Bright Spots in Healthcare

Each episode, I interview innovators in the healthcare industry to extract the strategies, tactics, tools, and/or routines they utilize to generate extraordinary, positive outcomes. We highlight and breakdown these bright spots so you can apply them at your organization. "See a bright spot .... and clone it!"

The Care Model Hospitals Can’t Ignore: Sinai Chicago’s Community Health Worker Playbook 05/06/2026

The Care Model Hospitals Can’t Ignore: Sinai Chicago’s Community Health Worker Playbook What if the most effective care model isn’t built inside the hospital at all? This episode features the opening presentation from the recent Home Care Innovation Summit, a half-day virtual summit produced by Bright Spots Ventures in partnership with TytoCare, focused on how leading organizations are redesigning care to reach patients where they are. Kelly McCabe, Director of Community Health Innovations, Sinai Chicago and the Sinai Urban Health Institute (SUHI) shares a practical, equity-driven model: clinically integrating community health workers (CHWs) into care delivery to bridge the gap between hospital, home, and community. She’s joined briefly by Jeanette Avila, Manager of Community Health Innovations at SUHI offering a frontline perspective on what this model looks like in practice and how it builds trust with patients day-to-day. Serving one of the most complex patient populations in the country, with roughly 90% uninsured or covered by Medicare/Medicaid, Sinai Chicago has built a model that doesn’t just acknowledge social needs, but operationalizes them. You’ll hear how Sinai Chicago: Integrates community health workers directly into clinical teams, not as an add-on, but as core infrastructure Extends care beyond hospital walls through home visits and community-based engagement Tracks social determinants and community interactions to shape real-time interventions Builds trust with patients in underserved neighborhoods through culturally aligned care Uses a hybrid model of in-person outreach and centralized coordination to improve outcomes while reducing burnout Key topics covered: Why community health workers are essential, not optional, for high-need populations Turning social determinants from “insight” into actionable care interventions How to operationalize a community-based care model inside a hospital system The role of trust, proximity, and lived experience in improving engagement Blending home-based care with clinical oversight to scale impact If you’re a health system leader, population health executive, or payer/provider partner working to close equity gaps and deliver care beyond traditional settings, this is a real-world blueprint for making it work. Presentation Link: About Our Presenters: Thank You to Our Episode Partner, TytoCare: TytoCare enables health systems and plans to deliver high-quality remote exams anytime, anywhere. Their FDA-cleared devices and AI-powered diagnostic platform support virtual specialty care, school-based programs, and home health models—reducing unnecessary ED visits and improving patient experience. To learn more, visit . Schedule a Meeting with a Senior Leader at TytoCare: To explore how TytoCare can help your organization expand virtual specialty access and improve care coordination, reach out to to schedule a meeting. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what’s working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the “bright spots” in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/41176590

MD Anderson Emergency Physician: AI Isn’t Enough Without a Digital Health Ecosystem 04/28/2026

MD Anderson Emergency Physician: AI Isn’t Enough Without a Digital Health Ecosystem In this episode of Bright Spots in Healthcare, recorded live at the ViVE 2026 conference, Eric Glazer sits down with Dr. Pavitra Krishnamani from MD Anderson Cancer Center to explore what it actually takes to build scalable digital health systems. As both a practicing emergency physician and digital health innovator, Dr. Krishnamani brings a frontline perspective to one of healthcare’s biggest challenges: why so many digital health tools fail to scale, and what separates technologies that succeed from those that don’t. While the industry continues to invest heavily in AI, wearables, telehealth, and other digital tools, many health systems are still struggling with fragmented solutions, low adoption, and limited real-world impact. The path forward isn’t more tools, it’s better systems. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why workflow integration matters more than features in digital health adoption How AI, wearables, telehealth, VR, and EHRs must work together as a connected ecosystem What health systems should evaluate before bringing in new technology, including ROI, maintenance, and unintended consequences The role of human-centered design in building solutions clinicians will actually use Why adoption fails without clinician buy-in, flexibility, and cultural alignment How to design more effective pilots and avoid common implementation pitfalls Why education and mindset are critical to scaling AI and digital health What it takes to move from siloed tools to scalable, system-level transformation Key Takeaway: “Education begets innovation” - Pavitra P. Krishnamani, MD. Scalable digital health isn’t about deploying more technology, it’s about aligning technology, workflows, and people into systems that actually work in practice. Learn More from Dr. Krishnamani: . Dr. Krishnamani expands on many of these ideas in her upcoming book: Home is Where the Health Is: How Digital Innovation and Technological Advances are Transforming Healthcare and Wellness. The book explores how technologies like AI, wearables, telehealth, and data systems are coming together to reshape healthcare delivery and move care closer to where patients live their daily lives. Connect with Dr. Krishnamani: Instagram: LinkedIn: Partner with Bright Spots Ventures: If you are interested in speaking with the Bright Spots Ventures team to brainstorm how we can help you grow your business through credibility building content and trusted executive relationships, email About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what’s working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the “bright spots” in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/41052765

EmblemHealth, Doctors HealthCare Plans, Security Health Plan, & MedOrion: Rethinking CAHPS & Member Experience 04/21/2026

EmblemHealth, Doctors HealthCare Plans, Security Health Plan, & MedOrion: Rethinking CAHPS & Member Experience In this Bright Spots in Healthcare episode, host Eric Glazer brings together payer and strategy leaders to explore a fundamental challenge in Medicare Advantage: why improving experience is not about measuring more, but managing better. This conversation focuses on where performance is actually being lost across the member journey, not within individual programs, but in the gaps between them. Plans continue to invest in outreach, pharmacy, provider engagement, and member services, yet still struggle to translate those efforts into consistent member action and measurable outcomes. This is a candid discussion for executives navigating rising expectations around experience, increasing pressure on Stars performance, and the need to deliver results through coordination, not just activity. Our guests include: Dan Knecht, MD, Chief Medical Officer, EmblemHealth Stacey Friedman, Senior Director, Quality & HEDIS/Stars, Doctors HealthCare Plans Paula Jacobson, Director, Quality and Population Health, Security Health Plan Dave Burianek, Chief Strategy Officer, MedOrion Together, they explore: Where member experience breaks down across the journey, especially in the moments immediately following enrollment Why campaign-based outreach is no longer sufficient to drive engagement or outcomes How leading plans are shifting from volume to sequencing, focusing on the next best action rather than multiple simultaneous asks What it takes to align pharmacy, quality, and member experience into a coordinated system How organizations are improving performance by reducing friction, increasing clarity, and guiding members toward action This episode offers a practical look at how leading plans are rethinking CAHPS as a reflection of the full member journey, and what it takes to design that experience in a way that consistently drives performance. Panelist Bios: Download the Episode Guide: Get key takeaways and expert highlights to help you apply lessons from the episode. Download guide: Key Insights Summary: Find key insights from the discussion, guest takeaways, and detailed moderator notes captured by Eric during the conversation, Resources: Report: Redesigning Experience: Why CAHPS Performance Is Won or Lost in the Member Journey This report examines why Medicare Advantage plans often see CAHPS results that don’t reflect the effort they put in. The issue is not a lack of activity. It’s that CAHPS reflects a year’s worth of member experience, shaped by care access, coordination, navigation, and follow-through, not isolated interactions or last-minute interventions. Drawing on real-world examples, the report shows how improving underlying care events like annual wellness visits, redirecting care to the right setting, and strengthening member understanding directly influences CAHPS performance, and why results cannot be changed at the end of the measurement year. Inside, you’ll find insights on: Why CAHPS questions act as proxies for clinical events like annual wellness visits and care coordination Where campaign-based engagement models fall short in shaping member experience How friction accumulates across touchpoints and impacts perception long before the survey is fielded What changes when plans shift from disconnected outreach to coordinated, journey-based design How aligning Stars, quality, and care delivery reduces fragmentation and improves outcomes Why understanding member barriers, including access, confusion, and behavioral factors, is critical to driving action The broader lesson is operational: plans that consistently perform on CAHPS are not doing more outreach. They are designing member journeys that reduce friction, coordinate care and communication, and naturally produce better experiences over time. To request your copy of the report, please contact show producer Jessica Tenzer at . Thank You to Our Episode Partner, MedOrion: MedOrion helps health plans move beyond static segmentation by using real-time clinical, situational, and behavioral signals to drive meaningful member action. By identifying who to engage, what barriers exist, and when to intervene, MedOrion enables more precise prioritization and coordination of outreach. This approach helps close care gaps, improve adherence, reduce avoidable utilization, and drive more consistent performance across cost, quality, and experience. Learn more at . Schedule a Meeting with a Senior Leader at MedOrion: To explore how MedOrion can support your organization in moving from campaign-based outreach to coordinated, signal-driven engagement, reach out to show producer Nicole Roberts at nroberts@brightspotsventures.com to schedule a conversation with a member of the MedOrion leadership team. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what’s working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the “bright spots” in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/40969335

BCBSM, Healthfirst, CareFirst Community Health Plan, & Drips: MA Strategy Playbook 04/15/2026

BCBSM, Healthfirst, CareFirst Community Health Plan, & Drips: MA Strategy Playbook In this Bright Spots in Healthcare episode, host Eric Glazer brings together payer leaders to explore a fundamental challenge in Medicare Advantage: why strong strategies often fail to translate into sustained performance. This conversation focuses on the gap between intention and execution, where plans invest heavily in programs, outreach, and data, yet still struggle to drive the member actions that ultimately determine cost, quality, and experience. This is a candid discussion for executives navigating rising pressure on margins, increasing complexity in member populations, and the growing need to prove performance beyond activity alone. Our guests include: Mike Rapach, President & CEO, CareFirst Community Health Plan Maryland Joshua Meeks, Vice President, Medicare Advantage Individual Business, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Jen Cohen-Smith, SVP Medicare, Healthfirst Kathleen Faulk, Chief Strategy Officer, Drips Together, they explore: Where Medicare Advantage strategies break down, not in design, but in execution Why member engagement alone is no longer sufficient to drive outcomes How leading plans are shifting from outreach to activation by addressing barriers to action in real time What it takes to align product design, pharmacy strategy, and operational workflows to support long-term sustainability How organizations are translating insight into action to improve adherence, reduce avoidable utilization, and drive measurable ROI This episode offers a practical look at how leading plans are redefining performance in Medicare Advantage, and what it takes to ensure that strategy actually delivers results at scale. Panelist Bios: Download the Episode Guide: Get key takeaways and expert highlights to help you apply lessons from the episode. Download guide here: Key Insights Summary: Find key insights from the discussion, guest takeaways, and detailed moderator notes captured by Eric during the conversation, Resources: Report: Stop Engaging, Start Activating; The New Architecture of Medicare Advantage Performance This companion report examines how health plans can close the gap between strategy and execution by focusing on what actually drives performance: whether members take action. Drawing on real-world implementation and emerging activation models, the report shows how identifying friction, understanding barriers, and guiding behavior in real time can improve adherence, reduce avoidable utilization, and strengthen outcomes across cost, quality, and experience. Inside, you’ll find insights on: Identifying where outreach breaks down and why engagement alone fails to drive meaningful outcomes Understanding the root causes of non-adherence, including confusion, access barriers, competing priorities, and system design gaps Shifting from one-way communication to two-way, real-time conversations that surface and resolve barriers to action Designing activation models that guide members through next steps and increase completion of key actions Aligning engagement strategies with operational workflows to reduce friction and improve performance at scale Why moving from activity-based metrics to action-based outcomes is critical as financial pressure, regulatory changes, and member complexity increase The broader lesson is operational: the strongest Medicare Advantage models are not defined by how much outreach occurs, but by how effectively plans convert insight into action and ensure follow-through on the moments that matter most. To request your copy of the report, please contact show producer Jessica Tenzer at . Thank You to Our Episode Partner, Drips: Drips helps health plans and providers drive meaningful member action through AI-powered, two-way communication at scale. By engaging members through familiar channels like text and phone, Drips enables real-time conversations that surface barriers, guide next steps, and improve adherence. Its approach shifts organizations from outreach to activation, helping close care gaps, reduce friction, and deliver more consistent performance across cost, quality, and experience. Learn more at . Schedule a Meeting with a Senior Leader at Drips: To explore how Drips can support your organization in moving from engagement to activation and improving member follow-through, reach out to show producer Jessica Tenzer at jtenzer@brightspotsventures.com to schedule a conversation with a member of the Drips leadership team. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what’s working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the “bright spots” in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/40882250

