What if some of healthcare's biggest challenges aren't clinical at all?

In this episode of Val-You Based Care, Dr. Kimberly Ku welcomes Lee Lewis, Chief Strategy Officer of the Health Transformation Alliance, for a conversation that takes listeners beyond the exam room and into the boardroom—where many of the decisions that shape patient care are actually made.

Together, they explore the often-overlooked relationship between employers, physicians, health plans, and employees, and why these groups too often operate in silos despite sharing the same ultimate goal: helping people live healthier lives.

Lee offers an inside look at how employers think about health benefits, where communication breaks down between healthcare providers and those designing benefit plans, and what both sides can do differently to create better experiences for patients.

Rather than pointing fingers at a broken system, this episode asks a more productive question: What would healthcare look like if everyone truly worked as one team?

Whether you're a clinician, employer, healthcare leader, or simply someone who relies on the healthcare system, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on collaboration, trust, and building a better path forward.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

0:08 Meet Lee Lewis & the Health Transformation Alliance

3:12 Why Employers Play a Bigger Role in Healthcare Than You Think

8:21 What Business Leaders Often Get Wrong About Health Benefits

15:34 Bridging the Gap Between Physicians and Employers

24:18 Building Trust Across the Healthcare System

32:41 What Employees Really Need From Their Benefits

40:56 Why Collaboration Beats Fragmentation

48:47 A Better Vision for the Future of Healthcare

55:36 Advice for Healthcare Leaders & Final Thoughts

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming healthcare—but its greatest impact may not be replacing physicians. It may be helping them become better communicators.

Recorded live during a Haymarket Media panel discussion, Dr. Kimberly Ku moderates a thoughtful conversation exploring how AI is reshaping the dialogue between patients and providers.

Joined by Dr. Douglas Flora and Dr. Sunil Kamath, the discussion examines where artificial intelligence is already improving oncology, where caution is warranted, and why empathy, trust, and authentic communication remain indispensable in modern medicine.

Together, the panel explores practical applications for AI, its influence on patient education, the ethical considerations surrounding emerging technologies, and how clinicians can embrace innovation without losing sight of the human relationships that define exceptional care.

As healthcare enters a new technological era, this episode reminds us that the future belongs not to artificial intelligence alone—but to clinicians who know how to combine innovation with compassion.

Chapters:

0:00 Welcome & Panel Introduction

2:07 Why AI Is Reshaping Healthcare Communication

4:05 Can AI Help Restore Empathy in Medicine?

9:28 The Workforce Crisis in Oncology

13:47 Curiosity: The Most Important AI Skill

18:12 Building Trust Through Time and Human Connection

22:34 AI Beyond the Clinic: Lessons From Everyday Life

28:06 The Risks of Relying Too Much on AI

34:21 Patients Are Using AI—Now What?

40:18 How Physicians Can Lead in the Age of AI

46:03 AI, Ethics, and the Future of Cancer Care

52:41 Final Takeaways: Keeping Humanity at the Center

As artificial intelligence continues to transform healthcare, one question remains: what aspects of medicine can never be automated?

In this episode of Val-You Based Care, Dr. Kimberly Ku welcomes Mike Graziani, CEO of Haymarket Media US, for a thoughtful conversation about empathy, communication, leadership, curiosity, and the future of healthcare.

Together, they explore the evolving role of AI and why technological advancement should not come at the expense of human connection. From tactical empathy and active listening to the importance of seeing every patient as a unique individual, the discussion highlights the enduring skills that build trust and strengthen relationships.

Dr. Ku and Graziani also discuss the power of curiosity, the value of interdisciplinary thinking, and how meaningful innovation often emerges when people are willing to challenge assumptions and engage with perspectives outside their own.

At a time when healthcare is rapidly evolving, this episode offers a powerful reminder that empathy is not a soft skill—it is a critical skill. And as AI continues to reshape medicine, the providers who communicate effectively, listen deeply, and connect authentically may become more valuable than ever.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

2:14 Why Empathy Still Matters in an AI World

8:37 The Role of Communication in Healthcare

15:22 Curiosity as a Professional Advantage

22:45 AI and the Future of Medicine

31:18 Every Patient Is an N of One

39:56 Building Trust Through Human Connection

47:12 Final Thoughts

In this episode of Val-You Based Care, Dr. Kimberly Ku sits down with Dr. Shawn Seibert of Illinois CancerCare to explore what it really takes to build a better model for modern oncology.

With years of experience developing and refining the community cancer clinic model, Shawn brings a grounded and practical perspective to one of healthcare’s most pressing challenges: how to meet growing patient demand while navigating workforce shortages and provider burnout.

