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In this episode, Halle Tecco sits down with John Mackey, founder and former CEO of Whole Foods Market. Mackey discusses his new venture, Love.Life, that aims to do for healthcare what Whole Foods did for grocery shopping.
We cover:
His vision for rethinking the healthcare experienceWhat he learned about healthcare running a self-insured employerHow Whole Foods gamified employee healthHis views on healthcare regulation and personal responsibilityWhy he doesn't believe in market researchHis advice for entrepreneurs taking on venture capitalist fundingAre you enjoying the show? Subscribe, and help us by leaving us a review!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Your September Digital Health Download is here! This month, Steve and Halle discuss:
TEFCAHow employers are getting sued for mismanaging health plansWhy virtual care is way up in rural AmericaThe TruePill / LetsGetChecked mergerJ&J taking aim at hospital drug-discount programsWhat happens to compounding startups now that the end of drug shortages is in sightTune in for all the digital health tea 🫖!
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In this episode, Dr. Jon Cohen, CEO of Talkspace, discusses his unconventional journey from vascular surgeon to leading a publicly traded digital health company.
We cover:
The glass ceiling for physicians, and why people wrongly think physicians can’t run businessesHis run for Lieutenant Governor of New York, and why more physicians should get involved with politicsThe role of online therapy in making mental healthcare more accessible and affordableHow Talkspace is leveraging AI to detect suicide risk, support therapists, and enhance patient careThe challenges and opportunities of running a public company, especially one that went public via SPACHis insights on the future of healthcare and the importance of physician leadership in driving changeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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In this episode, Christine Lemke, co-founder and CEO of Evidation Health, shares how her personal struggles with chronic pain fueled her mission to transform how we measure and improve health outcomes. She shares the company's evolution and innovative approach to generating real-world evidence (RWE) using a global research platform serving millions of people.
We cover:
- The power of real-world data and understanding health outside the clinic
- Lessons from pivots: Evidation's journey to its current focus
- How they recruit diverse participants, prioritize consent, and even compensate individuals
- Accelerating research and making it more representative of the populations drugs will actually serve
- Where the company's unique data platform goes next, and how it could change healthcare
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In this episode, Halle speaks with Dave Chase, co-founder and CEO of Health Rosetta, who is on a mission to end the 30-year heist of stolen income from the working middle class. He’s working to popularize a new parallel economy: community-owned health plans (COHPs). Dave explains how these plans aim to transform healthcare from a driver of debt and bankruptcy to a driver of well-being and wealth.
We cover:
The structure and benefits of community-owned health plans (COHPs)How these plans can reduce healthcare costs while improving care qualityThe role of primary care, including direct primary care models, in reshaping healthcare deliveryChallenges with the current employer-based health insurance systemRecent legal developments pushing for change in employer-sponsored health plansDave shares insights on how community-owned health plans can address issues like misaligned incentives, inefficient spending, and poor health outcomes. He also discusses the potential for these models to redirect healthcare savings into community investments, ultimately improving social determinants of health.
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In this episode, we answer listener questions about the current state of the market and share insights for healthcare founders raising VC funding. We also announce the merging of this show with Closing Time Podcast, and welcome our new co-host Michael Esquivel! Michael is an angel investor, a startup lawyer at Fenwick, and a Lecturer at Stanford Law School - we're excited to have him join the show!
We cover:
The slow recovery of the IPO market and the prevalence of private M&A dealsRealistic revenue targets and deal sizes for Series A rounds in the current marketThe importance of having a platform play rather than a point solutionNegotiation strategies for founders to protect their interests while attracting investorsBalancing time between recruiting, fundraising, and running the business as a founderSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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We had lots to cover in this month's Digital Health Download, from a $99 AI companion to if we think PBMs will ever be dismantled.
We discuss:
- A WSJ report on Medicare Advantage insurers pocketing billions for diseases that were never treated or falsely coded
- The FTC's interim report on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their impact on drug accessibility and affordability
- Vermont's successful accountable care organization (ACO) program, which led to significant savings and improved care
- The launch of "Friend," an AI-powered wearable device designed to combat loneliness and isolation
- Post-Theranos progress made by companies working on less painful blood tests
- A hospital's new venture into the entertainment industry
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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In this episode, Steve Kraus interviews Andy Slavitt, General Partner at Town Hall Ventures and former CMS and UnitedHealth Group executive. We look back on his career-long mission to fix American healthcare's biggest challenges, encompassing roles in insurance, government, healthcare startups, and venture capital.
