In this episode, Dr. Jon Cohen, CEO of Talkspace, discusses his unconventional journey from vascular surgeon to leading a publicly traded digital health company.

In this episode, Christine Lemke, co-founder and CEO of Evidation Health, shares how her personal struggles with chronic pain fueled her mission to transform how we measure and improve health outcomes. She shares the company's evolution and innovative approach to generating real-world evidence (RWE) using a global research platform serving millions of people. We cover: - The power of real-world data and understanding health outside the clinic - Lessons from pivots: Evidation's journey...

In this episode, Halle speaks with Dave Chase, co-founder and CEO of Health Rosetta, who is on a mission to end the 30-year heist of stolen income from the working middle class. He’s working to popularize a new parallel economy: community-owned health plans (COHPs). Dave explains how these plans aim to transform healthcare from a driver of debt and bankruptcy to a driver of well-being and wealth. We cover:The structure and benefits of community-owned health plans (COHPs)How these plans can...

In this episode, we answer listener questions about the current state of the market and share insights for healthcare founders raising VC funding.

We had lots to cover in this month's Digital Health Download, from a $99 AI companion to if we think PBMs will ever be dismantled. We discuss: - A WSJ report on Medicare Advantage insurers pocketing billions for diseases that were never treated or falsely coded - The FTC's interim report on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their impact on drug accessibility and affordability - Vermont's successful accountable care organization (ACO) program, which led to significant savings and...

In this episode, Steve Kraus interviews Andy Slavitt, General Partner at Town Hall Ventures and former CMS and UnitedHealth Group executive. We look back on his career-long mission to fix American healthcare's biggest challenges, encompassing roles in insurance, government, healthcare startups, and venture capital. We cover: - The high-stakes mission to rescue Healthcare.gov and implement the Affordable Care Act - His unexpected transition from entrepreneur to executive at UnitedHealth...

In this episode, Halle Tecco talks to Vinod Khosla— visionary venture capitalist, tech entrepreneur, and healthcare investor. Vinod shares his vision for using AI to enable a hundred touchpoints every hundred days with a patient. We discuss making healthcare more accessible, enabling personalized care, and what he worries could go wrong. We cover:Revisiting his 2012 prediction that AI could replace 80% of what doctors do and moreHow AI will enable computers to learn and adapt to humans,...

Marketing and communications play a critical role in securing investment and driving product and service adoption in digital health. In this special two-part episode, Steve Kraus explores the art of storytelling in healthcare with two industry experts: Chrissy Farr, a veteran digital health journalist turned venture capitalist and advisor, and Kate Cronin, Chief Brand Officer at Moderna. They discuss:What makes for a great story in digital healthThe importance of including setbacks and...

Celebrating three years of The Heart of Healthcare, Halle and Steve dive into the latest news and trends in digital health for July 2024. July highlights include:A new Peterson Institute report on digital treatment outcomes for musculoskeletal conditionsThe FDA's guidance on improving diversity in clinical trial enrollmentThe economic impact and legal battles surrounding GLP-1 drugs for obesityWalgreens' pullback from healthcare services and concerns about the sustainability of the current...

In this episode, Halle Tecco talks to Emily Oster— health communicator, health economist, and bestselling author. Emily shares her journey from academia to becoming an influential health communicator, advocating for data-driven decision making and empowering individuals to make informed choices about their health. We cover:Her non-didactic approach to helping people make their own best decisionsHer least favorite types of panic headlines, and how no one would thrive on Doritos® dustPros and...

The U.S. Surgeon General's office recently published an advisory report stating "social media can have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents." In this episode, we revisit our conversation with Frances Haugen, former Facebook product manager and internationally recognized whistleblower. Frances provides an inside look into how tech giants prioritize profits over public safety. Her journey from Meta's inner workings to testifying before world...

In this episode, Glen Tullman reflects on the biggest changes he's seen in healthcare during his 40-year career in the industry. Glen is the founder and CEO of Transcarent, former founder and CEO of Livongo, and managing partner at 7wireVentures. He discusses: - His early days revolutionizing e-prescribing and electronic health records at Allscripts - Building Livongo into an $18.5 billion digital health success story - Lessons learned as a serial entrepreneur and investor with...

In this episode, Zach Reitano, CEO and co-founder of the direct-to-patient healthcare company Ro, talks to host Halle Tecco about the flaws in our traditional healthcare model and how Ro is innovating to make care more convenient and focused on patient goals. We cover:Why the current healthcare system does not incentivize building for patientsHow he ranks the priorities of cost, quality, and accessHow the healthcare system is obsessed with quality, but not equally obsessed with scaling that...

