ratings among caregivers and family members whose loved ones receive hospital-at-home care

Connect with Erin Denholm

• DispatchHealth
• Erin on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd & Dr. Gautam Gulati

• HLTH
• Dr. Shepherd on X
• Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn
• Dr. Gulati on X
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Resources

• CMS Waiver Program
• Research by Dr. Bruce Leff
• DispatchHealth’s Advanced Care White Paper

About Deborah Glasser:

Deborah Glasser holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a B.A. with honors from Tufts University. Deborah is currently the Head of Vaccines in North America at Sanofi. In this role, she spearheads a team committed to pursuing scientific breakthroughs, focusing on the development and enhancement of immunizations. Sanofi, a global pharmaceutical giant, places a strong emphasis on innovation, and Deborah plays a crucial role in driving the vision forward, expanding access to vaccines, and advancing public health initiatives throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Drawing on a rich and varied professional background, Deborah brings more than a decade of experience to her current role. Her journey includes an illustrious 13-year tenure at Biogen, where she held diverse positions across its U.S., European, and global organizations. Notably, she played a key role in the successful launch of Tecfidera, an oral multiple sclerosis product that achieved remarkable success, generating $1.3 billion in U.S. sales within its first four full quarters on the market.

Things You’ll Learn:

• The vaccine industry faces intense competition.
• RSV stands as the primary reason for infant hospitalizations.
• Approximately 70 out of every 100,000 individuals end up hospitalized due to the flu.
• The flu poses a significant and serious risk, with an average of 36,000 deaths annually, potentially reaching 98,000 in severe seasons. These deaths are preventable.
• It's crucial to recognize the seriousness of the flu and take preventive measures to avoid unnecessary fatalities.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Deborah Glasser on LinkedIn.
• Follow Sanofi on LinkedIn and visit their website.

About Ray Gensinger:

Raymond “Ray” A. Gensinger, Jr., MD, FHIMSS is an author, diplomate of clinical informatics, and recognized expert in healthcare data analytics, clinical software design, and electronic health record implementation. He is currently senior vice president and chief medical officer for Tegria, a leading healthcare consulting and technology services company that helps clients optimize care, maximize technology, transform operations, and improve financial performance. Ray most recently served as chief information officer for Hospital Sisters Health System, an integrated delivery network across Illinois and Wisconsin. He is a licensed general internist and saw patients for 25+ years while also advancing his career in medical informatics.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Building partnerships with trusted consultants fosters collaboration and yields better results than traditional vendor relationships.
• AI tools like ChatGPT have the potential to automate routine tasks, enabling healthcare professionals to prioritize critical patient care.
• Collaboration between healthcare providers and technology partners drives advancements in clinical software, benefiting the industry and patients alike.
• Consulting and technology services can help healthcare organizations optimize care, maximize technology utilization, improve operations, and enhance financial performance.
• Artificial intelligence, data analytics, and automation offer opportunities to transform care, improve efficiency, and create innovative patient care models.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Ray Gensinger on LinkedIn.
• Follow Tegria on LinkedIn.
• Visit the Tegria Website.

About Amar Kendale:

Amar Kendale is the co-founder and president of Homeward Health. With a strong background in technology and healthcare innovation, Amar is committed to transforming access to healthcare in rural America. His vision is to leverage technology to improve patient outcomes and health equity across underserved communities.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Rural Americans face unique healthcare challenges that impact access, quality, and affordability of care.
• A value-based care model brings significant benefits to underserved areas, improving outcomes and making healthcare more accessible.
• Technology, including AI and telemedicine, plays a critical role in supporting healthcare delivery in rural settings.
• Local healthcare workers and pharmacists are essential to enhancing healthcare quality and accessibility in rural communities.
• Collaboration among payers, providers, and innovators is essential to creating a sustainable, impactful healthcare system in rural areas.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Amar Kendale on LinkedIn.
• Follow Homeward Health on LinkedIn and visit their website. 

About Sarah Hassaine:

Sarah has a strong-proven track record of delivering and leading evolving D&I programs and initiatives for the last eight years. She currently is leading a team that delivers the strategic design and implementation of a D&I strategy across ResMed, reporting to the CPO and Office of the CEO. She consults, advises, and upskills leaders globally; designs and delivers training in-house on diversity and inclusion values and best practices enterprise-wide; evaluates policies, accessibility, and facilities, and proposes changes that drive inclusion; and effectively manages partnerships to drive advocacy, sourcing, branding, engagement, and professional development opportunities. She has taken ResMed from 4 to 12 global ERGs, increased their Self-ID percentage by 4%, and created a hub full of resources and training. She has additional projects that consist of evolving our journey of diverse sleep and mask trials, branding, accessibility in products and packaging, and inclusive language. She is driven by developing and managing long-lasting initiatives that contribute towards building a culture where employees feel included, appreciated, and develop professionally. 

Sarah developed her career as a strong project manager in international development, business operations, and web design. She has 20 years of management experience and eight years on the people side of the business. She has spoken at nearly 100+ empowering business, diversity, and tech conferences, and guest writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. She currently serves on the Boards of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, the North San Diego Business Chamber, and the Kim Center for Social Balance. She is also a Mentor through Operations Connect for Veterans, DisabilityIN's Emerge Program, and UCSD's Triton Mentorship Program. She is part of the San Diego Diversity Council and recently graduated from the Wharton Business School.

Things You’ll Learn:

• ResMed focuses on building an inclusive culture and business, with support from executives, and they emphasize the importance of time, resources, and intentionality in achieving equity.
• There is ROI in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Where one works determines how one must look at inclusion and diversity.
• It’s important to understand the meaning of D&I in one’s business context and approach strategies with a neutral perspective.
• Leveraging employees and involving everyone in the conversation is crucial for driving an inclusive culture and achieving equity.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Sarah Hassaine on LinkedIn.
• Follow ResMed on LinkedIn.
• Discover the ResMed Website.

About Scott Barclay:

Scott Barclay is a Managing Director at Insight Partners based in Palo Alto. His Computational Care thesis envisions the future of US and global healthcare built at the intersection of empathy and scalable technology.  Scott’s early career traversed capital markets with Banc of America Securities in Europe and the US, The Boston Consulting Group, and CVS Health. At CVS and then after, Scott helped create and scale the nation’s e-prescribing ecosystem, running iScribe (acq Allscripts) and as Chief Strategy Officer of Surescripts.  Prior to Insight, Scott built his investing career as a healthcare angel investor and advisor (NaviHealth, Doximity, Elation) and, from 2015 – 2020, as a Partner at DCVC, a world-class early-stage deep tech venture capital firm, where he was a director or observer on the Boards of companies like Carbon Health, Freenome, SafelyYou, and many others. 

Things You’ll Learn:

• The three big themes that are set to revolutionize healthcare investment.
• The art and science behind Insight Partners' long-term investment and operational support strategies.
• Navigating valuation adjustments in turbulent markets and fostering founder relationships.
• The investment wisdom in an era of market recalibration—what it really takes to write the check.
• Sustainability and profitability: Scott’s forecast on public exits for health tech startups.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Lynne on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Insight Partners on their LinkedIn and website.

About Kevin Mahoney:

Kevin B. Mahoney is the Chief Executive Officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, a cornerstone of Penn Medicine. Overseeing six hospitals, 13 multispecialty centers, and numerous outpatient facilities across Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey, he leads efforts to advance patient care, medical education, and research. Since joining Penn Medicine in 1996, Mahoney has held key leadership roles, becoming CEO in 2019. He has spearheaded major initiatives, including the development of the 1.5-million-square-foot Pavilion and the integration of Penn Medicine’s electronic health records system. A champion of health equity, he established a partnership with Wharton to invest in businesses addressing social determinants of health. Recognized among the most influential figures in healthcare, Mahoney holds an MBA and doctorate from Temple University.

Things You’ll Learn:

• The healthcare field faces a critical talent shortage due to retiring baby boomers and a smaller subsequent generation demanding innovative solutions. 
• Cultural shifts are crucial to attracting talent to science and medicine, emphasizing the nobility of healthcare professions over purely financial incentives.
• Healthcare organizations must remain agile and adaptable, embracing new regulations and technological advancements while staying focused on what matters most: patient care.
• Artificial intelligence is a crucial tool for achieving precision medicine, enabling proactive healthcare interventions based on individual patient profiles.
• By repairing systems and improving clinical outcomes, healthcare systems can find ways to continue improving the landscape.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Kevin Mahoney on LinkedIn.
• Discover more about Penn Medicine’s University of Pennsylvania Health System on their LinkedIn and website.