Together, they examine the evolving role of oncology in coordination with hospitalists, the tension between traditional systems and emerging care models, and the importance of designing structures that actually work for both patients and providers. The conversation highlights how private and public partnerships can play a meaningful role in scaling care without sacrificing quality.

Shawn’s recognition as the 2025 Cure-ageous Rock Doc of the Year reflects the values he brings to his work—commitment to community, dedication to patients, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. The episode also explores his passion for working across disciplines and mentoring the next generation of care providers.

At its core, this conversation is about building something better—rethinking not just how care is delivered, but how it is experienced by those who give it and those who receive it.

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction

1:30 - Dr. Seibert's background and growth

9:42 - The refreshing nature of his work

19:40 - Gaining traction on new care concept

26:06 - Lessons for newer physicians

37:53 - Reflecting on a successful year

32:40 - Taking initiative to create change

45:28 - Active listening in medicine

47:32 - Closing remarks

In this episode of Val-You Based Care, Dr. Kimberly Ku sits down with Elizabeth Klumpp, Group Editorial Director at Haymarket Oncology, for a wide-ranging conversation on some of the most important clinical trial presentations emerging from ASCO—and what they reveal about the future of cancer care.

Together, they explore several groundbreaking studies reshaping oncology across pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, and sarcoma. The discussion highlights how cancer treatment is increasingly moving away from one-size-fits-all approaches and toward biomarker-driven, biology-focused care.

The episode examines the excitement surrounding the Rasolute 302 study in pancreatic cancer and its potential to introduce new oral treatment options beyond traditional chemotherapy. It also explores the Proteus study and the growing role of treatment intensification and multidisciplinary collaboration in localized prostate cancer care.

Dr. Ku and Klumpp further discuss the Libretto 432 study and the evolution of precision oncology into earlier-stage disease settings, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive molecular testing at diagnosis. They also unpack the Sarco41 study as an example of how oncology is beginning to transcend organ-based classifications in favor of targeting shared tumor biology.

Finally, the conversation turns toward the future—examining how artificial intelligence may fundamentally change clinical trial design and cancer treatment itself. From “AI twins” to adaptive treatment modeling, this episode offers a thoughtful look at where oncology may be headed next.

At its core, this discussion is about possibility: how innovation, collaboration, and evolving scientific thinking may redefine what cancer care looks like in the years ahead.

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction

0:42 - The Rasolute 302 study

3:20 - Clinical signals in prostate cancer analysis

5:37 - The value of genetic testing

6:55 - The Sarco41 study

12:38 - Closing remarks

In this episode of Val-You Based Care, Dr. Kimberly Ku sits down with genetic counselor Jessica Everett to explore the often unseen roles that quietly hold healthcare together.

From their shared work within the PRECEDE consortium—a global effort advancing early detection for pancreatic cancer—to the evolving landscape of cancer genetics, this conversation highlights the critical contributions of professionals who spend the most time with patients, yet are often underrecognized within the system.

Jessica reflects on her journey as a genetic counselor, a field that has transformed from being largely unknown to increasingly central in patient-driven care. Together, they discuss the “double-edged sword” of frontline roles—deep patient connection paired with limited visibility and mobility—and the broader implications this has on workforce sustainability.

The episode also examines shifting communication dynamics, the importance of reading today’s patient audience, and the power of public-private partnerships in advancing large-scale research efforts like PRECEDE. At its core, this conversation is about partnership—what it looks like when physicians and care teams elevate one another, and how that collaboration ultimately shapes trust, innovation, and better patient outcomes.

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction

1:35 - Jessica's research with pancreatic cancer

5:56 - Past observations

15:25 - Private and public sectors working together

26:50 - The diamond in the rough

36:20 - Increasing the advocacy behind cancer research

43:25 - Helping people feel heard

47:53 - Closing remarks

In this deeply personal episode of Val-You Based Care, Dr. Kimberly Ku reconnects with longtime colleague and friend Dr. Noelle LoConte for an honest conversation about protecting the heart of medicine.

Having trained together and formed a meaningful friendship early in their careers, this discussion reflects on the conviction that sustains physicians through decades of practice. Dr. LoConte shares her vision for building intentional culture within her lab and mentoring the next generation of clinicians—creating a microcosm of care rooted in integrity, accountability, and humanity.

The episode also confronts difficult realities: burnout, emotional exhaustion, and the growing concern of violence against healthcare providers. Together, they explore what it means to safeguard not just patients—but the profession itself. The conversation closes with a powerful reflection on leadership in today’s global climate and what the future of medicine demands from those willing to lead it forward.

