Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

In this episode, Grant Zarzour, MD, orthopedic surgeon and Founder and CEO of Sperity Health, shares how a personal family journey inspired him to build a data driven, proactive approach to reducing cancer, cardiovascular disease, and dementia risk.

In this episode, Rob Heiser, CEO of UGen Health, and Dr. James Voos of University Hospitals discuss how wearable movement technology and standardized data are transforming recovery, improving outcomes, and reducing administrative burden. From caring for the Cleveland Browns to leading innovation in orthopedics, they explore how objective data and research-driven rigor are reshaping the future of care.

In this episode, Daniel J. Elliott, MD, MSCE, FACP, FAAP, Chief Medical Officer of Provider Experience at Centene Corporation, discusses how payers and providers can work together to address cost pressures, workforce challenges, and care coordination. He also shares perspectives on using AI, improving data sharing, and reducing friction in processes like prior authorization to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem.

In this episode, Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Chief Medical Officer for Aetna Medicaid, discusses a new collaboration with National Association of Community Health Centers to improve hypertension control in underserved communities. She shares how data, community partnerships, and addressing social drivers of health can help reduce disparities, prevent chronic disease complications, and improve outcomes for Medicaid members.

In this episode, Karen J. McConnell, PharmD, MBA, Chief Pharmacy Officer at Michigan Medicine, discusses building a unified pharmacy strategy across multiple campuses, launching a systemwide pharmacy and therapeutics committee, and expanding specialty and ambulatory pharmacy services. She also shares how pharmacy leaders are preparing for rapid industry changes, drug pricing policy shifts, and the growing pipeline of complex therapies.

Harpreet Pall, MD, MBA, CPE, Chief Medical Officer at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, discusses efforts to reduce clinical variation and strengthen multidisciplinary care coordination. He also shares leadership strategies for improving patient flow, quality, and team engagement across complex health systems.

In this episode, William Scott Hurst, MBA, FACHE, CEO and President of PPNHCo Patient Physician Network Holding Co., L.L.C., shares how his 600 provider IPA is confronting payer disparities, scaling operations, and launching a multiple employer welfare arrangement to lower costs for practices and employers. He discusses the future of independent medicine, the need for operational alignment, and why thoughtful leadership must guide AI adoption in healthcare.

In this episode, JohnRich Levine, CNO of Reeves Regional Health, shares how Reeves Regional is strengthening rural nursing through leadership visibility, cross-training, and structured onboarding. He discusses the importance of culture, operational efficiency, and flexible staffing to retain talent and provide high-quality care in a small hospital setting.

In this episode, T.Y. Alvin Liu, MD, Inaugural Director of the James P. Gills Jr. MD and Heather Gills Artificial Intelligence Innovation Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine, explores the next waves of healthcare AI from voice enabled patient access to AI centric workflows and artificial medical general intelligence. He shares how oculomics, implementation strategy, and physician education will shape the future of medicine and redefine what it means to be a doctor.

In this episode, Dr. Laura Catena, emergency physician and 4th generation vintner, discusses the evolving research on moderate alcohol consumption, cardiovascular health, and cancer risk. She shares insights on the Mediterranean diet, a major ongoing study at the University of Navarra, and how physicians can thoughtfully navigate complex lifestyle conversations with patients.

In this episode, Scott Becker highlights 8 key healthcare stories including a $900 million hospital project in Tennessee, leadership changes at TriHealth, a ratings upgrade for UCHealth, a Leapfrog grading dispute, and more.

Medication access has long been a pain point for care teams and patients alike. We’re sitting down with experts from CoverMyMeds and Ontada to discuss the launch of the Specialty Access and Affordability Solutions, an industry-first solution designed to accelerate therapy starts by embedding multiple workflows directly into EHR systems. We’ll explore how automation and AI-driven insights are helping to reduce administrative work, improve predictability and shape the future of integrated care. Plus, hear a clinical perspective on what these innovations could mean for oncology practices and patient outcomes.

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In this episode, Kate FitzPatrick, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Chief Nurse Executive at Jefferson Health, discusses integrating nursing teams across a newly expanded 33-hospital system, strengthening community partnerships, and scaling flexible workforce models. She also shares how nurse leaders can improve care transitions, support a growing number of early-career nurses, and redesign care delivery for the future workforce.

In this episode, Jay L. Robinson III, PsyD, MBA, Senior Vice President and Area Manager at Kaiser Permanente, discusses leading a 10,000 person operation serving more than half a million members in Northern California. He shares his focus on workforce culture, AI driven innovation, patient experience as an operating model, and building new care pathways that reduce hospitalizations while strengthening community health.

In this episode, Krista Nelson, CEO of Optum Health, shares her vision for strengthening value based care through a more focused care delivery model, stronger clinician support, and expanded technology capabilities. She also discusses Medicare Advantage policy stability, the role of AI in reducing administrative burden, and how partnerships across the healthcare ecosystem can improve outcomes and patient experience.

In this episode, Megan Eubanks, MBA, Senior Director of Business Operations for Perioperative and Procedural Services at The University of Kansas Health System, discusses how her team is using AI and advanced analytics to improve operating room utilization, increase surgical volume, and expand patient access to care. She also shares lessons on building resilient perioperative operations through transparency, governance, and data driven decision making.

In this episode, Laura Dyrda, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief at Becker’s Healthcare, discusses the latest hospital divestitures, strategic transactions, and emerging acquisitions shaping the healthcare landscape. She also explores what these moves signal about health system financial pressures and the growing push to expand behavioral health access.

In this episode, Sharmila Makhija, MD, MBA, founding dean and CEO of the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, shares how the school integrates clinical training, the arts, and whole health principles. She discusses strategies to address rural physician shortages, foster student well-being, and prepare the next generation of doctors for the evolving healthcare landscape.

In this episode, Jose Azar, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Quality and Clinical Service Line Officer at Hackensack Meridian Health and Professor of Medicine at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, discusses launching the Agile Institute to rapidly implement evidence based care and drive systemwide culture change. He shares how physician led collaboratives, CMS five star performance, and AI enabled access strategies are advancing quality, safety, and equitable access across the network.

In this episode, Dustin M. Riccio, MD, MBA, President and CEO of St. Joseph's Health System, shares how he is leading strategic growth, strengthening culture, and amplifying the organization's voice across Northern New Jersey. He discusses balancing rapid change with operational excellence and investing in both community care and team engagement.

In this episode, Ada Demir, Vice President of Supply Chain at Dartmouth Health, joins the podcast to discuss the growing challenge of remaining within budget in today’s healthcare environment. She shares how C-suite alignment is critical to managing supply chain costs, the importance of vendor diversification, and offers practical advice for supply chain leaders navigating ongoing financial and operational pressures.

In this episode, Scott Becker explores key healthcare trends including the rapid growth of nurses and AI use, while highlighting major challenges such as physician shortages, rising costs, hospital financial strain, and the urgent need to address supply and demand across the system.

In this episode, Dr. Narayana Murali, Chief Medical Officer of Medicine Services and Professor at Geisinger College of Health Sciences, shares how Geisinger redesigned its approach to advanced care planning, increasing engagement from 5% to nearly 50% among high risk seniors. He also discusses driving physician and APP alignment, scaling high reliability and zero harm principles, and expanding home based care to deliver compassionate, patient centered outcomes.

In this episode, Katrina Anderson, Senior Vice President of Strategic Growth at Clinician Nexus, and Jessica Wells, Principal at ECG Management Consultants, discuss how health systems can better align clinical education, technology, and workforce strategy to build a sustainable clinician pipeline. The conversation explores student placement, preceptor support, and how intentional, data driven approaches strengthen workforce planning and employer brand.

In this episode, Erin Shipley, CEN, MSN, RN, Vice President of Consumer Experience at Cooper University Health Care, joins the podcast to discuss the Cooper Experience Excellence Program and its impact on patient and team engagement. She shares how expanding access to technology and training is empowering team members, improving efficiency, and creating new opportunities for organizational growth.

In this episode, William A. Wertheim, Executive Vice President at Stony Brook Medicine, joins the podcast to discuss embedding care directly into the communities they serve, including the development of a new East Hampton emergency center. He shares how structural transformation and shared governance are helping merge clinical and academic priorities, and reflects on the importance of living out core values as a leader during times of growth and change.

