Note: This episode was recorded on December 17, 2024, and reflects the policy landscape and political context of that time.

When Krista Drobac arrived in Washington, D.C., fresh out of college, she had no car, no connections, and no clear path—just a determination to make a difference in politics. What began as a leap of faith quickly turned into a lifelong mission to transform healthcare policy. Today, as a founding partner of Sirona Strategies, Krista is a driving force behind some of the most innovative approaches to care delivery—from telehealth to home-based models.

Her career took root in the late 1990s, when she led a groundbreaking campaign for stem cell research, uniting patient groups to advocate for life-changing treatments. Since then, Krista has become a trusted voice in healthcare policy. She is a true leader focused on spotting growth opportunities and mitigating risks stemming from policy changes at both federal and state levels. By merging market dynamics with regulatory shifts in Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial care, she guides companies—from startups to Fortune 10 giants—in building models of care that capture new opportunities. With deep relationships across both industry and government, and a rich history in the United States Senate, the Obama Administration, the National Governors Association, and state government, she is uniquely qualified to spot trends that drive change. In addition, she founded three coalitions dedicated to ensuring patients have access to telehealth, more home-based care, and integrated social services.

In our conversation, Krista takes us behind the scenes of her journey—from her early days advocating for stem cell research to her current efforts to revolutionize care delivery. She opens up about the challenges of balancing innovation with affordability, the importance of addressing the root causes of chronic disease, and why now is the time for bold, transformative ideas in healthcare.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or suggestions for future guests? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

When I first spoke with Dr. BJ Miller, I felt the weight of his experiences transform into something unexpectedly hopeful. BJ is a palliative care physician and he’s also a storyteller of life’s hardest truths, a triple amputee who turned personal tragedy into a mission to redefine how we approach suffering, dignity, and mortality. Years ago, I watched BJ Miller’s TED Talk on What Really Matters at the End of Life, I was struck by his bold challenge to healthcare’s design—how it was built around diseases rather than people. He spoke with a clarity that cut through the clinical detachment of modern medicine, emphasizing that suffering is not just something to be erased but an intrinsic part of being human. He invited us to see death and illness not as failures but as natural, even meaningful, parts of life.

When my husband, Dan Rosenman, died suddenly of a heart attack while mountain biking 11 years ago, BJ’s words became a lifeline. His reflection on the difference between necessary and unnecessary suffering helped me shift my perspective: rather than trying to “fix” my grief, I learned to live alongside it and open my eyes to see the beauty of grief. That’s why I invited him here—to share how we might reshape our approach to life’s most difficult realities with creativity, presence, and compassion.

Known globally for that groundbreaking talk, he co-founded Mettle Health, a telehealth service providing support for patients and caregivers. His journey began with a life-altering accident at Princeton, where he lost three limbs—an event that reshaped his understanding of vulnerability and resilience. Through his work at UCSF, the Zen Hospice Project, and now Mettle Health, he has challenged medicine to prioritize humanity over cure rates, integrating art, spirituality, and raw honesty into care.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or suggestions for future guests? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

The obesity epidemic demands solutions that go beyond temporary fixes or single-medication approaches. While drugs like GLP-1 agonists dominate headlines, lasting change requires reimagining care delivery, addressing systemic inefficiencies, and tackling root causes. Enter Sloan Saunders, a former investment banker turned healthcare innovator, whose company FlyteHealth is pioneering a holistic model for obesity treatment—one that merges financial strategy, advanced technology, and patient-centered care.

After a 15-year career in banking and private equity, Sloan co-founded FlyteHealth to confront the gaps he saw in obesity care: outdated clinical practices, fragmented insurance coverage, and an over-reliance on short-term interventions. Selected for the UCSF Rosenman Innovators Program in 2022, FlyteHealth now partners with employers, payers, and health systems—including a groundbreaking initiative with the state of Connecticut—to deliver scalable, cost-effective care that prioritizes long-term health over quick fixes.

In this episode, Sloan shares his unconventional leap from finance to healthcare entrepreneurship, the lessons that shaped FlyteHealth’s mission, and how technology tackles clinical inefficiencies to personalize care and address root causes. He also offers insights into the future of obesity treatment, from employer partnerships to redefining health investments. Tune in for a candid conversation about disrupting norms, overcoming founder challenges, and building solutions that prove sustainable obesity care is possible—when we look beyond the prescription pad.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or suggestions for future guests? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

Joanna Strober, Founder & CEO of MIDI Health, is a trailblazer in women’s health innovation. With a career marked by resilience and vision, Joanna has consistently driven meaningful change across industries. From her early days in venture capital to founding Kurbo Health—a digital therapeutic for childhood obesity that served tens of thousands of adolescents worldwide before being acquired by Weight Watchers in 2018—Joanna has always sought to make a lasting impact.

Today, she leads MIDI Health, a groundbreaking platform dedicated to transforming women’s midlife health. Selected as a Rosenman ADAPT finalist, MIDI Health joined the prestigious Rosenman Institute cohort, solidifying its role as the only holistic women’s health platform for perimenopause and menopause care covered by insurance. Inspired by her own experiences with hormone transition and its profound effects on sleep, energy, weight, and mood, Joanna created MIDI Health to make expert midlife care accessible, equitable, and comprehensive.

In this episode, Joanna shares her unconventional career journey, the lessons she’s learned from each pivot, and how her personal experiences shaped the mission of MIDI Health. She delves into the challenges of scaling a virtual healthcare platform for menopause, the importance of insurance coverage in digital health, and her vision for a future where women receive the care they deserve. Listeners will gain valuable insights into resilient leadership, healthcare innovation, and the power of turning personal challenges into transformative solutions.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or suggestions for future guests? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

Dr. Matthew Lungren’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of empathy, curiosity, and innovation. Starting as an English major, his career took a pivotal turn while volunteering at a Kosovo refugee camp, where he discovered the profound impact of combining knowledge, data, and compassion to address healthcare challenges—particularly in underserved communities.

