Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

In this episode, Stephanie Everett, Administrator, CEO, Foundation Director, and PR and Marketing Director at Mountrail Bethel Home, Mountrail County Medical Center, and Mountrail County Health Foundation, joins the podcast to discuss the importance of remaining balanced while leading across multiple areas of healthcare. She also reflects on the handling of COVID-19, the ongoing need for greater attention and support for nursing homes, and the challenges facing long-term care.

In this episode, Chirag Choudhary, MD, MBA, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Cleveland Clinic Martin Health, and Marc Babi, MD, MBA, FNCS, Professor of Neurology at Cleveland Clinic and Case Western University, Florida Region, and Center Director for Neurocritical Care, Neurohospitalist, Stroke, and Neuro-Intervention, join the podcast to discuss improving access to care for stroke patients and the best practices and quality metrics that support high-quality stroke care. They also share insights on putting patients and caregivers first while maintaining a strong focus on patient safety.

In this episode, Robert Rose, DNP, System Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President of Nursing at Ascension, joins the podcast to discuss strategies for improving nurse retention and building a stronger nursing workforce. He also shares insights on developing nurses and strengthening leadership capabilities to support both individual growth and the future of nursing.

In this episode, Fiona Fang, CEO of Aetna Better Health of Florida, discusses Medicaid challenges, maternal and infant health, whole person care and efforts to help members maintain coverage. She also shares how data, community partnerships and targeted outreach can improve outcomes.

In this episode, Dr. Lee Kojanis of Premier Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery in New Jersey joins the podcast to discuss the impact of private equity on oral and maxillofacial surgery practices and how changes in the practice environment are shaping the delivery of care. He also shares insights on patient-specific surgery and the use of digital treatment planning to develop more individualized approaches to surgical care.

In this episode, Terry McDonnell, DNP, RN, ACNP-BC, Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive at Duke University Health System and Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs at Duke University School of Nursing, joins the podcast to discuss the growing clinical skills gap and the importance of preparing nurses with the skills and confidence needed to succeed at the bedside. She also shares insights on introducing specialized training earlier in education and addressing high turnover rates among bedside nurses.

In this episode, Aqib Zehri, MD, Neurosurgeon practicing in Portland, Ore, discusses the importance of long term outcomes in spine surgery, using patient reported data to evaluate success, and how standardization and technology can improve sustainable spine care.

In this episode, Meredith Duncan, president and CEO of Texicare, discusses expanding access to affordable health coverage for small businesses, virtual care, provider network growth and the importance of building strong local relationships with providers and brokers.

In this episode, Jill Mabry, Vice President of Patient Experience, Novant Health, discusses how investing in team member engagement, recognition, culture, and patient feedback can strengthen patient experience and drive meaningful improvements across a growing health system. She also shares how Novant Health’s SPARK program brings these strategies to life.

This episode recorded live at the Becker's 11th Annual Health IT + Digital Health + RCM Conference features Cheng-Kai Kao, MD, FACP, SFHM, Chief Medical Information Officer, UChicago Medicine, who discusses using AI to turn complex patient data into actionable insights, improve care transitions, streamline AI adoption, and close gaps in care coordination.

In collaboration with Philips.

In this episode, Dr. Anthony Hilliard, President of Loma Linda University Health and CEO of Loma Linda University Health, Hospitals, shares lessons from his healthcare journey, the resilience he developed through sports and serious injuries, and his approach to leading with vulnerability, reflection and purpose. He also discusses his transition from interventional cardiology to health system leadership and his focus on strengthening the patient and caregiver relationship across the organization.

In this episode, Alan Condon, Editor-in-Chief at Becker's Healthcare, discusses improving financial performance among major health systems, growth strategies amid reimbursement pressures, and the latest wave of hospital M&A and market consolidation.

In this episode, Laura Dyrda, Vice President, Editor-in-Chief, Becker's Healthcare, discusses health system restructuring, the shift toward strategic partnerships, and how leaders are rethinking what they should own, outsource, or build in-house.

This episode recorded live at the Becker's 11th Annual Health IT + Digital Health + RCM Conference features Nari Gopala, Chief Digital Officer, Mayo Clinic, who discusses using AI and remote monitoring to separate meaningful clinical signals from noise, improve care coordination and preserve context across patient journeys.

