Keeping IT Brief: The Power Perspective

In a recent event, Leading for Impact Series: Driving Organizational Resiliency, Scott Blackburn, Partner McKinsey & Company, Former Chief Information Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs; spoke on the current state of the Department of the Veterans Affairs and looked to the future.

About Scott Blackburn

Scott Blackburn is a Partner at McKinsey & Company focusing on the Public Sector, health care, technology, large-scale transformation, and capability building. He focuses on the Veteran space – both making McKinsey more Veteran-friendly and helping Veteran non-profits. Scott returned to McKinsey after leading transformation efforts at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Federal Government’s 2nd largest agency, from 2014-2018 serving in a variety of roles to include Interim Deputy Secretary (COO) and Chief Information Officer. During his tenure at the VA, Veteran trust in VA improved from 47% to 70%+ as he focused on customer experience, improving access and timeliness of care and services, improving efficiency/effectiveness of operations, modernizing through technology (to include digital experience, Electronic Health Records, and technology infrastructure), improving the employee experience, and expanding strategic partnerships (with private sector, non-profits, Department of Defense, states, other Government agencies and Veteran Service Organizations).

About McKinsey & Company

McKinsey & Company is a global management consulting firm. They are the trusted advisor to the world’s leading businesses, governments, and institutions. The company works with leading organizations across the private, public and social sectors. Their scale, scope, and knowledge allow them to address problems that no one else can. They have deep functional and industry expertise as well as the breadth of geographical reach. They are passionate about taking on immense challenges that matter to their clients and, often, to the world. The company works with its clients as they do with their colleagues. They build their capabilities and leadership skills at every level and every opportunity. They do this to help build internal support, get to real issues, and reach practical recommendations. They bring out the capabilities of clients to fully participate in the process and lead the ongoing work.


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In this edition of Keeping IT Brief, Savan Group CEO Veeral Majmudar and CTO Dan Albarran sit down with G2Xchange President Alexa Tsui to discuss a wide variety of Federal emerging technology topics including: Data Information Management; Data Fracking, Artificial Intelligence vs. Machine Learning vs. Natural Language Processing; Cryptocurrency; and Building Data Information Models. 

“In our world of data information management, we often see a rush to use emerging technology as ‘the savior’ and while it can absolutely transform an organziation, the value of emerging technology — like AI or RPA — is that they’re only effective if the data you are using is good.” – Veeral Majmudar

“Organizations typically struggle to understand their unstructured data like videos, texts, e-mails, images and documents…AI and NLP are the keys to unlocking unstructured data, what I commonly refer to as data fracking.” – Dan Albarran

Veeral Majmudar is the Founder, President, and CEO of Savan Group, an industry-leading data and information management consulting firm that provides public sector and commercial clients with services and solutions with a focus on information governance, data science, data security and cyber, and mission support services. Veeral is an active participant in public forums, having spoken on issues such as information management, data strategy, and innovation in the public sector; moreover, he previously served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EiR) for Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business.

As the Chief Technology Officer for Savan Group, Dan Albarran directs the company’s strategic direction, development, and future growth for IT services. He works closely with Savan Group’s Leadership Team and employees to grow the company using data and information-centric solutions and thought leadership. Furthermore, he collaborates with all project teams to take full advantage of technology, promote the firm’s technical capabilities, and expand its brand to clients and partners. Dan holds multiple professional certifications and earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland.

Savan Group is a data and information consulting firm with customer-focused expertise in information governance, data science, cyber and data security, and mission support services and solutions. Through its capabilities, the firm’s focus is on helping it clients navigate the world of data and information challenges and risks by rethinking how agencies are identifying, controlling, organizing, and leveraging data and information to inform decisions and drive digital transformation.

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During a recent event, Leading for Impact Series: Driving Organizational Resiliency, Dr. Barclay Butler, Assistant Director for Management and the Component Acquisition Executive, Defense Health Agency, discussed facing challenges as an organization and how industry partners can help.

