Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

In this episode, James Wellman, Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home, discusses using AI and data analytics to optimize revenue cycle management, improve patient care, and address the unique challenges facing rural health organizations.

Kari-Beth Law, MD, Associate Chief Medical Officer and Board Member of the West Virginia University Health System, Professor of Adult, Child/Adolescent and Forensic Psychiatry, Vice Chair of Clinical Services, and Director of Telepsychiatry for the WVU School of Medicine Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry

In this episode, Brian Uridge, Senior Director of Public Safety and Security at University of Michigan Health System, shares how healthcare security has evolved amid rising workplace violence and why trust, training, and technology are critical to keeping patients and staff safe. He discusses behavioral threat assessment, relationship based safety models, and leadership lessons from his career in public safety.

In this episode, Heather Isola, Vice President of Physician Assistant Services at Mount Sinai Health System, discusses how PAs are becoming central to workforce strategy, access, and care delivery amid growing supply and demand challenges. She shares insights on team based care models, top of license practice, and building sustainable systems to support advanced practice providers.

In this episode, Alex Yampolsky, PharmD MBA, Chief Clinical Officer at MedServe, discusses how outdated medication management puts outpatient facilities at risk and how technology can prevent drug diversion, improve safety, and reduce administrative burden. He also shares career lessons from his path as a pharmacist turned healthcare entrepreneur.

 In this episode, Dr. Marschall Runge, former CEO of Michigan Medicine and author of “The Great Healthcare Disruption: Big Tech, Bold Policy, and the Future of American Medicine”, shares insights on the strengths and pressure points of U.S. healthcare. He discusses access, primary care, AI, workforce challenges, and what it will take to improve health and longevity in the years ahead.

In this episode, Dr. Tom O'Bryan, Founder of theDR.com, shares his insights on the critical role of the gut and immune system in chronic inflammatory diseases. He explains how gluten and environmental toxins trigger inflammation and offers guidance on testing, functional medicine, and reversing health challenges through targeted interventions.

In this episode, David Rahija, PT, MBA, FACHE, President of Northwest Community Hospital at Endeavor Health, joins the podcast to discuss designing seamless, personalized care across the full healthcare continuum. He shares strategies for reducing cost structures, priorities for growth in 2026 through expanded access and subspecialty services, and how his organization is elevating care to better serve the surrounding community.

In this episode, Joy White, Vice President and Chief Nursing and Operations Officer at Legacy Health, discusses improving access through emergency department throughput, workforce stability, and community partnerships. She also shares priorities for the year ahead, including quality, employee experience, and navigating financial and policy headwinds while sustaining high quality care.

In this episode, Michael Wiggins, Assistant Professor of Healthcare Management and Leadership at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, joins the podcast to discuss his transition from healthcare executive to academia. He shares perspectives on reframing costs as investment opportunities, the evolving role of academic medical centers, and where he sees significant growth opportunities across healthcare leadership and education.

In this episode, Olu Jegede, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Health Equity and Community Impact Officer at Cone Health, shares how the system is embedding health equity into care delivery through initiatives like “CATCH 5 in 5” and blood pressure equity programs. He discusses measurable outcomes, community partnerships, and the challenge of sustaining equity focused investments while navigating financial and operational headwinds.

In this episode, Krista Drobac, Co Founder of Health Policy Futures Lab, explains how the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program is reshaping support for rural hospitals through state led investments in workforce, technology, infrastructure, and new care models. She outlines key program components, timelines, and what hospital leaders should expect as funding and implementation accelerate.

In this episode, Kyle Glass, Regional Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth, discusses how the academic community hospital partnership is growing oncology, neuroscience, and orthopedic services while improving patient access and navigation. He also shares perspectives on competition in a crowded market, consolidation pressures, and how AI and technology are shaping the future of access and the revenue cycle.

