Overriding America's Chronic Pain Crisis w/ Jennie Shulkin, Founder of Override Health

Send us a textChronic pain affects more Americans than cancer, heart disease, and diabetes combined, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and poorly managed health conditions.In this episode of the CareTalk Podcast, John Driscoll sits down with Jennie Shulkin, Founder of Override Health, to discuss how her personal experience with chronic pain led to building a virtual, team-based care model that can revolutionize pain management as we know it.🎙️⚕️ABOUT JENNIE SHULKINOverride Health Founder, Jennie Shulkin, was a nationally ranked tennis and squash player and a student at the University of Pennsylvania when she suffered two head injuries within a year-and-a-half of each other. Soon after, she developed a complex chronic pain syndrome affecting multiple parts of her body. As best she could, Jennie continued living her life – pushing through Harvard Law School and building a career in law. All the while, she carried the burden of the agonizing, time-consuming, expensive, and both physically and emotionally painful journey of seeking pain relief. When each medication, intervention, and various other treatments failed, the treating providers shrugged, sent her away, and often told her she was "out of options." Adding to the frustration, many of the doctors, physical therapists, and psychologists Jennie consulted treated her chronic pain no differently from acute pain and were therefore ineffective. Additionally, most had little interest in or time to communicate with other providers working with Jennie. The result was fragmented care, inconsistent messaging, and contradicting plans of action.‍Jennie wanted a better way. Joining forces with her father, she began creating a solution that she and others in pain needed but did not exist elsewhere: a comprehensive, team-based approach to care that is implemented by providers who really understand chronic pain. Jennie lives with pain every day. But she has learned to stop cure-seeking – to stop putting life on hold until a pill, procedure, or doctor brings about the magic fix – and has found more effective ways to interact with the pain and build a fulfilling life.🎙️⚕️ABOUT CARETALKCareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy. GET IN TOUCHFollow CareTalk on LinkedInBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textObesity is a pressing and complex challenge. GLP-1 meds are a game changer, but on their own, they may just bankrupt insurers without doing a whole lot to improve health. Can we build a better system for weight management that's clinically sound cost effective and scalable?In this episode of the HealthBiz Podcast, we’re joined by Elina Onitskansky, Founder & CEO of Ilant Health. Elina explains why the current approach to obesity care is broken and how Ilant Health is making treatment more accessible by making it affordable, available, and accepted through value-based care.🎙️⚕️ABOUT ELINA ONITSKANSKY:Elina Onitskansky is the Founder and CEO of Ilant Health, dedicated to enhancing access, affordability, and equity in healthcare.  Prior to founding Ilant, Elina was the Chief Growth Officer at Health at Home, SVP & Head of Strategy at Molina Healthcare, and an Associate Partner at Co-head of the Commercial Service Line at McKinsey.🎙️⚕️ABOUT HEALTHBIZ PODCASTHealthBiz is a CareTalk podcast that delivers in-depth interviews on healthcare business, technology, and policy with entrepreneurs and CEOs. Host David E. Williams — president of the healthcare strategy consulting boutique Health Business Group — is also a board member, investor in private healthcare companies, and author of the Health Business Blog. Known for his strategic insights and sharp humor, David offers a refreshing break from the usual healthcare industry BS.GET IN TOUCHFollow CareTalk on LinkedInBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textIn this episode of the HealthBiz Podcast, host David Williams sits down with Terry Myerson, CEO and co-founder of Truveta, to explore how aggregated electronic medical record (EMR) data can drive groundbreaking insights in clinical research, drug development, and healthcare innovation. Terry shares his journey from mechanical engineering to tech entrepreneurship, his years at Microsoft, and how Truveta is using data to improve patient outcomes and save lives.🎙️⚕️ABOUT TERRY MYERSONTerry Myerson is CEO and co-founder of Truveta, a leader in EHR data and analytics, led by a growing health system collective that together provide more than 18% of all daily clinical care in the US. Truveta is trusted by more than 50 leading healthcare and life science customers to study safety and effectiveness, improve patient care, and train medical AI. Across these leading organizations, Truveta connects data, people, and ideas to pursue the mission of Saving Lives with Data.Terry previously enjoyed a 21-year career at Microsoft, leading the development of Windows, Xbox, and the early days of Office 365. As Executive Vice President, serving on the Senior Leadership Team, Terry played a pivotal role in developing the strategy for Microsoft alongside CEO Satya Nadella. Terry excelled at managing large teams at scale, tackling complex software challenges, and driving growth in partnership with a global ecosystem.After leaving Microsoft in 2018, Terry joined the Madrona Venture Group and the Carlyle Group as an advisor to their investment teams and portfolio companies. He enjoys learning about new technology, particularly at the intersection of data, AI, healthcare, and life sciences.An entrepreneur at heart, prior to Microsoft Terry cofounded Intersé, one of the earliest internet companies, which Microsoft acquired in 1997. Terry is a graduate of Duke University and a current member of the Duke Engineering Board of Visitors.