Episodit
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Technology is transforming genetic testing and bringing hope to families facing rare diseases. In this episode, GeneDx (Nasdaq: WGS) CEO Katherine Stueland sits down with Steve Kraus to share how AI is being used to crack life's most complex code and speed up diagnosis from years to days.
We cover:
🧬 The evolution from single-gene testing (remember BRCA?) to whole genome sequencing, and why the Supreme Court's decision to ban gene patents changed everything
🔬 How 1 in 10 Americans has a rare disease, yet the path to diagnosis traditionally takes 6-8 years
💪 How parents become "honorary PhDs" in their children's rare conditions and how this drives research forward
🤖 With only 1,500 medical geneticists nationwide, AI can help bridge the expertise gap
💰 The shifting landscape of insurance coverage and why states are starting to see the value of early genetic diagnosis
📊 How GeneDx built the world's largest rare disease database (700,000 clinical exomes and counting) and what that means for future drug development
👩💼 Katherine's journey from communications major to CEO, and why having more women leaders matters in healthcare
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Shortcuts:
00:00 Introduction and Overview
01:29 Advancing Diagnoses for Rare Diseases
06:33 The Evolution of Genetic Testing
10:44 The Cost and Coverage of Genetic Testing
21:55 The Role of AI in Genomics and Genetic Testing
29:43 From Communications to CEO: Katherine's Journey
35:23 Promoting Gender Equality in the C-Suite
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About our guest:
Katherine Stueland has dedicated her career to revolutionizing healthcare with patient-centered business approaches. Instrumental in obtaining FDA approval for breakthroughs like the first protease inhibitor for HIV/AIDS and pioneering cancer immunotherapy, she champions the integration of genomic data for precision diagnostics in rare diseases and cancer. As President and CEO of GeneDx (Nasdaq: WGS) since June 2021, she is at the forefront of transforming healthcare through the Company’s industry-leading exome and genome testing. Previously, as Chief Commercial Officer of Invitae (NYSE: NVTA), she elevated the brand to a market cap of over $6 billion.
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🤗 In this bonus episode, pharmacoeconomist Yoona Kim, co-founder and CEO of Arine, talks about tackling the $530 billion problem of medication mismanagement. She shares her approach to optimizing medication therapy using data science and clinical expertise.
We cover:
💊 The shocking scale of medication-related problems and their impact on patient health and healthcare costs
🛢️ How data silos and time constraints in healthcare contribute to dangerous medication errors
🌐 The use of AI and machine learning in predicting and preventing medication-related issues
⚖️ Balancing cost optimization with clinical appropriateness in medication recommendations
🚧 The challenges of integrating with existing healthcare systems and winning provider trust-
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About our guest:
Yoona Kim is the Founder & CEO of Arine, an AI-driven SaaS platform company focused on medication intelligence that grew 100% last year, and has produced more than 33 million life-improving recommendations for over 15 million patients. Prior to Arine, she was the Head of Clinical Modeling and Analytics at Proteus Digital Health. She was responsible for health economic and clinical implementation activities for Proteus Digital Health. Her team developed health economic value propositions from strategic conceptualization to business case development to actualization in the real-world.
Yoona holds a Bachelor's Degree from Stanford University, a PharmD with an emphasis in health policy and management from the University of California, San Francisco and a PhD in health economics and outcomes from the University of Texas at Austin.
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🙏 If you're enjoying the show, we would so appreciate it if you left us a review!
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📍 Connect with us:
Heart of Healthcare website
LinkedIn
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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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Puuttuva jakso?
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Despite heart disease being the leading cause of death in the United States, cardiovascular care has been an overlooked opportunity in digital health. With 1 in 3 Americans facing cardiovascular disease in their lifetime, how can innovation help turn the tide?
In this episode, we explore heart health in the digital age with Dr. Jeff Wessler, cardiologist and founder/CEO of Heartbeat Health, the nation's largest virtual-first cardiovascular company.
