The Beat

In this groundbreaking era of healthcare, the opportunity to revolutionize cancer outcomes has never been more promising. With cutting-edge testing techniques, early detection strategies, and the power of AI, the landscape of cancer care is evolving to save lives and enhance patient well-being like never before.
 

In this episode of The Beat, Dr. Gautam Gulati sits down with Dr. Megan Hall to discuss the future of cancer detection and prevention through early genetic testing. 

Dr. Megan Hall is the Vice President of Corporate Affairs at GRAIL. With a Ph.D. in microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics she is dedicated to making early cancer detection and prevention accessible on a population scale.

As Dr. Hall says, “I was enamored of the mission to detect cancer early when it can be cured. That's a huge problem that we have to be frank have not made great headway on in the 50 years that we've been waging this war on cancer.” 

Now she shares how GRAIL's flagship product, Galleri, is using advanced technology, including DNA methylation analysis and artificial intelligence (AI), to detect and predict cancer in a non-invasive way. 

Listen in as we explore the potential cost savings and improved outcomes with early cancer detection, and GRAIL's efforts to make this transformative technology accessible to a broader population. 

Topics Covered

• The significance of early detection in cancer care
• The role of DNA methylation in cancer detection
• The importance of evaluating the accuracy of cancer screening and the power of positive predictive value
• The need for education across the cancer care continuum
• The potential for healthcare cost savings with early cancer detection
• The role of AI and machine learning in cancer detection
• GRAIL's focus on expanding access to cancer screening and its plans for future products

Connect with Dr. Megan Hall

• Dr. Hall on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati & Dr. Jessica Shepherd 

• HLTH
• Dr. Gulati on X
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn
• Dr. Jessica Shepherd MD
• Dr. Shepherd on X

Resources 

• GRAIL
• Galleri Test - GRAIL

How can we transform healthcare delivery to better serve ALL people and communities? 

In today's episode of The Beat, host Dr. Gautam Gulati welcomes special guest Dr. Marc Harrison, a Partner at General Catalyst and the Founding Partner of the new company owned by General Catalyst called Health Assurance Transformation Corporation, HATCo. 

Dr. Marc Harrison is a distinguished healthcare leader with a career dedicated to improving health equity. His journey spans from a pediatric intensivist to an entrepreneurial path. Dr. Harrison's latest venture, HATCo focuses on reshaping healthcare systems to embrace digital, value-based care while preserving local community identity.

Dr. Harrison walks listeners through how the pandemic exacerbated the fragility of the healthcare system, and why NOW is the time to address the social determinants of health and holistic patient care. He also discusses HATCo's unique approach, advisory services, and its ecosystem of partner health systems. 

Listen in to explore the challenges and opportunities in transitioning from a volume-based healthcare system to one that truly values patient outcomes and health equity and how HATCo's insights and innovative solutions could reshape the healthcare landscape.

Topics Covered

• The importance of addressing social determinants of health
• The shift from volume-based care to value-based care
• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare system and the need for healthcare systems to become more resilient and adaptable
• The role of innovation and digital tools in healthcare transformation
• HATCo's mission to create a better healthcare system and improve public health outcomes
• The challenges and opportunities in modernizing healthcare delivery

Connect with Dr. Marc Harrison

• Dr. Marc Harrison on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati & Dr. Jessica Shepherd 

• HLTH
• Dr. Gulati on X
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn
• Dr. Jessica Shepherd MD
• Dr. Shepherd on X

Resources 

• General Catalyst
• The Future of Health: A Bold Leap Forward | General Catalyst

About Kelly Bliss:

Kelly Bliss is president of U.S. Group Health. She oversees sales, client management, and client and commercial operations for the business.

Ms. Bliss has strong expertise in creating cohesive client-focused organizations. Most recently, she held the position of chief client officer at Teladoc Health. Under her leadership, client services achieved record growth and retention through a focus on delivering value and a best-in-class experience to our clients. Ms. Bliss also built and managed high-functioning, global teams at companies such as Best Doctors and InterSystems. At Best Doctors, she served as chief of staff, leading the organization's key strategic growth initiatives until the eventual acquisition by Teladoc Health in 2017.

