As our population ages, are we designing technology that truly meets their needs, or just what we think they need? In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Dr. Jennifer Boger, Chief Scientific Officer at ESGai Technologies, shares how her love for problem-solving and a personal connection to dementia led her into engineering and health technology. She underscores the flaws in current healthcare systems, particularly their focus on acute care over prevention and quality of life, and calls fo...
Jun 30, 2025•39 min
What does the way we treat our elders and caregivers say about us as a society? In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Peter Murphy Lewis, filmmaker and healthcare advocate, explores the urgent challenges facing long-term care in the U.S., including underfunded facilities, a shrinking workforce, low caregiver wages, and a rapidly aging population. Long-term care is a reflection of how society values its elders and caregivers, emphasizing the growing need for reform as millions more Americ...
Jun 16, 2025•38 min
Humanity, empathy, and respecting patient wishes are paramount when navigating the complexities of end-of-life care. In this episode of Straight Outta Health IT, Gil Bashe, Chair of Global Health and Purpose for FINN Partners, delves into these sensitive topics. Drawing from his unique background as a combat medic, ordained clergy member, and health innovation advocate, Gil discusses the crucial, yet often misunderstood, differences between palliative care, hospice care, and end-of-life planning...
May 19, 2025•37 min
What does it really take to lead in healthcare policy and data innovation as a woman, and how do we navigate the power, pitfalls, and politics that come with it? In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Kat McDavitt, President of Insenna, and Lisa Bari, former CEO of Civitas Networks for Health, reflected on their personal experiences as young women in executive roles, highlighting gender-based challenges in the workplace. Kat described her transition from a female-dominated PR consultancy ...
May 06, 2025•38 min
Is FHIR the key to seamless healthcare interoperability? Let’s discuss its impact on AI, security, and patient care. In this episode, Dr. Ambreén Zaman-Riaz, a physician, healthcare innovator, and leadership expert, as well as the co-founder of Uppshot Lifesciences and host of the Leadership in Medicine Podcast, and our host, Christopher Kunney, a distinguished healthcare technology strategist, serving as Managing Partner and Digital Transformation Strategist at IOTECH Consulting and host of the...
Apr 14, 2025•41 min
As our global population ages at an unprecedented rate, the question isn’t just how we care for older adults; it’s how technology can help them live independently and with dignity. In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Dr. Alex Mihailidis, Vice-Chair of Research at the AGE-WELL Board of Directors, discusses the global challenge of an aging population and the role of technology in addressing healthcare and daily living needs. Dr. Mihailidis highlights key issues such as rising healthcare ...
Apr 07, 2025•25 min
Access to quality healthcare shouldn't depend on your zip code, yet for many underserved communities, barriers remain. In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Christopher Kunney interviewed Christopher Cruttenden, CEO of Safety Net Connect (SNC), a company providing digital healthcare tools like eConsult to improve access to specialty care for underserved populations. SNC connects medical, behavioral, and social service providers to enhance equitable healthcare access. Cruttenden highlight...
Mar 31, 2025•18 min
In a world where technology has the power to transform healthcare, the digital divide continues to leave millions behind, how can we bridge the gap to ensure equitable access for all? In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Dr. Patty Mechael, co-founder and CEO of health.enabled, explores the digital divide in healthcare, emphasizing the challenges posed by digital determinants of health. Dr. Mechael highlights key barriers such as inadequate connectivity, limited access to devices, and si...
Mar 18, 2025•37 min
Price transparency in healthcare is essential for providing patients with clear, upfront costs of medical services, empowering them to make informed financial decisions. In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Dr. Jonathan Kaplan, founder and CEO of BuildMyHealth, explains how their new platform DrWell addresses this challenge by offering real-time cash-pay price transparency, connecting patients directly with providers to ensure both affordability and continuity of care. Historically, hea...
Feb 18, 2025•27 min
Imagine a healthcare solution that not only motivates patients to take charge of their health but also tackles the toughest challenges faced by our most vulnerable communities. In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Matthew Swanson, co-founder and CEO of Reciprocity Health, Incorporated, shares insights into how his company is transforming healthcare by combining behavioral health economics and digital tools. Founded in 2020, Reciprocity Health focuses on improving patient activation in M...
