The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show

What does transformation actually look like inside a healthcare organization after the headlines fade away? In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, Michael Stamatinos sits down with Angi Jennings for a raw and honest conversation about operational transformation, leadership under pressure, and the messy reality of rebuilding healthcare organizations from the inside out. After emerging from bankruptcy and rebuilding its leadership structure, Cano Health has been navigating a massive organizational turnaround focused on simplifying operations, rebuilding culture, and embedding value-based care into the day-to-day reality of frontline teams. Angi has been directly in the middle of that work. This conversation goes far beyond strategy decks and press releases. Michael and Angi unpack: • What really happens after healthcare acquisitions and integrations • Why transformation often fails because of a lack of clarity • How to create psychological safety while still maintaining accountability • Why frontline staff are the heartbeat of organizational transformation • How operational excellence ultimately comes down to people • What healthcare leaders can learn from the hospitality industry • The emotional weight of leadership during times of uncertainty and change ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Why healthcare transformation is messier than people think 04:02 — Cano Health’s turnaround and rebuilding culture after bankruptcy 08:35 — Why momentum and small wins matter during transformation 15:00 — Data, accountability, and changing frontline behavior 22:14 — Psychological safety vs accountability in leadership 28:00 — The emotional pressure of leading organizational change 33:41 — Why transformation is ultimately about people 35:44 — “Culture is caught, not taught” 38:15 — Angi’s hope for the future of healthcare 39:32 — Final reflections on leadership, culture, and transformation 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

What does it actually take to drive innovation from inside one of the largest health systems in the country? Dr. Mohammed Quadri has been at Hackensack Meridian Health for over 20 years, starting as a sleep medicine researcher and growing into VP of Strategy for Academics, Research, and Innovation. He co-founded the HMH Research Institutes. He is the Principal Investigator of the RISE Study, developing breath-based biomarkers that could predict drowsy driving and change how we diagnose sleep disorders for over 100 million Americans. Dr. Quadri walks us through what it costs to build something inside a complex system. Why 72% of health tech companies fail. Why FDA clearance alone is never enough. Why reimbursement drives behavior whether we like it or not. And why the single most underrated move in healthcare right now is earning trust instead of trying to buy it. He also shares something most executives never say out loud: you cannot motivate people. You can only inspire engagement. And there is a difference. This episode is for healthcare leaders, innovators, founders, and anyone trying to build something that matters from the inside out. What you will learn in this episode: * Why employee satisfaction and patient satisfaction are the same problem * The three walls that kill healthcare innovation before it ever scales: clinical workflow, economic alignment, and trust * Why the graveyard of health tech is full of well-funded companies and how to avoid being one of them * What breath-based biomarkers have to do with Maggie's Law in New Jersey * The one thing founders consistently underestimate when entering health systems * Why Mohammed's father, a physician who never charged more than three rupees, shaped everything he built Connect with Dr. Mohammed Quadri: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammed-quadri-md-mba-ssbb-12632952/ Hackensack Meridian Health Research Institute: hmh-cdi.org TIMESTAMPS 1:45 — Introduction: Who is Dr. Mohammed Quadri? 3:37 — Mohammed opens up: the energy he brings to the work 3:55 — What kept him at one health system for 18+ years 4:46 — Employee satisfaction drives patient satisfaction 5:26 — "You cannot motivate people. You can only inspire engagement." 6:29 — The difference between a job, a profession, and a calling 8:30 — His mother, discipline, and learning what it means to understand a human being 9:36 — "The irony of life is it doesn't teach you life. Experiences do." 13:37 — How to stay agile inside a massive, complex system 14:37 — Why mergers create silos and how to break them 15:45 — We don't have an innovation problem. We have an adoption problem. 16:21 — The actual play: how you get something done inside a health system 17:33 — Why most health tech founders get this wrong from the start 18:48 — The number one reason adoption fails 20:16 — The RISE Study: breath-based biomarkers and drowsy driving prevention 21:04 — Sleep disorders affect 100 million Americans. Most people don't connect the dots. 22:13 — "If we cannot answer where this fits in a patient's journey, the science does not matter." 24:19 — The three walls that kill healthcare adoption 25:59 — "FDA clearance is necessary but not sufficient. You need a physician champion." 26:22 — "You need to earn trust. Not buy it." 27:54 — Mohammed's closing philosophy: "Compete to collaborate." 28:10 — "Give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you." 28:24 — Michael's final takeaways and the one ask for the community 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

Every night in the US, a child enters a new home with no medical records, no doctor, and no continuity of care. Michelle Turner decided to fix that. Michelle Turner is the Founder and CEO of Here Now Health, the first virtual healthcare company built exclusively for children and families impacted by the child welfare system. Before building this company, she fostered more than 40 children, served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, led a global telehealth nonprofit, and ran a Federally Qualified Health Center. She didn't build Here Now Health because she wanted to be a CEO. She built it because no one else would. In this episode, Michael Stamatinos sits down with Michelle for one of the most powerful conversations in the history of the AHI Show. They get into what it actually looks like when a child enters foster care on a Friday night, how virtual trauma-informed care can change outcomes for an invisible population, and why 90% of their referrals convert to active care in a Medicaid system where 50% is considered acceptable. Timestamps 00:00 - What foster care healthcare actually looks like 03:53 - Who is Michelle Turner and what is Here Now Health 04:46 - Fostering 40+ children: what the first placement taught her 07:54 - The gaps in foster care healthcare that made her angry 10:20 - Why she couldn't leave this problem for someone else to solve 11:22 - Six years at Hazel Health and building startup skills 12:48 - How she accidentally raised her first investment check 15:44 - Why Medicaid is hard to build on (and why foster care changes that) 17:50 - Friday night scenario: a child arrives with no records, no doctor 19:51 - How often kids are seen and why caregiver support is everything 22:36 - Crossing state lines: licensed in West Virginia in 24 hours 24:53 - Being a foster mom and a CEO at the same time 28:44 - The teen who had never been asked what she thought about her own case plan 29:27 - Why foster kids are blamed for not engaging in systems that failed them 31:04 - 90% referral-to-care rate: why that number is extraordinary 32:25 - What she would say to a Medicaid executive in 60 seconds 35:35 - How to connect with Here Now Health 36:56 - What success looks like for foster children in 2036 Here Now Health is currently live in Virginia and Missouri, partnered with Anthem Health Keepers and Home State Health. New state launches are planned throughout 2026. Follow Here Now Health: https://www.herenow.health/ 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

What does it actually take to move independent physicians from fee-for-service to value-based care, and why is it still this hard? In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Michael Kopko, CEO of Pearl Health, a company built to help providers succeed in value-based care, particularly in Medicare programs where the operational complexity is very real. Michael spent years at Oscar Health helping build the company during its early growth stage, leading one of the largest P&Ls in the organization. Before that, he worked at Bridgewater Associates under Ray Dalio, where he developed the mental models and systems thinking that now shape how he leads Pearl. He did not come to healthcare through a traditional path, and that perspective shows up everywhere in this conversation. This conversation explores what it takes to lead a mission-driven company in one of the slowest-moving, highest-stakes industries in the world, and why Michael is more optimistic about the future of healthcare today than he has ever been. Michael and Michael dig into: * Why value-based care sounds easy on paper and why actually living it inside a practice is a completely different story * How Pearl Health helps independent physicians succeed in MSSP and other Medicare programs * The role incentives play in changing physician behavior and where the system still gets it wrong * Why most things in senior care are predictable, and why predictable means preventable * How Michael thinks about leadership under pressure and why equanimity is a skill, not a personality trait * What Bridgewater and Oscar Health taught him about building in high-stakes environments * How Pearl thinks about technology investment and what he would do differently if he started over If you lead a healthcare organization, work in value-based care, build health tech, or advise the healthcare ecosystem, this conversation is for you. 0:00 Introduction and what Pearl Health does 2:40 What physicians say about value-based care when the cameras are off 4:59 Michael Kopko's origin story and early career curiosity 6:50 Why incentives are the real engine of behavior change in healthcare 9:30 What the transition from fee-for-service actually looks like in practice 11:46 Why this work is personal, not just professional 12:15 The mental model Michael returns to when things get hard 14:33 How Bridgewater and Oscar Health shaped his leadership style 15:07 Why progress is happening even when it does not feel like it 18:23 Does a healthcare innovator have the luxury of thinking long-term 19:33 If Pearl Health were a sports team 21:22 Where Pearl is strongest right now 22:20 How to follow Pearl Health and connect with Michael 23:20 What he would do differently if he started Pearl over today 24:30 Closing reflections on progress, patience, and purpose https://www.pearlhealth.com/ 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

What does it really look like to lead hospitals for nearly 30 years, starting at 27 years old, and walk away still standing? In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Tom McDougall, a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and author of "Karma Doesn't Need My Help: 11 Weekly Leadership Lessons for Success and Peace." Tom became a hospital CEO at 27 and went on to lead hospitals and health systems across for-profit, nonprofit, government, and academic settings for over two decades. Tom did not study healthcare leadership from a distance. He lived it. He made decisions with incomplete information, led through COVID with no playbook, survived the staffing crisis, and ultimately walked away not because he failed, but because he was honest enough to know when the seat no longer fit. This conversation goes deep into what it actually takes to lead in one of the most complex industries in the country. Michael and Tom cover: * Becoming a hospital CEO at 27 and learning leadership entirely on the job * Why the least important person to patient care is the hospital CEO * The GDO framework for decision making: Gut, Data, and Opinions * How hindsight bias and heuristic bias quietly destroy experienced leaders * The four leadership evolutions healthcare executives were forced through in six years * Why relationships must come before transactions in healthcare leadership * Reading people and rooms as a core executive skill * Strategic chess: thinking five moves ahead on both sides of a negotiation * What Tom wishes he had mastered earlier and what he would tell a 30-something operator today * Why he retired and what finally made him walk away from the seat Timestamps: 3:47 Becoming a hospital CEO at 27 years old 6:56 First CEO role: county board politics, Sunshine Laws, and the radio station 10:03 What the staff taught him in the first two years 11:09 The first leadership mistakes he made and why 13:18 The danger of pretending you know everything as a leader 16:52 Why people stop telling leaders the truth 24:49 Decisions he still replays and the weight of bounded rationality 26:13 The GDO framework for decision making: Gut, Data, and Opinions 28:06 The numbers that matter and why relationships outlast margin 29:39 AI, emerging patterns, and what current healthcare operators are missing 33:00 Why the hospital CEO is the least important person to patient care 34:19 How decision making sharpens over time in healthcare leadership 35:49 Hindsight bias and heuristic bias: the traps experienced leaders fall into 40:27 Leading through COVID, the staffing crisis, inflation, and accountability mode 44:34 Knowing when it is time to leave the seat 48:04 What to master as a 30-something healthcare operator 51:34 Strategic chess: seeing five moves ahead on both sides 54:36 About the book and where to follow Tom's work 59:52 Closing thoughts Follow Tom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommcdougaljr/ https://badlands.pro/ This episode is for healthcare executives, early careerists in healthcare, operators navigating high-stakes decisions, and anyone who leads people in environments where the margin for error is thin. 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

What actually happens inside health plans? In this episode of the Advancing Health Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Mike McCabe, CEO of On Advisors and a seasoned health plan executive who has spent his career inside health plans, not just advising them from the outside. Mike pulls back the curtain on what actually happens inside health plans when things go sideways...from network breakdowns and outdated claims systems to the administrative avalanche drowning primary care providers. He shares why the payer-provider relationship is, in his own words, "cantankerous," and what it would take to fix it. The conversation covers the three core systems every health plan must have working in harmony, why population health management means something different to almost everyone in the industry, and how AI is creating both real opportunity and dangerous blind spots for organizations that aren't ready to govern it properly. Mike also challenges some of the most common misconceptions about health plans, including the myth that they're simply printing money. Drawing on decades of work across 30+ states, thousands of provider meetings, and high-stakes board rooms, Mike brings the kind of grounded, candid perspective that rarely makes it into headlines. Whether you're a healthcare innovator, a health plan operator, or someone trying to break into the space, this conversation is packed with insights that cut straight to what actually matters. Topics covered in this episode: * Where health plans actually break and why no one talks about it * The three systems that must work together for any plan to succeed * Why primary care scarcity is quietly driving up costs across the system * Value-based payments: when they work and when they don't * The real decision-making structure inside a health plan * How to evaluate and trust technology vendors in a market full of vaporware * What structural change would have the biggest downstream impact Timestamps 00:00 Intro and why health plans are misunderstood 03:40 Mike’s early story, sports, family, and military background 07:40 Where health plans actually break first 12:50 Why payer-provider relationships become cantankerous 20:40 Patterns re-emerging across healthcare 25:35 How decisions really get made inside health plans 28:15 How innovation and AI get adopted 32:50 The one structural issue Mike would fix tomorrow 36:20 Why healthcare is always local 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