We cover:
⌚If we can trust cardiovascular data from wearable devices (and what doctors call “Apple Heart Syndrome”)
🔢 The difference between “heart age” and “chronological age”
🤨 Why he’s skeptical of the remote monitoring market
❣️ The impact of stress on heart health and the role of inflammation
⚖️ Why he believes GLP-1s are the best heart drugs that have ever existed
🩺 Practical tips for listeners to improve their cardiovascular health (including the important but often-overlooked LPA test)
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About our guest:
Dr. Jeff Wessler is a Cardiologist and the Founder and CEO of Heartbeat Health, the nation's largest virtual-first cardiovascular company. Dr. Wessler graduated from Williams College, received an MPhil in public health and epidemiology from Cambridge University, and his MD from Harvard Medical School.
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🙏 If you're enjoying the show, we would so appreciate it if you left us a review!
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📍 Connect with us:
Heart of Healthcare website
LinkedIn
Twitter
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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Make America Healthy Again?
It's official— Trump was elected as our 47th president and plans to use his second term to "go wild on health." For this special episode, Aneesh Chopra, former U.S. Chief Technology Officer and author of Innovative State: How New Technologies can Transform Government, joins Steve to talk about what we can expect in Trump's second term.
We cover:
🔮 The future of the Affordable Care Act
💻 What a privatized version of Healthcare.gov could look like
🤝 The potential for value-based care to thrive in a bipartisan environment
♀️ The challenges facing women's health and reproductive rights
👵 How Medicare Advantage is facing significant financial and outcome challenges
🏆 Who will be the winners and losers of the next four years
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About our guest:
Aneesh Chopra advocates for interoperability and data-driven approaches that help providers, payers, and employers make smarter decisions to succeed in the shift to value-based care.
Chopra’s influence and leadership in technology includes extensive experience in the public sector. He served as the first U.S. Chief Technology Officer under the Obama Administration, where he spearheaded initiatives to modernize the nation’s healthcare system using electronic health records and health information exchanges. These efforts strengthened the data infrastructure used in healthcare delivery reform, ultimately helping the industry progress toward a more connected and efficient healthcare ecosystem.
Chopra also served as Virginia’s Secretary of Technology under Governor Tim Kaine, where he championed the growth of the state’s technology sector, enhanced educational opportunities through technology, and drove innovation in government operations. As a public servant, Aneesh fostered better public-private collaboration, a theme central to his 2014 book, “Innovative State: How New Technologies Can Transform Government.”
Chopra’s significant contributions to the fields of technology and healthcare have cemented his reputation as a forward-thinking leader committed to leveraging technology for the public good. He’s been recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare and one of the top 25 "Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers” by Government Technology magazine.
Chopra serves on the boards of IntegraConnect, Virginia Center for Health Innovation, and the George Mason Innovation Advisory Council. He earned his master’s degree in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School and holds a bachelor’s degree in health policy from Johns Hopkins University.
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🙏 If you're enjoying the show, we would so appreciate it if you left us a review!
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📍 Connect with us:
Heart of Healthcare website
LinkedIn
Twitter
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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Keep up with healthcare news in under an hour with our monthly Digital Health Download! We can't believe it's already November. In this episode, we cover the biggest headlines of October:
📝 Findings from Bessemer's State of Health Tech 2024 Report
🤝 Take-aways from the 2024 HLTH Conference
📊 New “AI services as software” benchmarks
😵💫 How election season is causing stress and anxiety
⚖️ New data on cost savings for ACOs
💊 Walmart plans to deliver prescriptions in as little as 30
💻 Oracle replacing Cerner with a new AI health record
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🙏 If you're enjoying the show, we would so appreciate it if you left us a review!
---
📍 Connect with us:
Heart of Healthcare website
LinkedIn
Twitter
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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Doctors are not okay. Nearly half of physicians in the United States experienced burnout in 2023, leading to absenteeism, reduced productivity, turnover, and many leaving the profession altogether. In this episode, we discuss the clinician burnout and mental health crises with two expert guests: Dr. Jessie Gold, the first chief wellness officer for the University of Tennessee System and author of "How Do You Feel? One Doctor's Search for Humanity in Medicine," and Dr. Aparna Atluru, co-founder and chief medical officer of Marvin, a company that provides specialized mental health care for healthcare workers.
