Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Ria Paul, Clinical Associate Professor, Stanford University School of Medicine; Chief Medical Officer, Santa Clara Family Health Plan discusses how the organization has strengthened Medicaid and Medicare Advantage quality scores through closer collaboration with providers, targeted incentives, and better data flow. She also shares priorities for 2026, including regulatory readiness, member retention, and using AI to enhance engagement and care coordination.

In this episode, Alan H. Daniels, MD, Professor of Orthopaedics and Chief of Spine Surgery at The Miriam Hospital and Rhode Island Hospital, discusses balancing private practice autonomy with academic medicine, navigating reimbursement pressures, and growing complex spine programs. He also shares insights on innovations in spinal deformity care, including data driven decision making, specialized teams, and alignment focused technologies.

In this episode, Rob Hitchcock, President and Chief Executive Officer of Select Health, discusses how payer provider collaboration, cultural change, and proactive care models are reshaping health plan strategy amid rising cost pressures. He shares perspectives on regulatory headwinds, Medicaid and Medicare reform, and more.

In this episode, Faraz Edalatpajouh, DDS, CEO of Clark St. Dental Partners, shares how his organization is adapting to rising costs, regulatory changes in California, and shifting payer mixes while continuing to grow. He also discusses the role of AI in dentistry, DSO challenges in a high interest rate environment, and the leadership skills needed for long term success.

In this episode, Hasan B. Alam, Surgeon-in-Chief at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Chair of the Department of Surgery at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, joins the podcast to discuss building a strong workplace culture, securing partnerships and funding without compromising research quality, and improving the discharge process to enhance patient outcomes and operational flow.

In this episode, Molly Moran, Associate Vice President of Ambulatory Nursing at Rush University Medical Center, joins the podcast to discuss the destabilization of insurance coverage and affordability, the growing role of nurse-led telephone triage, and how health systems can better meet patient needs across the ambulatory setting. She also shares insights on intentional leadership and what it takes to support nurses while delivering accessible, patient-centered care.

In this episode, Sahil Sheth, PharmD, BCCCP, Senior Director of Pharmacy Services at Luminis Health, discusses restructuring pharmacy leadership, expanding ambulatory and clinical pharmacy services, and strengthening operations across the system.

In this episode, Dr. Morgan Lorio shares why declining reimbursement, policy driven efficiency measures, and consolidation are reshaping spine surgery and threatening physician autonomy. He discusses his analysis The Price of Silence, the impact on surgeons and patients, and what meaningful reform must address next.

In this episode, Andrew B. Wallach, Ambulatory Care Chief at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and Ambulatory Care Chief Medical Officer for NYC Health + Hospitals, joins the podcast to discuss how health systems can better support and sustain the workforce. He shares lessons learned from the pandemic, the role of internal float pools in managing patient surges, and strategies for building resilience and preparedness across ambulatory care teams.

In this episode, Dr. Kelly Sandberg, Chief Medical Quality Officer and Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Dayton Children’s, and Dr. Katherine Winner, Division Chief of Psychiatry at Dayton Children’s, discuss the quality improvement initiatives driving lower mental health readmissions. They share how individualized programming, follow up calls, standardized processes, and collaboration are strengthening care across inpatient and crisis settings.

In this episode, John Pastor, PharmD, President of Fairview Pharmacy Services, discusses the system’s major shared services expansion, investments in advanced pharmacy technology, and efforts to improve patient access amid widespread pharmacy closures. He also shares how Fairview is planning for growth while navigating workforce, supply chain, and policy headwinds.

In this episode, Joe Caristi, CFO of Speare Memorial Hospital, discusses strategies for sustaining and growing an independent critical access hospital amid reimbursement pressure, workforce constraints, and rising costs. He also shares insights on process improvement, AI adoption, and the importance of systems thinking and relationships in healthcare leadership.

In this episode, Vimal Ramjee, MD, FACHE, Physician Executive, CommonSpirit Health, Division Board President-Elect, American Heart Association, discusses delivering high quality cardiovascular care at scale, advancing clinically led efficiency, and using responsible innovation including AI enabled imaging to improve outcomes while sustaining access in high need communities.