Every parent knows the moment. It's 2am. Your child has a fever. Something feels off. And you're standing in the dark trying to decide...wait until morning? Urgent care? The ER? That moment is exactly what today's guest has dedicated her career to solving. In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, Michael Stamatinos sits down with Dr. Shannon Henning, Chief Operating Officer at Hello Pediatrics, to explore a reality most parents know all too well…when a child gets sick, access to care isn’t always clear. Dr. Henning began her career as a pediatrician, working directly with patients and families. Over time, she started to see a deeper issue. The challenge wasn’t just clinical. It was structural. Access to care often breaks down in the moments that matter most. And then she did something most clinicians don't. She stepped into the system itself. Because she realized something important: even the best doctors in the world can only do so much if the system around them is broken. In this episode, we get into the realities of pediatric care that often get overlooked, the access gaps, the reimbursement failures, and why solving for kids might be the key to reshaping healthcare for everyone. We also talk about: → What it actually feels like to walk into your first day of residency → Why pediatricians aren't just treating kids, they're treating the whole family → The transition from clinical practice to operational leadership (and why more physicians need to make it) → What a telemedicine platform built specifically for pediatrics looks like in practice → The 7-7-7 rule and what it has to do with better healthcare → What needs to change in the next 10 years and why reimbursement is at the center of it all Dr. Shannon Henning isn't waiting for the system to fix itself. She's building the fix. This one's for every parent, every pediatrician, and every leader who believes that how we care for kids determines what kind of adults and what kind of healthcare system we build next. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & who is Shannon Henning 02:48 – The 2am parenting moment that defines the problem 04:25 – First day of residency: imposter syndrome at 100 07:25 – Seeing the cracks in access: ER to Urgent Care to General Pediatrics 08:15 – Did she ever imagine running a healthcare company? 09:33 – What healthcare leaders misunderstand about pediatric care 11:10 – The clinical story she still carries with her 12:22 – Parents, Dr. Google, and why pediatricians actually smile 13:20 – The pivot from clinical to operational 15:28 – Running a company feels like residency rotations 27:42 – The simple rule every parent in America needs to hear 28:44 – The 7-7-7 rule explained 30:28 – What kind of leader she is when things get hard 31:47 – Fast forward to 2036: what does pediatric care look like? 33:27 – How to follow Hello Pediatrics 34:14 – What gives her the most hope right now 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

What does it really look like when a healthcare system proves innovation is possible, then chooses to go backwards the moment the pressure lifts? In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Frank Sawyer, founder of Health Forward and former hospital COO with over 20 years of experience inside some of the most complex health systems in the country. Frank didn't study healthcare from the outside. He ran it. He lived with the consequences of decisions that had no clean answers, no playbook, and no room for error. When the pandemic ended and the systems he believed in snapped back to the old way of thinking, Frank made a decision. He left. Not to walk away from healthcare, but to push it further from the outside than he ever could from the inside. This conversation pulls back the curtain on what actually happens inside hospital boardrooms, why great ideas die before they ever reach scale, and what founders and executives need to understand if they want to drive real, measurable change in healthcare. Michael and Frank dive into the unfiltered realities of healthcare innovation, including: * What it truly feels like to make high-stakes decisions with incomplete information as a hospital COO * Why the IT executive is the most underestimated person in any health system boardroom * The four things every hospital is losing sleep over and how innovators should build around them * What COVID proved about healthcare's capacity for rapid innovation and why most systems chose to ignore it * The biggest myth founders believe about hospital finances and margins * How virtual care and digital assets can unlock the access bottleneck healthcare has never been able to solve * Why the timeline of health systems and the timeline of innovation companies are dangerously misaligned * What it takes to build trust inside a health system before a single dollar gets spent * How Frank evaluates which innovations are worth bringing to hospital leaders and which are just noise * The real reason healthcare doesn't have an innovation problem, it has a courage problem This episode offers powerful lessons for health tech founders, hospital executives, digital health investors, and anyone trying to understand why healthcare innovation moves so slowly and what it actually takes to change that. If you care about the future of healthcare delivery, health system leadership, innovation strategy, and what it takes to bridge the gap between good intentions and real impact, this is a conversation you don't want to miss. 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: / michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: / 7056196

What does it really look like to lead a hospital when there is no cushion, limited resources, and every decision affects your neighbors? In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Aidan Hettler, the CEO of Sedgwick County Health Center, a county-owned critical access hospital serving rural communities. Aidan became a hospital CEO at 22 years old, taking on one of the most difficult leadership roles in healthcare. In rural healthcare, there’s no hiding behind layers of administration. If a nurse calls out, you feel it that shift. If infrastructure fails, the entire community feels the impact. This conversation explores the real leadership challenges inside rural healthcare — from financial pressure and staffing shortages to building culture, expanding services, and making decisions in public view. Michael and Aidan dive into the unfiltered realities of running a rural hospital, including: • The unique challenges of leading a county-owned critical access hospital • How rural healthcare leaders make decisions when resources are limited • Turning around financial performance while increasing wages and improving culture • Why people and mission matter more than scale in rural healthcare • Expanding clinical services and opening a new clinic after 26 years without growth • Implementing a new EMR system and transforming workflows across the organization • Recruiting leaders and clinicians to a rural community • The realities of public accountability in small towns • How healthcare leaders navigate pressure, uncertainty, and difficult decisions This episode offers powerful lessons for healthcare executives, hospital leaders, digital health founders, investors, and policymakers who want to better understand the realities of healthcare leadership beyond large urban systems. If you care about the future of healthcare delivery, rural health innovation, leadership under pressure, and building resilient healthcare organizations, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

Most people talk about healthcare innovation. Very few people have to make it work inside a real health system. In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, Michael Stamatinos sits down with Justin Brueck, System Vice President of Innovation and Research at Endeavor Health, to explore what it actually takes to move ideas through a complex healthcare organization. Justin didn’t arrive in healthcare with a master plan. His journey began in rural Iowa, where a chance encounter with a healthcare executive opened a door that would shape the rest of his career. From starting as an administrative fellow to leading enterprise innovation and research across one of the largest health systems in the Midwest, Justin has spent years learning how healthcare systems actually adopt change. In this conversation, Michael and Justin discuss: • Why good healthcare innovation ideas often fail inside health systems • The hidden complexity of getting new technology adopted in clinical environments • How frontline clinicians shape whether innovation succeeds or dies • The role genomics and personalized medicine will play in the future of care • What startups and founders often misunderstand about selling to health systems • Why healthcare will always remain a deeply human business despite rapid technological change Justin also shares the surprising leadership lessons he learned early in his career and the story of how one mentor changed the trajectory of his life. If you care about healthcare leadership, innovation adoption, digital health, genomics, and the future of health systems, this episode offers a rare inside look at how innovation actually happens behind the scenes. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 03:00 What innovation inside a health system actually looks like 08:00 Justin’s unconventional path into healthcare leadership 16:00 Why good healthcare innovation ideas fail 23:00 The future of genomics and personalized medicine 26:00 Building a business case for innovation in health systems 28:00 Leadership lessons from inside large healthcare organizations 31:40 Quickfire questions with Justin Brueck 33:30 The human side of healthcare and the future of patient care About Justin Brueck Justin Brueck is the System Vice President of Innovation and Research at Endeavor Health, where he leads initiatives spanning clinical genomics, enterprise innovation, research operations, and emerging healthcare technologies. His work focuses on translating new ideas into real-world solutions that improve patient care, support clinicians, and strengthen health system performance. 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

Leadership in healthcare is often framed in headlines. Big strategies. Big bets. Big promises. But most of it does not look like that. In Episode 175 of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, Michael Stamatinos sits with Regine Villain, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Oschner Health for a conversation about the part of leadership that rarely gets named. The pressure. The energy drain. The moral weight of knowing that if something breaks, a patient feels it. Regine grew up in Haiti. She thought she would become a pediatrician. Life moved her toward engineering instead, and eventually into healthcare operations. Early in her career, she walked into a CEO’s office unannounced and asked what it would take to sit in that chair one day. Not out of ego. Out of hunger to understand how systems work. That instinct still drives her. This episode is not about supply chain mechanics. It is about healthcare leadership as stewardship. Regine speaks plainly about: • The difference between title and expertise • The mistake of making decisions without the right voices in the room • Cultural misalignment that quietly erodes trust • Burnout at the executive level • Learning to say no in a field that rewards overextension One of the most striking moments in the conversation comes from a loading dock. To most people, it is inventory. Boxes. Movement. To Regine, it is a pacemaker inside cardboard. A grandmother waiting for surgery. A clinical team depending on reliability. “It’s not just a box.” That line is not metaphor. It is operating philosophy. Healthcare innovation often centers on technology. This conversation centers on responsibility. On the discipline required to stay steady when systems strain. On protecting energy so leadership does not become martyrdom. Viewers will leave with something more durable than tactics. * A clearer lens for resilient healthcare leadership. * A deeper respect for culture as infrastructure. * And a reminder that access is not a slogan. It is operational. This episode is for: * Healthcare executives absorbing pressure that no one sees * Women stepping into rooms where they are still underestimated * Health system operators responsible for access and reliability * Leaders wrestling with culture that does not match the slide deck * Anyone who has felt the cost of always saying yes If you are a healthcare executive, clinician, operator, founder, or investor trying to understand what steady leadership actually requires, this episode is worth your time. Learn more about Regine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginehonorevillain/ 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

What does it really mean to lead a safety-net health system? In this powerful episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, Michael Stamatinos sits down with Dr. Ngozi Ezike, President and CEO of Sinai Chicago, to talk about leadership, health equity, innovation under constraint, and what transformation actually looks like on the ground. Before leading Sinai Chicago, Dr. Ezike served as Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health during the COVID-19 pandemic. But long before the cameras and press conferences, she was and still is a physician rooted in community care. This is not a surface-level healthcare interview. This is a deep conversation about: • What “safety net” really means and why most people misunderstand it • Leading a health system serving Medicaid and uninsured populations • Innovation without unlimited resources • Why Sinai invested in a new Epic electronic health record despite financial constraints • Community health workers and why they are a “win-win-win” model • Transportation barriers and how vans improved patient show rates • Medical literacy, social determinants of health, and real patient stories • The bold bets required to transform urban healthcare Dr. Ezike shares candid reflections on leading under constraint, building trust in historically marginalized communities, and why safety-net systems are essential to the health of an entire city. If you care about healthcare leadership, hospital innovation, public health, community-based care, or the future of urban health systems...this conversation is for you. Sinai Chicago serves Chicago’s West and South Sides for more than 100 years, and Dr. Ezike is working to ensure it thrives for the next 100. Learn more about Sinai Chicago: https://www.sinaichicago.org 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

Healthcare has more data than ever. So why do so many leaders still feel stuck? In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, Michael Stamatinos sits down with Khan Siddiqui, MD, CEO and Chairman of HOPPR and former Founder and CEO of higi. This conversation is not about trends. It is about judgment. Khan shares how growing up with a mother who still runs a clinic in Pakistan shaped his view of service, responsibility, and care. He explains how that foundation led to an early decision to aim his life’s work at impacting one billion people, and why that goal forced him to think differently about scale, technology, and leadership. Michael and Khan talk honestly about what breaks when healthcare grows. Why pilots succeed but systems fail. Why trust erodes even when the data improves. And why many leaders confuse more tools with better decisions. This episode is for people who carry responsibility in healthcare. People making decisions with real consequences. People who want systems that hold up when pressure is real. You will not leave with a checklist. You will leave thinking more clearly about what actually matters. 👥 Who This Episode Is For * Leaders who feel the weight of decisions that do not have clean answers * Operators tired of tools that promise change but do not follow through * Founders trying to build for scale without losing trust * Investors who care about durability, not noise * Anyone trying to lead with judgment under pressure https://www.hoppr.ai/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hopprai/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/khansiddiqui/ 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Effie Carlson, CEO of Watershed Health, for a candid conversation on why healthcare struggles with coordination and what it truly takes to align complex systems around patients. Effie Carlson shares her unique perspective, shaped by decades of experience across payers, providers, and healthcare operations, as well as her personal journey as a parent navigating the NICU. Together, they explore why healthcare often breaks down at transitions of care, why alignment remains elusive despite good intentions, and how fragmented incentives continue to slow progress. The conversation goes beyond technology buzzwords and dashboards. Effie explains how Watershed Health was built to serve the people doing the work on the front lines, focusing on workflow realities, trust, and community-level collaboration. She discusses why details matter in healthcare, how belief impacts adoption, and why sustainable innovation requires patience, discipline, and strong fundamentals. Listeners will also hear real-world examples of healthcare ecosystems working together, including community-driven collaboration efforts in Austin, Texas. The episode touches on leadership, growth, resilience, and the balance between strong business outcomes and meaningful patient outcomes. This episode is ideal for healthcare executives, operators, founders, clinicians, and investors who want a grounded, real-world view of healthcare innovation, care coordination, and leadership in complex systems. Topics covered include: Healthcare care coordination and system alignment Leadership lessons from healthcare operators Digital health infrastructure and adoption Frontline workflows and technology design Building trust across healthcare ecosystems Lessons from community-based healthcare collaboration About the guest and Watershed Health: Effie Carlson is the CEO of Watershed Health, a healthcare technology company focused on enabling real-time collaboration across payers, providers, public health, and community organizations. Her work centers on building infrastructure that supports continuity of care and shared accountability across healthcare systems. https://watershedhealth.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/watershed-health/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/effie-carlson-04b52986/ 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

