The Beat

About Dr. Maria Ryan: 

Maria Ryan, DDS, PhD, is the Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer at Colgate-Palmolive Company, where she oversees the Dental and Dermal Clinical teams, as well as the Knowledge Management and Scientific Communications departments. Before joining Colgate-Palmolive, Dr. Ryan was a Professor and Chair of the Department of Oral Biology and Pathology at Stony Brook University, where she focused on teaching, practicing periodontology, and conducting research. She is the former President of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) and has served on various academic and foundation boards. Dr. Ryan has earned several honors, including NIH National Research Service Awards and a Physician Scientist Award. She was also the recipient of the American Dental Association’s Achievement Award and the Victress Health Award for her contributions to women’s health research. Dr. Ryan is a renowned speaker and author, frequently appearing in media to highlight the connection between oral and overall health.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Oral diseases are a global health crisis affecting 50% of the world's population and significantly impacting overall health.
• There is a critical disconnect between medical and dental care, leading to neglect of oral health's importance in overall well-being.
• Untreated oral diseases, like cavities and gum disease, can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
• The "Oral Health Quotient" (OQ) aims to educate the public on their oral health knowledge and practices. Many people don't realize that cavities and gum disease are chronic inflammatory diseases that require treatment.
• Addressing periodontal disease can lead to reductions in medical costs related to conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
• Preventive measures, like proper brushing, flossing, and limiting sugar, are crucial for avoiding most oral diseases.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Dr. Maria Ryan on LinkedIn.
• Discover more about Colgate-Palmolive on LinkedIn and their website.

About Dr. Carolyn Jasik:

Carolyn is a board-certified physician with a background in health technology startups, multidisciplinary care, education, and research. As Chief Medical Officer at Omada, she uses her diverse expertise to improve user experience and introduce integrated healthcare solutions. Before joining Omada, Carolyn spent 14 years at the University of California as an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Clinical Instructor at San Francisco General Hospital. She also served as Vice President of Medical Outcomes at Mango Health, a digital health startup. Carolyn earned a Bachelor's in Public Policy from Princeton University, a Medical Degree from the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine, and completed her research training at the University of California, San Francisco. She is board-certified in clinical informatics, adolescent medicine, and pediatrics. At Omada, Carolyn supports clinical and research teams, contributing to the development of innovative healthcare solutions.

Things You’ll Learn:

• GLP-1 medications require comprehensive wraparound support, including lifestyle changes, mental health, and physical therapy, for effective and sustainable outcomes. The speed of weight loss, rather than the GLP-1 itself, is often the primary driver of muscle mass reduction.
• Many individuals on GLP-1s aim to eventually discontinue the medication, making long-term lifestyle planning a crucial part of the treatment.
• Stopping GLP-1s abruptly can trigger rebound weight gain due to the body's natural metabolic response.
• AI's role in healthcare should be focused on enhancing human care delivery, not replacing the crucial empathetic connection.
• The future of healthcare will include advanced primary care that addresses the gaps between traditional doctor visits.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Dr. Carolyn Jasik on LinkedIn.
• Discover more about Omada Health on LinkedIn and their website.

About Andrew Adams:

Andrew Adams is the co-founder of Oak HC/FT, established in 2014 to focus exclusively on investing in healthcare and fintech startups. In 2023, the firm was ranked among the top ten venture capital firms globally. With over 25 years of experience, Andrew has been a key investor in numerous high-profile healthcare companies, including One Medical (acquired by Amazon), iHealth Technologies (merged with Connolly), Therapy Brands (acquired by KKR), and PharMEDium Healthcare (acquired by CD&R), among others. He serves on the boards of several healthcare organizations, including August Bioservices, DispatchHealth, and Unified Women's Healthcare. Andrew has been recognized as one of the Top 25 Healthcare Investors of 2024 by GrowthCap. Prior to co-founding Oak HC/FT, he began his career at Alex. Brown & Sons and holds a BA from Princeton University. His extensive track record highlights his deep expertise in healthcare investment and innovation.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Identifying and backing the best entrepreneurs with a strong track record is crucial for achieving impactful scale in healthcare.
• A blend of technology and personalized services is necessary to effectively engage patients and meet their diverse needs.
• Effective patient engagement involves an omnichannel approach, meeting patients where they are, whether virtually, in person, or at home.
• Companies should target specific patient populations with tailored tools, services, and a deep understanding of their needs.
• The future of healthcare investment lies in companies that deliver real value by addressing cost, quality, and the consumer experience across the healthcare continuum.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Andrew Adams on LinkedIn.
• Discover more about OAK HC/FT on LinkedIn and their website.

