Inside MUSC’s approach to digital transformation

Join host Eve Cunningham, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Cadence, in conversation with Dr.Kalie Dove-Maguire, a physician and President and Chief Product Officer at Evidently.Kalie works across software teams, clinicians, and health system partners to turn clinical needs into product decisions. She shares how learning to build software changed the way she approaches problems, why clinical AI must fit real workflows, and how AI can help clinicians find relevant signals in complex patient records while keeping human judgment central.Their conversation focuses on:How Kalie’s path from clinical informatics to product leadership taught her to translate between clinicians, software developers, and health system partnersWhy technical fluency can help clinicians explore careers in product and development—and why internships or fellowships can provide experience building production-ready softwareWhy product design should start with the problem and the workflow: in one clinic, a simple sticky note worked better than an iPad outside each roomHow Evidently maps information across a longitudinal patient chart and the clinicians involved in a patient’s careWhere AI can help clinicians process information and consider options, while patient goals, social context, and clinical judgment remain essentialHer advice for evaluating and building clinical AI: ask who is building it and what their incentives are, and spend time shadowing the people who will use itKalie’s statements are made solely in her capacity as an industry commentator. Evidently is a separate and independent company from Cadence. The views and opinions expressed by Kalie are her own and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views, opinions, or positions of Cadence.Segments:[01:06] A physician in product — Dove-Maguire describes her role connecting software teams, clinicians, and health system partners[04:18] From informatics to product — How learning to code shaped her approach to problem-solving[08:59] Building technical fluency — Exploring product and development, and learning to build for real-world use[11:58] Why workflow matters — When a sticky note worked better than an iPad[15:24] Turning the medical record into a data product — How Evidently reads and maps the longitudinal chart[18:57] Finding a signal in a complex chart — A patient example Dove-Maguire shares from clinical validation[22:57] Mapping patient and clinician context — How the patient journey and care team inform the information presented[27:57] Evidently’s AI approach — Patient data, knowledge structures, and clinical decision support[31:17] Where chart complexity is greatest — The health systems and patient populations Dove-Maguire says tend to need this support[32:22] AI and the clinician as coach — Helping clinicians weigh options in light of each patient’s goals and circumstances[39:21] Rapid fire — AI hype, overlooked opportunities, and advice for health system leaders and builders

Join host Eve Cunningham, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Cadence, in conversation with Joanna Cavalier, MD, Associate Medical Director in Duke Health’s Digital Strategy Office, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Duke School of Medicine, and Medical Director of an Innovation Unit at Duke University Hospital.Dr. Cavalier represents a new generation of physician leaders working at the intersection of clinical practice, digital strategy, and healthcare innovation. In this episode, Drs. Eve and Jo discuss how Duke tests new technologies in real-world inpatient settings, why remote patient monitoring is fundamentally a care delivery model, and how AI can strengthen clinical care.Their conversation focuses on:How Duke’s Management and Leadership Pathway helped Dr. Cavalier build a career combining clinical practice, strategy, and innovationWhat happens inside Duke’s Innovation Units, where new inpatient technologies are tested, measured, and refined before broader deploymentWhy implementation details matter—and how even a digital whiteboard can create unintended patient-experience challengesHow dedicated evaluation and biostatistics support help health systems decide what to scale, adjust, or stopWhy RPM is not simply about collecting data, but redesigning care around medication management, coaching, and continuous patient engagementWhat surprised Dr. Cavalier about RPM: many patients benefit most from medication adherence support and lifestyle coaching, rather than medication titration aloneWhy patients value the human connection and reassurance that continuous remote care can provideWhere AI holds the greatest near-term promise for patient access, clinical decision support, ambient documentation, and clinician-patient connectionThe essential questions health systems must address to ensure AI supports clinical vigilance and properly prepares the next generation of cliniciansDr. Cavalier is a partner of Cadence and not compensated for this podcast.Segments:[00:10] Introduction — Eve welcomes Dr. Joanna Cavalier to Cadence Conversations[00:34] A career at the intersection of medicine and innovation — Why Dr. Cavalier pursued digital health early in her career[03:33] Finding the path — Duke’s Management and Leadership Pathway and a deliberate route into health system strategy[08:37] Staying clinical — Why practicing as a hospitalist remains central to her work in digital innovation[13:10] Inside Duke’s Innovation Units — Testing and refining inpatient technology before scaling[16:12] Moving innovation forward — Balancing agility with rigorous evaluation in a large academic health system[18:19] RPM as a care delivery model — Why the care team and redesigned workflow matter as much as the technology[21:33] What surprised her about RPM — Medication adherence, reconciliation, and lifestyle support as major sources of impact[24:56] The patient experience — Why sustained engagement and human connection matter in remote care[27:38] AI in healthcare — The most promising near-term opportunities for patients and providers[31:56] The questions ahead — Clinical vigilance, governance, and preparing future clinicians to use AI responsibly[33:41] Closing — A conversation about the future of physician leadership and care delivery

