The 229 Podcast: Making Sense of Epic's Transformation - From UGM to Your Health System

September 4, 2025: In the inaugural episode of The 229 Podcast, Bill Russell sits down with John Lee, MD - practicing physician and founder of HIT Peak Advisors - for an insider's deep dive into Epic's game-changing UGM announcements. Lee, who describes himself as "firmly in Camp Epic," brings a unique dual perspective as both a clinician and Epic consultant to decode what really matters from the conference. The conversation explores how Epic's Cosmos platform could compress medical innovation cycles from 20 years to potentially just hours, fundamentally rewiring how healthcare discovers and implements new insights. From real-time prior authorizations to state-wide Epic deployments, Lee and Russell cut through the hype to deliver practical insights on what health IT leaders need to know now. Whether you're evaluating AI adoption, preparing for Epic implementations, or trying to make sense of where healthcare technology is headed, this conversation provides the strategic clarity you need. The best conversations don't end when the event does. They continue here. Key Points: 00:00 - Introductions & UGM Conference Impressions 06:00 - AI, Cosmos, and the Future of Medicine 13:00 - Industry Partnerships, Competition, and Market Dynamics 20:00 - Statewide Interoperability & Monopoly Concerns 26:00 - AI in Healthcare Operations, Trust, and Adoption 32:00 - Making Sense of Change & Closing Thoughts X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer