Health Care Rounds

We’re ringing in 2026 with Mark Cuban!  

Prescription pricing remains one of the most opaque and frustrating parts of the health care system, leaving employers, providers, and patients struggling to understand where costs come from and who truly benefits.  

Mark Cuban joins Health Care Rounds to talk about why prescription pricing became so complex, how a lack of transparency drives higher costs, and how his company Cost Plus Drugs is stripping away unnecessary layers and markups to deliver simpler, more predictable pricing built on trust.

================================================ 

🎙 ABOUT MARK CUBAN
Mark Cuban is...

Health systems are facing unprecedented pressure as physician burnout, workforce shortages, population growth, and rapid technology adoption collide. Leaders are being asked to improve care quality, support clinicians, and transform delivery models all at once.

Dr. Sowmya Viswanathan, Chief Physician Executive at BayCare Health System, joins Health Care Rounds podcast to discuss physician engagement and burnout, BayCare’s shift toward academic medicine, how technology and AI can restore joy in practice, and why flexible physician alignment models are critical for the future of care.

================================================ 

🎙 ABOUT THE DR. SOWMYA VISWANATHAN
Dr. Sowmya Viswan...

Primary care sits at the center of American health care, yet clinicians face mounting burnout, shrinking margins, and a system that often rewards procedures over prevention. With physician shortages growing and patient needs rising, the future of primary care is at a crossroads. 

Dr. Greg Whisman, Chief Medical Officer at CareMore Health, joins Health Care Rounds to discuss the pressures driving the primary care crisis, why reimbursement and workforce models need a reset, and how team-based care, tech enablement, and value-based strategies can restore sustainability and meaning to frontline medicine.

================================================ 

🎙 ABOUT DR. GREG...

Behind every headline about rising premiums is a deeper truth: our health care system is structurally unsustainable. 

In this episode of Health Care Rounds Podcast, former US Secretary of Veteran Affairs, Dr. David Shulkin, explains why real reform requires more than subsidies and payment tweaks. We cover everything from misaligned incentives to lessons from the VA’s population-based model and what it’ll take to actually fix U.S. health care.

================================================ 

🎙 ABOUT THE DR. DAVID SHULKIN 

The Honorable David J. Shulkin was nominated by President Trump to serve as the ninth Secretary...

Specialty pharmacy plays a critical role in patient outcomes, but health systems often struggle to manage operations effectively while maintaining continuity of care. 

In this episode of Health Care Rounds, host John Marchica talks with Jigar Thakkar, PharmD, CEO of Longitude Rx, about how his company is helping leading health systems reimagine specialty pharmacy through technology, data integration, and partnership.

================================================ 

🎙 ABOUT JIGAR THAKKAR, PHARMD
Jigar is leading Longitude Rx, the first launched solution from Longitude Health. Previously, he built a $470 million specialty pharmacy at OU Health, served as Managing Director at FTI Consul...

Across the country, health systems are chasing the promise of value-based care, but few have figured out how to make it work. 

David Carmouche, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Transformation Officer at Lumeris, joins host John Marchica to discuss what it really takes to make value-based care work at scale. 

================================================ 

🎙 ABOUT DAVID CARMOUCHE
David Carmouche, MD, is the Executive Vice President & Chief Clinical Transformation Officer at Lumeris. Dr. Carmouche is a visionary leader in transformational healthcare delivery, with a unique blend of provider, payer, retail, and integrated delivery network leadership experi...

Burnout among health care workers remains a critical issue years after the height of COVID-19. 

In this episode of Health Care Rounds, Dr. Adele Webb, Executive Dean of Healthcare Initiatives at Strategic Education, Inc. shares insights from a national survey of health care workers, revealing what’s really driving nursing burnout and how education can help retain talent.

================================================ 

🎙 ABOUT DR. ADELE WEBB 
Adele Webb earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Akron, her Master’s in Nursing from The Ohio State University, and her Ph.D. in Nursing fr...

What does it take to lead 100,000 health care workers through constant disruption? 

In this episode of Health Care Rounds, host John Marchica sits down with John D’Angelo, MD, FACEP, President & CEO of Northwell Health, to discuss his journey from physician to chief executive. Dr. D'Angelo shares critical lessons learned from managing COVID-19 surges, his vision for maintaining organizational culture across 100,000 employees, and where he sees the greatest opportunities in healthcare delivery.

