Podcasts about healthcare leaders

As healthcare organizations accelerate their use of AI, questions around trust, transparency, and oversight are becoming increasingly important. Robin Roberts, Director of Health IT Regulatory Affairs at PointClickCare, discusses the key elements of trustworthy AI and why organizations that build strong governance foundations today will be best positioned for success tomorrow.

What does it take to drive meaningful change in healthcare when systems feel broken and institutional betrayal runs deep? Dr. Jessica Bunin, a retired Army Colonel with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, joins Dr. Andrea Austin to discuss her remarkable journey from psychiatrist to critical care physician and senior academic leader. Through compelling stories; including dramatically reducing ICU central line infections by empowering unexpected team members, Jessica reveals how shifting from “extreme ownership” to true team-building, practicing moral courage, and mastering civil discourse can rebuild trust and create healthier healthcare cultures. The conversation explores self-awareness as the foundation of effective leadership, the CLEAR framework for civil discourse, navigating institutional betrayal, and why leadership development must become central to medical education. You'll hear how they: Address institutional betrayal and moral injury by focusing on micro-cultures and small-team empowerment Build high-impact teams by including unexpected voices and shifting from doing things to people to doing things with them Practice moral courage in everyday healthcare settings, from challenging hierarchy to protecting patient safety Use the CLEAR framework (Create safety, Listen actively, Establish common ground, Adjust thinking, Respond skillfully) for productive conversations across difference Develop self-aware leaders who build trust and drive system-level transformation About the Guests “Civil discourse is our way forward.” – Dr. Jessica Bunin Dr. Jessica Bunin is a retired Army Colonel, critical care physician, and former psychiatrist with 23 years of service including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. She has held numerous leadership roles in academic medicine including critical care program director, assistant dean of faculty development, associate dean of DEI and community, and professor of medicine and health professions education. She is the co-founder and Chief Architect of All Levels Leadership, an International Coaching Federation certified executive leadership coach, and the author of the upcoming book From the Inside Out: How Self-Aware Leaders Build Trust and Transform Healthcare.

What if the biggest threat to healthcare isn't just burnout, but the belief that suffering is simply part of the job? In this deeply validating and practical conversation, Dr. Andrea Austin welcomes Dr. Sarah Smith, to unpack the hidden habits and systemic pressures that keep clinicians trapped in unsustainable work patterns. Dr. Smith shares her personal journey of spending years staying late after clinic, working evenings and weekends, and feeling crushed by the endless demands of medicine. What began as frustration with change initiatives eventually became a transformative realization: sustainability in medicine required changing not just the system, but also the way clinicians interact with it. Together, Andrea and Sarah discuss the emotional burden of perfectionism, the trauma many physicians carry from training, and how documentation fears often stem from past criticism and adverse outcomes. They explore practical strategies for reducing interruptions, improving workflow, documenting in real time, and setting healthier boundaries with teams. The conversation also challenges the myth that changing healthcare systems or countries automatically solves burnout. Drawing from her experience practicing in both Australia and Canada, Dr. Smith explains why sustainability must ultimately come from developing new skills, new boundaries, and new ways of thinking. Most importantly, this episode offers hope: impossible things can become possible. Physicians can build careers that are meaningful, sustainable, and aligned with the lives they actually want to live. Inside This Episode: Why so many physicians stay hours after their shifts finish The hidden emotional impact of perfectionism in charting How medical training trauma shapes documentation habits Practical ways to reduce interruptions and cognitive overload Why real-time documentation improves efficiency and safety The importance of boundaries, teamwork, and shift huddles How healthcare systems can better support frontline clinicians Why changing countries or jobs doesn't automatically fix burnout The role of coaching in building sustainable careers What sustainability in medicine truly looks like

What happens when excellence makes others uncomfortable? In this deeply personal solo episode, Dr. Andrea Austin introduces the concept of Tall Poppy Syndrome, the tendency for high achievers to be criticized, diminished, or excluded simply because they stand out. Drawing from her own experiences and the stories of coaching clients, she explores how this dynamic often shows up in healthcare organizations, leadership structures, and academic medicine. Dr. Austin unpacks the connection between tall poppy syndrome and gaslighting, the emotional impact of professional rejection, and the difficult process of discerning when to fight for accountability versus when to leave toxic environments behind. She also reflects on the importance of self-awareness, humility, healthy conflict, and community in sustaining meaningful growth. This episode is ultimately a reminder that being different, courageous, or innovative does not make you the problem. Sometimes it simply means you've outgrown the field you're standing in, and it's time to find one where you can thrive alongside other tall poppies. Inside This Episode: What Tall Poppy Syndrome is and why it shows up in medicine How gaslighting is often used to diminish high achievers Why professional rejection can feel devastating for physicians The importance of healthy conflict, coaching, and self-reflection Finding communities where growth and authenticity are celebrated

What happens when the medications and supplies clinicians rely on simply aren't there, or worse, aren't what they claim to be? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Andrea Austin sits down with Tony Paquin as he shares his journey from technology entrepreneur to healthcare supply chain disruptor, revealing the complex and fragile systems behind the delivery of drugs and medical supplies. From saline shortages caused by hurricanes to the global dependence on manufacturing in China and India, Tony explains why the current system is more vulnerable than most clinicians realize. Dr. Austin and Tony explore the risks of single-source vendor agreements, the lack of transparency in drug manufacturing, and the surprising gaps in quality assurance for imported medications. They also discuss the role of policy, the potential for domestic manufacturing, and how artificial intelligence and innovation could reshape the future of healthcare logistics. Most importantly, this conversation challenges clinicians to expand their role, not just as caregivers, but as informed advocates who understand and engage with the systems that directly impact patient outcomes. Inside This Episode: Why drug shortages are increasing, and what's driving the crisis The hidden risks of globalized pharmaceutical manufacturing How single-source supply contracts make healthcare systems vulnerable The truth about drug quality, regulation, and patient safety Practical ways clinicians can advocate for better supply chain systems If you've ever assumed the system “just works,” this episode will change the way you see healthcare forever.

Dr. Vera Etches asks herself, "How do we make sure we're supporting children to have a good start in life and the best lives they can live?", to help guide her work as President and CEO of Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO).  This question is Vera's north star when leading initiatives such as CHEO's Integrated Treatment Centre. Set to open in 2028, this new building will join different teams and programs to support children and families in meeting their goals. With this guiding principle, Vera and her team have also successfully reduced Emergency Department (ED) wait times at CHEO over the past year.  On this episode, we hear about what Vera has learned so far in her role, the value of fostering partnerships, and details around CHEO's Integrated Treatment Centre and ED flow. Quotables: "Coming into a new sector, the hospital sector, it definitely felt like I needed to do a lot of listening to really build my own understanding and hear directly from people… what is their experience like, what are they seeing?" – V.E "We are here for the children, the youth, and their families, and people are so motivated." – V.E  "Because it's about children, it's extremely special work that can make a difference for the population's health long-term for the future generations. I'm happy to be able to focus on this." – V.E "There's a whole journey before the ED so it's about trying to make sure parents can find information, videos, accessible tools and tips about when to come into the ER." – V.E "The people we need to hear from are those who have the greatest barriers to access, who are going to show up later, presenting with more worrisome situations." – V.E "If the system is working better for people who are living in poverty, it will be working better for everyone."  - V.E "Be patient, give yourself grace, lay those foundations of relationships." – V.E Mentioned in this Episode: Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)  Dr. Penny Sutcliff Dr. Isra Levy Children's Healthcare Canada Hindia Mohamoud Tommy Douglas  Access More Interviews with Healthcare Leaders at HIROC.com/podcast Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Email us at Communications@HIROC.com.

What happens when big business runs healthcare and clinicians are pushed out of decision-making? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Harry Severance shares decades of clinical and educational experience to diagnose the root causes of our workforce crisis: moral injury, profit-over-patient priorities, and the exodus of burned-out physicians and nurses. Dr. Severance and Dr. Austin explore multi-tiered healthcare solutions, the unsustainability of the current U.S. system, barriers like the Stark Law, the growing unionization movement, and practical paths for clinicians to reclaim agency, both top-down (seats at the C-suite table) and bottom-up (advocacy and collective action). You'll hear how they: Examine the shift from patient-centered care to corporate metrics and its devastating impact on clinician wellbeing and patient outcomes Discuss alarming statistics: more physicians leaving than entering the U.S., projected shortages, and unpayable medical bills driving bankruptcies Challenge the status quo on single-payer vs. hybrid systems and the need for baseline healthcare access for all citizens Address apathy vs. agency and the power of persistence, political involvement, and community action Emphasize the timeless wisdom of “never give up”  even when the system feels overwhelmingly broken If you're feeling the weight of a corporate-dominated healthcare system or searching for ways to drive meaningful change, this episode delivers both hard truths and hopeful calls to action. About the Guest: “You can't always get what you want. But if you try, sometimes you just might find you get what you need.” - Dr. Harry Severance Dr. Harry Severance is an Assistant Adjunct Professor at Duke University with decades of clinical experience in emergency and acute care medicine. A passionate change-maker and workforce advocate, he has counseled countless physicians and clinicians navigating burnout and disillusionment. Dr. Severance writes and speaks on healthcare system reform, clinician wellbeing, and the urgent need to return clinical voices to healthcare leadership.

