The Gary Bisbee Show

Meet the Panel Guests:

This panel features three guests previously featured at Think Medium. John Glaser, Ph.D. is an Executive-in- Residence at the Harvard Medical School Executive Education. Suchi Saria, Ph.D. is the founder and CEO of Bayesian Health. She is also an Advisory Council member for Day Zero. Kaveh Safavi, M.D., J.D. is the Senior Managing Director at Accenture. 

Key Insights:

Three health technology and data experts discuss healthcare trends and innovations that emerged during the HIMSS conference.

• Staffing Shortages, Short on Solutions. Dr. Safavi noted that staffing shortages and challenges related to employee payroll costs have rapidly become a top problem in healthcare. However, few booths at HIMSS were organized around this issue. There are limited products in the pipeline to solve staffing challenges. (10:58)
• Solving Problems with AI. In the last year, there have been significant staffing shortages, coupled with drops in quality, safety, and health outcomes. Dr. Saria shares that AI is aiming to solve some of these problems. This includes better managing at-risk contracts and improving remote care and monitoring for at-home patient care. (20:47)
• Technology Quotient (TQ). Dr. Glasser emphasizes that healthcare leaders need to be digitally savvy. Digitally savvy leaders that have a working understanding of AI, experience with a major technology implementation, and experience piloting a new digital technology, are better equipped to lead technology transformation efforts. (37:34)

Relevant Links: 

• Learn more about HIMSS
• Check out The Gary Bisbee Show interview with John Glaser, Ph.D.
• Check out Day Zero’s interview with Suchi Saria, Ph.D.
• Check out The Gary Bisbee Show interview with Kaveh Safavi, M.D., J.D.

Meet Ryan Severino:

Ryan Severino is the Chief Economist at JLL. He is also an adjunct professor at Columbia University and New York University. Previously, he was a Senior Economist and Director of Research at Reis and an Associate Director of Research at MetLife Real Estate Investments. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Japanese, and Economics from Georgetown University, and an MA in International Finance and Economics from Columbia University.

Key Insights:

Ryan Severino approaches the economy with a big picture perspective, analyzing the implications of global trends. 

• Rising Interest Rates. The Federal Reserve will raise interest rates to increase the cost of capital. This disincentivizes organizations from borrowing money, which will tamp down the demand side of the economy. The Federal Reserve can only influence the demand side of the economy to decrease inflation. (4:53)
• Demand-side Inflation. There have been disruptions in supply chains; however, Ryan points to increases in demand as the main driver for inflation. Government spending, low interest rates, pent up savings by consumers, and a tight labor market has created a strong demand situation. (14:25)
• How Technology Impacts Economy. The pandemic only exacerbated an existing labor shortage, due to America’s aging demographics. One way to address this is to invest in technology, like AI or machine learning, to make the existing labor supply more productive. (24:28)

Relevant Links:

• Read “Economic calculus: The mathematical study of continuous change? A fitting description for the current U.S. economy” by Ryan Severino
• Read “Powering through! From the pandemic to geopolitical events, parts of the U.S. economy are certainly challenged. Can CRE rise above?” by Ryan Severino
• Follow Ryan on Twitter

Meet Nate Bennett Ph.D.:

Nate Bennett Ph.D. is a professor of management and the faculty director of the EMBA program with the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. He is co-author of two books, “Riding Shotgun: The Role of the COO” and “Your Career Game:  How Game Theory Can Help You Achieve Your Professional Goals.” He is also a contributor to the Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek.com and Forbes.com. He received his Ph.D. in Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Key Insights:                                                                                             

The COO is an underutilized member of the c-suite. Nate Bennett, Ph.D. is a leading author and researcher of the role and shares best practices of successful COOs.

• COO Configurations. Professor Bennett found that there are seven types of COOs. The most common is the executor. While the CEO is focused on anticipation and looking to the future, this COO type drives performance and ensures strategy is executed efficiently. (3:49)
• The Evolving COO Role. The COO role has evolved over the last few decades. It is a competitive advantage for COOs to be savvier about finance, technology, big data, talent management, and globalization. Additionally, Professor Bennett points out there’s been a rise in stakeholder perspective, rather than traditional shareholder perspective. (19:37)
• Your Career as Rock Climbing. Career progression is less like a ladder, and more like rock climbing. Sometimes your choices will seem like sideways, diagonal, or even downward movements. It is important to be agile, and continue to invest in yourself to create a more compelling value proposition for your next employer. (36:04)

Relevant Links: 

• Check out Dr. Bennett’s website
• Check out Dr. Bennett’s books
• Read his contributions on Leadership Strategy for Forbes

Meet The Host, Jarrett Lewis:

Jarrett Lewis is a Partner at Public Opinion Strategies. Previously, he was the Executive Director of Health Policy at The Health Management Academy. He received a B.A. in Political Science from Clemson University and an MBA from Duke University.