Healthcare runs on people who keep showing up. This episode asks a simple question: who is taking care of them? On this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Brian Ferguson, CEO of Arena Labs and former Navy SEAL officer, for a grounded and personal conversation about service, pressure, and what it takes to last in healthcare. Brian has spent over two decades inside elite teams across national security, special operations, and professional sports. In this conversation, he draws clear parallels between those worlds and the frontlines of healthcare—emergency rooms, ICUs, and operating rooms—where there is no offseason and little room to recover. Together, they explore what Brian calls the Service Archetype. The small group of people in any society who raise their hand to serve others. In healthcare, that calling is constant. And without the right tools, it comes at a cost. This episode covers: * Why healthcare has normalized exhaustion * The difference between endurance and real strength * How performance science from the military and sports can help clinicians recover * What Predictive Performance means in real life * The meaning behind Teddy Roosevelt’s Man in the Arena * Why standards only matter if they protect people when no one is watching This is a quiet, honest conversation about leadership, burnout, recovery, and responsibility. It speaks directly to clinicians and healthcare leaders who carry the work and rarely talk about the toll. If this episode resonates, consider subscribing, sharing it with someone you care about, or taking a moment to reflect on how you protect the people who serve. 🔗 Follow Arena Labs: 🌐 https://arenalabs.co/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/arena-labs/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-ferguson-arena-labs/ https://www.instagram.com/arenalabs/?hl=en https://x.com/arena_labs 👥 Who This Episode Is For * Clinicians who feel tired but stay committed * Healthcare leaders responsible for teams under pressure * Operators trying to balance outcomes with human cost * Founders and investors focused on long-term impact * Anyone who believes service deserves protection 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Aber Whitcomb, CEO of Salt AI and co-founder of MySpace, for an in-depth conversation on building at massive scale, navigating pressure, and applying real AI engineering to healthcare and life sciences. Aber Whitcomb has been at the center of multiple technology inflection points. From helping architect MySpace during its explosive, nonlinear growth to now leading Salt AI as an enterprise-grade AI operating system, his perspective is thoughtful, calm, and grounded in experience earned the hard way. This episode explores what it truly feels like to build when there is no playbook. The conversation moves from behind-the-scenes stories of early internet infrastructure and data-center failures, to modern challenges around enterprise AI, proprietary data, security, and trust inside healthcare and pharma. Rather than focusing on hype, this discussion centers on substance: product velocity, leadership under pressure, and where AI can genuinely create lift for organizations operating in highly regulated environments. Topics covered in this episode include: • Aber Whitcomb’s early journey into computing and systems thinking • Lessons from scaling MySpace before modern cloud infrastructure existed • What pressure looks like when uptime determines survival • Why healthcare and life sciences drew Aber into the industry • Enterprise AI, proprietary data, and security inside pharma • Product velocity vs. trust in regulated environments • What should — and should not — be automated in healthcare • AI skepticism, scientific rigor, and drug discovery • Building teams of true 10x engineers • Defining success beyond investor decks and valuations 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Elaine Shi, Co-Founder and CEO of BodySpec, for a deep, honest conversation about preventive health, access, and what it really takes to build a durable healthcare company.   Elaine shares the rarely told story behind BodySpec’s journey, including more than a decade of bootstrapping before raising outside capital, building one of the largest mobile DXA scanning platforms in the country, and delivering hundreds of thousands of scans that give people real visibility into their health.   This episode goes beyond surface-level innovation talk. It explores the human side of healthcare entrepreneurship, from conviction and culture to endurance, trade-offs, and timing.   What You’ll Learn in This Episode: • Why BodySpec chose access and affordability over complexity • How DXA body composition scanning became a gateway to preventive health • What Elaine learned from 10+ years of self-funding before raising capital • The unexpected lessons that came from building a company with her husband • How word-of-mouth and community partnerships fueled early growth • Why healthcare innovation often requires patience, not speed • How personalized health data can change behavior before crisis hits • Where BodySpec is headed next as it expands into new markets   Michael and Elaine also reflect on their first meeting at Austin MedTech Connect, using that shared moment to unlock a more candid conversation about leadership, balance, and building something that lasts.   This episode is especially relevant for: • Healthcare founders and operators • Digital health and medtech leaders • Investors interested in durable, consumer-centric models • Anyone curious about preventive health, longevity, and real access   📍 Episode Chapters (Timestamps) 00:00 – Why access and preventive health matter now 03:45 – Elaine Shi’s origin story and early conviction 10:00 – Bootstrapping BodySpec for over a decade 18:00 – Culture, hiring mistakes, and leadership lessons 23:00 – Building a company with a spouse 30:00 – Making DXA affordable and consumer-friendly 35:00 – The future of personalized health and prevention 38:00 – What access really means in healthcare   🔗 Learn More 🌐 BodySpec: https://www.bodyspec.com 🎧 Subscribe to the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show for weekly conversations with healthcare leaders reshaping access, innovation, and care delivery.   Keywords: Elaine Shi, BodySpec, preventive health, DXA scan, body composition, healthcare innovation, digital health, health tech startups, bootstrapped founders, consumer health, personalized medicine, access to healthcare, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show   📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently.   About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation.   The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light.   🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn:   / michaelstamo   🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn:   / 7056196  

What really happens when a health system finally sees the truth behind its payer contracts? In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Jacob Little, Co-Founder of Payerset, and Jerry DiMaso, CEO and Co-Founder, for an unfiltered conversation about healthcare price transparency, payer negotiations, margin pressure, and the real dynamics shaping hospital contracting today. Together, Jacob and Jerry are tackling one of the most complex and overlooked problems in healthcare: making machine-readable payer data usable by tying it directly to real claims. Their work helps health systems move beyond fragmented spreadsheets and guesswork and into data-driven contract strategy. This conversation explores: * Why healthcare price transparency is finally starting to matter * What health systems experience when they see their true payer rates * How contract intelligence is becoming a critical lever for margin protection * The real, often tense relationship between payers and providers * Why transparency can improve negotiations instead of escalating conflict * What high-performing health systems do differently * How Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu mirrors leadership, pressure, and decision-making in startups *The mindset required to navigate complexity without losing clarity This episode goes beyond dashboards and compliance. It’s about clarity, trust, strategy, and survival in a healthcare system under increasing strain. Healthcare leaders across finance, managed care, operations, and innovation will gain a clearer understanding of where payer strategy is headed and how to prepare for what’s coming next. Connect with Payerset Website: https://www.payerset.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/payerset Jacob’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clintonjlittle/ Jerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdimaso/ 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Sean O’Connor, a retired Navy officer and the President and Co-Founder of DexCare. This conversation explores one of the most pressing issues facing the country today: access to care for veterans and the urgent need to modernize the VA. Over the past several months, Sean has met with more than a dozen members of Congress to discuss how the VA can improve access to care, especially mental health services, without increasing spending. As the veteran community continues to lose 18 people a day to suicide, the need for better coordination, better tools, and better service has never been clearer. Throughout this episode, Sean shares stories drawn from his military background, his work in health technology, and his personal experiences navigating care on behalf of his family. He also breaks down the origins of DexCare, how it was built inside Providence, and why access problems are often really capacity problems in disguise. This episode includes insights on: • The access challenges veterans face in both urban and rural communities • Why the VA scheduling experience varies dramatically by location • The real scale of unused appointments inside VA systems • How DexCare surfaced from Providence to address a major access gap • The growing role of AI in simplifying healthcare workflows • The cultural tension between innovation and the day to day pressures inside health systems • What gives Sean hope about the future of access Along the way, Sean discusses leadership lessons from the Navy, the emotional impact of 9/11 on his family, and the personal mission that drives his work. For anyone working in digital health, health system operations, government policy, veteran advocacy, or healthcare innovation, this conversation offers meaningful perspective and practical insight. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the episode 01:00 Introduction to Sean O’Connor 03:25 Military roots and early foundation 06:00 The push for VA modernization 09:40 Access challenges in rural America 12:30 Leadership habits from the Navy 14:30 The early days of DexCare inside Providence 17:50 The turning point around capacity and access 21:30 Common myths about scheduling and digital access 24:20 Collaboration in digital health 26:20 Tension inside the VA system 27:20 The scale of unused VA appointments 30:50 Variability in scheduling experiences 31:40 Younger veterans and digital expectations 33:25 The privilege of being able to self advocate 34:20 How to connect with DexCare 36:20 Why health system origins matter 38:10 Rapid fire questions 42:22 What gives Sean hope 44:50 Closing thoughts on access and service Key topics Veteran mental health, VA modernization, digital health, DexCare, healthcare access, rural health, suicide prevention, AI in healthcare, Providence innovation, health system operations, online scheduling, veterans affairs, capacity orchestration, military leadership in healthcare Connect with DexCare Website: https://dexcare.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dexcare Sean’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-o-connor-03949828/ 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Michelle Zimmerman, CEO and cofounder of Previvor Edge, for a rare look at the future of cancer prevention, early detection, and personalized risk management. Michelle brings a uniquely human and deeply informed perspective. With a strong family history of cancer and years of experience building the cancer genetics program at Sema4, she has seen both sides of the problem: the emotional weight families carry and the structural gaps that prevent people from taking action early. Michelle shares two powerful truths in this episode: “All we do is talk about cancer. We never talk about what happens before cancer.” “We should do for cancer what we did for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.” This conversation explores why most high-risk individuals never know they are at risk, why the prevention system remains fragmented, and why clarity before diagnosis matters more than most people realize. Michelle explains how family history, genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors all shape cancer risk—and why the current healthcare model has no specialist or coordinated pathway to address them. Previvor Edge is changing that by creating an integrated, clinically rigorous approach that brings internal medicine, genetics, oncology, and lifestyle medicine together in one place. The goal is simple: help people understand their risk, make informed decisions, and take action long before cancer develops. Key themes in this episode include: * The origin story behind Previvor Edge * The gaps in the current early detection landscape * How genetics, oncology, internal medicine, and lifestyle medicine can work together * The emotional and psychological side of cancer risk * What proactive prevention truly looks like * The human stories that shaped Michelle’s mission * Leadership lessons from building a prevention-focused movement Learn more about Previvor Edge: https://www.previvoredge.com/ Connect with Michelle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zimmey/ 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this episode of The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, Michael Stamatinos sits down with Zaw Thet, CEO of Exer Labs. Exer is one of the most interesting companies in the AI and healthtech space today. They use computer vision and AI to turn any camera into a motion coach. With a simple phone or tablet, clinicians can evaluate gait, tremors, balance, strength, mobility, and recovery in a way that is fast, accurate, and deeply human. Zaw brings a rare blend of experience to this conversation. He started his first company at 19 during the early days of Silicon Valley. He later helped build 4INFO, one of the pioneering companies in mobile advertising. He was recognized by Business Week as one of the mobile barons, invited to join the United Nations Foundation Global Entrepreneurs Council, and eventually made his way back to health and movement through a desire to create technology that supports dignity and care. Michael and Zaw explore the full arc of his journey. They talk about his childhood as the son of Burmese immigrants, what it was like to drop out of Stanford to start a company, and how a short season as a monk taught him more about stillness than any leadership course ever could. They walk through the early days of Exer Labs, the challenges of bringing AI into clinical environments, the long road of research and validation, and the breakthrough moments when clinicians began using Exer as part of their daily workflow. This episode covers the big themes shaping the future of healthcare. Motion intelligence. AI at the edge. Clinical workflow. Patient outcomes. Human centered design. And the purpose behind building tools that make care more personal and more precise. If you care about innovation in digital health, the future of physical therapy, the role of AI in clinical settings, or what it takes to build a long term healthcare company, you will get a lot out of this conversation. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show 01:40 Zaw’s early life and the influence of his immigrant parents 07:00 What becoming a monk taught him about stillness and discipline 13:00 The origin story of Exer Labs 17:45 How on device AI using any camera actually works 22:30 Turning skeptics into believers inside health systems 27:00 Why long term research became Exer’s competitive engine 31:20 What a future clinic might look like with motion intelligence 35:30 Rapid fire questions and closing thoughts Learn more about Exer Labs: https://www.exer.ai Connect with Zaw: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zawthet/ 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