🎙️⚕️ABOUT HEALTHBIZ PODCASTHealthBiz is a CareTalk podcast that delivers in-depth interviews on healthcare business, technology, and policy with entrepreneurs and CEOs. Host David E. Williams — president of the healthcare strategy consulting boutique Health Business Group — is also a board member, investor in private healthcare companies, and author of the Health Business Blog. Known for his strategic insights and sharp humor, David offers a refreshing break from the usual healthcare industry BS.GET IN TOUCHFollow CareTalk on LinkedInBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textMeasles is making a comeback, and with it comes a heated debate on vaccine mandates, public health, and personal freedom. In this episode of CareTalk, Michael F. Cannon (Director of Health Policy Studies, Cato Institute) joins hosts, David E. Williams and John Driscoll, to debate the challenges of balancing individual rights with public safety, why vaccine mandates can backfire, and how misinformation fuels the controversy. 🎙️⚕️ABOUT CARETALK: HEALTHCARE. UNFILTERED.CareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy.🎙️⚕️MICHAEL F. CANNONMichael F. Cannon is the Cato Institute’s director of health policy studies. His scholarship spans public health; regulation of clinicians, medical facilities, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices; employer-sponsored and other private health insurance; Medicare; Medicaid; CHIP; the Veterans Health Administration; medical malpractice litigation; administrative law; international health systems; political philosophy; and more. Cannon is “an influential health‐​care wonk” (Washington Post) and “the most famous libertarian health care scholar” (Washington Examiner). Washingtonian magazine named Cannon one of Washington, DC’s Most Influential People in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.GET IN TOUCHFollow CareTalk on LinkedInBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textIs smarter decision support the key to unlocking value-based success?In this episode of the HealthBiz Podcast, Thaddeus Fulford-Jones, CEO of Radial, joins host David Williams to explore how Radial’s AI-powered decision support software merges cutting-edge data science with clinical best practices to enhance patient outcomes, reduce costs, and optimize value-based provider operations.Thaddeus Fulford-Jones' book recommendation: Reservations for Nine by Dr. George Beauregard🎙️⚕️ABOUT HEALTHBIZ PODCASTHealthBiz is a CareTalk podcast that delivers in-depth interviews on healthcare business, technology, and policy with entrepreneurs and CEOs. Host David E. Williams — president of the healthcare strategy consulting boutique Health Business Group — is also a board member, investor in private healthcare companies, and author of the Health Business Blog. Known for his strategic insights and sharp humor, David offers a refreshing break from the usual healthcare industry BS.🎙️⚕️ABOUT THADDEUS FULFORD-JONESThaddeus Fulford-Jones is the Co-Founder & CEO of Radial (www.radialcare.com), a healthtech company leveraging AI and machine learning to improve patient outcomes and financial performance in value-based care. Radial develops next-generation decision support tools that help organizations target the right members with the right interventions at the right time. Previously, Thaddeus was the Co-Founder and CEO of Locately, a location analytics firm that pioneered mobile-based consumer insights. He holds a PhD from MIT, where his research focused on complex systems and modeling. Throughout his career, he has been passionate about applying technology to solve critical challenges in healthcare and beyond.GET IN TOUCHFollow CareTalk on LinkedInBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textIn this episode of CareTalk, John Driscoll sits down with Oron Afek, CEO of Vim, to discuss how Vim is transforming healthcare by creating a smarter, more connected ecosystem for doctors and patients. Oron shares his entrepreneurial journey, from his early days in the Israeli military to building a healthcare platform that integrates seamlessly with electronic health records (EHRs) to improve clinical decision-making. Learn how Vim’s technology is helping doctors make better decisions at the point of care, streamlining workflows, and driving better patient outcomes, all while empowering developers to build innovative healthcare solutions.🎙️⚕️ABOUT CARETALK: HEALTHCARE. UNFILTERED.CareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy. 