We cover:
- The high-stakes mission to rescue Healthcare.gov and implement the Affordable Care Act
- His unexpected transition from entrepreneur to executive at UnitedHealth Group
- His tenure as the head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- The promise and hurdles of value-based care
- Why healthcare is slow to adopt technological innovations
- Navigating healthcare policy across changing political landscapes
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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In this episode, Halle Tecco talks to Vinod Khosla— visionary venture capitalist, tech entrepreneur, and healthcare investor. Vinod shares his vision for using AI to enable a hundred touchpoints every hundred days with a patient. We discuss making healthcare more accessible, enabling personalized care, and what he worries could go wrong.
We cover:
Revisiting his 2012 prediction that AI could replace 80% of what doctors do and moreHow AI will enable computers to learn and adapt to humans, not the other way aroundThe potential for AI to replicate expertise, reduce misdiagnosis, and guide patients to the most effective treatmentsHow changing billing codes is key to AI adoption in healthcareReal-world examples of AI in action, from mental health intake interviews to cardiac MRI analysisThe importance of guardrails and being vigilant about unintended consequences as AI advances rapidlyAdvice for healthcare founders on solving hard problems in healthcareShow notes:
Vinod’s 2012 article “Do We Need Doctors Or Algorithms?”Vinod’s recent TED Talk: 12 predictions for the future of technologyWSJ article mentioned: Insurers Pocketed $50 Billion From Medicare for Diseases No Doctor TreatedFollow Vinod on X.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Marketing and communications play a critical role in securing investment and driving product and service adoption in digital health. In this special two-part episode, Steve Kraus explores the art of storytelling in healthcare with two industry experts: Chrissy Farr, a veteran digital health journalist turned venture capitalist and advisor, and Kate Cronin, Chief Brand Officer at Moderna. They discuss:
What makes for a great story in digital healthThe importance of including setbacks and challenges in company narrativesThe undervaluing of marketing and communications rolesStrong digital health brands such as Livongo, PillPack, and BobbieChief Brand Officers vs. Chief Marketing OfficersLessons learned from rapidly scaling Moderna's brand during the COVID-19 pandemicThe importance of internal communications🎂 Please help us celebrate three years of the podcast by leaving us a review!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Celebrating three years of The Heart of Healthcare, Halle and Steve dive into the latest news and trends in digital health for July 2024.
July highlights include:
A new Peterson Institute report on digital treatment outcomes for musculoskeletal conditionsThe FDA's guidance on improving diversity in clinical trial enrollmentThe economic impact and legal battles surrounding GLP-1 drugs for obesityWalgreens' pullback from healthcare services and concerns about the sustainability of the current pharmacy modelA Washington state study on utilizing pharmacists to treat minor illnessesThe U.S. Surgeon General's advisory on social media's effects on youth mental healthShow notes:
Mural Health effort to increase diversity in clinical trialsThe U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory: Social Media and Youth Mental Health🎂 Please help us celebrate three years of the podcast by leaving us a review!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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In this episode, Halle Tecco talks to Emily Oster— health communicator, health economist, and bestselling author. Emily shares her journey from academia to becoming an influential health communicator, advocating for data-driven decision making and empowering individuals to make informed choices about their health.
We cover:
Her non-didactic approach to helping people make their own best decisionsHer least favorite types of panic headlines, and how no one would thrive on Doritos® dustPros and cons of the Open Access movementCombating publication biasSpeaking up on controversial topicsAdvice for building trust, combating misinformation, and improving health communicationEmily is on a mission to empower parents by providing the data and tools they need to make confident decisions. After getting a PhD in economics from Harvard, she went on to pursue research in health economics and is now a professor of economics at Brown University. As a mom of two, Emily was inspired by her own pregnancy and the lack of clear information to guide her decisions. She decided to use her expertise in reviewing and analyzing data to help other parents navigate these topics. She is a New York Times best-selling author, whose books include Expecting Better, Cribsheet, The Family Firm and The Unexpected.
Follow Emily Oster on Instagram and X.
Subscribe to the Heart of Healthcare and leave us a review! Got an idea for a show? Visit heartofhealthcarepodcast.com.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The U.S. Surgeon General's office recently published an advisory report stating "social media can have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents." In this episode, we revisit our conversation with Frances Haugen, former Facebook product manager and internationally recognized whistleblower.
Frances provides an inside look into how tech giants prioritize profits over public safety. Her journey from Meta's inner workings to testifying before world parliaments sparked a global conversation about social media's role and regulation - a dialogue now echoed at the highest levels of public health.
This episode explores the pressing issues of our digital era that are now receiving official recognition. Learn about the impact of social media on young people's mental well-being, providing context to the Surgeon General's warnings. Frances shares critical concerns and her ideas for safeguards for young people. This is a must listen for anyone with children in their lives!
