The PACN Podcast

In Part 1, Dr. John Pagan sits down with Dr. Arvind Cavale (endocrinologist, 27-year independent practitioner, and president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society) to discuss why independent practice is not just viable but vital to the future of American healthcare, and what physicians can do right now to take control of that future. Part 1 – The State of Independent Practice Summary: Dr. Cavale sha...

In this timely episode, Dr. John Pagan welcomes Dr. Sanjay Doddamani to discuss two urgent and interconnected topics: the August 1st deadline for physicians to signal intent to join the PACN ACO for 2025, and the role that Guide Health — one of PACN's newest partners — is playing in helping independent practices manage complex Medicare patients and capture the full value of their quality care. Thi...

In the third and final installment of the Curi series, Dr. John Pagan and Dr. Damian McHugh turn their attention to one of the most urgent challenges facing the physician community: burnout. They explore how Curi and PACN are working together to address the systemic roots of physician distress, why collective advocacy is essential, and how bringing physicians together around shared experiences and...

In this follow-up conversation, Dr. John Pagan and Dr. Damian McHugh pick up where Part 1 left off — moving beyond Curi's core medical liability product to explore the company's expanding suite of services for physicians. The conversation also takes a timely turn toward one of the most pressing legal developments affecting Pennsylvania physicians: a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling on venu...

In this episode, Dr. John Pagan introduces PACN's newest partner, Curi — a physician-founded medical professional liability company with deep roots in the medical society movement. Dr. Damian McHugh, a former emergency physician turned physician advocate, shares the story of Curii's origins, what makes it different from conventional malpractice carriers, and why the partnership with PACN is a natu...

In this follow-up conversation, Dr. John Pagan welcomes back Dr. Nader Rahmanian and Cheryl Rahmanian for a practical, step-by-step look at how their practice approaches the annual wellness visit — one of the highest-value touchpoints in Medicare care. From pre-visit preparation to post-visit documentation, the Rahmanians share their workflow in detail and offer their template to any colleague who...

In this episode, Dr. John Pagan sits down with Dr. Nader Rahmanian and his wife and practice manager, Cheryl Rahmanian, of their internal medicine and geriatrics practice in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. A longtime PACN member with consistently high performance levels, Dr. Rahmanian brings nearly 36 years of independent practice experience — including a brief but instructive stint in employed medicine...

In this follow-up conversation, Dr. John Pagan welcomes back Dr. James Galasso to dig deeper into the quality and shared savings programs that have defined his approach to independent practice. Drawing on firsthand experience with Pennsylvania's Governor's Chronic Care Initiative and his current role on PACN's ACO Oversight Board, Dr. Galasso offers a practical, ground-level perspective on what it...

In the first of a two-part conversation, Dr. John Pagan sits down with Dr. James Galasso of Galasso Family Practice in Schwyz, Pennsylvania — a physician who grew up in the very community he now serves, came up through emergency medicine as a paramedic, and chose to return home to build a 30-year independent family practice rather than join the large hospital systems that dominate his region. Dr....

In this episode, Dr. John Pagan sits down with Wendy York, PACN's Senior Director of Clinical Outcomes and Quality, for an inside look at what it takes to help independent physician practices succeed in today's value-based care environment. Wendy shares her journey from medical assistant to quality leader, explains why independent physicians need network support more than ever, and walks through t...

Episode 2: Member Spotlight — Dr. Gombosi, Northern Pennsylvania Host: Dr. John Pagan, Chair & CEO, PA Clinical Network Guest: Dr. Gombosi, Open Arms Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Northern PA Episode Overview In this member spotlight, Dr. John Pagan sits down with Dr. Gombosi, a faith-driven physician who left a long career in employed medicine to open his own independent practice in a his...

In this inaugural member spotlight episode, Dr. John Pagan sits down with Dr. Wirths of DuBois, Pennsylvania - a physician whose path to independent practice is unlike any other in the network. From escaping war-torn Vietnam as a teenager to building a thriving family medicine practice rooted in two lifelong passions, Dr. Wirths offers a deeply personal perspective on medicine, independence, and w...

In this follow-up episode, Dr. John Pagan welcomes back Dr. Michael Fang for a deeper dive into the PACN–Ryze Health partnership. Building on Part 1's introduction to the insurance problem facing independent physicians, this conversation covers Ryze's long-term stability, coverage for entire practice teams, estimated cost savings, and an exciting additional opportunity for physicians to join the R...

In this episode, Dr. John Pagan sits down with Dr. Michael Fang, a geriatrician turned health tech entrepreneur, to discuss one of the most overlooked challenges facing independent physicians: accessing affordable health insurance for themselves and their staff. Dr. Fang introduces Ryze Health, PACN's newest partner, and explains how the company is bringing tried-and-true insurance strategies from...