What’s Working in Chronic Care | CommonSpirit, Mount Sinai, White-Wilson + More 04/07/2026

What’s Working in Chronic Care | CommonSpirit, Mount Sinai, White-Wilson + More Chronic care isn’t failing because of strategy. It’s breaking down in execution. In this episode of Bright Spots in Healthcare, host Eric Glazer brings together provider leaders to explore a critical issue: the loss of time, attention, and clinical capacity to inefficient workflows instead of patient care. This conversation highlights how organizations are making structural changes to reduce friction, improve follow-up, and build more sustainable chronic care models. 🎯 What you’ll learn: Why chronic care breaks down in workflow, not strategy How leading providers reduce administrative burden What changes when documentation stops dominating care How follow-up systems are redesigned to close care gaps How augmented care models expand capacity without replacing human care 👥 Featured Leaders: Francis Mercado, MD – Board Chair, CommonSpirit Health ACO Danielle Whitacre, MD – Chief Medical Officer, Bloom Healthcare Lilian Alevato, MD – Chief Medical Officer, White-Wilson Medical Center Ava Johnson – Director, Ambulatory CDQI, Mount Sinai Hospital Carol Roeder, MD – Chief Medical Officer, Nightingale.MD 📥 Resources & Links: 👉 Panelist Bios: 👉 Download the Episode Guide: 👉 Key Insights Summary: 📩 Request the full reports: 📊 Featured Reports: Chronic Care Breaks Down in Workflow, Not Strategy Learn how redesigning workflows and automating low-value tasks improves capacity and patient outcomes. What an Augmented Care Manager Model Looks Like in Practice See how AI-assisted care models extend reach while preserving human interaction and clinical judgment. 🤝 Episode Partner: Nightingale.MD Nightingale.MD helps provider organizations redesign chronic care workflows using an augmented care model. Their AI assistant, Florence™, supports outreach, follow-up, and documentation while allowing clinical teams to focus on high-value patient care. 🌐 Learn more: 📩 Schedule a meeting with Carol Roeder, MD: Contact Vekonda Luangaphay at 🧠 About Bright Spots Ventures Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company focused on scaling proven innovations. They connect healthcare leaders through podcasts, executive councils, and private events to accelerate measurable impact. 🌐 Visit: /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/40766555

Essence Healthcare and Humana: Moving from Episodic Care to Longitudinal Outcomes 03/31/2026

Essence Healthcare and Humana: Moving from Episodic Care to Longitudinal Outcomes In this Bright Spots in Healthcare episode, host Eric Glazer brought together payer and provider leaders to examine a major shift underway in specialty care. Historically, specialty models have been built around episodic intervention, stepping in after a condition has progressed. But as organizations take on greater accountability for outcomes and cost, that model is becoming harder to sustain. The conversation explored how AI, earlier signal detection, and more connected care models can help organizations identify risk sooner, guide members more effectively, and support better outcomes over time. Our guests include: Saria Saccocio, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Essence Healthcare Ross Lagerblade, Vice President, Value Based Strategies, Humana Mary O’Connor, MD, Chief Medical Officer & Co-Founder, Vori Health Together, they explored: How specialty care is evolving from reactive, episode-based intervention to models built around continuous visibility and earlier action How organizations are identifying risk that never shows up in traditional data, and what it takes to surface and act on those blind spots How leading plans are redesigning the member experience to create clearer, more guided pathways through complex specialty care journeys What it looks like to use AI and new data sources to scale outreach, triage, and coordination without increasing operational burden How clinically grounded models are ensuring members are directed to the right level of care at the right time, avoiding unnecessary escalation What it takes to align care delivery, incentives, and measurement around sustained outcomes rather than isolated interventions This episode offers an inside look at how leaders are building more proactive, coordinated specialty care models, and what it takes to make them work in practice. Panelist Bios: Download the Episode Guide: Get key takeaways and expert highlights to help you apply lessons from the episode. https://www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/EpisodeGuideBrightSpotsinHealthCare032626.pdf Key Insights Summary: Find key insights from the discussion and guest takeaways from the conversation. https://www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Key-Insights-03-26-26.docx.pdf Resources: Report: Moving Specialty Care Upstream: From Episodic Intervention to Longitudinal Outcomes This companion report from Vori Health explores how physician-led, longitudinal care models are helping organizations identify risk earlier, guide members more effectively, and improve outcomes over time. Drawing on real-world implementation, it highlights how combining clinical expertise with data, AI, and coordinated care pathways can shift specialty care from reactive treatment to continuous management. Inside, you’ll find insights on: Extending specialty care beyond traditional encounters to support members earlier in their journey Designing clinically grounded care pathways that guide members to the right level of care at the right time Using data, wearables, and AI to surface risk that is not visible in traditional workflows Reducing unnecessary escalation, procedures, and downstream cost through earlier intervention Building scalable models that combine centralized coordination with physician-led care delivery Why longitudinal accountability is becoming essential as expectations for outcomes, experience, and cost continue to rise To request your copy, reach out to show producer Nicole Roberts at nroberts@brightspotsventures.com Thank You to Our Episode Partner, Vori Health By combining a physician-led care model with data-driven insights and longitudinal support, Vori Health is helping extend specialty care beyond episodic encounters and into continuous, whole-person care. In addition to improving access, Vori Health drives better outcomes, stronger member engagement, and meaningful reductions in unnecessary procedures and total cost of care. You can learn more at Schedule a Meeting with a Vori Health Leader: To explore how Vori Health can support your organization in delivering physician-led, longitudinal specialty care and guiding members earlier to the right level of care, reach out to show producer Nicole Roberts at nroberts@brightspotsventures.com to schedule a conversation with a senior leader from Vori Health. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what’s working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the “bright spots” in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/40682295

Texas A&M, HCA & Houston Methodist: What It Really Takes to Fix Rural Healthcare Access 03/25/2026

Texas A&M, HCA & Houston Methodist: What It Really Takes to Fix Rural Healthcare Access In this Bright Spots in Healthcare episode, host Eric Glazer convenes provider and health system leaders working at the front lines of rural healthcare transformation across Texas. The conversation explores what it actually takes to extend clinical expertise across distance, workforce shortages, and infrastructure gaps, and how organizations are redesigning care delivery to meet patients where they are. This is a candid discussion for leaders navigating real operational constraints while building models that can scale. Together, the panel explores how hybrid care, digital infrastructure, and new collaboration models are reshaping access across some of the most complex care environments in the country. Our guests include: Pothik Chatterjee, MBA, Executive Director, Digital Health Institute, Rice University & Houston Methodist Reyann Davis, MPH, Director of Value-Based Care, Rural and Community Health Institute, Texas A&M Health Indira Vadlamani, MD, Division Medical Director, Gulf Coast Division, HCA Houston Healthcare Together, they explore: How rural health systems are addressing structural barriers including workforce shortages, transportation challenges, and limited broadband access What it takes to redesign workflows and build repeatable operational playbooks that can scale across rural hospitals How virtual care models such as Virtual ICUs, remote monitoring, and multidisciplinary collaboration are extending clinical expertise beyond traditional settings What actually works when organizations combine centralized support, local care teams, and hybrid care models to improve access and outcomes How emerging technologies including AI, wearables, and remote diagnostics are enabling earlier intervention, improving efficiency, and reducing strain on clinicians This episode offers an inside look at how leaders are building practical, scalable models to close rural care gaps, and what it takes to make those models work in real-world conditions. Panelist Bios: Download the Episode Guide: Get key takeaways and expert highlights to help you apply lessons from the episode. Key Insights Summary: Find key insights from the discussion, guest takeaways, and detailed moderator notes captured by Eric during the conversation. Resources: Report: Expanding Access to High-Quality School Health Services Across the U.S. This companion report from Avel eCare explores how school-based virtual care models can expand access to timely, high-quality care for students, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Drawing on real-world implementation, the report shows how connecting schools with remote clinicians and equipping them with diagnostic tools can reduce care delays, improve outcomes, and bring clinical expertise directly into the classroom. Inside, you’ll find insights on: Extending care into schools to overcome barriers related to transportation, workforce shortages, and limited access to providers Designing hybrid care models that combine school staff with remote clinicians to deliver real-time medical evaluations Using connected diagnostic tools to enable in-school exams that replicate in-clinic care Reducing unnecessary emergency department visits while keeping students in school and engaged in learning Building scalable models that leverage centralized clinical expertise while maintaining local presence and trust Why school-based care is becoming a critical access point as pediatric care gaps continue to widen To request your copy from show producer, Jessica Tenzer at email . Thank You to Our Episode Partner, TytoCare: TytoCare is transforming how providers and health plans deliver care by enabling remote, medical-grade exams from home and community settings. Through its Home Smart Clinic and Pro Smart Clinic, TytoCare combines FDA-cleared diagnostic tools with AI-powered guidance to help clinicians deliver real-time diagnosis and care beyond traditional settings. This approach drives higher utilization, improves access, reduces unnecessary emergency department visits, and delivers measurable impact across diverse populations. Learn more at Schedule a Meeting with a TytoCare Leader: To explore how TytoCare can support your organization in extending care into homes, schools, and community settings, reach out to show producer Jessica Tenzer at jtenzer@brightspotsventures.com to schedule a meeting with a senior leader from TytoCare. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what’s working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the “bright spots” in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/40613820

Turning AI into Real Results: A Population Health Blueprint from UC Davis Health 03/18/2026