What does the future of hospice care really look like—and who's shaping it?In Part Two of this compelling conversation, healthcare leaders Tom Koutsoumpas, Founder & CEO of NPHI and Carole Fisher, President of NPHI, join Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner to discuss the future of hospice reform, Medicare modernization, quality care standards, and the challenges facing nonprofit hospice providers across America.From fraud prevention and workforce shortages to Medicare Advantage and innovative disease-specific care models, this episode delivers an inside look at the policy, leadership, and operational decisions shaping the future of end-of-life care.Whether you're a healthcare executive, hospice professional, nonprofit leader, policymaker, or business leader, this discussion provides valuable insight into how hospice organizations can remain relevant, sustainable, and mission-driven in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment.⸻Episode Highlights✔️ Why hospice quality reporting and transparency matter more than ever✔️ The growing impact of Medicare Advantage on hospice care✔️ Challenges facing nonprofit hospice organizations✔️ Innovation in palliative care and disease-specific support models✔️ How NPHI is advocating for hospice reform and accountability✔️ The workforce and financial pressures affecting hospice providers✔️ The truth about the hospice carve-in debate and what the data shows✔️ Why leadership and mission remain critical in end-of-life care⸻Key Quote From The Episode“The future of hospice and palliative care is making sure we are staying relevant, necessary, and sustainable.” — Carole Fisher⸻About This EpisodeThis episode explores the intersection of healthcare leadership, hospice advocacy, Medicare reform, patient-centered care, and operational sustainability. The conversation emphasizes the importance of preserving the mission of hospice while adapting to changing healthcare systems and patient expectations.  Featured Guests

Send us Fan MailIn Part One of Healthcare Leaders Break Down Hospice Reform, Medicare & Quality Care, Chris Comeaux sits down with nationally respected healthcare leaders Tom Koutsoumpas, Founder & CEO of NPHI  and Carole Fisher, President of NPHI to explore the evolving future of hospice, palliative care, Medicare oversight, and the growing demand for quality-driven, compassionate healthcare leadership. Together, they unpack the growing challenges facing end-of-life care — from fraud and benefit manipulation to the urgent need for quality transparency and authentic patient-centered care.  Drawing on decades of leadership experience, the guests explore how nonprofit hospice organizations are redefining quality while advocating for compassion, integrity, and trust across the healthcare continuum.  The discussion also dives into the emotional and cultural barriers surrounding hospice conversations, the importance of introducing palliative care earlier in serious illness, and why communication remains one of the most powerful tools in healthcare leadership. Through personal stories, policy insights, and candid reflections, Tom and Carole reveal how mission-driven organizations are creating calm and clarity for patients and families during life's most vulnerable moments.  This episode offers healthcare leaders, hospice professionals, and nonprofit executives a timely and inspiring look at where serious illness care is headed — and what it will take to protect its future.  Key TakeawaysHospice leaders are pushing back against fraud, abuse, and “benefit manipulation” that prioritize profits over patient care.  Earlier integration of palliative care can build trust with patients and families before hospice services are needed.  One of hospice care's greatest challenges remains overcoming public fear and misunderstanding surrounding death and end-of-life conversations.  Nonprofit hospice organizations continue to lead in quality outcomes, staffing, patient support services, and community-based care.  Quality transparency, collaboration, and meaningful data sharing are becoming essential for the future of healthcare and hospice reimbursement.  

In Part One of Healthcare Leaders Break Down Hospice Reform, Medicare & Quality Care, Chris Comeaux sits down with nationally respected healthcare leaders Tom Koutsoumpas, Founder & CEO of NPHI  and Carole Fisher, President of NPHI to explore the evolving future of hospice, palliative care, Medicare oversight, and the growing demand for quality-driven, compassionate healthcare leadership. Together, they unpack the growing challenges facing end-of-life care — from fraud and benefit manipulation to the urgent need for quality transparency and authentic patient-centered care.  Drawing on decades of leadership experience, the guests explore how nonprofit hospice organizations are redefining quality while advocating for compassion, integrity, and trust across the healthcare continuum.  The discussion also dives into the emotional and cultural barriers surrounding hospice conversations, the importance of introducing palliative care earlier in serious illness, and why communication remains one of the most powerful tools in healthcare leadership. Through personal stories, policy insights, and candid reflections, Tom and Carole reveal how mission-driven organizations are creating calm and clarity for patients and families during life's most vulnerable moments.  This episode offers healthcare leaders, hospice professionals, and nonprofit executives a timely and inspiring look at where serious illness care is headed — and what it will take to protect its future.  Key TakeawaysHospice leaders are pushing back against fraud, abuse, and “benefit manipulation” that prioritize profits over patient care.  Earlier integration of palliative care can build trust with patients and families before hospice services are needed.  One of hospice care's greatest challenges remains overcoming public fear and misunderstanding surrounding death and end-of-life conversations.  Nonprofit hospice organizations continue to lead in quality outcomes, staffing, patient support services, and community-based care.  Quality transparency, collaboration, and meaningful data sharing are becoming essential for the future of healthcare and hospice reimbursement.  

In this episode, Georgia Gaveras, DO, Co-Founder & CMO, Talkiatry, explores the critical link between menopause and mental health and why siloed care leads to worse outcomes. She highlights the need for integrated, whole person approaches and expanded access to specialized psychiatric care for women navigating this stage of life.This episode is sponsored by Talkiatry.

In this episode, Georgia Gaveras, DO, Co-Founder & CMO, Talkiatry, explores the critical link between menopause and mental health and why siloed care leads to worse outcomes. She highlights the need for integrated, whole person approaches and expanded access to specialized psychiatric care for women navigating this stage of life.This episode is sponsored by Talkiatry.

Peterborough Regional Health Centre's Dr. Lynn Mikula, President and CEO, and Evan Lyons, EVP, Digital Services, Strategy & Transformation and CIO, help us understand how to initiate and sustain delivery around Artificial Intelligence (AI). They value building a solid foundation around data first and then using AI as a lever to build on what's created.  When it comes down to it, partnerships are key. Lynn and Evan feel strongly that no healthcare organization should figure out AI alone.  Healthcare organizations are facing many of the same problems within the same system, so we should leverage the opportunity to go further together.  On this episode, we embrace this idea of doing it together, discussing how organizations can navigate, adopt, and adapt to this technology. Quotables: "We need to be helping each other because it [AI] is a vast and a little bit of an alarming topic, it is constantly changing, none of us can see that far ahead of where it's going next." - L.M "I believe this technology has the potential to be deeply transformative in healthcare, deeply disruptive. Some of it will be good, some of it will be bad, a lot of it we don't understand yet. So, let's work together." – L.M "If you try to do something yourself without understanding the data first, it would be an inappropriate or incomplete use case." – L.M "The efficiencies to be gained exist in the lessons learned from other organizations who are trying to solve similar problems." – E.L "The early innovations are great, it's good for exploration, but really what we want to see is sustained delivery of these solutions at scale and that's where that 'together' mandate is really important." – E.L "The real value isn't in the technology as a standalone item. It's in the shared learning of how to apply that technology for a specific desired outcome." – E.L   Mentioned in this Episode: Peterborough Regional Health Centre HIROC's Strategic Plan – The Art of Safety  Patagonia Pixar Access More Interviews with Healthcare Leaders at HIROC.com/podcast Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Email us at Communications@HIROC.com.

Send us Fan MailIf you or someone you love just received a cancer diagnosis, what are the first three things you need to know?In this clip from our episode “Can AI Help Us Finally Beat Cancer”, host John Driscoll and guest Dr. Sanjay Juneja, TheOncDoc, walk through the essential steps every cancer patient should take immediately after diagnosis.Listen to the full episode here

Send us Fan MailA cancer diagnosis doesn't have to feel like a death sentence. The science is advancing faster than most people realize, and what patients know about their own diagnosis can change everything.Dr. Sanjay Juneja, TheOncDoc joins host John Driscoll to discuss why cancer is increasingly a manageable disease, how patient empowerment and early detection are shifting outcomes, and what everyone can do right now to reduce their cancer risk.

When the Real Problem Is Identity, Not SkillFeaturing Dr. Marcia Reynolds, Master Certified Coach, Former Global President, International Coaching FederationWhat if the leader on your team who keeps struggling isn't missing a skill — they're missing a clear sense of who they are becoming? And what if the most powerful thing you could offer your workforce right now isn't another wellness app, but a thinking partner who helps them see themselves differently?Dr. Marcia Reynolds brings 30 years of neuroscience-informed coaching practice and a perspective shaped by working in 47 countries to one of the most underutilized conversations in healthcare HR: the transformative difference between coaching and mentoring, and what it costs organizations that confuse the two.

What if the greatest threat to healthcare isn't a broken system — it's a dehumanized one? In this episode of Experiencing Healthcare, Jamie Preston and Your Health CEO Matt Staub wrestle with a deceptively simple idea from Harvard Business School Professor Ryan Buell: service is the business of people helping people. Sparked by Matt's experience at an Athena Health executive leadership forum, this is a conversation about what it truly means to serve — in a world where technology promises to do it faster, cheaper, and at scale. Key topics covered: Why you can never fully take people out of a service industry — and what happens to care quality when you try How ambient listening technology like Mobius is using AI to restore human connection in the exam room, not replace it The ICU nurses who used tough love to get a post-heart-surgery patient walking — and what that story reveals about what genuine service really looks like The "can vs. should" question every healthcare leader must ask before deploying new technology How to show up and serve others with excellence, even on your hardest personal days Healthcare will always evolve — but Matt and Jamie make a compelling case that the human at the center of care is the one thing worth protecting above all else. This one's worth the listen.

Francis opens up about how his experiences as a newcomer to Canada and a trained mediator shaped his leadership philosophy, emphasizing that listening is a foundational skill all leaders must intentionally practice.  Creating a culture of trust means creating a space for staff, partners, and community members to share their perspectives, and through this, his organization has been able to design services that truly reflect the needs of the community they serve. From launching programs that address inequities to building a vibrant Learning Hub that fosters intergenerational knowledge exchange and ideation, Francis illustrates how empowering communities can unlock innovation and lasting change that include perspectives from all walks of life.  He also offers several great lessons for leaders: How the community can be considered a library of assets, and organizations should open their doors to invite those assets in Resist the temptation to do everything alone, as many successful programs can originate from community ideas and collaborations with partners How trust, integrity, and respect are non-negotiable values Our conversation also explores how Durham Community Health Centre approaches care through a person-centered lens, addressing not only clinical needs but also social determinants of health such as food security, connection, and access to services.  Francis also highlights the importance of partnerships and a shared purpose, including collaborations with organizations like Lakeridge Health and Queen's University, to strengthen community-based healthcare. Quotables: "Listening is a muscle that you have to exercise. The power of listening is more effective than the ability to open my mouth and speak." – FG "Everything anchors on trust. Whether it's integrity or respect, one has to trust you. To me, my word is my contract." – FG "The saying 'culture eats strategy for breakfast' is the ability to be able to say I might need to unlearn and relearn, so that I'm able to appreciate where these services we are developing or going to land, and which voices are missing in that." – FG "The community is a library of assets. Learn to open your doors for those community members to come and pour into that cup. Once you do that, you continuously become a hub of innovation. To leaders who might be listening: Resist the temptation to do it all." – FG "It is a moment of pride when you see the power of engaging and the power of partnership, as well as the power of listening. And again, I will say intentional listening, not listening because we had a solution, but wanting to know that which we didn't know, so that we can know what we don't know." – FG  "That means engaging our teams, that are working day-to-day on the front lines, to make sure the culture of listening and design, or co-designing with those who receive your services, is crucial. By doing that, we are perpetuating a culture that allows the community to buy in, but also owning the design and implementation." – FG  "When you walk around our organization, you hear my team talk about 'How do we empower the community? How do we build capacity in the community?' When we do it right, that individual becomes a magnet of support to the next person, and continuously in that way." – FG "What does the real person want from here day-to-day to be able to sustain themselves? And how do we make sure that those needs are not one size fits all? That element of understanding that the community comes in different shapes. But when we look at the person, we need to look from top to bottom, and totally appreciate of them as a human being with different needs is crucial to this part." – FG  "Our Learning Hub has seniors that come in to knit and crochet, and also a group of youths from high schools that will share their digital and technical know-how. So, there's an intergenerational information exchange, skills that are being exchanges across these two different segments of the population, which actually happens to really bring the old traditional ways that knowledge used to be passed." – FG    Mentioned this Episode: Durham Community Health Centre Peter Drucker Obliquity by John Kay Lakeridge Health Queen's University Durham College Durham District School Board Hon. Sylvia Jones Walk with a Doc, Dr. David Sabgir Telus Health   Access More Interviews with Healthcare Leaders at HIROC.com/podcast Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Email us at Communications@HIROC.com. 

Most organizations take their best performer, hand them a title, and call it a promotion. What they don't tell that person is that everything that made them great at their job is now working against them. In this first installment of a two-part conversation, Jamie sits down with Matt Whitehead — Chief Ancillary Officer at Your Health — to explore one of the most overlooked transitions in healthcare leadership: the shift from being an exceptional doer to becoming a leader others will actually follow. In this episode: Why the moment Matt stepped into his first nursing home administrator role cracked the foundation of everything he thought he knew about leadership The dangerous myth that new leaders walk in as "instant experts" — and how that belief causes their teams to start managing them Why the dopamine hit of checking things off a to-do list disappears in leadership, and what you have to build to replace it How to delegate without losing your mind — and why being crystal clear on outcomes matters more than anything else Why conflict is never a problem to be eliminated — it's information to be used This episode is for every high-performer who has stepped into a leadership role and felt the ground shift beneath them. You're not alone — and it's not a flaw. It's the beginning. www.YourHealth.Org

Artificial intelligence in healthcare isn't just about futuristic diagnostics or robots assisting surgeons. It's also transforming the operational backbone of the healthcare industry.  In this episode, host Sandy Vance sits down with Anand Kumar, Vice President of Healthcare at Genpact, to explore how AI-driven automation is reshaping everything from payer operations to member experience. Together, they unpack how healthcare organizations can cut through the “AI buzz,” identify meaningful use cases, and drive measurable outcomes. From contact center automation to actuarial modeling and prior authorization workflows, this episode dives into the real-world impact of AI and how human expertise and intelligent agents can work together to improve both operational efficiency and patient experience. If you're a healthcare leader trying to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape, this conversation offers practical insights into where the technology is delivering value today and what's coming next. In this episode, they talk about: Healthcare organizations are adopting AI-first strategies to improve efficiency and operational outcomes Successful AI transformation requires aligning people, processes, and technology AI tools are helping contact centers resolve patient and member issues faster Many healthcare organizations are seeing 20–40% improvements in operational efficiency AI is helping actuaries analyze large datasets and identify trends more quickly Human experts and intelligent agents are working together to handle complex healthcare decisions Leaders should prioritize partners who demonstrate proven outcomes and operational expertise A Little About Anand: Anand Kumar is a distinguished leader in healthcare and technology, combining deep clinical expertise with advanced digital innovation. As Vice President at Genpact, Anand drives transformative strategies that integrate AI-driven solutions, digital platforms, and operational excellence to deliver measurable outcomes for global clients. Holding degrees as a Medical Doctor (MD), Chartered Accountant (CA), and a Ph.D. in Computing and Artificial Intelligence, Anand brings a unique multidisciplinary perspective to solving complex healthcare challenges. His work spans data engineering, automation, and advanced analytics, enabling payers and providers to reimagine care delivery and optimize patient engagement. At HLTH USA 2025, Anand is shaping conversations around generative AI in healthcare, population health strategies, and next-gen digital ecosystems. His leadership reflects a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and patient-centric solutions that redefine the future of health.   

Join host Mike Sacopulos for an eye-opening conversation with Hugo Huang about the financial realities of adopting generative AI in healthcare organizations. Drawing from his Harvard Business Review article "What CEOs Need to Know About the Costs of Adopting Gen AI," Hugo explains why many companies are pulling back from AI implementation due to unexpected cost pressures — and what leaders can do to avoid these pitfalls. From understanding the difference between predictive and generative AI to navigating infrastructure bottlenecks and the emerging "diamond-shaped" organizational structure, this episode provides practical guidance for healthcare executives navigating the complex landscape of AI adoption. Hugo Huang, MBA, is an expert in cloud computing and business models who works with Canonical, a leading provider of infrastructure technology for Google's cloud business. He discusses building your AI cost dashboard, top metrics CEOs should track for AI spending visibility, understanding consumption patterns to estimate future costs, and getting started safely on AI. "What CEOs Need to Know About the Costs of Adopting Gen AI" by Hugo Huang, published in Harvard Business Review and featured for members of the American Association for Physician Leadership. https://www.physicianleaders.org/articles/what-ceos-need-to-know-about-the-costs-of-adopting-genai Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership at www.physicianleaders.org.

