Healthcare Success

When does a healthcare app actually improve patient experience—and when is it a costly distraction? In this week's podcast, Stewart Gandolf sits down with Erin Rollenhagen, Founder of People-Friendly Tech, to explore how healthcare organizations can decide whether to build an app, what it should do, and how to design it so patients actually want to use it—especially in high-stress healthcare moments.

In this week's podcast, I sit down with Matthew Pinzur, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Jackson Health System, to explore how a large public health system aligns mission, operations, and marketing through disciplined planning, measurable accountability, and data-driven patient engagement. Jackson is a rare organization with a dual identity: it's both Miami-Dade County's safety net hospital system, providing the same level of care regardless of insurance status, and South Florida's primary academic medical center, powered by its partnership with the University of Miami. That combination shapes everything—from brand strategy to growth priorities—because the high-margin, highly differentiated services help fund the mission-driven work that serves everyone.

In this week's podcast, I sit down with Matthew Pinzur, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Jackson Health System, to explore how a large public health system aligns mission, operations, and marketing through disciplined planning, measurable accountability, and data-driven patient engagement. Jackson is a rare organization with a dual identity: it's both Miami-Dade County's safety net hospital system, providing the same level of care regardless of insurance status, and South Florida's primary academic medical center, powered by its partnership with the University of Miami. That combination shapes everything—from brand strategy to growth priorities—because the high-margin, highly differentiated services help fund the mission-driven work that serves everyone.

In this week's podcast, Stewart Gandolf sits down with Duane Forrester—renowned search and AI discovery strategist, author of The Machine Layer, and former Microsoft leader behind Bing Webmaster Tools and Schema.org—alongside Brandon Schakola, Senior Director of Digital Services at Healthcare Success. Together, they unpack what “AI visibility” really means, why traditional SEO metrics are no longer enough, and how healthcare organizations must rethink discovery as AI systems increasingly summarize, cite and answer on behalf of brands.

How to Get AI to Recommend and Cite Your Brand (with Duane Forrester) by Healthcare Success

What does real innovation in healthcare actually look like—beyond buzzwords and recycled ideas? In this episode, Stewart Gandolf speaks with Bobak Salehi of Biotronik about how meaningful innovation starts by asking better questions, deliberately doing what others aren't, and iterating quickly. Through memorable case studies—from a human-powered aircraft to a violin built from a medical device—Bobak shares practical lessons healthcare leaders can apply to marketing, product strategy, and engagement, including how AI can act as a powerful creative partner without replacing human judgment.

When does a healthcare app actually improve patient experience—and when is it a costly distraction? In this week's podcast, Stewart Gandolf sits down with Erin Rollenhagen, Founder of People-Friendly Tech, to explore how healthcare organizations can decide whether to build an app, what it should do, and how to design it so patients actually want to use it—especially in high-stress healthcare moments.

Why should healthcare organizations prioritize specialist agencies—and what can they borrow from specialization to grow faster themselves? In this week's podcast, I sit down with Corey Quinn, President & CEO at Corey Quinn, Inc. to explore why specialization is more than a preference—it's a practical strategy for reducing risk, accelerating results, and building durable marketing partnerships in healthcare.

For years, I've had the privilege of calling Dr. Michael Leon both a close friend and a professional collaborator on some of the most fascinating brain-and-behavior science I've ever encountered. In this episode of the Healthcare Success podcast, we dig into what might be one of his most exciting contributions yet: how a simple, consumer-friendly device on your nightstand could dramatically improve memory and support better brain health while you sleep.

What happens when your healthcare marketing succeeds, but your teams aren't trained or scaled to keep up with patient demand? In this episode, I sit down with Aqeel Shahid from IntelePeer to explore how healthcare leaders are using AI phone agents to improve access, reduce staff strain and modernize the patient experience.

New Insights from gSight's 10-year, 400,000-survey dataset on real visitor journeys reveal how AI is changing everything for hospital and health system websites. In this week's podcast, I sit down with my friends Mike Schneider, VP and Co-Founder at Greystone.Net, and Rob Klein, Founder & CEO of Klein & Partners—the co-founders of gSight™, a healthcare website visitor feedback and insights platform.

How can hospitals and health systems use podcasts to humanize their brand, showcase provider expertise, build trust, engage communities and maximize content ROI? In this episode, Stewart Gandolf sits down with Bill Klaproth to explore the strategic value of podcasts for healthcare organizations.

Healthcare CEO Vasanta Pundarika shares how behavioral health and women's health organizations can scale effectively while maintaining clinical mission and patient trust.