Turning AI into Real Results: A Population Health Blueprint from UC Davis Health In this episode of Bright Spots in Healthcare, recorded live at the ViVE 2026 conference, Eric Glazer sits down with Dr. Reshma Gupta from UC Davis Health to explore how health systems can translate artificial intelligence and predictive analytics into real operational improvement. As Chief of Population Health and Accountable Care, Reshma focuses on turning data and predictive insight into measurable outcomes across prevention, care management, and accountable care programs. Her work highlights a central challenge facing healthcare leaders today: many organizations have the models, but far fewer have built the workflows, governance, and operational alignment needed to turn those insights into action. The conversation dives into: Why successful AI initiatives connect predictions directly to clinical workflows, incentives, and operational ownership How UC Davis Health expanded its high risk population health strategy into the Emergency Department Approaches to measuring the value of prevention including avoided admissions and downstream outcomes Where predictive analytics supports prevention and population health within accountable care models How UC Davis developed the BE FAIR framework to evaluate predictive models for bias and equity The governance structures that help health systems move quickly with AI while maintaining trust and accountability Practical lessons for moving AI from isolated pilots into measurable performance improvement This discussion offers a practical blueprint for health system leaders working to strengthen prevention, population health, and accountable care through data driven insight. The organizations seeing real results are those aligning data, workflow, incentives, and governance so predictive insight translates into better decisions and measurable outcomes. References: BE FAIR Framework: UC Davis Health’s framework for assessing, implementing, and redesigning predictive models to reduce bias and improve equity in healthcare. UC Davis Health AI for Population Health: How UC Davis Health uses predictive analytics to identify patients at risk and support earlier intervention in population health programs. Reshma Gupta Bio: Partner with Bright Spots Ventures: If you are interested in speaking with the Bright Spots Ventures team to brainstorm how we can help you grow your business through credibility building content and trusted executive relationships, email About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what’s working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the “bright spots” in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/40526355

Highmark, Healthfirst, Colorado Access & DarioHealth: Redesigning Care Between Visits 03/04/2026

Highmark, Healthfirst, Colorado Access & DarioHealth: Redesigning Care Between Visits In this Bright Spots in Healthcare episode, host Eric Glazer convenes health plan leaders who are focused on what happens beyond the clinic visit, the moments between care where behavior, adherence, and risk quietly take shape. The conversation centers on how plans are operationalizing care without proximity by extending support into daily life, redesigning benefit strategies, and moving from episodic measurement to longitudinal influence. This is a candid discussion for executives who are still building, still questioning assumptions, and still shaping what sustainable, whole-person care can become. Together, the panel explores how digitally enabled self-management, continuous insight, and targeted human support are changing how plans influence outcomes over time. Our guests include: Timothy Law, DO, MBA, Chief Medical Officer, Highmark Inc. Deborah Hammond, MD, Vice President, Medical Director, Healthfirst Jamie Zajac, Senior Director of Care Coordination, Colorado Access Omar Manejwala, MD, Chief Medical Officer, DarioHealth Together, they explore: How health plans are designing care models around daily life rather than visit cadence, closing visibility gaps that claims and labs fail to capture What actually works when continuous engagement, behavioral support, and real-time data are combined to influence adherence and sustained behavior change How home-based data capture, AI-driven personalization, and integrated human coaching are improving outcomes across cardiometabolic, behavioral health, and musculoskeletal populations How these capabilities are being embedded into care management, quality improvement, and benefit design, particularly in environments facing access barriers, workforce constraints, and geographic limitations This episode offers an honest look at the structural, operational, and cultural shifts required to manage what happens between visits, and why that interval is where outcomes are ultimately won. Panelist Bios: Download the Episode Guide: Get key takeaways and expert highlights to help you apply lessons from the episode. Key Insights Summary: Find key insights from the discussion, guest takeaways, and detailed moderator notes captured by Eric during the conversation. https://www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Key-Takeaways_-Care-Without-Proximity-02-26-26.docx.pdf Resources: Report: Designing Benefits for Care Without Proximity and Sustained Outcomes This companion report examines how health plans can redesign benefits to address the most overlooked driver of outcomes: what happens in the time between clinical visits. Drawing on emerging evidence and real-world implementation, the report shows how continuous guidance, low-friction engagement, and integrated human support can influence daily behavior, preserve outcomes beyond treatment, and close the gap between what is authorized and what actually happens. Inside, you’ll find insights on: Reframing benefit design from static access and eligibility rules to longitudinal accountability for sustained behavior Using data from daily life, behavioral, biometric, and contextual to move beyond lagging claims and EHR signals Applying operational personalization to intervene earlier and adapt support as member needs change Integrating targeted human support with technology to manage the transition after treatment and prevent backsliding Why investing in care without proximity is becoming urgent as workforce constraints and chronic disease prevalence continue to rise To request your copy from show producer, Vekonda Luangaphay at email . Thank You to Our Episode Partner, Dario: Dario is transforming how people manage their health through consumer-friendly digital solutions designed to drive lasting behavior change. By integrating comprehensive support across well-being and chronic condition management, Dario delivers highly personalized, adaptive experiences that help members stay engaged over time—resulting in meaningful clinical outcomes and measurable financial impact for health plans. Learn more at . Schedule a Meeting with Omar Manejwala, MD, of Dario: To explore how Dario can support your organization in extending care beyond the clinic and driving sustained behavior change, reach outshow producer, Vekonda Luangaphay at email to schedule a meeting with Omar Manejwala, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Dario. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what’s working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the “bright spots” in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/40308165

Sidecar Health CEO Patrick Quigley: Fixing Health Insurance by Rewiring the Incentives 02/24/2026

Sidecar Health CEO Patrick Quigley: Fixing Health Insurance by Rewiring the Incentives What happens when a health plan stops trying to optimize a legacy system and instead rebuilds the model itself? In this episode of Bright Spots in Healthcare, Eric Glazer sits down with Patrick Quigley, CEO and co-founder of Sidecar Health, for a candid conversation about redesigning health insurance around transparency, incentives, and consumer agency. Rather than focusing on incremental reform, this discussion explores what changes when members can see prices before they receive care, when benefits are structured around clear dollar amounts instead of opaque contracts, and when savings can be shared directly with the individual making the decision. Patrick walks through why traditional insurance design obscures cost and distorts behavior, how employers are responding to rising spend and limited visibility, and what it takes operationally to challenge long standing assumptions about how plans should work. Using examples from employer adoption, member purchasing behavior, and provider pricing dynamics, the conversation surfaces how transparency becomes more than a feature. It becomes the foundation for accountability and market discipline. This episode is designed for health plan leaders, employers, and innovators who are no longer asking whether affordability is a problem, but are questioning whether the current structure can solve it. In this episode, we cover: Why price opacity persists in traditional insurance models What changes when members see real time, upfront pricing How defined benefit structures alter purchasing decisions Why employers are increasingly open to alternative plan design How financial alignment influences utilization patterns The operational realities of building a new insurance model What industry leaders must unlearn to create sustainable affordability About Patrick Quigley: Patrick Quigley is the CEO and co-founder of Sidecar Health, a health insurance company built on a transparency first model. Under his leadership, the organization has focused on creating plans that show members clear prices, allow them to choose providers freely, and share savings when care costs less than expected. His work centers on restoring consumer visibility and aligning incentives across members, providers, and employers to address the structural drivers of healthcare cost growth. Learn more about Patrick Quigley - Partner with Bright Spots Ventures: If you are interested in speaking with the Bright Spots Ventures team to brainstorm how we can help you grow your business via content and relationships, email hkrish@brightspotsventures.com. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what's working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the "bright spots" in healthcare—proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . Visit our website: . Follow Bright Spots in Healthcare: /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/40228605

How Highmark, Independent Health, Johns Hopkins Health Plans, and MedOrion Are Rebuilding Member Engagement in Medicare Advantage 02/17/2026

How Highmark, Independent Health, Johns Hopkins Health Plans, and MedOrion Are Rebuilding Member Engagement in Medicare Advantage In this Bright Spots in Healthcare episode, Medicare Advantage leaders confront a hard truth: high activity does not guarantee high impact. As Stars cut points rise and margins tighten, traditional segmentation and broad outreach strategies are no longer sufficient. This discussion explores how leading plans are shifting from static stratification to dynamic signal monitoring, identifying which members are realistically movable, and embedding behavioral intelligence directly into operational workflows. The focus is not on doing more. It is on doing what measurably drives lift. Our guests include: Amin Serehali, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Independent Health Mike Leiper, Director of Government Quality Programs, Highmark Brendan Generelli, Director of Medicare Stars and Quality, Johns Hopkins Health Plans David Burianek, Chief Strategy Officer for Health Plans, MedOrion Together, they explore: How plans are distinguishing between theoretical risk and practical movability, concentrating outreach on members whose behavior can realistically change within a defined window. How leading organizations are integrating claims, pharmacy, grievance, complaint, and social drivers data with behavioral science modeling to move beyond rules based campaigns. Why simultaneous pressure across HEDIS, CAHPS, and Part D often reflects fragmentation in engagement strategy rather than isolated measure failures. How targeted pilots within defined populations create clarity before scaling enterprise wide changes. Why timing is emerging as a strategic lever, with continuous signal monitoring replacing annual segmentation refresh cycles. How embedding intelligence into frontline workflows improves alignment between engagement effort and measurable Stars influence. Panelist Bios: Download the Episode Guide: Get key takeaways and expert highlights to help you apply lessons from the episode. Key Insights Summary: Find the top six strategic insights from the discussion, including detailed speaker takeaways and moderator notes. Resources: Companion Brief: From Segmentation to Signals This companion brief expands on the behavioral intelligence framework discussed in the episode, outlining how health plans can identify movable phenotypes, align engagement timing with readiness signals, and measure causal lift against specific Stars drivers. Inside you will find insights on: Shifting from annual risk stratification to continuous behavioral signal monitoring Identifying members whose behavior is realistically influenceable within a defined measurement window Reducing wasted outreach and improving ROI through precision targeting Embedding intelligence into operational workflows rather than post hoc reporting To request your copy, email nroberts@brightspotsventures.com. Thank You to Our Episode Partner, MedOrion: Medorion partners with Medicare Advantage plans to integrate behavioral science and advanced analytics into engagement strategy. By layering behavioral phenotyping onto clinical and utilization data, Medorion helps plans identify which members are movable, optimize outreach timing, and improve measurable Stars performance. Learn more at . Schedule a Conversation with MedOrion: To explore how behavioral intelligence can strengthen your engagement strategy and improve measurable lift across HEDIS, CAHPS, and Part D, reach out to to schedule a discussion with David Burianek and the Medorion team. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures helps healthcare leaders separate signal from noise and accelerate the adoption of what works. We bring health plan, provider, and innovation leaders together through curated content and high-trust convenings to build meaningful relationships and turn insight into action. Explore our podcast at . /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/40143070

From Experience to ROI: How Mount Sinai Is Rethinking Diagnostics, AI, and the Inpatient Care Journey 02/11/2026