Sue Graham-Nutter, CEO of The Rekai Centres, and her entire team are hard at work developing a new long-term care home in downtown Toronto, the Cherry Place Campus of Care. The heart of this new Campus is innovation, and the collective input from the community and their partners. While leading this major construction project, Sue reaffirmed the value of relationships with organizations such as HIROC, the Ministry of Long-Term Care, the City of Toronto, and many others. We hear about The Rekai Centres' Rainbow Wing and how it's addressing the need for community for 2SLGBTQI+ seniors.  Sue also weaves in stories of her family and friends and reminds us to listen to our inner Little Engine That Could – to believe in ourselves when things get tough.  Quotables: "Just because there isn't an existing program, doesn't mean you can't put together a proper business plan and achieve your goal. But there has to be a business plan with everyone's goals realized."– S.G.N "I think it's also important that people keep on top of the news, not just one news source but multiple news sources, so one has a full perspective on what's going on in the world around them and the opportunities to make a difference in society." – S.G.N "Input can come from anywhere when you're building something and trying to be innovative." – S.G.N "We didn't know HIROC pre-COVID, but HIROC was there for us when we were moving our insurance operationally and we wanted to make sure we had an insurance company that could protect the corporation if there was another pandemic… So, I think it's really the relationships that are so key."  – S.G.N "It's good to see everyone pulling together to support our seniors who built this country for us." – S.G.N "… Insurance is very important operationally, but also during construction because construction is not for the faint of heart. So, it's good to have a partner in insurance who is there when you have a question, when you wonder – what do I do here?" – S.G.N "I was fortunate to have a family that provided me with that confidence, so now in the workforce I try to provide the confidence and support to people that I think can do more than they think they might be able to." – S.G.N Mentioned in this Episode: Barbara Michalik Brian Pollard Building Ontario Fund Catherine Gaulton City of Toronto Dr. Paul Rekai Harvard University  HIROC HIROC's Strategic Plan – The Art of Safety  Humber Polytechnic  Hon. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta Infrastructure Ontario Real Estate  Lester Braithwait Ministry of Long-Term Care Peter Bethlenfalv Peter Rekai The Rekai Centres Taylor Swift Toronto Metropolitan University University of Toronto Access More Interviews with Healthcare Leaders at HIROC.com/podcast Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Email us at Communications@HIROC.com.

As healthcare organizations move from AI curiosity to real-world implementation, many leaders are asking the same question: where do we actually begin? As the industry heads into 2026, providers are under pressure to move beyond experimentation and apply artificial intelligence in ways that deliver meaningful, workflow-driven impact without adding technology overload. In this episode of Value-Based Care Insights, host Daniel Marino is joined by Don Woodlock, President of InterSystems, to explore how healthcare organizations can take a more strategic and disciplined approach to AI adoption. Drawing on InterSystems' deep expertise in interoperability, data platforms, and AI-enabled solutions, the conversation focuses on where AI can truly enhance clinical workflows, reduce administrative burden, improve revenue cycle performance, and support better decision-making. From ambient clinical documentation to smarter data connectivity and actionable AI insights, this discussion cuts through the hype to highlight how healthcare leaders can build an AI foundation that drives real value for clinicians, patients, and health systems, all while advancing the goals of value-based care.

As healthcare organizations move from AI curiosity to real-world implementation, many leaders are asking the same question: where do we actually begin? As the industry heads into 2026, providers are under pressure to move beyond experimentation and apply artificial intelligence in ways that deliver meaningful, workflow-driven impact without adding technology overload. On this episode Dan is joined by Don Woodlock, President of InterSystems, to explore how healthcare organizations can take a more strategic and disciplined approach to AI adoption. Drawing on InterSystems' deep expertise in interoperability, data platforms, and AI-enabled solutions, the conversation focuses on where AI can truly enhance clinical workflows, reduce administrative burden, improve revenue cycle performance, and support better decision-making. From ambient clinical documentation to smarter data connectivity and actionable AI insights, this discussion cuts through the hype to highlight how healthcare leaders can build an AI foundation that drives real value for clinicians, patients, and health systems, all while advancing the goals of value-based care. To stream our Station live 24/7 visit www.HealthcareNOWRadio.com or ask your Smart Device to “….Play Healthcare NOW Radio”. Find all of our network podcasts on your favorite podcast platforms and be sure to subscribe and like us. Learn more at www.healthcarenowradio.com/listen

What if medicine's ancient rituals could evolve to heal the modern physician's soul, turning burnout into a blueprint for resilient leadership?In this episode, Dr. Andrea Austin speaks with Dr. Venkatesh Ramnath about his journey from ICU conflicts and existential doubt to pioneering the Health Architect model. Venkatesh recounts early career frictions like coding audits and rigid communication clashing with rural teams, that led to his 2015 rock bottom, and how embracing cognitive science, myths, and practical rituals helped him redesign his path. The conversation unpacks leadership as a learnable skill, the need to embed financial literacy and care networks in curricula, and fostering agency through evidence-based attitudes and collaborative debriefs.You'll hear how they:Navigate moral injury from systemic silos, using health architecture to layer foundations of ethics, diagnostics, and aspirational wellnessReframe leadership beyond hierarchy, teaching self-awareness and trust-building to bridge academic ideals with real-world teamsAdvocate for curriculum overhauls, sprinkling scientific attitudes, financial savvy, and quality-of-death discussions into every disease pathwayInspire renewal through slowing down, curiosity-driven creativity, and a "new oath" prioritizing human connection over helplessnessIf you're rebuilding after burnout or redesigning med ed for the AI era, this episode offers a blueprint for wisdom over facts, progress over perfection.About the Guest:“Health architecture is about building foundations of agency and connection.” – Dr.  Venkatesh RamnathDr. Venkatesh Ramnath  is a pulmonary and critical care physician, health architect, writer, and host of the Be a Health Architect podcast. With experience spanning academic centers, rural border hospitals, and COVID ICUs, he transitioned from burnout to advocacy by fusing medicine with cognitive science and architecture metaphors.  Venkatesh speaks on leadership, meaning-making, and innovation, contributing to outlets like the LA Times, and is authoring a book on a "new oath" for physician wellness.

What does it actually mean to partner well, especially as a woman in medicine?In this Valentine's Day episode of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Andrea Austin shares a short chapter from her book on partnering well after divorce. She reflects on boundaries, money, self-worth, and building a healthy, lasting relationship as a woman in medicine.Drawing from personal experience, Andrea explores how insecurity and self-sabotage can show up in relationships, why liking your partner matters as much as loving them, and how true partnership supports growth without self-erasure. This episode offers practical reflection for physicians and professionals navigating relationships, marriage, or personal healing.You'll hear how Andrea:Defines “partnering well” after divorce and personal healingExplores boundaries in relationships, including money and autonomyShares how insecurity can lead to self-sabotage—and how to interrupt itDiscusses why liking your partner matters as much as loving themChallenges the belief that healthy relationships should feel hardOffers reflection questions to strengthen current or future connections If you're navigating relationships as a physician or professional, healing after heartbreak, or reimagining what partnership can look like, this episode offers clarity, warmth, and reassurance—right on time for Valentine's Day.

What happens when medical training, perfectionism, and codependency collide with marriage at a young age?In this solo episode, Dr. Andrea Austin reads from her book and reflects on her early marriage and divorce during medical school. With honesty and vulnerability, she explores how caretaking tendencies, cultural expectations, and the “achievement treadmill” contributed to a codependent relationship, and how choosing herself became a turning point toward healing.Andrea shares how compartmentalization and grit can keep physicians stuck in unhealthy situations, why vulnerability and trusted friendships matter, and how resilience is built not by enduring harm, but by listening to your inner voice. Drawing lessons from medical school, military training, and personal reflection, she reframes divorce not as failure, but as a courageous act of self-trust and growth.This episode is for physicians and healthcare professionals navigating heartbreak, relationship transitions, burnout, or major life changes, and for anyone learning how to partner well without losing themselves.You'll Learn About:Divorce during medical school and its emotional impactCodependency and caretaking patterns in women physiciansPerfectionism and the achievement treadmill in medicineHow compartmentalization can delay healingThe role of vulnerability, friendship, and self-trust in growthWhy choosing yourself is sometimes the healthiest decision

How can healthcare professionals transform burnout and trauma into a revitalized life and practice?In this special episode of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Andrea Austin reads from her book Revitalized, focusing on the chapter "The Revitalization." She reflects on her own soul-level burnout at the end of the pandemic, sharing a formula for change: inflection point + inner work + clarity = revitalization. Drawing from personal experiences and expert insights, she emphasizes embracing the past's pain as part of growth, avoiding trauma loops, and intentionally "doing the work" for self-improvement.You'll hear how to:Recognize burnout as a chronic issue requiring inner reflection, not just quick fixes, and frame it as an opportunity for revitalization beyond "bouncing back."Differentiate top-down therapies (like CBT and talk therapy) from bottom-up approaches (like EMDR, somatic experiencing, and art therapy) for trauma healing, especially in high-stress fields like medicine.Understand coaching as a future-focused partnership for unlocking potential, while knowing when to seek therapy first, given high rates of PTSD (40%) and depression (30%) among healthcare workers.Navigate "VUCA" (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity) in healthcare, including life quakes like job loss or health crises, and avoid maladaptive coping like overconsumption or addictions.Build vulnerability in hard conversations, reflect on perfectionism, and beware predatory coaching programs while prioritizing ethical, supportive resources.If you're a healthcare professional grappling with burnout, trauma, or the desire for more fulfillment, this episode offers empathetic guidance, reflective questions, and actionable steps to craft your own revitalization.