About Craig Douglass:

Craig Douglass is the Chief Growth Officer at Digitas Health, a leading global agency specializing in connected health. With over 25 years in the field, he's developed expertise in crafting impactful campaigns and content that improve health results in various areas like cancer, respiratory issues, diabetes, vaccines, immunology, infectious disease, and mental health. His commitment to blending creativity, media, and technology has placed him at the forefront of the healthcare communications industry's digital transformation. Working at Digitas Health, the pioneering connected health agency, Douglass helps health brands navigate the complexities of an ever-changing media landscape.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Marketing plays a crucial role in improving health outcomes.
• Better engagement in healthcare leads to improved results for individuals.
• The ever-changing landscape demands responsiveness over speed and adaptation to new circumstances.
• The heart of pharmaceutical marketing lies in the connection between physicians and patients.
• Rather than seeking an omnichannel agency, prioritize finding one that can effectively build your brand and drive results across multiple channels.
• Simplicity is essential, and distinguishing the signal from the noise is crucial to effective marketing.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Craig Douglass on LinkedIn.
• Follow Digitas Health on LinkedIn.
• Visit Digitas Health on their Website.

The pandemic exposed the cracks in the healthcare system. But how do we prioritize resources to maximize capabilities for the future?

By prioritizing partnerships.

Dr. Rasu Shrestha is Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer and Executive Vice President for Atrium Health, one of the largest non-profit and leading academic health systems in the United States. Dr. Shrestha is responsible for Atrium Health’s enterprise strategy, including planning and tactical direction for the organization’s current strategic roadmap.

On this episode, Dr. Shrestha joins hosts Dr. Gautam Gulati and Dr. Jordan Shlain to discuss his background and how he’s forging a path to the future by breaking down walls and building bridges to person-centered care enabled by technology.

We discuss the cracks exposed in our healthcare system during the COVID and how we can pivot to make the heroics displayed during the pandemic the blueprint of how we operate going forward.

Listen as Dr. Shrestha shares why social impact is such a big driver at Atrium Health and how they’re embracing their mission of health, hope, and healing for the future of healthcare.

Topics Covered

• How Dr. Shrestha’s personal experiences, combined with today’s healthcare climate, inform what he is doing at Atrium
• How the pandemic accentuated the cracks in the healthcare system
• How Atrium is creating a blueprint for collaborating in public-private partnerships
• Why human struggles mixed with a healthcare emergency and chaos in the healthcare field is the recipe for disaster
• How Atrium is using technology to leverage data to reach underserved communities
• How Atrium is thinking globally while acting locally in its program rollout
• An inside look at ‘The Pearl,’ Atrium Health’s innovative new medical school
• How Atrium is asking the right questions to overcome data blind spots
• Dr. Shrestha’s quest to prioritize Atrium Health’s mission of health, hope, and healing for all

Connect with Dr. Rasu Shrestha

• Dr. Shrestha on LinkedIn
• Dr. Shrestha on Twitter

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati, Dr. Jordan Shlain, & Dr. Jessica Shepherd

• Dr. Gulati on Twitter
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn
• Dr. Shlain on Twitter
• Dr. Shlain on LinkedIn
• Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn
• Dr. Shepherd on Twitter

Resources

• Atrium Health
• ViVE

About Syam Adusumilli:

Syam is a seasoned healthcare leader and strategist, with deep product and strategy expertise across all business lines in Healthcare Payor Organizations. He has deep expertise in cutting-edge technologies, including Data Science and AI, Blockchain, Medical IOT, Voice Biometrics, Computational Epidemiology, Digital Therapeutics, Human Centric Design, Behavioral Nudge, and Care Plan Personalization. Syam has 30+ years of experience in technology and business strategy in healthcare, especially when it comes to managing IT operations, defining vision, strategic planning, partner ecosystems, and product engineering and management in the payor domain. He is seasoned in transforming organizations and driving innovations by leveraging digital and AI. As the current Chief Strategy Officer for GroundGame.Health, he is focused on go-to-market strategy, overall business strategy, and public policy. He is a Masters in Public Health candidate at Brown University and was previously the Chief Transformation Officer for Healthcare at UST Global. He serves as a mentor for several startups in HealthTech and beyond in the US, Israel, and India.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Digital transformation in healthcare is about focusing on the underserved population, bridging the gap in digital literacy, and addressing unmet needs.
• Technology should be a tool to empower social workers and community organizations, not replace human connection and empathy.
• Predictive AI should target the root causes of healthcare issues, not merely treat symptoms.
• Interoperability is crucial for providing comprehensive care, ensuring healthcare providers have access to patient's social and economic contexts.
• Empowering community-based organizations with technology and unrestricted funds has the potential to drive impactful change in underserved communities.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Syam on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about GroundGame Health on their LinkedIn and website.

Sandy and Craig discuss how Wellsheet achieves high clinician satisfaction, how it improves over time, and how it has earned the trust of hospitals across the country. Craig Limoli co-founded Wellsheet as a solution to the frustrations he noticed clinicians had with existing technologies, particularly around accessing patient data in a user-friendly format. Wellsheet’s patient summaries are preferred by 94% of clinicians for chart review, reducing chart review time by 50% and length of stay by 16.3%. Sandy and Craig also discuss Wellsheet’s recent partnership with UpToDate, allowing clinicians to access contextually relevant data faster. 

In this episode, they discuss:

• How Wellsheet contextualizes data to give clinicians the most relevant information to make treatment decisions
• Wellsheet’s impact on the inpatient side of healthcare, delivering ROI on clinician satisfaction and burnout while increasing productivity
• How Wellsheet addresses workflow bottlenecks at hospitals
• The money hospitals are saving by implementing Wellsheet’s AI solution, which mainly comes from reducing the patient length-of-stays 
• The breadth of adoption across healthcare systems that differentiates Wellsheet as an AI solution
• Different use-cases for Wellsheet throughout healthcare practices
• Wellsheet’s partnership with UpToDate, allowing for integration and seamless workflows 

A little about Craig:

Craig Limoli founded Wellsheet after seeing the frustration that clinicians faced with existing technologies while he worked at IBM in their Watson Health division. He left his MBA program at Wharton to found Wellsheet with a mission to create a better experience for physicians and care teams.

Aligning his solutions with the problems clinicians identified, Craig built Wellsheet’s AI solution to help clinicians access relevant patient information in a contextualized, user-friendly format. In 2017, Craig brought Wellsheet to the market, primarily serving small practices. Since then, Wellsheet's AI solution has been deployed to hundreds of hospitals across some of the largest health systems in the country and has delivered vast improvements in clinician productivity and experience.

About Dr. Brian Anderson:

Dr. Brian Anderson is a leading voice in health AI as CEO and Co-Founder of the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI), guiding the development of national standards for safe and effective AI in healthcare. Formerly Chief Digital Health Physician at MITRE, he spearheaded crucial research initiatives, including advancements in clinical trials and oncology. An internationally recognized expert, Dr. Anderson speaks frequently on digital health, AI assurance, and interoperability. A Harvard Medical School graduate with an MD (honors) and a BA (cum laude), Dr. Anderson trained at Mass General, practiced at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, and lives in Boston with his family.

Things You’ll Learn:

• A significant gap exists in the lack of independent labs to evaluate health AI, as these are already standard practice in other sectors with regulated technologies. The proposed national network of certified labs will fill this gap by providing independent assessments of AI models, promoting trust in their use.
• AI model cards are crucial for transparency because they detail the training methodologies and ingredients of AI models. This information helps users, such as physicians, make informed decisions about the tool’s appropriateness for their patients.
• Clinicians need upskilling to critically evaluate AI tools and make informed decisions about their use in patient care.
• Generative AI applications like ambient scribes have the potential to greatly mitigate physician burnout by streamlining administrative tasks. This can give them more time to focus on their patients and improve their work-life balance.
• The creation of quality assurance labs will be a critical first step in AI regulation, helping to bridge the gap between rapidly evolving technology and established safety standards.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Dr. Brian Anderson on LinkedIn.
• Discover more about Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) on their LinkedIn and website.

About Kevin Ritter:

Kevin Ritter is the Executive Vice President of CareInMotion at Altera Digital Health, an experienced digital health leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning electronic health records, population health management, consumer health, and data analytics.