From Experience to ROI: How Mount Sinai Is Rethinking Diagnostics, AI, and the Inpatient Care Journey This episode features a highlighted segment from the ROI Centered Care Virtual Summit, produced by Bright Spots Ventures in partnership with TytoCare and the American Telemedicine Association. In this conversation, Eric Glazer sits down with Fernando Carnavali, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Chief of General Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System, to explore how large academic health systems can translate patient experience, diagnostics, and technology innovation into measurable ROI. Rather than focusing on new tools for their own sake, Dr. Carnavali reframes the challenge: how to use existing data, connected devices, and AI-enabled diagnostics to improve the full patient journey, before, during, and after the visit while also supporting a stretched clinical workforce. Drawing on Mount Sinai’s real-world operating environment, the conversation explores how experience, communication, and clinical efficiency are increasingly inseparable from financial performance, especially in inpatient and general internal medicine settings. This discussion moves beyond pilot thinking to address what it takes to operationalize innovation at scale inside a complex health system. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why patient experience is a longitudinal journey, not a post-visit survey score How Mount Sinai is using technology and diagnostics to strengthen communication, not replace clinicians The role of AI and connected devices in improving both patient and provider experience Why workforce constraints in primary and general internal medicine demand new care models How health systems can focus on what’s already within their control to drive ROI Why proving clinical and economic value upfront is essential to scaling innovation About Dr. Fernando Carnavali: Dr. Carnavali is the Chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine for Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West (MSM/MSW) and serves as the Medical Director of the Long COVID Satellite Clinic at Mount Sinai Doctors Ansonia (MSD-Ansonia). In this role, Dr. Carnavali oversees a large, complex division with eight outpatient service locations spanning Manhattan’s West Side from Harlem to Chelsea. Clinically, he focuses on the treatment and management of chronic illness, with a particular emphasis on Long COVID care. In early 2020, Dr. Carnavali led MSM/MSW’s outpatient response to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizing early testing and triage for community patients and serving for eight weeks on the inpatient COVID units—an experience that provided firsthand insight into the impact of SARS-CoV-2 in New York City. In May 2021, he coordinated the launch of the Long COVID Clinic at MSD Ansonia and continues to personally evaluate new and ongoing patients each week. Committed to sharing Mount Sinai’s expertise in Long COVID care, Dr. Carnavali has participated in numerous national and international forums, training providers in this emerging field. He has also built a strong media presence, spotlighting both the Ansonia clinic and the Mount Sinai Long COVID program to raise public awareness. Since 2024, he has served as Co-Principal Investigator on a grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Department of Health and Human Services titled “Evaluation of Long COVID Care Practices.” In addition to Long COVID work, Dr. Carnavali leads outpatient practice transformation initiatives across MSM/MSW and the Mount Sinai Health System, guiding quality improvement teams to enhance patient satisfaction, improve access to care, and explore innovative service models. Podcast Recommendation: Check out Access Amplified, brought to you by TytoCare and hosted by Joanna Braunold - a podcast about how digital health is helping increase access to care and equity, one innovation at a time. We’ll shine a light on what’s actually working to make care more accessible and inclusive. If you’re a healthcare leader, an innovator, a policy shaper, or anyone passionate about health equity, this podcast is for you. New episodes drop every two weeks. Follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Thank You to Our Episode Partner, TytoCare. TytoCare enables health systems and plans to deliver high-quality remote exams anytime, anywhere. Their FDA-cleared devices and AI-powered diagnostic platform support virtual specialty care, school-based programs, and home health models—reducing unnecessary ED visits and improving patient experience. To learn more, visit . Schedule a Meeting with a Senior Leader at TytoCare: To explore how TytoCare can help your organization expand virtual specialty access and improve care coordination, reach out to to schedule a meeting. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what’s working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the “bright spots” in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/40069040

How Sutter Health Is Rebuilding the Physician Pipeline 02/03/2026

How Sutter Health Is Rebuilding the Physician Pipeline What happens when a health system stops trying to recruit its way out of a workforce challenge, and instead redesigns the pipeline itself? In this episode of Bright Spots in Healthcare, Eric Glazer sits down with Dr. Lindsay Mazotti, Chief Medical Officer of Medical Science and Education at Sutter Health, for a candid, system-level conversation about rethinking how physicians are trained, supported, and developed for the future of care. Rather than focusing on workforce shortages as a policy or awareness problem, this conversation explores what happens after the reality is already clear—when leaders choose to redesign foundational systems instead of managing around constraints. Dr. Mazotti shares how Sutter is treating graduate medical education as strategic infrastructure, not an academic side function, and what it takes to build a physician pipeline that can scale, adapt, and endure. Using examples from rural training pathways, academic partnerships, research translation, and digital transformation, the discussion surfaces how education becomes the load-bearing structure that allows health systems to absorb change without breaking. This episode is designed for health system leaders who are no longer asking whether change is needed, but are grappling with how to build systems that can carry what’s coming next. In this episode, we cover: Why physician shortages can’t be solved through recruiting alone How Sutter is redesigning the physician pipeline end to end What changes when graduate medical education is treated as core infrastructure How training clinicians for place shapes rural and underserved care delivery Why education is the missing link between research, digital innovation, and day-to-day care Where clinician training determines adoption—or abandonment—of new technologies The leadership tradeoffs that come with moving from individual patient care to system-level impact What leaders must unlearn when building durable, long-term capability About Dr. Lindsay Mazotti: Dr. Lindsay Mazotti leads system-wide initiatives at Sutter Health that advance medical education, research, and innovation in support of the organization’s mission to deliver exceptional, patient-centered care to more than 3 million patients across 22 counties in Northern California. In her role, she focuses on strategically integrating medical education into the health system’s infrastructure to align with long-term priorities, including Sutter’s Destination 2030 initiative. Dr. Mazotti oversees undergraduate and graduate medical education across the system—spanning clinical rotations, scholarships, residency and fellowship programs, and academic partnerships—while working closely with aligned medical groups representing more than 14,000 physicians to develop and support physician educators. Her work centers on building innovative training pathways that address physician workforce needs, align with evolving care delivery models, and strengthen long-term system capability, with the goal of quadrupling Sutter’s GME footprint by 2030 to become the largest community-based GME program in California. Learn more about Dr. Mazotti - Partner with Bright Spots Ventures: If you are interested in speaking with the Bright Spots Ventures team to brainstorm how we can help you grow your business via content and relationships, email hkrish@brightspotsventures.com. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what's working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the "bright spots" in healthcare—proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . Visit our website: . Follow Bright Spots in Healthcare: /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/39985855

Inside ViVE 2026 with Rich Scarfo (HLTH/ViVE) & Russ Branzell (CHIME) – Part 2: Turning Conversations Into Outcomes 01/27/2026

Inside ViVE 2026 with Rich Scarfo (HLTH/ViVE) & Russ Branzell (CHIME) – Part 2: Turning Conversations Into Outcomes In Part Two of this special ViVE series, the conversation moves from why ViVE exists to how leaders and solution partners actually extract value from it. Eric Glazer continues the discussion with Rich Scarfo, President of HLTH/ViVE, and Russ Branzell, President & CEO of CHIME, focusing on how different audiences experience ViVE and what separates attendees who walk away with clarity and momentum from those who don’t. Rich and Russ share practical perspectives on how senior healthcare leaders should navigate ViVE, how to balance content sessions with curated meetings, and what intentional preparation looks like before, during, and after the event. They also discuss what “showing up the right way” means for solution partners, what makes a partner conversation valuable from an executive standpoint, and how to build trust that extends beyond the conference. If you’re attending ViVE 2026, or deciding how to approach large industry convenings more strategically, this episode offers concrete guidance on how to turn time spent onsite into outcomes that last well beyond the event. Resources: Take a look at what’s in store at ViVE 2026, taking place Feb. 22-25 in Los Angeles - Attend ViVE using discount code V26BSV for $250 off the General Attendee ticket - About Rich Scrafo and Russ Branzell: Rich Scarfo - Russ Branzell - Partner with Bright Spots Ventures: If you are interested in speaking with the Bright Spots Ventures team to brainstorm how we can help you grow your business via content and relationships, email About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what's working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the "bright spots" in healthcare—proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . Visit our website: . Follow Bright Spots in Healthcare: /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/39901665

Inside ViVE 2026 with Rich Scarfo (HLTH/ViVE) and Russ Branzell (CHIME) - Part 1 01/24/2026

Inside ViVE 2026 with Rich Scarfo (HLTH/ViVE) and Russ Branzell (CHIME) - Part 1 ViVE was created to break the mold of healthcare conferences — fewer distractions, more meaningful conversations, and content leaders can act on. In this first episode of a special two-part series, Eric Glazer sits down with Rich Scarfo, President of HLTH/ViVE, and Russ Branzell, President & CEO of CHIME, to unpack the origin of ViVE, the CHIME + HLTH partnership, and what senior leaders can expect in 2026. Together, they explore why executives needed a new kind of platform, what problems they’re trying to solve when they come to ViVE, and how topics like cybersecurity, cost pressure, operational performance, and real-world AI will show up in this year’s programming. They also get into how ViVE approaches content design, moving beyond big ideas to practical context and decision-support leaders can use when they get home. If you’re a healthcare decision-maker evaluating which events matter in 2026, or how to make sense of a fast-changing landscape, this conversation offers clarity straight from the architects of ViVE. Stay tuned for Part Two, where the conversation shifts to how leaders and solution partners get real outcomes from ViVE — from navigating the environment to turning connections into next steps. Resources: Take a look at what’s in store at ViVE 2026, taking place Feb. 22-25 in Los Angeles - Attend ViVE using discount code V26BSV for $250 off the General Attendee ticket - About Rich Scrafo and Russ Branzell: Rich Scarfo - Russ Branzell - Partner with Bright Spots Ventures: If you are interested in speaking with the Bright Spots Ventures team to brainstorm how we can help you grow your business via content and relationships, email About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what's working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the "bright spots" in healthcare—proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . Visit our website: . Follow Bright Spots in Healthcare: /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/39805970

Scott Becker | Motion vs. Momentum & How Healthcare Founders Build Companies That Actually Scale 01/13/2026