In this episode, Scott Becker breaks down 9 key healthcare stories, including Cigna’s 2,000 job cuts, a sharp profit decline at CVS Health, hospital bankruptcies, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Sidney H. Raymond, Chief Medical Officer at Ochsner Health Network, discusses leading population health across more than 600,000 lives and advancing value based care beyond contract boundaries. He shares how care model redesign, prevention focused strategies, digital health, and patient centered culture are driving measurable gains in quality, cost, and care coordination across diverse communities.

Joseph Pollino, PA-C, Physician Assistant, Carson Valley Health, shares what he sees daily as patients struggle with rising costs, high deductible plans, and delayed care. He discusses why clinicians must speak up about affordability, access, and the real human impact of healthcare policy decisions.

In this episode, Cecilia Trujillo, Regional Chief Human Resources Officer at Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, shares how she is modernizing HR through process mapping, Agile methodologies, and AI to reduce administrative burden. She discusses preparing teams for rapid change, enhancing workforce resilience, and creating meaningful experiences for both staff and patients.

In this episode, Bob Taylor, Senior Vice President of Supply at RWJBarnabas Health, discusses how rigorous contracting, capital standardization, and deep partnership with clinicians and business leaders are driving meaningful value across the system. He also shares how supply chain teams are preparing for future headwinds like tariffs, technology demand, and growth through system expansion.

In this episode, Scott Becker breaks down 9 key healthcare stories, including Cigna’s 2,000 job cuts, a sharp profit decline at CVS Health, hospital bankruptcies, and more.

In this episode, Todd Dunn, CEO of Accuryn, joins Scott Becker to discuss why acute kidney injury is now designated as a hospital harm and what that means for quality, cost, and patient outcomes. He shares insights on blind spots in kidney care, the limits of legacy tools, and how automation and monitoring can reduce harm while easing clinician burden.

This episode is sponsored by Accuryn.

In this episode, Lila Benayoun, Chief Operating Officer at MetroPlusHealth, shares how the organization is translating member affordability data into simpler plan design, predictable costs, and high-touch community support across New York City. She discusses addressing disparities through multilingual outreach, culturally competent services, and operational strategies that help members better understand and use their coverage.

In this episode, Tina Garrison, Chief Operating Officer of SSM Health’s St. Louis and Southern Illinois region, discusses how the Project Core initiative is advancing patient centered, value based care while delivering major operational and financial gains. She also shares priorities for 2026, key industry headwinds, and how mission driven partnerships and centers of excellence support sustainable growth.

In this episode, Greg Sieg, Chief Information Security Officer at the University of Michigan Health Regional Network, shares how his team is standardizing cybersecurity frameworks across acquisitions while balancing people, process, and technology. He discusses identity governance, machine security, M&A integration, and why culture, communication, and partnership are essential to protecting healthcare organizations as care expands beyond hospital walls.

In this episode, Sowmya Viswanathan, Chief Physician Executive at BayCare Health System, joins the podcast to discuss building strong academic programs through research and teaching, managing rapid population growth, and supporting value-based care models. She also shares her priorities for 2026, including moving care upstream while continuing to deliver high-end, specialized care across the system.

In this episode, Dr. Luis Garcia President, Rush Medical Group, Rush University Medical Center discusses how the organization is integrating clinical and nonclinical operations to deliver consistent, high quality care while improving efficiency and clinician support. He also shares key headwinds facing health systems, including declining reimbursement, rising costs, workforce shortages, and how innovation and partnerships will shape the future.

In this episode, Scott Jessie, Chief Nursing Officer at SUNY Upstate University Hospital, shares how his team earned Magnet redesignation, launched a high tech throughput operations center, and built a virtual nursing program that improves efficiency, quality, and staff satisfaction.

In this episode, James Burroughs, Senior Vice President of Government and Community Relations and Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at Children’s Minnesota, joins the podcast to discuss advancing equity and inclusion in pediatric care. He shares how his organization is working to improve care delivery and patient experience for children and families, strengthen community relationships, and identify opportunities for sustainable growth while keeping equity at the center of healthcare strategy.