Follow Frances Haugen on Twitter
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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In this episode, Glen Tullman reflects on the biggest changes he's seen in healthcare during his 40-year career in the industry. Glen is the founder and CEO of Transcarent, former founder and CEO of Livongo, and managing partner at 7wireVentures. He discusses:
- His early days revolutionizing e-prescribing and electronic health records at Allscripts
- Building Livongo into an $18.5 billion digital health success story
- Lessons learned as a serial entrepreneur and investor with 7wireVentures
- His vision for Transcarent as a consumer-directed healthcare navigation platform
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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In this episode, Zach Reitano, CEO and co-founder of the direct-to-patient healthcare company Ro, talks to host Halle Tecco about the flaws in our traditional healthcare model and how Ro is innovating to make care more convenient and focused on patient goals.
We cover:
Why the current healthcare system does not incentivize building for patientsHow he ranks the priorities of cost, quality, and accessHow the healthcare system is obsessed with quality, but not equally obsessed with scaling that qualityWhy we can't equate healthcare quality and time spent, and the role of technology to increase access to the highest quality productsAre you enjoying the show? Please leave us a review 🙏
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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In this episode, Halle Tecco and Steve Kraus cover the latest digital health stories for June 2024, including:
Cancer drug dosing and pricing challengesThe new South Park movie on obesityThe shortage of K-12 school counselors and telehealth startups’ roleThe failure of SPAC deals in digital health, and the path forwardPharma's DTC marketing efforts, including Pfizer's new platform and updated FTC advertising rulesFlaws in the media coverage of declining total fertility ratesNOTE: July will be the 3 (not 2) year anniversary of the show! If you're enjoying listening, please leave us a review!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Clinical notes are one of the more tedious parts of doctors’ day-to-day lives—so much so that they’re often called “pajama time,” since physicians spend 2-3 hours writing them at night. In this episode, Steve Kraus sits down with Dr. Shiv Rao, co-founder and CEO of Abridge, an AI-first healthcare company that’s been in the spotlight for solving this problem. Abridge uses advanced machine learning to structure and summarize medical conversations, creating clinical documentation and structured data while reducing clinician burnout.
Shiv traces his journey from a skateboarding rebel to a cardiologist, professor, healthcare investor, and now founder of a pioneering digital health startup. He shares how his passion for scalable impact and exposure to cutting-edge research at Carnegie Mellon led him to start Abridge in 2018.
Steve and Shiv discuss:
How Abridge differentiated itself early on through AI technology and go-to-market (GTM) strategyThe company’s ROI and anti-burnout metrics, like note quality, pajama time, and cognitive loadClinician-AI collaboration vs. direct-to-consumer applicationsThe surprising parallels between managing an ICU and running a startupThe habits and mindsets that keep Shiv grounded while leading a fast-growing, mission-driven companyAre you enjoying the show? Please leave us a review 🙏
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month!
In this episode (a replay from Closing Time), David Ko, CEO of Calm, discusses the mental health challenges founders and their teams face. We discuss practical strategies for building resilience, managing the relentless pressure, and why destigmatizing mental health is crucial for startup success. David shares how leaders can champion well-being, creating a workplace where mental health support is the norm, not the exception. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who believes building a thriving business starts with a healthy mindset.
We cover:
How resilience is built through learning from mistakes and taking risksWhere stress comes from and if you can really eliminate itHow to lead by example and create a supportive work environmentGenerational shifts in the conversation around mental healthWhy mental health should be normalized throughout the year and not just during Mental Health Awareness MonthSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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May is Women's Health Awareness Month!
In this episode, Kate Ryder, CEO and founder of Maven, the largest virtual clinic for women and families, shares her passion for transforming a traditionally underserved healthcare sector. We explore how Maven Clinic has evolved since her seed pitch in 2016, and what she’s learned along the way.
We cover:
How Maven has evolved from an online marketplace for women to connect with healthcare specialists to a comprehensive platform for women's and family healthHow language and terminology (even the term “women's health”) can be challengingEmerging trends in women's health including the need for better support for Medicaid members and the growing mental health crisis among teenagersHow egg freezing can contribute to gender equality in the workplaceKate’s wishes for improving the US healthcare system, like Medicaid coverage for new moms and universal pre-K to support working familiesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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80% of Americans suffering from eating disorders don’t get the treatment they need. That’s where Equip comes in. In this episode, Steve Kraus sits down with Kristina Saffran, the co-founder and CEO of Equip, a virtual provider transforming eating disorder treatment by making evidence-based care more accessible to patients and families. Kristina shares her personal journey recovering from anorexia and how her experience with the challenges in traditional treatment led her to found a non-profit and ultimately start Equip. She and Steve dive into:
Misconceptions about eating disorders and the barriers that prevent the vast majority of sufferers from getting treatmentEquip's virtual, multidisciplinary five-person care team modelThe company's focus on delivering evidence-based treatment while pioneering new research to improve outcomesThe importance of collaborating with insurance payers to improve access and reduce costsKristina's advice for mission-driven healthcare entrepreneursSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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