HITea With Grace

In this special episode of HITea, our host Grace Vinton sits down with John Lynn, founder of Healthcare IT Today. John is one of the most well-connected male allies in the healthcare technology industry and an insightful media leader and community builder.

In their final moments at the Civitas Conference, Grace and John gather around the mic to unpack the latest trends shaping the future of Health Information Exchanges (HIEs). From TEFCA momentum and the rise of QHINs, to the renewed focus on patient matching, identity management, and social data integration, they explore how the next era of interoperability is taking shape.

Far from fading away, HIEs are morphing - adapting their business models, expanding their value, and proving that the heartbeat of local healthcare data is alive and well.

Grab your cup - it’s time to spill the tea on the evolving world of interoperability! ☕

In this special live episode from the Civitas Conference, Grace sits down with Dr. Jan Lee, CEO of the Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN “DIN”), the nation’s first live statewide health information exchange.

Together, they explore how real-time clinical data sharing is transforming care in Delaware and setting the standard for interoperability across the country. Jan shares her inspiring career journey from clinician to health IT leader, the innovations driving DHIN’s success, and how better data sharing is helping reduce costs, eliminate unnecessary tests, and improve patient outcomes.

Tune in to hear what trends and ideas are sparking change at Civitas, what’s next for HIEs nationwide, and Jan’s advice for the next generation of health technology leaders.

Grab your cup - this is one conversation you won’t want to miss. ☕

In this episode, recorded live at the Civitas Conference, Grace sits down with Susan Clark and Laura Young, the dynamic leaders behind Converge Health, to talk about one of healthcare’s most persistent challenges — the last mile of interoperability.

From data gaps that quietly impact patient care, to the realities of implementing frameworks like FHIR and TEFCA, Susan and Laura share their insights on how to move beyond buzzwords toward true, usable data exchange at the point of care. They also explore the powerful role patients are beginning to play in driving interoperability forward and what innovations may reshape the landscape in the next five years.

Whether you’re a health IT professional, a data evangelist, or simply curious about how healthcare information actually connects behind the scenes, this conversation delivers equal parts wisdom and inspiration — Civitas-style.

Grab your cup and tune in — it’s time to spill the tea on interoperability’s last mile! ☕

I’m thrilled to welcome Jamie Hill-Walters, CRCR, Chief Customer Officer at Janus Health, to HITea With Grace. We spill the tea on what’s really changing in RCM and how leaders can modernize with empathy and measurable results.

In this episode, Jamie shares:

Listen now and be sure to connect with Jamie!

This week, I sat down with Holly Taylor, General Manager of Strategic Partnerships at Lucem Health, to talk about her career journey, patient advocacy, and how AI is reshaping early detection of type 1 diabetes.

What you’ll learn in this conversation:

Holly also shared her tea mug story and what drives her to make a difference in healthcare. You won’t want to miss this one!

On this episode of HITea, I had the privilege of sitting down with Pam Russek, COO of P-n-T Data Corp, for a powerful conversation on leadership, innovation, and the future of healthcare IT.

Pam opened up about her career journey across payer and vendor roles, why she came out of retirement to lead again, and how she’s helping drive transformation in prior authorization and healthcare data integration.

Key insights from our chat:

The latest trends in prior authorization innovation and how AI and APIs are shaping efficiency as well as why secure, integrated healthcare data is the next frontier for better care delivery.

What inspired Pam to return from retirement and why a smaller, nimble health IT company was the right fit.

Her reflections on mentorship, leadership clarity, and progress for women in Health IT.

Pam also shared her favorite clear tea mug - and the story behind it - as a reminder of the importance of clarity in communication and leadership.

Tune in to learn more about Pam's vision for the future of healthcare technology!

On today’s episode of HITea With Grace, I’m joined by Deepti Sharma, SVP of Product Management at HSBlox.

The conversation dives into:

From shaping innovation to inspiring the next generation of technologists, Deepti’s journey offers powerful insights into what it takes to lead at the intersection of tech, business, and healthcare!