Scott Becker | Motion vs. Momentum & How Healthcare Founders Build Companies That Actually Scale What actually determines whether a healthcare business compounds, or quietly stalls? In this episode of Bright Spots in Healthcare, Eric Glazer sits down with Scott Becker, Founder and Publisher of Becker’s Healthcare and host of the Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast, for a candid, experience-driven conversation about building businesses that scale with confidence. Scott has spent decades building, advising, and investing in companies across healthcare, media, law, and private equity. Rather than walking through a framework or checklist, this conversation focuses on the real decisions founders and operators are facing right now, especially in a market defined by long sales cycles, regulated buyers, capital pressure, and increasing scrutiny on value. Using Scott’s new book, Building Great Businesses, as a backbone, the discussion explores how leaders can cut through noise and false urgency to focus on what actually matters. In this episode, we cover: The difference between motion and real momentum in healthcare go-to-market Why founders often mistake pilots, logos, or activity for traction What healthcare leaders tend to over-optimize early, and under-invest in What true product-market fit looks like when buyers are risk-averse Why niche focus and reference customers matter more in healthcare than in other sectors How and when outside capital helps—and when it quietly distorts focus Why the right people matter more than the right idea when building enduring businesses This episode is designed for founders, operators, and senior leaders who are already in the arena, and want clearer thinking about the few decisions that truly determine long-term success. About Scott: Scott Becker is a distinguished entrepreneur, investor, and legal professional who has built a remarkable career at the intersection of healthcare, media, and law. As the founder and publisher of Becker’s Healthcare, a leading healthcare media company, and a longtime partner at McGuireWoods, a top AmLaw firm, Scott has established himself as an authority in his field. With a mission to provide valuable insights and strategies for entrepreneurs and business leaders, Scott draws upon his extensive experience to help others navigate the complexities of building and scaling successful ventures. His expertise spans across various industries, including healthcare, private equity, and venture capital, where he has made significant investments and contributes as an active investor. Scott is also a prolific author, having written several books, including Health Care Law: A Practical Guide, The Physician’s Managed Care Success Manual, The ASC Handbook, and The Entrepreneur’s Edge. He hosts two highly ranked podcasts, Becker’s Healthcare Podcast and Becker Private Equity and Business Podcast, where he shares his knowledge. He has interviewed prominent figures such as George and Laura Bush, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Nikki Haley, and Michael Strahan via Becker’s Healthcare conferences. Scott currently resides in the Chicago suburbs, Palm Beach Gardens, and Deer Valley. When he’s not working on his business endeavors, he can be found pursuing his passions for golf, tennis, fitness, skiing, writing, and speaking. Pre-Order Scott’s book, Building Great Businesses: Create Momentum, Overcome Setbacks, and Scale with Confidence - Notes: Book Recommendations Measure What Matters — John Doerr Profit from the Core: A Return to Growth in Turbulent Times — Chris Zook & James Allen The ONE Thing — Gary Keller 10x Is Easier Than 2x — Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy Who Not How — Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy Unreasonable Hospitality — Will Guidara Podcast Recommendation Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast — hosted by Scott Becker Partner with Bright Spots Ventures: If you are interested in speaking with the Bright Spots Ventures team to brainstorm how we can help you grow your business via content and relationships, email hkrish@brightspotsventures.com. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what's working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the "bright spots" in healthcare—proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . Visit our website: . Follow Bright Spots in Healthcare: /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/39733845

From Empty Spaces to Care Hubs: OSU Medicine’s Virtual Access Playbook 01/07/2026

From Empty Spaces to Care Hubs: OSU Medicine’s Virtual Access Playbook What if your next “new clinic” isn’t a new build at all? This episode features the opening presentation from the recently held ROI Centered Care Summit—a half-day virtual summit produced by Bright Spots Ventures in partnership with TytoCare and the American Telemedicine Association (ATA). Jared Droze, Director of Virtual Care at Oklahoma State University (OSU) Medicine, and Bradley Anderson, DO, Medical Director of Virtual Care at OSU Medicine unpack a practical, scalable access strategy: repurposing vacant facilities and community spaces into hybrid care hubs, bringing “right care, right time” closer to rural and underserved Oklahomans. You’ll hear how OSU Medicine: Builds access models designed for critical access and rural communities Partners with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma to launch a small-footprint hybrid clinic (with on-site staff + virtual clinicians) Extends reach through OSU Extension offices—leveraging trusted local infrastructure to support agricultural and rural populations Uses low-barrier technology and streamlined workflows to make virtual care operationally sustainable Focuses on reducing unnecessary transfers and keeping patients closer to home and family Key topics covered: From “vacant buildings” to community care hubs The Choctaw Nation clinic model: staffing, footprint, patient scope, and sustainability Why a site-based hybrid model (vs. fully remote telehealth) can expand diagnostic capability Patient adoption and trust: what communities say when “the future” shows up on Main Street Extension offices as access points for agricultural workers and rural residents What makes virtual care actually work day-to-day: protocols, training, and reliability If you’re a health system leader, virtual care operator, rural health strategist, or payer/provider partner looking for a real-world blueprint to expand access without massive capital spend—this conversation is for you. Bios: Jared Droze: With over 15 years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare operations, Jared has successfully driven innovation and growth across hospital, outpatient, academic, and virtual care settings. Skilled in strategic operations, physician alignment, and performance management, he has consistently improved financial performance, patient outcomes, and team cohesion in both non-profit and for-profit environments. Currently serving as the Director of Virtual Care at OSU Medicine, Jared is passionate about leveraging technology and collaborative strategies to enhance healthcare accessibility and delivery. Jared holds a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from Oklahoma State University – Center for Health Sciences and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and Secretary of the Telehealth Alliance of Oklahoma. Dr. Bradley Anderson: Dr. Anderson is a distinguished board-certified physician in Internal Medicine, with deep ties to the rural landscapes of Missouri. He commenced his academic journey by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Health Science with a concentration in Radiology from Missouri Southern State University. Advancing his medical aspirations, he earned a Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine in North Carolina, followed by a residency in Internal Medicine at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Anderson’s commitment to healthcare excellence is further reflected in his pursuit of advanced qualifications. He holds a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from Oklahoma State University, a Certificate of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare from Stanford University, and the designation of Certified Telehealth Professional from the American Hospital Association. His career journey led him to join the faculty at Oklahoma State University, where he is the AT&T Endowed Professor of Telemedicine and serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine as well as multiple administrative roles including Vice Chair of OSUMC Internal Medicine Department, Medical Director of Virtual Care, Medical Director of the OSU Health Access Network, and Medical Director of the Hospitalist at Cleveland Area Hospital. He focuses on using technology to address healthcare gaps in underserved communities, schools, and hospitals, specifically through technology and Virtual Care, ensuring specialized medical expertise reaches those in need. He is interested in using artificial intelligence to enhance physicians’ workflow. Podcast Recommendation: Check out Access Amplified, brought to you by TytoCare and hosted by Joanna Braunold - a podcast about how digital health is helping increase access to care and equity, one innovation at a time. We’ll shine a light on what’s actually working to make care more accessible and inclusive. If you’re a healthcare leader, an innovator, a policy shaper, or anyone passionate about health equity, this podcast is for you. New episodes drop every two weeks. Follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Thank You to Our Episode Partner, TytoCare. TytoCare enables health systems and plans to deliver high-quality remote exams anytime, anywhere. Their FDA-cleared devices and AI-powered diagnostic platform support virtual specialty care, school-based programs, and home health models—reducing unnecessary ED visits and improving patient experience. To learn more, visit . Schedule a Meeting with a Senior Leader at TytoCare: To explore how TytoCare can help your organization expand virtual specialty access and improve care coordination, reach out to to schedule a meeting. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what’s working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the “bright spots” in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/39638665

From Mint to Medicine: How Aaron Patzer Is Fixing Patient Communication 12/30/2025

From Mint to Medicine: How Aaron Patzer Is Fixing Patient Communication What happens when the founder of Mint.com takes on one of healthcare’s most broken experiences—patient communication? In this episode of Bright Spots in Healthcare, Eric Glazer sits down with Aaron Patzer, Founder and CEO of Vital, to explore how simplicity, clarity, and human-centered design can drive real impact in healthcare. Drawing from his journey building Mint, Aaron shares why most healthcare technology misses the mark, how better communication improves outcomes and ROI, and what leaders must do to design experiences people actually use. The conversation goes deep on: Why simplifying complexity—not adding more tech—is the real innovation How better patient communication drives measurable ROI for hospitals What healthcare leaders can learn from consumer tech about trust, adoption, and engagement The leadership principles Aaron relies on when innovating inside highly regulated, slow-moving systems If you’re a healthcare leader navigating digital transformation, AI investment decisions, or experience strategy, this episode offers clear thinking, hard-earned lessons, and proof that when you make it easier for people to understand what’s happening, everything works better. References: Book Reference - The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman About Aaron: Aaron Patzer is a renowned entrepreneur, engineer, and innovator best known as the founder of Mint.com, the personal finance platform that revolutionized money management for millions of users. After launching Mint in 2007, Patzer led it to rapid success, growing the user base to over 25 million and overseeing its acquisition by Intuit in 2009. A passionate advocate for user-centered design and simplicity in complex systems, Patzer built Mint.com by combining his technical acumen with a deep understanding of user experience and behavioral finance. He holds degrees in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and a Master’s from Princeton University. Following Mint, Patzer continued to push boundaries in tech and health innovation. He co-founded Vital, a healthcare startup focused on improving hospital emergency room, urgent care, and inpatient experiences using AI and design thinking. Ranked by KLAS as #1 in patient experience, Vital achieves concrete results: 30–50% fewer LWOBS/AMA, 10–15% higher NPS, stronger HCAHPS scores, reduced ED bounce- back, and 10% lower 30-day readmissions. Designed to integrate seamlessly with existing EHR systems, Vital provides a user-friendly interface that engages patients, resulting in 60%+ adoption rates, 5-10x higher than the competition. View our product overview. Partner with Bright Spots Ventures: If you are interested in speaking with the Bright Spots Ventures team to brainstorm how we can help you grow your business via content and relationships, email hkrish@brightspotsventures.com About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what's working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the "bright spots" in healthcare—proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . Visit our website: . Follow Bright Spots in Healthcare: /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/39570300

Precision Health, AI & Engagement: Dr. Carolyn Jasik on Verily’s Vision for Consumer-Centered Care 12/24/2025

Precision Health, AI & Engagement: Dr. Carolyn Jasik on Verily’s Vision for Consumer-Centered Care Recorded live at HLTH, this episode of Bright Spots in Healthcare features Dr. Carolyn Jasik, Associate Chief Clinical Officer at Verily, an Alphabet company focused on precision health innovation at scale. Carolyn shares how Verily has evolved through multiple “moonshot” phases, from devices and research to its current focus on precision health, combining AI, data science, and clinical expertise to deliver the right intervention to the right person at the right time. Drawing from her background as a pediatrician, behavioral scientist, and former digital health executive, Carolyn explains why healthcare transformation must move beyond the clinic and into people’s daily lives, meeting them in moments that actually matter. In this conversation, you’ll hear about: What precision health really means beyond the buzzword, and why timing and context are everything How Verily Me enables consumers to interact with their health records, ask questions, and identify gaps in care The role of AI coaches and human clinicians working together, not in competition Why Verily is taking a direct-to-consumer-first approach to crack the engagement problem in healthcare How licensed nurses, HIPAA-protected AI, and real-time support can transform patient experience Carolyn’s long-term vision for AI agents like Violet to meaningfully extend care teams and reduce clinician burden This episode offers a thoughtful, human-centered look at how AI can help people feel seen, supported, and cared for while laying the foundation for scalable, enterprise-grade precision health. If you’re building, buying, or deploying digital health solutions, this conversation provides a grounded blueprint for what consumer trust, engagement, and impact really require. Bio: References: Verily Me - Partner with Bright Spots Ventures: If you are interested in speaking with the Bright Spots Ventures team to brainstorm how we can help you grow your business via content and relationships, email hkrish@brightspotsventures.com About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what's working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the "bright spots" in healthcare—proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . Visit our website: . Follow Bright Spots in Healthcare: /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/39524205

