The Beat

About Kate Renwick-Espinosa:

Kate Renwick-Espinosa is the dedicated President of VSP Vision Care, the nation's largest healthcare organization by membership, offering vision benefits to 1-in-4 people in the U.S. With over 85 million members globally, 63,000 clients, and a vast network of 41,000 providers, Kate passionately wakes up every day with the mission of helping people see their best vision. Specifically, she oversees operations and strategic direction for various channels, including employer-based benefits, health plan alliances, benefits brokers, and direct-to-consumer.

With a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of California, Davis, and an MBA from California State University-Sacramento, Kate's journey reflects a commitment to transforming healthcare accessibility and experience for individuals and communities alike.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Vision care is a healthcare secret weapon, offering a gateway to detecting over 270 health conditions through eye exams.
• The eyes provide a unique perspective into the body, allowing for early detection of conditions like pre-diabetes and markers for heart attacks or strokes.
• Healthy eyesight is life-changing at every stage of life, impacting academic success, detecting underlying health issues, and ensuring a fulfilling life.
• Employers can enhance productivity and save costs by encouraging employees to manage their healthcare through comprehensive benefits, including vision care.
• Annual eye exams are a crucial aspect of self-care, ensuring individuals stay proactive about their eye health and overall well-being.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Kate Renwick-Espinosa on LinkedIn.
• Follow SVP Vision Care on LinkedIn and visit their website.

About Anne Heatherington:

Anne Heatherington is the R&D Chief Data and Technology Officer at Takeda, a top biopharmaceutical leader in Cambridge, Massachusetts. With over four years at Takeda, Anne leads the Data Sciences Institute team, steering the data, digital, and technology strategy for Research & Development. 

Her diverse career includes key roles such as Senior Vice President at Summit Therapeutics plc and Vice President at Pfizer. After 12 years at Pfizer, Anne chaired the Technical Review Committee, showcasing her leadership. Anne holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Queen's University Belfast, a Ph.D. in Pharmacokinetics from the University of Manchester, and is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Washington.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Drug development is at a critical point where marrying traditional approaches with new innovations is crucial to avoid obsolescence, emphasizing the need for adaptability in the industry.
• Takeda aims to become the most trusted digital biopharmaceutical company, driving innovation in the healthcare sector.
• Achieving success in digitalizing drug development involves combining knowledge of regulations, a strong foundation in science, and a dedication to innovation.
• It’s more impactful to solve real-world problems with AI rather than just following the hype.
• Takeda collaborates with MIT, leveraging AI to address business problems and develop solutions, such as using speech as a biomarker for diseases.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Anne Heatherington on LinkedIn.
• Follow Takeda on LinkedIn and visit their website.

All too often, the people building healthcare solutions in the public sector have never seen a patient. The same goes for policymakers.

And the voices of real people with real health problems get lost.

That’s why Andy Slavitt advocates for a collaborative approach to solving critical problems in healthcare. An approach that leverages the lived experiences of everyday Americans to inform innovation and policy.

Andy is General Partner of Town Hall Ventures, a healthcare firm that invests in underrepresented communities, and Founder of United States of Care, a national nonprofit health advocacy organization.

Andy has led many of the nation's most important healthcare initiatives, serving as President Obama's Head of Medicare and Medicaid and overseeing the turnaround, implementation, and defense of the Affordable Care Act.

On this episode of The Beat, Andy joins hosts Dr. Jessica Shepherd and Dr. Gautam Gulati to discuss the future of public-private partnerships to drive innovation and policy decision making.

Andy explains why policy drives innovation in healthcare, exploring the obstacles to adopting effective policy on a national level and what prevents hospital systems from prioritizing prevention over treatment.

Listen in for insight on what inspired Andy’s work with underserved communities and learn how he finds companies building simple healthcare solutions and invests in helping them scale.

Topics Covered

• The experiences that inspired Andy’s work to serve underrepresented communities
• Why it’s so challenging to build effective healthcare policy in our political system
• Andy’s approach to solving critical problems in healthcare through collaboration among innovators, policymakers and everyday citizens
• The common attributes of companies Andy invests in through Town Hall Ventures
• Why Andy believes that policy drives innovation in the healthcare space
• The obstacles to adopting effective healthcare policy on a national level
• What prevents hospital systems from prioritizing prevention over treatment
• How Andy invests in companies building simple healthcare solutions and helps them scale (e.g.: urgent care centers for mental health crises)
   

Connect with Andy Slavitt

Town Hall Ventures

United States of Care

In the Bubble Podcast

Andy on X

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

Connections

About Deborah Glasser:

Deborah Glasser holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a B.A. with honors from Tufts University. Deborah is currently the Head of Vaccines in North America at Sanofi. In this role, she spearheads a team committed to pursuing scientific breakthroughs, focusing on the development and enhancement of immunizations. Sanofi, a global pharmaceutical giant, places a strong emphasis on innovation, and Deborah plays a crucial role in driving the vision forward, expanding access to vaccines, and advancing public health initiatives throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Drawing on a rich and varied professional background, Deborah brings more than a decade of experience to her current role. Her journey includes an illustrious 13-year tenure at Biogen, where she held diverse positions across its U.S., European, and global organizations. Notably, she played a key role in the successful launch of Tecfidera, an oral multiple sclerosis product that achieved remarkable success, generating $1.3 billion in U.S. sales within its first four full quarters on the market.

Things You’ll Learn:

• The vaccine industry faces intense competition.
• RSV stands as the primary reason for infant hospitalizations.
• Approximately 70 out of every 100,000 individuals end up hospitalized due to the flu.
• The flu poses a significant and serious risk, with an average of 36,000 deaths annually, potentially reaching 98,000 in severe seasons. These deaths are preventable.
• It's crucial to recognize the seriousness of the flu and take preventive measures to avoid unnecessary fatalities.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Deborah Glasser on LinkedIn.
• Follow Sanofi on LinkedIn and visit their website.

About Byron Crowe:

Dr. Byron Crowe is the Chief Medical Officer at Solera Health, a faculty member at Harvard Medical School, and a practicing internist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Byron oversees clinical program development for Solera's suite of health solutions, addressing physical, mental, and social well-being for millions of patients nationwide. With a rich background in healthcare, his expertise lies in digital health innovation and human-centered design, navigating the complexities of health systems. 

Things You’ll Learn:

• Chronic conditions affect six out of ten US adults, making it a space needing further innovation.
• Solera Health’s HALO platform helps patients, providers, and payers, offering evidence-based solutions and streamlining operations.
• Measuring outcomes at the individual level provides objective evidence of improvement.
• The next decade is a tremendous learning opportunity for those invested in digital health solutions.
• It's hard to manage chronic conditions, but if managed well, they can make a big impact on someone's long-term trajectory.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Byron Crowe on LinkedIn.
• Follow Solera Health on LinkedIn.
• Visit the Solera Health website here.
• Get a copy of The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande here.

About Caroline Pearson:

Caroline Pearson is the Executive Director of the Peterson Health Technology Institute, driving impactful change in the healthcare sector. With a passion for addressing complex healthcare issues, Caroline leads initiatives to create a high-performing health system that reduces costs and enhances outcomes. She is a nationally recognized expert in public and private health insurance, prescription drugs, and aging issues. 

Caroline has two decades of consulting experience providing data-driven analysis and strategic advice to healthcare stakeholders. Currently, at PHTI, she oversees programs dedicated to improving healthcare data, fostering better market functioning, and revolutionizing digital health purchasing. Caroline's commitment to tackling industry challenges reflects in her role, where she actively contributes to shaping a future where technology plays a pivotal role in delivering quality healthcare. 

Things You’ll Learn:

• Patients deserve equal or better clinical outcomes from digital tools backed by evidence.
• It's time to evolve how we think about digital health and drive towards better evidence.
• The Peterson Health Technology Institute evaluates digital health tools based on clinical benefit and budget impact.
• PHTI focuses on innovative technology-based solutions that disrupt the system and deliver value.
• Technology has the potential to drive better outcomes and produce greater efficiency.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Caroline Pearson on LinkedIn.
• Follow Peterson Healthcare Technology Institute on LinkedIn and visit their website.

About Josh Flum:

Josh Flum is a Managing Partner at LRVHealth, a company that invests in healthcare ideas. LRVHealth has a skilled team of healthcare experts and partners with others to support new healthcare companies. 

Before LRVHealth, Flum worked for 20 years at CVS Health in different roles. His latest role there was as Chief Strategy & Business Development Officer, where he handled challenges in the changing healthcare world. Flum led significant changes, like combining CVS Health and Aetna and starting CVS Health Ventures, a fund to support new digital health businesses. He played key roles in senior positions, leading growth in CVS Health’s Retail Pharmacy Division through new and smart ideas. 

Flum studied at Tufts University and Yale Law School. He began his career working for a U.S. Court of Appeals judge and then at a law firm. Later, he joined the Boston Consulting Group, focusing on the consumer and retail fields.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Investing is both an art and a science, requiring a nuanced blend of strategic thinking and analytical evaluation.
• Market dynamics resemble a pendulum, with current positioning influenced by past trajectories. Understanding this informs future directions and decision-making.
• The surge in digital health solutions during the COVID crisis highlights the transformative potential of technology in healthcare.
• Amid market challenges, it's crucial to reassess and prioritize the fundamental aspects of healthcare for the coming years.
• There are upcoming changes in how new therapies will be brought to market, commercialized, and integrated into the system for patient access. This includes the exploration of new insurance models to facilitate the payment for these therapies.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Josh Flum on LinkedIn.
• Follow LRVHealth on LinkedIn and visit their website.

