Progress, Potential, and Possibilities Podcast / Show

Send us a textDr. Claudia Mahler, Ph.D. is the United Nations Independent Expert on the Human Rights of Older Persons ( https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/ie-older-persons/ms-claudia-mahler-independent-expert-enjoyment-all-human-rights-older-persons ). Dr. Mahler holds a law degree and a doctorate from Leopold‑Franzens‑Universität Innsbruck in Austria, and has spent over two decades researching and advocating for human rights. She has worked extensively on economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as minority rights, asylum law, and social protection, bringing a deep expertise in the legal and policy frameworks that protect vulnerable populations.Before joining the UNHRC, Dr. Mahler was a senior researcher at the German Institute for Human Rights, taught human rights law at several universities, and served as a consultant to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. In her current role, Dr. Mahler focuses on advancing the rights of older persons globally, including promoting access to work, protecting older adults in conflict zones, and leading efforts to draft a legally binding international instrument on their rights. Her work combines rigorous research, international advocacy, and a passionate commitment to ensuring that older adults can live with dignity, security, and equality worldwide. Important Episode Links Report - Older persons in armed conflict and peacebuilding - https://docs.un.org/en/A/80/203Report - Intersection between older persons’ right to social protectionand their right to work -https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/60/24#ClaudiaMahler #UnitedNations #IndependentExpert #HumanRightsOfOlderPersons #MinorityRights #AsylumLaw #SocialProtection #UnitedNationsHumanRightsCouncil #OlderPersonsInArmedConflicts #AccessToWork #Ageism #AgeDiscrimination #AgeTech #Longevity #Lonliness #SocialIsolation #Aging #Ageing #HumanRights #OlderPersons#STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textTony Baldassarre is CEO, President and Director of UniDoc ( https://unidoctor.com/ ), an eHealth Innovator and creator of the H3 Health Cube ( https://unidochealth.com/h3-health-cube/ ), a self-contained virtual clinic that enables patients to have comprehensive medical appointments remotely, offering access to physicians and specialists in real-time, and opens the doors to a large segment of the population challenged by access, experience, or understanding of the evolving Internet Of Medical Things. Mr. Baldassarre has held senior management and director positions of new business start-ups and established multinational organizations with over 30 years of experience in the Security, Information Technology and Communications industries.Mr. Baldassarre is involved in all aspects of UniDoc’s business model from Operations, P&L oversight, product distribution, product promotions, sales and development activities and initiatives.Mr. Baldassare is also the President of LRG Security Canada Inc. and LRG Security Europe, companies involved in security and low-voltage products, distributing items like cameras, networking gear, and tools.#AntonioBaldassarre #TonyBaldassarre #UniDoc #InternetOfMedicalThings #DocInABox #UniDocHealthCorp #VerizonInnovationLabs #ClinicianAssistedExaminations #H3HealthCube #Telemedicine #Interoperability #HealthProfessionalShortage #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Justin T. Collier, MD is Healthcare CTO for North America at Lenovo ( https://www.lenovo.com/ ) where he brings his expertise in clinical informatics and technology together to help advance clinical outcomes and patient experience ( https://techtoday.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/healthcare ).  Prior to joining Lenovo, Dr. Collier served for nearly 6 years as the Healthcare and Life Sciences Industry Practice manager at World Wide Technology, the global technology solutions provider that offers digital strategy, supply chain, and IT services to large commercial and public sector organizations, supporting their healthcare ecosystem clients nationwide. Before that, Dr. Collier served HCA Healthcare as their TriStar Division Chief Medical Information Officer for over 7 years, tackling initiatives in EHR, data and analytics, telemedicine, and clinician mobility solutions. Dr. Collier has been a long-time member of the Tennessee HIMSS chapter, previously serving on their board and continuing to serve on their advisory council.Dr. Collier has a MD from the Medical College of Georgia and did his Residency in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program, at The Ohio State University.Lenovo is a global technology company headquartered in Beijing, China, with operational headquarters in Morrisville, North Carolina (USA).