Meet The Guests, Neil Newhouse & Brian Stryker:

Neil Newhouse is co-founder and Partner of Public Opinion Strategies. He has been named Pollster of the Year three times by the American Association of Political Consultants. He received an undergraduate degree from Duke University, and a graduate degree from the University of Virginia.

Brian Stryker is a Partner at Impact Research. Brian was a recipient of the 2021 American Association of Political Consultants 40 Under 40 Award. He received an undergraduate degree in History from the University of Washington.

Key Insights:

Neil Newhouse and Brian Stryker are experts at measuring and moving public opinions.

• Top Issues for the Midterms. The number one issue for voters is the economy, specifically inflation and cost of living. While changing day-by-day, the Ukraine conflict has become a rising issues for voters as well. (9:41) 
• What about Healthcare? Healthcare can be an important issue in terms of cost. However, as new problems are supplanting COIVD-19, healthcare has become a back-burner issue. Many people dislike the current healthcare system, but also fear too much change. (34:47) 
• An Era of Hyper-partisanship. Neil shares that traditionally one-third of voters split their ticket, but that decreased to 9% of voters in the 2020 election. Brian also points out that voters don’t often reward compromise, which limits politicians’ ability to work across party lines. (44:45)

Relevant Links: 

• Follow Brian Stryker on Twitter
• Follow Neil Newhouse on Twitter
• Follow Jarrett Lewis on Twitter

Meet Travis Messina:

Travis Messina is the Founder and CEO of Contessa Health. Prior to Contessa, Travis gained experience in the delivery and financing of healthcare as an officer at Vanguard Health Systems.  He was an investment banker specializing in mergers and acquisitions at Signal Hill Capital and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. He received a bachelor’s degree in International Business from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Vanderbilt University.

Key Insights:

Contessa partners with health systems to treat high acuity patients in their homes.

• Home Hospital Technology. Contessa uses remote patient monitoring to capture vital signs and track patient outcomes. Contessa developed a platform, Care Convergence, to manage logistical coordination to ensure that their distributed model of care meets hospital turnaround times. (10:36)
• High Patient Satisfaction. Traditionally, patients in need of hospital care have two options: either admission to the hospital or leave against medical advice. Contessa creates a third option for patients, resulting in a net promoter score greater than 90%. (23:24)
• Impact of Government Regulations. Contessa was the first hospital-at-home model to receive managed care reimbursement. Medicare fee for service did not cover hospital at home care until the pandemic, which it did through a waiver associated with the Public Health Emergency. If or when the waiver expires, coverage will become less available. (13:44)

Relevant Links: 

• Learn more about Contessa
• Learn more about Travis Messina with this interview from his Alma mater

Meet Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya:

In 2017, Brian Wallach learned that he was diagnosed with ALS. He and his wife Sandra Abrevaya are dedicating their remaining time together to help ALS patients everywhere. They founded I AM ALS, a non-profit organization that successfully advocated for millions in research through major legislation. Brian and Sandra also launched Synapticure, a care platform for ALS patients, with the backing of GV and other investors. They are on a mission to reshape our understanding and treatment of ALS.

Key Insights:

Brian and Sandra are truly inspirational, revealing how a family can go forward with a devastating diagnosis and what two people can accomplish in such a short amount of time.

• Founding I AM ALS. Sandra and Brian founded the non-profit I AM ALS to create policy change. Their advocacy facilitated the passage of Act for ALS, which allocates $100 million annually over five years for research and expands treatment options for patients. They also have reframed the narrative around ALS to focus on hope. (14:00)
• Creating Better Care for ALS Patients. Synapticure facilitates coordinated care and gives ALS patients access to cutting-edge and personalized testing and treatment. Sandra and Brian founded this company to create the continuity of care they wished they had in their treatment experience. (23:06)
• Power in the Purpose. Brian gets his energy from the knowledge that he and Sandra can change the course of ALS with their advocacy. He is driven partially by necessity, but also the belief that he can make a difference, and potentially save his life and 1000’s of others. (32:38)

Relevant Links: 

• Learn more about I AM ALS and how to take action
• Learn more about Synapticure
• Read “I am Brian Wallach”
• Read “I am Sandra Abrevaya and Brian Wallach”

Meet Bob Kerrey:

Bob Kerrey is a Managing Director at Allen & Company, Chairman of the Minerva Institute for Research and Scholarship, and Lead Director of Tenet Healthcare. He served as the 35th Governor of Nebraska and as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska. He was also the President of The New School and served as a U.S. Navy SEAL. Governor Kerrey received a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Nebraska.

Meet Mitch E. Daniels Jr.:

Mitch E. Daniels Jr. is the President of Purdue University and previously served as the 49th Governor of Indiana. He is a current Director and former Lead Director at Cerner Corporation. Previously, President Daniels was the Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and worked as the President of North American Operations and then Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Policy for Eli Lily & Company. He received a Bachelor’s from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

Key Insights:

In the spirit of bipartisanship, we invited two former politicians, one Democrat and one Republican, for a bold discussion on today’s greatest challenges.

