Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

In this episode, Hasan Shanawani, Associate Chief Medical Officer at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, joins the podcast to discuss rising healthcare costs and the growing role of AI in payer decision-making. He shares how AI can enable organizations to “say yes” more often, while maintaining trust, transparency, and quality as these tools increasingly face consumers.

In this episode, Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD, President of The University of Texas Medical Branch and CEO of UTMB Health, shares his journey from Germany to the U.S. and how being a generalist, building human connection, and acting decisively have shaped his leadership approach. He also discusses the importance of personal discipline, lifelong learning, and fostering a culture where purpose and passion drive innovation in healthcare.

In this episode, Michael Cureton, MHA, FACHE, CEO of Sutter Davis Hospital at Sutter Health, joins the podcast to discuss how foundation partnerships are supporting growth and expanding access to care. He shares insights on the expansion of the birthing center, along with Sutter Health’s high patient satisfaction and strong employee engagement across the organization.

In this episode, Dan Bowen, President, Sebastian River Hospital, Orlando Health, shares how culture, transparency, and community engagement are shaping his leadership approach in his first 90 days. He discusses strategies for physician alignment, staff retention, and building trust with both teams and the community while staying grounded in a mission of service.

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In this episode, Brendan Harris, President, UPMC for You and State Programs & Patti Jackson-Gehris, President, UPMC North Central and Williamsport markets, discuss UPMC’s strategies to improve rural healthcare access through workforce development, telehealth expansion, and innovative care models that address geographic and socioeconomic barriers.

In this episode, Edward J. Dohring, M.D., of the Spine Institute of Arizona, discusses the value of multidisciplinary collaboration, emerging innovations in spine care, and the evolving role of AI and minimally invasive approaches. He also shares insights on improving patient outcomes, balancing cost and quality, and shaping the next generation of spine leaders.

In this episode, Dr. Sterling L. Carter. DPT, MS, CSCS, CST. President & CEO. Licensed Physical Therapist and Stephen Levi Carter, MBA, PMP, CEO & Co-Founder, Sterling Staffing Solutions, share insights from their book on building and scaling healthcare businesses. They discuss entrepreneurship, acquisitions, operational excellence, and how leaders can leverage people and AI to drive sustainable growth.

In this episode, Tim Lieb, Senior Vice President of Commercial Markets at Blue Shield of California, discusses the three-year impact of Virtual Blue, including lower costs, reduced ER utilization, improved access to care, and how virtual first models are reshaping employer and individual health plans.

In this episode, Ben Johnson, Director of Behavioral Health Provider Practices and Operations at Lakeland Regional Health-Florida, discusses how to standardize operational infrastructure without compromising clinical care. He also shares insights on leveraging technology, reducing administrative burden, and improving continuity across the behavioral health continuum.

In this episode, Pranav Loyalka, MD - Cardiologist, HCA Houston Heart Medical Center, Medical Director of Structural Heart Disease, Heart Failure, Heart Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support, HCA Gulf Coast Division, discusses major advancements like transcatheter valve replacement and the evolving role of AI in cardiac care. He also shares insights on training the next generation of cardiologists, balancing specialization, and addressing gaps in access to care.

In this episode, Paul Green, Pharm.D., MHA, BCPS, CPEL, DPLA - Director of Pharmacy Services, Westchester Medical Center, discusses how pharmacy is evolving from a cost center to a key driver of clinical, operational, and financial value. He shares insights on technology integration, workforce sustainability, and building a proactive pharmacy strategy aligned with broader health system goals.

In this episode, Rob Andrews, Chief Executive Officer of the Health Transformation Alliance, joins the podcast to discuss the ongoing pressures and competition within Medicare Advantage. He shares insights on chronic care initiatives and the importance of collaboration and compromise between carriers and providers to improve outcomes and control costs.

In this episode, Meagan Weber, DPT, CEO of Scotland County Hospital, shares how a grow your own workforce strategy is helping address rural staffing shortages through early student engagement and hands on experience. She also discusses the financial and volume challenges facing rural hospitals and the importance of building sustainable pipelines to support long term community care.

In this episode, Janel Allen, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, Children’s Nebraska, shares how a people first promise and retention focused strategy have strengthened culture, reduced turnover, and improved patient experience. She also discusses workforce development, leadership evolution, and the role of AI in creating a more human centered healthcare environment.