🎙️⚕️ABOUT ORON AFEKOron is both the Chief Executive Officer of Vim and the company's visionary. Oron's dynamic leadership shapes Vim's corporate strategy, which is defined by bold innovation balanced with strategic focus. Oron pushes boundaries and helps the company innovate where no one else can. He ensures that the company - and all its partners - are aligned on a shared purpose to revolutionize healthcare and lower the complexity for providers to participate in value-based care. Before his remarkable journey in healthcare, Oron honed his skills serving in a special forces unit of the Israel Defense Forces, embodying a spirit of determination and fearlessness. Drawing from his diverse background, he founded and spearheaded the business development for four groundbreaking companies across telecommunications, gaming, real estate, and education.🎙️⚕️ABOUT VIM Vim seamlessly integrates essential data, insights, and applications into existing EHR workflows, enabling healthcare providers to work more efficiently, enhance patient outcomes, and optimize operations.GET IN TOUCHFollow CareTalk on LinkedInBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textAI, behavioral science and digital communications are transforming how patients interact with the healthcare system. But are they actually improving outcomes or just adding noise and costs?In this episode of the Health Biz Podcast, host David Williams speaks with Robert Farrell, CEO of mPulse, about how AI-driven personalization is transforming patient engagement. They discuss how conversational AI, behavioral science, and predictive analytics are helping healthcare organizations improve outcomes, boost health literacy, and engage patients more effectively.🎙️⚕️ABOUT HEALTHBIZ PODCASTHealthbiz is a CareTalk podcast that delivers in-depth interviews on healthcare business, technology, and policy with entrepreneurs and CEOs. Host David E. Williams—president of the healthcare strategy consulting boutique Health Business Group is also a board member, investor in private healthcare companies, and author of the Health Business Blog. Known for his strategic insights and sharp humor, David offers a refreshing break from the usual healthcare industry BS.🎙️⚕️ ABOUT ROBERT FARRELLBob Farrell is a 4-time CEO with a proven track record of building high growth, profitable software and technology-enabled service companies backed by private equity and public markets. Bob currently serves as an outside Member on the Board of Directors at Worldwide Express, Recycle Track Systems, Transportation Impact, Meal Ticket, and Tenstreet.🎙️⚕️ ABOUT mPULSEmPulse combines predictive analytics and advanced digital experience technology to deliver business efficiencies and more equitable health outcomes at scale. That’s why 400+ healthcare organizations trust them to orchestrate personalized health journeys for their populations.GET IN TOUCHFollow CareTalk on LinkedInBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textWhole-person care is the gold standard for treating elderly patients by delivering care where they need it when they need it, but traditional healthcare models make it tough to scale.Can value-based care and home-based medicine change that?In this episode of CareTalk, host John Driscoll speaks with Jeffrey Kang, CEO of WellBe, to explore the challenges and opportunities of geriatric care, the evolution of Medicare risk adjustment, and why integrating whole-person care into value-based models is key to keeping vulnerable patients healthier.🎙️⚕️ABOUT CARETALKCareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy. 🎙️⚕️ABOUT JEFFERY KANGDr. Jeffrey Kang, the founder of WellBe, was inspired by his personal experience caring for his mother during her battle with cancer. As both a physician and a son, he witnessed firsthand the importance of having a trusted medical guide to help navigate complex treatments and decisions. This experience led him to create WellBe, a service dedicated to providing personalized, compassionate care whenever and wherever patients need it. Under Dr. Kang’s leadership, WellBe is driven by the belief that everyone deserves access to a trusted doctor who understands their needs, supports them through every step of their health journey, and ensures they receive the best possible care.🎙️⚕️ABOUT WELLBE WellBe Senior Medical is transforming healthcare by delivering expert medical and mental health services directly to patients' homes, ensuring compassionate, personalized care at low or no cost. Collaborating with existing healthcare providers, WellBe's dedicated team offers in-home medical care, 24/7 provider access through a nurse hotline, and mental health support via telehealth and home visits. Currently serving patients across 10 states, WellBe continues to expand its reach, partnering with health plans nationwide to keep individuals healthy and comfortable in their own homes.GET IN TOUCHBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textValue-based care is a great concept, providers get paid to keep patients healthy rather than just for treating them when they’re sick.But it’s not easy, and the results don’t always meet the potential.Can technology and AI help?In this episode of the HealthBiz Podcast, host David E. Williams speaks with Jay Ackerman, CEO of Reveleer on how AI can automate time-consuming tasks, streamline fragmented workflows, and consolidate critical risk adjustment to improve value-based care.