About Owen Tripp:

Owen Tripp is the Co-founder of Included Health, a groundbreaking integrated navigation and virtual care company reshaping the healthcare landscape. With a lifelong background in technology, Owen previously co-founded Reputation.com, a global leader in online reputation and privacy management, showcasing his prowess in dealing with large datasets to enhance trust and collaboration in online interactions.

In 2012, Owen embarked on a mission to revolutionize the healthcare experience. Driven by the saddening fact that the internet has had a limited impact on healthcare, he identified an opportunity to leverage technology for positive change. 

Owen’s journey reflects not only a technical challenge but also a commitment to making a substantial impact on individuals, including his family members, by redefining healthcare accessibility and experience.

Things You’ll Learn:

• It's unfortunate that the internet hasn't changed how we get healthcare.
• Let's use AI to the fullest. Solve tough diagnoses, be quick, and provide better care.
• At the end of the day, we're all patients, as well as caregivers for others.
• Invest in yourself by getting access to primary care that is integrated with mental health. Make that investment in yourself. Do it today.
• We aim for personalized care that can save lives and lower the time spent in the healthcare system.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Owen Tripp on LinkedIn.
• Follow Included Health on LinkedIn and visit their website.

About Stephen Hahn:

Stephen M. Hahn, M.D., is CEO-Partner of Flagship Pioneering and Chief Executive Officer of Harbinger Health. Steve joined Flagship in June 2021 as Chief Medical Officer of its Preemptive Health and Medicine Initiative, which is creating a new field that aims to protect, maintain, or improve people’s health before they get sick. Steve will continue as a strategic advisor to the Initiative.

Steve brings two decades of distinguished leadership in healthcare strategy, oncology medical practice, and translational/clinical research to this role. He served as the 24th U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner from 2019 to 2021, overseeing both COVID and non-COVID regulatory affairs, including therapeutics and vaccine development, devices, diagnostics, and clinical trials.

Steve focused his translational research efforts on evaluating the tumor microenvironment, signal transduction pathways involved in tumor response to therapies, and proton therapy. He has authored more than 220 peer-reviewed original research articles and has experience developing medical products.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Harbinger's mission is to find diseases early, before symptoms arise, to improve treatment outcomes and save lives. 
• Their focus on developing accessible and affordable diagnostics will revolutionize healthcare.
• Dr. Hahn’s insights into Harbinger's innovative blood test, leveraging machine learning and AI to detect specific genetic signatures of cancer in the bloodstream. 
• This technology has the potential to revolutionize cancer screening and diagnosis.
• The importance of building trust in healthcare. Access to affordable and reliable testing is vital, and Harbinger is committed to making its technologies accessible to all, regardless of location or socioeconomic status.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Stephen Hahn on LinkedIn.
• Follow Harbinger Health on LinkedIn and visit their website.

About Malekeh Amini:

Malekeh Amini is the Founder and CEO of Trayt, a healthcare software company dedicated to improving diagnosis and treatments in brain-based disorders, including Autism, ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, substance use, and Alzheimer's, among others. Before Trayt, Malekeh was the Senior Vice President of Products & Business Development at Base Health where she provided the vision connecting new breakthroughs in medical science to the needs of healthcare organizations and consumers. A former consultant with the Boston Consulting Group and the Parthenon Group, Malekeh has provided strategic, operational, and fundraising advice to healthcare and education organizations globally. Malekeh served on the fundraising Board of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Wings Learning Center in Redwood City. Malekeh has an M.B.A. from Harvard University. She earned her bachelor’s degrees in Communication Sciences (Cognitive Science) and computer science and her master’s in Systems Engineering at the University of Southern California.

About Roshni Koli:

Roshni is a board-certified adult and child and adolescent psychiatrist and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. Before joining the Meadows Institute, she served as the inaugural medical director of the pediatric mental health service line for Dell Children’s Medical Center. In her role at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Roshni is a top decision-maker on all things medical. She anchors the executive team’s activities in contemporary, innovative, and evidence-based medical knowledge, with a special emphasis on children, youth, and families. Roshni oversees all medically-focused policy and practice guidance developed at the Institute, working closely with physicians and other clinicians across the organization. She brings decades of practical experience and deep caring for people and families affected by mental illness to help us always put people first as we pursue our mission and vision.

Things You’ll Learn:

• Social determinants of health are crucial in influencing better quality and better healthcare outcomes.
• The impact of non-medical drivers of health, such as food insecurity, transportation, housing, and unemployment, cannot be overlooked.
• Data and analytics are transforming mental healthcare.
• It's not just about collecting data but structuring it in the right way and using analytics to create actionable insights for decision-makers.
• Policy improvements are needed for equitable access to mental healthcare. Early intervention, early diagnosis, and prevention are vital to changing the trajectory of a child's life and the future of our communities.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Malekeh on LinkedIn.
• Follow Trayt on LinkedIn and visit their website.
• Connect with and follow Roshni on LinkedIn.
• Follow Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute on LinkedIn and visit their website.
• Malekeh previous interview.