Becker’s Healthcare Digital Health + Health IT

This episode features Dr. Don Casey, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Rush Medical College, sharing insights on how AI and machine learning are transforming clinical care, patient engagement, and health system operations. He discusses real-world use cases across specialties, regulatory trends, and why leaders must stay hands-on and informed as technology accelerates change in healthcare.

On this episode, Richard Clarke, Chief Data and Analytics Officer and Board Member at Highmark Health, joins the podcast to discuss creating meaningful innovation and impact through AI. He dives into the concept of agentic AI and how it’s shaping the future of healthcare delivery. Richard also offers advice for emerging leaders on building resilient organizations that can thrive amid rapid technological change.

On this episode, Bob Berbeco, Chief Information Officer at Mahaska Health, joins the podcast to discuss how technology is enabling closer connections between patients and providers. He explores breakthroughs in AI, including AI scribes, operational efficiencies, and innovations improving care access and patient experience. Bob also shares insights on reducing clinical burden and the critical importance of maintaining cybersecurity in an increasingly digital healthcare environment.

This episode features Teresa Ash, Director of System Operations for Digital Health at UC Health, who shares how her team is using AI to improve patient flow and operational efficiency while balancing innovation with governance, strategy, and process improvement across the health system.

This episode features Nolan Chang, MD, EVP of Corporate Development, Strategy, and Finance at The Permanente Federation LLC. Dr. Chang discusses how Kaiser Permanente leverages AI and digital health tools to improve patient experiences, support clinicians, and drive value-based care, while sharing insights on governance, operational strategy, and evolving leadership in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.

In this episode, Bill Sheahan, SVP and Chief Innovation Officer at MedStar Health, shares how the system is leveraging AI, telehealth, and digital innovation partnerships to redesign care models. He highlights the importance of balancing technology with people and process changes to create scalable, patient-centered transformation with clinical, operational, and external partners.This episode is sponsored by eVisit.

Domenic Donato, CEO and Co-Founder of Attuned Intelligence, discusses his company’s innovative platform designed to help operations leaders optimize their AI agents. He shares insights on managing high-pressure situations, mitigating risk, and ensuring accuracy in high-stakes decision-making environments.

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In this episode, Karen E. Hunter, DNP, RN, NI-BC, CENP, Chief Nursing Informatics Officer at Adventist Health, shares insights on advancing nursing informatics, leveraging AI in emergency care, and guiding her organization through a systemwide Epic implementation while balancing innovation with operational fundamentals.

In this episode, Charlette Stallworth, MBA, Vice President of Business Development and Innovation at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, discusses how her team leverages AI, fosters partnerships, and balances digital innovation with patient-centered care and governance to advance the organization’s mission.

Robb Wetmore, MHR, Director of Digital Health at Variety Care, joins the podcast to discuss the growing role of telemedicine and remote patient monitoring in healthcare delivery. He highlights how his role and team responsibilities are evolving alongside these advancements and shares key strategic initiatives driving the future of digital health.

In this episode, Dr. Deepthi Bollineni shares insights on balancing clinical excellence with operational efficiency, the role of physician advisors in advancing value-based care, and how thoughtful use of AI and automation can ease workforce pressures while keeping patient-centered care at the core.

Merage Ghane, Ph.D., Director of Responsible AI in Health at the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI), discusses the consequences of AI misuse and the importance of building trust in clinical applications of AI. She highlights the need for human-centered solutions, emphasizing ethics in healthcare, and discusses the evolution of the healthcare industry.

This episode features Kiran Mysore, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Sutter Health, who shares how his team is using AI and data-driven strategies to improve patient access, support clinicians, and drive organizational growth. He highlights real-world examples of AI in diagnostics, workflow efficiency, and digital care, while outlining Sutter’s vision for future expansion and innovation.

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In this episode, Dr. Tinu Tadese, Vice President and Enterprise Chief Medical Informatics Officer at Boston Medical Center, discusses the challenges and opportunities of integrating new hospitals, expanding EHR infrastructure, and strengthening informatics teams. She highlights the need to invest in people over technology and shares her vision for cultivating future physician informatics leaders.

This episode features Malik Bahar, AVP of Access Center and Loyalty, and Erica T. Carney, Director of Virtual Care Transformation at Virtua Health. They discuss how innovative technologies, agentic AI, and smart care strategies are enhancing the patient experience, supporting clinical teams, and shaping the future of healthcare delivery.

Dr. Nigam Shah, Chief Data Scientist at Stanford Health Care, joins the podcast to explore the intersection of data science and healthcare innovation. He shares insights into ongoing research initiatives like the Green Button Project, discusses the technical challenges faced in deploying data solutions at scale, and outlines the key components of his work within Health IT. Dr. Shah highlights the potential of data to drive smarter, evidence-based clinical decision-making across systems.

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John Henderson, Vice President, Chief Information & Digital Officer, and CIO at Rady Children's Health, joins the podcast to discuss how he keeps his organization engaged and aligned around a clear digital vision. He shares insights on improving both patient and employee satisfaction, developing a strong organizational identity, and preparing for long-term success amid a dynamic healthcare environment. Henderson also touches on the role of mergers in shaping the future of care delivery.

In this episode, Dr. T.Y. Alvin Liu, Inaugural Director of the AI Innovation Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine, shares how one of the nation’s top academic health systems is pioneering AI implementation, governance, and the future of oculomics. He unpacks the challenges of real-world deployment and why collaboration and rapid iteration are key to success.

In this episode, Divya Pathak, Chief Data and AI Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals, discusses how the nation's largest public health system is leveraging AI to enhance patient access, streamline operations, and ensure ethical, equitable care—while laying a strong foundation of governance and multidisciplinary collaboration.

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In this episode, Dr. Syl Trepanier, Chief Nursing Officer at Providence, joins Laura Dyrda to share insights on building a mission-driven nursing culture, developing innovative care models like co-caring, and the critical strategies Providence is using to recruit, retain, and empower nurses for the future of healthcare.

In this episode, Dr. Eric Cheng, Chief Medical Informatics Officer at UCLA Health Sciences, shares his unique journey from neurology to informatics, dives into the intersection of AI and data quality, and explores how UCLA is reimagining growth, regulation, and patient-centered documentation in healthcare.

In this episode, Dr. Clara Lin, CMIO and VP of Digital Health & Informatics at Seattle Children’s, joins Laura Dyrda to discuss driving clinician satisfaction, partnering with Google on innovative AI tools like the “Pathway Assistant,” and preparing the pediatric workforce for the future of healthcare tech.

In this episode, Dr. Yasir Tarabichi, Chief Medical Informatics Officer at Ovatient and Chief Health AI Officer at MetroHealth, discusses the latest advancements in AI-driven healthcare and virtual care integration. He shares insights on strategic AI implementations, virtual care collaborations, and the importance of governance in fostering long-term success in healthcare technology.

In this episode, Praveen Chopra, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Emplify Health, shares how the organization is empowering staff through responsible AI use, driving innovation with agile teams, and cultivating a “huggable” culture that keeps people at the heart of healthcare transformation.

Omkar Kulkarni, MPH, Vice President and Chief Transformation & Innovation Officer at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, shares how the organization is leveraging AI in ways that align with its mission—highlighting what excites him most about the technology and how it's being integrated across the system. He discusses workforce improvements and how they’re preparing for the future, while also addressing challenges such as adapting to rapidly evolving technology and the critical need to rely on strong, core operational processes.

In this episode, Pamela Landis, Senior Vice President of Digital Engagement at Hackensack Meridian Health, shares how her team is improving patient access, enhancing digital experiences, and addressing industry challenges. She also discusses the importance of collaboration, leadership, and navigating uncertainty in healthcare.

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In this episode, Dr. Sarah Pletcher, Chief Digital Health Officer at Houston Methodist, shares how cutting-edge digital health innovations—like AI, virtual care, and smart hospital technology—are reshaping patient care. She discusses the challenges of change management, the future of healthcare delivery, and the key strategies driving long-term success.

In this episode, Dr. Justin Coran, PhD, MPH, Former Chief Analytics Officer and Adjunct Professor, discusses the evolving role of AI and analytics in healthcare. From groundbreaking machine learning models to administrative automation, he shares key insights on innovation, efficiency, and the future of healthcare IT.

In this episode, Dr. Deepti Pandita, Vice President & Chief Medical Information Officer at UCI Health, shares how her team is transforming clinical informatics, integrating AI for efficiency, and streamlining governance to unify health systems. She discusses the challenges and opportunities of AI adoption, the importance of shared decision-making, and how UCI Health is preparing for the future of digital healthcare.

In this episode, Dr. Rebecca G. Mishuris, Chief Medical Information Officer and VP at Mass General Brigham, discusses the groundbreaking use of generative AI in ambient documentation. She shares how this technology is transforming clinician workflows, reducing burnout, and enhancing patient care—while also exploring the future of AI-driven healthcare innovation.

