Preventing Diabetes: A New Approach Through Telehealth with Laurence Girard, the CEO and founder of Fruit Street Health

The American Cancer Society excels by smoothly combining research, patient support, and advocacy worldwide, focusing on the needs of people at risk or diagnosed with cancer, as well as their caregivers and families. In this episode, Dr. Bonny Morris, Senior Director for Patient Navigation at the American Cancer Society (ACS), shares her personal journey from a rural background to her role in healthcare innovation. Bonny emphasizes the disparities in cancer care in underserved areas and explains how ACS is addressing those disparities by combining research, patient support, and advocacy on a national and global scale. The focus shifts to the ACS CARES app, a groundbreaking initiative aiming to personalize cancer care support by providing users with a digital platform to navigate cancer information and connect with trained specialists 24/7. Dr. Morris extends an invitation for collaboration, stressing the importance of conversations to optimize cancer care delivery.  Tune in, learn, and become a part of the movement to shape a brighter and more compassionate future in cancer care! Resources: Connect with and follow Bonny Morris on LinkedIn. Follow the American Cancer Society on LinkedIn and visit their website. Learn more about the ACS CARES App here. Download the ACS CARES App on the App Store here or on the Google Play Store here.

Psychedelics can help individuals navigate significant life challenges and gain new perspectives. In this episode, Niko Skievaski, co-founder and CEO of Althea, discusses the transformative potential of psychedelics in mental health. Niko explains the growing evidence that psychedelics can offer better outcomes than traditional psychiatric treatments for conditions like PTSD, depression, and addiction. Throughout this interview with Saul Marquez, he talks about the resurgence of research at top institutions, the development of new software to support regulatory compliance and practice management, and the bipartisan support for psychedelic programs. Niko also shares personal stories on psychedelics and societal issues like AI, climate change, and political unrest, while highlighting an entrepreneur's journey in health tech and the need for a more inclusive and effective approach to mental health. Tune in and learn about the future of psychedelics in healthcare and the innovative efforts to integrate these treatments into mainstream medicine! Resources:  Watch the entire interview here. Connect and follow Niko Skievaski on LinkedIn. Learn more about Althea on their LinkedIn and website. Listen to Niko’s previous interview on our podcast here.

Breakthroughs in healthcare technology over the past ten years are painting a promising picture for the future of medicine. In this episode, Stanley Bergman, Chairman and CEO of Henry Schein, shares his leadership journey and highlights the transformative power of healthcare technology, particularly in dentistry. He emphasizes collaboration, trust, and patient access, advocating for a future where dentistry and medicine work together to improve overall health through prevention and education. Tune in and learn about the evolving landscape of healthcare and dentistry, the role of technology, and the importance of collaborative efforts to improve health outcomes. Resources: Connect with and follow Stanley Bergman on LinkedIn. Follow the Henry Schein company on LinkedIn and discover their website! Watch the entire episode on YouTube and get more details at Think Oral Health.

Being told 'no' can motivate one to think differently and discover new paths In this episode, Brittany Strelow offers a unique perspective on PAs' evolving roles and their vital contribution to filling healthcare gaps, particularly in primary care and rural settings. She discusses the exciting potential of emerging trends such as telehealth, artificial intelligence, and hospital-at-home models to revolutionize patient care and shares invaluable insights from her extensive academic work and advocacy efforts in legislation into the future of healthcare and the endless possibilities for PAs to make a significant impact. Stay tuned and learn how PAs are addressing health disparities, pioneering new care models, and driving innovation in healthcare. Resources: Connect with and follow Brittany Strelow on LinkedIn. Learn more about the Minnesota Academy of Physician Assistants (MAPA) on LinkedIn and the website. Check out the Journal of the American Academy of PAs (JAAPA) website!

One in three U.S. adults are pre-diabetic, yet 80% remain unaware of their condition. In this episode, Laurence Girard, the CEO and founder of Fruit Street Health, shares his journey as a healthcare entrepreneur, raising over $33 million in equity financing and delivering the CDC's Diabetes Prevention Program via telehealth. Initially offering telemedicine software for dietitians, Fruit Street pivoted to diabetes prevention based on advice from a Fitbit executive, resulting in a program that reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by over 58% and is more effective than metformin. Despite facing a setback from a competing distributor, Fruit Street’s program, which includes live group video chats with dietitians, food tracking, and partnerships with LabCorp and Modified Health, has received Medicare funding and a grant from the American Diabetes Association. Laurence emphasizes the importance of good science, patient experience, and prevention in healthcare and encourages providers and payers to support CDC-recognized diabetes prevention programs to reverse prediabetes. Tune in and learn how Fruit Street is making strides in diabetes prevention and public health! Resources:  Watch the entire interview here. Connect and follow Laurence Girard on LinkedIn. Learn more about Fruit Street on their LinkedIn and website.