 ================================================ 

🎙 ABOUT JOHN D’ANGELO, MD, FACEP 
A physician first and foremost, Dr. John D’Angelo leads with compassion. With over 25 years of prac...

Insurance denials are exploding, and they’re costing lives.

In this episode of Health Care Rounds, host John Marchica sits down with Neal Shah, CEO of CareYaya and Counterforce Health, to unpack the broken insurance system and the AI-driven surge in claim rejections. Neal shares how his personal caregiving experiences shaped his mission, why most patients never appeal, and how new tools can help level the playing field for families, physicians, and hospitals.

================================================

🎙 ABOUT NEAL SHAH

America's Chief Elder Officer. CEO of CareYaya Health Te...

Why do people trust Google and TikTok more than their doctors?

Dr. Geeta Nayyar, MD, MBA, the author of Dead Wrong: Diagnosing and Treating Healthcare's Misinformation Illness, joins the show to break down how misinformation spreads, why patient trust continues to decline, and what health leaders must do to lead the cure. 

 ================================================ 
 

🎙 ABOUT DR. GEETA NAYYAR 
Geeta Nayyar, MD, MBA, is a globally recognized chief medical officer, technologist, and bestselling author who helps leaders leverage a human approach to innovation, including rapid advances in AI, to achieve better health and business outcomes...

Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) play a pivotal role in drug pricing, yet their practices often remain shrouded in a black box of rebates, spread pricing, and misaligned incentives. In this installment of our Pharma Series, Alan Pannier, Senior Vice President of Product Strategy at SmithRx, breaks down how legacy PBMs use opaque contracts and vertical integration to drive up costs, why employers are beginning to push back, and how transparent, cost-based models are reshaping the future of pharmacy benefits.

🎙 ABOUT ALAN PANNIER 
Alan Pannier, Pharm D,MBA has extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with a back...

Specialty pharmacy is big business. And while PBMs and big pharma dominate the spotlight, health systems are quietly carving out their own advantage. 

In this episode of Health Care Rounds, host, John Marchica, sits down with Tim Affeldt, PharmD, Vice President, Specialty/Infusion Operations, Fairview Pharmacy Services, to unpack why health systems don’t just belong in specialty pharmacy - they may be unqiuely positioned to lead it. 

From tighter care integration and faster clinical decisions to improved outcomes and patient experience, Dr. Affeldt lays out a clear case: when pharmacists are embedded in the care...

What happens when state health policymakers lose access to the very data they rely on?

In this episode of Health Care Rounds, John Marchica talks with David C. Radley, Ph.D., M.P.H., Director of Data and Analytics at The Center for Evidence-Based Policy and Senior Scientist at the Commonwealth Fund. They explore how states use administrative data to make informed Medicaid decisions, and why recent threats to public data infrastructure could undermine that progress.

Dr. Radley breaks down how his team turns raw data into actionable insights, how states are planning for the...

Value-based care isn’t a new idea—but making it work in today’s fragmented system is anything but simple. In this episode of Health Care Rounds, John Marchica talks with Dr. Tom Yackel, Chief Clinical Excellence Officer at CenterWell Senior Primary Care, about what it really takes to deliver high-quality, cost-effective care to Medicare patients.

Dr. Yackel shares insights from his decades-long career in primary care, informatics, and practice leadership, explaining how CenterWell is scaling value-based care models in communities that need it most. From the business realities of Medicare Advantage to why primary care must be run...

Value-based care is more than just a buzzword - it’s a fundamental shift in how we measure success in health care. In this episode of Health Care Rounds, John Marchica sits down with Dr. Trafford Crump, Associate Professor at McGill University, to discuss how patient-reported outcomes (PROs) can help us better understand the value of care from the patient’s perspective. Trafford explains where PROs fit into clinical trials, delivery systems, and the broader goals of value-based care and why measuring what actually matters to patients is harder (and more important) than it looks. 
 

🎙ABOUT DR. TRAFF...