We cover:
😮💨 The definition and symptoms of burnout, and if we should add it to the DSM
👩⚕️ Gender disparities in physician mental health and suicide rates
💻 The impact of technology on clinician well-being
✍️ Personal experiences with burnout and mental health struggles in medicine
💡 Potential solutions and interventions, including specialized mental health care for healthcare workers
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You can learn more about Marvin at MeetMarvin.com.
You can learn more about Dr. Gold's work and buy her new book on DrJessiGold.com.
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🫶 If you're enjoying the show, please leave us a review!
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Heart of Healthcare website: https://www.heartofhealthcarepodcast.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-heart-of-healthcare-podcast?
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hoh_pod
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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Approximately one in five American children have a mental health condition, with many more at risk for developing one. In this episode, Halle Tecco and Michael Esquivel dive deep into the youth mental health crisis with Naomi Allen, co-founder and CEO of Brightline.
We cover:
📲 How technology has worsened the youth mental health crisis and how it can help solve it
🧭 Key drivers of the crisis
🏡 “Families are comorbid”: Family-centered care approaches in pediatric behavioral health
⚕️ The challenge of over-pathologizing vs. providing appropriate care
💡 Strategies for parents to manage children's technology use
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You can learn more about Brightline at hellobrightline.com.
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🫶 If you're enjoying the show, please leave us a review!
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Heart of Healthcare website: https://www.heartofhealthcarepodcast.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-heart-of-healthcare-podcast?
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hoh_pod
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, Bryan Roberts, a partner at Venrock and one of the healthcare industry's most illustrious investors, shares insights from his 25+ year career.
We cover:
The traits that have contributed to his success in healthcare investingHow to navigate investment cycles and make non-consensus decisionsBryan's early investments in Illumina and Athena HealthThe current state of digital health and value-based careThe potential impact of AI on healthcare efficiency and clinical practiceExits and IPOs in the current marketLessons from Bryan's biggest missesThanks for listening. Please subscribe and 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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Ready for your October digital health download? This month, we discuss:
Progyny losing business to MavenThe entire 23andMe board resigningParticle Health suing Epic (and Epic clapping back)A plan to erase $4B in medical debt in North CarolinaThe first at-home nasal spray flu vaccineWeight Watchers losing Oprah and its CEO, can they get on the GLP-1 train?Tune in for all the digital health tea 🫖!"
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, we sit down with one of the most influential figures in government today: Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan. As the youngest FTC chair to ever be appointed, during her tenure the FTC has pushed to ban non-compete agreements, filed lawsuits against healthcare companies engaging in anti-competitive practices, and strengthened the Health Breach Notification Rule (HBNR) to protect sensitive health data.
We cover:
The FTC's role in healthcare and how it compares to other sectorsThe impact of consolidation and vertical integration in the healthcare industryThe agency's efforts to combat rising drug prices, including the recent actions against major PBMsThe controversial "Orange Book" patent challenges and their implications for drug innovationThe nationwide ban on non-compete agreements and its potential effects on doctorsChair Khan's vision for the future of competition law and its application to healthcareSee 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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With the election around the corner, Halle and Steve welcome Dan Diamond back on the show to talk about how the election will impact healthcare (and how healthcare impacts voting). Dan is a national health reporter for the Washington Post, focused on accountability, federal agencies, and public health.
We cover:
Trump's concept of a plan and if he would really repeal the ACAHarris abandoning Medicare-for-allHow reproductive health remains a contentious voting topicMedicaid redetermination leading to millions losing coverageBipartisian issues like Medicare Advantage, drug pricing, and mental health coverageSee 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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GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy have transformed best practices for weight loss care and created an opportunity for digital health innovation. In this episode, Steve Kraus sits down with Evan Richardson, founder and CEO of Form Health, to discuss GLP-1s and the virtual medical weight loss care landscape.
We cover:
- How Form Health differentiates itself in the competitive weight care market
- The impact of GLP-1 medications and the challenges of drug shortages
- The role of compounding pharmacies and potential regulatory changes
- The importance of holistic care and patient adherence for sustainable weight loss
- Obesity treatment innovation and the future of healthcare
- Advice for aspiring healthcare entrepreneurs from his experiences at Castlight Health and Included Health
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 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 capital 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 🫖!
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, 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
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 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.
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, 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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