Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Callie Miller, hospital chief executive at Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center, leads operations, workforce engagement and quality initiatives. She discusses strengthening workforce engagement and developing frontline leaders. She explores using AI to cut clinician administrative burden and shares steps toward building high reliability while expanding services to meet community needs.

Jakob Emerson, Associate News Director and payer-focused reporter, breaks down decade-high employer healthcare costs. He covers AI-driven hospital billing and new data on coding impacts. He explains drug and utilization drivers and contrasts insurer strategies with Mark Cuban’s direct contracting approach. He also highlights designated networks and state policy signals shaping employer solutions.

Munjal Shah, co-founder and CEO of Hippocratic AI, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur turned healthcare innovator. He talks about designing AI with clinical guardrails and deliberate scope limits. He explains why voice can be more persuasive and empathetic than text. He presents an abundance mindset for scalable, persistent patient outreach and safety-first operational metrics.

AJ Rivosecchi, product director and trained pharmacist who focuses on pharmacy procurement and 340B compliance. He discusses making procurement strategic by unsiloing data. He covers integrating supply, finance, and compliance systems. He talks about using shortage predictions for planning and protecting 340B compliance amid changing risk.

Alan Condon, Editor-in-Chief and healthcare finance commentator, explains Sutter Health’s LOI to merge with Allina and the plan for a 40-hospital, multi-state system. He discusses the $2B Midwest investment, tech and AI integration, noncontiguous merger strategy, AdventHealth’s strong 2025 finances, and its growth moves into high-margin services and Florida markets.

Laura Dyrda, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief at Becker's Healthcare, offers a concise look at recent turmoil around hospital safety grades and what hospitals face next. She also explores why many AI pilots stall and what systems must build to scale technologies. Short, clear takes on participation dilemmas, infrastructure needs, and the rise of abandoned AI projects.

Ramin Davidoff, Co-CEO of The Permanente Federation and former urologist, shares leadership lessons shaped by a clinical career. He discusses leading through pandemic uncertainty with courage and empathy. He urges a shift to value-based care focused on prevention and outcomes. He also highlights rising workplace violence and practical safety responses.

Ten fast-moving healthcare headlines are unpacked, from a major survey group's grading change to a notable ratings downgrade for a Midwestern system. Consolidation and neighborhood hospital growth get attention. New drug launches and healthcare billionaires make the list. Job cuts and rising cyberattack threats tied to foreign actors round out the top stories.

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.