Join host Eve Cunningham, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Cadence, in conversation with Erica Stevens, DO, Vice President and Department Chair of Primary Care at Corewell Health West. Dr. Stevens leads a broad primary care portfolio spanning more than 650 physicians and advanced practice providers across family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, urgent care, palliative care, hospice, and several specialty services.  In this episode, Drs. Eve and Erica explore what it takes to move chronic disease management from a reactive, office-based model to a more proactive and connected approach. Their conversation covers: Why primary care must evolve from “see you in three months” to continuous, proactive support How remote care can serve as a trusted extension of the physician and APP team What health systems should look for in a partner supporting chronic disease management How Corewell Health built clinician trust through pilots, feedback, data, and patient stories Why integration, shared protocols, and flexibility are essential to scaling team-based care What strong patient adoption reveals about the demand for support beyond the office visit How ongoing monitoring and education can help patients better manage medications, diet, and daily care What other health system leaders should know about moving from pilot to scale How digital tools, AI, and ambient technology could shape the future of primary care Dr. Stevens is a partner of Cadence and not compensated for this podcast.

Join host Eve Cunningham, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Cadence, in conversation with Dr. Stephanie Lahr, founder of Vital Thread Advisory and one of the earliest physician CIOs in the country. Stephanie's career has been anything but traditional – from internal medicine hospitalist to CMIO to CIO at Monument Health, then President of Artisight, and now running her own fractional executive advisory practice. In this episode, Drs. Eve and Stephanie trace that journey and dig into what it really takes for clinicians to make the leap into health tech leadership. Their conversation covers: Why the non-traditional physician career path is rarely planned and why that's okay How clinical skills like systems thinking, change management, and communication translate directly into health tech leadership What it feels like to cross from the provider side to the vendor side, including the isolation nobody talks about Why the health tech industry is hungry for physician experience, and what fractional and advisory work looks like in practice The gap in community and mentorship for physicians navigating non-traditional careers and what needs to come next Segments: Introduction – Eve welcomes Dr. Lahr and frames her non-traditional career arc Origin story – From OB-GYN to internal medicine, and building a hospitalist program in Coeur d'Alene The hand-raise moment – How a question to a CEO about EHR led to an informatics career CMIO to CIO – How Monument Health's CEO saw something different, and how Chime's CIO bootcamp filled the gaps Leading 200 people – What Stephanie misses most about being inside a health system Crossing to the vendor side – The pace, the loneliness, and learning to wear the buyer's lens The Artisight chapter – Smart hospital technology, startup culture, and what the commercial side taught her Speaking it into existence –  Why she's thinking about building a new community for physicians in industry - Vital Thread Advisory — Why fractional work was scarier than any previous pivot, and why it's working Closing advice — Be bold, think outside the box, and never stop learning