🎙️⚕️ABOUT HEALTHBIZ PODCASTHealthbiz is a CareTalk podcast that delivers in-depth interviews on healthcare business, technology, and policy with entrepreneurs and CEOs. Host David E. Williams—president of the healthcare strategy consulting boutique Health Business Group —is also a board member, investor in private healthcare companies, and author of the Health Business Blog. Known for his strategic insights and sharp humor, David offers a refreshing break from the usual healthcare industry BS.🎙️⚕️ ABOUT JAY ACKERMANJay is the President and CEO of Reveleer, leading the company’s growth and innovation in clinical data collection and analytics for health plans and providers. He focuses on scaling operations, driving business expansion, and advancing product innovation to enhance healthcare outcomes.With over 25 years of experience in software and services, Jay has held leadership roles at major organizations. He was Chief Revenue Officer at Guidance Software, led global sales and customer success at ServiceSource, and served as President and CEO of WNS North America. Throughout his career, he has successfully driven growth, expanded markets, and strengthened customer relationships.🎙️⚕️ ABOUT REVELEERReveleer is a leading healthcare technology company specializing in AI-driven solutions for clinical data collection, risk adjustment, and quality improvement. Designed for health plans and providers, Reveleer’s platform streamlines medical record retrieval, coding, and analytics to enhance compliance, optimize reimbursements, and improve patient outcomes. By leveraging advanced automation and machine learning, Reveleer empowers organizations to efficiently manage healthcare data while reducing administrative burdens.With a commitment to innovation and accuracy, Reveleer helps healthcare organizations navigate the complexities of value-based care. Its comprehensive SaaS platform delivers actionable insights, ensuring payers and providers can make data-driven decisions with confidence.GET IN TOUCHBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textInteroperability has long been a buzzword in healthcare In an ideal world, our healthcare system would exchange timely, high-quality data to empower patients, improve clinical quality, and keep costs under control. How close are we to making this a reality?In this episode of the HealthBiz Podcast, host David E Williams talks with Dr. Donald Rucker, Chief Strategy Officer at 1upHealth, about how their health data management platform is transforming the way healthcare organizations access, share, and leverage patient data to improve outcomes, enhance efficiency, and drive more personalized care.TOPICS(0:25) Introduction(0:52) How Dr. Donald Rucker Got Into Healthcare(2:54) Rucker's Educational Path and Career(11:14) What Does 1upHealth Do?(21:13) Why Are CMS APIs So Important?(25:15) How Do APIs Affect Prior Authorization?(31:37) Book Recommendations from Dr. Donald Rucker🎙️⚕️ABOUT HEALTHBIZ PODCAST Healthbiz is a CareTalk podcast that delivers in-depth interviews on healthcare business, technology, and policy with entrepreneurs and CEOs. Host David E. Williams — president of the healthcare strategy consulting boutique Health Business Group — is also a board member, investor in private healthcare companies, and author of the Health Business Blog. Known for his strategic insights and sharp humor, David offers a refreshing break from the usual healthcare industry BS.🎙️⚕️ ABOUT DR. DONALD RUCKERDr. Donald Rucker is the Chief Strategy Officer at 1upHealth and a nationally recognized leader in health IT. As National Coordinator of Health IT at HHS from 2017 to 2021, he led the development of the ONC’s 21st Century Cures Act Interoperability Rule, which standardized FHIR APIs and advanced patient access to electronic health data by enforcing the ban on information blocking.A board-certified physician with experience at Kaiser Permanente, Beth Israel Deaconess, and the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Rucker has made significant contributions to clinical informatics. He co-developed the first Microsoft Windows-based electronic medical record and designed a computerized physician order entry module that won the 2003 HIMSS Nicholas Davies Award. He holds degrees from Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford.🎙️⚕️ ABOUT 1UPHEALTH1upHealth is revolutionizing healthcare data interoperability by enabling seamless access, exchange, and analytics through modern FHIR-based technology. Founded with a mission to bridge the gap between payers, providers, and app developers, 1upHealth empowers organizations to unlock the full potential of their health data, driving better outcomes and efficiency.With a focus on simplicity, scalability, and compliance, 1upHealth delivers cutting-edge solutions that transform healthcare operations. By leveraging standardized FHIR APIs, the company ensures secure and actionable data sharing, making healthcare more connected, patient-centric, and innovative.GET IN TOUCHBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.