Emotional sobriety means recognizing and transforming negative thought patterns, requiring a willingness to sit with and understand your emotions. In this insightful episode, Dr. Andrew Seefeld, Addiction Specialist, & Medical Director, Emergency Department at Speare Memorial Hospital, shares his personal journey of overcoming emotional and physical struggles through emotional sobriety, a concept focused on transforming negative thought patterns that lead to destructive behaviors. Dr. Seefeld explains that while emotions are automatic, feelings are conscious reflections that can be managed, and by addressing negative thought patterns, he has transformed his life and helped others through his work and the free app, myLifeLink. He emphasizes choosing healthy behaviors and his mission to help others achieve emotional sobriety, sharing his shift from emergency medicine to addiction medicine to educate and support those struggling with addiction and mental health issues. Tune in and learn how emotional sobriety can transform your life and help you break free from negative thought patterns and behaviors! Resources:  Watch the entire interview here.  Connect and follow Andrew Seefeld on LinkedIn and X. Learn more about myLifeLink on their LinkedIn and website. Download the myLifeLink app on the App Store and Google Play.

The future of health equity is within reach, and it's inspiring to see organizations like City of Hope driving change in the healthcare ecosystem. In this episode, Harlan Levine, President of Health Innovation and Policy at City of Hope, delves into the critical topic of health equity and access to optimal cancer care. Harlan shares insights into healthcare innovation, the value the City of Hope adds to health systems and patients, and the barriers to accessing optimal cancer care, particularly as they relate to health equity. Harlan also discusses potential solutions for eliminating these barriers and paints a compelling picture of the ideal future of health equity. He shares a focus on patient-centered care, collaboration, and innovation, reshaping the healthcare landscape to ensure equitable access to life-saving therapies.  Tune in to gain valuable insights and inspiration from Dr. Harlan Levine's vision for the future of healthcare. Resources: Connect with and follow Harlan on LinkedIn. Follow City of Hope on LinkedIn. Visit the City of Hope website here.

The future of healthcare demands a business-like approach with a focus on real-time data and decision-making processes. In this episode, Matt Seefeld, founder of myLifeLink and Executive Vice President of MedEvolve, underscores the significance of effective intelligence in navigating the healthcare sector's complexities, emphasizing the need to prioritize clinical outcomes over financial gains. Matt delves into the challenges facing health systems in terms of profitability and accountability, highlighting the importance of real-time data and task tracking for enhanced efficiency, while advocating for embracing innovative solutions within an antiquated health industry to drive positive change. Furthermore, he candidly shares his personal journey with addiction, underscoring the importance of community support and emotional sobriety, aiming to provide a platform through myLifeLink for individuals to connect, heal, and support one another on their recovery journeys. Matt also encourages listeners to seize opportunities for growth and innovation in healthcare revenue cycles and beyond, reflecting on the significance of actions and outcomes in achieving success.  Tune in and learn how to navigate the evolving healthcare landscape and contribute to positive change in the industry! Resources:  Watch the entire interview here.  Connect and follow Matt Seefeld on LinkedIn. Discover more about MedEvolve on their LinkedIn and website. Listen to Matt’s previous interview on our podcast here. Learn more about myLifeLink on their LinkedIn and website. Download the myLifeLink app on the App Store and Google Play.

Envision a platform with the most trusted medical reference for clinical decision tools and content, trusted by millions of clinicians globally. In this episode, Dr. Graham Walker discusses his passion for responsible AI in healthcare and his involvement in crafting the Physicians’ Charter for Responsible AI. He also uncovers how he balances his clinical practice with his tech innovations and what drives him to enhance patient care through technology continually.  Don't miss this engaging discussion packed with insights on the intersection of medicine and technology! Resources: Connect and follow Graham Walker on LinkedIn. Follow The Permanente Medical Group, Inc. on LinkedIn. Discover The Permanente Medical Group, Inc. Website! Visit the Physicians’ Charter for Responsible AI here! Explore the MDCalc website!

Healthcare supply chains faced vulnerabilities exposed by COVID-19, prompting a need for digital optimization. In this episode, Dr. Pearce McCarty, a seasoned orthopedic surgeon and co-founder of DOCSI, explains how the company’s digital tools optimize surgical supply chains and enhance operational efficiency in healthcare settings. He emphasizes how the platform engages with physicians by leveraging machine learning algorithms to identify opportunities for improvement as well as the importance of addressing supply chain vulnerabilities, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The DOCSI platform ingests utilization data, cost data, and case volumes to create individualized dashboards for surgeons, who can then make informed decisions to reduce clinical variation and enhance cost-effectiveness. Dr. McCarty emphasizes the potential for collaboration with medical device companies to drive contract compliance and product development, highlighting the importance of engaging physicians in decision-making to bend the cost curve of healthcare, while underscoring the need to create a culture of fiscal stewardship and improve healthcare efficiency. Tune in and learn how DOCSI is revolutionizing healthcare supply chains for a more affordable and accessible future! Resources:  Watch the entire interview here.  Connect and follow Pearce McCarty on LinkedIn. Discover more about DOCSI on their LinkedIn and website.