Turn on the Lights Podcast

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Learn more about how their advocacy, philanthropy, research, and education are creating a better oral health system at carequest.org/turnonthelights

What happens when the power of large language models meets the complexity of modern medicine?

In this episode, Eric Horvitz, Chief Scientific Officer of Microsoft, discusses the transformative impact of artificial intelligence in health care, particularly the shift from rule-based systems to data-driven models like GPT-4. He highlights how AI can reduce physician burnout by handling administrative tasks and supporting clinical decision-making. Eric emphasizes the importance of AI collaborating with, rather than replacing, health care professionals to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient safety. He also explores future possibilities, including personalized health companions, intelligent patient portals, and AI-powered tumor board simulations. Overall, he underscores both the exciting potential and the responsibility involved in integrating AI safely and meaningfully into health care.

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on how AI is transforming health care, from easing clinician burden to reimagining patient care and medical decision-making!

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Learn more about how their advocacy, philanthropy, research, and education are creating a better oral health system at carequest.org/turnonthelights

Democratizing knowledge is critical to bridging health care gaps and improving patient outcomes, especially in underserved communities. 
In this episode, Dr. Sanjeev Arora, founder and director of Project ECHO, shares how he transformed a local hepatitis C treatment challenge in New Mexico into a global movement. He explains how the ECHO model leverages technology, best practices, case-based learning, and outcome tracking to extend specialist knowledge to underserved areas. Arora emphasizes the power of community, respect, and kindness in driving ECHO’s success and highlights a study showing rural clinicians can achieve outcomes equal to specialists with proper support. He also discusses ECHO’s global reach, funding, future plans, and the urgent need to address the supply-demand gap in health care through service to others.
Tune in and learn how democratizing knowledge can revolutionize health care delivery!

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Learn more about how their advocacy, philanthropy, research, and education are creating a better oral health system at carequest.org/turnonthelights

The erosion of government-funded science infrastructure is leading to a loss of competitive edge and innovation in the US. 

In this episode, Dhruv Khullar, physician and health policy professor, explores how current policies are affecting science, health care, and academia, warning that funding cuts and tensions with universities could jeopardize innovation and global leadership. He reflects on the historical role of U.S. government investment in establishing biomedical dominance and cautions that countries like China may gain ground if these trends continue. Dhruv also critiques the "Gilded Age" of medicine, marked by corporatization, financialization, and a move away from patient-centered care, and proposes solutions like enforcing corporate practice of medicine laws and antitrust regulations. He further discusses physician unionization as a counterforce and the health risks of ultra-processed foods, calling for possible regulatory action.

Tune in and learn about the critical intersection of science, policy, health care, and the future of innovation!

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Learn more about how their advocacy, philanthropy, research, and education are creating a better oral health system at carequest.org/turnonthelights

The separation of oral and physical health has created a significant crisis in the US, leaving millions without access to affordable dental care despite its crucial link to overall well-being. 

In this episode, Melissa Burroughs, Director of Public Policy at the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, discusses the historical reasons for this divide and its modern consequences, highlighting how poor oral health exacerbates conditions like diabetes and heart disease. She details the critical coverage gaps in Medicare, state-variable Medicaid adult benefits, and the VA system, explaining why dental care is often the most unaffordable service and outlining the profound equity issues affecting vulnerable populations. Melissa addresses the concerning trend of efforts to remove fluoride from public water systems and the potential negative impact of proposed Medicaid cuts on already fragile dental benefits. She also underscores that millions of Americans cannot access oral health care primarily due to cost, making it the number one medical service people report skipping.

Tune in and learn why integrating oral health is vital for a healthier America and what policy changes could bridge the access gap!

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Learn more about how their advocacy, philanthropy, research, and education are creating a better oral health system at carequest.org/turnonthelights

What happens when one of America’s largest health care systems quietly limits your access to essential care?

In this episode, Dr. Patricia Gabow, former CEO of Denver Health, discussed her values-driven leadership of the safety-net system, which remained financially stable while serving a predominantly uninsured and underserved population through integrated care and lean management. She highlighted concerns from her recent book about the growing influence of Catholic health systems in the U.S., particularly their adherence to religious directives that restrict reproductive, gender-related, and end-of-life care. Gabow emphasized the lack of transparency in these systems, noting that most patients are unaware of the limitations until they need care. She criticized the shift from mission-driven leadership by nuns to profit-focused lay leadership, often disconnected from frontline health care realities. While hopeful about Pope Francis’s advocacy for the poor, she expressed disappointment in the lack of reform among American bishops and health systems.

Tune in to pull back the curtain on Catholic hospitals, their powerful reach, and what it means for the future of patient care in the U.S!

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Learn more about how their advocacy, philanthropy, research, and education are creating a better oral health system at carequest.org/turnonthelights

How do we scale proven solutions in health care, climate resilience, and public health to create lasting impact?

In this episode,  Joe McCannon, former Director of Sustainability for the Council on Environmental Quality in the Executive Office of the President of the United States, discusses scaling impactful solutions in public health, climate change, and health care resilience. Joe highlights three key challenges: providing clinical guidance for climate-related health issues, keeping health care facilities operational during disasters, and reducing healthcare’s environmental impact. He emphasizes the importance of showcasing successful sustainability efforts and leveraging policies like the Inflation Reduction Act to drive change. To tackle large-scale problems, he advocates for understanding harm and solutions, fostering collective action, leading with strong values, setting clear goals, and rejecting powerlessness. Despite challenges, Joe urges bold, proactive action, emphasizing that this is a moment for courage and innovation.

Tune in for an eye-opening conversation with Joe McCannon on the strategies, challenges, and innovations needed to drive large-scale change and build a healthier, more resilient future!

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Learn more about how their advocacy, philanthropy, research, and education are creating a better oral health system at carequest.org/turnonthelights

Curious about how we can fix the inefficiencies of the U.S. health care system and ensure better care for all?

In this episode, Michael Chernew, the Leonard D. Schaeffer Professor of Health Care Policy at the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School, discussed the challenges and reforms in the American health care system. He emphasized the concept of value-based insurance design, which aims to reduce cost-sharing for high-value services to ensure patients receive necessary care. Chernew highlighted the inefficiencies of the fee-for-service system and the importance of payment reforms, particularly within Medicare Advantage, to improve care quality and control costs. He also explained the complexities of the U.S. health care system, influenced by the balance between market forces and government regulation, leading to opaque pricing and administrative burdens. While acknowledging the potential lessons from other countries' health care systems, he noted that adopting foreign models directly may not work due to the unique economic and social landscape of the U.S.

Tune in as Professor Michael Chernew unpacks innovative solutions, such as value-based insurance design and payment reforms, that could reshape the future of health care!

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Learn more about how their advocacy, philanthropy, research, and education are creating a better oral health system at carequest.org/turnonthelights

Palliative care aims to treat symptoms and improve patients' quality of life, even if they are not terminally ill, and should be integrated early in the treatment process.

In this episode, Dr. Christine Cassel, a pioneer in geriatrics and palliative care, shares her journey from an aspiring philosopher to an influential figure in health care. She discusses her early experiences that ignited her passion for moral philosophy and medicine, leading to her groundbreaking work in end-of-life care and palliative medicine. Dr. Cassel highlights the importance of early palliative care, emphasizing its role in symptom relief and preparing patients and families for the future. She also delves into her current initiative, Bridging Divides, aimed at fostering respectful conversations and reducing polarization within medical schools and beyond, emphasizing the power of curiosity, intellectual humility, and the "exhausted majority" in bridging divides.

Tune in to learn about Dr. Cassel's impactful career, the evolution of palliative care, and strategies for promoting understanding and unity in a divided world!

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Learn more about how their advocacy, philanthropy, research, and education are creating a better oral health system at carequest.org/turnonthelights

The U.S. health care system is complex, costly, and often frustrating, but what if we could reimagine it to work better for everyone?

In this episode, Andrea Ducas, Vice President of Health Policy at the Center for American Progress, shares how her personal experiences shaped her commitment to creating a more equitable system, criticizing the current model as overly complex, costly, and dependent on employment and insurance status. She explains the historical development of employer-based insurance and government programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), highlighting CAP’s role in shaping policy and advising lawmakers. CAP is currently focused on defending Medicaid from budget cuts while also exploring long-term reforms to simplify and improve health care access. Ducas emphasizes the importance of preparing bold, progressive policy solutions so they are ready for implementation when political opportunities arise.

Tune in to learn about the challenges of health care policy, the fight to protect Medicaid, and bold ideas for a more equitable future!

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Learn more about how their advocacy, philanthropy, research, and education are creating a better oral health system at carequest.org/turnonthelights

Anyone can choose leadership, and it requires bold aims, intentional actions, and disciplined responses to challenges.

In this episode, Dennis Wagner, Principal and Managing Director of  Yes And Leadership, LLC,  and John Scanlon, partner at Financial Transformations Inc., highlight the key themes of their book Choosing to LEAD, like how leadership is distinct from management, administration, and observation. The book presents 12 essential leadership mindsets and methods drawn from years of experience and insights from respected figures. While the book focuses on health care, its principles apply broadly, showing that effective leadership involves adaptability, teamwork, and positive communication. Ultimately, the discussion encourages individuals at all levels to embrace leadership, as it not only improves organizations and communities but also enhances personal fulfillment and effectiveness.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation full of powerful lessons on leadership, mindset, and the choices that drive meaningful impact!