In collaboration with Philips.

In this episode, Dr. Ryan J. Gates, Senior Vice President and Executive Dean, Western Governors University Leavitt School of Health, discusses using rural health funding to build sustainable local workforce pipelines, expand flexible education pathways, and address shortages in nursing, pharmacy and allied health. 

This episode is sponsored by Western Governors University.

In this episode, Shea Swick, Lead Pharmacist, RxCare Charitable Pharmacy, OhioHealth Riverside Community Medicine, discusses how pharmacist-led remote blood pressure monitoring is improving hypertension control through medication management, patient education and personalized outreach. She also shares the program’s clinical and financial results, barriers to patient engagement and plans to expand remote monitoring across OhioHealth. 

This episode is sponsored by American Heart Association.

In this episode, Sean Bitts, CRNA and Vice President of Clinical Affairs at CCI Anesthesia, and Alex Gorecki, President of CCI Anesthesia, explore why a singular focus on anesthesia can make a meaningful difference for clinicians, patients, and hospital operations. Moderated by Doug Simpler, the conversation examines how specialized leadership can strengthen clinician retention and autonomy, improve OR efficiency and patient outcomes, and create a more collaborative partnership between anesthesia teams and health system leaders.

This episode is sponsored by CCI Anesthesia. 

In this episode, Scott Becker highlights physician shortages, health system CEO turnover, healthcare job growth, rising hospital costs, physician non-compete disputes, and the growing focus on cost-conscious surgical care.

In this episode, Schneck Medical Center Vice President and Chief Information Officer Craig Rice discusses the importance of interoperability for independent hospitals, the challenges of data exchange across health systems, and how MEDITECH’s Traverse Exchange is helping advance connected care.

This episode is sponsored by MEDITECH.

In this episode, Matthew Ewend, MD, President, UNC Physicians; Chief Clinical Officer, UNC Health, discusses how AI-powered ambient scribing and chart summarization are reducing administrative burden, strengthening clinician and patient engagement, and reshaping medical education. 

In this episode, Garrick Stoldt, CPA, FHFMA, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, joins the podcast to discuss opportunities for growth and the leadership qualities needed to guide healthcare organizations through a changing financial environment. He also shares insights on the impact of 340B restrictions and how evolving program requirements can affect health system strategy and financial planning.

In this episode, Mark Smith, CMO, MSU Health Care, discusses operational transformation, Epic implementation, physician engagement and expanding primary care while advancing value based care. He also shares leadership lessons on culture, technology and keeping patients and caregivers at the center of change.

This episode recorded live at the Becker's 11th Annual Health IT + Digital Health + RCM Conference features Stephen Williams, MD, MBA, MS, FACS, Associate CMO, UTMB Clear Lake, UTMB Health System, who discusses using AI and patient data to create a more connected care continuum, reduce fragmentation across settings, and strengthen clinical communication.

In collaboration with Philips.

In this episode, Steve Mason, President, MedHQ, and Zachary Phillips, Vice President of Advisory Services, MedHQ, discuss the growing staffing, cost, and coverage pressures facing anesthesia organizations and how data, flexible coverage models, and proactive planning can support more sustainable operations.

This episode is sponsored by MedHQ.

In Part 2 of this two-part episode, Mark Clement, the former president and CEO of TriHealth, discusses the healthcare bets that have paid off, the shift toward proactive and value-based care and the need to rebuild trust in healthcare. He also shares why listening and authentic communication are among the most underrated leadership traits.

In this episode, Chris Allen, CFO, UChicago Medicine, discusses his priorities for strengthening financial operations, supporting system growth, modernizing revenue cycle processes, and developing responsible AI governance while building a resilient finance team.

Learn more about relentlessly raising RCM yield here: https://med-metrix.com/?utm_source=beckers&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=brand

In this episode, Victor Zamora, Executive Vice President of Customer Care, Med-Metrix, discusses how accurate patient intake, technology integration, real-time eligibility, and clear ownership can improve revenue realization, reduce downstream rework, and strengthen the patient experience. 

This episode is sponsored by Med-Metrix.