In another installment of our Pharma Series,  we're joined by Dr. Tyson Frodin, Assistant Vice President of Pharmacy at MultiCare, to explore the evolving role of pharmacy in health care. Tyson shares insights from his diverse career path - from his early experience in telehealth on a Navajo reservation, to leading pharmacy initiatives at a top health system in the Pacific Northwest. They dive into the challenges of critical access hospitals, the importance of innovation in pharmacy, and how MultiCare is leveraging technology to improve patient care.

🎙 ABOUT DR. TYSON FRODIN

Dr. Tyson Frodin is a re...

In this episode of Health Care Rounds, Host John Marchica sits down with Jason Bryll, Principal at Parable Associates, to unpack why health care organizations struggle with managing financial and patient data. They discuss the challenges of revenue cycle management, the headache of disconnected systems, and how better data practices can lead to better care. Jason also breaks down where AI and automation can help - and where they fall short.

🎙 ABOUT JASON BRYLL
Jason has specialized in the health care industry for over a decade with his core focus on Revenue Cycle performance improvement, Information Sys...

In another installment of our Pharma Series, we sit down with Jon Brown, MHA, DPLA, Director of Pharmacy-System Operations and Logistics at IU Health, to explore how his team is transforming pharmacy services. From launching one of the most advanced centralized pharmacy facilities in the country to navigating drug shortages and cutting costs, Jon shares how IU Health is rethinking the role of pharmacy in patient care.

We discuss:

✅ The shift from pharmacy as a cost center to a value driver

✅ How centralized operations improve efficiency and safety

✅ The role of automa...

In this encore episode of Health Care Rounds, Matt Portch, Consultant at MPC&R LLC, joins host John Marchica to explore the evolving collaboration between pharmaceutical companies and Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs).

Additionally, Matt sheds light on how both have adapted to new technologies and market shifts.

Matt is a seasoned pharmaceutical executive with successful leadership experience at Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, and Bristol Myers Squibb.

TOPICS

(0:19) Introduction

(0:45) Meet John Driscoll

(2:40) The Future of Pharma

(8:28) How Pharmacies Can Put Patients First

(12:25) Key T...

What does it take to transform health care and address its most pressing challenges? Few individuals are as uniquely positioned to answer as John Driscoll. With a storied career as an author, chairman, investor, CEO, and host of the CareTalk podcast, John has had an impact on nearly every facet of the health care industry.

Drawing from decades of leadership, John joins Health Care Rounds to share his thoughts on prescription drug pricing models, health care policies under Trump 2.0, the areas of health care ripe for AI disruption and much more.  

TOPICS

...

Health care access, especially rural health care, has long been defined by systemic challenges, including limited access to specialists, provider shortages, and geographic barriers hindering patient care.

These obstacles continue to strain health systems and impact outcomes in underserved communities.

But what if new technologies could address these challenges by combining the convenience of telemedicine with the familiarity and comfort of an in-person doctor’s office?

In this episode of Health Care Rounds, Karthik Ganesh, CEO of OnMed, shares insights on how their OnMed Care Stations transform health care access and deploy tech-enable hy...

Every year, medication prices keep going up, putting even more strain on Americans’ budgets.

To make it worse, the price you see online often doesn’t match what you’re charged at the pharmacy counter.

So why the lack of transparency?

And equally important, what can be done to ease the pressure of these rising costs?

Join Vinay Patel, founder of MakoRx, as he unpacks the complexities of prescription drug pricing and reveals how MakoRx is disrupting traditional models with cost-plus pricing to make medications more affordable and accessible for everyone.

T...

Value-based care has rapidly gained momentum in recent years, but challenges persist — particularly when care is delivered in the home. Our guest, Jasmine Bhatti, Founder and CEO of Navi Nurses, explains how private-duty nursing can deliver better clinical and financial outcomes for providers while offering compassionate at-home care to patients in need. 

TOPICS

(0:20) Introduction

(1:05) What Led Jasmine Bhatti to Healthcare

(4:00) Going from Nurse to Business Owner

(7:58) Looking at the Success of Care Transitions

(12:38) The Difference in Home Care Coverage

(15:40) The Complexities of Home Care...

It’s no secret that the health care for millions of Americans isn’t working, with many in dire need of immediate action.

The demand for bipartisan solutions, new policies, and technological advancements for the health care system has never been greater.