In this episode, Tilak Mandadi, Executive Vice President of Ventures and Chief Experience and Technology Officer at CVS Health, shares how the company is investing in and building technology to simplify healthcare and drive better consumer engagement. He discusses CVS Health Ventures, interoperability, AI strategy, and the vision behind creating an open, consumer-centric platform that connects payers, providers, pharmacies, and patients.

In this episode, Dr. Tom Shanley, President and CEO of Lurie Children’s, discusses the organization’s evolution into a pediatric health system through suburban expansion, community investment, and academic research growth. He shares how Lurie Children’s is addressing access gaps, Medicaid pressures, and workforce challenges while staying anchored to its mission of improving child health and well being across Illinois.

In this episode, Seth Turnoff, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Custom Medical Marketing, shares the trends he is watching in healthcare marketing, what strategies are driving real patient growth, and where practices often get it wrong. He discusses compliant, data-driven marketing, specialty-specific insights, and why aligning marketing with operational readiness is critical for sustainable success.

In this episode, Beth Graefe of ECG Management Consultants and Dr. Andy Anderson of RWJBarnabas Health discuss how health systems can strengthen physician engagement, improve performance, and build deeper leadership pipelines through transparency, collaboration, and a more holistic approach to clinical and financial goals. 

In this episode, Sam McCrimmon, J.D., Vice President of Development at Regional One Health, joins the podcast to discuss the growing role of philanthropy in safety net hospitals, from supporting patient access to funding major capital projects. He also shares insights on 340B, AI, federal funding shifts, and Regional One’s vision for a new hospital and future academic medical center.

In this episode, Faimy Vanleeuwen, Regional Director, Quality, Baptist Health South Florida, North Region, discusses the shift toward real time, frontline driven quality and safety. She shares how standardization, psychological safety, and leader ownership are helping embed quality across hospital and outpatient settings.

In this episode, Matt Brown, President of the South Region at CommonSpirit Health, shares how the system is rethinking market strategy, service line differentiation, and ambulatory growth across multiple states. He discusses why access, consumer expectations, and focused centers of excellence are central to staying competitive today.

In this episode, Theresa McDonnell, DNP, RN, Chief Nursing Executive at Duke University Health System, discusses the workforce math problem facing healthcare and how nursing roles are evolving. She shares how team-based care, virtual nursing, and innovation units are reshaping care delivery and supporting nurse well-being.

In this episode, Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, Professor and Academic Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Drexel University School of Medicine, discusses closing gaps in maternal and child health, strengthening academic and healthcare partnerships, and addressing workforce shortages.

In this episode, Ryan Cameron, Chief Information and Innovation Officer at Children’s Nebraska, discusses how AI driven tools, digital therapeutics, and virtual care are expanding access, improving Medicaid navigation, and shaping the future of pediatric care across urban and rural communities.

In this episode, Brett Bingham, Chief Network Development Officer at Banner Plans and Networks, discusses how payers and providers are shifting toward collaboration amid cost pressures and workforce shortages. He shares where strategy is outpacing execution, why data and payment models matter for value based care, and how Banner is staying disciplined in its long term investments.

In this episode, Stephanie Everett, Administrator of Mountrail Bethel Home and Chief Executive Officer of Mountrail County Medical Center, joins the podcast to discuss building and sustaining a fully funded nursing home in a complex healthcare environment. She shares leadership lessons centered on listening to employees and acting on their concerns, the challenges of staying focused amid constant change, and the opportunities for organizational growth in the year ahead.

In this episode, Wendy Fielding, Chief Financial Officer at Dartmouth Health, joins the podcast to discuss the role of successful partnerships in driving organizational stability and growth. She shares how supporting the individual development of team members strengthens finance teams, and reflects on how the CFO role continues to evolve amid shifting financial, operational, and strategic demands in healthcare.