Risky Benefits

Get ready for an episode filled with hope, innovation, and crucial information on groundbreaking technology and a compassionate, women-led approach.


MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Dr. Monique Gary
Biotech Leader, Breast Surgical Oncologist, Medical Director Cancer Program, DEIB Consultant, Speaker, and Community Health Expert.
MyBexa.com

Dr. Monique Gary is a breast surgeon, educator, entrepreneur, media personality, farmer and philanthropist. A board certified, fellowship-trained Breast Surgical Oncologist , she is Medical Director of Oncology for Grand View Health (Penn Cancer Network) in Sellersville, PA, where she also serves as director of the breast program. Though she is a surgeon, she believes in the power of the connectivity of mind, body and spirit to promote overall wellness. She can be found on radioOne stations in Philadelphia giving tips for healthy living and cancer risk reduction, and weekly on Blackdoctor.org as the cohost of “The Doctor Is In”, a web series dedicated to promoting survivorship in breast cancer patients and arming them with both science and support for their journey. 
 
Dr. Gary completed her medical degree at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and her general surgery training at UMass, followed by Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Georgetown University Hospital. She is a clinical associate professor of surgery and professor of Health Equity at Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine. She has been published in online, print media, and peer reviewed journals, and she serves as a medical advisor/contributor for national breast cancer advocacy organizations including Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Touch, the Black Breast Cancer Alliance, Tigerlily Foundation, The Chrysalis Initiative, the National LGBT Cancer Network. 
 
Her practice specializes in oncoplastic and minimally invasive breast cancer surgery, genetic risk assessment, disparities research, cancer nutrition and prevention. Beyond surgery, Dr. Mo is building a movement to achieve true health equity, and help our communities develop holistic and integrative approaches to cancer care and to wellness. She is CEO of Still Rise Farm, a 40- acre farm and living, learning, laboratory for cancer patients and under-resourced, marginalized communities, located in Upper Bucks County, PA, where she can be found teaching mindfulness and “food as medicine” principles to our communities.

To listen in and subscribe to more episodes, visit our website: fbmc.com/podcast.

For the average American, a $5,000 out-of-pocket medical expense can be a financial catastrophe, pushing many to forgo necessary healthcare. Patients who face the difficult decision of receiving medical treatment at home instead of in a hospital underscores a grim reality: the high out-of-pocket costs and deductibles causes patients to delay or skip doctor visits due to affordability issues.

Listen as Risky Benefits guest Lester Morales, of Next Impact Advisory and Marketing Firm, offers a comprehensive critique of our current healthcare system while also providing a hopeful glimpse into potential reforms. From questioning the systemic design flaws to showcasing successful models like Rosen Health, an initiative that challenges the status quo and aims for a healthcare system that truly serves everyone, Morales shares how the Rosen Health model has saved over half a billion dollars in the past 30 years using an independent TPA and direct contracts with healthcare providers. Rosen Health's innovative approach serves as proof that cost transparency and direct patient care can lead to significant savings, better employee retention, community impact, and educational initiatives.

MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Lester J. Morales
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
NextImpactllc.com

As a passionate thought leader, keynote speaker and advisor in the human capital and employee benefits space, I’m always looking for game-changing solutions that foster innovation and shatter the status quo. As the title of my company suggests, that search centers around finding the next impactful strategy that will help employer clients burnish their value proposition and grow. In the world of social media, we dub that never-ending journey #whatsnext. Our latest approach involves transparent health benefits, whose comprehensive plan design builds transparency into the cost of healthcare delivery and access.

To listen in and subscribe to more episodes, visit our website: fbmc.com/podcast.

Get ready for a heartening episode as we dive into the inspiring work of the Waterfront Rescue Mission with our special guest, Mark Isbel, Executive Director of Waterfront Rescue Mission. Mark offers profound insights into the mission's crucial work and rising challenges in serving the homeless and addicted populations along the Gulf Coast.

With 75 years of service, the mission is a cornerstone of hope along the Gulf Coast, providing life-changing support to the homeless and addicted. Discover the impact the mission is making, understand the challenges they face with the rising number of those in need, and learn how even hospice care is being provided to uphold human dignity. Whether through volunteer work or supporting their thrift stores, find out how you can join the mission's noble cause. 

Don't miss this deep dive into the realities of homelessness and the beacon of hope that shines in the form of the Waterfront Rescue Mission, all here on this episode of Risky Benefits. 

To listen in and subscribe to more episodes, visit our website: fbmc.com/podcast.

Listen in to our latest episode of Risky Benefits, with Stacey Edgar, founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Venteur. Stacey delves into the intricacies of Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs), a paradigm shift in employer-sponsored healthcare. Learn about the practicalities, benefits, and success stories surrounding ICHRAs. 

To listen in and subscribe to more episodes, visit our website: fbmc.com/podcast.

In a politically-charged climate, it may be difficult to make clear decisions about your personal or your family’s health and wellness. A knee-jerk opinion may lead to a whole world of unintended consequences – as though you’re rolling the dice and you don’t fully know the rules of the game. High-stake circumstances can turn differences of opinion into great divides and the level of risk to your family may become a dangerous game.

