Episode 30: Dr. Aaron Friedkin, Co-Founder of Manifest

Join us for another episode of Digital Health Heavyweights hosted by Norm Volsky, where we sit down with Dr. Aaron Friedkin, Co-Founder of Manifest, to discuss a different approach to solving one of healthcare's biggest challenges: making high-quality care more affordable without tearing down the systems already in place.Drawing from his background in computer science, radiology, and healthcare leadership, Aaron shares the story behind Manifest and the philosophy guiding its approach to healthcare transformation. Rather than pursuing disruption for disruption's sake, Manifest is focused on what Aaron describes as "evolution, not revolution," finding ways for employers, providers, and health plans to work within the existing healthcare ecosystem while creating better outcomes for everyone involved.The conversation explores how independent provider collaboration, smarter steerage, and thoughtful benefit design can help employers guide members toward high-quality, cost-effective care without requiring entirely new carrier relationships or contracts. Aaron also discusses the structural forces driving healthcare costs and why aligning incentives across providers, payers, and employers may be one of the most important opportunities for meaningful change.From the Manifest Provider Collective and employer-sponsored benefits to technology, healthcare infrastructure, and the future of the company, this conversation offers a practical look at how collaboration can create a more affordable and effective healthcare system."We focus on evolution, not revolution."In this episode, you'll uncover:🏥 Why solving healthcare's biggest challenges requires collaboration across the ecosystem💡 How meaningful healthcare innovation can come from improving existing systems rather than replacing them📊 How smarter provider steerage can help employers connect members with high-quality, cost-effective care🤝 Why independent providers can play an important role in improving healthcare affordability and access🧠 How Aaron's background in medicine and computer science influences his approach to solving complex healthcare problems📈 How benefit design can encourage higher-value healthcare decisions🚀 Where technology can reduce friction and improve efficiency without adding more complexity🔮 Why better aligned incentives could be essential to creating sustainable change across healthcareAbout Dr. Aaron Friedkin:Dr. Aaron Friedkin is Co-Founder of Manifest, a healthcare company focused on bringing employers, providers, and health plans together to improve healthcare affordability and access. With a background spanning computer science, radiology, and healthcare leadership, Aaron brings both a clinical and systems-level perspective to addressing healthcare's most complex challenges.Follow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast