The Beat

In this episode, host Sandy Vance and Andy Fanning, the CEO & Co-founder of Optura.ai, sit down to talk about why so many healthcare organizations are making AI headlines without actually transforming anything. Andy breaks down how Optura helps payers, providers, and life sciences companies move from a scattered list of AI ideas to a prioritized, production-ready roadmap with measurable return on investment. From crowdsourcing use cases across an entire organization to aligning AI investments with executive strategy, this episode is packed with practical insight for any healthcare leader who wants AI to actually move the needle. In this episode, they talk about: Most healthcare leaders feel they are not moving fast enough with AI, despite the headlines Shadow AI is just an unmet need, and governance is the answer Crowdsourcing AI ideas from the bottom up reveals hotspots that leadership often cannot see Aligning AI use cases to existing strategic initiatives makes adoption dramatically easier Point solutions do not share context, and that missing context is where the real value lives Return on AI investment requires defining what value actually means for your specific organization Agentic AI is the next big wave, and organizations need to decide where they sit on the risk spectrum Trust at the frontline is built by showing workers how AI follows their own standard operating procedures If finance cannot see the ROI, they will conclude that AI does not work A little about Andy: Andy is the Co-Founder and CEO of Optura.ai, where he's on a mission to help healthcare organizations stop dabbling in AI and start seeing real returns from it. His team built an AI Orchestration Platform designed from the ground up for healthcare, giving organizations the infrastructure, trust, and clarity to turn AI ambition into measurable ROI. The platform does it all in one place: spotting high-value AI opportunities, building and deploying custom agents, unlocking data without the ETL headache, auto-generating workflows from existing SOPs, and tracking return on AI investment in real time. No black boxes, no guesswork. Just AI that actually proves its worth.

Virtual care is no longer just about access. It is now becoming the infrastructure layer that helps health systems reduce fragmentation, strengthen workplace safety, and scale digital care more intelligently. In this episode, Tammy Cress, Senior Vice President of Clinical Solutions and Innovation at Teladoc Health, discusses how health systems can move beyond fragmented telehealth strategies and start building more sustainable, integrated models of digital care. She explains how Teladoc is layering responsible AI onto its virtual care infrastructure through its Clarity solution, which helps sense, synthesize, and route the right information to the right care team member at the right time. Tammy also shares why workplace safety is one of the most urgent and practical use cases for these tools, how fragmented digital investments continue to drain staff and budgets, and why strategy, governance, and thoughtful alignment matter more than ever as organizations move from pilots to scalable transformation. Tune in and learn how health systems can rethink virtual care and AI adoption in ways that are more proactive, sustainable, and grounded in what truly matters.  About Tammy Cress: Tammy Cress, RN, MSN, is Senior Vice President of Clinical Solutions and Innovation at Teladoc Health, where she leads the development of healthcare solutions designed to meet real market needs and support growth across complex care environments. A nurse by training and a military veteran, Tammy brings deep experience in telehealth strategy, operations, and innovation. Before her current role, she held multiple leadership positions at Teladoc, Providence Health & Services, and Swedish, where she helped design, scale, and operationalize telehealth programs across multi-state health systems. Her background spans clinical operations, business operations, governance, product strategy, and service delivery, with a consistent focus on aligning technology investments to patient needs, frontline realities, and long-term organizational success. Things You’ll Learn: Fragmented telehealth investments can create unnecessary strain for care teams, even when individual tools appear to deliver good results. Responsible AI can help reduce bedside cognitive burden by sensing what is happening in care environments and sending the right alerts to the right people. Workplace safety is a major healthcare challenge, and smarter room-based technology can help organizations become more proactive instead of reactive. AI and virtual care programs are more likely to scale when leadership aligns governance structures instead of treating digital tools as separate initiatives. Health systems need a clear strategy, stronger alignment, and a fresh look at prior investments if they want to move from pilots to sustainable transformation. Resources: Connect with Tammy Cress on LinkedIn. Follow Teladoc Health on LinkedIn and visit their website. 

