Healthcare is one of the most complex—and misunderstood—industries in the world. Few people explain it better than Dr. Eric Bricker.

In this episode, we sit down with the physician, entrepreneur, and Chief Medical Officer behind AHealthcareZ, whose viral whiteboard sessions have become must-watch content for healthcare leaders. Dr. Bricker traces his unconventional path from internal medicine to entrepreneur to healthcare economist and reveals how financial incentives, not just clinical decisions, shape outcomes across hospitals, insurers, employers, and emerging health tech.

We unpack why healthcare feels so opaque to patients and employers alike, what's broken in insurance and billing, and why misaligned incentives continue to drive cost and complexity. Dr. Bricker also makes the case for transparency, stronger primary care, and smarter use of technology as levers for real change.

This conversation is essential listening for executives, clinicians, benefits leaders, founders, and policymakers who want to move beyond surface-level reform and understand how healthcare actually works—and how it can work better.

Technology and AI are reshaping the future of medical imaging and patient care. In this episode, hosts Asher Perzigian and Ajay Mody speak with Elan Adler, Founder and CEO of OneImaging, about how AI-driven diagnostics are improving accuracy, access, and affordability in radiology. Elan shares how OneImaging was founded to address the cost and complexity that hold back vital care, and how their platform brings clarity, connection, and care back to medical imaging.

The conversation covers OneImaging's innovative approach to orchestrating imaging appointments nationwide, steering patients to the right scan, at the right site, for the right price. Listeners will learn how OneImaging leverages real-time AI decision support, seamless image sharing, and frictionless onboarding to make diagnostics affordable, accessible, and personal. Key topics include the impact of automation on healthcare workflows, the importance of transparency and patient choice, and the role of accreditation and advanced equipment in ensuring high-quality care.

The episode also explores industry trends like direct-pay models and value-based care, offering insights for professionals and patients navigating a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.

In this episode, hosts Ajay Mody and Asher Perzigian welcome Journey's CEO, Andrew Zimmerman, and Managing Director, David Taglione, for a conversation on how the intersection of design, storytelling, and technology is redefining the patient experience. They explore the creation of immersive and adaptive environments, showing how digital innovation—from AI to virtual simulations—can make care settings more engaging and responsive.

Andy and David share their philosophy of starting with a compelling story and collaborating across disciplines to challenge traditional approaches. They highlight how integrating technology with human-centered design can foster connection, reduce anxiety, and turn routine moments into memorable experiences.

Listeners will discover practical ideas for leveraging creativity and technology to enhance care environments, understand why experience design is essential for innovation, and be inspired by new possibilities for the future of patient experience.

In this episode, we sit down with Steve Wolin, CEO of Gravie, to explore how innovation is transforming health benefits for small and mid-sized businesses. Gravie believes members deserve a health plan that thinks beyond tradition—one that meets whole health needs with more care options and greater affordability.

In this episode of Mavericks in Healthcare, Adam Dole, Co-Founder and COO of Bento, reveals how his team is using technology and human-centered design to tackle food insecurity and chronic disease. He explains how Bento's curated grocery delivery, health coaching, and data-driven engagement are helping vulnerable populations access better nutrition and improve their health outcomes. Adam also shares the importance of integrating social determinants of health and building strong partnerships to create lasting change.

Listeners will gain insights into the role of AI and tech in scaling impact, the challenges and opportunities in Medicaid innovation, and the future of food as medicine and personalized care. The conversation highlights how breaking down silos and restoring dignity are essential for advancing community health, and why compassionate, scalable solutions are needed to address the most pressing issues in healthcare today.

In this episode, Ajay Mody and Asher Perzigian sit down with Sangeeta Bardhan Cook, Chief Innovation Officer at Fox Chase Cancer Center and SVP of Commercialization Strategy and Business Development at Temple Health. Together, they explore how to close the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world patient care, using scientific expertise and strategic leadership to drive innovation in oncology and diagnostics.

The conversation dives into how hospitals and research institutions are collaborating with startups and pharmaceutical companies to accelerate new ideas. Topics include scalable therapies, precision diagnostics, and the thoughtful application of AI—from early-stage research to clinical use cases like MRI interpretation and protein folding.

Listeners will also gain insight into the collaborative spirit of academic medicine, the complexities of commercialization, and the importance of nurturing early-stage innovation despite market pressures.

This episode offers a compelling look at how curiosity, collaboration, and strategic thinking are reshaping the future of healthcare.

In this episode, Dr. Matt Lundgren—physician, researcher, and Chief Scientific Officer at Microsoft Health & Life Sciences—shares how generative AI is transforming healthcare. From ambient documentation tools like Dragon Copilot to breakthroughs in multimodal model training, he explores how innovation is closing the gap between possibility and practice. Dr. Lundgren discusses how AI is streamlining workflows, reducing burnout, and improving care. He highlights the need to better process non-textual data like imaging and genomics, and stresses the importance of accessible AI education and ethical deployment. Whether you're a clinician, technologist, or healthcare leader, this episode offers a grounded yet visionary look at the future of healthcare.

In this special episode of Mavericks in Healthcare, we sit down with Mark Sevco, an executive in transition, as he embarks on a new chapter as President and CEO of Allegheny Health Network (AHN), part of Highmark Health. With decades of leadership experience across major health systems like UPMC and Sutter Health, Mark shares his vision, strategy, and mindset as he returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh to lead a transformative journey in healthcare.

This episode offers a rare glimpse into a pivotal career transition—we catch Mark just as he steps away from his role as COO at Sutter Health and begins his new chapter at AHN. He shares his 30-60-90 day plan, emphasizes the power of listening and learning, and outlines his commitment to fostering a culture of operational excellence and coordinated care.

Then, 90 days later, we reconnect to hear how that plan unfolded. Mark reflects on the early wins, the cultural shifts underway, and how he's leveraging AI, data, and technology to drive value-based care and population health. He also shares insights on leadership, team building, and the bold vision behind Highmark's Living Health Model.

Whether you're a healthcare leader, an innovator, or simply passionate about the future of care, this episode explores the intersection of culture, strategy, innovation, and purpose.

In this episode of Mavericks in Healthcare, we sit down with Dr. Todd Smith, Senior Vice President and Chief Physician Executive at Sutter Health, for a powerful conversation on transforming healthcare from the inside out. Dr. Smith shares how Sutter is addressing clinician burnout, workforce shortages, and access challenges by focusing on culture, operational partnerships, and technology that truly supports providers. He unpacks the value of dyadic leadership, the rollout of ambient AI to reduce administrative burden, and a bold plan to expand ambulatory care across Northern California. With a clear-eyed view of what keeps him up at night and what gives him hope, Dr. Smith offers a candid look at what it takes to build a system where clinicians can thrive and patients get the care they need - when and where they need it.

In this episode, hosts Ajay Mody and Asher Perzigian sit down with Rivka Friedman, Head of Health Innovation at Morgan Health, to explore how JPMorgan is reengineering the employer-sponsored healthcare system. Rivka unpacks how Morgan Health's dual engine of investment and innovation is driving a smarter, more outcomes-focused model—scaling value-based care, piloting advanced primary care, and addressing critical gaps in maternal health and affordability. The conversation dives into the complexities of aligning incentives in commercial insurance, the power of data in improving outcomes, and why small and mid-sized businesses are emerging as a new frontier for healthcare transformation. Whether you're a founder, policymaker, or just health-curious, this episode delivers bold ideas and practical insights for building a more resilient and equitable healthcare future.