QuickHITs

On this episode of QuickHITs, Tyler Smith sits down with Josh Wilda, Associate Vice President for Information Systems and Chief Information Digital Officer at University of Iowa Health Care, to explore how healthcare organizations are evolving from technology operators to strategic enablers of care. Josh shares his unique journey into healthcare IT, from his early days at Epic to leading digital transformation initiatives across major academic health systems. With over 25 years of experience, he brings a perspective grounded in both technical expertise and a deep understanding of healthcare's broader ecosystem. Josh discusses the shifting role of IT leadership—from managing infrastructure to driving enterprise-wide strategy—and how today's leaders must act as connectors across clinical, operational, and technological domains. Josh outlines how organizations can build trust, embed IT into the business, and move from transactional support to true partnership. We also explore the growing impact of AI, data, and digital health, and why success starts with a strong foundation of clean, accessible data. Josh shares how his team is balancing innovation with operational stability, prioritizing initiatives that reduce friction and allow clinicians and staff to operate at the top of their license. Finally, Josh highlights the importance of aligning digital strategy with the core mission of healthcare—improving patient and provider experiences—while ensuring technology enhances, rather than distracts from, that connection.

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:b0f35b17-a284-4974-b16a-e4d12aedf304-2" data-testid= "conversation-turn-2" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> In this episode of QuickHITs, Tyler Smith and Ken Booth are joined by Bryan Dechairo, COO of GeneDx, to explore how genomic testing is transforming the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases. Bryan shares insights from his 30-year career in diagnostics—from the early days of PCR technology to the emergence of CRISPR and today's rapidly advancing genomic medicine. He explains how GeneDx is working to shorten the "diagnostic odyssey" many families face, where it can take five to six years for children with rare diseases to receive an accurate diagnosis. The conversation goes into how genomic data, large-scale testing, and advanced analytics are helping clinicians uncover answers faster. Bryan also discusses the importance of integrating genomic diagnostics into clinical workflows through EHR platforms like Epic, enabling providers to identify patients sooner and act on complex genetic information more effectively. Looking ahead, Bryan shares his vision for "genomes for life"—a future in which genomic information helps guide care from birth through adulthood, improving outcomes through earlier detection, personalized treatments, and proactive healthcare decisions. Tune in to hear how advances in genomics, data integration, and collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem are helping move the industry closer to faster diagnoses and better care for patients with rare diseases.

In this episode of QuickHITs, Tyler Smith sits down with John Henderson, VP, CIO & Digital Officer at Rady Children's Health, for a timely conversation on leadership, integration, and mission-driven innovation in pediatric healthcare. John shares his journey into pediatric healthcare and how purpose-driven work has shaped his leadership philosophy. He offers an inside look at guiding a complex health system merger, bringing together platforms, teams, and cultures while maintaining a relentless focus on patient care. For John, technology is never the end goal — it is a means to simplify workflows, reduce friction for clinicians, and improve the experience for families navigating care. The conversation flows into what it truly takes to unify data across organizations, build strong governance models, and create a flexible architecture that can adapt to rapid shifts in AI and digital capabilities. John discusses the importance of simplification in digital ecosystems, the balance between accessibility and security, and why perfection cannot stand in the way of progress during large-scale transformation. Grounded in real-world experience, this episode explores how healthcare leaders can stay resilient, future-ready, and patient-focused while navigating mergers, modernization, and emerging technologies.

In this episode of QuickHITs, hosts Tyler Smith and Ken Booth sit down with Scott Becker, founder of Becker's Healthcare and partner at McGuireWoods, for an in-depth conversation on entrepreneurship, healthcare transformation, and the future of the industry. Scott shares his journey from practicing law to building Becker's Healthcare into one of the most influential healthcare media platforms in the country — including the early pivots, grit, and team-driven growth that shaped its success. The discussion dives into today's accelerating wave of health system mergers and acquisitions, the role of scale in healthcare innovation, and the real challenges leaders face when integrating data and technology across complex organizations. The conversation also explores where AI is delivering immediate value, from ambient clinical tools to administrative workflows, and why simplicity and ease of use are key to turning data into meaningful action. Scott offers leadership insights on building thriving teams, doubling down on what works, and maintaining momentum in times of change. To close, Scott previews his upcoming book, Building Great Businesses: Create Momentum, Overcome Setbacks, Scale with Confidence, sharing what inspired him to write it and what readers can expect. Whether you're a healthcare leader, entrepreneur, or innovator, this episode offers practical lessons and perspective on building organizations in a rapidly evolving industry.