Join host Eve Cunningham, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Cadence, in conversation with Brian Stein, MD, Vice President and Chief Quality Officer at Rush University System for Health. Rush is a leading academic health system in Chicago with a national reputation for quality — ranked in Vizient's top 10 among academic medical centers for 13 consecutive years and a six-time U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals Honor Roll honoree. In this episode, Drs. Eve and Brian explore how Rush has embedded quality into its organizational identity, what it takes to maintain consistent care in an academic medical center, and why remote patient monitoring became a strategic priority. Their conversation focuses on: How Rush treats quality as a brand differentiator rather than a compliance exercise — and the operational principles that make that sustainable Why academic medical centers face a unique quality challenge with trainee turnover every 2–4 years, and how tight processes compensate for that churn What made Rush an early adopter of remote patient monitoring, and the three-part filter Dr. Stein uses to evaluate any new technology Why patient retention on RPM surprised him more than the clinical outcomes — and what's driving long-term engagement How to think about short-term clinical wins versus long-term cost savings, and the payer misalignment that makes proving ROI difficult Where patient stratification is heading — matching the intensity of remote intervention to individual patient needs Where Rush is placing its bets on AI, from diagnostic radiology and pathology to virtual nursing and operational efficiency Dr. Stein is a partner of Cadence and not compensated for this podcast. Segments: [00:05] Introduction — Eve welcomes Dr. Stein to Cadence Conversations [00:39] Origin story — How research on administrative claims data led to a career in quality [04:02] Crew resource management — Team-based training and hardwired safety tools at Rush [05:46] Blood administration errors — How barcoding through Epic reduced a recurring safety issue [07:47] Quality as brand — Why Rush treats quality as a competitive differentiator, not a compliance exercise [09:47] Telling the quality story externally — CMS star ratings, US News rankings, and public credibility [11:36] Quality in an academic medical center — The trainee turnover challenge and why tight processes matter [14:52] Innovation and new care models — Why care beyond the walls became part of Rush's strategy [17:28] The case for RPM — Better outcomes, easier provider workflows, and not breaking the bank [20:34] What surprised him — Patient retention and engagement exceeded expectations [22:13] Evaluating the data — Blood pressure control, goal-directed therapy, and the cost-effectiveness question [24:30] Patient stratification — The future of high-touch vs. lighter-touch remote interventions [28:05] Research priorities — Short-term clinical wins vs. long-term cost savings and the payer challenge [31:50] Chronic disease as a lifetime journey — Why sustained engagement matters [33:09] AI at Rush — Augmented intelligence in radiology, pathology, virtual nursing, and access centers [36:23] Closing — Optimism grounded in a strong quality culture Key Takeaways: Quality becomes sustainable when it's treated as organizational brand identity, not a regulatory requirement — and when you make it easy for clinicians to do the right thing. Academic medical centers face a unique challenge: trainee turnover every 2–4 years means quality can't rely on individual education alone — it must be embedded in process and systems. The most surprising outcome of Rush's RPM journey was patient retention — patients stayed engaged for years in a program category where attrition is typically high. The future of remote care delivery is patient stratification: matching the intensity of the intervention (high-touch human + tech vs. lighter-touch tech-enabled) to the patient's needs. AI's near-term impact in health systems will be augmented intelligence — creating efficiency in diagnostics, operations, and access — not replacing clinical judgment.

Join host Eve Cunningham, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Cadence, in conversation with Crystal Broj, Chief Digital Transformation Officer at MUSC Health. MUSC Health is a leading academic health system serving patients across South Carolina, with a growing footprint and a strong focus on digital innovation to expand access and improve outcomes. In this episode, Eve and Crystal explore what it really takes to drive transformation inside a complex health system—and why success depends far more on workflows and behavior change than on any single technology. Their conversation focuses on: Why leading with problems and not tools is essential to meaningful digital transformation How MUSC is approaching access as its top priority, from digital front door to integrated patient engagement What it takes to evaluate, implement, and scale new technologies while navigating core systems, IT constraints, and vendor noise How AI and automation can reduce workforce burden without simply trying to “hire your way out” of demand Why measuring outcomes and continuously reassessing technology performance is critical to long-term success How health systems can balance speed, scalability, and real-world operational impact when adopting new solutions For more information on Cadence, visit https://www.cadence.care/

