Running for Resilience: Lou Fragoso’s Mission to Honor Children's Strength

This episode recorded live at the Becker's 3rd Annual Spring Payer Issues Roundtable features Saria Saccocio, Chief Medical Officer, Essence Health. Saria shares how Essence Health is enhancing outcomes through physician-led value-based care, leveraging technology like AI and wearable health devices, and advancing health equity through deep community partnerships.

In this episode, Dr. Katherine A. Hinderer, Senior Nurse Scientist at Connecticut Children’s, shares insights into the development of the Emergency Behavioral Health Assessment Tool and its impact on pediatric mental health care. She discusses how evidence-based nursing practices are improving outcomes, reducing restraint use, and supporting frontline teams in addressing the growing mental health needs of children.

This episode features Lou Fragoso, President and CEO of Manning Family Children’s in New Orleans, as he shares how his journey to complete the Leadville Trail 100 ultramarathon has become a powerful tribute to the resilience of his patients. Lou dedicates each mile of the 100-mile race to a child treated at the hospital, using their stories of perseverance as inspiration to never give up.

In this episode, Dorinda Mueller, CEO of Aliso Ridge Behavioral Health, shares how her clinical background and leadership are shaping innovative strategies in mental health care. She discusses the promise and challenges of AI integration, the growing need for youth-focused services, and the importance of workforce investment to drive quality outcomes.

This episode recorded live at the Becker's 3rd Annual Spring Payer Issues Roundtable features Harlon Pickett, President, Eagle Care Health Solutions. He shares how his organization is improving healthcare access, affordability, and quality through customized, membership-based models, while expanding care equity in rural and underserved communities.

This episode recorded live at the Becker's 3rd Annual Spring Payer Issues Roundtable features Shawn Shuman, Director, Medical Management, Peak Health. Shawn discusses how Peak Health is tackling healthcare access barriers, boosting member satisfaction, and addressing health equity through innovative care management strategies.

This episode recorded live at the Becker’s 22nd Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC + The Future of Spine Conference features Dr. Ramis Gheith, Chief Medical Officer, DxTx Pain and Spine. Dr. Gheith shares how physician-owned ASCs are reshaping care delivery, highlights the transformative role of AI in spinal therapies and informed consent, and emphasizes the power of mission-driven culture in attracting top healthcare talent.

This episode recorded live at the Becker’s 22nd Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC + The Future of Spine Conference features Christopher Nanson, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, Oregon Surgical Institute. Dr. Nanson discusses the rapid growth of outpatient joint replacements, the importance of clinical autonomy amid consolidation, and how creative bundled payment strategies are improving care access, staff satisfaction, and employer partnerships.

In this episode, Kevin Barron, Deputy VP of Payer Relations at University Health, shares how his team is navigating increasingly aggressive payer tactics, implementing smarter contract oversight, and championing a mission-first approach to revenue cycle operations. He also explains why aligning contracting within RevCycle has delivered measurable results for patient care and financial performance.

This episode recorded live at the Becker’s 22nd Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC + The Future of Spine Conference features Michael Bottros, Clinical Operations Chief and Medical Director for Pain Services, Department of Anesthesiology, Keck School of Medicine of USC. He shares key trends in non-opioid pain management, the shift toward curative procedures, and how innovation, workforce investment, and care path efficiency are shaping the future of outpatient spine and orthopedic care.