Feb 10, 2025•22 min
Addressing the complex challenges within Medicaid and Medicare requires a holistic approach focused on data-driven solutions, workforce diversity, and an integrated system of care that prioritizes individual needs and promotes health equity. In this episode, Ashley Gray, Vice President at Sirona Strategies, discusses the future of Medicaid, Medicare, and other government healthcare programs. She explores the sustainability of Medicaid, given rising healthcare costs and an aging population, empha...
Jan 21, 2025•34 min
As Canada faces the realities of a rapidly aging population, groundbreaking collaborations like MEDTEQ+, AGE-WELL, and the envisAGE program are revolutionizing how we support older adults and caregivers through innovative health technologies. In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, host Christopher Kunney highlights conversations he had at the envisAGE 2024 forum, addressing the challenges of Canada’s aging population through innovation, collaboration, and equitable access to technology. A...
Jan 14, 2025•44 min
Burnout among healthcare professionals isn’t just a buzzword. In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Dr. Maiysha Clairborne, a physician and transformational coach, shares her personal experience with burnout early in her career, which led her to shift from clinical medicine to helping healthcare professionals prevent and recover from burnout. She highlights burnout’s key characteristics: physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a sense of futility, where clinici...
Dec 16, 2024•35 min
What does it take to inspire trust, lead boldly through challenges, and foster genuine connections in a rapidly evolving world? In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Nora Osman, CEO of Norvana, shares her leadership journey, highlighting her focus on empowering others and delivering exceptional customer experiences. She emphasizes the importance of integrating people, processes, and technology, assigning 50% of success to people, 30% to processes, and 20% to technology. Her leadership ph...
Dec 10, 2024•35 min
Resiliency is built through open-mindedness, reflection, and learning from the experiences and feedback of others. In this episode, Terry Healey, a motivational speaker, author, and fibrosarcoma cancer survivor, discusses his challenging journey navigating a rare and aggressive cancer diagnosis in his early twenties. He shares the physical and emotional toll of his treatment, including the removal of parts of his face and the subsequent reconstruction surgeries. Terry emphasizes the importance o...
Dec 02, 2024•28 min
Resilience and purpose shine through life’s toughest challenges. In this episode of the Straight Out of Health IT podcast, cancer patient advocate Amanda Rose Ferraro shares her journey of surviving AML Leukemia, her advocacy work through Cancer is an A* LLC, and her mission to provide resources, support, and hope to cancer patients and their families. Diagnosed in 2017 after a misdiagnosis, she underwent intensive chemotherapy and celebrated remission in early 2018. However, a relapse due to a ...
Nov 25, 2024•34 min
Human touch is essential for emotional well-being and mental health. In this episode of the Straight Out of Health IT podcast, Ben Wilson, founder and CEO of the Color of Sound Foundation and leader of their Chronically Undertouched project, discusses "touch starvation" and its prevalence and impact within communities of color. Throughout this conversation, he explains his nonprofit's mission to address these issues through initiatives focused on racial healing, restorative justice, and economic...
Nov 11, 2024•31 min
Despite being labeled a 'women's disease,' osteoporosis silently threatens millions of men as well, often going unnoticed until a life-changing fracture occurs. In this episode of the Straight Out of Health IT podcast, David Lee, the founder and Chief Collaboration Officer of Health Collaboration Partners, explores the realities of osteoporosis, a condition causing low bone mass and increased fracture risk in both men and women, particularly those over 50. Though osteoporosis is commonly associa...
Nov 07, 2024•36 min
Are great leaders born with innate abilities, or can anyone be shaped into a successful leader through practice and mentorship? Leadership is like dancing; some may have natural abilities, but everyone can improve through training and practice. In this episode of the Straight Out of Health IT, J. Bryan Bennett, founder and Executive Director of the Healthcare Center of Excellence, explores the classic debate of whether leaders are born or made. According to Bryan, leadership is like dancing. He ...
Oct 14, 2024•31 min
Amidst the complexities of Europe's healthcare system, innovation and technology are transforming the future of patient care in Italy and beyond. In this episode of the Straight Out of Health IT podcast, Christopher Kunney welcomes Giorgia Pezzotta, a health and innovation engineer who is a Strategy and Marketing Associate at Doctolib, currently scaling Siilo, a medical communication app for healthcare professionals in Italy. Together, they explore challenges and opportunities within the Europea...