About Joyce Tung:

Joyce Tung, Ph.D., is the Vice President of Research at 23andMe, where she has been since 2007. She leads the research team responsible for consumer health and ancestry research, academic and industry collaborations, computational analyses for therapeutics, and the development of new research methods and tools. Prior to her work at 23andMe, Joyce was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University, where she focused on the genetics of mouse and human pigmentation. She earned her Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of California, San Francisco, where she was also a National Science Foundation graduate research fellow. Joyce's leadership at 23andMe has been instrumental in advancing genetic research and innovation in both consumer health and scientific development.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Current genetic research heavily favors people of European ancestry, hindering the application of findings to other populations.
• Large-scale genetic studies, driven by consumer participation, are revealing previously unknown health associations.
• Empowering consumers with their genetic information shifts the power dynamic in healthcare towards individual control.
• Genetic research findings are not universally applicable, making diverse participation critical for accuracy and benefit.
• Consumer participation in research provides individuals with a way to fight back against diseases and contribute to future advancements.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Joyce Tung on LinkedIn.
• Discover more about 23andMe on LinkedIn and their website.
• Read 23andMe’s depression report here.
• Learn more about 23andMe’s article on sickle cell trait here.

AI and automation in healthcare isn’t just efficient – it can improve patient and worker satisfaction. In this interview, Sandy Vance discusses AI and automation in healthcare with Ted Dinsmore, the Managing Director of SphereGen Technologies. Ted explains that while the concept of AI has recently exploded as it has seen widespread adoption on the consumer side, the technology that it is based on has existed for years and can help automate mundane processes in hospitals. It can also improve worker retention by removing unfulfilling and repetitive work, freeing up time to focus on higher-value aspects of their roles. Sandy and Ted also cover the downsides of waiting to adopt AI and automation technology, which are mostly related to stagnation and a loss of opportunity. 

In this episode, they discuss:

• Using AI automation to fill staffing shortages and increase job satisfaction by taking over mundane tasks
• Automating prior authorization, eligibility, and denial disputes while increasing patient satisfaction through human interaction
• Helping clients customize their automation and integration to match their workflow
• Use cases and ROI seen from organizations who adopt SphereGen automation
• Creating intelligent document processes to extract data from PDFs
• The downsides of waiting to adopt AI automation, which mostly relate to a loss of opportunity 

A little about Dinsmore:

Ted Dinsmore is the President of SphereGen. The software consulting firm drives digital transformation in the healthcare ecosystem by using AI and automation to make systems more efficient and effective. He helps clients in the US and Europe with automation, software development, and extended reality technology. 

When Ted founded his first consulting firm, he became invested in supporting Microsoft solutions for large multinational companies. Striving to stay ahead of new technology, Dinsmore embraced artificial intelligence and extended realities with a focus on improving healthcare processes. 

Under Dinsmore’s leadership since its inception, SphereGen has received multiple awards for its services, including the GNHCC Innovation Award and the Most Promising AR/VR Solutions Provider Award in 2023 from CIOReview. SphereGen guides clients throughout the US and Europe as they begin adopting AI, automation, and expanded realities; customizing technology to meet client needs. 

