What Keeps You Up at Night? – Tales from the Digital Frontier

The Case for Audacity in AI and Capacity Management Strategy

Russ Branzell welcomes Erik Barnett, Health Partner at Guidehouse and leader of the Health Technology Consulting Practice, for a candid discussion on the realities of AI adoption in healthcare. Drawing on his experience as both a clinician and business leader, Erik shares insights on building trust, establishing governance, and scaling AI initiatives — from optimizing patient flow and care team coordination to ensuring responsible, strategic implementation.

Key Takeaways:

1. How gaps in digital maturity and disconnected strategies can create organizational risk.

2. AI use cases that are overhyped versus those with tangible impact on patient care and operations.

3. The role of governance and leadership in operationalizing AI responsibly and building trust.

4. Strategies for selecting partners and scaling innovations effectively across health systems.

5. Why audacious goals and bold bets are essential for meaningful transformation in healthcare.

What Keeps You Up at Night? – Tales from the Digital Frontier  

Empowering Providers and Platforms: How Digital Health Must Evolve  

Host and Guest: 

• 1. Russ Branzell, CHIME President & CEO  
  2. Bob Segert, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Athenahealth 

This episode introduces the identity crisis facing healthcare and explores why 80% coverage isn’t the ceiling — it’s just the floor. With a candid conversation between Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, and Clay Ritchey, CEO, Verato, they unpack the future of patient identity, the risks of fragmented data, and why clean, connected, and complete records are essential to transforming care.

What Keeps You Up at Night? – Tales from the Digital Frontier  

Trust, Scale, and Strategy: What We Still Get Wrong About Digital Health Execution 

Host and Guest: 

1. Russ Branzell, CHIME President & CEO  

2. Phil Sobol, Chief Commercial Officer, CereCore 

Podcast Description

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, sits down with Phil Sobol, Chief Commercial Officer at CereCore, to explore the real pressures and opportunities facing digital health leaders today. From navigating operational realities and scaling EHR innovations to separating hype from impact in data and interoperability, Phil shares candid insights from the frontlines of healthcare technology. Together, they explore the importance of trust, relationship-driven strategy, and bold investments in people and long-term growth.

Key Takeaways:

1. The operational complexities – including staffing shortages and large-scale tech transitions – that are challenging digital health leaders to rethink strategy and execution.

2. Overhyped trends in digital health, and the solutions driving measurable impact inside health systems to improve interoperability and patient care.

3. Strategies for scaling successful pilot programs to enterprise-wide adoption of EHR and other digital initiatives.

4. Best practices for building trust and credibility with healthcare leaders in a crowded technology landscape.

5. Bold leadership strategies to drive sustainable growth and innovation in healthcare services.

In this episode, CHIME President and CEO Russ Branzell is joined by Fran Rosch, CEO of Imprivata. Together, they delve into one of digital health’s most critical challenges: how to secure access in a distributed, digitally dependent, and rapidly evolving care environment.

From the growing risks of third-party access to the real-world adoption of passwordless workflows and mobile identity, Fran shares how healthcare organizations can protect patient safety while enabling clinical efficiency. They discuss the imperative need for strategic leadership in times of change, the evolution of digital identity beyond traditional hospital walls, and the innovative solutions shaping the future of trusted access.

Key Takeaways:

1. Discover proactive strategies to manage third-party access and reduce risk.

2. Understand the true impact of passwordless authentication on clinical workflows, trust models, and user experience.

3. Hear what successful organizations are doing to implement mobile identity at scale while balancing legacy systems and cultural change.

4. Explore how digital identity is evolving into a strategic asset that supports distributed care and clinical collaboration.

5. Identify the trends shaping the next generation of trusted access, including AI, cloud, and system interoperability.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, sits down with Dr. Okan Ekinci, CMIO & Global Head of Digital Technology at Roche Information Solutions, to explore the evolving roles of digital health in one of the world’s largest biotech organizations. From aligning diagnostics and pharmaceutical innovation to enhancing cybersecurity and unlocking AI’s clinical potential, Dr. Ekinci shares how Roche is navigating digital transformation in healthcare on a global scale. This insightful conversation also addresses the cultural and leadership shifts necessary to sustain innovation and ensure long-term impact in healthcare and life sciences.

Key Takeaways:

1. Key challenges and opportunities in integrating diagnostic data with treatment decisions.

2. Emerging frameworks to overcome data silos and drive clinical interoperability.

3. Biotech-specific cybersecurity threats and strategies for balancing protection with innovation.

4. The top technologies transforming patient care and shaping the future of precision medicine.

5. Leadership imperatives for building a culture of sustainable innovation in life sciences.

As healthcare extends beyond traditional walls, leaders are rethinking how, where, and by whom care is delivered. In this episode of CHIMEcast, CHIME President and CEO Russ Branzell sits down with Dr. Ben Zaniello, Chief Medical Officer at Best Buy Health, to unpack the future of Hospital-at-Home and remote care. 

Together, they explore what it takes to build scalable, tech-enabled care models—from integrated platforms to in-home logistics—while tackling the policy, operational, and cultural challenges leaders must navigate. This is a real-world conversation about leading through transformation, future-proofing care, and staying grounded in the clinical mission. 

Participants 

• Russ Branzell, CHIME President & CEO (Host) 
• Ben Zaniello, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Best Buy Health 

In the latest Leader2Leader episode, Russ Branzell, President & CEO of CHIME, sits down with John Chirillo, Principal Security Architect at Connection, for a timely conversation on cyber resilience, digital trust, and the future of healthcare security.

Together, they explore the evolving cybersecurity landscape, the challenges healthcare organizations are facing, and how leadership, continuous learning, and community engagement are key to staying ahead. From real-world insights to future-forward thinking, this episode is a must-listen for digital health leaders navigating today’s complex threat environment.

In this episode of CHIME’s Leader-to-Leader Podcast, Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, sits down with Jason Rose, CEO of Clearsense, to explore the evolving role of data in healthcare. Jason shares his insights on data-driven innovation, overcoming security and access challenges, and the importance of leadership in healthcare technology.

Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the future of healthcare data and the strategies that leaders can use to drive meaningful change and improve patient outcomes. 

In this episode, CHIME President and CEO, Russ Branzell welcomes Rachael England, Associate Principal of Digital Technologies at Vizient, to unpack the complex realities facing digital health leaders who are driving innovation amid mounting economic pressures. Rachael shares insights from working closely with provider CIOs and IT teams to reduce costs, streamline vendor relationships, and ensure digital strategies align with long-term goals. Together, they explore the balance between visionary leadership and sustainable execution, discussing how strategic partnerships can maximize value without sacrificing agility.

Key Takeaways:

• How digital health leaders are navigating budget constraints, vendor fatigue, and pressures to innovate
• Strategies to reduce IT spend and complexity leveraging GPOs and strategic partnerships
• Real-world use cases for AI in procurement and IT decision-making
• How to overcome hurdles in AI adoption with the right data and collaboration
• Thought leadership principles for maintaining focus, avoiding burnout, and leading effective and sustainable digital transformation