Why do so many healthcare providers still view obesity as a lifestyle choice rather than a complex chronic disease—and how can we change that?In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin interviews Dr. Katherine Saunders about her journey from pre-med influences to pioneering obesity medicine at Weill Cornell and co-founding FlyteHealth. They explore obesity's scientific underpinnings, the impact of weight bias, practical advice for EM physicians in brief encounters, common weight-promoting medications, the value of bariatric surgery, and emerging tools like genetic testing and AI-driven algorithms. Katherine emphasizes empathy, permission-based discussions, and multidisciplinary approaches to treat obesity as the root cause of over 200 comorbidities.You'll hear how they:Debunk obesity myths perpetuated in medicine, framing it as a chronic disease requiring medical intervention beyond "eat less, exercise more"Provide strategies for EM docs to discuss weight compassionately in 5 minutes, including asking permission, using neutral language, and offering resources without judgmentDiscuss weight-promoting factors like medications (e.g., progesterone-focused birth control), stress, genetics, and sleep apnea, plus the role of bariatric surgery and anti-obesity medsHighlight innovative obesity care through FlyteHealth's telehealth platform, AI algorithms for personalized treatment, and collaborative post-surgical managementIf you're a physician encountering obesity-related issues in acute care or seeking better ways to support patients, this episode delivers empathetic insights and actionable tools for transformative care.About the Guest:"Obesity isn't just a lifestyle problem, it's a complex chronic disease we can now treat effectively." – Dr. Katherine SaundersDr. Katherine Saunders, MD, FTOS is a leading obesity medicine expert, co-founder and executive vice president of FlyteHealth, and clinical assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine. She received her undergraduate degree Phi Beta Kappa/Summa Cum Laude from Dartmouth College and her medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical College, where she became a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.  She completed her residency at New York-Presbyterian and was the first obesity medicine fellow at Weill Cornell's Comprehensive Weight Control Center. Board-certified in internal medicine and obesity medicine, she hosts the Weight Matters podcast, speaks internationally, and has been recognized as a top influencer in wellness.

Healthcare leaders are discovering how Remote Patient Monitoring transforms chronic care management by eliminating workflow chaos, cutting hospital readmissions, and letting clinical teams actually focus on patient care instead of endless administrative tasks that drain time and resources.Learn more: https://ccmrpmhelp.com/contact CCM RPM Help City: Herriman Address: 12953 Penywain Lane Website: https://ccmrpmhelp.com/ Phone: +1 866 574 7075 Email: brad@ccmrpmhelp.com

On this episode of HALO Talks-FastBreak, host Pete Moore welcomes University of Georgia student and public health major Ethan Bezner for a transparent conversation about tackling today's greatest health issues—loneliness, obesity, and diabetes. Bezner shares his motivations about why he dove into research around early onset type 2 diabetes, exploring risk factors like sedentary lifestyles, processed foods, and our evolving relationship with fitness. The conversation steers into into the reality of the public health system as Ethan recounts stories from his time as a clinic phlebotomist, where systemic education gaps and real-life challenges come to light. They also discuss the role of government and food manufacturers in transparent labeling, and debate the best ways to reach younger generations, whether through books, social media, or a combination of both. Listen now for a look at the factors shaping public health today and the future leaders working to solve them. Some key takeaways: 1. The lifestyle-disease connection is real: Bezner's research spotlights how technology-driven sedentary habits, ultra-processed food consumption, and reduced physical activity contribute to the rise in early-onset diabetes. 2. Education (and transparency) matter: There's a huge gap in understanding food labels and health risks. Both policy makers and manufacturers must do more to provide honest, accessible information. 3. Hands-on perspective: Working with patients facing real barriers (like income and access to healthcare), Ethan sees first-hand how education, empathy, and community-driven solutions are critical to make things happen. Kudos to him for waving the HALO flag high and representing the next generation of health leaders!

What happens when the adrenaline of emergency medicine meets the high personal cost of shift work and family demands?In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin talks with Dr. Miranda Phillips about her transition from full-time trauma center EM to a life of financial freedom and wellness. Inspired by a mission trip to Guatemala at age 16, Miranda pursued medicine to make a profound impact. She reflects on loving EM's wide scope but leaving due to burnout, single parenthood challenges, and value misalignments. Discover how she built passive income surpassing her salary, healed through lifestyle medicine, and now helps physicians via investing education and holistic care.You'll hear how they:Address EM burnout from nights, weekends, and high emotional costs, and the courage to pivot when family needs come firstBuild financial security through passive investing in real estate syndications, creating a safety net without more time demandsIntegrate lifestyle medicine to reverse chronic conditions, optimize personal health, and reclaim joy through routines like exercise and sleepInspire hope by challenging regrets, seeking mentors, and living aligned with values for a fulfilling post-burnout lifeIf you're an EM physician facing burnout or seeking financial and health freedom, this episode offers practical insights and encouragement for change.About the Guest:“I love what I'm doing. I love being financially free.” – Dr. Miranda PhillipsDr. Miranda Phillips is an emergency medicine physician, entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and international speaker. Starting her career in 2009 after a transformative mission trip, she practiced full-time EM until 2020, when burnout and family priorities led her to pivot. Co-founder of Elite Wealth and Wellness, she educates physicians on passive investing for financial independence. Board-certified in lifestyle medicine, she practices telemedicine at Saha Vita Institute, helping patients optimize health and reverse conditions like diabetes and hypertension.

What draws someone with a big heart and endless curiosity into the narrowing path of medicine, and how do they reclaim their multifaceted self amid burnout and systemic challenges?In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin talks with Dr. Amanda River about her unconventional journey in emergency medicine, from medical school friendships to leading a cannabis clinic and pursuing lifestyle medicine. Amanda reflects on her sister's Ewing sarcoma diagnosis that sparked her interest in medicine, the sacrifices of medical training, and the pride and frustrations of EM practice. They discuss the pathology of long hours, sleep deprivation myths, understaffing, and metrics that prioritize billing over patient care, while exploring ways to align personal values with professional life.You'll hear how they:Unpack the roots of burnout in EM, from value misalignments to unsafe staffing ratiosChallenge limiting beliefs in medical training, like 80-hour weeks and "scut work" that wastes physician expertiseAdvocate for system redesigns that empower teams, respect boundaries, and integrate patient voices for better outcomesFind hope in diverse career paths, from rural locums to cannabis and lifestyle medicine, to sustain joy in healthcareIf you're an EM physician questioning the status quo or seeking ways to realign your practice, this honest conversation offers insights into building a more humane system.About the Guest:“Emergency medicine is a mindset, not a place.” – Dr. Amanda RiverDr. Amanda River is an emergency medicine physician credentialing at a critical access hospital in rural Iowa, with locums experience in Oregon and Guam's public hospital. A former owner and medical director of a private cannabis medicine clinic, she is also board-certified in lifestyle medicine and passionate about integrating holistic approaches into EM. Her journey reflects a commitment to values-driven care, from farm roots to global practice.

As healthcare needs and opportunities grow, Baylor's Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is responding with innovative approaches to prepare compassionate leaders for the field. Dean Jason Carter shares Robbins Colleges distinctives like interprofessional education, hybrid graduate programs, elite research and cutting-edge technology, highlighting the ways Baylor shapes graduates who serve patients and communities with integrity and excellence.