• Decision Making During COVID-19. Both explore how they addressed COVID-19 issues with limited information. President Daniels describes how Purdue designed protective guidelines from scratch, building in a way to evaluate their choices. Governor Kerrey reminds us to not assume we know everything, and to not apply solutions with a broad brush. (6:45) (9:44)
• Democracy is Hard. Governor Kerrey reflects on American history and the perceived partisan divide. He points out that we as a country have overcome a lot worse than what is happening today. Democracy takes work and we should not fear conflict or criticism. (39:02)
• What Drives You? President Daniels shares that the most fulfilling aspect of his work is leaving behind something better. He encourages young leaders to question why they are seeking leadership roles. The answer should not be about you, rather the impact you can have. (43:05)

Relevant Links: 

• Read Mitch Daniels contributions to the Washington Post
• Read “When I Was a Young Man: A Memoir” by Bob Kerrey

Meet Dan Brillman:

Dan Brillman is the co-founder and CEO of Unite Us. He is a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a pilot, and has served since 2007. Previously, he was a Principal at Scout Ventures and an Investment Analyst at Buck Consultants. He received a degree in Political Science and Government from Yale University, and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Key Insights:

When Dan Brillman returned from a deployment, veterans that he served with asked for help with their health and social service issues. He realized veterans and civilians alike needed support in accessing fragmented human services. 

• Connecting Fragmented Systems. Dan found that the services meant to help veterans – like housing, mental health, and employment – were disjointed and complicated to navigate. He founded Unite Us, a technology platform that smooths the connection between patients and services in their community.(7:39)
• Redefining Care. Dan envisions a future where human services are given the same importance and funding as traditional health services; where housing is given the same attention and resources as a knee surgery. (16:15)
• The Highs and Lows. A low point in the entrepreneurial journey for Dan was feeling ahead of the market, having trouble securing investors and partners, which limited the number of people they could help. A high point came when Unite Us scaled to where its teams were executing independently, with expertise greater than Dan’s own knowledge. (22:04)

Relevant Links:

• Learn more about Unite Us
• Follow Dan on Twitter
• Listen to “Dan Brillman and Taylor Justice, Unite Us, on bridging social and health care”

Meet John Halamka, M.D., M.S.:

John Halamka, M.D., M.S. is an Emergency Medicine physician and the president of Mayo Clinic Platform. He has authored a number of books on technology and healthcare. Additionally, He and his wife run Unity Farm Sanctuary in Sherborn, Massachusetts. Prior to Mayo Clinic, Dr. Halamka was Chief Information Officer at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He received his M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco and earned an M.S. in Medical Informatics from Harvard University.

Key Insights:

John Halamka, M.D., M.S. is an expert in digital health and information technology. He provides a vision of AI’s potential, and the challenges healthcare will need to consider. 

• Investments in Data. Mayo Clinic Platform’s business partnerships will explore new ways to gather and clean data, analyze models, and deliver clinical results while maintaining patient privacy. (8:49)
• How Advanced is AI? While the technology is advanced, with a variety of machine learning tools, we currently lack proper policy guardrails to determine best practice for AI. Additionally, many patients feel suspicious of algorithms making healthcare decisions. (14:09)
• Augmenting Physician Practice. As an emergency physician, Dr. Halamka notes that there are approximately 800 papers in his field published every day. A single physician can’t keep up, but AI has the potential to integrate vast data streams to improve clinical decision making. (26:31)

Relevant Links:

• Check out Dr. Halamka’s blog
• Follow him on twitter 
• Check out Dr. Halamka’s books

Meet Quentin P. Smith Jr.:

Quentin P. Smith Jr. is the Chairman of the Banner Health Board of Directors and is President of Cadre Business Advisors, LLC. Quentin has also served on the boards of Store Capital, Orion Group Holdings, Arizona Public Service, Rodel, Inc., iCrossing, Arizona MultiBank, Greater Phoenix Leadership, and the Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University. He received Bachelor’s in industrial management and computer science from Purdue University and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

Key Insights:

Leadership is timeless. Quentin P. Smith Jr. shares his leadership experience in healthcare, and expands the conversation to his father, Quentin P. Smith, an original Tuskegee Airman. 

• Becoming a Tuskegee Airman. Quentin reveals that his father wasn’t driven by an interest in being a pilot, rather he wanted to demonstrate to white Americans that Black Americans are equally capable of flying planes. (10:55)
• Duty to Community Service. As chairman of Banner Health’s board, Quentin sees his primary mission as community service and being a good fiduciary of a community asset. His job is to provide guidance towards the mission, and ensure that everyone has a chance to contribute. (28:07)
• Assume You Can Lead. Leadership comes in many forms. Don’t underestimate yourself, and assume you have the capacity to lead first. (35:47)

Relevant Links: 

• Listen to recordings of Quentin P. Smith talking about his experience as a Tuskegee Airman
• Learn more about the Tuskegee Airmen
• Read “Standing firm: ISU alumnus Quentin Smith challenged segregation and changed history.”