In this episode, Jordan Frey, MD, Founder of the Prudent Plastic Surgeon, shares his journey from burnout and six figure debt to financial stability through intentional spending, disciplined saving, and simple investing. He discusses how financial well being can improve physician resilience, career satisfaction, and long term freedom.

In this episode, Nick Olson, Executive Vice President and CFO of Sanford Health, shares how the integrated nonprofit system is advancing value based care, investing in rural health transformation, and pursuing smart growth through integration and partnerships. He discusses balancing financial stewardship with long term sustainability while expanding access and affordability across rural communities.

In this episode, recorded live at the Becker’s 13th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, Michael Mutterer discusses leading growth in an increasingly competitive healthcare landscape and the strategies Silver Cross Hospital is using to elevate patient satisfaction. He also highlights how technology is helping strengthen payment and revenue cycle performance, creating a more sustainable and efficient operational model.

In collaboration with R1.

Health systems continue to wrestle with fragmented procurement and distribution models across non-acute sites. In this episode, we explore how leaders can shift from siloed operations to integrated logistics by using forecasting and analytics to reduce variation, strengthen supply reliability and cut waste across the enterprise.

This episode is sponsored by McKesson Medical-Surgical.

In this episode, Michael Stern, President and CEO of Tower Health, reflects on lessons from the system’s operational and cultural turnaround and why tighter leadership alignment has been critical to restoring stability. He also shares his perspective on partnerships, consolidation, and preparing Tower Health for long term sustainability in a challenging healthcare environment.

In this episode, Dr. Sachin Jain, President and CEO of SCAN Group, discusses his Forbes op-ed outlining 10 leadership resolutions and argues that healthcare’s biggest challenge is a lack of resolve, not innovation. He shares why speaking plainly, rejecting performative change, and focusing on real patient impact are essential to rebuilding trust in the industry.

In this episode, Monica N. Wharton, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, joins the podcast to discuss the organization’s Path Forward initiative and Vision 2030 strategy. She shares how Methodist Le Bonheur is prioritizing growth and access, aligning operations around long-term goals, and launching new initiatives to meet the needs of patients and communities in the year ahead.

In this episode, recorded live at the Becker’s 13th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable Michael Charlton discusses the importance of serving underserved communities while supporting caregiver satisfaction. He shares how AtlantiCare is investing in technology across both the payer and provider landscape, and how these advancements are shaping the future workforce. He also explores the evolving role of AI and its potential impact on staffing and care delivery.

In collaboration with R1.

In this episode, Patrick R. Young, President of Population Health at Hackensack Meridian Health, shares how population health has evolved over the past decade through strong payer contracts, home based care, social determinants initiatives, and disciplined focus on fundamentals.

In this episode, Anna Flattau, Alumni Professor and Chair of Family and Community Medicine and Enterprise Chief of Primary Care Services at Jefferson Health, joins the podcast to discuss the evolution of virtual primary care, expanding telehealth to better connect people to care, and how changes to Medicaid are shaping access and delivery across primary care services.

In this episode, recorded live at the Becker’s 13th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, Dr. Mike Guertin discusses how AI is creating new opportunities to advance patient care, particularly in perioperative settings. He highlights how emerging technologies are improving surgical efficiency by streamlining information gathering, reporting, and clinical decision support.

In collaboration with R1.

In this episode, Erin Henderson Moore, President and CEO of Fidelis Care of New Jersey, shares how the plan is navigating Medicaid uncertainty through integration, member engagement, and upstream investment in behavioral health, housing, and LTSS. She discusses why data sharing, outcome based accountability, and enabling people to age at home will shape the next decade of government sponsored care.

In this episode, Andy Mueller, MD, Chief Executive Officer of MaineHealth, shares how the system is rethinking primary care through capitated models, improving access and affordability, and guiding care teams through change while balancing growth, quality, and financial sustainability.

This episode, recorded live at the Becker’s 13th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, features Dr. Shondra Williams, President & Chief Executive Officer at InclusivCare, as she shares how her organization is navigating Medicaid uncertainty, financial pressure, and patient access challenges. Dr. Williams also discusses leadership, culture, and the role of technology and AI in strengthening community health centers heading into 2026.