In this episode, Vineet Gupta, PhD, FASN, Vice President of the Office of Innovation and Commercialization and CEO of Medical Branch Innovations at The University of Texas Medical Branch, discusses embedding innovation as a fourth pillar alongside clinical care, research, and education. He shares how strategic focus areas such as brain health, kidney health, healthy aging, and AI driven solutions are advancing commercialization, public private partnerships, and systemwide transformation.

In this episode, Jennifer L. Kowalski, Vice President of the Public Policy Institute at Elevance Health, discusses how rigorous research and data shape Medicare Advantage strategy, from supplemental benefits to dual eligible integration. She shares insights on affordability, care navigation, and how evidence based policy can strengthen value, access, and long term sustainability in the program.

In this episode, Dr. Kenneth Altman, Chair of Otolaryngology at Geisinger Health System, shares how his team is improving access to head and neck cancer care, empowering frontline providers, and building interoperable systems across a growing rural network. He also reflects on cultivating professionalism, supporting the next generation of clinicians, and investing in people to drive long term organizational growth.

In this episode, Vikram Kashyap, MD, FACS, Endowed Chair of the Frederik Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute and Vice President of Cardiovascular Health at Corewell Health, discusses reducing mortality through systemwide collaboration, navigating anesthesia workforce transitions, expanding into heart and lung integration, and building a unified cardiovascular strategy across the state.

In this episode, Ericka Powell, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs at WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital within WellSpan Health, discusses reducing length of stay variation, strengthening physician engagement, and using data driven care pathways to improve quality, workforce stability, and value based performance.

In this episode, Dawn Maroney, President of Alignment Health and CEO of Alignment Health Plan, joins the podcast to discuss how payer–provider relationships are evolving amid cost pressures and workforce shortages. She explores common gaps between strategy and execution, the importance of disciplined operational follow-through, and why healthy competition remains essential to driving innovation, value, and improved outcomes across the healthcare landscape.

In this episode, Christopher Burks, Vice President of Laboratory and Support Services at Brown University Health, discusses integrating newly acquired hospitals, aligning revenue and operations, and building the laboratory bandwidth needed to support ambulatory growth and long term system expansion.

In this episode, Deirdre Salanger, Chief Operating Officer of Strong Memorial Hospital at University of Rochester Medical Center, discusses returning from maternity leave into a new leadership role, strengthening workforce engagement, and balancing access and capacity amid financial pressures. She shares how digital tools, disciplined investment, and academic partnership are positioning the organization for long term growth and innovation.

In this episode, Dr. Bill Cooper, Senior Vice President for Professionalism and Clinical Excellence at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Pediatrics and Health Policy at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, shares how structured feedback, credo based evaluations, and peer led cup of coffee conversations strengthen culture and patient safety. He explains how timely, respectful interventions improve clinician behavior, engagement, and overall care delivery.

In this episode, Clair Kuriakose, Vice President and Chief Advanced Practice Officer at Stanford Health Care, shares how intentional team based care drove a 17 percent rise in ambulatory APP visits, outlines efforts to ease capacity strain through Stanford Health Care at Home, and discusses building strong governance to responsibly scale AI and advanced practice innovation.

In this episode, Alen Brcic, Chief Human Resources Officer at Methodist Health System, shares how a focus on engagement, retention, and culture has driven top percentile performance in turnover and employee engagement. He discusses leveraging AI in talent strategy, strengthening leadership accountability, and upskilling the workforce to elevate patient experience and prepare for the next century of care.

In this episode, Dr. Janice Walker, DHA, RN, inaugural Chief Nursing Officer of UF Health, discusses building an integrated nursing strategy, driving quality outcomes, and creating a culture of shared governance. She shares insights on recruitment, retention, and developing talent pipelines to strengthen workforce stability across the system.

In this episode, Jakob Emerson, Associate News Director at Becker's Healthcare, breaks down the latest Medicare Advantage enrollment trends, including slowing overall growth, major gains for regional and system owned plans, and mounting federal scrutiny of large insurers. He explores what CMS actions, risk adjustment settlements, and market exits mean for payers, providers, and the future of the program.

In this episode, Dr. Amy Compton-Phillips, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at CVS Health, discusses how her experience at Kaiser Permanente and Providence shaped her mission to simplify care delivery. She shares how CVS is leveraging its national footprint to improve access, navigation, and cost transparency while reducing payer provider friction and rebuilding trust across the healthcare ecosystem.