Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

In this episode, Ramin Davidoff, MD, Co-Chief Executive Officer of the The Permanente Federation, reflects on leadership lessons from the pandemic, the power of courage and empathy in healthcare leadership, and why value based care must take center stage in the future of the industry. He also shares insights on workplace safety, technology, and the transition from clinical practice to executive le...

In this episode, Scott Becker highlights 10 key healthcare stories including Leapfrog Group’s survey ruling, Fitch Ratings downgrade concerns,rising cyberattack risks, and industry consolidation trends.

In this episode, Mark Whalen, Executive Vice President and Enterprise Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Thomas Jefferson University Health, discusses integrating Lehigh Valley Health Network and building a unified culture across a growing system. He also shares Jefferson’s dual transformation strategy focused on improving access, strengthening operations, and positioning the organizatio...

In this episode, Dr. Katie Boston-Leary, Senior Vice President of Equity and Engagement at the American Nurses Enterprise, discusses the ongoing nursing workforce challenges, including maldistribution, specialty gaps, and rural shortages. She also shares her perspective on leadership, equity in healthcare, and how technology and AI could help reduce administrative burden and improve patient care.

In this episode, Vic Schmerbeck, Chief Executive Officer of Emerus, discusses the rapid growth of neighborhood hospitals and how partnering with health systems can bring care closer to communities. He shares insights on improving access, lowering costs, leveraging technology, and building strong teams to support the future of care delivery.

In this episode, Nida Shekhani, Chief Strategy Officer and Deputy COO at Fred Hutch Cancer Center, discusses Project Redwood, a major effort to redesign care delivery and support long term growth. She also shares perspectives on expanding patient access, navigating research funding uncertainty, and leveraging data and AI to shape the future of cancer care.

In this episode, David Fessel, MD, former University of Michigan radiologist turned author, coach, and speaker, shares how emotional intelligence drives better leadership, resilience, and relationships in healthcare. He explores practical micro practices, the power of feedback, and how awareness and positive emotions can help clinicians and executives thrive.

In this episode, Michelle McMacken, MD, Executive Director of Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals, discusses expanding a systemwide lifestyle medicine program focused on preventing and improving chronic disease through nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, and community support. She also shares how interdisciplinary care teams and group medical visits are helping pa...

In this episode, Salim S. Hayek, MD, Chair for the Department of Internal Medicine and Chief Transformation Officer, UTMB, discusses how AI driven referral triage and operational redesign can reduce administrative burden and improve patient access. He also shares how health systems can build strong foundations for growth amid financial pressure and regulatory uncertainty.

In this episode, Bashir Agboola, DBA, MBA, MSc, CHCIO, CDH-E, Managing Partner at Interdym and former executive at Hospital for Special Surgery, discusses moving from AI experimentation to sustainable execution in healthcare. He shares insights on ambient documentation, predictive analytics, structured governance, and how disciplined strategy turns digital investments into measurable clinical and...

In this episode, Ravi K. Bashyal, MD, Vice Chairman of Patient and Provider Experience at Endeavor Health and Clinical Assistant Professor at University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, shares how patient centered culture, standardized pathways, and surgical specialization have built the busiest orthopedic hospital in Illinois. He discusses outpatient joint replacement, system wide growth,...

In this episode, Grant Zarzour, MD, orthopedic surgeon and Founder and CEO of Sperity Health, shares how a personal family journey inspired him to build a data driven, proactive approach to reducing cancer, cardiovascular disease, and dementia risk.

In this episode, Rob Heiser, CEO of UGen Health, and Dr. James Voos of University Hospitals discuss how wearable movement technology and standardized data are transforming recovery, improving outcomes, and reducing administrative burden. From caring for the Cleveland Browns to leading innovation in orthopedics, they explore how objective data and research-driven rigor are reshaping the future of c...

In this episode, Daniel J. Elliott, MD, MSCE, FACP, FAAP, Chief Medical Officer of Provider Experience at Centene Corporation, discusses how payers and providers can work together to address cost pressures, workforce challenges, and care coordination. He also shares perspectives on using AI, improving data sharing, and reducing friction in processes like prior authorization to strengthen the healt...

In this episode, Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Chief Medical Officer for Aetna Medicaid, discusses a new collaboration with National Association of Community Health Centers to improve hypertension control in underserved communities. She shares how data, community partnerships, and addressing social drivers of health can help reduce disparities, prevent chronic disease complications, and improve outcomes f...

In this episode, Karen J. McConnell, PharmD, MBA, Chief Pharmacy Officer at Michigan Medicine, discusses building a unified pharmacy strategy across multiple campuses, launching a systemwide pharmacy and therapeutics committee, and expanding specialty and ambulatory pharmacy services. She also shares how pharmacy leaders are preparing for rapid industry changes, drug pricing policy shifts, and the...

Harpreet Pall, MD, MBA, CPE, Chief Medical Officer at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, discusses efforts to reduce clinical variation and strengthen multidisciplinary care coordination. He also shares leadership strategies for improving patient flow, quality, and team engagement across complex health systems.

In this episode, William Scott Hurst, MBA, FACHE, CEO and President of PPNHCo Patient Physician Network Holding Co., L.L.C., shares how his 600 provider IPA is confronting payer disparities, scaling operations, and launching a multiple employer welfare arrangement to lower costs for practices and employers. He discusses the future of independent medicine, the need for operational alignment, and wh...

In this episode, JohnRich Levine, CNO of Reeves Regional Health, shares how Reeves Regional is strengthening rural nursing through leadership visibility, cross-training, and structured onboarding. He discusses the importance of culture, operational efficiency, and flexible staffing to retain talent and provide high-quality care in a small hospital setting.

In this episode, T.Y. Alvin Liu, MD, Inaugural Director of the James P. Gills Jr. MD and Heather Gills Artificial Intelligence Innovation Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine, explores the next waves of healthcare AI from voice enabled patient access to AI centric workflows and artificial medical general intelligence. He shares how oculomics, implementation strategy, and physician education will shape...

In this episode, Dr. Laura Catena, emergency physician and 4th generation vintner, discusses the evolving research on moderate alcohol consumption, cardiovascular health, and cancer risk. She shares insights on the Mediterranean diet, a major ongoing study at the University of Navarra, and how physicians can thoughtfully navigate complex lifestyle conversations with patients.

In this episode, Scott Becker highlights 8 key healthcare stories including a $900 million hospital project in Tennessee, leadership changes at TriHealth, a ratings upgrade for UCHealth, a Leapfrog grading dispute, and more.

Medication access has long been a pain point for care teams and patients alike. We’re sitting down with experts from CoverMyMeds and Ontada to discuss the launch of the Specialty Access and Affordability Solutions, an industry-first solution designed to accelerate therapy starts by embedding multiple workflows directly into EHR systems. We’ll explore how automation and AI-driven insights are helpi...

In this episode, Kate FitzPatrick, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Chief Nurse Executive at Jefferson Health, discusses integrating nursing teams across a newly expanded 33-hospital system, strengthening community partnerships, and scaling flexible workforce models. She also shares how nurse leaders can improve care transitions, support a growing number of early-career nurses, and redesign care delivery fo...

In this episode, Jay L. Robinson III, PsyD, MBA, Senior Vice President and Area Manager at Kaiser Permanente, discusses leading a 10,000 person operation serving more than half a million members in Northern California. He shares his focus on workforce culture, AI driven innovation, patient experience as an operating model, and building new care pathways that reduce hospitalizations while strengthe...