Things You’ll Learn:

• CareInMotion at Altera Digital Health focuses on interoperability, data aggregation, and delivering actionable insights at the point of care.
• The organization leverages FHIR, generative AI, and national networks to improve data connectivity and usability.
• AI-enabled search and natural language processing (NLP) are utilized to enhance data retrieval and decision-making.
• Remote patient monitoring, powered by AI, enables better analysis of patient data from wearables and chronic condition devices.
• Altera Digital Health serves health systems, physician organizations, and payers globally, providing high-quality data to clinicians within their existing workflows.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Kevin Ritter on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Altera Digital Health on their LinkedIn and website.

About Branden Robinson:

Branden Robinson is the Chief Growth Officer at Sevaro Health, where he leads the organization's growth strategies and initiatives. With over 20 years of healthcare experience, including 15 years focused on digital and virtual healthcare, Branden is dedicated to expanding access to neurological expertise through innovative technology solutions.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Virtual neurology is essential to address the growing shortage of neurologists and the increasing prevalence of neurological disorders, ensuring patients receive timely and specialized care.
• AI triage systems can optimize neurologist time by prioritizing patients based on the acuity of their condition, ensuring the most critical cases receive immediate attention while managing the influx of stroke consults.
• Hospitals can improve revenue, outcomes, and patient satisfaction by using teleneurology services.
• A continuum of care model in virtual neurology, connecting acute care to outpatient teleneurology, is crucial for maintaining patient engagement within the health system and improving long-term health outcomes.
• Mechanical thrombectomies and surgical procedures to remove clots are transforming stroke care. This provides an opportunity for health systems to develop hub-and-spoke models using virtual health to extend access to specialized care.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Branden Robinson on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Sevaro Health on their LinkedIn and website.
• Email Branden directly here.

About Dr. John Martin:

Dr. John Martin is a highly accomplished leader-physician with a diverse background spanning various roles, including surgeon, software company founder, medical device inventor, and Chief Medical Officer of a digital health company. He has successfully built organizations, teams, and products, transforming healthcare practices and driving innovation. Known for his ability to inspire and command audiences, Dr. Martin has extensive experience in strategic planning and fiscal management, making significant impacts both personally and through the programs and companies he develops.

About Dr. Michael Rotondo:

Dr. Michael F. Rotondo is a distinguished leader in healthcare, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group (URMFG). With a rich background in trauma surgery and healthcare administration, he has significantly contributed to transforming URMFG into a unified, high-functioning care delivery system. Under his leadership, the group has seen substantial growth in clinical volumes and revenues, while emphasizing physician wellness and health equity. Dr. Rotondo's commitment to innovative solutions and patient-centric practices continues to drive excellence in healthcare delivery.

Things You’ll Learn:

1. Handheld ultrasound technology is transforming point-of-care testing, making diagnoses more immediate and accurate.
2. Integrating handheld ultrasound technology within a health system demonstrates practical benefits, enhancing workflow and patient care.
3. Seamless integration with electronic health records is crucial in order to improve overall efficiency and reduce treatment times.
4. It is very important to overcome challenges in adopting new healthcare technologies like resource allocation and organizational change.
5. Collaborations between academic institutions and tech innovators are essential for driving meaningful advancements in healthcare, promoting trust and confidence in new solutions.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Dr. Michael Rotondo on LinkedIn.
• Follow the University of Rochester Medical Center on LinkedIn and visit their website.
• Connect with and follow Dr. John Martin on LinkedIn.
• Follow Butterfly Network, Inc. on LinkedIn and visit their website.

Topics Covered

• How Instacart is using its platform to improve food access and nutrition
• The concept of food as medicine and its potential impact on chronic diseases
• The role of healthcare professionals in promoting nutrition and healthy eating habits
• Instacart's collaboration with Boston Children's Hospital to encourage healthier eating among children
• The potential for using food prescriptions as a form of medical treatment
• The role of women in promoting healthy eating habits at home
• The importance of measuring the impact of food on health outcomes

Connect with Sarah Mastrorocco

• Sarah on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati & Dr. Jessica Shepherd

• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn
• Dr. Gulati on Twitter
• Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn
• Dr. Shepherd on Twitter

Resources

• Instacart Health
• ViVE

The Beat - Episode 3

Partnerships + Prevention = Value-Driven Care—featuring Katie Adamson of YMCA of the USA

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And as we make the shift from volume-based to value-driven care, the formal healthcare system needs to partner with community organizations like the YMCA to implement the prevention programs that will both save money and improve patient outcomes.

Katie Adamson is the Vice President of Health Partnerships and Policy at the YMCA of the USA, the national resource office for the nation’s 2,700 YMCAs. She is responsible for advancing healthy living legislative and advocacy strategies on the national, state and local levels as well as assisting with congressional, government and health partnerships. Before joining the Y, Katie spent several years as a managing director of public law and policy strategies at law firms in DC, drafting legislation and lobbying for a number of chronic disease and disability nonprofits.

On this episode of The Beat, recorded live at HLTH 2020, Katie joins Dr. Gulati to share her background in government and nonprofit fundraising, explaining how it informs her work at the Y around partnerships and health policy.

She weighs in on the Y’s partnerships with the CDC, UnitedHealth and the IHI to execute their childhood obesity and diabetes prevention initiatives, discussing why it’s a challenge for the Y to connect with the formal healthcare system. Listen in for Katie’s insight on the relationship between social connectedness and health and learn how the Y is working to sell prevention to the medical community.
 

Topics Covered

• How Katie’s experience with childhood arthritis informs her work
• Katie’s background in government + raising money for nonprofits
• The YMCA’s 2,700 locations in 10K communities around the world
• What the Y understands about the power of relationships
• The Y’s potential role in the shift to value-driven care
• The Y’s partnerships to tackle childhood obesity and prediabetes
• Why it’s a challenge for the Y to connect with the healthcare system
• The concept of health detailing to sell prevention to doctors
• The potential for health innovators to test products at a local Y
• How Katie is inspired by Malcolm Gladwell and Rishi Manchanda

Connect with Katie Adamson

YMCA of the USA

Katie on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Gulati, Dr. Shlain & Dr. Kuku

HLTH Conference

Dr. Gulati’s Website

Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Dr. Gulati on Twitter

Dr. Shlain on LinkedIn

Dr. Shlain on Twitter

Dr. Kuku on LinkedIn

Dr. Kuku on Twitter

Resources

Pat Schroeder

National Program of Cancer Registries

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation

YMCA’s Childhood Obesity Initiative

Institute for Healthcare Improvement

YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program

IDEO

The NIH Diabetes Prevention Clinical Trial

YMCA’s Collaboration with UnitedHealth

Health Begins

Malcolm Gladwell

The Upstream Doctors: Medical Innovators Track Sickness to Its Source by Rishi Manchanda

Rishi Manchanda’s TED Talk

The same way that a company like Stripe provides payment processing infrastructure for eCommerce, Zus Health is building the infrastructure for digital health.

CEO Jonathan Bush and his team are doing the dirty work to make electronic health records more accessible and accelerate innovation in the patient relationship management space.

Prior to Zus, Jonathan spent 22 years as CEO of Athena Health, the leading provider of cloud-based services for electronic health records. He also served as a US Army Medic during Desert Storm and EMT for the City of New Orleans.

On this episode of The Beat, Jonathan joins hosts Dr. Gautam Gulati and Dr. Jordan Shlain  to explain how building infrastructure will give the current wave of digital health companies staying power and encourage innovation in the space. Jonathan describes how his team is moving old medical records into ZODS (the Zus operational data store) and when the protocol will be open for building. Listen in for Jonathan’s insight on the explosion of venture capital in health tech and find out how you can be a part of the Zus Health team.

Topics Covered

• How the goal of Zus Health differs from Jonathan’s previous venture with Athena
• Why the claims-based architecture of the healthcare system is resistant to the faster-better-cheaper model of innovation
• How Zus is to healthcare what Plaid is to banking
• How venture capital in the health tech space has increased exponentially in the last 7 years
• Jonathan’s hope that building the infrastructure will give the current wave of digital health companies more staying power (and encourage people to build more)
• The constraints Jonathan’s team faces in building Zus and when the protocol will be open for building
• Why the term emergency medical records or EMR is no longer relevant
• Giving healthcare data the agency to find you vs. waiting for you to access it
• The mapping Jonathan’s team at Zus is doing to move old medical records into ZODS (Zus operational data store)
• The many open positions on the Zus Health team
• How Jonathan defines health as the full exposure to personal joy
   

Connect with Jonathan Bush

Zus Health
 

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati & Dr. Jordan Shlain

HLTH

Dr. Gulati on Twitter

Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Dr. Shlain on Twitter

Dr. Shlain on LinkedIn

Resources

Athena Health

Noom

CommonWell Health Alliance

Carequality

21st Century Cures Act

Innovaccer

Introductory Quote

[5:07] “Is this the equivalent in the FinTech world of what Plaid is to banks, Zus is to...” “You got it. Stipe or Twilio. You don’t want to go and build, you know, 600 connections to 600 hospitals and then do all the normalization. One guy go do that miserable work and then serve up 15 different APIs for manifesting it in whatever software you’re building.”

