In this episode of Second Opinion, Christina Farr, Stephen Klasko and Jessica Beegle, discuss the persistent challenges in healthcare despite technological advancements. They explore the integration of AI, the struggle with outdated systems, and the need for aligning incentives to drive meaningful change.

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LINKS:
SAIL Conference (Symposium on Artificial Intelligence for Learning Health Systems): https://sail.health/ 
General Catalyst: https://www.generalcatalyst.com/ 
THL Partners: https://thl.com/ 

Christina Farr's Second Opinion Newsletter: https://secondopinion.media/ 

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FOLLOW:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sklasko/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicabeegle/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/ 

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:
• Despite 15 years of technological advancement, the industry still struggles with basic issues like API integrations, data silos, and delayed billing systems.
• Healthcare has "Star Wars technology" for individual patients but operates with a "Fred Flintstone" delivery system due to misaligned incentives.
• Large tech companies and health systems are finally starting to work together more effectively, translating between Silicon Valley innovation and frontline healthcare delivery.
• Many health systems operate with disparate EHR systems, making it difficult to implement modern AI solutions without proper data infrastructure.
• The core problem isn't technology but rather that people's salaries often depend on maintaining inefficient systems.
• Successful AI implementations include mental health prediction tools, clinical trial optimization, and OR scheduling that added 100 new surgeries in one month.
• The industry faces commoditization with hundreds of point solutions at conferences, making it difficult to identify truly valuable innovations.
• Similar to how it took 50 years for doctors and nurses to work together effectively, healthcare now needs to learn how physicians and AI can collaborate.
• Successful AI adoption requires framing tools as augmentation rather than replacement, focusing on removing administrative burdens from clinical work.
• Effective implementation involves focusing on the 65% of physicians in the middle (between early adopters and resisters) rather than extremes.
• Health systems operating with thin margins or losses need AI solutions that demonstrate clear ROI within 12 months, not just satisfaction metrics.
• The industry is moving away from point solutions toward consolidated platforms that address multiple problems simultaneously.
• Leading health systems are seeking equity partnerships with technology companies rather than just being customers.
• The authors are writing a book about bridging the gap between Silicon Valley tech culture and healthcare delivery.

This week on Second Opinion, Christina Farr and Ash Zenooz interview Stephen Buck, CEO/Co-Founder of Courage Health, a public benefit company providing cancer survival rates to patients and physicians, helping facilitate conversations about living life to the fullest. They talk about the inefficacy of employer-based healthcare, the lack of political bipartisan collaboration, and the rising trend of direct-to-consumer healthcare models.

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LINKS:
Courage Health: https://courage.health/ 
Stephen Buck (CNBC Healthy Returns): https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/20/stephen-buck.html 

Christina Farr's Second Opinion Newsletter: https://secondopinion.media/

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FOLLOW:
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:
• Bipartisan collaboration is necessary for meaningful healthcare reform.
• Employer-based healthcare creates fundamental misalignments in the American system.
• Short employee tenure (2-3 years) eliminates incentives for long-term health investment.
• Consumers willingly pay premium prices for convenient, private healthcare services.
• Preventive services offered by employers remain largely underutilized.
• "Longevity" branding resonates more effectively than traditional "prevention" messaging.
• Cultural attitudes vary widely regarding health optimization versus quality of life.
• Knowledge gaps exist between specialized medicine and primary care.
• AI tools could potentially serve as co-pilots for patients and clinicians.
• Consumer education about healthcare system misalignments is essential for self-advocacy.

This week on Second Opinion, we're sharing an episode from Peter Lee's Microsoft Research Podcast with guests Dave deBronkart and Christina Farr. They examine how AI has transformed healthcare since GPT-4's launch two years ago, with Dave and Chrissy sharing insights on patient empowerment through AI tools and the evolving digital health business models in specialized care areas.

This episode was originally published in the Microsoft Research Podcast: ⁠https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/podcast/the-ai-revolution-in-medicine-revisited-empowering-patients-and-healthcare-consumers-in-the-age-of-generative-ai/?OCID=AIRevolutionPod_SecondOpinion⁠  

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SPONSOR:
🏋🏻‍♀️Strengthen your cells from the inside-out with Fatty15, a pure C15 supplement proven to boost energy, improve sleep, and support metabolic, heart, and liver health – without the downsides of fish oil. Ready to restore your long-term health? Get 15% off your 90-day subscription Starter Kit at https://fatty15.com/secondopinion  using code SECONDOPINION at checkout.

