Quality Insights Podcast

In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Piyali Chakraborty, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO of Ashmi Health.

Dr. Chakraborty shares how her newborn son’s NICU stay and her research in personalized glycemic response led her to found Ashmi Health to improve nutrition care for diabetes and gestational diabetes in rural and underserved communities. She explains how Ashmi partners with community health workers and a photo-based app to predict glucose spikes, tailor practical food guidance based on real access, intervene earlier than standard care, and improve postpartum follow-up, wi...

In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Jack Clifford, a retired U.S. Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9) with 21 years of service and founder of eecplocator.com, Atlantic EECP, and the EECP Retreat at Waking Dreams Wellness in Asheville, NC. His book, EECP: The Most Underutilized Therapy in Medicine, is a comprehensive guide for patients, caregivers, and physicians.

Jack recounts being diagnosed at 47 with a 100% blocked LAD “widow maker” and severe multi-vessel disease, then pausing to question immediate bypass surgery and choosing noninvasive enhanced external coun...

In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Peter Kowey, MD, Professor of Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology at Thomas Jefferson University, Emeritus Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases at the Lankenau Heart Institute, and the William Wikoff
Smith Chair in Cardiovascular Research at the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research.

Dr. Kowey discusses his book Failure to Treat, using patient-inspired stories to show how modern healthcare has grown less human and more complicated. He highlights harms from electronic medical records, profit-driven screening, malpractice-driven defensive medicine, administrative control...

In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with John D’Alesandro, founder of Amplefi and a healthcare operations expert who has spent more than two decades helping hospital leaders improve how care actually moves through their systems. 

John explains that long ER waits and overcrowding are driven by hospital-wide flow blockages, cultural workarounds, and poor visibility into capacity—not simply staffing or space shortages. He describes adapting Lean thinking, using AI to anticipate admissions earlier, and creating shared accountability through an action center that tracks who can move, what t...

In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Brandi Edwards Farmer, BSW, ADC, PRSS, CTTS, Director of the COMAT (Community Outreach MAT) program at Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center (SHCMHC).

Brandi shares her journey from addiction in rural West Virginia to long-term recovery and leadership at Southern Highlands, where she uses outreach models to connect people and their families to treatment and support. She discusses a nearly 49% decline in fatal overdoses, ongoing rural barriers and stigma, and her work with WVCBAPP to expand credentials and professional pathways...

In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Allen Cooper, co-founder and CEO of ReadyList and the president and CEO of Ancilla Ventures.

Allen shares how ReadyList was created to digitize environmental services workflows, using checklists and inspection data to improve cleaning consistency, accountability, and room readiness. He emphasizes that COVID-19 showed EVS must be treated as a peer in decision-making, and that stronger collaboration and right-sized technology can reduce burnout, support faster high-quality turnovers, and improve patient safety.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Brian Hajjar, President & Founder of Telostrand.

Brian describes building non-invasive at-home urine-based molecular tests for infections like HPV, HIV, and hepatitis C to make testing simpler and more accessible. He also explains Telostrand Cloud, a patent-pending system designed to rapidly identify organisms and predict antimicrobial sensitivity in hours rather than days, potentially improving treatment decisions and supporting public health.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Melanie Sue Hicks, PhD, SHRM-SCP, CFRE, an author, speaker, coach, and global philanthropist who specializes in human connection and resilience.

Dr. Hicks shares how her path into organizational culture grew from early service work, research on generations, and experience in a toxic workplace. She reframes burnout as driven by misaligned expectations, lack of recognition, and repeated small breaches of trust that fuel disengagement and quiet quitting, and points to better onboarding, human-centered leadership, and thoughtful AI use to free time...

In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Jimmy Moley, MD, a psychiatrist specializing in mental health care of adults and athletes. 

Dr. Moley explains sports psychiatry as a growing subspecialty focused on athletes’ unique mental health needs, from injury recovery and identity challenges to medication considerations and sport culture. He discusses how youth sports can build resilience but also heighten pressures from social media, costs, and early specialization, arguing that reducing stigma and embedding mental health professionals in team settings can improve well-being and performance.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Janet McConnell, speaker, author and fitness coach.