In this week's podcast, Stewart Gandolf picks the brain of Michael Baer, a fractional CMO who's added value to healthcare organizations. Learn what he means by “stratecution” and why it's a crucial concept for successful marketers.

Explore how doctors can take advantage of free and low-cost marketing strategies with tips from Stewart Gandolf, CEO, and Kathy Gaughran, Senior Marketing Strategist, at Healthcare Success.

In this episode of the Healthcare Success Podcast, Stewart Gandolf talks with Leah Binder, President & CEO of The Leapfrog Group, about the real drivers of hospital safety today—and why some organizations consistently outperform when patients' lives are on the line. Drawing on Leapfrog's long history of measuring safety and Leah's candid insights from decades of conversations with hospital leaders, they unpack what's finally improving, what still isn't, and the leadership and cultural behaviors that reliably signal a safer hospital.

How to Disrupt a Legacy Market with Innovation and Authentic Marketing. (A case study featuring Justin Gardner, CEO of Active Skin Repair) by Healthcare Success

Lost in Translation? How to Ensure Your Healthcare Marketing Team Speaks the Same Language as Your Leadership with Alan Shoebridge, Associate Vice President of National Communication at Providence How can healthcare leaders and marketers communicate more clearly, align teams, and build trust across such a complex industry? In this episode, Stewart Gandolf talks with Alan Shoebridge (Providence) about why getting the language right. Terms like length of stay, payer mix, and no margin, no mission, isn't academic. It's operational. Clear, shared terminology helps leaders make better decisions, bridge marketing–clinical gaps, and protect budgets, results, and careers.

How can health systems expand access, improve quality, and reduce costs at the same time? In this episode, Stewart Gandolf talks with Dr. Lyle Berkowitz, Founder and Executive Chairman of KeyCare, about building a national “virtualist” medical group on Epic, aligning incentives for physicians, and using AI to amplify, not replace, clinical care.

What does it take to truly win the hearts and minds of healthcare professionals in an increasingly complex industry? In this week's podcast, Stewart Gandolf sits down with Ajoy Mahtab, Founder and Partner at Strategility Consulting, to explore how genuine curiosity, empathy and purpose can transform healthcare sales and marketing.

Hosted by Society for Health Care Strategy and Market Development (SHSMD)

From AI Overviews to zero-click search and plummeting site analytics, hospital marketers are struggling with a new digital reality. Google's latest AI-powered features and rival platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Claude have upended SEO strategy, with some hospitals losing up to 50 percent of their web traffic overnight. How do you ensure your organization shows up, stands out, and stays trusted in this rapidly evolving search landscape?

How can marketing, innovation, and AI transform patient care while supporting the unique mission of an academic medical center? Ahead of his keynote presentation at the Healthcare Interactive Conference (HCIC) in Las Vegas, David Feinberg, Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer and Dean for Marketing and Communications at the prestigious Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, joins Stewart to explore how healthcare marketing strategies, AI tools, and innovation intersect to improve patient experiences and operational efficiency.

How can healthcare leaders address burnout while driving operational efficiency and scalable growth? In this week's podcast, Stewart Gandolf sits down with Edisa Shirley, Chief Mental Health Officer at ClinicMind, to explore the intersection of mental health, leadership, and operational efficiency in modern healthcare practices. Together, they discuss the systemic challenges of provider burnout, strategies to improve EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization), and the future of scalable, technology-enabled healthcare.

How can healthcare leaders and marketers build trust and meaningful connections with rare disease patients and caregivers? In this week's episode, I sit down with Sugata Biswas, Co-Founder & Managing Principal, and Emily Anderson, Associate Director of Patient-Centered Research at Cadence Communications & Research, to explore their human-centered approach to rare disease research and patient engagement. This episode is packed with insights on patient-first research, authentic social media strategies, and lessons that can be applied across rare and mainstream healthcare markets.

What does it take for healthcare leaders to market stigmatized services with trust, transparency, and measurable results? In this week's episode, Stewart Gandolf sits down with Neil Walker, VP of Growth at Oar Health, to explore strategies to effectively market telehealth services for stigmatized healthcare conditions (e.g., alcohol use disorder and erectile dysfunction). They discuss building credibility, reducing stigma, leveraging behavioral insights, and optimizing campaigns for engagement and retention.

How can healthcare systems use storytelling to cut through the noise and build real patient connections amid a push for AI-driven, digital-first marketing? In this week's episode, Stewart Gandolf sits down with Skip Hidlay, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, to discuss how storytelling, search and smart use of AI are transforming healthcare marketing.