In this summer special episode of HITea, I’m honored to welcome Jolie Ritzo, MPH, CEO of Civitas Networks for Health. Together, we explore the 2025 landscape of the health information exchange (HIE) market, uncovering both the challenges and exciting opportunities for networks working at the intersection of health care, public health, and community.

Jolie shares how Civitas members are moving beyond the technical aspects of interoperability to focus on what happens after the data moves—turning shared information into shared accountability and real solutions. We also dive into this year’s Civitas Annual Conference theme, the power of place-based partnerships, and why now is the moment to strengthen regional networks that bridge data with on-the-ground action.

From rural health coalitions to large statewide HIEs, Jolie’s perspective is rich with examples of innovation, systems change, and relationship-building—and she shares personal insights on what drives her mission in healthcare IT leadership.

And yes, of course we get to know the tea she’s sipping and the story behind her mug.

Want to connect with innovators, leaders, and changemakers across healthcare, public health, and community? Join us at the Civitas Networks for Health Annual Conference in Anaheim, California, September 28–30, 2025. Don’t miss the chance to network, learn, and be part of shaping the future of health data and partnerships.

Register now: https://www.civitasforhealth.org/annualconference2025

Welcome back to HITea With Grace, where we spill the tea on health IT and bring you into bold, brilliant conversations with the women shaping the future of healthcare.

In this episode, I’m joined by the one and only Dr. Heather Bassett, internal medicine physician and Chief Medical Officer at Xsolis. From a math-and-science-loving kid to a leader pioneering AI-driven transformation in healthcare, Dr. Bassett shares her remarkable journey—one that started with DNA repair research and now fuels nationwide solutions that reduce administrative friction and bring joy back to medicine.

In this episode, Dr. Bassett spills the tea on:

Her leap from clinical practice to founding-stage health tech

Keys to eliminate administrative waste and unite and align payers and providers

The power of ambient AI to combat clinician burnout

Real-world results: cutting low-value tasks, supporting documentation, and improving diagnostic accuracy

Global case studies in AI and imaging (including a 4% boost in cancer detection in Sweden)

What really keeps her up at night about AI—and how to use it responsibly

Bias, burnout, and the balance between tech and the human touch

Plus, we talk tea sets, Scottish roots, and why joy, friendship, and believing in yourself matter more than ever in today’s fast-paced health tech world.

If you’re a clinician, technologist, healthcare leader—or just curious about how AI is already transforming the patient experience—this episode is a must-listen.

Connect with Dr. Bassett on LinkedIn, and check out her new podcast AI Amplified for deeper dives into real-world AI in healthcare.

And as her mum says… no pinkies in the air, enjoy your cuppa!

Welcome to HITea With Grace, where we spill the tea on health IT—and celebrate the women transforming care with compassion, intelligence, and bold innovation.

Fresh from ASCO, I’m thrilled to welcome Kathryn Doornbos to the pod, Director of Clinical Partnership at Carta Healthcare. Kathryn brings an inspiring blend of scientific rigor and real-world clinical insight, and today she shares how her team is reshaping cancer care with technology that’s as practical as it is powerful.

In this episode, Kathryn spills the tea on:

Her career journey from molecular biology to health tech leadership

A groundbreaking study that’s reducing overtreatment in older women with breast cancer

How Carta Healthcare and UPMC cut patient screening time from over an hour to just one minute

Using AI and natural language understanding to make clinical trials faster, smarter, and more inclusive

A 5x jump in patient enrollment—and what that means for trial access and equity

The balance between AI-powered care and human-centered medicine

How surgical guidelines are being de-escalated in real time using EHR-integrated tools

What all this means for patients and caregivers, especially those often overlooked in trial design

Kathryn also opens up about the personal “why” behind her work, the challenges of implementing innovation in clinical settings, and her advice to women navigating their own health IT journeys.

Plus—don’t miss her favorite tea, the story behind her mug, and what it symbolizes about working in cancer care.