HITea With Grace

Today, HITea is live from ASCO, the world’s largest oncology conference, and joined by the brilliant Dr. Joanne Xiu, VP of Clinical and Translational Research at Caris Life Sciences. A powerhouse in bridging the gap between lab discovery and patient care, Dr. Xiu gives us a front-row seat to how cutting-edge molecular research is transforming treatment options - especially for those with rare or hard-to-treat cancers.

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

Her career journey from scientist to translational research leader

How Caris turns tumor samples into precision treatment roadmaps

The critical role of comprehensive molecular testing (and why "standard" tests just aren't enough)

How Caris’ vast oncology database helps uncover new treatment targets

The exciting ways AI is making sense of complex cancer data

Her favorite recent study and how it could shape the future of trials and care

Plus, we dive into what drives Dr. Xiu as a woman leader in health IT: how she works her best, overcomes challenges, and her advice for the next generation of women making waves in science and tech.

Whether you're a clinician, innovator, researcher or just curious about how data is changing lives; this episode offers a smart, human look at the future of cancer care.

In this special episode of HITea, we're live from ASCO, the world’s largest oncology conference, and thrilled to be joined by Dr. Rebecca Feldman, VP of Biomarker and Drug Intelligence at Caris Life Sciences. Dr. Feldman is a powerhouse at the intersection of precision medicine and data-driven oncology, and today, she shares her journey, insights from ASCO, and how Caris is revolutionizing the way we understand and treat cancer.

In this episode, we dive into:

Dr. Feldman’s path to becoming a leader in biomarker and drug intelligence

The hottest trends in precision oncology and how they’re shaping the future

Game-changing studies at ASCO, including new targets like CLDN18

How molecular profiling is unlocking treatments for rare and hard-to-treat cancers

The rise of advanced therapies like bispecifics, ADCs, and smart drug combinations

The role of AI and blood-based diagnostics (ctDNA) in transforming clinical trials

How Caris is helping to expand trial access to underserved populations, including kids and patients with rare mutations

Plus, we get personal: Dr. Feldman shares what drives her, how she overcomes challenges, and her advice to women navigating careers in healthcare and health IT.

This episode is for anyone curious about where oncology is headed and how technology is helping to lead the way—with empathy, intelligence, and precision.

In this episode of HITea With Grace, I sit down with Dr. Amy Bucher, PhD, the dynamic Chief Behavioral Officer at Lirio, to explore how behavioral science is transforming digital health—one nudge at a time.

Amy shares her journey from academia to executive leadership, and what it means to guide a company’s behavioral science strategy at the C-suite level. We dig into why behavioral science is the missing ingredient in so many digital health tools, and how precision nudging can bridge the gap between what patients know and what they actually do.

From tackling chronic condition management and fragmented engagement, to expanding internationally with culturally relevant messaging via platforms like WhatsApp, Amy gives us an inside look at how Lirio is turning behavioral insight into measurable impact. She also opens up about balancing innovation with empathy, and how AI and behavior design can work together to build trust in healthcare ecosystems.

In this thoughtful episode of HITea With Grace, I sit down with Dr. Stina Saunders, Personalised Medicine Lead at Linus Health, clinical psychologist, and researcher reshaping how we measure brain health outcomes—starting with what actually matters to patients.

Dr. Saunders walks us through her career path from academic research to applied innovation, leading to her groundbreaking study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions. Her findings? That traditional cognitive assessments fall short when it comes to capturing the most meaningful aspects of life for people living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.

We explore how this research supports the urgent need for a personalized, culturally informed approach to brain health—one that honors a patient’s lived experience, values, and priorities. Stina also introduces us to the ePSOM tool (electronic Person-Specific Outcome Measure), a UK-born innovation now gaining traction in the U.S., which allows individuals to define success on their own terms in the face of cognitive decline.

From clinical significance to implementation, this conversation is packed with insights on patient voice, personalized care planning, and what it takes to truly center individuals in healthcare.

In this moving and powerful episode of HITea With Grace, we sit down with Shelly Richmond, Registered Nurse and Case Manager at Tapestry Hospice, who shares her extraordinary journey from graphic design to frontline caregiving.

Shelly opens up about the pivotal moment that led her to change careers, and the surprising graduation gift from her husband—a digital stethoscope—that would soon become a life-saving tool for her daughter, Elouise. Hear how Shelly’s intuition and training helped her detect a 10 mm atrial septal defect in her infant long before it would have been caught by routine care.