How can healthcare organizations authentically showcase their employee experience online to attract top talent in a competitive market? In my latest podcast, I sit down with Cynthia Newton, President and Founder of Cynthia Newton Consulting and a healthcare brand strategist with 25+ years of experience. Cynthia has earned an excellent reputation helping health systems manage and scale both patient and employee reviews. In this episode, we explore what today's job candidates really see when they search for employment opportunities. She reveals telling gaps between accolades and actual employee experience.

How is AI transforming healthcare marketing, and what can leaders expect at HCIC 2025? Healthcare marketing is evolving at a breakneck speed. From AI reshaping SEO to new expectations for patient engagement, leaders face both challenges and opportunities. To get a preview of what's ahead, and what the big conversations will be at this year's Healthcare Interactive Conference (HCIC.Net), I spoke with my friends Kathy Divis and Mike Schneider, Presidents of Greystone.Net and producers of HCIC 2025.

How can pharmaceutical and healthcare brands most effectively reach doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in the changing media landscape? In this episode, I sit down with Walt Steenbergen, President of CWG, Inc., for a candid conversation about how publications, associations, and digital platforms continue shaping healthcare professional (HCP) marketing.

How Health Systems Can Make the Most of Their Healthcare CRM With Laura Lee Jones, Founder and CEO of LionShare What separates healthcare organizations that use CRM from those that truly leverage it? In this episode, I sit down with Laura Lee Jones, Founder and CEO of LionShare, for a candid conversation about what a healthcare CRM looks like when it's done right. Laura Lee brings decades of experience guiding hospitals and health systems through CRM strategy, implementation, and campaign execution.

How Oralucent Leveraged Insights from Google Ads to Refine Its Positioning and Disrupt the Dental Health Market With Hans Kaspersetz, CEO of Oralucent How can reimagining oral care and patient engagement disrupt a market? In this episode, I sit down with Hans Kaspersetz, CEO of Oralucent, to explore how his company is redefining a common consumer product—the toothbrush—into a wellness-driven, data-backed health device. But this conversation isn't just about oral care. It centers on what happens when product innovation, customer insights, and disciplined digital marketing converge to challenge the status quo.

How can today's pediatricians truly connect with time-crunched, digitally-savvy parents and build lasting loyalty? In this episode, Rob Klein shares key findings from his 2025 National Consumer Insights Study (NCIS) – Peds Edition, revealing what's shaping parental choices, the decline in trust in healthcare, and how organizations can reinvent care delivery, starting with pediatric and maternity services.

How do you redesign specialty care delivery when geography, workforce limitations, and infrastructure stand in the way? In this episode, Stewart Gandolf sits down with Paul Rosen, MD, MPH, MMM, Professor of Pediatrics at West Virginia University, a former official at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the first pediatric rheumatologist to serve both West Virginia and the Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock, New Mexico.

With digital noise at an all-time high, how can healthcare leaders stand out and make meaningful connections? In this episode, Stewart Gandolf sits down with Dr. Jeremy Weisz, Founder of Rise25.com, to explore how podcasting can become your most powerful tool for building trust, authority, and lasting business relationships.

How can an established healthcare leader harness the AI to drive innovation, growth, and lasting competitive advantage? In this episode, Stewart Gandolf sits down with Michael Krachon, President of Theragenics to discuss how Theragenics is transforming its operations through enterprise-wide AI adoption.

In a world that's chasing the latest AI innovation, how do product leaders stay focused on building tools that truly help people? In this episode, Stewart Gandolf sits down with Shalini Chander, Director of Product Management for Align Technology (parent of Invisalign) to explore how AI is transforming the future of healthcare product management (from clinical workflows to patient experiences) without losing sight of the human problems at the heart of it all.

As marketers and communicators, we understand the power of brand. We build them for our organizations every day. But what about your own brand? Is it strong? Does it matter? In this episode, Stewart Gandolf sits down with Alan Shoebridge, Associate Vice President of National Communications at Providence Oregon, to unpack personal branding: what it is, why it matters, and how to do it right.

Are you delivering the experience today's healthcare consumers actually want? In this episode, Stewart Gandolf sits down with Aaron Clifford, Vice President of Consumer Experience at Press Ganey, to explore how the patient journey is evolving, and how today's healthcare consumers find, evaluate, and choose providers.

How To Be the Leader Nobody Wants To Leave With Kristin Baird, President and CEO at Baird Group How can healthcare leaders tackle high turnover rates and build a culture that retains top talent? In this episode, Stewart Gandolf talks with Kristin Baird, President and CEO of Baird Group, to explore what it really takes to retain great talent in healthcare, starting with leadership. Drawing from her experience and her course, Be the Leader Nobody Wants to Leave, Kris shares actionable strategies for transforming leadership culture, improving communication, and aligning teams around purpose.

How do you build lasting influence in healthcare? In this episode, healthcare marketing expert Stewart Gandolf sits down with Scott Becker, Partner at McGuireWoods and Founder of Becker's Healthcare, for a candid, strategic conversation on what it takes to build trust, authority, and long-term success in healthcare.

How do you market sensitive women's health products when advertising platforms won't let you talk about them? In this episode, Stewart Gandolf and Debbie Donovan, Head of Commercial Operations at Materna Medical, explore the unique challenges of marketing products that address women's health issues, such as vaginal muscle tightness, pelvic organ prolapse, and painful sex.

How can physicians move beyond generic nutrition advice and deliver personalized plans that truly impact health and revenue? In this episode, Stewart Gandolf and Mark J. Tager, MD, CEO at ChangeWell, Inc., discuss how healthcare providers can confidently bring personalized nutrition into their practices. Dr. Tager shares how to create tailored nutrition plans using genetic testing, lifestyle factors, and patient goals, while building patient trust and practice profitability.

Video isn't just another healthcare marketing tool—it's rocket fuel for engagement, trust, and conversions. According to our recent podcast guest, Tony Gnau, Founder and Chief Storytelling Officer at T60 Health, “video can boost website conversions by 66% and email click-through rates by up to 300%,” making it a key lever for strategic growth.

2025 is already shaping up to be the most revolutionary year healthcare marketing has seen in decades. Is your business seizing the extraordinary opportunities before us, or is it being left behind? Join Stewart Gandolf, MBA, CEO of Healthcare Success and recognized thought leader for over 20 years, as he unveils groundbreaking strategies for 2025 about how to: • Revitalize your brand with a “living brand” approach • Adapt your SEO strategies to include AI, ChatGPT, and zero-click searches • Out-market and outsmart aggressive competitors • Avoid HIPAA violations due to digital tracking technologies • Market in the era of value-based care and limited physician access • Double your ROI with AI-assisted phone agents and call-tracking • Leverage integrated marketing to ensure your brand is “everywhere” to patients and HCPS

Is traditional media dead? Not even close. In this episode, Stewart Gandolf and Charlie DeNatale, Media Buyer at Healthcare Success, discuss the resilience of traditional media and its evolving role in healthcare marketing.

Lower Your Cost Per Acquisition Through Conversion Rate Optimization With Brain Massey, Founder and Conversion Scientist at Conversion Sciences Is your digital marketing strategy wasting budget on ads that don't convert? In this week's episode, Stewart Gandolf talks with Brian Massey, Founder and Conversion Scientist at Conversion Sciences. Together, they explore the power of conversion rate optimization (CRO) to lower your cost per acquisition (CPA).

How HealthTrackRx Revolutionized PCR Testing by Delivering Next-Morning Results at Scale With Martin Price, CEO of HealthTrackRx Do you remember choosing between two types of COVID tests? PCR tests were highly accurate but took several days to get results. Meanwhile, antigen-based “rapid tests” offered results within minutes, but were far less accurate. In this week's episode, Stewart Gandolf speaks with Martin Price, CEO of HealthTrackRx, to explore how an innovative business model, leading-edge sales strategies, and game-changing partnerships has enabled HealthTrackRx to offer and scale next-morning PCR results nationwide.

How can multilocation specialty practices overcome the barriers to earning critical doctor referrals? With tighter alignments between doctors and health systems, increased consolidation, and pressure to stand out, physician liaisons must take a more strategic and data-driven approach than ever before.

Zero-Click Search: Where We Are and What To Know About it With Brandon Schakola, Senior Director of SEO Strategy & Growth for Healthcare Success In my latest podcast, I sit down with our own Senior Director of SEO Strategy and Growth, Brandon Schakola to discuss the growing impact of zero-click search. We explore what's changing, why it matters, and how you can adapt your strategy to stay ahead.

What defines a truly great healthcare sales leader? In this episode, Chris Jennings, CEO of Chris Jennings Group, reveals the essential traits of successful healthcare sales leadership. He shares strategies for developing your sales team, the importance of authenticity in client interactions, and the power of continuous learning and coaching to drive team performance.