In this episode of QuickHITs, we're excited to welcome Mohammed Abdelaziz, MD, MPH, FACP, Hospital Medicine Medical Director at Bon Secours Mercy Health King Mills Hospital. Dr. Abdelaziz brings deep experience navigating the real-world challenges of healthcare data, strategy, and execution. Throughout our conversation, Mohammed shares insight on how organizations can move beyond planning to operationalize data initiatives, common pitfalls leaders encounter, and the practical approaches that help turn complex data challenges into measurable outcomes. This episode is full of thoughtful perspectives for anyone working to modernize healthcare technology, improve interoperability, or build momentum around data-driven transformation. Listen now to hear how strategic focus and thoughtful execution can unlock value in healthcare data.

In this episode of QuickHITs, Tyler Smith and Ken Booth sit down with Luis Taveras, SVP & CIO at Jefferson Health, for a deep and engaging conversation about what modern technology leadership in healthcare truly requires. Luis shares how he approaches building IT cultures rooted in trust, curiosity, and accountability. He also shares why leaders must stay grounded in continuous learning as the industry evolves. Throughout the conversation, he reflects on the increasingly strategic role of CIOs, the balancing act between innovation and operational excellence, and the importance of aligning teams around a shared purpose. His global experience and academic lens offer a thoughtful roadmap for how healthcare technology organizations can transform with intention rather than noise. It's an insightful, generous discussion filled with wisdom from a leader who has seen healthcare IT from every angle. And at the end of the episode, Luis introduces his book, The 90-Day CIO, which helps CIOs and IT leaders accelerate their impact by learning from his experience. All proceeds from the book go directly to charity.

In this episode of QuickHITs, hosts Ken Booth and Tyler Smith talk with J.D. Whitlock, Chief Information Officer at Dayton Children's Hospital, about what makes pediatric healthcare IT uniquely challenging, and where innovation is heading next. With 30 years in healthcare and a career spanning operational leadership and Air Force service, J.D. offers a clear, practical look at how technology impacts families, clinicians, and care teams in a pediatric system. He breaks down why children's hospitals often receive new digital tools later than adult health systems, and how tight CIO collaboration across pediatric organizations helps close that gap. J.D. also discusses the real-world complexity of MyChart access, privacy, and guardianship, where teens, divorced parents, and multiple caregivers require thoughtful workflows and communication. He shares how Dayton Children's is adopting ambient AI scribes, pediatric-specific documentation, and Epic's evolving AI tools to reduce clinician burden and improve the patient and family experience. The conversation touches on the state of interoperability, what CIOs should know about the "AI will replace the EHR" narrative, and why strong governance and prioritization ultimately determine the success of any new technology. J.D. closes with a look at what's ahead for Dayton Children's, from expanding primary care to enhancing their digital front door with Epic's new patient-facing AI capabilities. This episode offers practical insights for CIOs, CMIOs, informaticists, and healthcare leaders navigating the fast-changing world of pediatric IT and AI.

In this episode of QuickHITs, we sit down with Alex Romillo, CEO, and Oscar Perez, Chief Applications and Innovation Officer at Health Choice Network (HCN). Together, they share how HCN is using technology, data, and mission-driven leadership to support community health centers across the country. Alex reflects on his nearly 30-year journey with HCN—from joining as employee #17 to leading a 400-person network focused on improving access to care for underserved populations. Oscar discusses his path through major academic and public health systems and why he ultimately chose to help HCN modernize care delivery at scale. They walk through HCN's multi-state Epic implementation, their approach to data migration, and how AI-powered tools like ambient documentation are reducing burden and improving provider-patient interactions. Both leaders emphasize the importance of data equity, strong governance, and keeping innovation grounded in the real needs of clinicians and the communities they serve. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on how technology, when aligned with mission, can expand access, strengthen quality, and drive meaningful transformation across the safety net.