50% of women distrust the healthcare system in the US. Yet women make up 51% of the population and control 80% of the healthcare dollars.

So, what does it look like to build trust with women in a healthcare setting?

Carolyn Witte is Cofounder and CEO of Tia, the modern medical home for women. Carolyn’s team is dedicated to treating women holistically rather than by body part or life stage.

Tia's Whole Woman, Whole Life care model fuses gynecology, primary care, mental health and evidence-based wellness services to treat women comprehensively.

On this episode of The Beat, Carolyn joins hosts Dr. Jessica Shepherd, Dr. Gautam Gulati and Dr. Jordan Shlain to discuss how Tia was created out of her frustration as a patient and describe the company’s evolution from the Google for women’s health to care delivery platform.
 

Carolyn explains how point solutions exacerbate the fragmentation of healthcare for women and what Tia is doing to serve the whole woman, addressing her physical, mental and reproductive health.

Listen in to understand how Tia builds trust by listening to what real women want and learn what Carolyn’s team does to make women feel seen, heard and cared for.

Topics Covered

• How Tia was created out of Carolyn’s frustration as a patient
• Tia’s evolution from the Google for women’s health to care delivery platform
• Why 50% of women distrust the healthcare system and why it matters
• Carolyn’s take on the politicization of women’s health
• How point solutions exacerbate the fragmentation of healthcare for women
• How Tia serves the whole woman within the framework of health insurance coding and reimbursements
• The biggest users of virtual care (on Tia and among the general population)
• How Tia is supporting women in a post-Dobbs world
• The obstacles Tia faces in terms of reproductive health restrictions, regulations and investment in women’s health
• What Tia does to make women feel seen, heard and cared for
• Carolyn’s dream to give every woman access to Tia-style care
• How Tia builds trust by listening to what real women want

Connect with Carolyn Witte

Tia

Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd, Dr. Gautam Gulati & Dr. Jordan Shlain

HLTH

Dr. Shepherd on Twitter

Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn

Dr. Gulati on Twitter

Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Dr. Shlain on Twitter

Dr. Shlain on LinkedIn

Resources

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

Tim Urban’s Life Calendar

For most cancers, Black Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any patient population.

And access to genetic testing is key to eliminating this disparity.

Feyi Olopade Ayodele is Cofounder and CEO of CancerIQ, a company on a bold mission to end cancer as we know it by giving providers and health systems access to the latest innovations in early cancer detection and prevention.

Under Feyi’s leadership, CancerIQ has grown its provider network to over 200 locations across the US and established a robust ecosystem of leading diagnostic and genomic testing vendors.

On this episode of The Beat, Feyi joins host Dr. Jessica Shepherd to explain how she built CancerIQ to solve for the disparity in access to genetic testing by making it part of everyone’s primary care visit.

Feyi describes how CancerIQ helps patients initiate conversations around cancer prevention with their providers and gives providers the right precision prevention program for each patient.

Listen in for Feyi’s insight on the emotional journey associated with a cancer diagnosis and learn how CancerIQ is helping African American and rural patient populations prevent cancer or detect it in its earliest stages.

Topics Covered

• Disparities in breast cancer outcomes between Black women and other patient populations
• Why Feyi built CancerIQ to solve for the disparity in access to genetic testing
• How CancerIQ makes it easy for providers to navigate patients to the right precision cancer prevention program
• Why Feyi encourages primary genetic care vs. specialty genetic care
• How CancerIQ helps patients initiate conversations on cancer prevention with their providers
• How CancerIQ is closing the gap for African American and rural patient populations
• What CancerIQ does to help patients adhere to a cancer prevention plan
• How CancerIQ recognizes the emotional journey associated with a cancer diagnosis
• Feyi’s vision to make CancerIQ part of everyone’s preventative care visit and detect cancer in its earliest stages

Connect with Feyi Olopade Ayodele

CancerIQ

Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd

HLTH

Dr. Shepherd on Twitter

Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn
 

Resources

NCCN Guidelines

Small Talk Baby Podcast

In this conversation, Dr. Ryan Vega, Chief Health Officer for Vantiq, discusses the transformative role of AI in healthcare, the innovative capabilities of the Vantiq platform, and the importance of personalized healthcare solutions. He shares insights on the transition from the Veterans Health Administration to Vantiq, the use cases for their technology, and how generative AI is enhancing clinical decision-making. Dr. Vega emphasizes the need for transparency, safety, and effective orchestration of AI systems in healthcare, as well as the importance of collaboration with systems integrators and startups to drive innovation.

In this episode , they discuss: 

• Dr. Vega emphasizes the importance of workflow customization in healthcare.
• Vantiq's platform allows for low-code, no-code application development.
• Real-time orchestration of complex healthcare systems is crucial.
• Generative AI can significantly enhance clinical decision-making.
• Vantiq focuses on creating transparency and safety in AI workflows.
• The platform is designed to operate securely within healthcare environments.
• AI can augment human capabilities in critical care settings. 

A Little about Dr Ryan Vega: 

Dr. Ryan Vega serves as the Chief Health Officer for Vantiq and is the former Chief Innovation Officer for the Veterans Health Administration where he led enterprise innovation efforts across the largest integrated health system in the United States.

His work has spanned large-scale digital modernization efforts, design and deployment of innovative care and payment models, and early design and development of healthcare software focused on improving health care delivery and experience for patients and providers.

Dr. Vega also currently sits as the Physician in Residence for the Digital Medicine Society and holds academic appointments as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Administration at Georgetown University as well as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at George Washington University. He is the recipient of many awards for his work in healthcare innovation and has published numerous articles on the topic.

About Jean Drouin:

Jean is a leader with over 25 years of experience in healthcare management, technology, operations, finance, and cultural change. 

As CEO, Jean focuses on creating the environment that allows Clarify to deliver on its mission by delighting customers and growing a great team. Jean leads the Executive Leadership Team which sets the company’s vision and strategy and is responsible for ensuring the company’s overall success. Jean believes that healthcare has been held back by a lack of actionable insights and that by integrating innovative analytics and incentives, we can power better health and outcomes.  

Prior to founding Clarify, Jean was a Senior Partner at McKinsey, where he led the Healthcare Digital and IT practice. He also built and served as the founding Head of McKinsey Advanced Healthcare Analytics (MAHA), which provided services and products on healthcare reform, consumer analytics, new payment and pricing models, and risk management. Jean spent several years in the UK, where he helped set up the hospital regulator and served as the Head of Strategy for NHS London, a $15 billion organization that oversaw London’s hospitals, primary and social care.   

Jean holds an MD and MBA from Stanford University and an AB in Molecular Biology from Princeton. He is a Trustee of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, and the former Vice-Chair of the Board of Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific.

Things You’ll Learn:

• The United States Health System is the only one in the world with the granularity of information to understand patient journeys in an actionable way.
• The FDA has a very high standard around the data collected for a clinical trial, which is why recruiting patients takes a long time.
• Machine Learning and AI tools can be beneficial in automating data pipelines to turn them into the cleanest possible analytics fuel.
• Value-based payments haven't scaled as expected because doctors aren’t excited about a model that looks at their yearly performance to give them a bonus. 
• Paying clinicians shouldn’t be exclusively transactional but more collaborative and team-based.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Jean Drouin on LinkedIn.
• Follow Clarify Health on LinkedIn.
• Explore the Clarify Health Website.

About Dr. Theo Koury:

Theo Koury, MD, is the President of Vituity. Across his 25-year leadership career, Dr. Koury has focused on empowering front-line clinicians to improve care by prioritizing patient outcomes and maximizing quality and efficiency. In addition to his executive duties, he is a practicing emergency physician in the San Francisco Bay Area. As President of Vituity since 2017, Dr. Koury oversees the company’s financial and infrastructure strategies to fulfill the enterprise’s mission of empowering healthcare providers to deliver exceptional care across more than 500 service locations nationwide. Dr. Koury holds a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Southern California and a medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School and is an American College of Emergency Physicians Fellow. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at the Eastern Virginia Graduate School of Medicine, where he served as Chief Resident, was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, and received the John P. McDade Award for Research in Emergency Medical Care.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Creating a culture of innovation starts with open communication and collaborative teamwork that encourages team members, followed by dedicated resources for frontline staff to develop their ideas.
• Solutions developed from the ground up, with frontline provider involvement, are more likely to succeed and provide better patient outcomes than top-down, less-informed approaches.
• AI-driven tools can go beyond basic automation to serve as a physician-partner, offering decision support, differential diagnoses, and a more thorough patient analysis than physicians alone can do.
• Integrating frontline providers in technology implementation leads to better results and avoids the negative impacts often seen when rolling out technology without their input.
• Healthcare organizations can build an in-house innovation lab and dedicate an innovation budget to bring forward the ideas their physicians and nurses have to offer and implement them quickly.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Dr. Theo Koury on LinkedIn.
• Follow Vituity on LinkedIn and visit their website.