In this episode, Patrick Velliky, Chief External Affairs Officer, HaloMD, discusses new research on the No Surprises Act, emergency medicine reimbursement, and the impact of the IDR process on healthcare spending. He examines pre and post NSA payment trends, utilization assumptions, and what the findings could mean for policymakers and providers. 

This episode is sponsored by HaloMD.

In this episode, Aaron Chang, FACHE, President, East Region, Jefferson Health, discusses balancing regional and system-level leadership, creating greater integration without unnecessary bureaucracy, and standardizing operations while preserving local flexibility. He also shares lessons from Jefferson’s perioperative services integration work and the importance of influence, trust and shared ownership in complex health systems.

In this episode, Amy Hart, CEO of Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Minnesota, joins the podcast to discuss the importance of staying healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally while leading in healthcare. She also shares insights on taking risks, stepping outside of your comfort zone, and embracing opportunities that can shape both personal and professional growth.

In this episode, Katherine Yale, DDS, of PDS Health, joins the podcast to discuss developing diagnostic confidence and the role effective mentorship can play in helping dental professionals grow. She also shares insights on improving performance and retention by supporting clinicians throughout their professional development.

In this episode, Ankit Rohatgi, MD, MBA, FACP, CPE, Vice President of Physician Advisory and Utilization Management at University of Cincinnati Health, joins the podcast to discuss simplifying workflows and reducing friction for staff across healthcare operations. He also shares insights on changes in Medicaid, aligning care models with those shifts, and identifying opportunities for growth while improving how teams work together.

In this episode, Chris Johnson, Founder and CEO of Bluebird Kids Health, joins the podcast to discuss managing the health of a broader patient population and expanding access to pediatric care. He also shares insights on democratizing access to care and building a strong reputation within the community to better serve children and families.

In this episode, Jeremy Cauwels, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Sanford Health, joins the podcast to discuss how Sanford is using AI and virtual care to expand access across rural communities, including bringing specialty expertise closer to patients who face significant geographic barriers to care. He also shares insights on strengthening the rural physician workforce through graduate medical education, preparing clinicians to use emerging technologies while maintaining clinical judgment and trust, and leading change with a continued focus on safety, quality, and the patient experience.

In this episode, Leonardo Marchini, DDS, MSD, PhD, Professor and DEO of the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, and Brendan Young, PhD, MBA, Associate Professor of Preventive and Community Dentistry, The University of Iowa, discuss their article "Beyond Hand Skills: A Case Analysis of Empathy and Critical Thinking Instruction", published in the Journal of the California Dental Association’s Blue Sky Thinking Collection. They explore behavioral science, patient-centered communication, self-reflection and innovative tools designed to prepare dental students for more thoughtful patient care.

In this episode, Karen Ignagni, CEO, EmblemHealth, discusses the evolving Medicaid landscape, healthcare affordability, interoperability, and how health plans can use technology, AI, care management, and value-based care to better support members. She also shares insights on her return to the CEO role and EmblemHealth's ongoing transformation.

In Part 1 of this two-part episode, Mark Clement, the former President and CEO of TriHealth, reflects on his decision to retire, the importance of succession planning and the leadership lessons he has learned from decades of marathon running. He also shares how staying active, rounding with frontline teams and finding inspiration in others have shaped his leadership approach.

In this episode, Scott Becker examines Medicare Advantage exits, physician cognitive testing, AI's impact on healthcare leadership, rising physician compensation, and the need to rethink the physician training pathway. 

In this episode, Jake Ghannam, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Insightec, discusses how MR-guided focused ultrasound can expand access to neuroscience care, the strategic case for health systems, and how to build a successful program.

This episode is sponsored by Insightec.

Statistics and data referenced in this episode can be found at the following sources:

1.  Information and stats in this podcast were sourced from the following:Ney JP, Steinmetz JD, Anderson-Benge E, et al. US Burden of Disorders Affecting the Nervous System: Fr...

In this episode, Kathy Donovan, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Hospital Systems Health System, joins the podcast to discuss developing a long-range capital plan and aligning investments with the health system’s broader growth strategy. She also shares insights on managing growth across the organization and planning for the resources needed to support continued expansion.