#JustinCollier #Lenovo #Healthcare #Digitization #ElectronicHealthRecords #EHR #Interoperability #ApplicationProgrammingInterfaces #SmartHospital #Automation #ClinicalWorkflowModernization #Cybersecurity #EdgeAI #HumanCenteredTechnologyDesign #CaregiverSupport #ClinicalWellBeing #Burnout #DigitalTherapeutics #Biometrics #Robotics #RemoteMonitoring #VirtualCare #AgingInPlace #PhysicalMedicine #Rehabilitation #IoT #SmartDevices #EdgeComputing #AIEnableSolutions #CloudInfrastructure#ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textSiouxie Boshoff is the founder of SWITCH ( https://switchsweets.com/ ), formerly known as Scrummy Sweets, where she has turned a personal mission to enjoy candy without compromising health into a thriving business, creating sugar-free, keto-friendly, and blood-sugar-conscious treats made with clean, natural ingredients.From humble kitchen experiments to launching a full line of guilt-free sweets, Siouxie has built a brand that proves candy can be delicious, clean, and healthy. Siouxie joins us today to share her journey, the evolution from Scrummy Sweets to SWITCH, and her insights on creating a purpose-driven company in a sugar-saturated world.Siouxie also has two lifestyle blogs - Lipedema Living ( https://lipedemaliving.com/ ) and 365 Days of Awesome  ( https://www.365daysofawesome.com/ ) where she blogs about her personally journey and experiences.#SiouxieBoshoff #Switch #ScrummySweets #SugarFree #KetoFriendly #Lipedema #Obesity #Diabetes #DercumsDisease #SugarAlcohols #Starches #Allulose #MonkFruitExtract #SolubleFiber #CassavaRoot #TapiocaFiber #ArtificialSweeteners #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Amar Rewari MD, MBA, FASTRO ( https://amarrewari.com/ ) is a physician executive and oncology leader with over 20 years of experience bridging clinical medicine, healthcare finance, and health policy.After earning his MD and MBA from Yale University, Dr. Rewari began his career in healthcare investment banking at Credit Suisse—an experience that shaped how he approaches the business and economics of healthcare.Today, Dr. Rewari leads the radiation oncology service line at Luminis Health ( https://www.luminishealth.org/en/find-a-provider/amar-rewari?language_content_entity=en ), overseeing operations and strategic growth for a program that serves more than 200 patients daily across three centers, and teaches health policy and economics as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.Nationally, Dr. Rewari serves on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Radiation Oncology ( ASTRO - https://www.astro.org/about-astro/board-and-leadership/board-of-directors/bios/amar-rewari ), where he chairs both the Health Policy Council and the Corporate Advisory Council. In these roles, he leads efforts around payment reform, advocacy, value-based innovation, and collaboration between providers and industry to advance the field of radiation oncology.Dr. Rewari is also the founder and co-host of Value Health Voices ( https://www.valuehealthvoices.com/ ), a podcast that makes health policy and economics accessible to clinicians and leaders, and Chair of the Board for the Fund for Education Abroad ( https://fundforeducationabroad.org/ ), advancing nonprofit governance and global education access for students with financial need.Featured by NBC News, TIME, Politico, and NewsNation, Dr. Rewari is driven to connect insights from the front lines of care to the broader policies shaping a smarter, fairer, and more sustainable healthcare system.#AmarRewari #RadiationOncology #LuminisHealth #FundForEducationAbroad #AmericanSocietyForRadiationOncology #ValueHealthVoices #Radiotherapy #PaymentReform #ReimbursementLevels #Medicare #AlternativePaymentModels #ValueBasedPaymentDesign #HealthPolicy #EpisodeBasedPayment #RelativeValueUnits #Coding #PriorAuthorization #FederalResearchFunding #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Abba Zubair, MD, PhD is a Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida ( https://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/zubair-abba-c-m-d-ph-d/bio-00092417 ), where he also has served as the medical director of Transfusion Medicine and Stem Cell Therapy. Dr. Zubair earned his medical degree from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria, and went on to complete a Ph.D. in Cancer Immunobiology at the University of Sheffield in England. From there, he pursued advanced training in pathology and transfusion medicine in the U.S., completing a residency at the University of Pennsylvania and a clinical fellowship at Harvard Medical School. For more than two decades, Dr. Zubair led