In Part 2 of this two-part Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin and Dr. Mehrdad Soleimani picks up right where they  left off: two emergency physicians who actually like coming to work, unpacking the systemic forces that are burning everyone else out. Dr. Mehrdad explains why he co-founded NeoMd Spa.  It started with one vial of Botox and a refusal to be a 60-year-old shift-worker, how physicians surrendered control of their profession to corporations, and why financial wellness is the missing pillar no one talks about. Dr. Andrea and  Dr. Mehrdad wrestle with the death of the democratic group, the rise of corporate metrics, and the urgent need for physicians to reclaim leadership, unity, and their voices.Wrapped in stories of cross-specialty happy hours, Peloton-fueled pandemic survival, and a beautiful real-time patient handoff, this episode is a rallying cry: stop complaining, start building, stay connected, and never forget, we are all members of one body.You'll Hear How They:· Expose the financial traps that keep high-earning physicians living paycheck-to-paycheck and overworking· Reveal why every single guest this season has a “side gig” — and why that's now a survival strategy· Break down the shift from physician-owned democratic groups to corporate medicine (and what we lost)· Show how one med-spa became a hedge against burnout and a reclaiming of professional autonomy· Prove that culture change happens in 10-minute handoffs and cross-specialty happy hours, not just policy memos· Issue a call for physician unity, leadership, and using your voice before you end up “on the menu”About the Guest“Just because I was born a man doesn't mean I'm better than anybody else.” — Dr. Mehrdad SoleimaniDr. Mehrdad Soleimani is a board-certified emergency physician, Assistant Director of the Emergency Department at Temecula Valley Hospital, and Chair of the hospital's Physician Wellness Committee. A former critical-care nurse, general surgery resident, proud girl-dad of three, and co-owner/medical director of NeoMed Spa, Mehrdad brings a rare blend of clinical expertise, emotional intelligence, and lived experience as an immigrant to his passionate advocacy for physician wellness and gender equity.Website: https://neomedicalspa.comResources + Mentions· NEOMD Spa – https://neomedicalspa.com· Financial wellness as a pillar of physician well-being· Visible Voices podcast with Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey (“Use your voice”)· Persianpoetry: “Human beings are members of a whole…”Top 3 Key TakeawaysFinancial wellness is physician wellness : Stop the “just pick up one more shift” cycle and build something that gives you passive income and freedom.We gave away control of our profession: if you want autonomy back, you have to own something (a practice, a business, a voice at the table).Culture is built in the small moments: A thoughtful handoff, a happy hour with ortho, inviting the security guard to break bread , these are the ripples that change everything.

What does a man raised in a country where women are legally second-class citizens become one of the strongest male allies in American medicine?In Part 1 of this two-part Echo Episode, Dr. Mehrdad  Soleimani pulls back the curtain on his improbable journey: fleeing Iran at 16, putting himself through nursing school as a first-generation immigrant, defending his female nursing colleagues from an abusive surgeon and then deciding that very night to become a doctor, switching specialties mid-residency, and ultimately landing in emergency medicine, where he now champions wellness, debriefing, and the “human factor.”Mehrdad and Andrea explore why stoicism and perfectionism are killing physicians, why it's actually strength (not weakness) to feel deeply in the resuscitation room, and how small acts of allyship, from checking in on a new female colleague to calling consultants on her behalf, change culture one shift at a time. This episode is a love letter to every physician humanity and a masterclass in what authentic male allyship feels like on the ground.You'll Hear How They:Trace the roots of fierce gender-equity beliefs to a mother who refused to accept second-class status in IranReveal the night a cardiothoracic surgeon's tantrum pushed a male ICU nurse to apply to medical schoolDiscuss why switching residencies even after years invested, can be the bravest and best career decision Unpack the hidden curriculum of medicine: stoicism, perfectionism, and competition,  and why it's failing usChampion debriefing, emotional processing, and the power of the “feeling doctor” who still gets the job done Model everyday allyship that makes women physicians feel seen, supported, and safer in the workplaceAbout the Guest“Just because I was born a man doesn't mean I'm better than anybody else.” — Dr. Mehrdad SoleimaniDr. Mehrdad Soleimani is a board-certified emergency physician, Assistant Director of the Emergency Department at Temecula Valley Hospital, and Chair of the hospital's Physician Wellness Committee. A former critical-care nurse, general surgery resident, proud girl-dad of three, and co-owner/medical director of NeoMed Spa, Mehrdad brings a rare blend of clinical expertise, emotional intelligence, and lived experience as an immigrant to his passionate advocacy for physician wellness and gender equity.Website: https://neomedicalspa.comResources + Mentions・ Debriefing after critical cases (including pediatric codes)・ Hidden curriculum of medicine: stoicism, perfectionism, competition・ Emotional regulation vs. emotional suppression・ The power of 45-second empathy moments with patientsTop 3 Key TakeawaysAllyship isn't a poster,  it's action: Checking in, offering to call consultants, making new colleagues feel welcome, and using your privilege to smooth someone else's path.Feeling deeply is not weakness, it's strength: The best physicians are “feeling doctors” who process emotion, debrief, and still lead the code with clarity.Your career is allowed to evolve: Switching specialties even years in, is not failure; it's choosing a life where you wake up excited to go to work. 

This podcast is brought to you by Outcomes Rocket, your exclusive healthcare marketing agency. Learn how to accelerate your growth by going to⁠ outcomesrocket.com AI in healthcare only works when it respects real-world workflows, avoids clinical risk, and focuses on responsible automation. In this episode, Israel Krush, CEO and co-founder of Hyro, explains how agentic AI is transforming patient access and healthcare system operations by automating administrative tasks throughout the care journey. He illustrates how voice, chat, and SMS-based AI agents can streamline scheduling, address prescription questions, provide FAQs, and offer billing support, helping to fix the fragmented experiences U.S. patients often face. Israel emphasizes the importance of responsible AI, noting that while large language models understand language, they must be engineered to follow complex healthcare workflows, interpret real patient behavior patterns, and handle edge cases. He also discusses adoption challenges, the value of transparency and data visibility, and why leaders must approach AI-driven change with patience, communication, and clear expectations. Tune in to discover how workflow-aware AI agents can enhance the patient experience while boosting operational efficiency! Resources Connect with and follow Israel Krush on LinkedIn. Follow Hyro on LinkedIn and explore their website!

Practice ownership comes with a unique paradox: the autonomy you fought for also means carrying the full weight of clinical work, business management, and leadership. In this episode, Tracy breaks down the World Health Organization's three-phase burnout framework and reveals why nearly half of all physicians are experiencing burnout symptoms—and what makes practice owner burnout distinctly different and dangerous.  Click here for full show notes  Is your practice growth-ready? See Where Your Practice Stands: Take our Practice Growth Readiness Assessment  Episode Highlights  The WHO's three phases of burnout: exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced professional efficacy—and why recognizing which phase you're in determines what help you need  Why American culture makes Phase 1 exhaustion nearly impossible to recognize (hint: we've been conditioned to see depletion as a badge of honor)  The shocking global statistics: from 43% burnout rates in the US to 66% emotional exhaustion among Portuguese physicians  Why practice owner burnout can't be solved with employed physician solutions—you can't "delegate up" when you ARE the up  Real examples of what each phase looks like: from sitting in your driveway without energy to enter your home, to thinking cynical thoughts that horrify you  The $4.6 billion annual cost of physician burnout to the US healthcare system—and the incalculable personal cost to you, your practice, and your family  Why autonomy alone isn't enough: the protection it provides versus the isolation and weight it creates  Memorable Quotes  "Burnout is not a personal failing. It's a predictable occupational phenomenon with identifiable phases."  "Phase one exhaustion is your prevention opportunity. This is where you still have an easy exit ramp. If you catch yourself and actually address it—not by doubling down, but by making strategic changes—prevention strategies actually work."  "You can't think your way out of cynicism using the same thinking that got you there."  "Your practice will survive a few weeks without you, but you might not survive continuing to push through phase three."  "When you're the owner, you can't just leave. Your practice is your livelihood, your investment, and your legacy."  "You are not broken. You are not weak. You are responding predictably to chronic stress that hasn't been successfully managed."  Closing  Understanding burnout isn't about labeling yourself—it's about getting clear on what level of support you actually need. Whether you're in the prevention zone, need intervention, or are facing a crisis, there's a path forward. Join us next episode as we dive into the strategic prevention approaches that work specifically for independent practice owners.  Tracy's Bio:  Tracy Cherpeski, MBA, MA, CPSC (she/her/hers) is the Founder of Tracy Cherpeski International and Thriving Practice Community. As a Business Consultant and Executive Coach, Tracy helps healthcare practice owners scale their businesses without sacrificing wellbeing. Through strategic planning, leadership development, and mindset mastery, she empowers clients to reclaim their time and reach their potential. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, Tracy serves clients worldwide and is the Executive Producer and Host of the Thriving Practice podcast. Her guiding philosophy: Survival is not enough; life is meant to be celebrated.  Connect With Us:  Be a Guest on the Show  Thriving Practice Community  Schedule Strategy Session with Tracy  Tracy's LinkedIn  Business LinkedIn Page 