Ms. Bliss was recognized as one of the Top 25 Women Leaders in Healthcare Software of 2020 by The Healthcare Technology Report and serves as executive sponsor for the Teladoc Health Women's Network. She holds a bachelor's degree in industrial psychology from Nichols College.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Teladoc places a priority on well-rounded growth, giving significant attention to both revenue and profitability.
• This commitment is supported by a robust balance sheet and substantial investments in research and development.
• The growing significance of hyper-personalized member experiences and the utilization of multiple artificial intelligence models to enhance outcomes for clients and members.
• Kelly Bliss's professional odyssey as a "code breaker" involves challenging norms and assembling unconventional teams to optimize and create high-performance team dynamics.
• The surge of virtual care is evident, with Teladoc's research indicating a growing trend among employers investing in comprehensive virtual care providers.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Kelly Bliss on LinkedIn.
• Follow Teladoc on LinkedIn and visit their website.

How do you inspire a community to take ownership of their health?

If you ask Kristen Cerf, the secret lies in hiring staff from the community you serve and connecting people with the resources they need to improve their health.

Kristen is President and CEO of Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, where she is responsible for ensuring access to quality care for Blue Shield Promise’s 530,000 Medi-Cal members in Los Angeles and San Diego counties.

Under Kristen’s guidance, Blue Shield Promise has delivered several initiatives improving access to and availability of person-centered care to California's underinsured, low income and medically underserved populations.

On this episode of The Beat, Kristen joins host Dr. Jessica Shepherd to discuss the future of grassroots efforts to promote health care in the community.

Kristen explains how Blue Shield Promise helps members navigate the complexities of the Medi-Cal system, leveraging community health advocates to build health literacy and improve patient outcomes.

Listen in for insight using data to provide support based on need and learn how Kristen’s team works with providers, community-based organizations and other nonprofits to better serve Blue Shield Promise members.

Topics Covered

• How being a nonprofit organization benefits Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan
• Why a grassroots approach inspires communities to take ownership of their health
• How Blue Shield Promise helps members navigate the complexities of the Medi-Cal system
• How Blue Shield Promise’s community health advocates work with providers to improve outcomes
• Why so few grassroots community health programs exist in the US
• How Kristen’s team uses data to deliver support based on need
• How Kristen thinks about translating information obtained from Blue Shield Promise members into data
• How Kristen’s team gets feedback from providers re: Blue Shield Promise patient outcomes
• Why Kristen sites the Blue Shield Promise street medicine program among her greatest accomplishments

Connect with Kristen Cerf

• Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan
• Kristen on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd & Dr. Gautam Gulati

• HLTH
• Dr. Shepherd on X
• Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn
• Dr. Gulati on X
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Resources

• California Advancing & Innovating Medi-Cal
• California Primary Care Association Annual Conference
• Blue Shield Promise Community Health Centers

In a landscape where resources are scarce, the consequences ripple through healthcare, leading to physician burnout, a crumbling trust between patients and their caregivers, and misinformation and disinformation in the healthcare system. 

Today's guest, a former Chief Medical Officer at Salesforce, adeptly bridges clinical medicine, business, and digital health, making her a vital advocate in the fight against health misinformation.

Join hosts Dr. Gautam Gulati and Dr. Jessica Shepherd as they welcome Dr. Geeta Nayyar or Dr. G, a distinguished rheumatologist, and a recognized leader in health information technology. Her book, "Dead Wrong," delves into healthcare misinformation, drawing from her wealth of experience.

Tune in as Dr. Nayyar uncovers the historical roots of misinformation and disinformation in the healthcare realm, shedding light on the evolution of this pervasive issue and the need for regulation during this age of digital technology. Plus, the transformative role of artificial intelligence in the patient-physician relationship.