About Stephanie Trunzo:

Stephanie Trunzo is senior vice president for Oracle Health & Industries. While Stephanie is a tech geek across cloud, AI, and emerging tech, she is also a storyteller committed to usability and design thinking. This is reflected in the mission of Oracle Health: to create a human-centric healthcare experience powered by unified global data. Stephanie helped lead the launch of Oracle Health and was part of the core acquisition team working closely with Cerner, now part of Oracle Health.

Stephanie’s diversely skilled team continues to define Oracle Health’s market presence, broadening the aperture of the traditional health landscape to a much richer and more holistic portfolio. That same holistic, unified model will be the pattern she will apply across other Oracle Industries.

Previously, Stephanie applied her digital and experience disciplines to create and deploy Oracle’s global, value-based approach for multi-cloud, hybrid customer strategies.

Stephanie joined Oracle from IBM, where she was the global head of IBM Cloud Garage, a network of more than one dozen innovation hubs purpose-built to meld industry practices, startup culture, and IBM's expertise. Prior to that, she founded and led her digital transformation startup through a public acquisition of Globant.

Stephanie was affectionately dubbed “the prototype” for the chief digital officer role by the CDO Club. She is an active board advisor, giving back to nonprofits and early startups, including Valeos, Oracle Health Foundation, International Science Reserve, and InsureLife.

Her writing can be found in publications such as Fast Company, Forbes, and HuffPost.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Oracle Health's focus is on putting humans at the center of all decisions, with initiatives to streamline patient interactions and provide a more intuitive, seamless patient journey. 
• Oracle is working on solutions to reduce the administrative burden for clinicians, empowering them to focus on care rather than data entry.
• The industry can facilitate tighter and more impactful collaborations by offering data sharing in an anonymized manner and bringing partners together. This approach ultimately drives innovation.
• While AI has been present for some time, Oracle Health is now leveraging it to create transformative impacts, which involve improving efficiency, streamlining workflows, and enabling intelligent, patient-focused interactions.
• Oracle is exploring the potential of large language models and Gen AI for novel disease prediction and personalized medicine.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Stephanie Trunzo on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Oracle Health on their LinkedIn and website.

About Zane Burke:

Zane Burke is an internationally recognized healthcare IT leader. Burke has a clear, forward-looking vision for digital healthcare, a unique understanding of the challenges in global healthcare delivery, and a vision for how Quantum Health navigation can better the experience.

Burke is focused on creating great healthcare experiences for all and addressing the imbalances in healthcare delivery. At Quantum Health, he leads the consumer healthcare navigation and care coordination company in transforming the healthcare journey by “managing the hard stuff” for employee members and delivering validated claims savings for self-insured employer clients. His leadership drives more awareness of navigation and reaches new markets, ultimately serving more members and improving more lives. 

Prior to joining Quantum Health, Burke served as chief executive officer of Silicon Valley-based Livongo Health, Inc., a leading software as a service (SaaS) consumer digital health company. He also spent more than two decades at Cerner Corporation, where he concluded his service as the company’s president. He serves on several corporate and nonprofit boards.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Quantum Health's collaboration with Vanderbilt and the affiliated network is setting a new standard for healthcare navigation with a mission to revolutionize healthcare outcomes and provide high-quality networks and navigation solutions for self-insured employers.
• Digital transformation is reshaping healthcare delivery in 2024, with a focus on providing better member experiences and driving cost control to ensure better clinical outcomes and financial results.
• Quantum Health's commitment to using AI and ML technologies to improve the member experience and streamline processes, such as real-time intercept, to engage with members at crucial moments, leading to better engagement and rapport.
• Quantum Health acts as the connective tissue between a clicks and mortar world, amplifying the impact of value-based care.
• From leveraging health signals for real-time intercept to streamlining pre-authorizations, Quantum Health is using innovative tech to enhance the member experience and drive quality outcomes. 

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Zane on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Quantum Health on their LinkedIn and website.

About Ken Washington:

Ken Washington serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Medtronic, leading the charge in accelerating innovation through strategic product development and technology initiatives. With a wealth of experience spanning various industries including robotics, consumer products, automotive, and space, Ken joined Medtronic in 2023, bringing deep expertise in technology development and execution.

As a visionary leader, Ken inspires and motivates teams to push the boundaries of invention and innovation, driving positive market disruptions. He collaborates closely with teams and leaders across Medtronic to ensure the continuous advancement of products and therapies in alignment with the company's mission to better serve patients and customers.

Prior to his role at Medtronic, Ken held notable positions including Vice President and General Manager of Consumer Robotics at Amazon and Chief Technology Officer at Ford Motor Company, where he oversaw the development of technology strategies and next-generation vehicle architectures. With seven years at Lockheed Martin, Ken held various leadership roles, including Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of the Advanced Technology Center.

Ken is internationally recognized as a thought leader in technology and innovation, with accolades including induction into the National Academy of Engineering in 2020 and the Black Engineer Hall of Fame in 2023. He holds a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science, and a PhD in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M University.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Medtronic impacts two patients every second, showcasing the scale of their influence in healthcare.
• Innovation is key for Medtronic, as they continuously strive to engineer the extraordinary.
• Staying focused on its mission helps Medtronic differentiate its products in a competitive market.
• Medtronic's AI Center of Excellence accelerates the development of AI-enabled therapies for better patient care.
• Medtronic's mission is to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life through innovative therapies.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Ken on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Medtronic on LinkedIn and their website.
• Discover more about Medtronic’s GI Genius here.

About Yaw Fellin:

Yaw J. Fellin, is the VP of Product and Solutions and Clinical Effectiveness for Wolters Kluwer Health

Yaw Fellin brings more than 15 years of experience as a healthcare executive, with proven results leading cross-functional teams, generating value and revenue growth, most recently at Optum, a global healthcare IT company. Prior to that, Yaw spent over 12 years at the Advisory Board, a leading healthcare research firm, where he ultimately led its highest-growth SaaS business line. He received a BS in Healthcare Administration from Penn State University.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Wolters Kluwer is an integrated resource into EMRs to provide clinicians with mission-critical information as they make decisions to deliver high-quality care.
• In the Virtual Care Space, there is a need to amplify the quality and experience for both clinicians and patients.
• Virtual Care is here to stay as it’s proven to increase access to patients and improve their experiences with support throughout their journeys.
• The Digital Health Architect Consumer Education Suite provides patients, consumers, and members access to evidence-based content to improve their digital health experiences.
• The EmmiGuide brings incremental benefits to payers by helping them with care management, particularly scaling member engagement.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Yaw Fellin on LinkedIn.
• Follow Wolters Kluwer Health on LinkedIn.
• Discover the Wolters Kluwer Health Website!
• Find Wolters Kluwer’s Digital Health Architect Consumer Education Suite here!
• Find Wolters Kluwer’s EmmiGuide in the Microsoft Commercial Marketplace here!

The biggest opportunity in healthcare is to extend health equity and provide total wellness solutions through virtual and technology platforms.

But what challenges does that present? And how can you simplify the human experience across the spectrum?

Rajeev Ronanki is the President of Digital Platforms at Anthem®, where he is harnessing the power of AI to offer personalized healthcare for patients, providers, and caregivers. He is also the author of You and AI: A Citizens Guide to AI, Blockchain, and Puzzling Together the Future of Healthcare.

On this episode, Rajeev joins host Dr. Jessica Shepherd to discuss the current gap and biggest obstacles to extending the reach of virtual healthcare to provide options for wellness, prevention, and breakthroughs in health equity.

Listen as Rajeev shares the details of how Anthem® is navigating the challenges of delivering virtual healthcare to more populations through partnerships with cellphone companies and their Concierge Care programs.