What happens when your childhood calling collides with a system that limits your capacity to live it out?In this Echo Episode, Dr. Maria Sturchler shares her extraordinary journey from first-generation college student to educator to medical student, years after being told she “wouldn't make it” in medicine. Now double board-certified in Emergency Medicine and Palliative Care, Maria reveals how serendipity, mentorship, and resilience brought her back to her original dream on her own terms.She and Andrea unpack the realities pushing talented clinicians out of traditional EM practice: night shifts, moral injury, violence in the ED, corporate interference, loss of autonomy, and the identity crisis that comes with stepping away. Maria gives voice to the hidden grief, burnout, and shame physicians carry when “the path” no longer fits.But this is not a story of defeat. Maria now leads an innovative palliative care model embedded inside the emergency department, freeing EM physicians from burdens that don't belong to them, reducing patient suffering, and restoring meaning to clinical work. Her message is equal parts invitation and disruption: medicine is not a prison. It's a “choose-your-own-adventure” and there are more off-ramps, pivots, and second chances than most physicians believe.You'll Hear How They:Reframe imposter syndrome and harmful feedback that derails dreamsNavigate grief when an identity built on EM no longer aligns with personal well-beingDescribe the hidden toll of EM: disrupted circadian rhythm, motherhood challenges, pandemic trauma, and corporate shiftsIntegrate palliative care inside the ED, reducing length of stay, improving communication, and radically supporting EM physiciansUse mentorship, self-inquiry, and values alignment to identify career pivots About the Guest“Medicine is choose-your-own-adventure.” — Dr. Maria SturchlerDr. Maria Sturchler is a dual board-certified physician in Emergency Medicine and Palliative Care, a three-time Ironman competitor, and a former mathematics educator whose doctoral work examined gender disparities in STEM. After being discouraged from medicine early on, serendipity and mentorship led her back to her calling. Today, she helps patients, families, and clinici'hat integrate palliative medicine directly into emergency care.LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mariasturchlerWebsite: sturchlermd.comResources + MentionsUnlocking Us podcast — Brené BrownBring 'Em All In (referenced EM mantra)Multidisciplinary collaboration models in palliative and acute careTop 3 Key TakeawaysCareer paths are not linear—nor should they be: Your training is a foundation, not a life sentence. EM skills travel well into palliative care, leadership roles, education, coaching, and hybrid models that better honor your values.Boundaries are not betrayal—they are survival: Choosing your health, family, sleep, identity, and emotional bandwidth is not weakness. It is wisdom. Physicians cannot sustain compassion without protecting their humanity.The future belongs to systems that humanize care: Embedded palliative programs, interdisciplinary partnerships, and values-based innovations reduce burnout, shorten ED holds, and restore dignity to medicine—one conversation at a time.

Meet Cynthia Gormezano — Founder & CEO of Cynergy Physical and Occupational Therapy NYC.From a one-room practice in 2001 to 7 locations and 50+ employees, Cynthia has built one of New York's leading orthopedic PT practices.But her leadership is shaped by more than business expertise.As a three-time lymphoma survivor and double lung transplant recipient, she has led Cynergy through extraordinary growth — including a recent 30% revenue increase and 10% productivity boost since returning from her transplant.A powerful example of resilience, reinvention, and excellence in healthcare.

What happens when you combine a lifetime of service, leadership, and a deep desire to uplift others?In this inspiring episode, Dr. Andrea Austin welcomes Paula Drivas, as she shares how her changemaking story started at age 13 as a candy striper in Queens and how a simple request to transfer to the emergency department shaped her life's purpose. She walks listeners through an expansive 33-year career spanning emergency medicine, internal medicine, orthopedics, urgent care, academia, and leadership, culminating in her transition into coaching and medical administration.This conversation honors the evolution of medicine over three decades, from the loss of autonomy to intensifying metrics, and how Paula found her own path by listening to her heart, embracing spontaneity, and pursuing an MBA to impact healthcare at a systems level.A pivotal moment arrived when Paula experienced coaching for the first time during the pandemic, sparking an “aha” that shifted everything. She describes how coaching unlocked clarity she didn't know she needed and how it inspired her to create the Provider Coach Project to offer free access to coaching for medical students, PA students, nurses, residents, and clinicians.The episode explores the urgent need for coaching in medicine, the role of value work, the emotional toll of modern healthcare, the DISC assessment as a tool for team growth, and why no one should have to navigate a healthcare career alone.This is a deeply human, energizing conversation about purpose, service, and building a future where every healthcare professional feels supported and empowered.You'll Hear How They:Recognize changemaking moments early and follow them Navigate a nonlinear healthcare career with courage and openness Balance patient care with leadership, business demands, and personal growth Use coaching to unlock self-awareness, purpose, and sustainable decision-making Challenge the financial barriers that keep trainees from accessing coaching Apply DISC assessment insights to strengthen teams and improve communication Address burnout, emotional labor, and the realities of emergency medicine Build new models of support for clinicians across all stages of training If you've ever questioned your next step, felt the weight of modern medicine, or wondered how coaching could shift your career, this episode is for you.About the Guest:“Follow your heart. Never say never. You don't know where life is going to take you.” – Paula DrivasPaula Drivas, PA-C, MBA is a Master Certified Physician Coach, seasoned emergency medicine PA, urgent care medical director, and founder of the Provider Coach Project, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing financial barriers to coaching for healthcare professionals and trainees.Over her 33-year career, Paula has practiced emergency medicine, internal medicine, urgent care, orthopedics, and medical education, and has served in multiple leadership roles. She holds an MBA and trained as a coach at the Physician Coaching Institute.Paula is passionate about empowerment, reflection, and helping clinicians reconnect to meaning and joy in their work.

In this episode, Lauren talks with second year MHA students Hayden Malven and Gracie Petersen about their summer internships and the lessons they carried forward from those experiences. Hayden spent her summer working in finance and service line strategy at University of Iowa Health Care, while Gracie completed an operations internship at UNC Children's in North Carolina. They share how they chose their placements, what surprised them once they arrived, and how stepping into real health systems helped them connect classroom theory with day to day leadership challenges. The conversation covers everything from navigating uncertainty on large projects to discovering leadership styles they admire and hope to emulate. Hayden reflects on gaining confidence through early trust from her preceptor and finding meaning in work she never expected to enjoy. Gracie describes the value of being welcomed into a leadership culture that views interns as contributors and how intentional mentorship shaped her understanding of effective operations. Together, they offer thoughtful advice to first year students preparing for their own searches and a grounded look at how internships help future healthcare leaders grow. A transcript of this episode will be available here soon. Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at CPH-GradAmbassador@uiowa.edu You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #healthmanagement #healthadministration #MHA #internships #leadership #mentorship #continuingeducation #graduatedegree

AI is rapidly reshaping healthcare, but the future will depend on how it is implemented responsibly, equitably, and intelligently.In this special crossover episode of Straight Outta Health IT and HIMSSCast, hosts Christopher Kunney, Mike Miliard, and Susan Morse sit down with two health innovation leaders, Dr. Ryan Sadeghian, Assistant Chief Medical Information Officer and practicing pediatrician at the University of Toledo, and Rachini Moosavi, Chief Analytics Officer at UNC Health. Together, they explore how AI, data, and governance are reshaping healthcare from the ground up. Their discussion seamlessly blends frontline experience with enterprise strategy, demonstrating how technology can drive both clinical efficiency and equitable innovation.Dr. Sadeghian presents a physician's perspective on how generative AI can alleviate workload through targeted applications. He describes a pediatric chatbot his team developed, trained with more than 420 logical pathways to provide safe, easy-to-understand guidance for parents while meeting HIPAA, ADA, and legal standards. His “small wins” approach, focusing on measurable ROI through milestones like denial reduction and workflow improvement, demonstrates how trust, data fluency, and leadership credibility form the foundation of successful AI adoption.Rachini Moosavi dives deeper into data infrastructure and governance, explaining UNC Health's collaborative approach to building its AI ecosystem. She outlines the journey from data governance to creating an AI & Automation Advisory Group that oversees bias, vendor accountability, and the ethical use of AI. Both guests stress that defining governance, ensuring equity, and maintaining human-centered care are essential as healthcare evolves toward cloud, data mesh, and interoperable systems that enable responsible AI-driven transformation.Tune in and learn how to build an AI-powered healthcare future grounded in trust, governance, and equity!Resources:The hosts:Connect with Susan Morse on LinkedIn here.Follow Healthcare Finance News on LinkedIn and visit their website.Connect with and follow Mike Milliard here.Find out more about Healthcare IT News here.Visit the HIMSS website and connect with them on LinkedIn.Listen to HIMSSCast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon Music!Watch Christopher Kunney's recent TED Talk here!The guests:Connect with and follow Ryan Sadeghian on LinkedIn and visit his website.Learn more about The University of Toledo Health on their LinkedIn and website.Follow and connect with Rachini Moosavi on LinkedIn.Discover more about UNC Health on LinkedIn and explore their website.Learn more about WellLink on their website and follow them on LinkedIn.