Topics Covered

• Dr. Nayyar discusses the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation in the digital age and its impact on healthcare
• The significance of trust in the patient-physician relationship and the challenges associated with building and maintaining trust in the healthcare system
• How AI is impacting the patient-physician relationship
• Why there needs to be standardization in healthcare practices to improve patient outcomes 
• How a lack of resources is leading to physician burnout and broken trust with patients.
• Dr. Nayyar provides insights into the historical context of misinformation and disinformation in healthcare
• The critical need for regulation in the healthcare industry in the era of digital technology to combat misinformation and disinformation

Connect with Dr. Geeta Nayyar (Dr. G)

• Dr. Geeta Nayyar
• Dr. G on Instagram
• Dr. G on X
• Dr. Geeta Nayyar on LinkedIn   

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati & Dr. Jessica Shepherd 

• HLTH
• Dr. Gulati on X
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn
• Dr. Jessica Shepherd MD
• Dr. Shepherd on X

Resources 

• 'DEAD WRONG'
•  by Dr. Geeta Nayyar

With the overturn of Roe v. Wade, inequities in access to reproductive, sexual health and abortion care have grown.

How might telemedicine solve this problem?

Kiki Freedman is CEO of Hey Jane, a digital health platform for women she cofounded while at Harvard Business School.

Prior to business school, Kiki was an early employee at Uber, where she led the company’s Kenya launch and spearheaded strategy and expansion for Uber Eats in the Middle East and Africa.

On this episode of The Beat, Kiki joins host Dr. Gautam Gulati to explain her digital clinic addresses women’s most initial health needs.

Kiki walks us through the reproductive and sexual health services Hey Jane offers, describing how patients are paired with a clinician and what the platform does to maintain their privacy and anonymity.

Listen in for Kiki’s insight on working in a space that’s under attack and learn about her vision for achieving national protection for abortion access.

Topics Covered

• How Kiki’s experience with scaling Uber translates to Hey Jane
• Hey Jane’s role as a digital health clinic for women’s most intimate health needs
• How COVID and the overturn of Roe v. Wade affected Kiki’s business
• The other women’s health services Hey Jane offers (beyond abortion care)
• Kiki’s insight on inequities in access to reproductive and sexual health care
• How Hey Jane patients are paired with a clinician and support team
• What Hey Jane does to maintain patient privacy and anonymity
• How Hey Jane patients pay for services through insurance, nonprofit financial assistance and cash on a sliding scale
• How Kiki stays on top of legislation and forthcoming regulations
• How Hey Jane educates women about the telemedicine services it offers
• Kiki’s vision around achieving national protection for abortion access
• Recent approval of over-the-counter progestin-only birth control

Connect with Kiki Freedman

• Hey Jane
• Hey Jane Health on TikTok

Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd & Dr. Gautam Gulati

• HLTH
• Dr. Shepherd on X
• Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn
• Dr. Gulati on X
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Resources

• National Network of Abortion Funds
• Women’s Health Protection Act

About Kathleen Mitford:

Kathleen Mitford spent her career crafting strategies and empowering employees to ensure top-notch customer experiences. As the CVP of Global Industry Marketing at Microsoft, she’s proud to work alongside their partner ecosystem to help customers in all industries create the future with solutions across the Microsoft Cloud designed to solve their industry's unique challenges and unlock opportunities. Microsoft’s mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more aligns with her own purpose, and she’s thrilled to be part of a company that values inclusivity, empathy, and a growth mindset. She’s a passionate advocate for advancing diversity and equity and promoting greater inclusion of women in science and technology by encouraging diverse perspectives, embracing our differences, and supporting a sense of belonging for all. In her free time, you’ll find her gardening, running, and adventuring with her husband and two kids.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Microsoft is focused on empowering healthcare organizations with the tools and technologies to unlock the potential of their data and harness the power of AI to drive better operational insights and patient care.
• Microsoft stands apart through its foundation of trust with customers.
• By prioritizing customer data ownership, security, and privacy, and offering comprehensive solutions, Microsoft is committed to being a trusted advisor in healthcare transformation.
• Microsoft emphasizes responsible AI practices and supports customers in developing a strong data strategy, foundation, and responsible AI implementation.
• The power of data in healthcare is unparalleled. Kathleen Mitford highlights how Microsoft's cloud and AI solutions are driving operational insights and improving patient experiences.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Kathleen Mitford on LinkedIn.
• Follow Microsoft on LinkedIn and visit their website.