Oct 01, 2024•34 min
Patients must take an active role in advocating for their own health and well-being. In this episode of the Straight Out of Health IT podcast, Nancy J. Lewis, president of Progressive Techniques Incorporated, discusses patient advocacy, self-empowerment in healthcare, and the importance of personal responsibility for health. Her personal experiences with healthcare made her realize the importance of advocating for herself and ensuring her concerns were addressed. However, those experiences also ...
Sep 24, 2024•30 min
Workplace violence in healthcare requires a comprehensive approach, including improved reporting, supportive policies, technology, and legal protections, to create a safer and more respectful environment for healthcare professionals. For this episode of the Straight Out of Health IT podcast, Dr. Rhoda Collins, Chief Nursing Officer at Kontakt.io, has a conversation with host Christopher Kunney about the rising issue of workplace violence against healthcare professionals. Dr. Collins explains tha...
Sep 19, 2024•31 min
The U.S. has the highest incarceration rates globally, impacting millions of individuals and their families. In this episode, Melissa Denino, the Senior Director of Market Access at Innsena, talks about the profound impact of incarceration on health in the United States. She discusses the high rates of chronic and infectious diseases, mental health issues, and the lack of adequate healthcare in prisons. Thanks to her personal connection to the cause, Melissa is deeply passionate about her work w...
Aug 06, 2024•27 min
Navigating a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone! In this episode, Jill Squire, an esteemed author, podcast host, and devoted cancer survivor advocate, shares invaluable insights on navigating the cancer journey and highlights resources for credible, cancer-type-specific information and clinical trials. Jill discusses the importance of fostering collaborative relationships with healthcare providers, the necessity of asking questions, and the necessity of docum...
Jul 02, 2024•34 min
Art in hospital rooms can help patients and families create a sense of identity and cope with their experiences by transforming their spaces. In this episode, Erica Olenski, Founding Executive Director of August’s Artists, shares her son's journey as a brain tumor survivor and highlights the critical role of proton therapy in his treatment. Throughout this conversation, she highlights the importance of raising awareness about brain tumors and advocating for research and treatment advancements. E...
Jun 18, 2024•38 min
With partnerships like the W.H.O. and Gates Foundation, HIMSS is shaping the future of healthcare on a global scale. In this episode at the 2024 regional HIMSS Conference in Texas, Hal Wolf, the CEO of HIMSS, highlights the organization's focus on thought leadership, best practices, and digital health solutions globally. He elaborates on HIMSS' collaborative efforts with clinics, hospitals, and governments, offering practical strategies and insights into global healthcare trends. HIMSS boasts a ...
Jun 11, 2024•23 min
Modern medicine often focuses on treating illness rather than preventing it, and adopting a holistic approach to health can lead to better long-term outcomes. In this episode, Justin Roethlingshoefer, founder of Own It, shares how, after discovering and overcoming a cancerous ulcer and precancerous polyps, he embarked on a mission of helping others take ownership of their health through personalized, proactive care. He likens the body to a house that requires proper maintenance, thus stressing t...
May 28, 2024•31 min
The integration of AI in healthcare holds promise for augmenting medical practice, but questions remain about its potential to replace human clinicians entirely. In this episode, Dr. Jay Anders, Chief Medical Officer at Medicomp Systems, dives into the world of electronic health records (EHRs) and the evolving landscape of healthcare technology. He explores the journey of EHRs from simple lookup systems to sophisticated platforms, discussing challenges like data exchange, privacy concerns, and m...
May 14, 2024•32 min
Through sharing knowledge and participation in the transformation process, we can harness the power of AI to create a brighter future for American medicine. In this episode, Dr. Robert Pearl, a prominent figure in healthcare, AI expert, and former CEO of the Permanente Medical Group, explores the transformative potential of generative AI in American medicine. Discussing his recent book " GPT, MD: How AI Empowered Patients and Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine ," Dr. Pearl outlin...
May 07, 2024•43 min
Healthcare entrepreneurship requires embracing change and taking calculated risks. In this episode, Nicole Denham, the founder of COR Consultants, unveils her extraordinary voyage from dedicated clinician to visionary healthcare entrepreneur. Her unwavering commitment to patient safety and provider welfare radiates as she narrates her entrepreneurial transition, underscoring the critical significance of strategic planning, operational support, and perpetual learning in navigating the dynamic hea...
Apr 22, 2024•18 min