Tony Anani, MD, MPH, MBA, Chief Medical Officer, and Kevin Greene, President of Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper TX, discuss how their organization has earned the #1 ranking for inpatient and emergency care. They highlight their ongoing efforts to expand access to care and recruit top talent while navigating staffing challenges. Additionally, they share the opportunities they are excited about and the strategies they are implementing to ensure long-term success.

Cheng-Kai Kao, MD, FACP, SFHM, Chief Medical Information Officer at UChicago Medicine, explores how technology is being leveraged to enhance patient care and streamline workflow efficiency. He discusses the necessity of AI governance in monitoring artificial intelligence and ensuring responsible implementation. Additionally, he shares his vision and strategies for setting up UChicago Medicine for long-term success in the evolving healthcare landscape.

In this episode, Shakeeb Akhter, Senior Vice President & Chief Digital & Information Officer at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, shares insights on the hospital’s digital transformation, AI-driven advancements, and cloud migration initiatives. Tune in to hear how CHOP is leveraging technology to enhance patient care, improve operational efficiency, and drive groundbreaking innovation in pediatric healthcare.

Michael Hasselberg, PhD, Chief Digital Health Officer at the University of Rochester Medical Center, discusses the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence governance in healthcare. He highlights growth opportunities in generative AI while addressing regulatory challenges and the complexities of building trust in AI-driven solutions.

Turgay Ayer, Professor at Georgia Tech’s School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, explores the role of data in decision-making processes, emphasizing the value of randomized control trials. He discusses challenges in data accessibility and communication gaps with end users. Additionally, Ayer addresses controversies surrounding increased healthcare spending for correctional facilities, offering insight into the complexities of resource allocation.

Steven Ramirez, Chief Information Security Officer at Renown Health, shares insights on improving the end-user experience through continuous adjustments and support. He emphasizes the importance of clearly articulating risk to drive strategic investments and ensuring those investments deliver value. Ramirez also discusses his proactive approach to setting himself up for long-term success in the evolving healthcare landscape.

James Matera, DO, FACOI, ACPE, Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at CentraState Medical Center, discusses the importance of evidence-based medicine and adhering to guidelines to enhance care quality. He also highlights how the organization is addressing community needs and emphasizes the role of monitoring key performance metrics to drive improvement.

In this episode, Dr. Mark Townsend, Chief Clinical Digital Ventures Officer at Bon Secours Mercy Health, discusses how health systems can leverage real-world data and unstructured clinical notes to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes. He shares insights on Bon Secours’ partnership with OmniHealth, the role of AI in clinical decision-making, and strategies for building a data-driven culture in healthcare.

In this episode, Sameer Sethi, SVP and Chief AI & Insights Officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, shares how the health system is leading the way in AI adoption. From scaling automation to embedding AI into clinical workflows, he discusses key innovations, challenges, and the future of AI-driven healthcare.

In this episode, Dr. Chris DeFlitch, Vice President and Chief Medical Information Officer at Penn State Health, discusses the health system’s rapid transformation. From pioneering EHR advancements to Penn State’s impactful philanthropic efforts like the Four Diamonds Fund, Dr. DeFlitch shares how technology and community-driven care are shaping the future of healthcare in Central Pennsylvania.

In this episode, Gulshan Mehta, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Blanchard Valley Health System, discusses the organization's approach to digital transformation. He highlights the importance of building a strong IT foundation, leveraging AI and automation, enhancing data accessibility, and overcoming industry challenges like workforce adaptation and cybersecurity.

In this episode, Reed Smith, MBA, Chief Consumer Officer at Ardent Health Services, discusses how the organization is leveraging technology to enhance patient experience, improve access to care, and support clinicians. Reed shares insights on the future of healthcare technology, including the importance of interoperability and prioritizing consumer needs in an evolving landscape.

In this episode, Chris Carmody, Chief Technology Officer at UPMC, shares insights on the health system’s shift towards a single electronic health record (EHR) platform. He discusses the challenges, planning, and leadership involved in this transformative project and highlights the importance of supporting teams for long-term success in healthcare IT.

In this episode, Dr. J. Scott Smitherman, Associate Vice President and Chief Medical Information Officer at Providence Clinical Network, shares insights on how AI-driven technologies like ambient documentation are transforming clinical workflows, reducing physician burnout, improving patient care, and more.

In this episode, Sandra Powell-Elliott, MBA, Vice President and Chief Innovation and Commercialization Officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, shares insights on fostering a culture of innovation, leveraging AI and translational research, and navigating funding challenges to drive the future of healthcare.