In this episode of QuickHITs, we're joined by Amber Schuetz, Director of Clinical Systems at Boys Town National Research Hospital. Amber's story is one of transformation. Starting her career as a registered nurse in critical care and clinics, she stepped into healthcare IT to become a leader who bridges clinical insight with digital innovation. Amber shares the defining moments that shaped her leadership style, including the mentor who encouraged her to take on stretch assignments and instilled in her the principles of servant leadership. She discusses leading Boys Town through a smooth Epic go-live, training nearly 1,700 users, and even presenting her work at Epic's XGM conference, all while ensuring clinicians and staff felt supported every step of the way. She also reflects on Boys Town's unique history and mission, serving primarily pediatric patients, and how clinical systems play a crucial role in supporting children and families. From embracing AI-powered tools like DAX and Copilot to focusing on relationship-building across IT and clinical leadership, Amber demonstrates how technology can enable trust, improve care, and drive meaningful outcomes. Please tune in for an inspiring conversation about leadership, resilience, and how healthcare IT can serve as a strategic enabler of quality, safety, and innovation in pediatric care.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Nneka Sederstrom, Chief Health Equity Officer at Hennepin Healthcare. As the organization's first leader in this role, Nneka shares how Hennepin responded to the death of George Floyd by creating a system-wide strategy to confront racism in healthcare and build lasting trust with the community. Nneka reflects on the challenges and successes of launching a year-long, 44-hour anti-racism training for more than 7,000 employees, and why education and awareness are critical foundations for equity work. She explores the complexity of measuring progress in meaningful ways. From rethinking how identity is captured in EHRs to creating innovative forums like a "failure conference" that encourages honest dialogue and shared learning. She also breaks down the importance of listening to and believing patient stories, building champions for change at every level of leadership, and why persistence is crucial when addressing deeply rooted inequities within the healthcare system. Please tune in for an inspiring conversation about leadership, courage, and the future of health equity and why, as Neka reminds us, "everything is figureoutable."

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Anita Harris-Brown, Vice President, CNIO, and Clinical Applications leader at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. A former pediatric critical care nurse turned healthcare IT leader, Dr. Harris-Brown shares her journey from paper-based workflows to shaping one of the nation's top children's hospitals through technology and innovation. Dr. Harris-Brown reflects on the pivotal experiences that led her into clinical informatics and how she bridges the gap between bedside care and digital transformation. She explores the role of gamification in pediatric care — from turning physical therapy into baseball with the Cincinnati Reds to designing child-friendly digital tools that make hospital visits less intimidating. She also breaks down how her team approaches AI, avatars, and virtual nursing with intentional governance and a focus on safe, scalable use cases. With servant leadership at the core of her philosophy, Dr. Harris-Brown shares why listening to clinicians, patients, and families is essential for building trust and driving adoption of new technology. Please tune in for an inspiring conversation about leadership in pediatric healthcare, the intersection of clinical insight and innovation, and how technology can create both safer outcomes and more engaging experiences for children and their families.

In this episode of QuickHITs, we're joined by Rebecca Woods, Founder and CEO of Bluebird Leaders, a vibrant and fast-growing community on a mission to empower women in healthcare IT. Rebecca shares what inspired her to create the organization, how it's evolved into a powerful network of nearly 5,000 followers and 250+ members, and why community and mentorship are essential to changing the leadership landscape. Alongside hosts Tyler Smith and Ken Booth, Rebecca discusses what it means to build a personal brand with intention, how to lead with empathy while navigating chaos, and the importance of letting people, especially future leaders, fail, learn, and grow. From her "hooky day" parenting rules to her viral pink sparkly shoes moment, Rebecca brings refreshing honesty, sharp insight, and a deep passion for helping others rise. Whether you're an aspiring leader, a seasoned executive, or somewhere in between, this conversation will leave you inspired to show up more authentically for yourself and for others.