Topics Covered

• What Rajeev thinks is the biggest issue today for physicians, patients, and caregivers and the opportunity for improved outcomes
• How to create a win-win in virtual vs. in-person care
• How to use data as a predictor of a person’s health journey to decrease preventable disease and lower healthcare costs
• How Anthem® is working to attract consumers through rewards-based incentives
• What Rajeev believes is the future of the national standard of care
• Rajeev’s take on the biggest change needed to improve health equity and access to care for all

Connect with Rajeev Ronanki

• Rajeev Ronanki on LinkedIn
• Rajeev Ronanki on Twitter

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati, Dr. Jordan Shlain, & Dr. Jessica Shepherd

• Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn
• Dr. Shepherd on Twitter
• Dr. Gulati on Twitter
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn
• Dr. Shlain on Twitter
• Dr. Shlain on LinkedIn

Resources

• You and AI
• Anthem®
• ViVE

About Nasim Afsar:

Nasim Afsar is relentlessly focused on advancing the health and care of the world through Healthy People, Healthy Workforce, and Healthy Business. As Chief Health Officer, Dr. Afsar leads Product Strategy, Global Market Strategy, and Entry and Third Party Partnerships. Last year, her team delivered higher quality care for over 2 million people (Healthy People), saved physicians and nurses nearly 200,000 hours (Healthy Workforce), and positively impacted the financial performance of clients (Healthy Business). She leads Oracle Health’s Steering Committees on AI/ML in Healthcare, Retail in Healthcare, and Payers. Her team has a focus on health equity, working closely with key stakeholders globally. She also works on building the larger ecosystem of healthcare, including working closely with payers, retail, pharma food and beverage, and public health agencies.

Previously, Dr. Afsar served as Chief Operating Officer for UCI (University of California, Irvine) Health. She led inpatient and ambulatory operations, including ambulatory care, inpatient progression efforts, clinical support services, ancillary services, public safety, building and construction, and emergency management. She led health system contracting, working closely with payers to bring new products to market. Her work led to historically high ambulatory growth, inpatient volumes, surgeries, and tertiary care transfers to the institution. During her tenure at UCI Health, Dr. Afsar spearheaded and co-led innovative programs, such as telehealth, hospital-at-home, and strategic partnerships, to help provide value for patients and communities. After the onset of COVID-19, Dr. Afsar created a mobile field hospital, led the licensure of ambulatory spaces, created drive-thru COVID-19 testing centers, and led a large-scale COVID-19 vaccination program.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Oracle Health is committed to advancing healthcare by combining best-in-class technology with clinical, operational, and financial outcomes.
• The potential of Oracle's health data intelligence platform is groundbreaking as it brings together various healthcare entities.
• Oracle integrates data from numerous sources and applies intelligence to potentially lost data crucial for precision medicine.
• Oracle's aim is to empower healthcare providers in different roles.
• Current digital innovations should be designed to reduce administrative burden and enhance decision-making processes for healthcare providers, ultimately enriching patient care and potentially revolutionizing the industry.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Nasim Afsar on LinkedIn.
• Follow Oracle on LinkedIn and visit their website.

About Ken Washington:

Ken Washington brings over three decades of experience in leading technical endeavors for Fortune 100 companies, government contractors, and research laboratories. His leadership roles have involved team-building and shaping strategic visions for large organizations. Notably, he was honored as the 2012 Black Engineer of the Year in Research Leadership and later inducted into both the National Academy of Engineers and the Black Engineers Hall of Fame.

Currently serving as the Senior Vice President and Chief Technology & Innovation Officer at Medtronic, Ken also holds board positions at McKesson Corporation and SAE International, where he serves as the Automotive Sector VP. He's been a pivotal member of the Internet Ecosystem Innovation Committee and actively engages in strategic collaborations with universities, notably as a member of the Georgia Tech Advisory Board and former chair of the University of Michigan Leadership Advisory Board.

Ken's expertise spans diverse domains, from automotive research and space science to information privacy and high-performance computing technologies. He excels in program and project management, guiding new facility projects, and fostering collaborative system development. His track record includes successful executive-level presentations, business plan developments, and resource optimization strategies, making him a sought-after leader in both the public and private sectors.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Robotics in surgery enhance precision, consistency, and ergonomics, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
• AI revolutionizes surgery with personalized pre-procedure planning and real-time guidance for surgeons.
• The future of surgery lies in the combination of robotics, AI, and digital platforms for personalized care.
• AI algorithms guide surgeons during surgery, enhancing accuracy and precision in procedures.
• Medtronic is committed to the future of surgery and healthcare with robotics and AI technologies.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Ken on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Medtronic on their LinkedIn and website.

About Mark Del Monte:

Mark Del Monte, serves as the CEO and Executive Vice President of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). With an extensive background in law and advocacy, Mark has been instrumental in advancing pediatric health and well-being since joining the AAP in 2005. Under his leadership, the AAP supports 67,000 pediatricians and pediatric specialists, ensuring they have the necessary resources and guidance to provide top-notch care for children. His work is driven by a deep commitment to addressing various issues impacting children's health, such as mental health, equity, environmental health, and public policy. Mark is also a vocal advocate for policies supporting comprehensive healthcare coverage for children, particularly through programs like Medicaid and CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program).

Beyond his policy advocacy, Mark is dedicated to combating misinformation, especially around vaccine trust. He focuses on providing pediatricians with accurate information and reliable resources to build trust between healthcare providers and families. Mark believes in the power of the clinician-patient relationship in promoting healthy behaviors and informed decision-making. His combination of legal expertise and passion for child health advocacy makes him a leading voice in shaping the future of pediatric healthcare, striving to ensure that all children have the opportunity to thrive.

Things You’ll Learn:

1. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)'s comprehensive approach to addressing diverse issues affecting children's health, including mental health, equity, and environmental health.
2. The critical roles that Medicaid and CHIP play in providing essential healthcare coverage for children.
3. The AAP's strategies to counteract vaccine mistrust and other misinformation, empowering pediatricians with accurate information.
4. Insights into the advocacy for merging Medicaid and CHIP into a national program to ensure consistent healthcare for all children.
5. The importance of the clinician-patient relationship in promoting healthy behaviors and delivering reliable information.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Mark Del Monte on LinkedIn.
• Follow AAP on LinkedIn and visit their website
• Visit healthychildren.org to get valuable info for your family.

Robin Shah is an oncology subject matter expert, building a career around startups in the cancer care space.

So, he regularly receives phone calls from people whose friends, family members or colleagues have been diagnosed with cancer and don’t know what to do.

And Robin wondered how he could help people in this way at scale.

How could he support cancer patients who didn’t know someone like him? How could he help them navigate the healthcare system and get access to the right resource at the right time?

Today, Robin serves as Founder and CEO of Thyme Care, a value-based oncology management platform that provides personalized, clinically coordinated care to individuals with cancer.

Thyme Care pairs human guidance with software and analytics to engage members with a cancer diagnosis, quickly connecting them to the right care and providing ongoing support through targeted, evidence-based interventions.

On this episode, Robin joins host Dr. Jessica Shepherd to explain how Thyme Care’s tech-enabled team helps cancer patients find the help they need.

Robin discusses his patient-first approach to solving problems in oncology, describing the psychosocial aspect of navigating cancer and why Thyme Care is the first company of its kind to focus on oncology.

Listen in to understand how Thyme Care integrates directly with clinicians in a patient’s region and learn how Robin is improving the patient experience—while reducing the cost of care.
 

Topics Covered

• What’s behind Robin’s passion for building companies in the oncology space
• How Thyme Care helps cancer patients navigate the system and find the help they need
• How Thyme Care gives patients someone to talk to (when physicians can’t)
• Thyme Care’s tech-enabled team that provides the right resource at the right time
• How Thyme Care offers clinical wraparound support today with an eye to eventually deliver care
• How Robin’s team addresses the psychosocial aspect of navigating cancer
• How Robin benefits from having family members who work in the oncology space
• How Thyme Care integrates directly with providers in a patient’s region
• How Thyme Care improves the patient experience while reducing the cost of care
• Why Thyme Care is the first company of its kind to focus on oncology
• The benefit of Robin’s patient-first approach to solving problems in oncology
• How COVID inspired people to be more engaged in their healthcare journey

Connect with Robin Shah

Thyme Care

Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd

HLTH

Dr. Shepherd on Twitter

Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn

Resources

Flatiron Health

OneOncology

‘Robin Shah on How Thyme Care’s Technology Can Make an Important Impact on Overall Wellness’ in Authority Magazine

In this conversation, Dr. David Carmouche discusses the critical transition from fee-for-service to value-based care in the healthcare industry, emphasizing the role of AI in enhancing primary care and improving patient outcomes. He highlights the financial pressures on health systems and the importance of aligning incentives to achieve sustainability. The discussion also covers the innovative solutions offered by Lumeris and the transformative potential of AI in automating care processes and improving patient engagement. Finally, Dr. Carmouche addresses the need for regulatory guardrails as AI becomes more integrated into healthcare delivery.