WellSense, CareSource & GroundGame.Health: Medicaid Work Requirements and the New Engagement Playbook 12/16/2025

WellSense, CareSource & GroundGame.Health: Medicaid Work Requirements and the New Engagement Playbook In this Bright Spots in Healthcare episode, host Eric Glazer brings together senior Medicaid health plan leaders to explore how organizations are rethinking communication strategies in response to redetermination and upcoming work requirements. The conversation dives into how plans are combining cultural competency, behavioral insights, and data-driven personalization to strengthen member connections, improve retention, and support equity-focused outcomes. Real-world examples and best practices provide actionable guidance for health plans navigating these sweeping policy changes. Our guests include: Molly Whittle, Vice President, Medicaid Fiscal Strategy, WellSense Health Plan Terrie Hottle, Director of Product Implementation and Deployment, CareSource Abner Mason, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, GroundGame.Health Together, they explore: How Medicaid health plans are adapting communication priorities in response to redetermination and evolving work requirements. Innovative strategies to reach and retain hard-to-contact populations through culturally responsive and personalized engagement. How to transform compliance-driven outreach into trust-based, member-focused communication that supports long-term retention and health outcomes. Practical examples of leveraging behavioral insights, life coaching, and personalized messaging to improve engagement, close care gaps, and support members’ social and health needs. Panelist Bios: Download the Episode Guide: Get key takeaways and expert highlights to help you apply lessons from the episode. Download the Key Insights Summary: Find key insights from the discussion: Resources: HMA’s new report on the CareSource JobConnect Program: Report: How Medicaid Payers can Prepare for New Work Requirements Coming in Early 2027 The Reconciliation Act of 2025, signed on July 4th, introduces new Medicaid work requirements. Beginning in January 2027, states will be required to verify at both application and renewal that members of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expansion group meet these requirements. A few highlights that stood out: The disruption will be significant: The CBO projects 10 million people could become uninsured by 2034 due to work requirements. Most losses aren’t intentional: In Arkansas, 18,000 individuals lost coverage in seven months—largely because the reporting system was too complex to navigate. Waiting is the biggest risk: The report states plainly: “Payers need to act now… the biggest issue is waiting too long to engage.” Five practical steps to start today: From identifying high-risk members early and communicating before the state does, to automating exemption processes and enabling consent-based data sharing. To request your copy, email show producer, Vekonda Luangaphay at vluangaphay@brightspotsventures.com Thank You to Our Episode Partner, GroundGame Health: GroundGame is a human impact company that helps Medicaid members stay covered and get care by removing the real-world barriers that stand in their way. They do this through human connection. Community-based engagement. Meeting members where they are and creating a culturally tailored experience at the level of the individual. Their Right Touch model blends personalized outreach with deep relationships across community organizations to close quality gaps, surface hidden needs, and actually solve them. Learn more at Schedule a Meeting with Abner Mason, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer at GroundGame.Health. To explore how GroundGame.Health can help your organization reduce churn, build trust, and keep Medicaid members connected to care through human-to-human, community-based engagement, reach out to show producer, Vekonda Luangaphay, to schedule a meeting with Abner Mason, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, GroundGame.Health. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what’s working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the “bright spots” in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/39424550

How CareFirst, Blue Shield CA and Vori Health Drive Success in the New MA Ratings Era 12/10/2025

How CareFirst, Blue Shield CA and Vori Health Drive Success in the New MA Ratings Era In this Bright Spots in Healthcare episode, host Eric Glazer brings together Medicare Advantage leaders who are rethinking how digital first and whole person strategies can meet rising Stars expectations. The conversation explores how plans are simplifying engagement, strengthening provider alignment, and integrating specialty and virtual care models to improve quality, experience, and overall performance in the new ratings era. Our guests include: Lisa Franklin, Director of Medicare Business, Product, and Marketing, Strategic Growth and Government Programs, Carefirst Christine McKinney, Vice President Customer Experience and Digital Transformation Blue Shield of California Mary O’Connor, MD, Chief Medical Officer & Co-Founder, Vori Health Together, they explore: How CareFirst reduced member friction by consolidating 175 touchpoints a year into a coordinated digital first experience built around scrolling content cards, real time click behavior, and simplified onboarding. How Vori Health is integrating whole person MSK care with payers through value based arrangements that support coaching, nutrition, behavioral health screening, and earlier risk identification. How Blue Shield of California built a continuous CAHPS simulation program to uncover pain points and used those insights to create the Care Navigation Desk for real time access help. How digital tools like online scheduling, integrated member health records, and proactive pharmacy cost transparency are reducing friction and helping seniors navigate the ecosystem more independently. How plans are using AI and preference based engagement to support new Medicare members, improve medication adherence, and scale outreach during market disruptions. Panelist Bios: Download the Episode Guide: Get key takeaways and expert highlights to help you apply lessons from the episode. Key Insights Summary: Find key insights from the discussion, guest takeaways, and detailed moderator notes captured by Eric during the conversation. Resources: Report: How Physician Led MSK Care Supports Stars Improvement and Whole Person Outcomes This companion report highlights how Vori Health’s physician-led, virtual first musculoskeletal care model helps Medicare Advantage plans strengthen performance in the new ratings environment. It includes data and real member stories showing how hybrid specialty access, early gap closure, and whole person support improve outcomes, reduce unnecessary MSK spend, and enhance member experience. Inside you will find insights on Improving access through forty eight hour specialty appointments Reducing opioid use and unnecessary surgeries Supporting preventive screenings and chronic condition management Elevating member satisfaction across measures tied to the 2026 Stars program To request your copy, email . Buyer’s Guide: The Comprehensive Guide to MSK Care for Health Plans This companion report gives health plans a clear framework for improving MSK strategy, highlighting how fragmented, high cost pathways drive unnecessary imaging, procedures, and surgeries without resolving pain. It outlines four MSK care models and the key elements of a high value program such as physician led care, holistic support, non opioid management, strong engagement, and real claims based ROI. It also shows how solutions like Vori Health bring these components together through coordinated, hybrid access and measurable improvements in outcomes and cost. Inside you will find insights on Improving MSK access and coordination across care models Designing physician led, whole person programs that address root causes of pain Reducing unnecessary imaging, procedures, and surgeries Driving stronger engagement, better outcomes, and meaningful cost savings To request your copy, email . Thank You to Our Episode Partner, Vori Health: Vori Health is a physician-led musculoskeletal care practice that delivers fast, evidence-based hybrid care for back, neck, and joint pain. Their whole person approach improves outcomes, reduces unnecessary MSK costs, and supports stronger Medicare Advantage Star Ratings. Learn more at . Schedule a Meeting with a Dr. Mary O’Connor of Vori Health: To explore how Vori Health can help your organization strengthen whole person MSK care and support better Stars performance, reach out to to schedule a meeting with Dr. Mary O’Connor, CMO and Co-founder, Vori Health. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what’s working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the “bright spots” in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/39349620

AMA & Health2047: Warren Templeton on Transforming Healthcare Through Venture Innovation 12/03/2025

AMA & Health2047: Warren Templeton on Transforming Healthcare Through Venture Innovation Recorded live at HLTH, this episode of Bright Spots in Healthcare takes you inside Health2047, the venture studio founded by the American Medical Association to tackle some of healthcare’s gnarliest problems. Host Eric Glazer sits down with Warren Templeton, Managing Director at Health2047, to explore how the AMA is backing founders at the earliest stages to reshape physician workflows, chronic disease management, and data liquidity. Warren shares how Health2047 partners with science- and clinician-led startups at the pre-seed and seed stages, wrapping founders with commercial strategy, clinical and billing expertise, and an evergreen capital model that matches healthcare’s longer time horizons. He also unpacks why humility and conviction are the two non-negotiable traits he looks for in founders. You’ll hear real-world examples from Health2047’s portfolio, including: Zing Health – a Medicare Advantage plan built for underserved communities, rooted in social determinants of health and community-based design Phenomics Health – an obesity phenotyping company born from a “failed” diabetes prevention bet, now helping match patients to the right GLP-1s, procedures, and care pathways ScholarRx – a global medical education platform partnering with the WHO to enable high-quality “tertiary care in the wild” for clinicians around the world Warren and Eric also dig into: Why traditional 5–7 year VC timelines often clash with healthcare reality How to balance breakthrough science with practical workflow integration and commercial viability The impact KPIs Health2047 tracks beyond IRR, including lives and care teams impacted If you’re a founder, investor, or healthcare leader trying to build something that actually works in the real world—not just on a pitch deck—this conversation offers a candid look at what it takes to design, fund, and scale the next generation of healthcare companies. Bio: References: Health2047’s portfolio companies mentioned in the episode: Zing Health - Phenomics Health - ScholarRx - Partner with Bright Spots Ventures: If you are interested in speaking with the Bright Spots Ventures team to brainstorm how we can help you grow your business via content and relationships, email hkrish@brightspotsventures.com About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what's working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the "bright spots" in healthcare—proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . Visit our website: . Follow Bright Spots in Healthcare: /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/39245415

How Oscar Health + Hy-Vee Are Building a New Local, Tech-Enabled Health Plan 11/25/2025

How Oscar Health + Hy-Vee Are Building a New Local, Tech-Enabled Health Plan Guests: Louis DeStefano, Chief Growth Officer, Oscar Health Jon Van Der Veer, DO, Founder & CEO, Hy-Vee Health In this special HLTH interview, Bright Spots in Healthcare host Eric Glazer speaks with two leaders shaping one of the most innovative payer–provider–retail collaborations in the country: Louis DeStefano, Chief Growth Officer, Oscar Health Jon Van Der Veer, DO, Founder & CEO, Hy-Vee Health Together, Oscar Health and Hy-Vee Health are building a new kind of health plan, one that blends local access, convenient care, primary care-first design, and tech-enabled member experience. Think of it as a hybrid model: part direct primary care, part advanced digital platform, part community-rooted retail ecosystem. This conversation dives into how the two organizations are integrating brick-and-mortar clinics, urgent care, pharmacy, SDOH-friendly retail access, and Oscar’s tech stack, including “Oswell,” Oscar’s AI-powered clinical support tool, to deliver a personalized and coordinated experience. Topics We Cover: Why healthcare must be local, convenient, and relationship-driven How the partnership blends a supermarket chain, primary care clinics, and a tech-enabled health plan into one member experience How ICHRA is opening new doors for employer-driven personalization The role of AI and tools like Oswell in interpreting labs, improving communication, and augmenting care What a modern, scalable direct primary care model could look like The 10-year vision for this collaboration and where it expands next This episode offers a first look into a payer–retail–provider model that could reshape consumer expectations, and redefine how employer-sponsored and individual coverage works in the coming decade. References and Mentions: Learn more about the partnership between Oscar Health and Hy-Vee Health - Meet Oswell, Oscar Health's new health AI agent - Dr. Garrison Bliss, widely recognized as the “Godfather of Direct Primary Care” - Bios: Louis DeStefano: Dr. Jon Van Der Veer: Partner with Bright Spots Ventures: If you are interested in speaking with the Bright Spots Ventures team to brainstorm how we can help you grow your business via content and relationships, email hkrish@brightspotsventures.com About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what's working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the "bright spots" in healthcare—proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . Visit our website: . Follow Bright Spots in Healthcare: /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/39165605