This episode recorded live at the Becker’s 16th Annual Meeting features Warner Thomas, President And Chief Executive Officer, Sutter Health, discussing how the organization is expanding ambulatory care, strengthening leadership and talent development, investing in digital tools that reduce workforce burden, and maintaining a growth mindset to navigate ongoing healthcare change.

In collaboration with Insight Global.

In this episode, Ketul J. Patel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wellstar Health System, reflects on his leadership journey, emphasizing the power of culture, authenticity, and continuous learning. He also highlights the importance of partnerships and digital innovation to expand access to care, especially in rural communities.

This episode recorded live at the Becker’s 16th Annual Meeting features C.J. Marbley, Chief Nursing Officer, University Medical Center New Orleans; Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Operating Officer, New Orleans East Hospital, LCMC Health, discussing strategies to expand patient access, redesign care teams, invest in workforce development, and build resilience through international and contingent staffing models.

In collaboration with Insight Global.

This episode, recorded live at the Becker’s 16th Annual Meeting, features Deidre Rolli, RN, MBA, Senior Director of Clinical Partnerships & Growth, myLaurel. Here, she explores how extending acute and post-discharge care into the home can free up hospital capacity, reduce readmissions, and improve patient outcomes through a more connected care journey.

This episode is sponsored by myLaurel.

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, Jodie Hilliker, Senior Director of EHR Services at Healthrise, shares how RCM leaders can protect cash flow during EHR transitions by prioritizing operational readiness, aligning cross-functional ownership, and proactively addressing workflow and documentation gaps.

This episode is sponsored by Healthrise.

This episode recorded live at the Becker’s 16th Annual Meeting features Andrew Molosky, President and Chief Executive Officer, Chapters Health System, discussing building a purpose driven workforce, fully committing to value based care, and embracing uncertainty as a catalyst for innovation in home and community based care.

This episode recorded live at the Becker’s 16th Annual Meeting features Lucienne Ide, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, Health Recovery Solutions. Here, she explores how remote patient monitoring is evolving into a connected, longitudinal care model that supports chronic disease management across the full patient journey, with an emphasis on interoperability, simplicity, and improving outcomes in a value-based care environment. 

This episode is sponsored by Health Recovery Solutions.

This episode recorded live at the Becker’s 16th Annual Meeting features Keith Elgart, Chief Executive Officer, Concierge Choice Physicians and Timothy P. Seibert, MPH Chief Administrative Officer & Executive Director — Primary Care Initiative, Weill Cornell Medicine. They discuss how hybrid concierge programs can improve physician satisfaction, enhance patient experience, and create sustainable revenue streams while maintaining equitable access to care.

This episode is sponsored by Concierge Choice Physicians.

This episode recorded live at the Becker’s Spring 2026 Payer Issues Roundtable features Dirk Soenksen, Chief Executive Officer of Ceresti Health, discussing why dementia is a major yet underrecognized cost driver and how it reshapes population health strategy. He highlights the critical role of family caregivers, the limitations of traditional care management, and how payer-focused models can improve outcomes while reducing costs.

This episode is sponsored by Ceresti Health.

This episode recorded live at the Becker’s Spring 2026 Payer Issues Roundtable features Dirk Soenksen, Chief Executive Officer of Ceresti Health, discussing why dementia is a major yet underrecognized cost driver and how it reshapes population health strategy. He highlights the critical role of family caregivers, the limitations of traditional care management, and how payer-focused models can improve outcomes while reducing costs.

This episode is sponsored by Ceresti Health.

In this episode, Maria Ansari, MD, Co-Chief Executive Officer of The Permanente Federation and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of The Permanente Medical Group at Kaiser Permanente, joins the podcast to reflect on memorable moments throughout her career. She discusses how AI is driving new efficiencies, the ongoing challenge of rising healthcare costs, and the impact of an increasing disease burden on health systems and patient care.

In this episode, Kedar Mate, MD, co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer Qualified Health, speaks with Nabile Safdar, Chief AI Officer, Emory Healthcare and Emory University, about practical strategies for AI adoption, from building trust with clinicians to scaling deployments effectively. They explore how leadership, consistent change management, and a strong organizational culture are essential to turning AI innovation into measurable outcomes.

