Explore the professional journey of BK Nyak, the innovative leader behind Spikewell, whose advancements are revolutionizing hospital IT solutions. In this conversation, we examine BK's progression from his early days in India to becoming an influential entrepreneur who is reshaping healthcare technology. He discusses the significant impact of his upbringing, his educational achievements at IIT, the University of Virginia, and MIT's Sloan School, and the key moments that shifted his focus from ac...
May 16, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 189
In this episode, Dr. Tamir Aldad, founder and CEO of Mindful Care, joins me to discuss strategies for addressing the challenges in mental health accessibility and costs. Dr. Aldad brings a unique blend of medical insight and business expertise, advocating for and implementing a model that integrates social impact with economic viability. He shares a tragic experience from his residency that exposed significant shortcomings in our mental healthcare system, which motivated the creation of Mindful ...
May 09, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 188
Menthol cigarettes, the FTC's attempts to boost competition in healthcare, the mental health of Jewish college students, and the TikTok ban. What do they all have in common? Not much, except that they were all in the news this week and I chose to discuss them on a rare solo episode. Don't like what you hear? Don't worry, I'll be back next week with a fresh guest. As of March 2025 HealthBiz is part of CareTalk. Healthcare. Unfiltered and can be found at the following links: Spotify https://open.s...
May 02, 2024•10 min•Season 1Ep. 187
Massachusetts Association of Health Plans (MAHP) leader Lora Pellegrini got interested in policy and politics at a young age. She had the opportunity to work with luminaries like Ted Kennedy and John Kerry early in her career, as she rose to prominence in healthcare policy. Our discussion focuses on critical issues such as pharmaceutical pricing and hospital efficiency in Massachusetts. We explore the regulatory challenges in drug pricing and the necessity for hospital systems to innovate and en...
Apr 25, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 186
Ironically, patient care coordination itself is often uncoordinated. It's spread across multiple providers and administrators, causing frustration for care teams and patients. Lumeon founder and CEO Robbie Hughes has developed an approach that makes the care journey more reliable rather than settling for the current craziness, where patients are expected to be satisfied as long as they get some time with a doctor. One of the really interesting elements of this interview was the discussion of whe...
Apr 18, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 185
Matthias Hoffman first became conscious of his vision as a teenager. He and his friends in Switzerland dreamed of becoming pilots (none actually did) but Matthias's hopes were dashed early on due to inadequate vision. While pursuing electrical engineering degrees, he realized his strength was in building things. So he left academia and worked in a variety of vision and optical startups, eventually leading significant teams. Many people who could benefit skip their eye exams, and for more than a ...
Apr 11, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 184
Most medical bills contain errors. Over-billing and outright fraud are far too common. What's a consumer to do? In this episode, CEO Scott Speranza shares how HealthLock performs automated audits of medical bills by seamlessly connecting with the patient's health plan portal. We also discuss an exciting new partnership with MasterCard that gives many cardholders (including me) free access. I connected my insurance to HealthLock and soon got a helpful audit of my claims (which turned out to be cl...
Apr 04, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 183
Caresyntax CEO Dennis Kogan wants to introduce value based care to the operating room. It's a tall order but Caresyntax thinks they have a formula to benefit the patient, provider and payer. Kogan's parents are surgeons from the former Soviet Union, which gave him a foundational perspective. He studied technology and then business at Carnegie Mellon and Harvard Business School. One of his key takeaways is that quality and efficiency are highly related. Unlike many healthcare entrepreneurs I inte...
Mar 28, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 182
Growing up with a father whose academic dreams were cut short, and a mother whose resilience in the face of disability was inspiring, Julia Paget's story is not just about her own path but also a tribute to those who shaped her. This seasoned clinical embryologist from the Isle of Wight shares the rich tapestry of experiences that led her from a zoology degree to the forefront of IVF technology. Julia's journey is a compelling narrative of personal growth, family influence, and the pursuit of a ...
Mar 21, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 181
Explore the transformative art of storytelling in healthcare, featuring Outcomes Rocket founder Saul Marquez. Uncover the compelling journey from Saul's immigrant family roots to his rise as a healthcare influencer, where optimism and a robust work ethic forge a path that challenges the conventional. Our discussion brings to life the nuances of personal narratives in healthcare branding, and how these stories bridge the gap between industry professionals and the communities they serve. Join us a...