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LINKS:
e-Patient Dave: https://www.epatientdave.com/  
Patients Use AI: https://patientsuseai.substack.com/  
Meet e-Patient Dave (TED Talk): https://www.ted.com/talks/dave_debronkart_meet_e_patient_dave  
“Let Patients Help”: A Patient Engagement Handbook: https://www.epatientdave.com/let-patients-help/ 
There's about to be a lot of Al capital incineration: https://secondopinion.media/p/there-s-about-to-be-a-lot-of-ai-capital-incineration  
A letter to my kids about last week: https://secondopinion.media/p/a-letter-to-my-kids-about-last-week  
The AI Revolution in Medicine: GPT-4 and Beyond: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/publication/the-ai-revolution-in-medicine-gpt-4-and-beyond/  

Christina Farr's Second Opinion Newsletter: https://secondopinion.media/

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FOLLOW:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterlee4  
https://www.linkedin.com/in/epatientdave/  
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/  

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:
Dave de Bronkart's Segment:
• Diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer in 2007 with 24-week survival expectation.
• Online patient community proved crucial to his survival.
• Community had treatment knowledge not available in medical literature.
• Always verified community information with clinicians before acting.
• Sees AI as tool for patients to explore health questions without using doctor's time.
• Believes AI won't replace doctors but will help patients solve more issues independently.
• Advocates for patient access to their complete medical data.

Chrissy Farr's Segment:
• AI startups struggle because healthcare systems can't effectively integrate their tools.
• Prefers businesses using AI within care delivery over standalone AI tools.
• Healthcare tech works best during "high engagement" moments like pregnancy or cancer diagnosis.
• Health systems struggle to justify new technology investments.
• Women's health is fertile for digital innovation due to multiple engagement points.
• Text messaging services offer better experiences than apps.
• Many consumers shifting to cash-pay subscription models.
• Short employee tenure challenges employer healthcare investments.
• Elder care technologies present significant opportunities.
• Healthcare change can come from both outside advocates and inside employees.

This week on Second Opinion, Christina Farr and Ash Zenooz interview Seraphina Therapeutics CEO Steph Venn-Watson, unpacking why men dominate the longevity space, the cellular secrets of aging, and C15:0’s potential to boost health.

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SPONSOR:
🏋🏻‍♀️ Strengthen your cells from the inside-out with Fatty15, a pure C15:0 supplement proven to boost energy, improve sleep, and support metabolic, heart, and liver health – without the downsides of fish oil. Ready to restore your long-term health? Get 15% off your 90-day subscription Starter Kit at https://fatty15.com/secondopinion using code SECONDOPINION at checkout.

🏥 Thatch makes it easy to give your team great healthcare. Save ~$1620 per employee yearly while giving them customizable plans. Visit https://thatch.ai/HR  for a demo and receive a $100 gift card.

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LINKS:
 The Longevity Nutrient: https://www.amazon.com/Longevity-Nutrient-Unexpected-Holds-Healthy/dp/1668063549 
Subscribe to Second Opinion Newsletter: https://secondopinion.media/ 

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

In this episode of Second Opinion, hosts Christina Farr, Ash Zenooz, and Luba Greenwood discuss the latest trends in healthcare, including conferences, the economic impact on health tech and biotech sectors, the potential for AI to reduce administrative burdens, and the dynamics of the IPO market.

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SPONSORS:

🏋🏻‍♀️ Strengthen your cells from the inside-out with Fatty15, a pure C15 supplement proven to boost energy, improve sleep, and support metabolic, heart, and liver health – without the downsides of fish oil. Ready to restore your long-term health? Get 15% off your 90-day subscription Starter Kit at http://fatty15.com/secondopinion using code SECONDOPINION at checkout.

 👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit https://joinmidi.com to book your virtual visit today.

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LINKS:

Health Evolution Summit (HES): https://www.healthevolution.com/summit/ 

Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Delivery Systems: Early Applications and Impacts (PHTI research): https://phti.org/ai-adoption-early-applications-impacts/

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubagreenwood/ 

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

In this episode, Christina Farr sits down with Dr. Jeff Wessler, cardiologist and CEO of Heartbeat Health, about the challenges of behavior change in cardiology, the role of technology in health, the importance of preventative measures, and the emerging trend of longevity-focused health interventions.