Health systems are entering a new frontier, one where innovation isn’t optional, and meaningful change requires creativity, flexibility, and the willingness to rethink how care is delivered. Across the country, forward-thinking organizations are experimenting, adapting, and building new models inside some of the most complex environments imaginable.  Join moderator Chrissy Farr, CEO, Second Opinion in conversations with Dr. Rima Shah, Chief Medical Officer of Ambulatory Care/Population Health, Corewell Health; Tom Jackiewicz, President, University of Chicago Health System; and Cadence’s Chief Medical Officer and host of Cadence Conversations, Dr. Eve Cunningham. This conversation spotlights what that kind of leadership actually looks like on the ground and what others can learn from it:  Build vs. buy: When it makes sense to develop in-house, and when partnering is the faster, more durable path The unglamorous work: What real clinical, technical, and operational infrastructure is required to support change at scale Change agents: Who inside health systems actually drives transformation and why influence often matters more than title Signal vs. noise: How to tell which organizations are truly evolving versus experimenting at the margins The road ahead: What the future of healthcare delivery looks like and how AI may expand, support, or reshape care models Cadence was a sponsor of this conversation. Dr. Rima Shah is a partner of Cadence and not compensated for this podcast. For more information on Cadence, visit  https://www.cadence.care/

Join host Eve Cunningham, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Cadence, in conversation with Sunita Koshy-Nesbitt, MD, MBA,  Chief Medical and Quality Officer for Texas Health Physicians Group and Chief Quality Officer for the hospital channel at Texas Health Resources. Texas Health Resources is one of the largest and fastest-growing health systems in the country, serving a diverse and rapidly expanding population across North Texas. In this episode, Eve and Sunita explore what it really takes to lead clinical quality at scale in an environment overflowing with data, constrained by workforce realities, and under increasing pressure to deliver better outcomes without adding burden to clinicians. Their conversation focuses on: How clinical training in electrophysiology shapes a leadership mindset built around signal, noise, and actionable data Why health systems must prioritize clinical credibility, workflow simplicity, and scalability when evaluating remote care and digital health solutions What frontline physicians actually need from new technology  How quality, safety, patient experience, equity, and cost are deeply interconnected  Where AI is already delivering real value by reducing administrative burden and improving clinician experience Why operational design is often the root cause of burnout and system failure What it looks like to lead systemwide transformation while staying grounded in evidence, outcomes, and day-to-day clinical realities Dr. Koshy-Nesbitt is a partner of Cadence and not compensated for this podcast. For more information on Cadence, visit https://www.cadence.care/

Join host Eve Cunningham, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Cadence, in conversation with Dave Newman, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Virtual Care at Sanford Health.Sanford Health is the largest rural health system in the United States, serving more than two million patients across a multi-state region in the upper Midwest. In this episode, Eve and Dave explore what rural healthcare reveals about innovation that actually scales, and why some of the most advanced care models in the country are being built far from major urban centers.Their conversation focuses on:Why rural health systems are often the best environments for scaling innovation How Sanford has leveraged virtual care to extend specialist access across vast geographies and address workforce shortagesWhat it looks like to lead digital transformation while continuing to practice medicine, and why staying close to the bedside mattersHow technologies like ambient documentation and AI-enabled workflows are changing clinician experience and patient connectionWhy innovation without workforce strategy fails, and what sustainable virtual care actually requiresThe myths the industry still gets wrong about rural patients, technology adoption, and accessPatient examples in this episode are anonymized or illustrative. Metrics discussed may be internal. For more information on Cadence, visit https://www.cadence.care/

Join host Eve Cunningham, Chief Medical Officer at Cadence, in conversation with Krista Drobac, one of the most influential architects of modern telehealth and care-in-the-home policy. As the Rural Health Transformation Program enters its first year of funding, the two explore how policy, payment reform, and technology are converging to reshape rural care delivery.Their conversation focuses on:Why outcomes and evidence, not innovation alone, are now the currency of health policyHow states are approaching Rural Health Transformation funding and what they’re prioritizing firstThe role of coalition-based advocacy in unlocking care-at-home, RPM, and workforce flexibilityHow payment models like ACCESS, APCM, and RHTP must align to avoid siloed innovation and provider burdenWhat success looks like over the next decade for rural health systems, clinicians, and patientsKrista Drobac is a partner of Cadence and not compensated for this podcast.For more information on Cadence, visit https://www.cadence.care/