Our guest, Natalie Davis, co-founder and CEO of United States of Care, joins us to share her thoughts on the current state of health care, AI’s growing role in it, and how she’s advocating for policy changes that could shape the future of health. 

TOPICS

(0:16) Intro

Fact: 80 percent of cancer patients face significant side effects throughout their treatment, potentially worsening outcomes and making a difficult journey even more challenging for patients fighting for their lives.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Erika Ebbel Angle, CEO of Ixcela, to discuss her personalized approach to improving cancer patient treatment outcomes by prioritizing gut health, nutritional therapy, and lifestyle adjustments.

🎙 ABOUT HEALTH CARE ROUNDS

Health Care Rounds is a weekly podcast developed for health care leaders who are at the forefront of health care delivery and payment reform. Join D...

Tackling rising healthcare costs while improving quality is no small task, and many states are left struggling.

But one state might have the solution.

In this episode, we explore Maryland’s All-Payer system with Dr. Trudy Hall, Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at TidalHealth, discussing how this innovative approach is changing the game by streamlining healthcare costs while keeping patient care at the forefront.

🎙 ABOUT DR. TRUDY HALL

Dr. Trudy R. Hall has been the Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at TidalH...

While demand for specialty care has never been higher, this demand hasn't resulted in better coordination among PCPs.

Can value-based care bridge the gap? Our guest Dr. Kamal Golla thinks so.

In this episode explore the importance of value-based care and how it can create exceptional patient experiences and better outcomes.

🎙 ABOUT DR VISHNUKAMAL GOLLA

Dr. Vishnukamal Golla is the medical director for value transformation at Evolent, a specialty and primary care management company. In this role, Dr. Golla leads the implementation of innovative value-based care models in specialty care...

Join us as we delve into the groundbreaking world of cellular therapies with Dr. Robert Hariri, CEO of Celularity.

In this episode, Dr. Hariri takes us on a journey through the cutting-edge innovations that are reshaping the future of medicine.

Discover how harnessing the power of the body’s own cells is not just a promise for the future, but a reality today—transforming hope into tangible results across a wide spectrum of diseases. Don’t miss this insightful conversation on the therapies that are revolutionizing healthcare.

🎙ABOUT DR. ROBERT HARIRI: 

Dr. Bo...

Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC) specialize in providing surgical, diagnostic, and preventive procedures without lengthy and costly hospital stays.

As the demand for convenient, accessible, and affordable care grows, ASCs have become an increasingly popular alternative.

Joins us as Aric Burke, President and CEO of Atlas Healthcare Partners explores ASCs' role in everything from lowering out-of-pocket expenses and reducing the surgical burden on hospitals to expanding care access and creating jobs.

ABOUT ARIC BURKE 

Aric brings over eighteen years of experience in ASC consulting, development, and operations. He oversees the st...

In this episode of Health Care Rounds, Matt Portch, Consultant at MPC&R LLC, joins host John Marchica to explore the evolving collaboration between pharmaceutical companies and Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs).

Additionally, Matt sheds light on how both have adapted to new technologies and market shifts.

Matt is a seasoned pharmaceutical executive with successful leadership experience at Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, and Bristol Myers Squibb.

ABOUT HEALTH CARE ROUNDS

Health Care Rounds is a weekly podcast developed for health care leaders who are at the forefront of health care delivery a...

Having equal access to quality health care across the United States shouldn't be a privilege, but a reality. Yet, seniors battling multiple chronic conditions often face disparities. The challenges are significant, from struggling to reach appointments to affording basic needs.

Enter Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs).  Are they the answer to improving coordinated care and reducing costs for seniors?

In this episode of Health Care Rounds, Bill Lane joins John to explore how Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are transforming health care delivery, particularly for seniors.

ABOUT HEALTH CARE ROUNDS 

Health Car...

We have all been exposed to some form of AI, but how is it positioned to enhance the future of medicine? In this episode of Health Care Rounds, Dr. Robert Pearl joins John to delve into the exciting potential of AI, particularly large language models, to revolutionize medicine, healthcare access, analysis, and treatment.

Topics:

(2:12) Dr. Pearl’s initial experience with Chat GPT

(4:17) The potential benefits of AI and medical information for patients 

(9:43) What makes large language models different when it comes to analyzing clinical data?

(13:30) What are the...

