Closing the Healthcare Affordability Gap From the Front Lines with Joseph Pollino, PA-C

In this episode, Michael Wiggins, Assistant Professor of Healthcare Management and Leadership at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, joins the podcast to discuss his transition from healthcare executive to academia. He shares perspectives on reframing costs as investment opportunities, the evolving role of academic medical centers, and where he sees significant growth opportunities across healthcare leadership and education.

In this episode, Olu Jegede, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Health Equity and Community Impact Officer at Cone Health, shares how the system is embedding health equity into care delivery through initiatives like “CATCH 5 in 5” and blood pressure equity programs. He discusses measurable outcomes, community partnerships, and the challenge of sustaining equity focused investments while navigating financial and operational headwinds.

In this episode, Krista Drobac, Co Founder of Health Policy Futures Lab, explains how the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program is reshaping support for rural hospitals through state led investments in workforce, technology, infrastructure, and new care models. She outlines key program components, timelines, and what hospital leaders should expect as funding and implementation accelerate.

In this episode, Kyle Glass, Regional Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth, discusses how the academic community hospital partnership is growing oncology, neuroscience, and orthopedic services while improving patient access and navigation. He also shares perspectives on competition in a crowded market, consolidation pressures, and how AI and technology are shaping the future of access and the revenue cycle.

In this episode, Scott Becker breaks down 9 key healthcare stories, including Cigna’s 2,000 job cuts, a sharp profit decline at CVS Health, hospital bankruptcies, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Sidney H. Raymond, Chief Medical Officer at Ochsner Health Network, discusses leading population health across more than 600,000 lives and advancing value based care beyond contract boundaries. He shares how care model redesign, prevention focused strategies, digital health, and patient centered culture are driving measurable gains in quality, cost, and care coordination across diverse communities.

Joseph Pollino, PA-C, Physician Assistant, Carson Valley Health, shares what he sees daily as patients struggle with rising costs, high deductible plans, and delayed care. He discusses why clinicians must speak up about affordability, access, and the real human impact of healthcare policy decisions.

In this episode, Cecilia Trujillo, Regional Chief Human Resources Officer at Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, shares how she is modernizing HR through process mapping, Agile methodologies, and AI to reduce administrative burden. She discusses preparing teams for rapid change, enhancing workforce resilience, and creating meaningful experiences for both staff and patients.

In this episode, Bob Taylor, Senior Vice President of Supply at RWJBarnabas Health, discusses how rigorous contracting, capital standardization, and deep partnership with clinicians and business leaders are driving meaningful value across the system. He also shares how supply chain teams are preparing for future headwinds like tariffs, technology demand, and growth through system expansion.

In this episode, Todd Dunn, CEO of Accuryn, joins Scott Becker to discuss why acute kidney injury is now designated as a hospital harm and what that means for quality, cost, and patient outcomes. He shares insights on blind spots in kidney care, the limits of legacy tools, and how automation and monitoring can reduce harm while easing clinician burden.This episode is sponsored by Accuryn.