Janet shares how a midlife health crisis led her from a corporate career to coaching longevity, reframing aging as reinvention and “decay as optional.” She highlights consistent strength training, protein-forward whole foods, and daily challenge for brain and body health, warns against quick fixes, and calls for a healthcare shift from disease management to prevention through movement, lifestyle education, and community.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Tamara Ruggles, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP, a Board-Certified Geriatric Pharmacist, Fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP), founder of The Deprescribing Clinic, and host of the Geriatric Pharmacy Focus podcast on the Pharmacy Podcast Network.

Dr. Tamara Ruggles explains how medication-related harm and prescribing cascades in long-term care led her to found the Deprescribing Clinic to help patients optimize medications, reduce anticholinergic burden and side effects, and improve quality of life. She also highlights pharmacists’ roles in antimicrobial stewardship an...

In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Dr. Chris Peterson, an anesthesiologist, ordained Buddhist priest, meditation teacher, and mindfulness counselor. 

 Dr. Peterson describes how a midlife crisis and Buddhist counseling deepened his meditation practice and shaped his view of mindfulness as a tool for awakening and compassionate care. He discusses how mindfulness helps clinicians reduce burnout and self-criticism, helps patients manage chronic pain, and warns that wellness programs and AI must prioritize humanity over productivity in healthcare. 

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Diane Randall, M.A., CHHC, a Whole Living Consultant, Author, College Instructor, and host of Plant Based Curious.

Diane shares how severe burnout and health issues as a high-performing working mother and traveling consultant sparked a shift toward integrated mind-body-spirit wellbeing, reframing discomfort as a catalyst for growth. She emphasizes plant-forward eating and sustainable “movement snacks,” suggests quick stress resets, and argues healthcare should prioritize prevention, lifestyle medicine, community supports, and whole-person measures of wellbeing.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Mark Garofoli, PharmD, MBA, BCGP, CPE, CTTS, a  board-certified geriatric pharmacist, certified pain educator, nationally recognized expert in pain management and substance use education, and host of the Pain Pod.

Mark shares how mentors, patient experiences, and his work in practice and education led him into pain management and substance use education. He reflects on the 2016 CDC opioid guideline’s intent versus real-world consequences and highlights the need for interprofessional care, expanded pharmacist roles, more non-opioid options, better access to opio...

In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Robert Oliver, Ed.D., Co-Founder and Senior Master Trainer of Education and Treatment Alternatives, Inc.

Dr. Oliver describes how his upbringing in poverty and supportive relationships led to a career in youth mental health and to co-founding Education and Treatment Alternatives to expand Aggression Replacement Training. He outlines when families should seek help, why Gen Z mental health challenges are rising, and the need for evidence-based, measurable, well-implemented mental health services in schools.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Toby Martini, Senior Instructor at The Leaders Institute.

Toby shares how he combined decades of improv performance with personal development to create facilitation and “improv for business” programs that help teams break down silos, improve communication, and prevent conflicts by understanding differing work styles. He explains the Leaders Institute’s balance of fun and practical learning to combat burnout and strengthen culture, argues that healthy competition can drive cooperation and performance, and says that despite AI and remote work shifts, soft s...

In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Nicholas Lombardo, PharmD, clinical pharmacist and owner of The Gear Box Gym.

Nicholas describes how his interests in chemistry and patient care led him from planned retail pharmacy to inpatient clinical work, emphasizing the value of pharmacists on hospital rounds for proactive medication optimization, infectious disease stewardship, and chronic disease management in areas like diabetes and heart failure. He also explains how COVID-era remote education weakened experiential training, outlines why strength training and muscle mass are foundational for longevity and...

In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Elizabeth Markle, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist, speaker, writer, researcher, Associate Professor of Community Mental Health at California Institute of Integral Studies, and Co-Founder and Executive Director of Open Source Wellness.

Dr. Markle explains how co-founding Open Source Wellness was driven by the “behavioral prescription” gap in primary care and her experience with intentional community, inspiring a “behavioral pharmacy” that replaces shame-inducing advice with joyful, culturally relevant, trauma-informed, community-based support. She shares outcomes from the community-as-medicine model, argues for team-based care led...

In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Mark Amendola, LCSW, Co-Founder and Senior Master Trainer of Education and Treatment Alternatives, Inc.