In this episode of QuickHITs, we're joined by Dr. Nirav Shah, Associate Chief Medical Informatics Officer of AI and Innovation at Endeavor Health. With a clinical background in infectious diseases and a career spanning quality, analytics, and digital transformation, Dr. Shah shares how Endeavor is navigating the complex yet urgent task of scaling AI responsibly across a multi-hospital health system. Dr. Shah, Tyler Smith, and Ken Booth discuss what it takes to build trust in emerging technologies from the rapid adoption of ambient documentation to the next wave of agentic AI tools that promise to automate full workflows. He shares how his team is using generative AI to reduce a 3-month manual policy consolidation effort down to five minutes, and why platforms over point solutions is the mindset shift needed for sustainable growth. If you're working to balance innovation with governance, reduce burnout with better tech, or prepare your health system for the scale of change AI is bringing, this episode offers a clear framework for getting started.

In this episode of QuickHITs, Tyler Smith sits down with Olegas Niaksu, Head of Digital Health at AME International GmbH, researcher at Vilnius University, and digital transformation advisor to governments and global health organizations. Olegas shares how he unexpectedly entered the healthcare space and became fascinated by the complex world of hospital information systems. From there, his career took off, spanning continents, health systems, and innovation strategies. The conversation explores the global acceleration of virtual care and remote patient monitoring, how lower-income countries are bypassing outdated systems in favor of newer innovations, and why AI has yet to fully disrupt healthcare. Olegas also discusses how the EU is setting a new standard for cross-border data exchange and emphasizes what healthcare leaders must understand before starting any digital transformation effort. This is a thoughtful, global look at where digital health is headed—and why success depends on more than just technology.

In this episode of QuickHITs, we're joined by Dr. Alistair Erskine, Chief Information and Digital Officer at Emory Healthcare and Emory University. With a background that bridges clinical care and digital transformation, Dr. Erskine offers a candid and practical perspective on how healthcare systems can utilize technology to enhance, rather than complicate, care delivery. Dr. Erskine and Tyler Smith, CEO of Health Data Movers, discuss the emerging role of ambient technologies in reducing documentation burden and burnout, the importance of governing AI responsibly, and the power of interoperability through Epic to drive smarter, safer workflows. From real-world change management lessons to forward-thinking use cases like practice-based evidence and predictive patient engagement, this conversation is packed with strategies healthcare leaders can use today. If you're navigating digital transformation, scaling innovation, or just trying to make IT a little less painful for clinicians, this one's for you.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Nish Patel, Director of the Structural Heart Program at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute. A practicing interventional cardiologist and structural heart specialist, Dr. Patel shares how his personal experiences and procedural expertise have shaped his patient-centered approach to care. Dr. Patel walks us through the evolution of structural heart interventions, from the early days of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to today's cutting-edge use of 3D imaging, CT simulations, and AI-powered identification tools. He breaks down how his team uses data, technology, and standardized reporting to improve outcomes, reduce delays, and deliver what he calls the "Ritz-Carlton" experience in cardiovascular care. He also explores the systemic challenges of standardizing complex heart programs across multi-hospital health systems, especially when navigating fragmented EHR environments. From real-time simulations that reduce procedural risk to using large language models to identify high-risk patients proactively, Dr. Patel offers a pragmatic and inspiring look at the future of heart care innovation. Please tune in for a powerful discussion about leadership in cardiology, the impact of digital tools on care timelines, and what it takes to balance precision, compassion, and scale in modern medicine.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Nigam Shah, a leading voice in healthcare AI and Stanford Health Care's Chief Data Scientist. As a Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, Dr. Shah has spent his career turning massive amounts of health data, from EHRs to wearables, into actionable insights that improve clinical care. Dr. Shah explains what it takes to bring AI out of the lab and into patient care. From Stanford's groundbreaking approach to advance care planning to the importance of understanding workflows and work capacity before deploying any model, he offers a candid look at the complexities and opportunities of real-world AI in healthcare. He also introduces the "Turing Trap" concept, explains why "human-in-the-loop" is often misunderstood, and discusses how we can prepare health systems for sustainable, ethical AI adoption. With his unique perspective at the intersection of clinical practice, research, and informatics, Dr. Shah offers a thoughtful, grounded take on how AI can support, not replace, the people at the heart of care. Please tune in for an eye-opening conversation about responsible AI, the evolution of care delivery, and what it means to be bilingual in tech and medicine.