About Maria Torroella Carney: 

Dr. Maria Torroella Carney is a highly respected internist, geriatrician, and palliative care physician with a robust background in public health. She is the Chief of the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine and an Associate Professor of Medicine. She also holds the position of Chief of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine for Northwell Health. As the first geriatrician to serve as a health department commissioner in New York State, Dr. Carney has made significant contributions to the field of longevity promotion and the care of vulnerable populations. Her research focuses on advanced care planning, shared decision-making, elder abuse, and capacity assessment. She has received numerous awards for her outstanding community service and leadership.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Hospice is a model of care focused on quality of life, not just end-of-life, and includes comprehensive support services. It's underutilized due to a lack of understanding and difficult decisions required regarding foregoing certain treatments.
• Patients should be able to explore hospice without feeling obligated to stop other care immediately.
• Family caregivers are an "invisible workforce" that requires more support, education, and resources. They are integral to the healthcare team yet often overlooked.
• Elder orphans, those aging without family support, are a growing concern and need early identification and tailored support.
• Geriatric medicine and palliative care are in their infancy and require more attention and specialists to meet their increasing needs. There's an insufficient number of professionals in these fields.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Maria Torroella Carney on LinkedIn.
• Discover more about Northwell Health on LinkedIn and their website.
• Buy Maria Torroella Carney’s The Aging Revolution here.

About Dr. Richard Milani: 

Dr. Milani serves as the Chief Clinical Innovation Officer, at Sutter Health.  His background and research focus on population health with a special interest in chronic disease, medical informatics, preventive medicine, and healthcare technology. After receiving his Internal Medicine training at the University of Florida, Dr. Milani completed fellowships in Critical Care Medicine at the University of Florida, Preventive Medicine, and Clinical Epidemiology at Harvard University (Massachusetts General Hospital), and Cardiovascular Diseases at Ochsner Clinic Foundation. He has authored over 500 medical publications, is on the editorial board for several medical journals, and serves as a frequent lecturer for healthcare systems and Fortune 500 companies as well as an advisor to venture capital firms and emerging healthcare technology companies. 

Things You’ll Learn:

• AI and scribe companies are being used to reduce clinician documentation time, and reduce 'pajama time'.
• AI models can predict patient deterioration, such as cardiac arrest, and allow for early intervention, reducing cardiac arrests by 44%.
• AI should act as an assistant, with a human clinician always in the loop for evaluation and decision-making.
• Technology should point clinicians toward patients most in need, optimizing care and resource allocation.
• Digital tools that can monitor the activities of daily living unobtrusively are the future of patient care, especially for elderly patients living alone.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Dr. Richard Milani on LinkedIn.
• Discover more about Sutter Health on LinkedIn and visit their website.

In this conversation, Dr. David Carmouche discusses the critical transition from fee-for-service to value-based care in the healthcare industry, emphasizing the role of AI in enhancing primary care and improving patient outcomes. He highlights the financial pressures on health systems and the importance of aligning incentives to achieve sustainability. The discussion also covers the innovative solutions offered by Lumeris and the transformative potential of AI in automating care processes and improving patient engagement. Finally, Dr. Carmouche addresses the need for regulatory guardrails as AI becomes more integrated into healthcare delivery.

In this episode , they discuss:

• The shift from fee-for-service to value-based care is essential for financial sustainability.
• AI is poised to transform primary care delivery and patient engagement.
• Healthcare costs have been deemed unsustainable for decades, necessitating change.
• Aligning incentives is crucial for improving patient outcomes in healthcare.
• Lumeris has a decade-long history of partnering with health systems for value-based care.
• AI can automate and standardize care processes, enhancing efficiency.
• Data availability and interoperability are key to successful value-based care models.
• Generative AI can proactively engage patients and improve care delivery.
• Training clinicians to effectively use AI is vital for its successful integration.
• Regulatory guardrails will be necessary as AI becomes more prevalent in healthcare.

A little about Dr David Carmouche: 

David Carmouche, MD, is the Executive Vice President & Chief Clinical Transformation Officer at Lumeris. Dr. Carmouche is a visionary leader in transformational healthcare delivery, with a unique blend of provider, payer, retail, and integrated delivery network leadership experience.

Prior to joining Lumeris, Dr. Carmouche served as Walmart’s Senior Vice President of Healthcare Delivery, where he led the fleet of Walmart Health centers, Walmart Health Virtual Care, a value-based care partnership with Optum, and Walmart’s work to address Social Determinants of Health. Dr. Carmouche has also held significant leadership roles with Ochsner Health, the largest nonprofit academic healthcare system in the Gulf South, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, where he introduced the company’s first value-based care contracts. Earlier in his career, he built and led a multidisciplinary internal medicine and preventive cardiology practice.