In collaboration with R1.

In this episode, Jakob Emerson, Associate News Director at Becker’s Healthcare, joins Scott Becker to break down a brutal week for payers, marked by plunging stocks, Medicare Advantage rate pressure, and intense congressional scrutiny.

In this episode, Scott Becker breaks down UnitedHealthcare’s sharp stock drop, strong recent earnings, and troubling signals including projected revenue decline, rising medical loss ratios, and shrinking Medicare and Medicaid enrollment.

As technology continues to redefine healthcare delivery, the role of the CMIO is expanding beyond data and systems, and into the heart of change management. From overseeing new rollouts and system upgrades to preparing clinicians for continual transformation, CMIOs and their teams are now tasked with orchestrating how organizations learn, adapt, and thrive in a digital-first environment. Increasingly, success depends not just on implementation, but on how well clinicians are supported before, during, and long after technology goes live.

In this episode, Dr. Bryan Jarabek, Chief Medical Information Officer at M Health Fairview, joins...

In this episode, Linda Hines, Virginia’s Medicaid Market President at Humana, shares how school based partnerships are improving access to youth behavioral health services, especially in rural communities. She discusses workforce development, measurable outcomes, and why listening to families, providers, and youth is critical to long term success.

In this episode, Timothy Seay-Morrison, Senior Vice President of Service Lines and Chief of Ambulatory Care Operations at Stanford Health Care, joins the podcast to discuss expanding care delivery and identifying new growth opportunities across ambulatory services. He shares insights on building physician workforce resilience, navigating system-wide scale, and where healthcare organizations should focus in 2026 to drive sustainable, patient-centered growth.

In this episode, K. Nadeem Ahmed, MD, FACHDM, Chief Medical Information Officer at The Valley Health System, joins the podcast to discuss modernizing clinical technology governance and the importance of safely adopting AI in healthcare. He shares insights on balancing innovation with responsibility, addressing clinician burnout, and building systems that support both providers and patients as digital transformation accelerates.

In this episode, Alan Condon, Editor in Chief at Becker’s Healthcare, joins Scott Becker to discuss major health system earnings, including HCA’s strong financial performance, along with ongoing divestitures and turnaround strategies at Community Health Systems, CommonSpirit, Providence, and other large systems.

In this episode, Susan Moffatt-Bruce, MD, PhD, MBA, President of Lahey Hospital and Medical Center and Professor of Surgery at UMass Chan Lahey Regional Medical School Campus, Beth Israel Lahey Health, shares how her organization expanded access into new communities, advanced AI driven care, and prepared for workforce and innovation challenges ahead.

In this episode, Steve Sutherland, Senior Vice President of Information Systems at CERIS, shares how AI and machine learning are reshaping payment integrity across the full claims lifecycle. He discusses the shift toward prepayment solutions, the importance of governance and data quality, and how leaders can balance automation with accuracy, fairness, and trust.

This episode is sponsored by CERIS.

In this episode, Paula Ferrada, Chair of Surgery at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, joins the podcast to discuss advancing operating room safety metrics, balancing fee-for-service with value-based care models, and strategies driving organizational growth while maintaining high-quality surgical outcomes.

In this episode, Elizabeth Saylor, Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Heart Vein Vascular, joins the podcast to discuss key areas of growth heading into the new year. She shares how her organization is strengthening service lines while keeping care affordable, expanding ambulatory service centers, and reducing wait times to improve access and the overall patient experience.

In this episode, Emily C. Jakacki, President of Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, discusses leading a smooth leadership transition, maintaining top decile quality scores, and focusing on patient safety, equity, and efficiency. She also shares priorities for 2026, including managing emergency department throughput, leveraging data for informed decision making, and expanding ambulatory, diagnostic, and surgical services to meet community needs.

In this episode, Scott Becker highlights 10 key healthcare stories, including oncology’s foundations, hospital responses to winter storms, major system divestitures, rural hospital funding, staffing ratios, and more.