Dr. Philip Huang, MD, MPH - Director, Dallas Health And Human Services - Health, Trust & Local Leadership

Send us a textDr. Philip Huang, MD, MPH is the Director of Dallas Health and Human Services ( https://www.dallascounty.org/departments/dchhs/  ), which is a nationally accredited public health department responsible for providing health and social services that protect the health and well-being of over 2.6 million people that call Dallas County home. Dr. Huang previously served as the Medical Director and Health Authority for Austin Public Health for 11 years. Dr. Huang also formerly served as Medical Director for Chronic Disease Prevention at the Texas Department of State Health Services and Chief of the Bureau of Chronic Disease and Tobacco Prevention at the former Texas Department of Health (TDH). Dr. Huang received his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Rice University, his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, and his Master of Public Health degree from Harvard with a concentration in Health Policy and Management. Dr. Huang completed his residency training in Family Medicine at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, and served two years as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assigned to the Illinois Department of Public Health where he conducted epidemiologic studies in chronic disease and infectious disease outbreak investigations. Dr. Huang is an Adjunct Assistant Professor with the University of Texas School of Public Health and also with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health. He has served as Principal Investigator for numerous CDC and State-funded public health cooperative agreements. He recently received national recognition by Governing Magazine as one of six “Public Officials of the Year” for 2024.#PhilipHuang #DallasHealthAndHumanServices #PublicHealth #CDC #EpidemicIntelligenceService #Cyclospora #ChronicDiseasePrevention #TobaccoPrevention #CommunicableDisease #CancerControl #CardiovascularHealth #InfectiousDisease #PediatricAsthmaSurveillanceSystem #MentalAndBehavioralHealth #SexualHealth #HealthEquity #SocialDeterminantsOfHealth #Vaccination #BigCitiesHealthCoalition #NationalAssociationOfCountyAndCityHealthOfficials #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textThomas Gaffney is the COO of OFA Group ( https://www.ofacorp.com/ ), which through its wholly owned operating subsidiary, Office for Fine Architecture Limited, is a premier architectural firm that provides comprehensive architectural services, including design and fit out services for commercial and residential buildings. OFA’s mission is to leverage not just expertise in architectural design, but also tools like AI and digital assets, to maximize the potential of every property, ensuring that its unique attributes are highlighted and enhanced. The OFA Group is focused on innovation, efficiency, and scalability in it's business model and service offerings.Mr. Gaffney is a seasoned startup financing attorney with over a decade of experience representing and advising technology startups throughout their growth journey, from seed stage through to IPO or strategic acquisitions. His expertise encompasses venture capital financing, equity structuring, and navigating the complex legal landscape of the tech industry. Mr. Gaffney holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the Pennsylvania State University and a Juris Doctor from the Wake Forest University School of Law.#ThomasGaffney #OFAGroup #OfficeForFineArchitectureLimited #ArchitecturalServices #AI #DigitalAssets #Architecture #Regulation #Compliance #Sustainability #RealEstate #ArtificialIntelligence #PlanAid #BuildingCodes #RealWorldAsset #Hearth #Tokenization #DigitalTokens #Blockchain #Web3 #QikBIM #SeniorHousing #SeniorCare #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Edward Holland is a world-renowned leader in corneal transplantation and severe ocular surface disease, and is the Co-Founder of the Holland Foundation for Sight Restoration ( HFSR - https://www.hollandfoundationforsight.org/ ) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals affected by these conditions, including limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) – a rare and devastating condition that can result in chronic pain, profound vision loss, and blindness.Through this HFSR initiative, Centers of Excellence (COEs) focused on the advanced sight restoration procedures of Ocular Surface Stem Cell Transplantation (OSST) are being launched across the country. As part of its mission, the foundation is also committed to broadening education and training so that more physicians nationwide can learn and implement The Cincinnati ProtocolTM for the management of these patients.Dr. Holland is also the Director of Cornea Services at Cincinnati Eye Institute ( https://www.cincinnatieye.com/doctors/edward-j-holland-m-d/ ) and Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Cincinnati ( https://med.uc.edu/landing-pages/profile/Index/Pubs/hollanej ). Dr. Holland attended the Loyola-Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago and trained in Ophthalmology at the University of Minnesota.  