What changes when patients become true partners in cancer research?

On this episode of The Health Pulse, health care and pharma leader Steve Clark shares his journey from being diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer 13 years ago to becoming a patient advocate and research co-investigator.

Drawing on his experience, Steve challenges researchers to involve patients throughout the cancer research process, from study design and protocols to how findings are communicated. He explains how genuine partnership can improve study outcomes and make research more practical and meaningful.

Steve also reflects on the importance of honest communication and realistic hope. He discusses how AI may support diagnostics and make health information easier to understand. Finally, he shares how Thrive for Five and Beyond grew from a personal survival milestone into a global platform supporting patients and advocating for improved cancer care.

How can health systems improve outcomes while remaining financially sustainable?

Dr. Eric Bricker, physician, entrepreneur and founder of AHealthcareZ, shares his perspective on the financial, operational and leadership challenges facing health systems today. He explores what it takes to shift from reactive care to proactive, value-based care. He also explains the critical role of incentives, accountability and financial risk in improving outcomes.

The conversation also looks at the role of AI in supporting clinical decisions, improving efficiency and giving clinicians more time to spend with patients. Learn how leadership, technology and innovative care models can support value-based care and a more sustainable future for health systems.

Clinical trials provide critical answers, but they're only part of the story. In this episode of The Health Pulse, Aaron Berger and Dr. Massoud Toussi, real-world evidence executives at United BioSource (UBC), explore how the life sciences and health care ecosystem is moving beyond isolated snapshots toward continuous evidence generation. They discuss how organizations are building a more complete picture of treatment effectiveness, safety and patient outcomes in the real world. Electronic health records, connected devices, patient-centered research and global evidence networks are making that possible.

Making this vision a reality requires data quality, interoperability, regulatory alignment and trusted evidence generation. AI is playing a growing role in research and analysis. It is creating new opportunities to accelerate evidence generation and uncover insights at a scale previously impossible.

Ultimately, they share an optimistic vision for the future: one where real-world evidence, AI and modern data ecosystems help us learn faster, answer more questions and accelerate scientific discovery for patients who need new therapies most.