We also explore the role of digital stethoscopes and ambient listening tech in hospice care—how they enhance patient monitoring, support early detection, and reduce documentation burden for providers working in high-touch, high-compassion settings.

Shelly shares how her perspective on care has evolved, and how technology is helping her deliver more connected, dignified care at the end of life. She reflects on overcoming challenges through faith, family, and personal resilience, and gives uplifting advice to women navigating their own paths in healthcare.

In this episode of HITea With Grace, we’re joined by Leigh Burchell, VP of Policy and Public Affairs at Altera Digital Health and Chair of the Electronic Health Record Association (EHRA). Leigh brings a wealth of insight into the fast-moving world of health IT policy—from Capitol Hill to state capitals across the country.

We chat about Leigh’s career journey from PR to public policy leadership, and how mentorship shaped her path. She breaks down the evolving regulatory landscape under the current administration, the tension between federal and state-level policies, and how health IT teams are navigating increasingly complex compliance demands. We also dive into the ongoing battle against information blocking, and how the EHRA is tackling emerging issues like AI governance, patient privacy, and consent frameworks.

Leigh shares her thoughts on why national frameworks matter, the risks of a patchwork regulatory approach, and what’s ahead for digital health advocates. As always, we wrap up with some personal reflections—on work-life balance, confidence, and advice for women building careers in healthcare IT.

And of course, we ask Leigh to spill the tea—literally—with her favorite blend and the story behind her Wonder Woman mug.

In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to be joined by Virginia Halsey, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Product Management at FDB (First Databank). Virginia brings a wealth of expertise in digital health innovation, and today she’s here to talk about one of the hottest topics in health IT: medication decision support.

We dive into how next-generation tools are becoming more actionable and patient-specific, what this means for prescription safety, and how advanced analytics are making a measurable impact. Virginia also breaks down the challenges health systems face in adopting sophisticated decision-support tools, including how to balance automation with clinical oversight.

We talk regulatory hurdles, AI in documentation, and the growing role of ambient technologies in reducing clinician burnout. Plus, Virginia shares her vision for what the next breakthrough in AI-driven EHRs might look like – and how generative AI could evolve to support more meaningful, efficient care delivery.

Today on HITea With Grace, I’m honored to welcome Amanda Rice, founder and CEO of The Chick Mission—a powerhouse nonprofit that’s rewriting the narrative for women navigating cancer and fertility preservation.

Amanda takes us back to the life-altering moment that inspired The Chick Mission, sharing how her personal experience with cancer treatment and fertility challenges became the foundation for a movement that’s empowering women across the country. From advocacy to grant-making to education, Amanda and her team are changing the system—and making sure no woman has to choose between life-saving treatment and the chance to build a family.

In this deeply personal and passionate conversation, we explore:

We also talk about how Amanda stays grounded, her advice for women in healthcare and health IT, and of course—what tea she brought along to spill in our conversation.

Tune in to hear how Amanda Rice is leading with purposing and pushing for change!

Today on HITea With Grace, I’m honored to introduce you to Dr. Sherri Onyiego, MD, PhD, FAAFP, Senior Medical Director at Equality Health—a powerhouse leader who’s redefining Value-Based Care (VBC) with a bold focus on health equity, primary care, and Medicaid innovation.

In this episode, Dr. Onyiego walks us through her impressive career path and breaks down what truly effective VBC looks like. We unpack how Equality Health empowers providers and communities through a model built on enablement, partnership, and culturally attuned care.

You’ll hear us chat about:

We also get personal. Dr. Onyiego shares how she works best, how she overcomes challenges, and what advice she has for women rising in healthcare and health IT.

Don’t miss this inspiring, deeply relevant conversation on what it really takes to make value-based care work—for everyone.

Today on HITea With Grace, I’m honored to welcome Dr. Lucie Ide, founder and CEO of Rimidi, a company at the forefront of remote patient monitoring (RPM) and maternal healthcare innovation.

In this powerful episode, Dr. Ide shares her journey from OBGYN residency to health tech leadership—and how her clinical roots continue to shape her mission-driven work at Rimidi. We dive deep into the maternal health crisis in the U.S., exploring both the challenges and the tech-enabled solutions that are making a difference.

We chat about:

We also touch on what drives Dr. Ide as a woman leader in healthcare tech, how she navigates life’s challenges, and her best advice for women in the space.

This is a must-listen episode for anyone passionate about equity in healthcare, digital innovation, and lifting up maternal health as a national priority!