Mark describes his path into adolescent behavioral health and his global work advancing Aggression Replacement Training (ART), which integrates social skills training, anger control, and moral reasoning to teach impulse control and problem-solving with fidelity and measurable outcomes. He discusses expanding ART for schools and correctional settings, the link between movement and brain-based regulation, shifts in boys’ participation in sports, and the need to invest in un...

In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Michael Hambuchen, PharmD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Research, Marshall University School of Pharmacy, and Todd Davies, PhD, Associate Director of Research and Development, Division of Addiction Sciences in the Department of Family and Community Health, Marshall University’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.

Dr. Hambuchen and Dr. Davies discuss their motivations for substance use and overdose research and explain why combined opioid-stimulant overdoses are unpredictable and dangerous, including naloxone-unmasked agitation and complications from fentanyl contamination. Th...

In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Steve Grant, author of Mailman: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home.

Steve shares his journey from corporate marketing to becoming a rural letter carrier in Appalachia, a transition that brought profound personal growth and healing. Through his memoir, he highlights the importance of community connection, physical labor, and resilience in reinventing oneself after facing medical and professional challenges during the pandemic.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Anuruddh Kumar Misra, MD, FACP, FAMSSM, QME, DIP ABLM, a triple board-certified physician and non-operative sports medicine specialist, and Anuruddh Mishra, founder of August AI.

Dr. Misra and Anuruddh share their journeys into medicine and technology while exploring the evolving role of AI in healthcare, its benefits, limitations, and future impact, as well as the importance of balancing innovation with human empathy and clinical judgment in patient care. 

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Shannon Barry, an Army Veteran and a Department Service Officer with the Department of Pennsylvania American Legion. 

Shannon discusses her journey to becoming a department service officer with the American Legion, emphasizing the personal nature of her work compared to her previous role in the VA. She highlights the challenges veterans face with the VA benefit process, mental health care, military sexual trauma, and the importance of peer support and advocacy.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Alayna Click-Thomas, MS, SHRM-SCP, GenZ Keynoter and Retention Strategist with Magnet Culture, and was named a 2024 USA Today Keynote Speaker to Follow.

Alayna discusses the unique challenges in healthcare retention, emphasizing the need for modern strategies that resonate with Gen Z employees. She highlights the importance of understanding employee expectations, effective feedback processes, and integrating technology smoothly while maintaining a human touch in patient care.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Jack Bruce, Director of Population Health and Wellbeing at IMA Financial Group (Atlanta), Affiliate Member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and founder of WellBirds.

Jack shares his transition from traditional HR to focusing on employee wellness through birding and nature-based healing, emphasizing the mental and physical benefits of nature and the critical role of leadership in fostering positive workplace cultures.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Nykole Gonzalez, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist and partner at Northshore Psychological Associates.

Dr. Nicole Gonzalez shares her journey into neuropsychology, highlighting the interplay between neurological conditions and mental health challenges, and emphasizes the importance of culturally competent care and holistic treatment approaches.

Follow Northshore Psychological Associates on Instagram.

If you have any topics or guests you'd like to see on future episodes, reach out to us on our website.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Robert Russell, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer of Majestic Care. 

Dr. Russell discusses his career trajectory in internal medicine and geriatrics, emphasizing the need for a redefined perspective on nursing home care. He highlights the importance of engaged leadership, the role of technology, and value-based care in improving outcomes, while advocating for a tiered system to better support various patient needs.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Dr. Jon Glass, a Clinical Psychologist with Northshore Psychological Associates.

Dr. Glass discusses the benefits of high school sports participation on mental health, resilience, and emotional balance, as well as addressing the importance of proper management by parents and coaches to maximize these benefits and avoid potential harm. He also explores the effects of social media, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, differences between boys and girls in sports, and offers advice on supporting injured athletes.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with caregiving expert Jennifer (Jen) Fink.

Jen discusses her personal journey into caregiving, the impact of social media on caregiver burden, and evidence-based lifestyle steps to protect brain health. She also highlights the significance of reducing stigma, education in healthcare, and the new GUIDE model by the Center for Medicare Services.

Listen to Jen's podcast, Fading Memories.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Aaron Cavalline and Ryan Smock, dedicated high school coaches at Harbor Creek High School. 