Topics:

(11:00) Pharmacy benefit management basics

(15:28) Rebates and pricing benchmarks

(18:34) Blue Shield of California’s pharmacy care reimagined initiative

(21:25) Capturing real-world evidence to asses new medications

(23:52) Transforming the pharmacy benefits industry with partnerships and alliances

(29:32) Baseline drug prices and innovative contracting approaches

(33:52) Shifting to a value-based model to make drug pricing more cost-effective

(37:13) The need for systemic change and holistic health in the pharmacy benefit industry 

About Health Care Rounds

Health Care Rounds is a podcast developed for health care lea...

Dr. Robert Scoggins, Chief Medical Officer, Cytovale

Robert Scoggins, MD, PhD is a seasoned pulmonary and critical care physician and the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Cytovale. He began his career in science with an undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology from Vanderbilt University and completed a PhD in Microbiology at the University of Virginia as part of a combined MD, and PhD program. Dr. Scoggins completed his residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care at Vanderbilt University. Over the last 15 years, he has held a variety of clinical and leadership positions within several...

Dr. Tracy Christopherson and Michelle Troseth, Co-Founders of MissingLogic®

Dr. Tracy Christopherson and Michelle Troseth are co-founders of MissingLogic®. The core of their work is to help leaders to overcome leadership norms that cause suffering, achieve work life balance, create healthy work cultures and environments by leveraging Polarity IntelligenceTM.

Tracy and Michelle are co-authors of the book Polarity Intelligence: The Missing Logic in Leadership and co-hosts of The TRU Leader Podcast (previously known as Healthcare’s MissingLogic Podcast). The dynamic duo is known for helping leaders balance leading and living so they can be TRU lead...

Jeff Wells, MD, CEO & Co-Founder, Marathon Health

Jeff Wells, MD, is the CEO and co-founder of Marathon, a modern health company that partners with employers, benefit consultants and unions to deliver a health care experience that focuses on driving real behavior change, resulting in better employee health and financial savings. Marathon Health’s model consists of onsite health centers, Network health centers and virtual advanced primary care. Wells, who earned his MD in internal medicine from Indiana University, was president and co-founder of OurHealth, which merged with Marathon Health in January 2020. He is the former director of In...

Holding more than 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership, Laurie Lee Smith is the founder of Laurie Lee Leadership and former system CNO of Billings Clinic. Her expertise lies in supporting healthcare professionals to overcome challenges, shift mindsets, uncover blind spots, and sustain progress by incorporating the neuroscience of human behaviors. She has developed the Elevating Healthcare Leadership Impact program and the STAR methodology, both of which have proven to be instrumental in transforming teams and driving tangible results. Laurie holds a BSN from the University of Alaska aAnchorage, a masters of science in nursing administration from the University...

Ruth Krystopolski is President of Ayin Health Solutions at Providence Health Systems. In her role as President, Ruth leads the development of population health capabilities across Providence’s ministries and extends them externally to reach additional communities.

Ruth joined Ayin in November 2021 after serving as the Senior Vice President of Population Health at Atrium Health, where she was responsible for the development and implementation of value-based care models across the organization. Ruth also led the system-level Care Management, Employer Solutions and other Value-Based Programs and provided oversight of the Poison Control Center in Charlotte, NC.

Ru...

Dr. John Neil is the Executive Vice President and Chief Physician Executive and Network Strategy Officer for HonorHealth in Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr. Neil drives physician engagement throughout HonorHealth, working to ensure that physicians have input and involvement in the decision-making processes of the healthcare system. His work with clinical teams focuses on strategic initiatives, operations, clinical services and the continuum of patient care.

An interventional radiologist by clinical training, he joined HonorHealth as the organization’s senior physician leader in 2015 and has since held leadership roles with the organization's medical staff, Scottsdale Health Partners, and the HonorHealth Bo...

Chanda Chacón is the president and CEO of Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Chacón came to Children’s from Arkansas Children’s, where she served as Executive Vice President and System Chief Operating Officer. In Arkansas, she oversaw the system operations of two hospital campuses, clinical services, human resources and support services. Prior to leading in Arkansas, she served as the President for Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, Houston’s first community hospital designed exclusively for children. Chacón spent 14 years at Texas Children’s Hospital—one of the nation’s top pediatric health ca...