In this episode, host Sandy Vance sits down with Gary Salman, CEO and co-founder of Black Talon Security, for a passionate and informative conversation about the growing ransomware crisis in healthcare. With over 30 years in health tech and a background as a part-time law enforcement captain, Gary brings a unique perspective to cybersecurity. He draws parallels between street-level crime and digital attacks.  Whether you lead a large hospital system or a small specialty practice, this episode is packed with practical insights on how to assess your cyber risk, respond to an active breach, and build a culture of leadership accountability before disaster strikes. In this episode, they talk about: About 90% of breached healthcare organizations end up paying the ransom Small practices are just as targeted as large health systems, especially those with strong insurance policies Lack of visibility across the full attack surface is the most common security blind spot Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) is replacing outdated point-in-time assessments Known Exploitable Vulnerabilities (KEVs) are a primary attacker entry point, yet most orgs patch them too slowly AI is helping hackers build malicious tools faster and with less technical skill During a breach, deciding how quickly to shut down the network is the most critical early call Most IT providers never deliver a documented risk report to leadership, leaving executives in the dark Gary's cyber risk grading tool gives non-technical leaders a real-time security score per facility Documented, improving risk scores can reduce regulatory penalties after a breach Most ransomware attacks are preventable with proper patching, configuration, and monitoring A Little About Gary: Gary Salman is the CEO and Co-Founder of Black Talon Security, a leading innovator in cybersecurity solutions for healthcare. With an impressive 32-year career in healthcare technology, Gary is both a seasoned security expert and visionary. In the late 1990s, he developed one of the earliest cloud-based dental practice management systems that was acquired by a publicly traded company in 2002. Gary also has a unique background, as he is still actively involved in law enforcement as a Deputy Sheriff. Under his leadership, Black Talon monitors and secures approximately 65,000 devices worldwide. The company provides cybersecurity services to a wide range of clients, from small practices to some of the largest healthcare organizations in the United States, including many of the top 20 Dental Service Organizations (DSOs). As a respected authority in his field, Gary is a frequent lecturer at major national dental association meetings. Black Talon's services are endorsed by numerous state and national associations, affirming his expertise and influence. His work has been highlighted in over 100 prestigious dental and medical publications, reinforcing his status as a thought leader in healthcare cybersecurity. Gary has also trained tens of thousands of healthcare professionals on best practices for securing their practices and clinics. Beyond preventative measures, Black Talon also specializes in cyberattack remediation, successfully guiding hundreds of healthcare organizations through recovery from security breaches. Their expertise is often enlisted by leading law firms and cyber insurance carriers, underscoring their prominence in the field.

Healthcare organizations cannot afford to chase every new technology trend without first building the foundation to make those tools effective, scalable, and financially sustainable. In this episode, Jeff Thomas, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Sentara Health, discusses how his team is approaching cloud transformation, AI readiness, and cost management across a vertically integrated payer-provider organization. He explains why technology decisions must ultimately support better care delivery, how tech debt continues to slow innovation, and why data accessibility is the real prerequisite for meaningful AI adoption. Jeff also shares how Sentara has reduced system sprawl, flattened infrastructure costs while growing, and built a more resilient technology environment that supports both operational efficiency and clinician presence. He closes by emphasizing a point many leaders overlook: no technology transformation succeeds without strong change management. Tune in and learn how healthcare leaders can build a smarter, more disciplined path to innovation without losing sight of the people they serve.  About Jeff Thomas: Jeff Thomas is Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Sentara Health, where he leads technology strategy, cloud transformation, and infrastructure modernization for one of the region’s major integrated healthcare organizations. With more than 20 years of experience across global infrastructure, operations, enterprise architecture, and application development, Jeff has led large-scale transformation efforts across healthcare, government, consulting, higher education, and commercial enterprises. Before joining Sentara, he held senior technology leadership roles at Smithfield Foods and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He is known for his focus on cloud consolidation, operational efficiency, and the use of technology to improve service delivery while reducing costs. Jeff holds an MBA from The College of William and Mary, a master’s degree from Syracuse University, and a BA from Brigham Young University. Things You’ll Learn: Technology investments only create value when they improve care delivery, reduce friction, and help clinicians stay present with patients. AI readiness depends less on hype and more on whether organizations can make their data accessible, timely, and usable for real-world inference. Reducing tech debt and system sprawl creates the capacity organizations need to innovate without letting infrastructure costs spiral upward. Healthcare technology leaders must manage IT like a business, balancing innovation with financial discipline, operational efficiency, and measurable outcomes. Successful transformation requires more than new tools, since lasting progress depends on helping people adapt to change thoughtfully. Resources: Connect with and follow Jeff Thomas on LinkedIn. Follow Sentarah Health on LinkedIn and visit their website.