Aaron and Ryan discuss the mental health benefits of students' participation in sports, highlighting topics like resilience, teamwork, social media pressures, and the effects of COVID-19 on athletics. They also explore the future of high school sports and the growing trend towards specialized training and travel teams.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Anuruddh Kumar Misra, MD, FACP, FAMSSM, QME, DIP ABLM, a triple board-certified physician and non-operative sports medicine specialist.

Dr. Misra shares insights on the significance of lifestyle medicine in transforming healthcare and how it complements traditional and telemedicine practices to address chronic diseases. He highlights the pandemic’s impact on care delivery and offers thoughtful perspectives on the future of medicine, including the growing influence of AI. 

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Elidia Martinez, a community health worker and the Food Rx Program Coordinator with Beebe Healthcare.

Elidia discusses the Food Prescription Program's role in combating chronic diseases in Sussex County by providing nutritious food and education to those in need. She highlights the program's evolution, success stories, and future expansion plans to further support community health.

For more information about the Food Prescription Program, email Elidia.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with  Travis J. Davis, MHA, NHA, FACHE, HSE, Executive Director of Long Term Care for the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. 

Travis discusses his role overseeing Pennsylvania’s state-run veterans homes, the unique aspects of these facilities, and the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasizes the importance of addressing staffing shortages, leveraging technology, and implementing person-centered care to improve the quality of life for residents.

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This Halloween, we’re taking the fear out of aging and shining a light on how to age vibrantly and intentionally. 

In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Sally Duplainter,  gerontologist, researcher, educator, advocate, and founder of Zing, a mission-driven organization helping older adults extend their health span. 

Sally explores the intersection of aging and health, emphasizing the importance of lifestyle choices, nutrition, and proactive healthcare. She advocates for an integrated approach to well-being as we age.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Laura Makaroff, DO, a family physician and Senior Vice President of Prevention and Early Detection at the American Cancer Society.

Dr. Makaroff discusses her journey to the American Cancer Society and the organization's launch of CancerRisk360™, a personalized cancer risk assessment tool. She emphasizes the critical importance of early cancer detection, addressing disparities, and the role of modifiable risk factors in reducing cancer incidence and mortality.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Tiwana Miller, PA-C, a physician assistant and community health advocate.

Tiwana shares her career journey from clinical laboratory science to various healthcare settings, emphasizing the importance of empathy, preventative care, and patient empowerment. She discusses the impact of COVID-19 on her work, her research in obesity and diabetes, and her dedication to improving access to healthcare for underserved communities.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Lori Carnsew, MD, family doctor, children’s author and lifestyle medicine advocate. 

Dr. Lori Carnsew discusses her transition from family medicine to opening Verity Primary Medicine and Lifestyle, a practice that emphasizes lifestyle medicine and prevention. She highlights the challenges and strategies for fostering lasting lifestyle changes in patients, and the importance of early education in lifelong health.

Learn more about Lori's children's book, How to Live Like a Superhero.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Bobbie Reed,  caregiver advocate and American Kidney Fund Ambassador. 

Bobbie discusses her personal journey as a caregiver for her son and mother, her advocacy work for kidney disease awareness, the role of social media in finding her son a kidney donor, and the importance of support groups. She also highlights legislative efforts like the Living Donor Protection Act and emphasizes early detection, better communication among healthcare providers, and utilizing AI resources.

In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Kyle Lavergne, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Vice President of Clinical Programs for CenterWell Home Health.

Kyle discusses the American Heart Association's Home Health - Heart Failure Certification, which enhances evidence-based care quality and improves outcomes for heart failure patients. The certification emphasizes program management, staff education, patient support, care coordination, clinical management, and performance improvement, ultimately aiming to reduce hospital readmissions and promote better health outcomes.

Learn more about American Heart Association Certified Care™.

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In this episode of Taking Healthcare by Storm, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm speaks with Jorge Otañez, MD, DipABLM, Associate Chief Medical Officer of TrueCare.

Dr. Otañez shares his expertise on various health topics, emphasizing the significance of preventative measures and the importance of community health initiatives. He also highlights the role of innovative treatment methods and patient education in improving health outcomes.

If you have any topics or guests you'd like to see on future episodes, reach out to us on our website.

Publication number QI-091925-GK