Mar 14, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 180
Clinical registries can provide profound insights into disease patterns and treatment effectiveness, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. New technology, including AI enables faster and better data collection and analysis. Today’s guest, Matt Hollingsworth is co-founder of Carta Healthcare, which fuses technology, data, and human expertise in a quest to radically improve outcomes. Matt shares how his mother's battle with cancer ignited his quest to marry tech prowess with a heartfelt mission...
Mar 07, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 179
Listen in as Brian Lobley, the innovative CEO of Tango, joins me to unravel the complexities of post-acute care and its crucial role in patient recovery and healthcare economics. Brian shares his journey from his Philadelphia roots to reshaping healthcare through technology (with a passionate nod to Philly sports teams along the way). We explore Tango's mission to revolutionize home-based care for seniors, especially within the Medicare Advantage space, and how this aligns with the growing prefe...
Feb 29, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 178
Medical records are finally digital, but so much of the valuable data is buried in unstructured form in theclinical narrative that it can be hard to make use of it. It’s a great use case for artificial intelligence. My guest, Chris Tackaberry is a physician and computer scientist turned entrepreneur whose company, Clinithink develops AI software to enable health care and life sciences customers to gain insight from that unstructured information. Clinithink provides applications in rare disease, ...
Feb 22, 2024•35 min•Season 1Ep. 177
Dan Caron takes us on an inspiring journey through the landscape of healthcare tech innovation. When Dan hacked an insulin pump to create a groundbreaking automated pancreas, he not only changed the game for diabetes management but also shined a spotlight on the potential of open source technology to redefine our health experiences. From his father's ingenious barter system sparking a young Dan's tech curiosity to the evolution of his career, merging the worlds of internet business and healthcar...
Feb 15, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 176
Digitization and AI are transforming pathology by accelerating research and modernizing the clinical workflow. Proscia co-founder and CEO David West's entrepreneurial journey --and experience with digitization and handling personal information-- began with a business converting VHS tapes to disc. We explore David's multidisciplinary approach, combining software, biology, and physics, which led to the creation of Proscia and its flagship platform, Concentriq. This conversation traces his path fro...
Feb 08, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 175
Rajesh Subramaniam has always been the "numbers guy." He leveraged his early aptitude into professional success, currently as CEO of ResultsCX. The discussion delves into the challenges and advancements in customer experience within the healthcare sector. Emphasizing the industry's shift towards a more consumer-centric model, we explore critical topics such as customer retention, the integration of omnichannel strategies, and balancing digital and personal customer interactions. This episode pro...
Feb 01, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 174
Tom Cotter from Healthcare Ready joins the podcast to discuss the impact of disasters on vulnerable communities. Tom brings a combination of professional expertise and humanitarian insight to the conversation. We delve into the complex interplay of social and economic factors that make certain populations more vulnerable to emergencies, drawing upon his experiences and academic research, including his time in Manila and his long-ago encounter with Dr. Paul Farmer. The episode explores the evolut...
Jan 25, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 173
Julia Regan, CEO of Rx Lightning discusses her leadership in the healthcare technology sector. Julia attributes her success in the entrepreneurial landscape to the discipline and competitiveness honed during her early athletic career in Pennsylvania. The conversation traces Julia's career progression, from her initial role in insurance sales to a strategic position at Novo Nordisk, where she began to blend her passion for healthcare with innovative technology. We delve into the challenges and op...
Jan 18, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 172
Dr. Aasim Saeed, CEO of Amenities Health shares his distinctive insight into the challenges faced by provider organizations post-pandemic and how to solve them. The interview focuses on the technological evolution in healthcare, highlighting Amenities Health's initiatives that are influenced by companies like Amazon and Costco to enhance patient experiences. Key topics include the strategic importance of operational decisions in improving digital healthcare services, such as open primary care sc...
Jan 11, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 171
Join me for a great discussion with Diana L. Nole, as she shares her progression from first-generation college graduate to Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Health & Life Sciences and General Manager of the Nuance Healthcare Division. The discussion outlines the pivotal moments and guiding principles of Diana's career, highlighting her evolution within the dynamic field of healthcare technology. From her pivotal role in Carestream's transition to advanced health solutions, to her leaders...
