Ep. 14: Dr. Howard Forman of Yale University Charts a Path for a More Equitable Future in Healthcare

Show Notes:Are preventive cancer screenings cost-effective? Why don’t certain providers treat poor patients? What’s the deal with whole-body MRIs? Does private equity make healthcare better or worse? Do not-for-profit hospitals make a profit?In today’s episode, Howard Forman, M.D., MBA—a healthcare economist and practicing clinician at Yale University—answers all these questions and more. He has multiple academic appointments including as Professor of Radiology, Public Health, Economics, and Management.U.S. Healthcare is a $4.5 trillion industry. According to Dr. Forman, as a physician if “you don’t realize you’re part of an enormous slice of the US economy, you’re failing your patients and you’re failing yourself.”When he’s not reading images in the emergency room, Dr. Forman teaches undergraduate and graduate courses at Yale, training the next generation of clinician leaders.This episode covers everything from AI to health equity to private sector innovation, with Dr. Forman leveraging his extensive expertise to chart a future trajectory for more equitable healthcare.Timestamps:0:58: Dr. Forman’s Intro + Background4:01: Private Sector’s Role in Healthcare7:31: Balancing Profits and Patient Outcomes10:31: COVID-19 and Healthy Equity16:14: Inequities in Health Tech + Whole-Body MRIs20:54: Cost Effectiveness of Preventive Cancer Screenings23:04: AI in Radiology25:46: Importance of Healthcare Economics28:08: Magic Wand Question28:44: Contrarian Views in Healthcare30:25: Health & Veritas!Resources: * Health & Veritas* The Dose: Private Equity Promised to Revolutionize Health Care. Is It Making Things Worse? - Dr. Howard Forman* Will a Full-Body MRI Scan Help You or Hurt You? (The New Yorker)* Changes in Hospital Adverse Events and Patient Outcomes Associated With Private Equity Acquisition (JAMA Network)* CityBlock Health* Oak Street Health* Pozen-Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Health Equity Leadership at Yale UniversitySubscribe to Healthy Returns Today! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com