Listen as second-time Risky Benefits podcast guest, Dr. Jonathan Wiesen, CMO and MediOrbis founder, discusses how thinking through problems and following the data can lead to better health outcomes as you decide on levels of health or wellness risk. Dr. Wiesen covers topics surrounding the cost benefit of vaccination, medical weight loss drugs, Covid-19 impact, long-term health costs in employer-sponsored plans, and the network problem.



MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Dr. Jonathon Wiesen, MD
Founder, CMO MediOrbis; Medical Technology Advisor; Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
MediOrbis.com

Dr. Jonathan Wiesen is a pulmonary and critical care physician, teacher, researcher and medical technology pioneer with a passion for clinical smedicine and telehealth innovation.

Graduating from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine with distinction in research, he completed his training in internal medicine as well as pulmonary and critical care at the Cleveland Clinic - earning an advanced teaching degree and several teaching and research awards.

As founder and chief medical officer of MediOrbis, he led the development of ground-breaking clinical programs for monitoring and managing chronic medical conditions and providing integrated medical specialty services. He also piloted the development of a global network of top physicians to deliver the company’s telemedicine services worldwide.

Currently, Dr. Wiesen is a pulmonary specialist at Ben Gurion University’s Soroka Medical Center, where he directs the Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Program. For many years, he has advised and assessed medical technology companies and served on the board of several companies, specializing in clinical assessment and due diligence.

To listen in and subscribe to more episodes, visit our website: fbmc.com/podcast.

Leadership Speaker and longtime Associate Editor for Sport Illustrated, Don Yaeger is on on mic at Risky Benefits for Episode 15. Listen in as we talk about the journey to personal greatness. The effect that perspective has on our ability to consider different definitions of greatness, and the goal to be “a river not a reservoir”. This podcast is all about how we can learn from each other’s life journeys to understand both ourselves and each other better.


MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Don Yaeger
Inspirational Keynote Speaker, Team Builder, NY Times Best-selling Author, Host of Corporate Competitor Podcast, Executive Coach, Forbes Senior Contributor, and Maxwell Leadership Thought Leader

In my 30+ years as an author and journalist for Sports Illustrated, I've had the incredible fortune of spending time with some of the greatest winners of all time. While interviewing legends like Michael Jordan, Coach John Wooden, Michael Oher, Walter Payton and countless others, I've always carved out time to discuss GREATNESS -- and what, specifically, it takes to get from good to GREAT.

From these conversations I’ve developed a “suite” of keynote speeches as well as virtual learning courses that takes a deeper dive into what it takes to Build a Great Team.

This suite of speeches is deeply rooted in three of my books GREATNESS: The 16 Characteristics of True Champions, where I discuss high-performing individuals; Great Teams: 16 Things High Performing Organizations Do Differently, lessons learned from the greatest team-builders of all time; and one of my latest New York Times best-sellers, TEAMMATE: My Journey in Baseball and a World Series for the Ages, where I share how to become invaluable without being most valuable.

Please stop by my website to learn more: www.donyaeger.com.

To listen in and subscribe to more episodes, visit our website: fbmc.com/podcast.

You may think personal and career growth is only achieved by moving from one company onto the next every few years. Although it may work well for some people, stability and loyalty to one company can be just as rewarding. Working at one company can be likened to “watching your kid grow, make mistakes, and yet you enjoy their continued growth and success.” 

Listen as Risky Benefits salutes podcast guest, Gingy Sampson, FBMC Benefits Management Market Resources Manager, as she reflects on her 37-year career and upcoming retirement from FBMC. Gingy shares her career highlights, including everything from her first FBMC interview, her growth and development under great FBMC leadership, what she learned through her company experiences, her perspective on self empowerment and advocacy, along with her parting advice to others.  

To listen in and subscribe to more episodes, visit our website: fbmc.com/podcast.

You’re an hour into leading or participating in a team meeting and you think to yourself, “We’re not making ANY progress. What’s our goal?” You’re reluctant to ask the clarifying question of “What does success look like?” but you know there’s got to be a better way. By understanding meeting facilitation as an effective leadership tool, you’ll increase the ability for the team to transparently share ideas, honor people’s time, and enlarge team members by recognizing the value of group involvement and consensus. 

Listen as Risky Business Podcast guest, Diana Gerwitz, Owner and President of Acrux Consulting, highlights how self-awareness, effective communication, and leadership presence in meetings directly impacts the positive output and refinement of new ideas. She discusses the role of a meeting facilitator who quietly observes extroverted versus introverted team members in attendance to unlock the power for all meeting participants to engage in constructive conflict to efficiently problem solve and innovate as a team.


MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Diana Gurwicz
President & Owner of Acrux Consulting

Diana R. Gurwicz is a Certified Master Facilitator, Trainer, and Executive Coach. Over the past 25 years, Diana has helped clients all over the world in varying industries improve their performance, invigorate their organizations, and streamline their processes to not only win, but to change the game in their respective environments.

