Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Alex Ding, MD, Enterprise Deputy Chief Medical Officer at Humana and practicing radiologist focused on healthcare innovation. He discusses Humana’s value-based care findings. Topics include how primary care continuity links to fewer admissions and ED visits. He covers payer-provider alignment, reducing administrative burden, and priorities for scaling outcomes-driven care.

Carl Bergetz, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel at Rush University System for Health, steers legal, compliance and government affairs across an integrated health system and university. He discusses rebuilding an interdisciplinary legal and government affairs team, communicating rapid policy changes systemwide, preparing for ICE interactions, financial headwinds like Medicaid and Medicare cuts, and cautious expansion of community care and AI.

Randy Farmer, President and CEO of Vermont Information Technology Leaders and former COO of the Delaware Health Information Network, is a veteran leader in health information exchange. He discusses evolving from simple data connectivity to health intelligence. He highlights culture and customer experience improvements. He outlines cautious, practical AI pilots and the statewide impact of better interoperability.

Joseph Carr, VP of Supply Chain at Akron Children’s, leads clinically integrated supply chain and standardization to free clinician time and reduce costs. He discusses shifting clinical purchasing into supply chain, off-site distribution and inventory strategies, building a control tower and talent ladders, and balancing AI and automation with workforce wellbeing.

Dr. Lisa Fort, emergency physician and system medical director of Ochsner's Virtual Care Center, leads virtual solutions to ease ED crowding. She discusses a virtual ED that triages escalations, impressive first-year outcomes, shifting culture for adoption, and plans to unify care transitions and use population models to match patients to the right care.

Paul Markovich, President and CEO of Ascendiun and former Blue Shield of California leader, pushes for systemic fixes to healthcare affordability. He discusses testifying to Congress, abolishing PBM spread pricing and rebates, building universal digital health records, and Ascendiun’s unbundled PBM and tech partnerships. Short, focused talk on transforming costs and system design.

Patrick Gilligan, long-time New England healthcare leader and CEO of Point32Health, discusses regional nonprofit plans and member-focused stewardship. He tackles rising medical and pharmacy costs. He outlines aligning incentives with providers and redesigning care around the patient. He urges policy and collaboration to make care more affordable.

Dr. Sylvester Youlo, an orthopedic surgeon at Phelps Health with expertise in joint replacement and healthcare administration, discusses how shifting CMS rules and the move to outpatient surgery are changing rural practice. He outlines Phelps Health’s clinical documentation initiative and stresses why strong documentation will shape care, reimbursement, and the future of rural surgery.

Ann M. Richardson, healthcare executive and founder of LeadWell Healthcare Consultants, draws on decades advising health systems and tech partners. She discusses access constraints and clinician burden. She warns about mandate-driven data overload and cautious AI adoption. She highlights patient engagement tools that reduce clinician friction and practical leadership advice for supporting care teams.

Bryan Sisk, Senior VP and Chief Nurse Executive at Memorial Hermann, leads nursing practice and workforce strategy across a 14,000-nurse system. He talks about scaling leadership for large teams. He covers accelerated nurse training and academic integration. He highlights strategies that boosted new-grad retention and building culture and training infrastructure systemwide.