What if access to money was access to health? In this powerful episode of The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Sabrina Lamb, Founder and CEO of Wekeza and World of Money, for a deep conversation about how financial inclusion is the next frontier of public health. Sabrina is a force for access and equity. As the first Black woman to launch a global investing app for the African diaspora, she’s breaking centuries-old barriers that have kept entire communities locked out of the financial system. Through Wekeza, users can invest in U.S. markets starting with just one dollar, while learning in their native language, from English and Swahili to French, Haitian Creole, Hausa, Wolof, and Zulu. But Sabrina’s work goes far beyond money. It’s about dignity. It’s about agency. It’s about giving people the tools to reclaim their power, build generational wealth, and improve their overall health. This episode explores how financial health is inseparable from physical, emotional, and community health — and why access to education, housing, food, and opportunity all shape the future of care. Together, Michael and Sabrina unpack the psychology of money, cultural narratives that shape financial behavior, and how language and storytelling can dismantle fear and build trust. You’ll hear about Sabrina’s journey from comedy stages to congressional recognition, from teaching in Nairobi to launching a global fintech company — and how humor, purpose, and resilience are her secret weapons for impact. In This Episode: * The link between financial access and health outcomes * How Wekeza is redefining financial inclusion for the African diaspora * Why financial literacy is a public health intervention * How trauma and cultural conditioning shape our relationship with money * The role of language, humor, and culture in teaching financial empowerment * Why access to capital, food, and education are as critical as access to care * What the future of financial health innovation looks like About Sabrina Lamb: Sabrina Lamb is a celebrated founder, speaker, and advocate for financial inclusion and cultural empowerment. She is the CEO of Wekeza, a multilingual investing platform designed for the African diaspora, and the Founder of World of Money, a nonprofit that has educated over 15,000 youth across the U.S. and Africa. A Techstars and Y Combinator alumna, Sabrina has been honored by Congress and recognized by NBC News, Essence, and The Grio for her impact. Her award-winning work has earned her the Silicon Harlem C-Better Grand Prize, and her bestselling book Do I Look Like an ATM? continues to inspire families worldwide. 🌐 Learn more: https://www.wekeza.com/ 🔗 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrina-lambceo/ 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

Anthony DeSena, CEO and Co-Founder of Pax Health, joins Michael Stamatinos on The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show to share the remarkable journey of how a physical therapist from Brooklyn built one of the Northeast’s most dynamic behavioral health platforms. This is a story about discipline, compassion, and conviction. Anthony began his career treating patients one-on-one in a small physical therapy clinic. Over time, that single clinic evolved into a multistate rehabilitation network, known for its outcomes, its culture, and its human touch. As COO and Chief Development Officer, Anthony led the company through rapid expansion, private equity investment, and an eventual exit to a hospital system...learning hard-earned lessons about leadership, integration, and staying grounded in purpose through every phase of growth. Today, he’s leading Pax Health, a platform created through the merger of three behavioral health organizations backed by HCAP Partners and Hamilton Lane. The mission: to expand access for Medicaid patients, injured workers, and underserved communities, and to build a system that values both care and caregivers. In this episode, Anthony opens up about how to scale without losing your humanity, how culture becomes the real moat, and why leadership is less about managing and more about meaning. Whether you’re a healthcare founder, investor, or clinician, this conversation will challenge how you think about growth, purpose, and what it means to build something that lasts. What You’ll Learn: * The early story behind Anthony’s first clinic in Brooklyn * The unseen realities of scaling in healthcare * How to navigate private equity deals without losing your mission * Why culture, accountability, and truth-telling drive sustainable success * The future of behavioral health innovation and the growing role of technology * How Pax Health is redefining access for underserved communities Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome & Episode Introduction 03:00 – From Brooklyn beginnings to building a rehab powerhouse 06:00 – The patient story that changed everything 08:00 – Lessons learned from scaling and scars that stay 10:00 – The truth about private equity and life after the deal 14:00 – The formation of Pax Health and merging three cultures 17:00 – Building unity in a telehealth-first organization 21:00 – How Pax Health helps clinicians feel valued and connected 23:00 – The future of behavioral health and tech-enabled care 27:00 – Quick-fire round with Anthony DeSena 30:00 – Final reflections and takeaways About the Guest: Anthony DeSena is a licensed physical therapist turned healthcare executive and the CEO of Pax Health, a behavioral health platform transforming care delivery across the Northeast. Under his leadership, Pax Health is pioneering new approaches to access, culture, and clinical integration while expanding care for communities often left behind. 🌐 Learn more: https://www.paxhealth.net 🔗 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pax-health 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this episode of The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Timothy Nobles, Chief Product Officer at Integral, to explore one of the most misunderstood topics in healthcare: how compliance can actually accelerate innovation rather than slow it down. Tim shares his fascinating journey from professional musician in Nashville to leading commercial strategy at Integral, a company that is changing how healthcare and life sciences organizations securely manage sensitive data. Together, they unpack the balance between compliance and creativity, showing how ethical data use, privacy, and risk mitigation can unlock new possibilities for AI, predictive analytics, and research. In this conversation, you’ll learn: • Why compliance doesn’t have to kill innovation, it can safeguard it. • How healthcare organizations can protect data while maintaining fidelity and utility. • What “expert determination” means and how math can creatively drive data governance. • Real stories of how Integral helped launch a virtual nurse and accelerate research pipelines. • The biggest myths healthcare leaders get wrong about data privacy. • How to include compliance early in product design and innovation cycles. • What Tim learned from working with health systems, payers, and product teams across the country. Michael and Tim also talk about the parallels between music and innovation, what it means to be at “track three” of a company’s journey, when it’s all about energy, rhythm, and collaboration. Whether you’re a healthcare executive, innovator, or data leader trying to build responsibly with AI, this episode offers fresh insight into how privacy and progress can coexist and even amplify one another. About Integral: Integral helps healthcare and life science organizations safely manage and de-identify sensitive data so they can innovate faster. Their platform automates compliance while maximizing data utility, making it easier to use healthcare data for research, AI, and analytics without compromising privacy. Connect with Timothy Nobles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothynobles/ Website: https://useintegral.com 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

What if the key to innovation, leadership, and opportunity isn’t technology or capital, but people? In this episode of The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, Michael Stamatinos sits down with Pat Hedley, investor, advisor, and author of Meet 100 People, to explore how genuine connection, curiosity, and trust open doors that most people never see. Pat spent nearly 30 years at General Atlantic helping high-growth companies scale globally by focusing on people first. Today, as Founder and CEO of The Path Ahead, she continues to invest in leaders who are building companies that create lasting impact. Her message is simple but powerful. Opportunity shows up through people. This conversation dives into: * The story of how one spontaneous encounter changed the course of Pat’s life * Why showing up in person still matters in a digital world * How to build relationship equity that compounds over time * What curiosity and access have to do with innovation in healthcare * The most common mistakes people make when trying to build real connections If you’ve ever wondered how to create opportunity without compromise, this episode will challenge how you think about relationships, leadership, and growth. Subscribe to the channel for weekly conversations with leaders who are advancing healthcare, access, and innovation. Leave a comment sharing one connection that changed your life. Connect with Pat Hedley Website: www.meet100people.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/pathedley TEDx Talk: Meet 100 People – TEDxDartmouth 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Dr. Matt Cybulsky, PhD, a clinical psychologist by training, an Eagle Scout by foundation, and the Co-Founder of Tessellate, a platform designed to give physicians back clarity, control, and voice in their careers. The conversation weaves together Matt’s journey from psychology to entrepreneurship, highlighting how empathy, service, and innovation come together in his work. More than a founder story, this episode is a reminder that healthcare transformation begins with people, purpose, and the courage to reimagine what’s possible. Viewers and listeners will hear: * Psychology as a foundation for innovation: How years of studying human behavior and decision-making gave Matt a unique lens for building platforms and organizations. He discusses why listening in the silences reveals truths about healthcare culture that are often left unspoken. * The influence of Scouting and service: Matt reflects on his experience as an Eagle Scout, where he learned lessons in discipline, resilience, and community, lessons that continue to shape his leadership and outlook today. * The Tessellate origin story: Born out of late-night conversations and shared frustrations, Tessellate has grown into a physician-first platform that is more than early-stage ideas. Matt explains how it is already functioning as a live system, aligning physicians with opportunities that match their values, skills, and goals. * The balance of empathy and data: As both a psychologist and an entrepreneur working with AI, Matt unpacks the tension between human intuition and algorithmic decision-making — and where those two worlds collide or reinforce one another. * AI hype vs. reality: From “AI toothbrushes” to overblown promises of curing chronic disease, Matt offers a grounded view of what artificial intelligence can realistically deliver in healthcare, and where its most immediate impact might be felt. * Relationships as the driver of innovation: Matt shares how relationship equity has shaped his career, including a pivotal moment at the Harvard Club that redefined how he builds networks, communities, and opportunities. * This conversation highlights the threads of Matt’s life — psychology, scouting, entrepreneurship, and innovation — and shows how they converge in Tessellate’s mission to empower physicians and reshape healthcare’s future. 🔗 Learn more about Tessellate: https://www.t8health.com 📌 Connect with Dr. Matt Cybulsky on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybulsky 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

On this episode of The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with James Wallace, innovator, executive, author, and senior researcher at Harvard Business School for an in-depth conversation about the future of healthcare, the rise of precision medicine, and the role of AI in reshaping how we deliver care. James has built a career at the crossroads of science, technology, and healthcare, and his work spans multiple industries. He is the Founder of The Wellesley Group, a senior researcher at Harvard Business School, and the former CEO of DecisionRx, a company that integrated pharmacogenomics, lab data, and patient engagement into a single precision medicine platform. He is also the author of Precision Medicine: AI and the Science of Personalized Healthcare, a book that blends compelling patient stories with rigorous analysis to show how personalized care can address the healthcare system’s triple crisis of cost, access, and quality. But James’s story doesn’t stop there. His career has also included leadership roles at AmeriLife, TWG Capital, and Anthem, along with a remarkable detour into aerospace as Vice President of Business Development at SpaceX, where he managed a 52-mission launch manifest during a pivotal growth phase. Today, his research and advisory work extend across five continents through the GENiE Group, influencing how healthcare policy and delivery models are evolving worldwide. This episode is not just about frameworks or technology. It’s about the people behind the change. James shares stories from his book including patients like Michael, Jennifer, Emily, Amy, and Susan that bring the concepts of precision medicine to life. These narratives reveal what’s at stake for real people, while offering a roadmap for leaders ready to move beyond “one-size-fits-all” medicine. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: * The personal journey of James Wallace: from Bain & Company to Anthem, to founding The Wellesley Group, to leading DecisionRx, and even a chapter at SpaceX * Behind the book: why James wrote Precision Medicine: AI and the Science of Personalized Healthcare, and the patient stories that made it unforgettable * How precision medicine is uniquely positioned to solve healthcare’s cost, access, and quality crisis * The promise and pitfalls of AI in healthcare...what’s real, what’s hype, and what leaders need to focus on now * Lessons from private equity boardrooms on scaling healthcare innovations without losing sight of impact * Insights from global healthcare systems and what the U.S. can learn from models that are already working overseas * Why policy conversations matter just as much as technology when it comes to making precision medicine real * Leadership lessons James carried from SpaceX into healthcare and how thinking like a rocket company can help health systems move faster * The one challenge James issues to healthcare leaders, innovators, and investors what he believes they should do tomorrow to create ripple effects across the system 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

What if patients paid $0 out-of-pocket and everyone still won? In this powerful episode of The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with James Millaway, Co-Founder and CEO of ZERO Health (formerly The Zero Card, Inc.), to unpack how a radically different healthcare model is quietly transforming the way employers and employees access care. They explore how a radically transparent, $0 out-of-pocket model is disrupting the traditional benefits ecosystem from the inside out. Drawing from his background across every layer of healthcare—payer, provider, consultant, and employer—Millaway breaks down why the system isn’t broken. It’s functioning exactly as it was designed. And that’s the problem. This conversation demonstrates real-world healthcare innovation in motion. Zero theory. No jargon. Just hard-earned insights and practical wisdom from one of the most respected names in employer-led benefits transformation. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: * The real story behind the $12,000 ear procedure that launched ZERO Health * How bundled, direct contracts are negotiated with providers across the country * Why transparency is more dangerous to the legacy system than disruption * How ZERO Health achieves 30–50% savings for employers while delivering care at no cost to members * Why removing financial barriers improves both outcomes and trust * How healthcare systems are designed to push patients to the highest-cost setting * What employers need to understand about their role in fixing healthcare * The one mindset shift every health entrepreneur needs to make before they build About James Millaway: James is a nationally recognized leader in healthcare innovation. Formerly an executive in integrated health systems and regional HMOs, he has been named one of Forbes' “Most Innovative Benefits Leaders” and was selected as a “Top 40 Consultant Under 40” by Business Insurance. He co-authored early frameworks for Health Rosetta, contributed to the “95 Theses for a New Health Ecosystem,” and has been featured in books like Cracking Health Costs and The CEO’s Guide to Restoring the American Dream. His company, ZERO Health, delivers a bundled, tech-enabled benefits model that restores alignment between cost, quality, and access. With an NPS of 94 and growing adoption across the U.S., ZERO is proving that the future of care is simple, human, and transparent. Website: https://zero.health LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-g-millaway-96161311 Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 03:10 – The $12,000 moment that changed everything 10:00 – How to negotiate bundled pricing with providers 14:20 – Member stories that prove patients will change behavior 17:00 – Building a data-first company before building a healthcare company 22:00 – The truth behind PPO discounts and fake “savings” 28:00 – How benefits signal company culture 32:00 – What James would do if he ran HHS for 48 hours 34:00 – Advice for the next generation of healthcare entrepreneurs #employerbenefits #healthcareinnovation #valuebasedcare #TransparentHealthcare #bundledpayments 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