Scaling AI and Innovation with Tampa General's Chief Digital & Innovation Officer 11/18/2025

Scaling AI and Innovation with Tampa General's Chief Digital & Innovation Officer In this episode of Bright Spots in Healthcare, recorded live at the HLTH 2025 conference in Las Vegas, Eric Glazer sits down with Scott Arnold from Tampa General Hospital, one of the nation’s leading academic health systems, to explore their ambitious digital transformation journey. The conversation dives deep into how TGH built a unified digital foundation across a large, geographically dispersed system, enabling them to scale AI solutions that deliver measurable impact on operations, patient care, and the clinician experience. Scott shares his blueprint for modernizing a major health system, moving AI from pilot project to enterprise-wide tool, and provides practical lessons for health system and health plan leaders seeking to reduce burnout, improve satisfaction, and bring innovation to scale. The conversation dives into: Why a single digital operating system, standardizing the EHR, analytics, and phone systems, is the non-negotiable foundation for scalable AI and consistent patient experience The function of TGH Ventures, the dedicated venture arm used to fund and rapidly implement market-vetted digital health solutions The strategy for prioritizing AI deployment by focusing on human-centric problems, such as clinician burnout and nursing staff turnover How TGH partnered with Palantir to create an AI-enabled Care Coordination Operating System (CCOS) that uses real-time data to optimize patient flow and predict risk The critical need for operational governance to prevent AI from being layered on fragmented infrastructure, which often leads to "faster chaos" Building a culture that is grounded in trust, speed, and experimentation to ensure the organization can keep pace with rapid technological evolution This discussion offers a pragmatic, replicable blueprint for any health system ready to modernize with intention and urgency, demonstrating how digital transformation can be grounded in practicality, not just hype. References: Charlie Munger’s famous quote “Trust is one of the greatest economic forces on Earth” Learning from outside healthcare: Scott's view on "taking a page out of Apple" and applying consumer-grade principles to hospital system design Scott Arnold’s Bio: Partner with Bright Spots Ventures: If you are interested in speaking with the Bright Spots Ventures team to brainstorm how we can help you grow your business via content and relationships, email About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what's working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the "bright spots" in healthcare—proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . Visit our website: . Follow Bright Spots in Healthcare: /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/39083930

From Hospital to Home: Scaling Remote Specialty Care to Close Gaps and Reduce Readmissions 11/11/2025

From Hospital to Home: Scaling Remote Specialty Care to Close Gaps and Reduce Readmissions In this Bright Spots in Healthcare episode, host Eric Glazer brings together health system leaders transforming how care continues beyond the hospital stay—using digital coordination, subspecialization, and AI-enabled virtual care to reduce readmissions and improve patient experience. Our guests include: Matthew Sakumoto, MD, Medical Director, Connected Care Clinic, and Regional Chief Medical Informatics Officer, Sutter Health Sean O’Grady, President of Acute and Ambulatory Operations, Endeavor Health Sarah Schenck, MD, Executive Director, Center for Virtual Health, ChristianaCare Tina Nelson, Strategic Partnership Manager, TytoCare Together, they explore: How Sutter Health virtualized Transition-of-Care Management visits to improve post-discharge follow-up, eliminate transportation barriers, and connect hospitalists directly with patients at home. How Endeavor Health is scaling a subspecialized hospital model—combining orthopedics, spine, and cardiovascular centers of excellence with Epic-driven coordination to deliver big-system outcomes in community settings. How ChristianaCare’s Center for Virtual Health delivers “high-frequency, low-intensity” primary care—83% asynchronously—supported by Patient Digital Ambassadors who create human-centered, always-on engagement. How TytoCare and Sanford Health are expanding specialty access across rural communities with FDA-cleared diagnostic technology that brings high-quality remote exams to local clinics. How digital tools and aligned incentives are building a new care ecosystem—one that integrates human connection, data, and technology to keep patients home, healthy, and connected. Panelist Bios: Download the Episode Guide: Get key takeaways and expert highlights to help you apply lessons from the episode. Key Insights Summary: Find key insights from the discussion, guest takeaways, and detailed moderator notes captured by Eric during the conversation. Resources: Case Studies: Scaling remote exams to improve access, reduce costs, and enhance the patient experience These companion resources explore how digital care coordination, subspecialization, and virtual specialty models are reshaping transitions of care. It includes data and stories from Baptist Health and Sanford Health on how to reduce readmissions, enhance clinician satisfaction, and expand access. To request your copy, email . Podcast Recommendation: Check out Access Amplified, brought to you by TytoCare and hosted by Joanna Braunold - a podcast about how digital health is helping increase access to care and equity, one innovation at a time. We’ll shine a light on what’s actually working to make care more accessible and inclusive. If you’re a healthcare leader, an innovator, a policy shaper, or anyone passionate about health equity, this podcast is for you. New episodes drop every two weeks. Follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Thank You to Our Episode Partner, TytoCare. TytoCare enables health systems and plans to deliver high-quality remote exams anytime, anywhere. Their FDA-cleared devices and AI-powered diagnostic platform support virtual specialty care, school-based programs, and home health models—reducing unnecessary ED visits and improving patient experience. To learn more, visit . Schedule a Meeting with a Senior Leader at TytoCare: To explore how TytoCare can help your organization expand virtual specialty access and improve care coordination, reach out to to schedule a meeting. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what’s working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the “bright spots” in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/38992270

Inside Credentialing: Where AI Delivers Measurable ROI for Health Plans 11/04/2025

Inside Credentialing: Where AI Delivers Measurable ROI for Health Plans In this Bright Spots in Healthcare episode, host Eric Glazer sits down with three leaders reshaping one of healthcare’s most overlooked — yet mission-critical — functions: provider credentialing. Credentialing is the quiet infrastructure of trust in healthcare. When it’s done right, patients get timely access to high-quality care, providers get paid faster, and health plans stay compliant. When it fails, backlogs grow, compliance risk skyrockets, provider satisfaction plummets, and member access suffers. Joining Eric for this discussion: Sandra Clarke, Former CFO & COO, Blue Shield of California Brett Dooies, Head of Product, Verifiable Janan Dave, VP of Operations, Verifiable Together, they explore how AI and automation are transforming credentialing from a slow, manual compliance task into a strategic capability that improves efficiency, trust, and network readiness. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why credentialing sits at the intersection of compliance, provider experience, and member access How legacy processes, staffing limits, and messy data create hidden risk, and why backlogs can grow like quicksand Practical ways health plans are applying AI to reduce verification time, speed onboarding, and triage high-risk cases Why the most successful plans treat credentialing as infrastructure, not paperwork Key metrics to track when modernizing credentialing, including turnaround time, backlog clearance, audit readiness, and provider experience What to automate first, and why humans still play a critical oversight role Bright Spots include: 97% automated verification in seconds across millions of records monthly New staffing and automation models that increase speed without compromising compliance Real-world examples where AI prevented risk exposure and accelerated network growth Leadership lessons in adopting AI responsibly and avoiding the “lift-and-shift” trap This conversation offers payer leaders a real-world playbook to modernize credentialing and strengthen the foundation of your healthcare organization. Panelist Bios: Sandra Clarke is a healthcare executive and board advisor with over 25 years of experience leading finance, operations, and large-scale transformation across payer, provider, and life sciences organizations. As former CFO and COO of Blue Shield of California, she oversaw $25B in annual revenue and spearheaded initiatives delivering $700M in annualized savings while reimagining the company’s pharmacy care model. Clarke has also held senior leadership roles at Daiichi Sankyo and Philips Healthcare and serves on multiple healthcare boards. She holds degrees from MIT, Bentley University, and Seton Hall University School of Law. Janan Dave is the VP of Operations at Verifiable, a start-up offering software and services solutions for healthcare organizations to ease the challenges surrounding provider network management. Janan has a background in public health and health policy, and has spent the last decade helping scale operations at various healthcare startups. She is passionate about building smart solutions to reduce waste in the healthcare system, and promote better care especially for the aging population, family caregivers, and women. Janan studied public health at the University of Pennsylvania, and lives in Brooklyn, NY. Brett Dooies is the Head of Product at Verifiable, where he leads the development of AI-powered solutions to simplify healthcare credentialing and monitoring. With a decade of experience building enterprise software, he specializes in applying advanced AI and analytics to enhance the customer experience and deliver transformative solutions. Drawing on his background in modernizing banking software, Brett is dedicated to creating products that drive operational excellence, uphold regulatory compliance, and improve data accuracy for Verifiable’s partners, helping them scale with confidence in a complex ecosystem. Resources: MIT Sloan “Internet of AI Agents: State of AI in Business 2025” report finds that although over 80 % of organizations have piloted generative AI tools, only around 5 % have achieved meaningful business transformation—a gap dubbed the “GenAI Divide”. It highlights that the primary barrier isn’t model technology or regulation, but rather the failure of AI systems to integrate deeply into workflows, learn from feedback, and scale beyond the pilot stage. Thank you to our Episode Partner, Verifiable: Verifiable is a credentialing and network monitoring platform built to help healthcare organizations optimize operations with error-free, fast verifications and to stay compliant with ease. Backed by their in-house NCQA certified credentialing team that bring a combined 60+ years of experience, Verifiable’s innovation supports managing trusted networks at scale through 97% verification automation in seconds with millions processing each month. Verifiable works with leading healthcare organizations such as Humana Dental, Zelis, Talkspace, Headway, Empower Pharmacy, and many others. Learn more about them at Want to go deeper or schedule a briefing with Verifiable? Email hkrish@brightspotsventures.com and we’ll coordinate time with the Verifiable team to discuss how their approach can help your plan reduce costs, accelerate onboarding, and strengthen network integrity. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what’s working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the “bright spots” in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com. /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/38908270

Dr. Kristian Olson, Vice President of Design Impact, Mass General Brigham | Finding Healthcare's Hidden Solutions Through Human-Centered Design 10/21/2025