Diana is the founder and primary facilitator for Acrux Consulting, a business she began to help corporations and individuals benefit from and learn the value of facilitation. In addition to managing her own clients, Diana sits on the board of INIFAC, (the credentialing body for Master Facilitators) and has been partnering with Leadership Strategies, Inc. as a core team member and trainer of facilitation skills since 2009. Diana has credentials in both Change Management and HR Executive Leadership. In her free time, Diana assists local at-risk youth with preparations for college.

To listen in and subscribe to more episodes, visit our website: fbmc.com/podcast.

Giving yourself grace to endure life’s stresses and advocating for yourself when something feels “off” with your body can lead to your personal growth, self awareness – and in some cases – your own survival. When healthcare limitations and red tape become obstacles to seeking the healthcare answers you need, do not give up. 

Listen as Risky Benefits Podcast guest, Kelli Spills, shares her very personal cancer journey to help others gain perspective on the realities surrounding cancer symptoms, self advocacy when healthcare challenges don’t lead to efficient and proper diagnosis, and how developing a treatment plan, or researching alternative treatment trials can promote mindful change and positive outcomes.

If you also want to see Kelly's video that she speaks about, feel free to click & visit Stand Up To Cancer's YouTube page.



MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS:

Kelly (Spill) Bonito
3 Year Colorectal Cancer Survivor
Featured on: Stand Up 2 Cancer, The Washington Post, NBC, Everyday Health, CBS

Kelly (Spill) Bonito is a 3 year colorectal cancer survivor due to immunotherapy. She started her journey with cancer when she was 28 years old. Her symptoms arose when she was 8 months pregnant with her son. She was brushed off from a handful of doctors telling her it was internal hemorrhoids. With persistence to self advocate, she finally found a provider who listened. Kelly's plan was to explore her options by visiting three cancer centers. She was looking to find her best fit by the feeling of comfort and best treatment option. Her first stop was Memorial Sloan Kettering and it ended up being her last stop. Her initial treatment plan was chemotherapy, oral chemotherapy/radiation, and surgery. This treatment option would lead her to never being able to carry another baby again, as well as, forever having a colostomy bag. This led her and her husband to freeze embryos prior to treatment in hopes to be able to bring another baby into this world. She arrived at her appointment to schedule her first day of chemotherapy and left that appointment with a new treatment plan. Kelly's tumor tested positive for a genetic mutation called MMrd, which allowed her to be a candidate for an immunotherapy now named Dostarlimab. Kelly made a brave decision being the fourth patient in the USA to undergo this treatment.

Kelly is a wife,now a mother of two, runs her own health and wellness business, and is a patient advocate for Colorectal Cancer and clinical trials. She continues to advocate to bring hope and awareness for this cancer that is on the rise for individuals 50 and under. She used to be the quitest woman in the room, but now wants her voice heard on how important it is to self advocate. Kelly has been interviewed by CBS, NBC, and The Washington Post. She was featured on Stand Up 2 Cancer and currently writes a blog for Everyday Health. Kelly hopes to continue to involve herself in more fundraise

To listen in and subscribe to more episodes, visit our website: fbmc.com/podcast.

As the future of work evolves with the onset of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and the general return-to-office debate, organizations are going above and beyond simply providing the tools and training necessary for workers to be successful. These days, it is increasingly important for employers to meet both threshold and activator needs to improve employee work experiences and overall job satisfaction.

Listen as Sean Morris, Employee Experience Solutions Architect, shares his optimism for the future of work. Morris defines the basic threshold needs of materials fulfillment for employees to operate successfully, creating a secure work environment where trust can flourish, and providing a sense of belonging to engage employees as a whole person.


MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS:
Sean Morris
Employee Experience Solution Architect

Sean Morris is a catalyst for change—delivering hundreds of millions of dollars of value over his career. He meets organizations where they are and helps to unlock their potential while simultaneously addressing their acute needs. 

Sean’s aim is to create a learning organization, one adept at problem-solving and managing at the right level to meet business needs. To do this he balances qualitative and quantitative approaches and leverages a hybrid skill set taken from organizational effectiveness and operational excellence. This includes leadership coaching, process mapping and refinement, management system design and deployment, assessments and data analysis, cross-functional collaboration and communication, and lean thinking. Furthermore, Sean is not afraid to “roll up his sleeves” and be both a thinker and doer in service of getting the right things done.

His work experience has taken him as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as Brazil as well as to Scotland, Canada, Australia and to an offshore drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico.

Sean’s education has produced in him a consistent curiosity that makes learning a lifelong pursuit. He holds certificates in Change Management, Lean Six Sigma, and Executive Coaching as well as an M.B.A from the Thunderbird School of Global Management where he learned the value created by combining the hard business skills (data and process) with the softer ones (facilitation and coaching). He received his Bachelor’s in Humanities from BYU which taught him how to learn and to see a problem from multiple perspectives. Furthermore, his educational experience was enriched by semesters abroad in Mexico, Spain, and the Near East as well as by a seminar in Washington D.C.

To listen in and subscribe to more episodes, visit our website: fbmc.com/podcast.