About Bonny Morris:

Bonny Morris is currently the Senior Director for Patient Navigation at the American Cancer Society (ACS). Specifically, she is leading the development and implementation of ACS CARES, the first national cancer navigation support program. She’s also in charge of developing ACS LION, their new nonclinical navigation credentialing program, and the enterprise strategy for patient navigation at the American Cancer Society. 

Bonny uses her diverse skills to approach program development and research from different angles. As an epidemiologist, she focuses on designing and analyzing studies meticulously. Additionally, she embraces the perspective of a social and behavioral scientist, recognizing the impact of community-level social factors and individual-level factors on the cancer experience.

Things You’ll Learn:

• The American Cancer Society excels by smoothly combining research, patient support, and advocacy worldwide, focusing on the needs of people at risk or diagnosed with cancer, as well as their caregivers and families.
• The ACS has successfully influenced policymakers to recognize the importance of patient navigation, with a recent win in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
• The ACS CARES app, available on iOS and Android, offers personalized cancer support, including a 24/7 helpline and a volunteer component for peer support.
• The ACS CARES app has already surpassed first-quarter goals, reaching users with over 60 different cancer types and demonstrating its effectiveness in catering to a diverse range of people with unique needs.
• In January, a Spanish version of the ACS CARES app will be launched to support Spanish-speaking individuals facing cancer.
• Dr. Morris emphasizes the importance of collaboration, inviting partners to engage in conversations to optimize cancer care delivery, and keeping programs cutting edge and relevant to the population served.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Bonny Morris on LinkedIn.
• Follow the American Cancer Society on LinkedIn and visit their website.
• Learn more about the ACS CARES App here.
• Download the ACS CARES App on the App Store here or on the Google Play Store here.

About Harlan Levine:

Harlan Levine, M.D., is president of health innovation and policy.  He also serves as the chair of the board of AccessHope™, a spinout company from the City of Hope that is focused on serving the employer market and making leading-edge cancer care available to all, regardless of geographical location.

Prior to the City of Hope, Dr. Levine held executive roles at UnitedHealth Group, Towers Watson, and Anthem Inc. He currently serves as a board member and secretary for BioScienceLA, as a member of the Keck Graduate Institute’s Board of Trustees, and as a board member for Vida Health, Active Life Scientific, and Reimagine Care.  He is on the advisory board for Innovaccer and Laguna Health. For 10 years, he has been a strategic advisor to the founder/chairman of the board of Quantum Health, and now chairs its external clinical advisory board.  In addition, he is a member of the Accessibility and Affordability Working Group for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and a senior fellow for Health Evolution Forum’s New Models of Care Delivery.

He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and licensed by the Medical Board of California. He earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard College and his medical degree from the University of California San Francisco. He interned at Mount Zion Hospital and Medical Center in San Francisco and completed his residency in internal medicine at Cedars-Sinai Health System in Los Angeles.

Things You’ll Learn:

• City of Hope's Distinctive Strategy: Integrating state-of-the-art research with patient-centric care. Their outreach to underrepresented markets and the introduction of a mobile van for prevention and screening empower communities with NCI-level care accessibility.
• Dr. Harlan emphasized how social determinants of health, including the cost of care, transportation challenges, and insufficient culturally relevant education, contribute to inequalities in cancer care.
• The importance of collaboration, policy adjustments, and the integration of community and academic oncologists. 
• The initiatives at City of Hope, including the affiliated company Access Hope, aim to provide expert opinions and cutting-edge cancer care to diverse populations.
• Gain an understanding of the obstacles that create barriers for patients to access the latest advancements in cancer treatment and assess the effects of limited networks on fair access to care.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Harlan on LinkedIn.
• Follow City of Hope on LinkedIn.
• Visit the City of Hope website here.