He completed a fellowship in cornea and external disease at the University of Iowa and then completed a second fellowship in ocular immunology at the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Holland formerly served as the President for the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and served as the Program Chair for 12 years.  Dr. Holland was a former member of the Board of Trustees for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and served as the Secretariat of the Annual Meeting.  Dr. Holland has served as the Chair of the Eye Bank Association and was the former Chair of the Medical Advisory Board as well as a longtime member of the Board of Directors.  Robert Dempsey, MBA is also a Co-Founder of the Holland Foundation for Sight Restoration.Mr. Dempsey brings more than two decades of domestic and global experience in the ophthalmic space driving successful drug development, business transactions and commercialization. His widespread experience in Ophthalmology stems from diverse Leadership roles across Commercial, Business Development, Medical Affairs and Venture Backed Startups. He brings deep relationships with Key Opinion Leaders and comprehensive knowledge of the ophthalmic ecosystem. Most recently, Mr. Dempsey served as the Chief Executive Officer for AsclepiX Therapeutics, following his CEO role at TearClear accelerating business and commercial strategies which led to several value inflection points and positive FDA engagements. Mr. Dempsey holds a Master’s in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in healthcare marketing from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.Important Episode Link - Holland Foundation for Sight Restoration Launches Light After Darkness Fundraising Campaign - https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/10/22/3171067/0/en/Holland-Foundation-for-Sight-Restoration-Launches-Light-After-Darkness-Fundraising-Campaign.html#EdwardHolland #RobertDempsey #HollandFoundationForSightRestoration #OcularSurfaceStemCellTransplantation #Ophthalmology #LightAfterDarkness #Cornea #LimbalStemCell #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textMeghan Gutierrez is the Chief Executive Officer of the Lymphoma Research Foundation ( https://lymphoma.org/ ), the nation’s largest nonprofit organization devoted to funding lymphoma research and education, advancing both the study of new cancer therapies and improved patient care.An expert in government relations and health care policy, Meghan has pursued an array of public policy issues during her career, ranging from mental health parity and rare disease awareness to medical technology and the treatment of chronic disease. Following her work as a Congressional staff member for Dr. Greg Ganske, one of the U.S. House of Representatives’ foremost leaders on health care policy, she served as a health policy and communications advisor for several national nonprofit and educational institutions, including Columbia University and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.Meghan joined the Lymphoma Research Foundation in 2008 as its chief program, policy and communications officer. She was a driving force behind programs such as the country’s only Adolescent and Young Adult Lymphoma Initiative and development of the first mobile app for people with lymphoma. She became Chief Executive Officer in 2014. In this role Meghan represents the Foundation before several audiences, including the U.S. Congress, Department of Defense, Food and Drug Administration and National Institutes of Health. She has written and lectured extensively about the needs of lymphoma patients and served on committees and panels of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, Institute of Medicine, and National Cancer Institute, among others.Jennifer Branstetter is Executive Director, North America Corporate Affairs & Patient Advocacy Lead at BeOne Medicines USA ( https://beonemedicines.com/ ), a global oncology company that is discovering and developing innovative treatments that are more affordable and accessible to cancer patients worldwide. With a portfolio spanning hematology and solid tumors, BeOne is expediting development of its diverse pipeline of novel therapeutics through its internal capabilities and collaborations.Jennifer has a demonstrated 25+ year history of working with Fortune 500 pharmaceutical companies, in government, and with nonprofits and the media, and has been a strategist for multi-faceted state and federal public affairs and patient advocacy campaigns.Previously, Jennifer was a Senior Director, Corporate Affairs (North America) at BeOne and also held positions at Cullari Communications Global, Branstetter Consulting, as Director of Policy and Planning in the Commonwealth of PA, Governor's Office, for Governor Tom Corbett, as Director of Education and Outreach for Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, as Communications Manager for the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and as Deputy Press Secretary in the Pennsylvania Office of the Lieutenant Governor during the administration of Governor Tom Ridge.#MeghanGutierrez #JenniferBranstetter #BeOneMedicines #LymphomaResearchFoundation #PatientAdvocacy #PatientCentricAI #PatientNavigation #ClinicalTrialEligibility #FinancialToxicityDetection #PatientDistress #AutomatedInsuranceNavigation #EquityRadar #RegulatoryAdvocacy  #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the 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