Dr. Kristian Olson, Vice President of Design Impact, Mass General Brigham | Finding Healthcare's Hidden Solutions Through Human-Centered Design In this episode of Bright Spots in Healthcare, we explore how human-centered design can uncover breakthrough solutions already hiding in plain sight. Dr. Kristian Olson, Vice President of Design Impact at Mass General Brigham and leader of the Springboard Studio, shares how slowing down to understand problems leads to faster, more effective innovation. The conversation dives into: The four pillars of effective healthcare innovation: design research, prototyping, supported implementation, and impact measurement How "stupidest ideas" exercises and question storming unlock creative solutions in frontline staff meetings Real results from Salem Hospital's mobility speedometer (300% increase in patient movement, reduced length of stay) The COVID testing booth prototype that saved $1 million per year while reducing gown usage by 97% Developing low-cost neonatal resuscitation devices in Uganda and India that improved ventilation skills Why frontline staff must be co-creators, not just implementers, of healthcare solutions This discussion offers practical frameworks for health plans, hospitals, and healthcare leaders looking to harness their teams' ingenuity and drive measurable improvement. Guest Bio: Resources & References MGB Springboard Studio: Augmented Infant Resuscitator: ebinnovations.net Positive Deviance approach to solving malnutrition in Vietnam (referenced as inspiration) Partner with Bright Spots Ventures: If you are interested in speaking with the Bright Spots Ventures team to brainstorm how we can help you grow your business via content and relationships, email hkrish@brightspotsventures.com About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what's working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the "bright spots" in healthcare—proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/38730900

How Humana, Blue Shield of CA, and Noom Are Reimagining GLP-1 Integration and Obesity Care 10/14/2025

How Humana, Blue Shield of CA, and Noom Are Reimagining GLP-1 Integration and Obesity Care Host Eric Glazer convenes senior leaders from Humana, Noom, and Blue Shield of California to explore how payers are integrating GLP-1 therapies into comprehensive cardio-metabolic care strategies. The conversation outlines how digital, behavioral, and clinical interventions can align to deliver sustainable outcomes, lower costs, and strengthen member engagement. Panelists share real-world playbooks on scaling GLP-1 programs responsibly—balancing access, affordability, and long-term adherence through consumer-centric design and data-driven clinical support. 📘 What You’ll Learn How Humana’s CenterWell Pharmacy is transforming outcomes through AI-enabled automation, disease-specific Centers of Excellence, and a high-touch consumer experience. How Noom and forward-thinking health plans are using trust as currency to deepen engagement and sustain lifestyle change. How Blue Shield of California is implementing a step-therapy model that balances GLP-1 access with lifestyle interventions and clinical oversight. Why integration across benefit design, behavior change, and pharmacology is redefining obesity management. What future models look like for holistic, clinician-guided weight management and cardiometabolic care. 💬 Quotable Moments “Trust isn’t optional—it’s the currency that earns you the right to guide someone through change.” – Cody Fair, Chief Commercial Officer, Noom “You can have efficiency and still be high-touch. AI and automation don’t replace pharmacists—they empower them.” – Bethanie Stein, President of Pharmacy, Humana “GLP-1s are a tool, not the strategy. Success means combining medication with behavioral, nutritional, and clinical support.” – Angie Kalousek, Ebrahimi Senior Director, Lifestyle Medicine, Blue Shield of California “Culture—caring, curious, and committed—is the foundation of transformation.” – Bethanie Stein, President of Pharmacy, Humana ⏱️ Timestamped Hooks 00:08:00 – 00:09:00: Eric introduces the GLP-1 integration playbook and the challenge of turning high-cost therapies into sustainable value. 00:12:30 – 00:14:00: Humana’s digital transformation: from internal pharmacy to 95% retention and NPS of 87. 00:15:20 – 00:17:40: Noom on building trust through “Your Ultimate Why.” 00:20:00 – 00:25:00: Blue Shield of California on managing GLP-1 demand and step-therapy protocols. 00:31:00 – 00:33:00: Noom’s opt-out model driving 90% employer participation. 00:44:00 – 00:47:00: Humana partners with pharma to deliver GLP-1s at up to 70% lower cash prices. 00:55:00 – 00:57:00: “Caring, Curious, and Committed” – the cultural foundation for consumer-centric care. 01:03:30 – 01:04:50: Blue Shield on building Netflix-style personalization for obesity and MSK programs. 🗒️ Show Notes Featured Guests Bethanie Stein, President of Pharmacy, Humana Cody Fair, Chief Commercial Officer, Noom Angie Kalousek Ebrahimi, Senior Director, Lifestyle Medicine, Blue Shield of California Discussion Highlights Integrating GLP-1 therapies within holistic benefit design frameworks. Leveraging AI and automation in pharmacy operations to enhance adherence and experience. The role of behavior-based engagement models in long-term weight management. Data-driven approaches to affordability, utilization, and trust-based engagement. Creating digital ecosystems that mirror personalized consumer experiences in other industries. Panelist Bios: Download the Episode Guide: Get key takeaways and expert highlights to help you apply lessons from the episode. Key Insights Summary: Resources: Benefits beyond weight loss: The expanding impact of GLP-1s in modern healthcare This resource explores how leading health plans are integrating GLP-1 therapies into holistic care pathways—connecting behavioral support, nutrition, and digital engagement to sustain results. It also highlights Noom’s evidence-based approach, showing a 48% greater weight loss and over 4x ROI when GLP-1s are combined with behavioral coaching and mindset support. To request your copy, email . Thank You to Our Episode Partner, Noom Noom is a digital health company transforming how people achieve lasting health improvements through psychology, technology, and coaching. Their scalable cardiometabolic solutions—including weight management, diabetes prevention, and GLP-1 support through Noom Med—help employers, health plans, and health systems balance affordability with outcomes. To learn more, visit . Schedule a meeting with Cody Fair, Chief Commercial Officer, Noom: To dive deeper into how Noom can help your plan improve outcomes, reduce costs, and strengthen member engagement, or to schedule a meeting with Cody Fair. Reach out to to schedule the meeting. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what’s working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the “bright spots” in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at . /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/38579110

Stars, Savings, and Satisfaction with BCBS Michigan, Aetna, MVP & Vori 10/07/2025

Stars, Savings, and Satisfaction with BCBS Michigan, Aetna, MVP & Vori In this Bright Spots in Healthcare episode, host Eric Glazer brings together an all-star panel of leaders who are reshaping the future of Medicaid and social care. Our guests include: Vanita Pindolia, Vice President, Medicare Star Ratings, Emergent Holdings (BlueCross BlueShield Michigan) Jason Merola, MD, Chief Medical Officer, MVP Health Care Charlotta Eriksson, Lead Director, National VBC Partnerships (Specialty), Aetna Mary O’Connor, MD, Chief Medical Officer & Co-Founder, Vori Together, they explore: How Medicare Advantage plans are embedding Stars, CAHPS, and adherence metrics directly into provider contracts to drive accountability, improve quality, and sustain year-over-year performance gains. How payers like Aetna are expanding value-based care into specialty domains—from CKD and oncology to musculoskeletal and cardiology—by partnering with specialty-aligned organizations rather than converting individual specialists to risk models. How MVP Health Care is designing hybrid incentive structures that reward specialists for closing quality gaps and improving outcomes, without requiring full downside risk. Why MSK care is becoming pivotal to Stars success, as physical and mental health measures grow in weight through 2027, and how holistic, physician-led models are improving activity, satisfaction, and cost savings simultaneously. How digital-first specialty networks are solving access challenges, reducing “ghost network” exposure, and creating new opportunities for plans to meet CMS adequacy standards while improving the member experience. How collaboration across utilization management, Stars, and member experience teams helps avoid trade-offs, ensuring that cost controls don’t come at the expense of satisfaction or CAHPS performance. Panelist Bios: Download the Episode Guide: Get key takeaways and expert highlights to help you apply lessons from the episode. Resources: Maximizing 2026 Medicare Advantage Performance with Physician-Led MSK Care This report outlines how Vori’s physician-led, virtual-first musculoskeletal (MSK) model helps Medicare Advantage plans:Improve up to 12 Star measures across preventive care, chronic condition management, and member experience Deliver faster access to care—appointments available within 48 hours Enhance outcomes for pain, fall prevention, and osteoporosis care while achieving an NPS of 87 Align with the new 2026 Star measures for Improving and Maintaining Physical and Mental Health To request your copy, email . Clinical Quality Performance of Value-Based and Fee-for-Service Models for Medicare Advantage: This JAMA Health Forum article compares clinical quality outcomes for Medicare Advantage patients whose care is delivered under value-based payment (VBP) models versus traditional fee-for-service (FFS). It finds that VBP arrangements, especially those with two-sided financial risk—in general are associated with better performance on standardized clinical quality measures than FFS. Thank you to our Episode Partner, Vori: Vori partners with health plans and providers to improve musculoskeletal (MSK) care through data-driven, physician-led solutions. Their approach helps reduce unnecessary surgeries, improve recovery outcomes, and enhance patient satisfaction—supporting plans in achieving better Stars performance and overall member experience. To learn more, visit Schedule a meeting with Mary O’Connor Chief Medical Officer, Vori: To dive deeper into how Vori can help your plan improve outcomes, reduce costs, and strengthen Medicare Advantage Star Ratings,or to schedule a meeting with Mary O’Connor. Reach out to to schedule the meeting. About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what’s working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the “bright spots” in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com. /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/38505990

Express Scripts SVP Harold Carter on GLP-1s & the Future of Pharmacy Benefits 10/03/2025

Express Scripts SVP Harold Carter on GLP-1s & the Future of Pharmacy Benefits GLP-1 therapies are transforming pharmacy benefits, and Express Scripts is leading the way. Harold Carter, PharmD, SVP of Trade Relations, joins host Eric Glazer to discuss how one of the nation’s largest PBMs is navigating this disruptive moment in healthcare. Harold shares how Express Scripts is: Capping costs of GLP-1 therapies to expand patient access while keeping plan spending predictable. Redesigning funding models to strike a balance between affordability, predictability, and outcomes. Leveraging digital tools and AI to reduce friction in the member experience and support long-term adherence. Rethinking formularies not just as cost-control tools but as part of a broader population health and behavioral change ecosystem. You’ll also hear his forward-looking perspective on how PBMs will evolve over the next three to five years, and the key questions health plans and employers should be asking today to prepare for the future of pharmacy benefits. About Dr. Harold Carter: Harold Carter, PharmD, is responsible for leading all interactions and contracting with pharmaceutical manufacturers and oversees strategy and management of Express Scripts’ drug formularies, data & insights, client underwriting, and product strategy and development. In his nearly 14 years with the organization, Harold has held numerous leadership roles oriented around critical efforts to lower the cost of prescription drugs and ensuring medication access for Express Scripts clients and members. Harold’s previous responsibilities include oversight of the organization’s medical pharma contracting and drug procurement teams, as well as leading the strategy, development and execution of Express Scripts’ wholesale market, value-based solutions and generic strategy, and development of Express Scripts’ advanced utilization management solutions. In addition to his work at Express Scripts, Harold serves on numerous boards including LifeWise Stl Board of Directors, St. Louis University High School Board of Trustees and IVI Board of Directors. Harold earned his doctorate in pharmacy from St. Louis College of Pharmacy. Partner with Bright Spots Ventures: If you are interested in speaking with the Bright Spots Ventures team to brainstorm how we can help you grow your business via content and relationships, email About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what’s working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the “bright spots” in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com. /episode/index/show/sharedpurposeconnect/id/38461275

Bright Spots in Healthcare

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