In this episode of Connected by Health, Krishna Vedala welcomed Dr. Pooja Singhal, an independent, board-certified gastroenterologist and obesity medicine specialist practicing in Oklahoma City. Dr. Singhal shared her journey into medicine, inspired by her father's lifelong relationships with patients in India and her own passion for science, human connection, and service.

Dr. Singhal discussed her transition from academic training and eight years within a large community health system to opening her own independent practice. She explained that the desire for greater autonomy, improved communication, flexible scheduling, and more personalized patient care motivated her to take the entrepreneurial leap.

The conversation explored the important role independent physicians play in healthcare. According to Dr. Singhal, independent practices can strengthen trust, continuity, treatment adherence, early diagnosis, and personalized decision-making. They also give physicians greater freedom to collaborate with the specialists and healthcare professionals best suited to each patient's needs.

Dr. Singhal also spoke candidly about the challenges of independent practice, including financial pressures, declining reimbursement, insurance restrictions, staffing, payroll, human resources, and time management. She emphasized that physicians must develop greater financial literacy and understand the business and medical economics behind healthcare delivery.

Finally, Dr. Singhal and Krishna Vedala discussed the future of medicine, including the potential benefits and risks of artificial intelligence. They agreed that AI can support physicians when used responsibly, but that appropriate safeguards are essential to preserve the human element of care. Dr. Singhal's advice to aspiring physicians was simple and meaningful: remember their "why," enjoy the journey, and develop tools to manage stress and stay grounded.

Where Health, Society, and Innovation Intersect

Connected by Health is a forward-thinking podcast built on a simple but powerful truth: healthcare is not a cost to be cut — it is an investment that shapes the future of everything around us.

Millions of people struggle with healthcare challenges each year — whether it's lack of insurance, unaffordable costs, limited access to care, or managing chronic disease — affecting not only their health, but their financial stability and overall quality of life. Their stories are not isolated — they are all connected. From economic growth and workforce productivity to education, technology, national security, and community stability, health is the thread weaving them together.

Each episode blends real-world stories with data-driven insight to show how strategic healthcare investment drives innovation, reduces long-term costs, strengthens public health infrastructure, and fuels economic resilience.

Grounded in evidence but driven by purpose, Connected by Health reframes healthcare not as a line item expense, but as foundational infrastructure — because when we invest in health, we invest in people, potential, and the strength of our entire society.

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Dr. Philip Verhoef joined Dr. Krishna Vedala on the Connected by Health podcast to discuss the urgent need for healthcare reform in the United States. Dr. Verhoef, a Med-Peds intensivist and advocate for Physicians for a National Health Program, argued that the current system is too expensive, too complex, and too focused on profit rather than patient care. He said the private insurance model creates unnecessary administrative burdens that make healthcare less efficient for both providers and patients.

A major part of the conversation focused on the idea of single-payer healthcare. Dr. Verhoef explained that a true single-payer system would keep private doctors and hospitals in place but replace multiple insurers with one public payer. He contrasted this with a public option, which he believes would still leave private insurers in control of much of the market and could lead to healthier patients staying in private plans while sicker patients are shifted to government programs.

Dr. Verhoef also addressed the financial side of the debate, arguing that a single-payer system could be funded by redirecting the money Americans already spend on premiums, deductibles, and other insurance-related costs. He suggested that most people would pay less overall under such a system while gaining broader and more reliable access to care. He framed this as a way to reduce waste rather than increase spending.

The conversation also explored the barriers to reform. Dr. Verhoef pointed to political resistance from powerful insurance and pharmaceutical interests, as well as the challenge of changing public attitudes about healthcare. He emphasized that any reform effort would need strong planning, broad coalition-building, and clear communication to gain support from both healthcare workers and the general public.

Another key theme was the importance of workforce development and healthcare system stability. Dr. Verhoef noted that any major reform would need to address staffing shortages, training needs, and the long-term sustainability of the system. He also argued that healthcare governance should be protected from short-term political shifts so that the system can remain focused on patient needs rather than politics.

Overall, Dr. Verhoef expressed optimism that meaningful reform could happen within the next few years, possibly by 2028. During his conversation with Dr. Krishna Vedala, he said public support for national healthcare is growing and that advocates need to prepare practical, ready-to-implement plans. The interview ended with a strong call for organized action to build a fairer, simpler, and more equitable healthcare system in the United States.