In this episode , they discuss:

• The shift from fee-for-service to value-based care is essential for financial sustainability.
• AI is poised to transform primary care delivery and patient engagement.
• Healthcare costs have been deemed unsustainable for decades, necessitating change.
• Aligning incentives is crucial for improving patient outcomes in healthcare.
• Lumeris has a decade-long history of partnering with health systems for value-based care.
• AI can automate and standardize care processes, enhancing efficiency.
• Data availability and interoperability are key to successful value-based care models.
• Generative AI can proactively engage patients and improve care delivery.
• Training clinicians to effectively use AI is vital for its successful integration.
• Regulatory guardrails will be necessary as AI becomes more prevalent in healthcare.

A little about Dr David Carmouche: 

David Carmouche, MD, is the Executive Vice President & Chief Clinical Transformation Officer at Lumeris. Dr. Carmouche is a visionary leader in transformational healthcare delivery, with a unique blend of provider, payer, retail, and integrated delivery network leadership experience.

Prior to joining Lumeris, Dr. Carmouche served as Walmart’s Senior Vice President of Healthcare Delivery, where he led the fleet of Walmart Health centers, Walmart Health Virtual Care, a value-based care partnership with Optum, and Walmart’s work to address Social Determinants of Health. Dr. Carmouche has also held significant leadership roles with Ochsner Health, the largest nonprofit academic healthcare system in the Gulf South, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, where he introduced the company’s first value-based care contracts. Earlier in his career, he built and led a multidisciplinary internal medicine and preventive cardiology practice.

Dr. Carmouche attended Tulane University and LSU Medical School in New Orleans. Board-certified in Internal Medicine, he completed his residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he later served as Chief Resident. He serves as President of the Board of the Consortium for Southeastern Healthcare Quality and on the advisory board at Stellar Health. He has served on the board of the National Association of Accountable Care Organizations.

How do you inspire a community to take ownership of their health?

If you ask Kristen Cerf, the secret lies in hiring staff from the community you serve and connecting people with the resources they need to improve their health.

Kristen is President and CEO of Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, where she is responsible for ensuring access to quality care for Blue Shield Promise’s 530,000 Medi-Cal members in Los Angeles and San Diego counties.

Under Kristen’s guidance, Blue Shield Promise has delivered several initiatives improving access to and availability of person-centered care to California's underinsured, low income and medically underserved populations.

On this episode of The Beat, Kristen joins host Dr. Jessica Shepherd to discuss the future of grassroots efforts to promote health care in the community.

Kristen explains how Blue Shield Promise helps members navigate the complexities of the Medi-Cal system, leveraging community health advocates to build health literacy and improve patient outcomes.

Listen in for insight using data to provide support based on need and learn how Kristen’s team works with providers, community-based organizations and other nonprofits to better serve Blue Shield Promise members.

Topics Covered

• How being a nonprofit organization benefits Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan
• Why a grassroots approach inspires communities to take ownership of their health
• How Blue Shield Promise helps members navigate the complexities of the Medi-Cal system
• How Blue Shield Promise’s community health advocates work with providers to improve outcomes
• Why so few grassroots community health programs exist in the US
• How Kristen’s team uses data to deliver support based on need
• How Kristen thinks about translating information obtained from Blue Shield Promise members into data
• How Kristen’s team gets feedback from providers re: Blue Shield Promise patient outcomes
• Why Kristen sites the Blue Shield Promise street medicine program among her greatest accomplishments

Connect with Kristen Cerf

• Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan
• Kristen on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd & Dr. Gautam Gulati

• HLTH
• Dr. Shepherd on X
• Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn
• Dr. Gulati on X
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Resources

• California Advancing & Innovating Medi-Cal
• California Primary Care Association Annual Conference
• Blue Shield Promise Community Health Centers

The US scores low on healthcare quality compared to other developed countries due in large part to inequities in the system.

But how do we address the needs of underserved communities and improve outcomes for BIPOC populations?

And what do we do when the data doesn’t tell the whole story?

Jackie Ejuwa is Vice President of Health Transformation at Blue Shield of California, where she leads piloting, evaluation and scaling of new and innovative strategies in support of Blue Shield’s Health Reimagined strategy. 

A healthcare futurist with a master’s in healthcare leadership, Jackie brings her deep and varied experience in the industry to her role as a health equity champion.

On this episode of The Beat, Jackie joins hosts Dr. Jessica Shepherd and Dr. Gautam Gulati to explain what’s behind the health disparities in underserved populations.

Jackie shares how she makes decisions around where to start working toward health equity, discussing Blue Shield of California’s most successful programs to address SDOH in underserved communities.

Listen in for Jackie’s insight on recognizing when the data is mismatched from reality and learn how to leverage data-informed decision making to work toward health equity.

Topics Covered

• Jackie’s role as VP of Health Transformation at Blue Shield of California
• Why the US scores low on healthcare quality compared to other developed countries
• Top contributing factors to health disparities in underserved populations
• How Jackie makes decisions re: where to start working toward health equity
• Strategies for building trust between underserved communities and health professionals
• Seeing data from multiple perspectives when it seems mismatched from reality
• How to imbed health equity in operations across a health organization
• Jackie’s most successful pilot programs to address SDOH and reduce health disparities
• Improvements in culturally inclusive dietary recommendations
• What’s behind the lack of awareness around colon cancer in BIPOC communities
• Shifting the medical education process to expand cultural competence

Connect with Jackie Ejuwa

• Blue Shield of California
• Jackie at Blue Shield of California
• Jackie on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati & Dr. Jessica Shepherd

• ViVE
• HLTH
• Dr. Shepherd on Twitter
• Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn
• Dr. Gulati on Twitter
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Resources

• Cafecito, Cumbia and Salud
• California Assembly Bill 904

About Malekeh Amini:

Malekeh Amini is the Founder and CEO of Trayt, a healthcare software company dedicated to improving diagnosis and treatments in brain-based disorders, including Autism, ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, substance use, and Alzheimer's, among others. Before Trayt, Malekeh was the Senior Vice President of Products & Business Development at Base Health where she provided the vision connecting new breakthroughs in medical science to the needs of healthcare organizations and consumers. A former consultant with the Boston Consulting Group and the Parthenon Group, Malekeh has provided strategic, operational, and fundraising advice to healthcare and education organizations globally. Malekeh served on the fundraising Board of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Wings Learning Center in Redwood City. Malekeh has an M.B.A. from Harvard University. She earned her bachelor’s degrees in Communication Sciences (Cognitive Science) and computer science and her master’s in Systems Engineering at the University of Southern California.

About Roshni Koli:

Roshni is a board-certified adult and child and adolescent psychiatrist and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. Before joining the Meadows Institute, she served as the inaugural medical director of the pediatric mental health service line for Dell Children’s Medical Center. In her role at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Roshni is a top decision-maker on all things medical. She anchors the executive team’s activities in contemporary, innovative, and evidence-based medical knowledge, with a special emphasis on children, youth, and families. Roshni oversees all medically-focused policy and practice guidance developed at the Institute, working closely with physicians and other clinicians across the organization. She brings decades of practical experience and deep caring for people and families affected by mental illness to help us always put people first as we pursue our mission and vision.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Social determinants of health are crucial in influencing better quality and better healthcare outcomes.
• The impact of non-medical drivers of health, such as food insecurity, transportation, housing, and unemployment, cannot be overlooked.
• Data and analytics are transforming mental healthcare.
• It's not just about collecting data but structuring it in the right way and using analytics to create actionable insights for decision-makers.
• Policy improvements are needed for equitable access to mental healthcare. Early intervention, early diagnosis, and prevention are vital to changing the trajectory of a child's life and the future of our communities.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Malekeh on LinkedIn.
• Follow Trayt on LinkedIn and visit their website.
• Connect with and follow Roshni on LinkedIn.
• Follow Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute on LinkedIn and visit their website.
• Malekeh previous interview. 

About Erin Weber:

Erin Richter Weber is a healthcare leader with 14 years at CAQH. She oversees CAQH CORE, advancing healthcare automation, and CAQH Insights, producing the annual Index report. Erin unites stakeholders to address industry challenges through data-driven innovation. Previously, she consulted for PwC and led research at the Advisory Board Company. She holds a Master’s from Harvard and a Bachelor’s from Cornell, making her a pivotal voice in healthcare standards and policy.