What does it really take to lead with courage, clarity, and conviction...especially in one of the most overlooked sectors of healthcare? In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, Cristina Negrón-Oliveri, MHA, joins host Michael Stamatinos for a powerful behind-the-scenes look at what operational leadership looks like in the real world of community health. Cristina serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Bucksport Regional Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in rural Maine. Her leadership spans across primary care operations, population health, clinical systems, and patient access. But what sets her apart is how she executes—quietly, consistently, and with deep empathy for the teams and patients she serves. This episode is a must-listen for healthcare operators, innovators, FQHC executives, and leaders in rural care delivery. Topics Covered in This Episode * The operational reality of running an FQHC in rural America * How Cristina navigates complex team dynamics and cultural transformation * What real innovation looks like when resources are limited * A behind-the-scenes look at referral workflows, data-driven decision-making, and change management * The role of empathy in conflict resolution and high-stakes leadership * How Bucksport Regional is addressing patient access, care delays, and provider shortages * The truth about adopting technology in rural healthcare settings * When and how to say no to grants, vendors, or “shiny object” solutions * Building operational trust through peer-to-peer leadership and strategic delegation What You’ll Walk Away With * A clear understanding of how to lead change in community health settings * New ways to think about team culture, patient access, and care delivery innovation * Real-world examples of data use, process improvement, and referral management that you can apply in your organization * A renewed respect for the quiet leadership it takes to run healthcare systems from the ground up * Insights into how to balance empathy with execution, especially in rural and resource-constrained environments Connect with Cristina & Bucksport Regional Health Center LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crisoliveri/ Organization Website: https://www.bucksportregionalhealthcenter.org 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. #ruralhealth #healthcare #FQHC #Bucksport Regional Health Center #operationalefficiency #patientaccess #processimprovement #Federally Qualified Health Centers #ruralhealthinnovation #healthequity Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/ #HealthcareInnovation #RuralHealth #ValueBasedCare

When the traditional levers for growth no longer move the needle, what comes next? In this episode, Michael Stamatinos sits down with Bo Wilkes, a healthcare strategist who has spent nearly 15 years inside the machinery of a traditional health system and is now reshaping the way Ballad Health approaches innovation, investment, and rural transformation. Bo leads the Ballad Health Innovation Center and serves as President of Ballad Ventures. He’s navigating the intersection of cultural change, capital deployment, and execution in one of the most challenging environments in healthcare: rural Appalachia. This conversation peels back the curtain on what it actually takes to reimagine care delivery while staying grounded in the operational realities of a 21-hospital system. Whether you're a venture-backed founder, a hospital executive, or just someone who cares about the future of healthcare in overlooked markets, this episode delivers clarity without the corporate gloss. What You’ll Learn in This Episode * Why hospital margin compression is no longer just a financial problem, but a signal that legacy structures are under stress * How Ballad moved from process redesign to embedding innovation as an organizational capability * The backstory behind the LifeFlow rollout from 410 Medical and how it became a systemwide success story * What “Innovation 3.0” looks like inside a rural nonprofit health system * How Ballad Ventures is aligning capital investment with clinical and strategic ROI * Why Bo believes rural hospitals are more than providers of care—they are economic engines for their regions * The unglamorous but essential work of aligning departments, operators, and governance around long-term strategy * How Bo and his team are using innovation, venture, and strategic risk to reshape care delivery, cost structures, and access What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 0:00 – Intro 2:45 – What growing up in the South taught Bo about building trust 6:12 – Why most “innovation” feels like theater and how Ballad is doing it differently 10:50 – Turning a 21-hospital system into an agile operator 17:00 – The tension between entrepreneurial speed and enterprise-scale precision 23:35 – Why Bo sees growth as a downstream effect of alignment 30:20 – Behind the scenes of Ballad Ventures: investing in ideas that reshape care 39:45 – Bo’s faith journey, leadership perspective, and what keeps him grounded 52:00 – Why small, consistent actions often matter more than big bets 59:00 – What’s next: redefining the scorecard in rural health innovation Who Should Watch This Episode: Health system executives and board members Innovation and transformation leaders Rural hospital administrators Strategic venture and corporate development professionals Payers and policymakers focused on access and value Entrepreneurs building into healthcare ecosystems Investors interested in mission-aligned capital deployment 📣 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE If this conversation moved you, challenged your thinking, or sparked an idea, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more episodes with healthcare leaders who are not just thinking differently, they’re building differently. About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/ #HealthcareInnovation #RuralHealth #ValueBasedCare

What does it take to move a healthcare idea from paper to product, and from product to public market success? Greg Downey has lived it and built the playbook along the way. In this episode of The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Greg Downey, Managing Director of Purim Ventures, for a rare behind-the-scenes conversation that explores what it really takes to scale innovation inside one of the most complex industries in the world. Over the past 25 years, Greg has helped startups, growth-stage companies, and even publicly traded firms unlock over $550M in private financings, generate hundreds of millions in revenue, and build companies that actually work for patients, for physicians, and for investors. His journey has included executive roles at J&J, exits to GHX, category-defining work at OrthoPediatrics, and the creation of Capital Mastermind, a system that has helped entrepreneurs secure more than $1B in term sheets. What makes Greg’s story different isn’t just the track record; it’s the way he navigates with conviction, pattern recognition, and deep operational rigor across commercialization, capital strategy, and market access. What you’ll get in this episode: * The story of how Greg hacked his way into Johnson & Johnson’s top ranks by creating his own marketing materials and accidentally triggering a national rollout * A powerful lens on how to scale without blowing up infrastructure — and why “going national” too early can kill your company * The NoInk story: how a small mobile software startup from Indiana ended up supplying the world’s leading med device companies * Real talk on the emotional aftermath of exits...what founders aren’t prepared for, and why IPOs don’t always deliver what they promise * How family offices differ from venture capital and why most founders overlook them completely * What it means to truly de-risk early-stage deals from an operator’s lens (hint: it’s not just about the pitch deck) * Why Greg has dedicated a significant part of his career to helping veterans get access to cutting-edge medical innovations, and what’s still broken in the VA system * Greg also shares the values driving his work today, from mentoring his own daughters into financially independent entrepreneurs, to rethinking the next generation of education through apprenticeship and hands-on learning. Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome and intro 04:30 - Greg’s first “hacked” success at Johnson & Johnson 08:00 - Lessons from scaling too fast 10:30 - Selling software before it existed (the NoInk story) 15:00 - Exit regret and emotional realities 20:00 - Why capital is a team sport 25:00 - Debunking the myths of family offices 29:00 - Innovation in the VA and serving veterans 33:00 - Greg’s due diligence engine 39:00 - Legacy, mentorship, and what comes next 🎧 Listen, take notes, and let it challenge how you think about innovation in healthcare. 🛎 Subscribe for weekly conversations with leaders shaping the future of healthcare through action, not just ideas. 🔗 Visit: https://www.purimventures.com 🔗 Connect with Greg Downey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-downey-2605212/ 📌 Drop a comment below: What part of Greg's story resonated with you most? #AHIShow #MichaelStamatinos #HealthcareInnovation #VentureCapital #StartupWisdom #GregDowney #AccessGame #Founders #FamilyOffices #PurimVentures #CapitalMastermind About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

What does it take to redesign one of healthcare’s most broken and overlooked processes without asking clinicians to do more? In this powerful episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, Michael Stamatinos sits down with Lindsay Joseph, CPA and former hospital CFO turned startup founder, to unpack the human, operational, and cultural realities behind care transitions and what it takes to fix them. Lindsay spent years on the inside, leading financial and operational turnarounds at some of the most complex health systems in America. From advising large systems at PwC to walking the halls of a Level 1 trauma center in Detroit as CFO, she’s lived the pressure, the broken handoffs, and the burnout. Now, she’s building BedConnect, a stealth-mode health tech company rooted in a simple premise: streamline post-acute transitions without adding more work to the people already stretched thin. You’ll discover: * Why Detroit was more than a hometown...it was a proving ground * How she earned trust as a CFO by rounding with charge nurses and teaching Excel shortcuts * The difference between cutting costs and building long-term sustainability * What scarcity vs. growth mindsets look like in real-world hospital leadership * Why point-solution fatigue is real and how BedConnect breaks that mold * Her surprising pivot into entrepreneurship, and the nonprofit detour that helped her get clear on her purpose * How her team co-built the product with frontline clinicians, not in a vacuum Lindsay brings the discipline of a CPA, the heart of a caregiver, and the lens of a seasoned operator who still picks up the phone when friends say, “My father-in-law ended up in the wrong facility. Can you help?” This episode is about operational clarity, authentic leadership, and building with integrity. If you’re a healthcare executive, innovator, operator, or just someone who believes we can do better by patients and providers, don’t miss this conversation. 🎧 Listen, take notes, and let it challenge how you think about innovation in healthcare. 🛎 Subscribe for weekly conversations with leaders shaping the future of healthcare through action, not just ideas. 🔗 Follow BedConnect: https://bedconnect.health 🔗 Connect with Lindsay Joseph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-a-joseph 📌 Drop a comment below: What part of Lindsay’s story resonated with you most? #AHIShow #MichaelStamatinos #LindsayJoseph #BedConnect #CareTransitions #HealthTech #WomenInHealthTech #Leadership #InnovationInHealthcare #PostAcuteCare #PatientExperience #CFOtoFounder About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this powerful episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos welcomes Dr. April Joy Damian, a national voice in health equity, systems transformation, and trauma-informed care. Dr. Damian currently serves as Vice President and Director of the Weitzman Institute, a national research, education, and policy center focused on advancing primary care innovation for underserved communities. She is also a Senior Scholar for Health Equity at AcademyHealth and holds a faculty position at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The conversation weaves together Dr. Damian’s personal story and professional expertise—tracing a path from her upbringing as the daughter of immigrants in San Francisco to her national policy leadership today. With clarity and compassion, she explores the human cost of system failures, the power of community-rooted research, and the tension between statistical significance and lived experience. Viewers will hear Dr. Damian share: *A personal account of how her father’s struggles with mental health and isolation first sparked her interest in public health and systemic inequity *A transformative moment during the Freddie Gray uprising in Baltimore that reframed her view on the urgency of research-to-policy translation *How she led trauma-informed training across Baltimore's city workforce, culminating in a citywide policy mandate inspired by her doctoral work *A powerful story about a 10-week youth resilience program, where restorative justice and mindfulness helped create unexpected community among students from very different backgrounds *How the Weitzman Institute currently supports over 40,000 healthcare professionals at 1,200 health centers, reaching more than 2 million patients across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Guam *Her experience in national policy-making rooms and why creating space for community voices is essential—not just symbolic *The most misunderstood aspects of health equity and why systems, not just individuals, must be held accountable Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 02:00 – Growing up in San Francisco and early influences 06:00 – From Berkeley to Hopkins: academic formation and turning points 10:00 – Trauma-informed systems and the Baltimore uprising 15:00 – Youth healing, restorative justice, and unexpected belonging 21:00 – The national footprint and philosophy of the Weitzman Institute 26:00 – Bridging silos: research, education, policy, and clinical practice 32:00 – What really happens in policy-shaping rooms 36:00 – Leading with values: faith, community, and resilience 41:00 – A closing reflection on grief, therapy, and legacy About Dr. April Joy Damian Dr. Damian is a psychiatric epidemiologist and nationally recognized expert in health equity, social determinants of health, and mixed-methods research. She previously held leadership roles at the National Quality Forum, co-led the NIH RECOVER Initiative’s Health Equity Workgroup, and has been appointed to the National Academies’ Board on Children, Youth, and Families. She is a Truman Scholar, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation award recipient, and an unwavering advocate for system-level change grounded in community voice. 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/apriljoydamian/ 🌐 Learn more: https://www.weitzmaninstitute.org/ About the Show The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show is hosted by Michael Stamatinos, a nationally recognized connector, strategist, and advocate for innovation with purpose. Each week, Michael interviews healthcare leaders who are driving meaningful change—highlighting stories of access, resilience, equity, and transformation. The AHI Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. 🔗 Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that move beyond theory and into the heart of what’s really possible in healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