Dr. Carmouche attended Tulane University and LSU Medical School in New Orleans. Board-certified in Internal Medicine, he completed his residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he later served as Chief Resident. He serves as President of the Board of the Consortium for Southeastern Healthcare Quality and on the advisory board at Stellar Health. He has served on the board of the National Association of Accountable Care Organizations.

About Chris Moniz: Chris Moniz is a Managing Director at HSBC Holdings. Previously, he was a Managing Director and Market Manager at SVB Financial Group, leading Northwest & Northeast HealthTech & Medical Devices. A contributing author to HSBC Innovation Banking's 1H 2023 Venture Healthcare Report, Chris offers expertise and actionable insights to healthcare companies and investors.

About Kristin Apple: Kristin Apple is President of LINUS, guiding leaders in health, wellness, and life sciences through transformative decisions. With 20+ years of experience advising major healthcare, pharmaceutical, and CPG companies, she's passionate about healthcare innovation. Previously, she led the healthcare vertical at Egg Strategy. Her background includes nearly six years at Eli Lilly, launching blockbuster drugs. Kristin holds an MBA from the University of Colorado and a degree from Indiana University.

Things You’ll Learn:

• There is a growing concern among young physicians that patient trust is eroding, coupled with a mirroring lack of trust in patients.
• Young physicians are eager to incorporate AI into their practices for diagnosis and therapeutic decision-making while maintaining the human connection as an essential aspect of the patient-physician relationship.
• Technology should be used to enhance patient connection and streamline administrative tasks, not to replace human interaction.
• The future of healthcare involves a community-centric approach, with care delivered where people are, integrating their support systems.
• The healthcare industry must embrace and shape inevitable changes rather than be overtaken by them.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Chris Moniz on LinkedIn.
• Discover more about HSBC on LinkedIn and visit their website.
• Follow and connect with Kristin Apple on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about LINUS on their LinkedIn and website.
• Check out the Health 2035 Report here. 

Sandy and Craig discuss how Wellsheet achieves high clinician satisfaction, how it improves over time, and how it has earned the trust of hospitals across the country. Craig Limoli co-founded Wellsheet as a solution to the frustrations he noticed clinicians had with existing technologies, particularly around accessing patient data in a user-friendly format. Wellsheet’s patient summaries are preferred by 94% of clinicians for chart review, reducing chart review time by 50% and length of stay by 16.3%. Sandy and Craig also discuss Wellsheet’s recent partnership with UpToDate, allowing clinicians to access contextually relevant data faster. 

In this episode, they discuss:

• How Wellsheet contextualizes data to give clinicians the most relevant information to make treatment decisions
• Wellsheet’s impact on the inpatient side of healthcare, delivering ROI on clinician satisfaction and burnout while increasing productivity
• How Wellsheet addresses workflow bottlenecks at hospitals
• The money hospitals are saving by implementing Wellsheet’s AI solution, which mainly comes from reducing the patient length-of-stays 
• The breadth of adoption across healthcare systems that differentiates Wellsheet as an AI solution
• Different use-cases for Wellsheet throughout healthcare practices
• Wellsheet’s partnership with UpToDate, allowing for integration and seamless workflows 

A little about Craig:

Craig Limoli founded Wellsheet after seeing the frustration that clinicians faced with existing technologies while he worked at IBM in their Watson Health division. He left his MBA program at Wharton to found Wellsheet with a mission to create a better experience for physicians and care teams.

Aligning his solutions with the problems clinicians identified, Craig built Wellsheet’s AI solution to help clinicians access relevant patient information in a contextualized, user-friendly format. In 2017, Craig brought Wellsheet to the market, primarily serving small practices. Since then, Wellsheet's AI solution has been deployed to hundreds of hospitals across some of the largest health systems in the country and has delivered vast improvements in clinician productivity and experience.