This episode is sponsored by Qualified Health.

In this episode, Maureen Huber, CEO of Martti, an Equiti Solution, discusses why language access must be treated as core clinical infrastructure rather than a compliance checkbox. She shares how integrated interpretation services improve patient outcomes, clinician effectiveness, and overall health system performance.

This episode is sponsored by Martti an Equiti Solution.

This episode recorded live at the Becker’s 16th Annual Meeting features Kevin Mahoney, CEO of Penn Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania & Chris Collins, CEO of ECG Management Consultants, discussing how academic health systems can scale while maintaining true integration across clinical care, research, and education. They explore governance, physician alignment, and leadership approaches that balance empathy with execution to drive systemwide performance and patient-centered care. 

This episode is sponsored by ECG Management Consultants.

In this episode, Carla P. Cangemi, MD, FAAP, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children’s, shares how the organization reimagined its palliative care program as Compassionate Care to better support children and families throughout every stage of the care journey. She discusses the multidisciplinary, holistic model, the importance of early trust-building conversations, and how family centered services improve quality of life and emotional support.

This episode recorded live at the Becker’s 16th Annual Meeting features Joe Caristi, Chief Financial Officer, Speare Memorial Hospital, discussing navigating financial challenges in rural healthcare, investing in technology and teams, and using AI to reduce workforce strain while sustaining community care.

In collaboration with Insight Global.

In this episode, Scott Becker outlines 14 insights on the evolving healthcare private equity landscape, including stronger deal flow, growth in non-provider services and specialty practices, rising AI investment, and more.

In this episode, Michael Meucci, President and Chief Executive Officer, Arcadia and Dr. Sanjay Doddamani, Founder and CEO, Guidehealth discuss how aligning data, AI, and payment models is reshaping value-based care. They explore evolving risk, cost dynamics, and how AI can scale access, improve outcomes, and support financial sustainability across healthcare systems.

This episode is sponsored by Guidehealth and Arcadia.

In this episode, Leslie D. Hirsch, FACHE, President and CEO of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, shares how a mission driven, family like culture and deep CEO engagement drive excellence in quality and patient safety. He discusses leadership accountability, clinical excellence, and how transparency, technology, and continuous improvement shape high performing care environments.

In this episode, Brandy Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, Benefitbay, discusses the rapid growth of ICHRA models and why large employers are increasingly embracing choice driven benefits. She also shares how education, broker alignment, and evolving payer strategies are shaping the future of employer sponsored healthcare.

In this episode, Sarah Matlin, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Memorial Health, joins the podcast to discuss strategic partnerships with Springfield Clinic and Florida International University to expand specialty services. She shares how leveraging the Epic platform and other technologies is helping improve efficiency, enhance care delivery, and make healthcare more affordable for patients.

In this episode, Harlon Pickett, President of Eagle Care Health Solutions, joins the podcast to discuss the impact of direct primary care models on patient outcomes and cost. He shares how designing more effective networks and leveraging data can help create a more personalized and efficient healthcare experience.

In this episode, Kemar E. Green, DO, FANA - Rare & Complex Disease Neurologist, Neuro-Ophthalmologist, Oto-Neurologist, Founder & CEO, NeuroAgent AI, Inc., HazyEyes, Inc., Affiliate Faculty, JHU Data Science & AI Institute, Former Assistant Professor of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, discusses how AI, synthetic data, and intelligent systems are transforming neurology care and addressing physician shortages. He shares his vision for continuous, personalized care models and offers advice on building impactful, future-focused careers at the intersection of medicine and technology.

In this episode,  Dr. Joseph G. Rogers, Director of The Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine, discusses groundbreaking innovations in heart failure treatment, artificial heart technology, and gene therapy. He also shares insights on leadership, the future of cardiovascular care, and the importance of prevention in improving long-term patient outcomes.

In this episode, Eric Tower, Healthcare Corporate Transactions Partner, Blank Rome LLP, shares insights on the rapid shift toward ambulatory care, emerging partnerships, and evolving payment models. He also reflects on his career journey and offers advice on adapting to change and building a thoughtful, experience driven approach to healthcare leadership.