What if your child’s prescription had a one in three chance of containing an error? That is the reality in the United States today, and most parents have no idea. In this powerful episode of The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Dr. Jena Quinn, PharmD, BCPPS and Lyle Mioduszewski, RN, the co-founders of Perfecting Peds. Together, they are on a mission to fix one of healthcare’s most overlooked problems: pediatric medication management. Jena and Lyle share the alarming truth that there are only 1,700 board-certified pediatric pharmacists in the entire country. This shortage means that most children’s prescriptions are filled without the specialist oversight that could catch dosing errors, dangerous drug interactions, or outdated treatment plans. The result is that kids are often treated like “small adults” in a system that was never designed for them. In this episode, you will learn: * Why innovation in pediatrics has lagged behind Medicare Advantage and senior care * How Perfecting Peds embeds pediatric pharmacists directly into care teams to improve safety and outcomes * The statistic from a national study that validated their mission * The role of technology in closing the gap and scaling expertise to more children * Patient stories, including how one child went from 100 seizures a day to seizure-free in six months * How a single hospital’s belief in their vision helped them prove their impact and grow This is not just a discussion about a startup. It is a front-row look at how proximity, listening, and relentless focus on the patient can spark change where the system has been silent for decades. If you are a parent, a healthcare professional, or someone who believes innovation should reach every corner of care, not just the most profitable ones, this episode will challenge and inspire you. 📌 Learn more about Perfecting Peds: Website: https://perfectingpeds.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/perfectingpeds Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perfectingpeds #Pediatrics #HealthcareInnovation #Pharmacy #MedicationSafety #AdvancingHealthcareInnovation The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

This might be the most hopeful conversation of the year. In this episode of The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Sarah Elizabeth Ippel, the visionary Founder and Executive Director of the Academy for Global Citizenship and the Cultivate Collective. At just 23 years old, Sarah Elizabeth biked to the Chicago Board of Education with a 400-page proposal and a vision that many called unrealistic. She wasn’t looking to improve the system—she came to reimagine it from the ground up. What emerged is the Academy for Global Citizenship, a public K through 8 school on the Southwest side of Chicago that doesn’t just teach students—it nourishes them. Students harvest vegetables in school gardens, eat farm-to-table meals, practice mindfulness, and learn core subjects through the lens of climate justice, global citizenship, and regenerative design. But her work extends far beyond the school walls. Sarah Elizabeth also founded Cultivate Collective, a six-acre net-positive community campus that integrates early childhood education, pediatric care, green job training, behavioral health, urban agriculture, teaching kitchens, and food access. Every element is built on a single foundational truth: community is medicine. In this wide-ranging conversation, Michael and Sarah Elizabeth explore: 0:00 - The origin story: a bike helmet, a bold charter, and a vision 6:18 - Lessons from visiting over 100 schools around the world 10:34 - How trust was earned long before any data proved it 16:16 - A story of an AGC graduate now shaping global finance 21:01 - What it feels like to walk into Cultivate Collective for the first time 25:54 - Partnering with experts across health, food, and education 29:30 - Why AGC chose open-source innovation over replication 35:23 - The rituals Sarah Elizabeth uses to stay grounded through adversity 37:26 - How listeners can experience the work firsthand or support its growth Viewers will hear how: * Sarah Elizabeth built an ecosystem of trust in a place where trust doesn’t come easy * She scaled a model that blends education, health, food, and economic opportunity * Public schools can lead innovation and treat equity as infrastructure * Culture, love, and audacity can be designed into the very architecture of a community Michael Stamatinos, known for drawing out the heart behind innovation, guides this conversation with curiosity, depth, and clarity. Whether you work in healthcare, education, economic development, or policy...or simply believe we’re capable of better systems, this story is an invitation to rethink what’s possible. To learn more or get involved: Academy for Global Citizenship – https://agcchicago.org Cultivate Collective – https://cultivate-collective.org If this conversation moves you, do not keep it to yourself. Share it. Comment. Bring the story to someone who needs to hear what’s possible when vision meets commitment. Subscribe to The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show for more conversations with real leaders building the future of access and equity from the ground up. #AccessMatters #HealthcareInnovation #PublicHealth #EducationInnovation #CultivateCollective #CommunityHealth #LeadershipInAction #SystemChange #healthcareinnovation The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Rachel Kern, Senior Vice President at First Trust Capital Partners, for a candid and compelling conversation that explores the real dynamics of venture capital, healthcare innovation, and what it takes to build companies that endure. Rachel brings a rare blend of academic curiosity, operational insight, and straight-shooting practicality to the world of healthcare investing. With a background in history, international relations, and economics, Rachel approaches venture capital as a long game rooted in pattern recognition, strategic empathy, and the ability to distinguish signal from noise in a sector full of hype. This episode goes beyond the pitch decks and capital raises. Together, Michael and Rachel explore the hard truths no one talks about; the founders who aren't the right fit to scale their own companies, the innovations that die not because they're wrong but because the system refuses to adapt, and the deeply human side of being a venture investor in a field where decisions have real-world consequences for patients and providers alike. Topics covered include: * How studying history gave Rachel an edge in identifying market patterns and avoiding strategic pitfalls * The red flags investors spot in the first five minutes of a pitch—and the constructive friction that makes founders worth backing * The emotional and professional complexity of navigating founder transitions * Why great companies sometimes fail simply because they’re too early for the system they’re trying to change * The difference between performative lists and real structural progress for women in venture capital * The evolving role of investors in supporting lonely, overwhelmed founders through the "Death Valley" stage of early growth * The importance of community and interconnectivity across portfolio companies * Rachel’s long-term investment theses on Medicaid innovation, consumer-centric models of care, and value-based infrastructure * Her take on AI in healthcare...what’s real, what’s noise, and where the industry should proceed with caution What she would tell her 20-year-old self about curiosity, failure, and building a career that aligns with purpose Rachel also opens up about her own mentors, her dream side hustle curating music for television, and what she wants her legacy in venture capital to be; less about deals, and more about the founders she’s empowered to create real impact in healthcare. This episode is required listening for healthcare founders, early-stage investors, operators navigating transformation, and anyone who wants an unfiltered look at how decisions are really made behind closed doors. To learn more about Rachel and First Trust Capital Partners, visit: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-kern-3530a526 First Trust Capital Partners: https://www.ftcp.com The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

On this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos welcomes Dr. Navin Goyal, MD, a trained anesthesiologist who left the comfort of clinical medicine to become an entrepreneur, founder, and investor who is helping shape the future of healthcare innovation through purpose-driven capital. Dr. Goyal is the co-founder of LOUD Capital, an alternative investment firm that blends traditional venture capital with a human-centered, values-first approach. The firm backs people, not just business plans, and is known for supporting mission-driven founders who often operate outside of the spotlight but are solving real-world problems at scale. In this episode, Dr. Goyal shares the story of how he transitioned from the OR to the boardroom, what it took to walk away from a stable career, and why that choice was never about escape, it was about alignment. He talks openly about the uncertainty, the fear, and the excitement that come with building something from scratch, especially as a clinician with no formal business background. Michael and Navin explore the deeper emotional and strategic dimensions of early-stage investing, including the power of belief, the importance of surrounding founders with the right operational support, and the role values play when companies face tough quarters. Dr. Goyal unpacks how he thinks about pattern recognition, why he avoids chasing hype, and how being based in the Midwest has helped him uncover overlooked but exceptional founders. The conversation also dives into Dr. Goyal’s identity as an underdog. He explains what fuels him, why he believes people with good hearts should reach positions of influence, and what still feels unfinished in his journey. Along the way, he shares hard-earned lessons from failed partnerships, fundraising setbacks, and the inner work required to keep showing up with integrity. Whether you're a founder, a physician exploring new paths, or someone who cares about building systems that work for people, this episode offers a blueprint for what it looks like to lead with clarity, invest with empathy, and build something that lasts. What to expect: * Why leaving medicine was an act of alignment, not rebellion * How LOUD Capital redefines value creation by supporting founders beyond the check * The underestimated role of emotional support and belief in early-stage investing * Lessons from setbacks, stalled relationships, and capital-raising challenges * Why more physicians should become investors * What drives Dr. Goyal’s work, and what he hopes to leave behind To learn more about Dr. Navin Goyal and the work happening at LOUD Capital, visit www.loud.vc. There, you'll find insights into how the firm is backing early-stage companies that blend profit with purpose, along with resources for founders, investors, and future leaders who believe business can be a force for good. You can also follow Dr. Goyal on LinkedIn for thoughtful reflections on leadership, investing, and building systems that truly serve people. https://www.linkedin.com/in/navingoyalmd/ This is more than venture capital, it’s a movement built around people, belief, and long-term impact. Subscribe to the AHI Show to hear more real conversations with the leaders, builders, and believers shaping the future of healthcare, on their terms. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome and Introduction 02:15 – The Moment That Made Leaving Medicine Inevitable 06:45 – Launching LOUD Capital and Building with Values 11:20 – Capital vs. Belief: What Founders Really Need 15:45 – Breaking the Traditional VC Mold 20:10 – Navigating Rough Quarters with Empathy 24:30 – What Setbacks Teach You That Wins Cannot 27:15 – The Underdog Lens and Leadership at Scale 29:40 – What Still Feels Unfinished 31:00 – Final Reflections and Takeaways The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation, Michael Stamatinos welcomes Dr. Trisha Henwood, Chief Clinical Officer at Jefferson Health, to the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show for a masterclass in clinical leadership, system transformation, and values-driven innovation. With responsibility for the clinical operations of a 32-hospital system, Dr. Henwood is pioneering what clinical excellence looks like in a world shaped by complexity, constrained resources, and the need for rapid yet thoughtful change. Her leadership has been tested and proven in the most demanding environments, including Jefferson’s nationally recognized OnPoint program and her global health work responding to Ebola and COVID-19. This episode explores how to scale innovation with intention, design sustainable systems of care, and lead teams through uncertainty with clarity, conviction, and compassion. Michael and Dr. Henwood dive deep into the operating system behind high-performing health organizations and what it takes to build a culture that thrives, even under pressure. In this episode, you’ll learn: * What it truly means to lead through crisis, and why composure is more effective than control * How Jefferson Health operationalizes resiliency engineering across teams and functions * Why understanding a problem deeply is the first step in driving sustainable innovation * How working in resource-limited global environments shaped Dr. Henwood’s approach to care delivery in the U.S. * What makes innovation "implementation ready" and how to recognize the right time to scale * The importance of interdisciplinary teams, and how trust and relationship equity accelerate progress * A thoughtful take on whether dashboards, strategic retreats, and leadership books are useful or distractions * Practical advice Dr. Henwood gives to rising leaders, especially those feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about their path Dr. Henwood also shares how parenting, mentorship, and years of front-line experience have shaped her ability to lead complex systems with grace and precision. This is a conversation grounded in both global perspective and deep operational expertise. Whether you are a health system executive, policy leader, clinician, or innovator working to improve the future of care, this conversation is rich with insight and grounded wisdom. Timestamps 0:00 – Welcome and introduction 2:40 – Early global health work and pivotal moments 5:45 – Innovating with limited resources 10:00 – Creating consistency while honoring local nuance 13:30 – Resiliency engineering at Jefferson Health 20:00 – Leading through challenge and staying composed 24:00 – Designing for sustainability and system-wide change 32:00 – Overrated or underrated: leadership tools and strategies 35:30 – The evolving role of mentorship 38:00 – Closing thoughts and where to learn more If this conversation resonates, consider: Clicking the Like button to support the show Subscribing so you never miss an episode Sharing this episode with colleagues or peers leading change in healthcare Thank you for being part of this community. Together, we’re advancing healthcare by amplifying the voices of those who are doing the work with purpose and integrity. The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this episode of The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Shara Cohen, JD, CEO of Carallel, for a candid and deeply resonant conversation about a topic that is far too often overlooked: caregiving. For more than two decades, Shara has been at the forefront of efforts to redesign how healthcare organizations support people, not just patients, but the often invisible network of caregivers who are instrumental to achieving better health outcomes. Shara brings a unique blend of operational insight and personal mission to her work. Today, she leads Carallel, a company purpose-built to support caregivers with empathy, guidance, and the tools they need to navigate the complexity of healthcare. This episode is an exploration of what it means to center innovation around real human experiences. It’s a look into why caregivers are not just adjunct players in the system, but rather a hidden workforce that has been overlooked, undervalued, and under-resourced for far too long. Shara argues that caregiving is not just a personal responsibility; it’s a structural force that, if activated intentionally, can move the needle on equity, access, resilience, and ultimately, performance. Together, Michael and Shara unpack difficult truths: how healthcare often pays lip service to the role of caregivers without meaningfully supporting them, how executives themselves often hide their own caregiving struggles, and how this gap is costing the system more than it realizes...financially, emotionally, and clinically. They discuss how Carallel is building the scaffolding for a different kind of healthcare experience, one where personalized support for caregivers is not a luxury, but an essential layer of care delivery. Key themes in this episode include: * The emotional labor of caregiving and why it deserves recognition as a core part of care delivery * Why patient engagement strategies fall short without addressing the ecosystem surrounding the patient * How caregivers are the original remote patient monitors—present, attuned, and often the first to notice early signals of decline * The cultural shift required among health plans and health systems to stop assigning responsibility to caregivers and start enabling them * The economic rationale for investing in caregiver support—and the missed opportunity for plans and providers who fail to act * What Shara has learned about leadership, trust, and quiet influence after two decades of impact across startups and global enterprises Throughout the conversation, Shara’s insights reflect the lived experience of someone who has both built systems and walked beside people struggling to navigate them. Her leadership is grounded, informed by a deep personal mission, and committed to reshaping healthcare in ways that truly matter. Whether you’re a health plan executive, clinician, caregiver, or someone trying to create change from inside the system, this conversation will challenge you to think differently about what innovation really looks like and who it’s for. If the conversation resonated, don’t let it end here. Share the episode. Start a dialogue inside your organization. Reach out to someone you know who might be carrying the invisible load of caregiving and ask: How can I help? Healthcare innovation begins with presence, and presence begins with listening. To follow Carallel’s work, learn more, or get in touch with Shara and her team, visit www.carallel.com Connect with Shara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shara-cohen/ To stay up to date with new episodes of The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, subscribe and follow host Michael Stamatinos on LinkedIn and YouTube. This platform is not just about content; it’s about building a community of leaders committed to access, equity, and meaningful change. The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this episode of The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Dr. Joshua Tamayo-Sarver, ER physician, PhD in epidemiology, and VP of Innovation at Inflect Health, for a deep and refreshing conversation at the intersection of clinical care, technology, and entrepreneurial grit. Dr. Tamayo-Sarver is not just a practicing emergency physician with a PhD in epidemiology. He’s also the Vice President of Innovation at Inflect Health, the innovation arm of Vituity, which supports over 700 hospitals across the United States. From clinical settings to startup boards, from patent filings to patient care, Josh is one of those few people who genuinely operates across every layer of healthcare, technical, clinical, operational, and strategic. In this conversation, you’ll get a seat at the table with someone who’s not theorizing from the sidelines, but actively building and deploying solutions in high-stakes environments. Highlights from this episode include: * How a 16-year-old coding a billing tool ended up becoming one of healthcare’s most respected clinician-innovators * What it means to live in two worlds, emergency medicine and long-horizon innovation, and how they inform each other * The cautionary tale of a highly accurate cardiac prediction algorithm that failed because it didn’t fit physician workflow * Why the secret to scalable innovation isn’t more tech, it’s smarter integration into natural clinical decision-making * The inside story of building a new ambient documentation system that reached 75–80% adoption without onboarding * How Josh thinks about partnering with startups, identifying "bleeding neck" problems, and deciding when to build vs. buy * Tactical advice for frontline clinicians who want to innovate but aren’t data scientists, coders, or venture-backed founders Josh also shares the emotional story of a patient he saved as a newborn, and encountered again 10 years later. It's a powerful reminder of why the hard work of transformation is worth doing. If you’ve ever struggled to bridge the gap between vision and execution in healthcare, this episode offers a masterclass in how to do it with empathy, rigor, and meaningful scale. Connect and Learn More: Learn about Inflect Health: https://inflect.health Learn about Vituity: https://www.vituity.com Connect with Dr. Joshua Tamayo-Sarver on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-tamayo-sarver-md-phd About the Show: Hosted by Michael Stamatinos, The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show features intimate conversations with healthcare leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and changemakers who are rewriting the rules of what's possible. Our goal is to create a platform for real, nuanced dialogue—where stories of transformation, failure, and progress can be shared for the benefit of a wider community. If this episode sparked something for you, please consider sharing it with a clinician, founder, or executive who’s pushing for change. These conversations are meant to move beyond the echo chamber, and your support helps make that happen. To stay up to date on future episodes, make sure to subscribe and turn on notifications. The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this episode of The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos welcomes Justin Quall, founder and CEO of Oler Health, for a candid conversation about one of healthcare’s most overlooked yet mission-critical challenges: documentation overload in post-acute and long-term care. Oler Health isn’t building flashy tech for headlines. It’s building infrastructure that works. In a fragmented, high-stakes system where clinicians are buried in PDFs and forced to choose between paperwork and patient care, Justin and his team are creating tools that restore sanity, precision, and time to the clinical workflow. Drawing from his own experience as an EMT, Justin shares how firsthand exposure to the chaos of discharge paperwork sparked a deeper commitment to solve the real problem, not by removing humans from the loop, but by empowering them with tools that actually make their work easier and more impactful. Throughout the conversation, Michael and Justin explore: * Why post-acute care is quietly collapsing under the weight of unstructured data * How Oler Health helps skilled nursing teams uncover critical insights buried in 200+ page referral packets * The decision to bootstrap rather than raise early venture capital and what that afforded the company in terms of depth, discipline, and design * What it really means to partner with customers instead of selling to them * The systems-thinking mindset is required to fix deeply entrenched problems in care coordination * Why Oler isn’t chasing AI hype but instead embracing a human-in-the-loop model that respects the clinical judgment of frontline staff Justin also opens up about the emotional and practical realities of building a healthcare startup from scratch...the long nights, the 45,000+ pages of medical records he read himself, and the importance of actually walking through the workflows you're trying to fix. This is not just a story about technology. It’s a story about focus, stewardship, and building infrastructure that works in the real world. If you’re a clinician buried in paperwork, a founder looking for product-market fit, or a health system executive trying to improve outcomes while preserving margins, this conversation will resonate. Oler Health isn’t trying to be loud. It’s trying to be useful. And in a system that rewards volume over clarity, that might be the most disruptive move of all. Follow Justin Quall on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-quall-cfa/ www.olerhealth.com New episodes drop weekly, featuring healthcare leaders, builders, and investors who are doing the hard, necessary work of reshaping healthcare from the inside out. If you find this conversation valuable, consider subscribing, sharing it with your network, or forwarding it to someone who’s facing these exact challenges. Because real change doesn’t come from noise—it comes from action. The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Dr. William Paiva, a leader who doesn’t just talk about transforming healthcare. He builds it. Piece by piece. From the ground up. As Executive Director of the Center for Health Systems Innovation at Oklahoma State University and Managing Partner of the Oklahoma Life Science Fund, Dr. Paiva has spent the last 25 years operating at the intersection of science, strategy, and capital. He’s one of the rare few who understands how to translate data into decisions and decisions into systems that last. This conversation is both deeply personal and strategically rich. Dr. Paiva shares the inflection points that shaped his journey—from his family’s immigration to the U.S., to leaving a promising academic science career for business school, to becoming a champion for rural health at a time when few others were paying attention. He also opens up about the mentors who believed in him early and how he’s now paying it forward by identifying and investing in what he calls “PSM” leaders: poor, smart, and motivated individuals who just need someone to open the door. What makes this episode different is how grounded it is in the real-world complexity of care delivery. Dr. Paiva isn’t working in the abstract. He’s embedded in the realities of rural medicine, where fragmented infrastructure, workforce shortages, and access barriers converge to form the largest health disparity in the U.S. Topics explored in this episode include: * Why rural health isn’t just a geography, it’s a perspective * The systems-level blind spots most founders and investors still have when trying to serve non-urban populations * How his team reduced no-show rates by 10% using nothing more than transportation subsidies and why that small shift created a significant revenue bump for clinics * Why building rural primary care and subspecialty capacity without adding more humans is a strategic imperative * How leveraging 63 million patient records led to an AI-driven breakthrough in diagnosing diabetic retinopathy without an ophthalmologist * The difference between work-life balance and what he calls “integration with intent” * A preview of his forthcoming book, My Life in the Middle Seat, a personal and professional manifesto for those looking to lead from the center This episode is for anyone who wants to understand how real healthcare transformation actually happens, not in boardrooms or pitch decks, but in the daily, iterative work of showing up, building trust, and solving for constraints that most overlook. Dr. Paiva offers a rare combination of operational wisdom, systems thinking, and mission clarity. Whether you’re a healthcare executive, a founder, an investor, or someone trying to design better systems, this is the kind of conversation that recalibrates your perspective. Subscribe for weekly episodes with leaders who are advancing healthcare through access, equity, and conviction, not noise. Follow William: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-paiva-8999106/ The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Dr. Orsula Knowlton, PharmD, MBA, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of GalenusRx, and one of the most influential voices in healthcare innovation and medication risk management. Dr. Knowlton brings over two decades of executive leadership, entrepreneurial insight, and clinical expertise to this powerful conversation. From co-founding Tabula Rasa HealthCare and helping capture nearly 40% of the PACE market to now pioneering advanced clinical decision support at GalenusRx, she’s on a mission to reimagine how medication risk is managed and how pharmacists contribute to care delivery at scale. Together, we explore a wide range of timely and timeless topics—from her personal journey shaped by caregiving and cultural values to the systemic blind spots that persist in healthcare. This episode isn’t about hype. It’s about what works, what’s broken, and how we fix it. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: * How a caregiver's experience at home sparked a lifelong mission in medication safety * Why adverse drug events are one of the least addressed but most damaging challenges in healthcare * How GalenusRx is using personalized analytics and pharmacogenomics to make medication safer * Why the traditional approach to drug interactions is fundamentally outdated * How Dr. Knowlton’s leadership at Tabula Rasa shaped what’s now being built at GalenusRx * The evolving role of pharmacists as trusted clinicians, not just dispensers * How to respond when you're five years ahead of market readiness Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome and episode overview 03:30 – A personal story that shaped her career in pharmacy 07:40 – How GalenusRx works, explained simply 10:38 – The problem with legacy drug safety systems 16:55 – The future role of pharmacists in healthcare 22:55 – Lessons from Tabula Rasa 26:01 – How to adapt when the market isn’t ready 31:51 – Finding purpose on the hard days 34:58 – Supporting and amplifying women in leadership 36:18 – Designing with both patients and clinicians in mind 38:00 – Closing thoughts and staying connected Why This Episode Matters: Medication safety is one of the most overlooked drivers of cost and harm in healthcare. This episode takes you beyond the headlines into the realities of what needs to change, who’s doing the work, and how we build systems that patients and clinicians can trust. Dr. Knowlton shares not just the “what,” but the “how”—including hard-earned lessons on scaling, leading, and staying grounded in purpose. Resources Mentioned: GalenusRx: https://www.galenusrx.com Connect with Dr. Knowlton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orsula-v-knowlton/ About the Show: The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show features bold conversations with leaders who are reshaping healthcare from the inside out. Hosted by Michael Stamatinos, each episode explores the people, platforms, and principles behind healthcare transformation. Subscribe to get future episodes delivered directly to your feed: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelstamatinos994 If this conversation sparked something for you, share it with your network. Mention what resonated, tag a colleague, or start a conversation around what innovation should really look like. The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos is joined by Marcus Bost, Chief Innovation Officer at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) Health, a health system rooted in Appalachia and built to serve some of the most underserved communities in the country. This isn’t a conversation about flashy technology or innovation theater. It’s about building real systems that last. Marcus brings a disciplined, data-driven approach to healthcare transformation, drawing from a career that spans UPS, pharmaceutical manufacturing, telecom, and now rural health. He shares the frameworks, philosophies, and failures that have shaped his approach to meaningful change, especially in settings where resources are limited and needs are high. From designing virtual med reconciliation workflows in rural EDs to reducing unnecessary neonatal transfers through early telemedicine pilots, Marcus walks us through the power of grounded innovation. He speaks candidly about what it means to lead from behind, how to gain clinician buy-in, and why success often depends on your ability to quietly build coalitions and ask the right questions before pushing an agenda forward. He also dives into what makes ETSU Health a fertile ground for innovation—not because of big budgets or large urban markets, but because of necessity, trust, and clarity of mission. His reflections on process improvement, lean thinking, and “finding the handle” on complex problems offer a roadmap for innovators navigating any health system, especially those in rural or resource-constrained environments. Other topics covered: * What rural health systems can teach larger organizations about agility and grit * How the “no left-hand turns” rule from UPS became a personal metaphor for operational efficiency * Why humility and structured failure are non-negotiables in innovation leadership * The importance of creating an exit strategy for every project—before you even begin * How healthcare teams can reframe “failure” as learning, and protect patient safety while experimenting * Why older adults and rural populations are more tech-savvy than the myths suggest This episode is ideal for anyone working in health system strategy, digital health, care transformation, or rural health delivery, especially those who value clarity, substance, and honest conversation over hype. Follow Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-b-26118ab/ If you found this conversation helpful, insightful, or even a bit unexpected, consider liking, subscribing to, and sharing it with a colleague. The best innovations often come from the places no one is watching. The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this thought-provoking episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos is joined by two of the most respected figures guiding the future of healthcare transformation—Dr. Andrew Hurwitz and Dr. Jeff Ballou of Mathematica. Together, they offer a front-row seat into how rigorously collected evidence, deep policy fluency, and commercial insight are being combined to address one of healthcare’s biggest challenges: how to transition from volume-based systems to truly value-based care. About the Guests: Dr. Andrew Hurwitz leads Mathematica’s Healthcare and Life Sciences Practice. His work sits at the intersection of data science, commercial strategy, and mission-driven advisory, helping private and public sector organizations convert complexity into clarity. Dr. Jeff Ballou, an economist by training and reformer by conviction, has helped design and refine some of Medicare’s most consequential alternative payment models. His unique vantage point from CMMI gives him rare insight into what’s working—and what still needs fixing. In this conversation, we cover: * Why many private ACOs misunderstand or misapply lessons from public sector models—and how Mathematica is stepping in to bridge that knowledge gap * The evolution of the Medicare Shared Savings Program and what the new “prospective trend” means for provider accountability and financial performance * The critical importance of shaping the right analytical question, before diving into any dataset * Why high-quality, research-grade data remains elusive for many organizations and what it takes to build it * The cultural and operational differences between organizations that succeed with value-based care and those that stall out * A candid exploration of the gap between belief in data and the human decisions that must follow, especially when lives are on the line * Deep reflections on personal stories, including Jeff’s moving account of his mother’s care journey, and how it shaped his approach to healthcare reform * Mathematica’s ambitious push into the private ACO space and why they believe now is the time to extend decades of public-sector experience into commercial innovation Key Themes and Insights: * ACO readiness is not one-size-fits-all. Whether you're new to value-based care or looking to optimize mature models, success depends on tailoring strategy to your organization's level of preparedness. Culture eats strategy, especially in value-based care. No model or technology will drive outcomes without committed leadership and aligned teams. Data is only as useful as the workflow it informs. Too many organizations build the “bridge halfway across the river,” failing to integrate analytics into real decision-making moments. Policy and payment reform can only go so far without execution. Mathematica’s team emphasizes not just theory, but tactical, scalable, on-the-ground problem-solving. What sets this episode apart: Rather than a generic discussion of healthcare trends, this episode offers a deep, nuanced, and often emotional exploration of what it really takes to lead transformation in a system that resists change. It blends technical rigor with human-centered thinking, and provides rare access to two advisors helping reshape the scaffolding of how care is delivered and valued. Connect with Mathematica: Website: https://www.mathematica.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mathematica/ Stay Connected with the Show: New episodes drop weekly featuring executives, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers working at the intersection of innovation, access, and leadership in healthcare. To subscribe and explore more episodes, visit: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelstamatinos994 If this conversation sparked new thinking, share it. Your network might benefit from hearing the same insights. Leave a comment below and let us know what resonated most. The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

