Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Robert A. Figlin, MD, interim director at Cedars‑Sinai and translational oncology leader. He discusses aligning cancer strategy with system priorities. He explains distributed care to bring expertise closer to patients. He covers embedding research into clinical workflows and using community input to shape studies. He highlights workforce strategies and innovative screening partnerships.

Paul Hiltz, President and CEO of Naples Comprehensive Health, leads a locally governed, independent nonprofit that has doubled in size. He talks about growing services while keeping quality and access front and center. He explains strategic partnerships with top systems and how leadership development and teamwork drive better care across Southwest Florida.

Mara Nitu, VP and Chief Medical Officer at Indiana University School of Medicine and Riley Children’s Health, brings 25 years of pediatric leadership. She discusses cutting hospital-acquired harm, forming physician-nurse dyads for reliability, prioritizing access and throughput for 2026, tackling behavioral health coordination, and launching an integrated medical–behavioral inpatient unit.

Jeff Flaks, CEO of Hartford HealthCare, leads innovation in AI, virtual care, remote monitoring and strategic partnerships. He discusses 24/7 virtual services, AI imaging and documentation tools, future trusted chatbots and personalized navigation. He also outlines a major cancer-care partnership to expand local access and research opportunities.

Karen Walker Johnson, CEO of Clever Care Health Plan and former nurse, leads culturally competent, value-based Medicare Advantage care. She talks about building provider trust through transparency and stable benefits. She explains two-way collaboration with providers and community-centered engagement. She argues for measuring cultural competence in quality metrics to sustain bilingual care and tailored resources.

Stephen Merz, VP and COO at Sheppard Pratt Solutions, leads efforts to expand behavioral health access and partner with health systems. He discusses stabilizing struggling programs and creating new capacity. He highlights linking mental and physical care, rapid-access strategies with a no-wrong-door approach, and scaling sustainable models nationwide.

Dr. Mark Mabus, a practicing family physician and CMIO who leads EHR and generative AI work at Parkview Health. He discusses scaling assistive AI across clinical and revenue-cycle workflows. Topics include rapid rollout from pilots to systemwide use. He also covers governance, measuring ROI, adoption strategies, and expanding equitable access for rural care.

Courtney Holladay, VP and Chief Learning Officer at MD Anderson and industrial-organizational psychologist, explains how leadership is built at every level. She talks about embedding development across a 27,000-person workforce. Topics include designing a Leadership Institute, breaking down silos across disciplines, and preparing future leaders early through coaching and hands-on practice.

Kelly Macken Marble, CEO of Osceola Medical Center with ~35 years in healthcare leadership, focuses on rural population health. She discusses a major expansion to boost mental health and substance-use care. She outlines specialty and rehab growth, staffing strategies, and navigating Medicaid, 340B, and rural reimbursement challenges.

Dr. Kapil Dhingra, Physician-in-Chief at The Permanente Medical Group and emergency physician-turned-healthcare leader. He discusses AI for ambient charting and oncology decision support. He talks about value-based care, workforce wellbeing, GLP-1s and cost pressures. He shares leadership lessons on lifelong learning, mentoring, and creating opportunities for emerging clinicians.