Specialty care remains one of the biggest black boxes in healthcare, creating delays, unnecessary referrals, and major frustration for both patients and primary care providers. In this episode, Reza Sanai, co-CEO and co-founder of PicassoMD, discusses how his team is helping primary care providers access specialist expertise in near-real time while also improving the referral process when specialty care is truly needed. He explains why specialty access often breaks down at the point of care, how fragmented provider data makes navigation more difficult, and why better coordination between primary care and specialists can reduce unnecessary ER visits, improve triage, and speed access to the right care. Reza also shares how PicassoMD is supporting rural and underserved communities, why visibility into the patient journey matters so much, and how thoughtful partnerships are essential to making innovation work in real healthcare settings. Tune in and learn how smarter specialist access could help close one of healthcare’s most persistent care coordination gaps.  About Reza Sanai: Reza Sanai, MD, FACC, is the co-CEO and founder of PicassoMD, a platform that gives primary care providers real-time access to a network of value-based specialists across major disciplines. Through curbside consultations and referral support, PicassoMD helps reduce unnecessary referrals and ER visits while improving care transitions, patient experience, and outcomes. In addition to leading PicassoMD, Reza has served in advisory roles with Mighty Health and VIDA Fitness & Aura Spa, and was previously a co-managing partner at Cardiocare LLC. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, where he was a member of the AOA Honor Society. Things You’ll Learn: Specialty care often functions like a black box, making it harder for primary care providers to get timely input and coordinate the next step for patients. Real-time access to specialists can help primary care providers make better decisions, reduce unnecessary referrals, and avoid preventable ER visits. Referral quality depends on more than specialty type alone, since factors like language, mission fit, geography, and appointment availability all shape patient access. Rural and underserved communities benefit when technology connects providers and patients with specialist expertise that may not be available locally. Successful healthcare innovation depends not just on the product itself, but on strong partnerships and an iterative approach to implementation. Resources: Connect with and follow Reza Sanai on LinkedIn or reach out via email. Follow PicassoMD on LinkedIn and visit their website. 

Healthcare payments are still far too fragmented, creating friction for both patients and providers at one of the most important moments in the care journey. In this episode, Katie Whalen, Head of Strategic Partnerships for Merchant Solutions at Fiserv, discusses how Clover PracticePay is helping modernize payment workflows for small and mid-sized healthcare providers. She explains why healthcare remains underserved when it comes to efficient payment infrastructure, how disconnected systems create unnecessary back-office work, and why a better payment experience can also improve transparency, cash flow, and patient satisfaction. Katie also shares how Fiserv is bringing lessons from retail, restaurants, and other service industries into healthcare, using connected payment tools, claims reconciliation, and smarter patient-facing technology to reduce friction across the entire process. Tune in and learn how better payment experiences could become a powerful driver of transformation in healthcare!   About Katie Whalen: Katie Whalen is a payments and partnerships leader with deep experience across financial services, digital payments, and merchant solutions. She currently serves as Head of SMB Sales & Partnerships for Merchant Solutions at Fiserv, where she helps drive growth and innovation for businesses navigating an increasingly digital economy. Before stepping into this role, she spent nearly seven years at Fiserv as Senior Vice President for North America Issuer Processing. Her career also includes leadership roles at Citi, where she focused on global digital payments strategy, and at American Express, where she worked in strategy, operations, and business development for enterprise growth and digital partnerships. Earlier in her career, she held product leadership roles at Thomson Reuters and worked in public service through the City of New York and the U.S. Senate. Katie holds a BA from Cornell University and an MBA from NYU Stern, bringing together policy, strategy, and business expertise. Things You’ll Learn: Healthcare payment systems are often fragmented, forcing providers to work across disconnected tools for claims, billing, and collections. This creates unnecessary administrative burden and slows down both staff workflows and payment reconciliation. Small and mid-sized healthcare practices have historically lacked access to the kind of payment technology already common in retail and other service industries. Modern platforms can help close that gap by making transactions easier for both practices and patients. A better patient payment experience depends on more than just accepting cards or digital payments. Transparency, convenience, and clear financial communication all play a role in helping patients feel more confident and informed. When payment collection and payer reconciliation are handled in one connected system, practices can reduce back-office friction and improve operational efficiency. This integration can also support healthier cash flow and a smoother overall workflow. Improving healthcare payments is not just about convenience at the point of transaction. It also creates opportunities for stronger information exchange across the broader care ecosystem, helping reduce inefficiencies over time. Resources: Connect with and follow Katie Whalen on LinkedIn. Follow Fiserve on LinkedIn and visit their website.

In this episode, host Sandy Vance sits down with Adam Kamor, Co-founder and Head of Engineering at Tonic.ai, to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in healthcare's AI adoption: what to do with sensitive data you legally cannot access.  Adam breaks down how Tonic AI helps healthcare organizations de-identify and synthesize unstructured data so they can train AI models safely, stay HIPAA compliant, and actually unlock the value sitting behind their firewalls.  If your organization is eager to build AI-powered workflows but unsure how to handle patient data responsibly, this episode is a must-listen. In this episode, they talk about: Most valuable healthcare data is too sensitive to use for AI training without de-identification HIPAA is actually an advantage because it gives organizations a clear roadmap for safe data use Tonic Textual replaces PHI in unstructured documents with realistic synthetic values Synthetic data must closely mirror real data for AI models to perform well in the field If a model is trained on PHI, it risks regurgitating patient information in outputs Privacy compliance should be addressed at the start of an AI project, not as an afterthought Many organizations do not realize solutions already exist to help them use their data safely A Little About Adam: Adam manages the team creating Tonic Textual, Tonic.ai's platform for unstructured data redaction and synthesis. He has spent the last 12 years as a leader at the intersection of data privacy, AI, and software engineering.