What happens when a biomedical engineer listens deeply to patients and builds from that place? In this episode of The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, Michael Stamatinos interviews Sydney Robinson, CEO and co-founder of Vessl Prosthetics, who is on a mission to solve one of the most persistent yet overlooked challenges in prosthetic care: socket fit. This is not your typical medtech founder story. Sydney didn’t set out to build a company. She was planning to join a major medical device manufacturer. However, one powerful conversation with an amputee changed her trajectory entirely. That patient told her, “I’d rather suffer than wear socks.” In that moment, Sydney realized the standard of care for socket comfort was unacceptable and that someone needed to do something about it. In this raw and honest conversation, you’ll hear: * The origin story of Vessl Prosthetics and the defining moment that launched it * A breakdown of what a prosthetic socket actually is and why socket fit is such a critical and painful issue for amputees * Why Vessl is intentionally NOT over-engineering with flashy AI, and instead building what patients actually want: reliability, simplicity, and dignity * The brutal truths of fundraising in medtech and how Sydney navigated setbacks and near-misses * A window into the culture of Vessl—where grit, humor, and shared mission drive the team forward * How Sydney balances being a first-time founder with being a learner, builder, and emotionally grounded leader The path ahead for Vessl: from socket innovation to global access, with ambitions to serve patients across socioeconomic lines, including in war-torn regions like Ukraine Sydney’s leadership is a case study in what happens when founders keep patients, not investors, not trends, at the center of their design process. Whether you're an innovator, investor, clinician, or someone passionate about building technology that actually helps people, this episode will challenge and inspire you. What You’ll Walk Away With: * A deeper understanding of the prosthetics market and where innovation is most needed * How user-centered design can be a moat, not just a method * A blueprint for building trust-driven healthcare companies in niche yet essential markets Follow Sydney Robinson and Vessl Prosthetics: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymrobinson/ Website: https://www.vesslpro.com/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vessl-prosthetics/ Watch, comment, and share if this episode speaks to you. Let us know what resonated, what surprised you, and how you’re thinking differently about healthcare innovation after listening. New episodes every week. Subscribe to stay connected with the people who are shaping what healthcare can and should look like. The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

On this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Dr. Sandy Chung, MD, an extraordinary pediatrician, visionary leader, and former president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, for a conversation that spans from the deeply personal to the nationally transformative. Dr. Chung’s story begins with humble beginnings. The daughter of Chinese immigrants, she grew up in a trailer park, learned the value of hard work in her family’s Chinese restaurant, and witnessed firsthand the barriers many families face in accessing healthcare. These early experiences planted the seeds for a lifetime commitment to improving health outcomes for children and families, particularly those underserved or overlooked by the system. Now serving as CEO of Trusted Doctors, a multi-state pediatric network of over 300 clinicians, and as the founding leader of the Trusted Care Foundation, Dr. Chung has built scalable models that improve clinical care, elevate workforce capacity, and promote a culture of purpose-driven leadership. Her work spans care delivery, workforce development, health policy, and technology adoption, all rooted in the belief that every child deserves access to timely, quality care. This episode covers: * Dr. Chung’s origin story and how early adversity shaped her purpose and perseverance * The founding of the Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP), which created a statewide model enabling pediatricians to manage mental health conditions in real time, supported by on-demand consults with child psychiatrists * A powerful case study that illustrates how a preventable tragedy motivated her to lead systemic change * How her leadership in VMAP helped lay the groundwork for national policy adoption, making similar models available in all 50 states and territories * The critical role of technology and artificial intelligence in solving workforce shortages, streamlining documentation, and empowering clinicians to spend more time in meaningful patient interaction * How the Trusted Care Foundation is pioneering immersive, tech-driven training for students and aspiring clinicians...equipping them with real-world skills through smart devices, remote learning, and community-based mentorship * Practical insights on how clinicians at any level can engage in policy, advocacy, and systems change, starting with the belief that you are already an advocate every time you guide a patient Dr. Chung also shares a deeply human perspective on balancing leadership with family, raising four children while managing large organizations, and choosing projects based on meaning and momentum rather than titles or timelines. Her approach to leadership is grounded, action-oriented, and driven by a bias toward doing, not just talking. This episode is a must-watch for healthcare professionals, policy leaders, educators, and innovators who want to understand what real, lasting change looks like and how one person can move systems by acting with clarity, compassion, and courage. Key Links: Follow Sandy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandychung/ Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP): https://vmap.org/ Trusted Doctors: https://www.trusted-doctors.com/ If this conversation resonates with you, consider subscribing to the show and sharing this episode with a colleague or friend. We invite you to leave a comment with what stood out most—and how you plan to act on what you heard. Because healthcare doesn't change by watching. It changes when we show up and do. New episodes of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show drop weekly, featuring candid conversations with the leaders and doers transforming the future of healthcare. The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

Welcome back to The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Gurdeep Sareen, PharmD, a clinician and healthcare leader who is helping redefine how pharmacy can drive better care, better access, and better outcomes. Gurdeep’s journey is a powerful reminder that innovation isn’t just about technology. It’s about leadership. It’s about breaking down barriers across disciplines. And it’s about putting the patient at the center of everything we do. In this conversation, we unpack some important ground: * How the traditional view of pharmacy is evolving into a clinical force that supports total population health. * Why cost, not just access, is still one of the biggest barriers to medication adherence, and what real-world solutions look like. * The growing opportunity for pharmacists, nurses, and care teams to work at the top of their license to solve access and affordability gaps. * What site-of-care optimization really means, and how it can significantly lower costs for patients without sacrificing quality. * The lessons American healthcare can learn from models around the world that deliver higher outcomes at lower costs. * How to move innovation forward inside large organizations, even if you are not the person at the top. Gurdeep also shares real examples from his leadership roles at Optum Tri-State and New York City Health + Hospitals, where simple but strategic shifts led to millions in savings and better patient affordability. The through line across this episode is simple: If we want a healthcare system that actually serves people, we need to rethink how we define leadership, value, and innovation — and start building from there. About Dr. Gurdeep Sareen, PharmD, MPH: Dr. Sareen sits on the Healthcare Innovation Board at HITLAB and has led regional pharmacy initiatives focused on population health, cost containment, and improving patient outcomes. His work sits at the intersection of clinical care, business strategy, and innovation. Follow Gurdeep on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsareenpharmd/ If you are committed to building a better future for healthcare, one that is more accessible, more affordable, and more human, you are in the right place. 🔔 Subscribe to stay connected to the conversations that are moving healthcare forward. 👍 Like if this episode sparked new thinking for you. 💬 Drop a comment — we’d love to hear what stood out or what you’re seeing in your part of the healthcare world. 📢 Share this episode with others who are passionate about advancing healthcare innovation. The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Consortium, on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

What happens when a seasoned emergency services director steps away from the hospital floor and decides to reimagine the way we staff healthcare using technology, data, and a deep understanding of what clinicians actually need? On this episode of The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Jessica Sylvester, RN, MBA—Founder and CEO of Humla Health for a raw and powerful conversation about transforming the healthcare workforce. Jessica’s story is anything but ordinary. She’s led trauma teams through the peak of COVID, dealt with the inefficiencies of traditional staffing agencies, and saw firsthand how misaligned systems and inflated costs impact both patients and providers. Rather than accept the status quo, she built something new...something bold. Humla Health is a technology-driven platform that eliminates the middleman and directly connects nurses with healthcare facilities. It's a model rooted in sustainability, access, and humanity. In this wide-ranging interview, we explore: * The emotional and operational toll of leading an ER through a staffing crisis and how it sparked the idea for Humla Health. * Why Humla keeps nurses as W-2 employees and what that means for long-term well-being, benefits, and engagement. * The challenges and unexpected rewards of building a tech company as a healthcare operator with no Silicon Valley playbook. * What it takes to scale a startup that is already transforming staffing in rural markets and specialty areas like pediatric psych. Jessica also reflects on her leadership philosophy, the role of mentorship, and the importance of bringing nurses to the table when making decisions that affect them. She opens up about balancing life as a founder, mother, and innovator, and how her journey is shaping a more human-centered future of care. If you care about workforce transformation, clinician empowerment, rural access, or just want to hear from someone who’s doing the hard, unglamorous work of fixing what’s broken, this episode is a must-watch. Subscribe to the channel to stay up to date on the leaders, builders, and changemakers redefining healthcare in real time. To learn more about Humla Health, visit: https://www.humla.com Follow Jessica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicasylvester-1/ Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstamo The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/

In this episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos welcomes Joann Chassman, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who has spent over 20 years guiding individuals through anxiety, burnout, emotional overwhelm, and identity-altering transitions. With a warm, no-nonsense style, Joann shares how powerful therapeutic tools like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and self-awareness can reshape not only how we function in the workforce—but how we live. This is not your typical mental health talk. It’s a deeply human, often provocative, and ultimately hopeful exploration of what it means to care for ourselves while navigating the ever-evolving demands of work, leadership, and modern life. In this conversation, you’ll discover: • Why the thoughts we believe—true or not—shape every emotion and behavior we experience • How leaders unknowingly project internal chaos onto teams, and how to stop • The myth of happiness and the power of seeking contentment instead • How small moments of self-awareness can radically alter how you show up each day • Practical ways to create space for mental clarity—even in the most intense roles • The immense toll of media overexposure and how to reclaim your focus through digital boundaries • Why laughter, vulnerability, and spiritual grounding are essential tools for high performers Joann also shares an unforgettable story from her time hosting a public radio health show in remote Alaska—a single listener’s handwritten note that changed her career path forever. Whether you're a clinician, healthcare executive, founder, or someone simply trying to manage the invisible weight of daily life, this episode will leave you with perspective, permission, and practical steps to recalibrate your emotional health and lead more intentionally. 🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a comment, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Guest: Joann Chassman, LCPC Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor | Former public radio host | Advocate for emotionally intelligent leadership Website: https://www.joannchassman.com/ The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light. Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7056196/