the Stem Cell Therapy Laboratory at Mayo Clinic Florida, pioneering the development of clinical-grade cell therapy products. His research has focused on mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC), hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), immune cells, and extracellular vesicles — with the aim of translating basic research into therapies for degenerative disease, brain injury, transplant-related complications, and beyond.In perhaps one of the most extraordinary bridges between earthly medicine and outer space, Dr. Zubair has sent his lab’s stem cells to the International Space Station — aiming to understand how microgravity affects cell behavior, bone loss, and regenerative potential. This research has profound implications not only for astronauts, but for patients on Earth suffering from osteoporosis, bone degeneration, and other conditions. Beyond his scientific and clinical roles, Dr. Zubair is a devoted educator and leader: in 2024 he was named Vice Dean of the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (Florida), shaping the next generation of physicians; previously he served as Associate Dean of the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences and as Dean of Education at a Mayo-Clinic affiliated hospital venture in Abu Dhabi. #AbbaZubair #MayoClinic #LaboratoryMedicine #Pathology #TransfusionMedicine #StemCellTherapy #MesenchymalStemCells #StromalCells #HematopoieticStemCells #ImmuneCells #ExtracellularVesicles #Exosomes #Secretome #RegenerativeMedicine #Immunotherapy #Bioreactors #ClinicalGradeManufacturing #CosmicRadiation #DeepSpaceExploration #Microgravity #InternationalSpaceStation #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Brian Wang, PhD is a Program Director at ARIA ( https://www.aria.org.uk/ ), the UK’s bold, mission-driven R&D funding agency, where he leads the Sculpting Innate Immunity opportunity space ( https://www.aria.org.uk/opportunity-spaces/sculpting-innate-immunity/ ): a fascinating initiative to see if rather than harnessing the adaptive immune system in infectious disease for new antibodies, instead asking how we can better mobilize the body’s first line of defense, the innate immune response.With a PhD in organic chemistry at Berkeley and having conducted post-doctorate research in synthetic biology at MIT, Dr. Wang moved into pandemic preparedness during COVID — leading R&D at Alvea and later co-founding Panoplia Laboratories, a nonprofit organization that evaluates AI-driven biology and conducts biosecurity research in the public interest — before joining ARIA. ARIA, the Advanced Research and Invention Agency, is the UK’s new experiment in high-risk, high-reward research. Modeled in part on America’s DARPA for high-risk, high-reward science, ARIA funds bold bets that might not find a home in academia or industry.Important Episode Link - Sustained Viral Resilience Programhttps://www.aria.org.uk/opportunity-spaces/sculpting-innate-immunity/sustained-viral-resilience/#BrianWang #ARIA #AdvancedResearchAndInventionAgency #SculptingInnateImmunity #SustainedViralResilience #SustainedInnateImmunoprophylactics #SyntheticBiology #Biosecurity #Countermeasures #DayZeroAntivirals #BroadSpectrumAntivirals #InnateImmuneSystem #OpportunitySpace #ProgramDirector #RespiratoryViruses #SystemsImmunology #MaterialsChemistry #ArtificialIntelligence #Biodefense #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Norman Putzki, MD is Senior Vice President, Global Clinical Development Head, and U.S. Development Site Head at Novartis ( https://www.novartis.com/ ) where he oversees global teams working on next-generation gene therapies, RNA-based medicines, targeted biologics, and innovative small molecules.Dr. Putzki most recently served as Global Head of Development for Neuroscience and Gene Therapy at Novartis, where he oversaw one of the world’s most ambitious pipelines aimed at transforming the lives of patients with neurological, neuromuscular, and rare genetic diseases.  A physician–scientist by training, with an MD from University of Duisburg Essen, Dr. Putzki has built a career at the intersection of clinical medicine, translational research, and large-scale drug development. Before joining Novartis, Dr. Putzki led programs across multiple therapeutic areas at Biogen Idec and has played key roles in advancing clinical treatments for conditions long considered intractable including MS and Parkison's disease.Beyond his scientific and clinical contributions, Dr. Putzki is widely recognized for his commitment to patient-centered innovation and his ability to bring together cutting-edge science, regulatory acumen, and real-world medical insight. Important Episode Links - Zolgensma Web Site - https://www.zolgensma.com/Itvisma