In this episode, Halle Tecco and Steve Kraus cover the latest digital health stories for June 2024, including:Cancer drug dosing and pricing challengesThe new South Park movie on obesityThe shortage of K-12 school counselors and telehealth startups’ roleThe failure of SPAC deals in digital health, and the path forwardPharma's DTC marketing efforts, including Pfizer's new platform and updated FTC advertising rulesFlaws in the media coverage of declining total fertility rates NOTE: July will...

Clinical notes are one of the more tedious parts of doctors’ day-to-day lives—so much so that they’re often called “pajama time,” since physicians spend 2-3 hours writing them at night. In this episode, Steve Kraus sits down with Dr. Shiv Rao, co-founder and CEO of Abridge, an AI-first healthcare company that’s been in the spotlight for solving this problem. Abridge uses advanced machine learning to structure and summarize medical conversations, creating clinical documentation and structured...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! In this episode (a replay from Closing Time), David Ko, CEO of Calm, discusses the mental health challenges founders and their teams face. We discuss practical strategies for building resilience, managing the relentless pressure, and why destigmatizing mental health is crucial for startup success. David shares how leaders can champion well-being, creating a workplace where mental health support is the norm, not the exception. This episode is a...

May is Women's Health Awareness Month! In this episode, Kate Ryder, CEO and founder of Maven, the largest virtual clinic for women and families, shares her passion for transforming a traditionally underserved healthcare sector. We explore how Maven Clinic has evolved since her seed pitch in 2016, and what she’s learned along the way. We cover:How Maven has evolved from an online marketplace for women to connect with healthcare specialists to a comprehensive platform for women's and family...

80% of Americans suffering from eating disorders don’t get the treatment they need. That’s where Equip comes in. In this episode, Steve Kraus sits down with Kristina Saffran, the co-founder and CEO of Equip, a virtual provider transforming eating disorder treatment by making evidence-based care more accessible to patients and families. Kristina shares her personal journey recovering from anorexia and how her experience with the challenges in traditional treatment led her to found a non-profit...

Digital Health Download: May 2024 In this episode, Halle and Steve dive into the latest headlines in digital health for May 2024, covering topics like surprise billing, AI in healthcare, and the future of primary care. They cover:   - A ProPublica investigation into Cigna's claims and prior authorization processes - The FTC's new non-compete agreement ban, and what it means for healthcare - Walmart's decision to shutter its health clinics, and the viability of retail primary care - A...

Too often, those with complex health needs fall through the cracks. Dr. Toyin Ajayi, co-founder and CEO of Cityblock Health, is a passionate champion for health equity determined to change this reality. Her company specifically serves populations with Medicare, Medicaid, or both, often those who have been let down by the traditional healthcare system. In this episode, we cover:Why "one size fits all" healthcare fails our most vulnerable, leaving them feeling overwhelmed and underservedHow...

As a medical school-bound undergrad, Sean Duffy, co-founder and CEO of Omada Health, didn’t initially consider entrepreneurship as a career path. Today, Sean leads a virtual-first care provider for chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and musculoskeletal disorders. Sean traces his journey from a "techie" upbringing to stints at Google and medical school, and how his early fascination with the potential of digital health ultimately led him to build Omada. Sean and Steve dive...

In this episode, Susannah Fox, author of Rebel Health, reveals how patients, survivors, and caregivers are driving innovation that the traditional system can't, or won't, deliver.

In this episode, Halle Tecco and Steve Kraus discuss the latest news and trends in digital health in April 2024. They cover:Controversial Peterson report about the effectiveness of diabetes management solutions Rock Health's latest survey data on consumer digital health adoptionThe FDA's recent approval of Dexcom's Stelo, the first OTC continuous glucose monitorThe rise of nurse practitioner entrepreneurshipSpecialized and value-based care headlines See Privacy Policy at...

In this episode, Steve Kraus talks with Joanna Strober, co-founder and CEO of Midi Health, a virtual healthcare platform specifically for women in midlife (ages 35-65). Midi Health is a virtual care clinic created by specialists in perimenopause and menopause to address the massive unmet needs of women in this demographic. Joanna explains why women often lose touch with an OBGYN after child-bearing years but don't get the care they need from primary care physicians. She shares insights on...