Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Mark Whalen, EVP and Enterprise Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Thomas Jefferson University Health, leads system integration and strategic planning. He discusses merging Lehigh Valley Health Network and building unified, physician-led governance. He outlines a dual transformation: immediate access and operational improvements plus long-term moves like footprint shifts and AI adoption.

Dr. Katie Boston-Leary, Senior VP of Equity and Engagement at the American Nurses Association and 33-year nurse leader, discusses nursing workforce challenges and maldistribution. She explores specialty and rural shortages. She reflects on leadership inequity and building rapport across cultures. She also talks about technology and AI reducing administrative burden and sparking nurse-led innovation.

Vic Schmerbeck, CEO of Ameris (Emerus), leads co-owned neighborhood hospitals and small-format community care. He discusses bringing care closer to patients and cutting travel and wait times. He explains partnerships with health systems, integration of tech like AI, and strategies for smart growth, recruitment, and retaining clinical teams.

Nida Shekhani, Chief Strategy Officer and Deputy COO at Fred Hutch Cancer Center, leads strategy, growth, and enterprise transformation. She discusses Project Redwood, a major redesign of care delivery. She covers expanding patient access and research integration. She also talks about using federated data, AI, and partnerships to shape future cancer care.

David Fessel, MD, retired radiologist turned author, coach, and speaker focused on emotional intelligence and wellness. He explains what emotional intelligence is and why it is learnable. He describes practical micro practices for self-awareness and energy tracking. He discusses asking for feedback effectively and coaching approaches that build momentum from small changes.

Dr. Michelle McMacken, a primary care physician and lifestyle medicine leader at NYC Health + Hospitals, explains scaling a systemwide program to prevent and improve chronic disease. She discusses interdisciplinary teams and group medical visits. She highlights culturally tailored counseling, community support, and measurable clinical outcomes.

Salim S. Hayek, MD, cardiovascular specialist and transformation leader at UTMB who builds AI-driven operational solutions. He discusses using AI to automate referrals and lift administrative burden. He explains building internal AI teams and partnerships. He outlines strategies to improve access, de-risk growth, and prioritize investments amid financial and regulatory uncertainty.

Dr. Bashir Agboola, Managing Partner at Interdym and former Hospital for Special Surgery executive, specializes in AI strategy and operationalizing digital investments. He discusses ambient AI scribes that free clinician time. He explores predictive analytics for personalized care. He emphasizes structured governance to turn digital spend into measurable clinical and financial performance.

Ravi K. Bashyal, MD, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive hip and knee replacement and patient experience leader at Endeavor Health. He talks about building the busiest orthopedic hospital through patient-centered culture and standardized pathways. He covers scaling specialized care, outpatient joint replacement, and how humility and human connection shape high-performance surgical teams.

Grant Zarzour, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and founder/CEO of Sperity Health focused on proactive longevity. He recounts a personal family health journey that shaped his data-driven approach. He discusses measuring biological age, using wearables and CGMs, and building interventions like nutrition, VO2 testing, and emotional activation. He also explains how data motivates behavior change and Sperity’s in-person delivery model.