Consumer Confidence, Hospital Closures, and Key Industry Battles with Alan Condon

In this episode, Manish Naik, President of Dental and Vision at Cigna Healthcare, discusses workforce challenges, affordability barriers, and how innovations like teledentistry, AI, and integrated care models are improving access, equity, and whole person health.

In this episode, Dr. Deepthi Bollineni shares insights on balancing clinical excellence with operational efficiency, the role of physician advisors in advancing value-based care, and how thoughtful use of AI and automation can ease workforce pressures while keeping patient-centered care at the core.

Armen Voskeridjian, Director of Anesthesia Services at Jefferson Surgery Center at The Navy Yard, joins the podcast to share insights from his recent foot and ankle study, including key findings and implications for patient care. He also discusses breakthroughs in outpatient surgery, particularly around the use of narcotics, and highlights the trends he’s following that are shaping the future of the ASC space.

Annie Sawyer, Director at 3D Dentists, joins the podcast to discuss some of the most pressing challenges in the DSO space, including staffing shortages, access to care, and the growing impact of burnout on dental professionals. She highlights the role of AI and technological innovation in driving progress while emphasizing the importance of a people-centric approach to leadership and patient care.

In this episode, Dr. Douglas Graham, Chief of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, shares progress in pediatric leukemia and sickle cell disease treatments, the impact of a 30-year partnership with Aflac, and breakthroughs in precision medicine, CAR T-cell therapy, and gene therapy that are reshaping outcomes for children and families.

In this episode, Zack Myers, National General Manager at SCAN Health Plan, discusses the organization’s expansion into new markets, its nonprofit approach to provider partnerships, and how innovative models like iSNPs are improving care and independence for seniors.

Ahmed Farag, State Dental Director at the Oregon Health Authority, shares insights on expanding coverage for dental care and navigating the evolving landscape of the dental industry. He offers a balanced perspective, remaining optimistic yet cautious about the future, and outlines what the next three years may hold for dentistry. Farag also provides advice for leaders seeking to guide their teams through change and uncertainty.

In this episode, Danny Mobley, CEO of Downtime Trace, joins the podcast to share his path from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship. He discusses building an innovative app for medical equipment repair, growing a following on TikTok, and the lessons he’s learning as a first-time CEO.

In this episode, licensed clinical counselor Anneliese Hanson joins Scott Becker to share insights from her work on both the payer and provider sides of behavioral health. She discusses current insurance challenges, the rise of cash-pay practices, and how public interest in mental health coverage is shaping the conversation.

In this episode, Heidi High, Executive Director of Capacity Management at Cedars-Sinai, shares how her team is transforming patient flow through daily huddles, technology-driven insights, redesigned discharge workflows, and collaborative culture change that supports efficiency and patient care.