Dr. Lungren earned his MD and MPH, practiced as an interventional radiologist, and became a prominent leader in medical AI. At Stanford, he directed the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI), contributing to over 200 publications on groundbreaking research in multi-modal data fusion, computer vision, and natural language processing for healthcare applications. His influence extends beyond academia through his work at Amazon, his popular Stanford Coursera course on machine learning in healthcare, and his current role as Chief Scientific Officer for Microsoft Health & Life Sciences. Dr. Lungren also maintains a part-time clinical practice at UCSF and holds an adjunct professorship at Stanford University, demonstrating his commitment to patient care and mentorship.

In this episode, Dr. Lungren explores the integration of AI into healthcare, offering insights on reducing physician burnout, uncovering new patient data insights, and building a more equitable and innovative future for healthcare.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or suggestions for future guests? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

Dr. Sanjeev Arora’s quiet determination and profound sense of purpose shine through in everything he does. A renowned liver disease specialist and visionary social entrepreneur, Dr. Arora has spent over 30 years creating innovative solutions to address some of the most critical gaps in healthcare.

As the Founder and Executive Director of Project ECHO, he has transformed healthcare equity with a revolutionary vision: democratizing specialized medical knowledge so no one, regardless of their location, is left behind. What began in 2003 as a small effort to address hepatitis C in underserved areas has grown into a global movement spanning 194 countries, empowering health workers and logging over 4 million attendances.

Dr. Arora’s passion for equity goes beyond treating diseases. His mission empowers communities to tackle systemic challenges like education and climate change while building resilient networks of knowledge that span the globe.

In this episode, Dr. Arora discusses the powerful story behind Project ECHO, the challenges of scaling such an ambitious model, and the transformative impact it has had on millions of lives. He also shares his bold vision of reaching 6 billion people and how shared expertise can strengthen entire communities.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or suggestions for future guests? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

Imagine a healthcare experience where doctors spend less time on hold with insurance companies and more time connecting with their patients. In “How AI is Freeing Up Your Doctor,” we sit down with Ankit Jain—founder of Infinitus—to explore how advanced AI automation is streamlining the communication channels that underpin our healthcare system.

Ankit’s story reflects a career defined by innovation. He drew on his engineering expertise at Google, where he played a pivotal role in launching Google Play, before striking out on his own. After founding Quettra—acquired by SimilarWeb—Ankit set his sights on one of healthcare’s greatest pain points: endless back-office tasks that absorb time and resources. With Infinitus, he’s leveraging AI to handle these administrative calls and workflows, allowing healthcare professionals to focus on what truly matters—patient care.

In this episode, we discuss the challenges of integrating AI into a complex healthcare ecosystem and explore the opportunities it creates for more effective data sharing, better patient outcomes, and renewed clinician satisfaction. Join us as we delve into the story behind Infinitus, uncovering how AI-driven solutions are not just freeing up doctors, but opening the door to a more connected and compassionate healthcare future.

Do you have any thoughts or guest suggestions? Please email us at [email protected].

What does it take to transform an entire industry? Dr. Vin Gupta, a distinguished leader in public health and healthtech, shares his remarkable journey from medical training at Columbia and Harvard to his impactful service in the United States Air Force Medical Reserve Corps. As the Chief Medical Officer of Amazon Pharmacy, Dr. Gupta spearheads clinical strategy and innovation, leveraging technology to redefine pharmacy services and enhance consumer experiences.

In this episode, delve into Dr. Gupta’s groundbreaking work in healthcare policy, clinical research, and the seamless integration of technology in patient care. Gain exclusive insights into the consumerization of healthcare and explore his visionary outlook on the future of pharmacy services. Whether you're a healthcare professional, tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the intersection of technology and health, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on driving meaningful change in the healthcare landscape.

Do you have any thoughts or guest suggestions? Please email us at [email protected].

Our guest today is Dr. Diana Thiara, the medical director of the UCSF Weight Management Program. She also serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCSF, and the Program Director of the UCSF Obesity Medicine Fellowship. Dr. Thiara specializes in internal medicine, focusing on obesity and weight management. Her work integrates innovative patient programming, culinary medicine, and virtual curriculums for obesity patients.

Dr. Thiara's journey from a small town in Illinois to leading obesity medicine on the West Coast is nothing short of inspiring. Her passion for community and medicine, influenced by her father's role as a town doctor, guided her career path, resulting in extensive contributions to medical education and patient care, including the Robert H. Crede Award for Excellence in Community Service.

In this episode, you will hear Dr. Thiara discuss the nuances of obesity management, her perspective on GLP-1 drugs, and her innovative approaches to patient care.

Do you have any thoughts or guest suggestions? Please email us at [email protected].

Roni Zeiger is a distinguished physician and technologist with a profound impact on digital health. With a medical degree and a master’s in biomedical informatics, Roni has seamlessly integrated technology and healthcare throughout his career.

He served as the Chief Health Strategist at Google, leading transformative projects like Google Health and Google Flu Trends, which revolutionized global access to health information.

Roni also co-founded Smart Patients, a platform fostering patient support and learning through shared experiences. Currently, at GirlTrek, he exemplifies his commitment to community health and social justice, focusing on increasing life expectancy for Black women by addressing critical issues such as inactivity, isolation, and injustice.

This episode explores Roni’s groundbreaking work at Google, Smart Patients, and GirlTrek, along with his vision for the future of healthcare and the power of community-driven solutions.

Do you have any thoughts or guest suggestions? Please email us at [email protected].