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction

1:50 - Working in academic medicine

6:28 - Having authentic conversations

14:45 - The polarization existing in medical care

25:35 - Bringing empathy to healthcare

35:31 - What is your leader identity?

44:26 - Doctors making poor health decisions

51:46 - When leaders aren't actually looking out for you

53:10 - Closing remarks

In this episode of Val-You Based Care, Dr. Kimberly Ku sits down with Dr. Justin Kline to explore what it truly means to collaborate across healthcare systems—and why trust, not transactions, is the foundation of excellent patient care.

Together, they examine the space between academic medicine and community practice, highlighting how thoughtful communication between providers directly shapes the patient experience. From navigating referrals to overcoming system-level barriers, this conversation reframes collaboration as a relational responsibility rather than an operational task.

The discussion also dives into innovation in lab medicine and outpatient operations, including how advanced therapies can be delivered closer to home under academic guidance. The episode closes with a forward-looking message for trainees and future healthcare leaders: build relationships, stay curious, and remember that the care patients feel most is often found beyond the chart.

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction

1:50 - Challenging times for academic medicine

10:11 - Access to quality care

20:50 - Dr. LoConte's publication "I Want to Kill You"

28:40 - Preparing for the darker side of medicine

38:55 - Dr. Buzzkill

46:49 - Medicine teaches us to be perfect

48:27 - Advice for those in pre-medicine

52:27 - Closing remarks

In our latest installment of Val-You Based Care, Dr. Kimberly Ku welcomes Dr. Julie Chang of SSM Health System for a deeply reflective conversation about mentorship, authenticity, and redefining success in medicine.

Dr. Chang is a leader known not for flash or charisma, but for steadiness, clarity, and core values. Throughout her career, she has mentored others with a simple but powerful philosophy: people are people—not titles, labels, or roles. Whether mother, physician, leader, or colleague, she sees individuals first and helps them grow into the best version of themselves—not into someone else’s mold.

Together, Dr. Ku and Dr. Chang explore what it means to communicate directly without people-pleasing, to lead without ego, and to embrace diversity not as a slogan, but as a lived reality. Dr. Chang also shares her decision to pivot to part-time work in order to prioritize family—an honest look at the tension between ambition and presence in a profession that often feels like a treadmill.

This episode is a powerful reminder that meaningful leadership isn’t loud. It’s steady. It’s values-driven. And sometimes, it requires the courage to step back in order to be fully present.

For anyone navigating career growth, mentorship, motherhood, or leadership in healthcare, this conversation offers grounded wisdom and practical insight for becoming a real person in a world that often pressures us to perform.

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction

1:12 - Julie's deep influence as a mentor

6:50 - Being authentically present for someone else

15:16 - Understanding people's boundaries and sense overwhelm

22:56 - Breakthroughs via community work

30:50 - The "other" part of our lives

39:15 - Leveraging AI within patient care

46:47 - Self-discovery throughout our medical journeys

49:30 - Closing remarks

In Episode 3 of Val-You Based Care, Dr. Kimberly Ku is joined by Dr. Chadi Nabhan—physician, thought leader, and host of Healthcare Unfiltered—for a wide-ranging conversation about what honest, timely communication in medicine really looks like.

Dr. Ku first encountered Dr. Nabhan as a conference moderator, where his clarity, authenticity, and command of complex conversations immediately stood out. That same presence carries into this episode as the two explore how storytelling, trust, and thoughtful communication shape meaningful patient care.

Together, they unpack why simply following guidelines and data isn’t enough—and how story, context, and human connection help patients understand their care in ways that numbers alone cannot. Dr. Nabhan shares patient stories, reflects on the skills that define masterful communicators in medicine, and discusses why community-based physicians often excel at forming deep, lasting patient relationships.

The conversation also takes on the modern pressure of FOMA—the fear of missing anything—in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. While new tools and innovations emerge daily, Dr. Nabhan makes the case for staying grounded in what truly works: honest conversations, relational care, and earned trust.

This episode is a powerful reminder that the most effective medicine happens at the intersection of expertise, authenticity, and communication—and that progress doesn’t always mean chasing what’s new, but strengthening what matters.

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction

1:39 - Honest and timely conversations in medicine

9:20 - The power of story within the medical field

17:37 - Treating communication as its own skill in medicine

24:50 - How do we quantify masterful communication?

31:53 - "To be honest"

35:44 - Being a lifelong learner

39:19 - Closing remarks