Jan 04, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 170
Clinical trials must recruit and retain patients to succeed. But it’s easier said than done –and as a result many trials are delayed, scaled back or even scrapped completely especially when they involve international travel. Today’s guest, Scott Gray founded Clinicierge to reduce logistical and financial challenges for patient to enhance enrollment and reduce attrition. As of March 2025 HealthBiz is part of CareTalk. Healthcare. Unfiltered and can be found at the following links: Spotify https:/...
Dec 21, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 169
Ryan Hanna, founder of Sworkit Health, discusses his personal and professional journey, highlighting how his upbringing, combined with his experience in the Army, influenced the core values and mission of Sworkit Health. The conversation explores the company's focus on promoting health and wellness, and how Ryan's leadership has shaped the business. We examine the runaway success of the Sworkit app, including its approach to addressing common gym-related apprehensions. The episode features a cas...
Dec 14, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 168
Join me for an insightful discussion on the intersection of healthcare and technology with Joan Butters, CEO and co-founder of XSOLIS. In this episode, Joan delves into the transformative role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. She provides a detailed analysis of how AI is reshaping the industry, focusing on the challenges and opportunities it presents for payers and providers. The conversation covers the practical applications of AI in streamlining healthcare processes, emphasizing its p...
Dec 07, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 167
This episode focuses on the impact of Artificial Intelligence in the healthcare sector. We explore how AI is improving patient experiences and streamlining healthcare processes. My guest, Patty Riskind, CEO of Orbita, discusses her journey in the healthcare industry and the experiences that have influenced her leadership approach. Patty explains the role of generative and conversational AI in healthcare, examining its contribution to more empathetic patient interactions and its role in reducing ...
Nov 30, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 166
The physical and mental toll of digestive diseases is often under-appreciated. Bill Snyder, CEO of Vivante Health shares how his personal experiences fueled his mission to tackle digestive health head-on, leading him to launch innovative digital gut health programs through Vivante Health. Vivante is leveraging technology, data, and artificial intelligence to revolutionize digestive healthcare. Vivante creates personalized care platforms by leveraging member-provided and third-party data. The res...
Nov 22, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 165
Kyle Swinsky, the trailblazing CEO and co-founder of AMOpportunities joins today's show. His international upbringing and unique college experiences ignited a passion for global education, leading him to establish an innovative company that bridges the gap for international medical graduates seeking US rotations. AMOpportunities tackles head-on the pressing global issue of physician shortages. Listen as we discuss the labyrinth of challenges regarding physician education during the pandemic, and...
Nov 16, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 164
This episode provides a critical look at the disparities in cancer care across the United States, the role of accurate diagnoses, and the potential of community-based oncologists in reducing costs and improving outcomes. My guest, Mark Stadler sheds light on AccessHope's proactive approach to identifying patients in need and working with large employers to provide optimal care. My discussion with Mark also highlights the crucial role of innovation in healthcare service delivery and the potential...
Nov 09, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 163
My father's PhD advisor at Harvard was Timothy Leary, so I've always had an interest in psychedelics. After decades in the regulatory wilderness, psychedelic products like MDMA are now being developed to treat mental health disorders. But if these drugs are approved there will be a new problem: patient access. The treatments generally require many hours of highly trained mental health provider time per patient. That's not going to scale. Blake Mandell is CEO of Transcend Therapeutics, which seek...
Nov 02, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 162
Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy is paid for by most insurance companies for the treatment of autism. Yet the industry is still in the dark ages when it comes to evidence-based decision making and uniform standards for outcomes. Access is a major issue, too. Today’s guest, Daniel Etra is co-founder and CEO of RethinkFirst, which leverages technology to train caregivers to deliver treatment. Recently, RethinkFirst launched an AI solution to provide clinical data and analytics that health plans...
Oct 26, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 161
The microbiome holds great promise for unraveling the mysteries of human health –from auto immune conditions to cancer to longevity. Insights at the individual patient level should prove invaluable. But it’s very difficult to interpret microbiome tests due to their complexity and the impossibility of keeping up with the fast moving scientific literature. My guest, Leo Grady is tackling this challenge head on as founder and CEO of Jona, which has developed a proprietary Large Language model to le...
Oct 19, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 160
