Building Better Health

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Building Better Health episodes

August 12 How Will AI Revolutionize Your Healthcare? | Building Better Health Episode 6
Artificial intelligence is everywhere, and every industry is wrestling with the implications of this new technology. Healthcare is no exception, but the stakes are arguably higher. How do we make sure we get it right when we're moving at warp speed?
In Episode 6 of Building Better Health, host Terence Samuel sits down with Madhu Pawar, executive in residence at Optum, and Dr. Robert Wachter, chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco to explore how AI is changing healthcare. From helping clinicians spend less time on paperwork to improving care and the overall experience for members and providers, they discuss where AI adds value and why human judgment still matters.
33 min
July 21 What’s Behind the Longevity Gap? | Building Better Health Episode 5
For all the talk about biohacking and wellness trends, we rarely address the real root causes driving longevity. In America today, how long you live isn't just about your personal choices — the biggest factors are your bank account and your zip code.
In Episode 5 of Building Better Health, host Terence Samuel sits down with Dr. Eugene Hsu, Chief Medical Officer for Optum Home and Community Care Delivery, and Dan Buettner, National Geographic explorer and founder of Blue Zones. Together, they discuss actionable strategies to help people live longer, healthier lives, from changing city infrastructure to combating the loneliness epidemic.
About Building Better Health:
Healthcare is complicated — and it’s changing fast. Building Better Health explores what’s working in healthcare today and what helps people live longer, healthier lives.
Each episode features conversations with researchers, clinicians, and innovators on topics like preventive care, chronic conditions, mental health, affordability, Medicare and employer coverage, value‑based care, and the role of technology and data in improving outcomes. Join us as we explore how we can make healthcare work better for everyone.
28 min
July 08 What’s Behind the Menopause Moment?
Every woman will experience menopause yet the healthcare system has long been unprepared to support them. Today, an estimated 75 million women in the U.S. are navigating perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause, but too many still struggle to access evidence-based care. Decades of outdated research, gaps in physician training and persistent misconceptions left generations of women without the treatment they needed.
In Episode 4 of Building Better Health, host Terence Samuel is joined by Dr. Lisa Saul, Chief Medical Officer for Women’s Health at UnitedHealth Group, and Dr. Barbara Levy, Chief Medical Officer at Visana Health. Together, they discuss how flawed science reshaped menopause care, why the healthcare system has been slow to prioritize women’s midlife health, and what it will take to ensure every woman has access to evidence-based, personalized care.
36 min
June 25 How Do We Address the Rise of Chronic Diseases? | Building Better Health Episode 3
Chronic disease among young Americans is at record levels. The U.S. healthcare system has historically operated as a reactive "sick care" model, from heavily favoring high-cost crisis interventions to undervaluing the proactive care that prevents illness in the first place.
In Episode 3 of Building Better Health, Host Terence Samuel is joined by guests Dr. Wyatt Decker, Chief Physician for Value-Based Care and Innovation at UnitedHealth Group, and Dr. Toyin Ajayi, Co-founder and CEO of Cityblock Health. Together, they discuss actionable solutions, from shifting to proactive care models to leveraging community health networks and reaching vulnerable populations early.
Timestamps:
0:00-1:06: Introduction
1:07-5:51: Discussing Fixing the Healthcare System
5:52-7:30: Working in Rural Health
7:31-9:36: The Rise of Chronic Diseases
9:37-11:45: How Preventative Care and Chronic Disease Connect
11:46-14:39: Why Chronic Disease Remains a Problem in Our Healthcare System
14:40- 17:32: How Do We Address Healthcare Delivery
17:33-21:02: Is the Healthcare System Moving Fast Enough?
21:03- 26:12: How We Can We Work to Change the Systems Level Issues?
26:13- 28:36: Sharing Optimism in the Healthcare System
28:37-32:53: Addressing Chronic Disease in Young People
32:54-33:12: Conclusion
34 min
June 09 How Do We Solve the Burnout Crisis? | Building Better Health Episode 2
Physician burnout is at record levels. The U.S. healthcare system has made it harder to practice medicine than it ever should be - from a frustrating lack of control to an outdated culture that treated long shifts like a badge of honor.

In Episode 2 of Building Better Health, Host Terence Samuel is joined by guests Patrick Conway, Chief Executive Officer at Optum, and Dr. Sharmila Makhija, Dean & CEO of the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. Together, they discuss actionable solutions for healthcare reform — from upgrading clinical infrastructure to rewriting the medical school curriculum — to give doctors their autonomy back and protect the true calling of medicine.

Timestamps:
0:00-0:55: Introduction
0:56-6:08: Dr. Conway and Dr. Makhija’s Career Journey and Current Positions
6:09-8:59: Discussing Physician Burnout
9:00-12:09: How Burnout Fits into the Healthcare System
12:10-14:05: Connecting Medical School and Training to Address Whole Health Concepts
14:06-16:22: What Do Clinicians Need the Most Right Now?
16:23-20:29: How Do We Get More Clinicians into Primary Care?
20:30-24:29: Discussing the State of American Healthcare
24:40-27:35 How the Healthcare System’s Culture is Changing
27:36-29:43: How Do Physicians Take Care of Themselves
29:44-30:22: Conclusion

Learn more about Building Better Health: https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/uhg/what-we-do/podcast.html

Follow UnitedHealth Group on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unitedhealth-group/
X: https://x.com/UnitedHealthGrp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unitedhealthgroup/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unitedhealthgroup/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unitedhealthgroup
31 min
May 27 How Do We Build a Better System? | Building Better Health Episode 1
The U.S. health system isn’t working as it should. UnitedHealth Group Chief Medical Officer Dr. Margaret-Mary Wilson and University of Pennsylvania Vice Provost for Global Initiatives Dr. Zeke Emanuel break down what’s driving cost, fragmentation and complexity — and what real reform could look like.

0:00 - 0:53: Introduction
0:54 - 5:31: Discussing Experiences in Global Healthcare Systems
5:32 - 9:32: Fee-for-Service Model and Fragmentation
9:33 - 16:10: Value-Based Care
16:11 - 10:17 Insights from Dr. Emanuel's Book and Research
19:18 - 24:05: Discussing How Wellness Fits Into Healthcare
24:06 - 25:14: What's One Thing You Would Do To Build a Better System
25:16 - 29:54: Drivers of Health Economics and Costs
29:55 - 32:22: Final Takeaways and Conclusion

Learn more about Building Better Health: https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/uhg/what-we-do/podcast.html

Follow UnitedHealth Group on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unitedhealth-group/
X: https://x.com/UnitedHealthGrp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unitedhealthgroup/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unitedhealthgroup/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unitedhealthgroup

33 min

About Building Better Health

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Health care is complicated — and it’s changing fast. Building Better Health is a new podcast from UnitedHealth Group exploring what’s working in health care today and what helps people live longer, healthier lives.

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Building Better Health

Building Better Health episodes

About Building Better Health