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SPONSORS:

🏋🏻‍♀️ Strengthen your cells from the inside-out with Fatty15, a pure C15 supplement proven to boost energy, improve sleep, and support metabolic, heart, and liver health – without the downsides of fish oil. Ready to restore your long-term health? Get 15% off your 90-day subscription Starter Kit at https://fatty15.com/secondopinion using code SECONDOPINION at checkout.

 👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit https://joinmidi.com to book your virtual visit today.

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LINKS:

Heartbeat Health: https://www.heartbeathealth.com/ 

Why is longevity suddenly so hot?: https://secondopinion.media/p/why-is-longevity-suddenly-so-hot

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FOLLOW:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-wessler/ 

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

This week on Second Opinion, Christina Farr interviews Liana Douillet Guzmán, CEO of FOLX, about the healthcare challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community. They discuss systemic discrimination, the growing demand for inclusive care, and the importance of patient-centered, community-based healthcare solutions tailored to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ individuals.

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🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse

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SPONSORS:

🏥 Thatch makes it easy to give your team great healthcare. Save ~$1620 per employee yearly while giving them customizable plans. Visit https://thatch.ai/HR for a demo and receive a $100 gift card.

🏋🏻‍♀️ Strengthen your cells from the inside-out with Fatty15, a pure C15 supplement proven to boost energy, improve sleep, and support metabolic, heart, and liver health – without the downsides of fish oil. Ready to restore your long-term health? Get 15% off your 90-day subscription Starter Kit at https://fatty15.com/secondopinion using code SECONDOPINION at checkout.

 👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit https://joinmidi.com to book your virtual visit today.

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LINKS:

FOLX Health: https://www.folxhealth.com/ 

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/lianaguzman 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

In this episode of Second Opinion, Christina Farr interviews Dr. Asima Ahmad MD, MPH, FACOG, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Carrot, discussing her journey as a fertility specialist and entrepreneur. They explore the challenges and advancements in fertility treatment, the importance of early fertility education, and the impact of new technologies on making fertility care more accessible and affordable.

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SPONSORS:

🏋🏻‍♀️Strengthen your cells from the inside-out with Fatty15, a pure C15 supplement proven to boost energy, improve sleep, and support metabolic, heart, and liver health – without the downsides of fish oil. Ready to restore your long-term health? Get 15% off your 90-day subscription Starter Kit at fatty15.com/SECONDOPINION using code SECONDOPINION at checkout.

 👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit https://www.joinmidi.com/ to book your virtual visit today.

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LINKS:

Carrot: https://www.get-carrot.com/

 Dr. Marcelel Cedars: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/providers/dr-marcelle-cedars

 The End of Sex by Hank Greely: https://www.amazon.com/End-Sex-Future-Human-Reproduction/dp/0674728963 

Pilot Study Evaluates Weekly Pill to Slow Ovarian Aging, Delay Menopause: https://www.nyp.org/advances-womenshealth/pilot-study-evaluates-weekly-pill-to-slow-ovarian-aging-delay-menopause

@doctor_asima on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctor_asima/ 

 Leslie Schrock episode on Second Opinion: https://youtu.be/LmZAoLqMSmc?si=djwXFJ0KhgZV-_ia 

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

This week on Second Opinion, we're featuring Christina Farr, Ash Zenooz, and Luba Greenwood's conversation with Sami Inkinen, CEO of Virta Health. They discuss the company's mission to reverse type 2 diabetes and obesity through personalized nutrition and intensive telemedicine.

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SPONSOR:

 👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit https://www.joinmidi.com/ to book your virtual visit today.

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LINKS: 

Virta Health: https://www.virtahealth.com/ 

PHTI: https://phti.org/

Caroline Pearson on Second Opinion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbo3T654g6c

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

This week on Second Opinion, Christina Farr sits down with healthcare investing legend Zen Chu, who shares his framework for backing resilient entrepreneurs and insights from early investments in companies like Abridge and PillPack.

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SPONSOR:

 👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit https://www.joinmidi.com/ to book your virtual visit today.

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LINKS: 

Zen Chu (MIT): https://mitsloan.mit.edu/faculty/directory/zen-chu 

MIT Hacking Medicine: https://hackingmedicine.mit.edu/ 

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE: