IBX: The Cover Story

In the latest episode of IBX: The Cover Story, guest host Dr. Reetika Kumar, SVP & Chief Customer Product, Clinical Solutions & Pharmacy Services at IBX is joined by Helen Sherman, Chief Transformation Officer at Evio and Julie Bartl, President of Employee Benefits at Johnson, Kendall & Johnson to discuss our recent Humira biosimilar launch and the unique approach we took to ensure cost savings while maintaining high quality for our clients and members.  

IBX EVP Susan Larkin and her colleague Bob Toner speak with Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro offensive lineman Lane Johnson at the annual IBX Client Health Care Forum about his personal journey with mental health and tackling the stigma around the topic. 

In episode 15, host Peter Panageas invites three guests to discuss an incredibly special story about the importance of CPR and a life recently saved because of it. His guests are a close friend, Karen Silverio, whose life was saved by CPR last January; Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine (Virtua Health College) student Krzysztof Zembrzuski who saved Karen's life through CPR; and Karen's cardiologist, Dr. Reginald Ho of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Countless studies have proven that employees want their employer to offer workplace well-being programs. In this episode, host Peter Panageas invites Vicki Amon, HR Program Manager of Well-being at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Joselito Huertas, who leads IBX's onsite and virtual fitness programs in his role at Exos. The two give great insights into what makes a successful workforce well-being program, how they had to shift as a result of the pandemic, and their personal experiences with health and wellness.

In the second part of our Alzheimer's episode, host Peter Panageas discusses Alzheimer's from the perspective of personal experiences, clinical care, and facility management. His guests are Dr. Heidi J. Syropoulos, Medical Director for Government Markets at Independence Blue Cross, Jim Biggs, Chief Executive Officer of West Bay Senior Living LLC, and Michael Burnham, whose father battled Alzheimer's.

In episode 12, host Peter Panageas invites guests to discuss Alzheimer's from the perspective of personal experiences, clinical care, and facility management. His guests are Dr. Heidi J. Syropoulos, Medical Director for Government Markets at Independence Blue Cross, Jim Biggs, Chief Executive Officer of West Bay Senior Living LLC, and Michael Burnham, whose father is battling Alzheimer's.

In episode 11, host Peter Panageas invites two special guests to discuss how the BlueCross BlueShield Association, Independence Blue Cross, and Blue plans across the country are changing the trajectory of racial health disparities. His guests are Dr. Adam Myers, senior vice president and chief clinical transformation officer for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and Dr. Seun Ross, Director of Health Equity at Independence Blue Cross.

Mentorships & internships are known to build the next generation of leaders in business. But they can also cultivate purpose & meaningful relationships & provide a safe space for people to grow. In this episode, host Peter Panageas sits down with guests Crystal Ashby, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer of Independence, and Melinda Bryan, Marketing Solutions Consultant, to discuss the importance of mentorship and internship in business. 

Host Peter Panageas shares with listeners how a routine checkup with his family doctor saved his life. He invites his personal health hero to the podcast, Dr. Ryan McCormick, a primary care provider (PCP) in the Virtua Health network. They discuss the types of care a PCP can provide, the role a PCP can play in cancer prevention, and how having a PCP you trust can make a huge impact in your health. 

In this episode, host Peter Panageas share with listeners his dad's personal story with prostate cancer and how growing his facial hair in November opened the door to conversations with other men about preventive care. I sit down with Dr. Leonard Gomella of Jefferson Health and we discuss the facts every man should know about prostate cancer.

In episode seven of IBX: The Cover Story, I sit down with Amy Gallo, director of sales at Independence Blue Cross, and Sue Weldon, founder and CEO of Unite for HER, as they share their journeys with having breast cancer. We also discuss how her own cancer treatment inspired Sue to help thousands of women battling breast cancer every year through Unite for HER.

Host Peter Panageas shares a panel discussion hosted by blue cross and blue shield companies with leading voices on how to create a workplace culture of well-being to help support employee behavioral health. Panelist are Dr. Sonja Boone, Executive Director of Medical Policy Services, BlueCross BlueShield Association, Dylan Landers, Director, Business Group on Health, Amanda Smith, Chief Engagement Officer, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, and Ken Duckworth, Chief Medical Officer, National Alliance on Mental Illness.   

Host Peter Panageas reflects on Pride month and discusses how businesses can better support LGBTQ+ employees and their families. His guests are James Startare, VP of Benefits at Aramark; Vince Poplaski, VP of Executive Compensation at Aramark and the Co-Chair of Aramark's PRIDE employee resource group; Miyumi Fair, Associate Knowledge Management Analyst at Independence Blue Cross and a member of the Independence PRIDE associate resource group; and Janine Brandolo, Manager of Benefits Administration & Wellness at Independence Blue Cross.  

Every year National Nurses Month invites us to focus on the value of nursing, nurses, and their essential role in our community. This year, as a result of the pandemic, our celebration comes with a new level of perspective. Host Peter Panageas speaks with nurse guests about their roles and experiences. Peter's guests are Michelle Jackson-Ware an Asthma Care Coordinator at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a winner of the Independence Blue Cross Celebrate Caring award, Bernadette Salopek a nurse at Journey Hospice, and Diana Lehman the director of our care management department at Independence Blue Cross.   

How and when will we achieve herd immunity and return to “normal” life after COVID-19? Host Peter Panageas asks his guests about variants, vaccines and the importance of maintaining safety precautions at this pivotal moment in the pandemic. Peter's guests are Dr. Reetika Kumar, vice president of strategic clinical solutions and market medical executive at Independence; Peter Hotz, president & CEO of vybe urgent care; and Lorina Marshall-Blake, vice president of community affairs at Independence and president of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation.

What will the post-pandemic workplace look like? Host Peter Panageas asks the experts about their plans and predictions. Peter's guests are Jeanie Heffernan, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Independence Blue Cross and Caryn Noble, Vice President, Benefits at Tokio Marine Group, TMNA.

In this episode, Peter Panageas SVP & President Market of IBX and Dr. Ursina Teitelbaum of the University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center talk about how COVID-19 has accelerated the use of telemedicine. Both share their personal experiences with Telemedicine from three perspectives: the patient, the caregiver, and the doctor. And both weigh in on whether or not we think telemedicine is here to stay. Get the show notes for this episode at insights.ibx.com.