Artificial intelligence in healthcare isn’t just about futuristic diagnostics or robots assisting surgeons. It’s also transforming the operational backbone of the healthcare industry.  In this episode, host Sandy Vance sits down with Anand Kumar, Vice President of Healthcare at Genpact, to explore how AI-driven automation is reshaping everything from payer operations to member experience. Together, they unpack how healthcare organizations can cut through the “AI buzz,” identify meaningful use cases, and drive measurable outcomes. From contact center automation to actuarial modeling and prior authorization workflows, this episode dives into the real-world impact of AI and how human expertise and intelligent agents can work together to improve both operational efficiency and patient experience. If you’re a healthcare leader trying to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape, this conversation offers practical insights into where the technology is delivering value today and what’s coming next. In this episode, they talk about: Healthcare organizations are adopting AI-first strategies to improve efficiency and operational outcomes Successful AI transformation requires aligning people, processes, and technology AI tools are helping contact centers resolve patient and member issues faster Many healthcare organizations are seeing 20–40% improvements in operational efficiency AI is helping actuaries analyze large datasets and identify trends more quickly Human experts and intelligent agents are working together to handle complex healthcare decisions Leaders should prioritize partners who demonstrate proven outcomes and operational expertise A Little About Anand: Anand Kumar is a distinguished leader in healthcare and technology, combining deep clinical expertise with advanced digital innovation. As Vice President at Genpact, Anand drives transformative strategies that integrate AI-driven solutions, digital platforms, and operational excellence to deliver measurable outcomes for global clients. Holding degrees as a Medical Doctor (MD), Chartered Accountant (CA), and a Ph.D. in Computing and Artificial Intelligence, Anand brings a unique multidisciplinary perspective to solving complex healthcare challenges. His work spans data engineering, automation, and advanced analytics, enabling payers and providers to reimagine care delivery and optimize patient engagement. At HLTH USA 2025, Anand is shaping conversations around generative AI in healthcare, population health strategies, and next-gen digital ecosystems. His leadership reflects a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and patient-centric solutions that redefine the future of health.   

In this episode of the Cybersecurity at ViVE series on The Beat Podcast, host Sandy Vance sits down with Chad Alessi, Managing Director of Cybersecurity at CTG, for a wide-ranging conversation about what it really takes to protect healthcare organizations in today's threat landscape. With a background spanning chemical engineering, the U.S. Marines, energy sector Operational Technology security, and IT consulting, Chad brings a unique cross-industry perspective to healthcare cybersecurity. From the difference between cybersecurity and cyber resilience to the rise of AI-powered attacks, this episode is packed with practical insights for healthcare leaders who want to stay ahead of what is coming. In this episode, they talk about how: Cyber resilience focuses on operational continuity when an attack happens, not just prevention Breaches resolved within 200 days can save organizations over $1 million Bad actors often sit idle inside networks for months, collecting data before launching an attack Baseline requirements are identity-first security, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) and privileged access management Human-only Security Operations Center (SOC) models are too slow to keep up with today's automated, AI-powered attacks CTG uses Microsoft's Unified Security Operations (SecOps) platform to eliminate tool sprawl and improve response time Zero-trust architecture is expanding from department-level to enterprise-wide in healthcare New HIPAA regulations now require provable network segmentation for legacy medical devices AI-assisted security operations will continue to grow in the next few years A Little About Chad: As CTG's Managing Director of Cybersecurity, Chad Alessi leverages decades of experience in technology, cybersecurity, and operational strategy across enterprise and mid-market sectors to meet the evolving cybersecurity needs of clients in the U.S. During his time in IT consulting, Chad was instrumental in driving IT transformation in the company's regulated pipeline and gas processing business units. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering, an MBA from the University of Alabama, an MS in Information Systems with a concentration in Information Security from Syracuse University, and post-graduate certifications in leadership, full stack development, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. Chad is known for his strong work ethic, integrity, resourcefulness, and service-based leadership, which he attributes to his time in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Angie Curry, Chief Nursing Informatics Officer at Microsoft and RN with 25+ years of bedside experience, discusses nurse-centered ambient AI. She covers Microsoft’s ambient solution integrated with Epic Rover. They talk about reducing documentation burden, workflow fit and trust, human review controls, capturing “invisible care,” and piloting strategies for safe adoption.