About Don Rucker:

Dr. Donald Rucker is the Chief Strategy Officer of 1upHealth and former National Coordinator for Health IT at HHS (2017–2021). He led the ONC’s 21st Century Cures Act Interoperability Rule, enabling secure patient access to health data via standardized FHIR APIs. A board-certified physician with clinical informatics expertise, he co-developed the first Windows-based electronic medical record. Dr. Rucker holds degrees from Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford, blending medicine, technology, and leadership.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Provider data is the backbone of the healthcare system, powering everything from patient care to billing, and requires standardization to ensure accuracy.
• The healthcare industry needs to learn from the internet and establish a system similar to domain name services to reduce friction.
• Data quality is paramount for interoperability, requiring standardized definitions of data elements like location. To improve data, AI should be included. 
• AI can be used to standardize the multiple sources of provider data by merging them and enhancing the quality of that data. 
• The healthcare industry is behind other industries, and boldness comes from adopting solutions that have already been implemented elsewhere. 

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Erin Weber on LinkedIn.
• Follow CAQH on LinkedIn and visit their website.
• Connect with and follow Don Rucker on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about 1upHealth on their LinkedIn and website.
• Check out the latest annual CAQH Index Report here. 

Topics Covered

• Rebuilding trust with physicians and patients amid the misinformation crisis in America
• The AMA's recovery plan to address decreased buy-in to medicine among physicians
• How to introduce technologies into healthcare to make them work for physicians to help reduce burnout
• The critical issues facing the AMA
• The importance of health equity (and how to achieve it)
• The benefits and risks of technology in healthcare—AI and data privacy concerns
• How to protect patient information
• Discussing burnout and disenfranchisement among healthcare providers during the pandemic
• Addressing issues such as bias and transparency with the Physician Innovation Network
• The key to avoiding reinforcing bias in marginalized communities
• The American Medical Association's core principles for creating effective products

Connect with Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld

• Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld
• Jesse Ehrenfeld on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati & Dr. Jessica Shepherd 

• Dr. Gulati on Twitter
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn
• Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn
• Dr. Shepherd on Twitter

Resources

• American Medical Association
• AMA Physician Innovation Network
• ViVE

About Jean Drouin:

Jean is a leader with over 25 years of experience in healthcare management, technology, operations, finance, and cultural change. 

As CEO, Jean focuses on creating the environment that allows Clarify to deliver on its mission by delighting customers and growing a great team. Jean leads the Executive Leadership Team which sets the company’s vision and strategy and is responsible for ensuring the company’s overall success. Jean believes that healthcare has been held back by a lack of actionable insights and that by integrating innovative analytics and incentives, we can power better health and outcomes.  

Prior to founding Clarify, Jean was a Senior Partner at McKinsey, where he led the Healthcare Digital and IT practice. He also built and served as the founding Head of McKinsey Advanced Healthcare Analytics (MAHA), which provided services and products on healthcare reform, consumer analytics, new payment and pricing models, and risk management. Jean spent several years in the UK, where he helped set up the hospital regulator and served as the Head of Strategy for NHS London, a $15 billion organization that oversaw London’s hospitals, primary and social care.   

Jean holds an MD and MBA from Stanford University and an AB in Molecular Biology from Princeton. He is a Trustee of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University and the former Vice-Chair of the Board of Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Many med school students know they will never practice medicine but dedicate themselves to other branches of the industry.
• Fee-for-service healthcare delivery should layer up with other services to improve care.
• Rewards guide everyone in one way or the other.
• Everyone’s environmental reality affects their health.
• It’s not enough to have data; it must be cleaned and processed to have clear insights.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Jean Drouin on LinkedIn.
• Follow Clarify Health on LinkedIn.
• Explore the Clarify Health Website.
• Listen to Jean’s episode on the HLTH Matters Podcast.

Research has shown that less than 10% of longevity is based on genetics and 90% hinges on your lifestyle choices.

But if you don’t have Bryan Johnson’s resources, how do you identify the gap between your chorological age versus your real age?

And more importantly, how do you use that information to design a plan that will truly move the needle on helping you live healthier, longer?

Melanie Goldey is CEO of Tally Health, a biotech company developing science-backed tools for consumers to increase health span and extend longevity. 

Melanie has an extensive background in technology and healthcare startups, and she is passionate about making longevity science accessible to consumers.

On this episode of The Beat, Melanie joins host Dr. Gautam Gulati to discuss the future of diagnostic markers and testing to optimize for the extension of both lifespan and health span.

Melanie explains how Tally Health differs from prior iterations of real age measurement and describes how her team uses DNA methylation to develop personalized recommendations for its members.

Listen in to understand the benefits of Tally Helth’s pro-longevity supplements and learn how to enhance longevity with small improvements to your diet, fitness, sleep, mental health and habits!

Topics Covered

• How Tally Health is working to help consumers live healthier, longer
• The 3 components of Tally Health’s consumer longevity offering
• What differentiates Tally from prior iterations of real age measurement
• How Tally uses DNA methylation to develop personalized recommendations
• David Sinclair’s research on epigenetics and his information theory of aging
• How much of longevity is based on genetics vs. lifestyle choices
• How Melanie thinks about quick fixes vs. small lifestyle adjustments
• The benefits of Tally Health’s pro-longevity supplements
• How machine learning can improve specificity of Tally’s recommendations
• The connections among diet, fitness, sleep, mental health and habits
• What we might learn from Bryan Johnson’s biohacking experiences
• Other markers Tally Health is studying (beyond DNA methylation)

Connect with Melanie Goldey

• Tally Health
• Melanie on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd & Dr. Gautam Gulati

• HLTH
• Dr. Shepherd on X
• Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn
• Dr. Gulati on X
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Resources

• Harvard Aging Lab
• David Sinclair’s Landmark Study on Longevity in Nature
• Bryan Johnson

About Mark Whittington:

Mark Whittington is the Managing Director at HealthXL, a company focused on improving healthcare outcomes for patients with chronic conditions through chronic care management and remote patient monitoring. Mark is passionate about helping people stay healthy longer and improving their quality of life, especially those in vulnerable stages of their health journey.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Chronic care management and RPM can alleviate the burden on primary care physicians, allowing them to focus on patients who need face-to-face care while managing routine cases remotely.
• Devices used for remote patient monitoring (blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximeters, etc.) should be simple and familiar. Accountability and consistent use are the most critical factors for success.
• Transparency and communication with patients through various channels (devices, texting, apps) will improve patient engagement and access to care.
• AI has the potential to glean insights from patient data, predict health issues, and enable earlier interventions, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
• Chronic care management and RPM are key components of value-based care. They enable providers to proactively manage patient health and prevent costly complications.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Mark Whittington on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about HealthXL on their LinkedIn and website.
• Email Mark directly here.

About Allison Stalla:

Allison Stalla is a distinguished leader in the realm of healthcare technology, currently holding the position of Director of Clinical Applications at Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare. With a robust focus on reducing the documentation burdens faced by nursing clinicians, Allison utilizes cutting-edge AI technologies to enhance patient care and mitigate nurse burnout. Her comprehensive background includes significant contributions at Nuance Communications as the Principal of Client Insights, where she influenced healthcare strategy and client engagement. Allison is dedicated to advancing clinical applications that prioritize user-centric design, integrating AI into healthcare workflows, and driving digital transformation in healthcare settings.

In her role at Microsoft, Allison emphasizes the importance of change management and data literacy for successful AI adoption in healthcare. She is deeply committed to fostering a collaborative environment where healthcare professionals can thrive. Her efforts are particularly concentrated on creating nurse-centered technologies, ensuring that the tools developed are not only innovative but also practical and beneficial for everyday clinical use. Through strategic partnerships and pilot programs, Allison's work at Microsoft continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in healthcare technology, ultimately aiming to improve patient outcomes and streamline clinical processes.

Things You’ll Learn:

1. AI is significantly reducing documentation burdens for nurses, allowing them to focus more on patient care and reducing burnout.
2. Despite concerns about AI replacing jobs, there's broad willingness across various age groups to adopt AI in nursing.
3. Successful AI adoption in healthcare requires strong leadership support, effective change management, and enhanced data literacy among healthcare professionals.
4. Involving nurses in the development and design process of AI tools is crucial for building trust and ensuring these tools meet their needs.
5. Microsoft's collaboration with Nuance and nine development partners focuses on creating nurse-centered technologies, including piloting ambient voice technology to aid bedside documentation.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Allison Stalla on LinkedIn.
• Follow Microsoft on LinkedIn.
• Visit the Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare website and check out their blogs.