About Barclay Butler

Barclay P. Butler, Ph.D. is the Assistant Director for Management and the Component Acquisition Executive, Defense Health Agency.

Check out our other podcasts at FedHealthIT.com.

Follow the show on your favorite podcast platform, and discover more conversations with the FORUM Media Network at GovForum Podcasts. 

This week’s podcast with Jerry Kurtz, the Executive Vice President of Insights and Data at Capgemini, looks at how AI can help in the healthcare industry.  From helping predict patient drug adherence to detecting diseases in the food supply, he discusses the best way to approach what he calls “low-hanging fruit.” 

 Jerry Kurtz, EVP  Insights & Data – North America - Capgemini

Jerry has over 30 years of management consulting experience at PwC, IBM, Infosys, and Bridgestone.  Jerry has worked primarily in the manufacturing sector and has extensive cross-industry leadership experience in areas such Big Data & Analytics, AI, and IoT. Prior to joining Capgemini, Jerry ran Infosys Consulting’s North America business unit. He also managed IBM’s Big Data, Analytics, and AI services business across all industries in North America, where he successfully launched IBM’s global offerings in the area of Analytics for the Internet of Things (IoT).

Capgemini is a global leader in consulting, digital transformation, technology and engineering  services. The Group is at the forefront of innovation to address the entire breadth of clients’ opportunities in the evolving world of cloud, digital and platforms. Building on its strong 50-year+ heritage and deep industry-specific expertise, Capgemini enables organizations to realize their business ambitions through an array of services from strategy to operations. Capgemini is driven by the conviction that the business value of technology comes from and through people. Today, it is a multicultural company of 270,000 team members in almost 50 countries. With Altran, the Group reported 2019 combined revenues of €17billion.

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In this edition of Keeping IT Brief, Shelby Switzer discusses efforts at CMS focused on API strategy and implementation, modernizing Medicare payment modernization and beneficiary APIs; and considering end users, developers and providers in point of care.

About Shelby Switzer

Shelby Switzer is a software engineer with the US Digital Service at the Department of Health and Human Services. As a conference organizer, Code for America volunteer, and civic technologist, Shelby has worked in community organizing, open source software, and technology activism across the US for over 8 years. Before joining USDS, Shelby led the API and integration team at Healthify, a healthcare company bridging the gap between healthcare and social services.

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Von Borg of Leidos discusses the ASACS program, which works with military branches and the community to identify adolescents in need of counseling services. ASACS designs and implements school, and community, based programs that provide confidential counseling, prevention education, and support to students in grades 6–12.

About Von F. Borg

During his 20 years with Leidos, Von has managed and supervised adolescent and family counseling services at 60 military sites in Europe and Asia/Pacific for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps contracts with the ASACS program. Von has extensive experience supporting military communities and families overseas as a clinical supervisor and counselor.

About Leidos

Leidos believes today’s complex health challenges call for revolutionary problem-solving. Its unique position as a technology company with deep health and life sciences expertise equips Leidos to transform patient care, as well as provider and payer operations, in both commercial and government health organizations. From IT and systems integration to life sciences, managed health services, and clinical solutions and services, Leidos charts the course for the future of health.

Check out our other podcasts at FedHealthIT.com.

Follow the show on your favorite podcast platform, and discover more conversations with the FORUM Media Network at GovForum Podcasts. 

Dr. Chakib Chraibi, Chief Data Scientist and Acting Associate Director, Office of Data Services at NTIS shares his perspective on the success and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) and other innovative technologies used within the Government space and shares a peek into the future in this very in-depth two-part interview.

About Dr. Chakib Chraibi

Chakib Chraibi is Chief Data Scientist and Acting Associate Director, Office of Data Services at NTIS. He provides data science and computer science assistance and expertise to several Governmental agencies in harnessing emerging and innovative technologies to achieve mission outcome and deliver data-driven solutions within the NTIS framework. His professional experience includes industrial, academic and Governmental experiences (Software Engineer, Professor/Chair/Dean, Data Scientist). 

About NTIS

NTIS, the National Technical Information Service, is a Federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce with the mission of providing innovative data services to Federal agencies to advance their Federal data priorities, enable operational excellence, and achieve mission outcomes.


Check out our other podcasts at FedHealthIT.com.

Follow the show on your favorite podcast platform, and discover more conversations with the FORUM Media Network at GovForum Podcasts. 

Dr. Chakib Chraibi, Chief Data Scientist and Acting Associate Director, Office of Data Services at NTIS shares his perspective on the success and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) and other innovative technologies used within the Government space and shares a peek into the future in this very in-depth two-part interview.

About Dr. Chakib Chraibi

Chakib Chraibi is Chief Data Scientist and Acting Associate Director, Office of Data Services at NTIS. He provides data science and computer science assistance and expertise to several Governmental agencies in harnessing emerging and innovative technologies to achieve mission outcome and deliver data-driven solutions within the NTIS framework. His professional experience includes industrial, academic and Governmental experiences (Software Engineer, Professor/Chair/Dean, Data Scientist). 

About NTIS

NTIS, the National Technical Information Service, is a Federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce with the mission of providing innovative data services to Federal agencies to advance their Federal data priorities, enable operational excellence, and achieve mission outcomes.


Check out our other podcasts at FedHealthIT.com.

Follow the show on your favorite podcast platform, and discover more conversations with the FORUM Media Network at GovForum Podcasts. 

Karsten Russell-Wood and Cindy Gaines of Philips discuss systems of telehealth across care venues, from hospital to home, and focus on transitions of care and how things have changed since the early days of the pandemic. They also discuss how the community can help shape the future of telehealth.

About Karsten Russell-Wood, Executive Director, Portfolio Management, Philips

Karsten Russell-Wood is a Healthcare marketing professional with over 20 years of global product development and strategy experience. He currently serves as the Global Portfolio Marketing Leader for the Connected Care Post Acute and Home Cluster of Philips Healthcare. He is responsible for linking the innovations of Philip’s product teams to the prospect and customer-focused commercial operations of the business unit to build the Philips global brand, create consumer awareness, dominate thought leadership, and drive customer preference for the solutions through all channels, every day.  

About Cindy Gaines, Chief Nursing Officer and Clinical Leader, Population Health, Philips

Cindy Gaines has over 28 years of Healthcare experience, splitting this time between quality and operations across the continuum. Gaines was the chief operating officer and president of administration for a health system in Kalamazoo, Michigan. During her career, Cindy led the integration of patient care across the care continuum and integrated program requirements of third-party payers including pay-for-performance criteria to maximize clinical, operational, and financial initiatives. Gaines also championed physician quality alignment, attained PCMH designation and CPC+ approval for primary care sites, and managed integration activities for growing organizations. 

About Philips

Philips is a leading health technology company focused on improving people’s health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips is leveraging radical innovation to break down the walls between doctors and patients, turning homes and Veteran centers into virtual exam rooms, and improving workflows for soldiers from battlefield to bedside.

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During our recent Disruptive Tech Summit, Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Acting Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer, Dominic Cussatt, shared an update on VA’s digital transformation strategy. Listen in to hear how VA is adapting and utilizing disruptive technologies as a force multiplier to scale and meet the needs of today’s Veterans through IT modernization, strategic sourcing, DevSecOps, and more!

About Dominic Cussatt

Mr. Dominic Cussatt serves as Acting Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer. Mr. Cussatt oversees the day-to-day activities of VA’s $4 billion IT budget and more than 16,000 Government and contract personnel to ensure that VA has the IT tools and services needed to support our Nation’s Veterans.

About VA OIT 

The mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Information and Technology (OIT) is to collaborate with their business partners to create the best experience for all Veterans.

Check out our other podcasts at FedHealthIT.com.

Follow the show on your favorite podcast platform, and discover more conversations with the FORUM Media Network at GovForum Podcasts.