Web Site - https://www.itvisma.com/Nature Medicine Papers For Itvisma Phase III study - Intrathecal onasemnogene abeparvovec in treatment-naive patients with spinal muscular atrophy: a phase 3, randomized controlled trial - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-04103-wIntrathecal onasemnogene abeparvovec for treatment-experienced patients with spinal muscular atrophy: a phase 3b, open-label trial - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-04119-2#NormanPutzki #Novartis #Neuroscience #GeneTherapy #SpinalMuscularAtrophy #SMN1 #SurvivalMotorNeuron1 #Zolgensma #OnasemnogeneAbeparvovec #AdenoAssociatedVirusSerotype9 #AAV9 #SMA #AveXis #Itvisma #NewbornScreening #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Marc Hedrick, MD is President and CEO of Plus Therapeutics, Inc. ( https://plustherapeutics.com/ ), a U.S. clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, focused on developing innovative, targeted radiotherapeutics for adults and children with difficult-to-treat cancers of the central nervous system. The company’s lead programs focus on leptomeningeal metastases (LM) and recurrent glioblastoma (GBM), leveraging image-guided local beta radiation and targeted drug delivery to improve outcomes.Additionally, Plus' subsidiary CNSide Diagnostics develops proprietary lab tests such as CNSide®, designed to identify tumor cells that have metastasized to the central nervous system in patients with carcinomas and melanomas. The CNSide® CSF Assay Platform enables quantitative analysis and molecular characterization of tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid that inform and improve the management of patients with leptomeningeal metastases.Previously, Dr. Hedrick served in a number of executive leadership roles including President, CEO, and Director at Cytori Therapeutics, Inc., and President and CEO of StemSource, Inc.  Dr. Hedrick is a trained general, vascular, and plastic surgeon and former Associate Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).  Dr. Hedrick also served as Co-Director of the Laboratory of Regenerative Bioengineering and Repair at UCLA.Dr. Hedrick obtained his MD from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas and a MBA from The Anderson School at UCLA in 2005.#MarcHedrick #PlusTherapeutics #Radiotherapeutics #Cancer #CentralNervousSystem #Glioblastoma #LeptomeningealMetastases #Rhenium #ConvectionEnhancedDelivery #Oncology #Theranostic #NanoliposomeTechnology #Radioembolization #AlginateMicrospheres#BMEDAChelation#CNSide #REYOBIQ #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Sadie Elisseou, MD is Founder and CEO of Trauma-Informed Practices, LLC (https://www.sadie-elisseou.com/). Dr. Elisseou is a nationally recognized physician-educator and one of the leading voices in trauma-informed care, a strategic framework for supporting survivors of physical, sexual, psychological, and structural traumas. Dr. Elisseou is a board-certified primary care physician, who received her B.A. and M.D. at Brown University and completed residency and chief residency at Yale School of Medicine. She a practicing physician in the VA healthcare system, and an instructor at Harvard Medical School and Boston University School of Medicine, where she has become widely known for transforming how clinicians understand and care for patients with trauma histories.Dr. Elisseou is the co-developer of some of the country’s most widely adopted trauma-informed physical exam trainings, helping thousands of healthcare professionals integrate compassion, safety, and empathy into routine clinical encounters. Her work has been implemented across the VA, community health centers, academic medical systems, and national professional societies.Dr. Elisseou is also the co-founder of the National Veterans Health Administration TIC Collaborative, a member of the Trauma Informed Health Care, Education and Research (TIHCHER) collaborative, and a member of the Harvard Medical School TIC Steering Committee. She is invited to speak about TIC for broad audiences including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), disaster relief organizations, and health officials in developing nations. She has also been named an Ambassador of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation. #SadieElisseou #TraumaInformedPractices #BrownUniversity #YaleSchoolOfMedicine #HarvardMedicalSchool #BostonUniversitySchoolOfMedicine #VeteransHealthAdministration #Trauma #TraumaInformedCare #ReTraumatization #SubstanceAbuseAndMentalHealthServicesAdministration #SAMHSA #UniversalTraumaPrecautions #ClinicianBurnout #EmergencyDepartment #Telehealth #BodySizeDiversity #Healing #Resilience #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show