What happens when Gen Z enters healthcare with purpose in their hearts, and systems to transform?As part of the 2025 HAOP podcast series, this special episode of our Design-Thinking Program for Health System, Clinical and Nursing Leaders features four rising stars from Cornell's Sloan MHA Program in an honest conversation with Glenn Llopis.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with John Lynn, founder of Healthcare IT Today and Swaay Health, and Brittany Quemby, who leads their marketing effort. We discussed the evolving landscape of healthcare technology buyers and the marketing strategies that are most effective in today's increasingly challenging environment.John provides insights into how the healthcare technology buyer is changing and how the committee-driven decision-making process has become even more complex. Buyers are only investing in solutions with clear ROI or AI connections. Without these elements, vendors find themselves in an education mode, preparing for when budgets eventually open up.We also discussed the three major pain points keeping healthcare leaders awake at night: security threats (the 3 AM breach call), AI strategy challenges (navigating the current "best of breed" landscape while waiting for all-in-one solutions), and EHR optimization (maximizing the massive investments already made).Key Topics:“(00:00:00) Introduction”“(00:01:00) - The Origin Story of Swaay Health”“(00:04:00) - The Evolving Healthcare Technology Buyer”“(00:07:00) - Major Pain Points for Healthcare Leaders”“(00:11:00) - Sources of Trust and Influence”“(00:17:00) - The Access Problem”“(00:19:00) - What's Working in Marketing”“(00:25:00) - Video Content Strategy at HIMSS”“(00:28:00) - Content Formats and Trends”“(00:33:00) - Future Marketing Trends”“(00:37:00) - Go-to-Market Strategy Recommendations”If you are interested in discussing this or any other topic, let's have a chat.  Reach out to me directly to schedule a no-obligation discussion. This isn't a sales call, but rather an opportunity to talk through your questions and challenges.Follow me on LinkedIn.Subscribe to The HealthTech Marketing Show on Spotify or watch us on YouTube for more insights into marketing, AI, ABM, buyer journeys, and beyond!Thank you to our presenting sponsors, HIMSS, a leader in advancing health equity, digital innovation, and data-driven care through technology, policy, and community collaboration. And also HealthcareNOW, 24/7 expert shows, interviews, and podcasts, powering healthcare leaders with innovation, policy, and strategy insights.

Collaboration is the engine of innovation in healthcare access, and nowhere is that spirit stronger than at the upcoming PAC Access Summit, a two-day event co-hosted by Emory Healthcare on October 13–14. In this episode of All Access Pass, host Chris Profeta sits down with three Emory leaders who will be presenting at the Summit: Kelsey Thomas, Director of Program Development in Patient Access; Nick Woodbury, Assistant Director of Capacity Management in Patient Access; and Josiah Thomasson, Senior Manager of Data Foundations & Engineering.Together, they offer a preview of their sessions and share how Emory is advancing access through program development, capacity management, and data innovation. From building frameworks that support frontline teams to leveraging system solutions and analytics for smarter decisions, this conversation highlights the interdisciplinary work driving access transformation.Whether you're preparing to attend the Summit or looking for fresh ideas to bring back to your own organization, you'll gain insights into how Emory Healthcare is helping to shape the future of patient access.

In this episode of "Coaching for Healthcare Leaders," Dr. Lisa interviews Dr. Mary Fleming, an OB/GYN, health equity advocate, and president of Reede Scholars. Dr. Fleming shares her leadership journey, shaped by family influences and a commitment to serving marginalized communities. She discusses her clinical, nonprofit, and educational roles, emphasizing the importance of flexibility, self-care, and actionable steps to advance health equity. Dr. Fleming highlights her work with the Leadership Development to Advance Equity in Healthcare program at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and offers practical advice for making a local impact in healthcare and beyond. Introduction and Guest Welcome (00:00:02) Dr. Lisa introduces the podcast and welcomes Dr. Mary Fleming, providing a brief overview of her background. Dr. Fleming's Leadership Journey (00:01:43) Dr. Fleming shares her leadership journey, family influences, and early experiences shaping her path. Transition to Health Equity and Clinical Practice (00:04:43) Dr. Fleming discusses her clinical work, health policy fellowship, and transition to locum and global work. A Day in the Life: Current Roles and Flexibility (00:06:52) Dr. Fleming describes her varied workdays, roles in clinical practice, leadership, and the importance of flexibility. Impacting Communities and Health Equity (00:11:16) Discussion on how Dr. Fleming's work addresses health disparities, especially in maternal health and diverse communities. Broadening Health Equity Conversations (00:12:58) Dr. Fleming explains efforts to make health equity an everyday conversation and the importance of community engagement. Innovative Solutions and Leadership Development (00:14:00) Overview of the annual health equity symposium and leadership program to foster broader, systemic change. Actionable Steps for Change (00:15:46) Dr. Fleming offers practical suggestions for individuals to make an impact in their communities. Self-Care and Sustaining Leadership (00:19:01) Tips on managing overwhelm, self-care, and maintaining balance as a leader. Upcoming Events and Staying Connected (00:21:46) Dr. Fleming shares ways to connect, upcoming events, and opportunities for involvement. Closing Remarks (00:22:55) Final thoughts, gratitude, and mutual encouragement between host and guest.

David A. Rogers, MD, MHPE, whom we affectionately refer to as a Faculty Factory Podcast 'frequent flier,' returns to the show this week for the third time, delivering a gem of a conversation centered around leadership. With the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), he is a professor in the Department of Surgery, with secondary appointments in the Departments of Medical Education and Pediatrics and holds an adjunct appointment in the Collat School of Business. Dr. Rogers is the Chief Wellness Officer for UAB Medicine, a position he has held since 2018. Dr. Rogers served as a senior associate dean of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development at UAB Medicine from 2012 to 2021 and currently serves as the co-director of the UAB Health Care Leadership Academy. He is also the author of the new book, The Frontline Healthcare Leader's Guide: Leadership that Advances Healthcare Work and the People Who Do It. He joins us to discuss the book and share his insights on leadership, based on all he has absorbed about it during his incredibly accomplished career in academic medicine. You can catch up on his past Faculty Factory Podcast appearances here: Episode 8 – A Faculty Factory Interview with David A. Rogers, MD, MHPE Episode 159 – Taking Ownership of our Wellness with David A. Rogers, MD, MHPE "With leadership, I think fundamentally you need to have a vision and the ability to get people excited to follow or go with you on the journey," he told us. Looking for further great reads on leadership? As Dr. Rogers pointed out in this interview, for those looking to get started with some strong leadership education, he also highly recommends starting with The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner.

Healthcare organizations have always faced operational, financial, and strategic pressures—but in 2025, those challenges are intensifying. A wave of current and anticipated policy changes is reshaping the industry, leaving leaders to navigate an increasingly complex and uncertain landscape. To better understand how executives are preparing for what's ahead, Advisory Board held more than 130 conversations through one-on-one calls, small-group policy forums, and other formats. These discussions revealed a wide range of strategies, concerns, and priorities. The reality? There's no universal playbook for this moment. When best practices fall short, peer-to-peer insights offer a powerful way to benchmark reactions and learn from others. In this episode, host Rachel (Rae) Woods sits down with Natalie Trebes and Chad Peltier—two researchers leading Advisory Board's policy work. Together, they explore why peer learning is more critical than ever, what's top of mind for executives across the industry, and how organizations are responding to the shifting policy landscape. Interested in joining future focus groups or workshops? Reach out to the team at podcasts@advisory.com to get involved. We're here to help: Ep. 262: The price of policy: How tariffs are reshaping purchasing Ep. 258: The ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill Act': What's changing, who's affected, and what to do now Healthcare policy updates Healthcare Policy Updates Timeline In times of uncertainty, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by what's out of your control. That's why over the next few weeks we're revisiting three powerful conversations that remind us where to focus: on operational excellence, on what is within your control, and on the urgency to act now. Don't miss Radio Advisory's operational excellence series, beginning August 19th. Send a voice message to Radio Advisory. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

In this episode of Meidas Health, Dr. Vin Gupta is joined by Dr. Meena Seshamani, Maryland's Secretary of Health, for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of American health care. A surgeon and Oxford-trained economist, Dr. Seshamani brings unmatched insight into the transformational impact of Medicare drug price negotiations, the challenges state leaders face as federal support wanes, and how Maryland is pioneering solutions in behavioral health and access to care. Together, they dive into the real-world impact of policy, the growing threat of misinformation, and what it takes to lead in an era of uncertainty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices