In this powerful and timely episode, we sit down with Rep. Arvind Venkat, emergency physician and Pennsylvania State Representative for the 30th Legislative District, to explore the growing need for healthcare professionals in political leadership. Drawing from his dual roles in medicine and policy, Rep. Venkat discusses why frontline clinicians are uniquely positioned to drive healthcare reform—especially in areas of access, affordability, and system-level accountability.Topics include unionization among residents and fellows, the impact of healthcare consolidation, flaws in the current reimbursement model, and policy threats to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Rep. Venkat also shares his personal motivations for running for office, his experience navigating clinical and legislative responsibilities, and advice for early-career physicians who want to make a difference.If you're a healthcare strategist, policy advocate, or clinician interested in value-based care, physician advocacy, or healthcare leadership, this episode offers critical insights from someone who bridges all three worlds.00:00 Introduction and Importance of Coalition Building00:30 Meet Representative Venki01:48 Serving the Community: A Dual Role06:18 Challenges in Healthcare Post-COVID08:19 Addressing Healthcare Access and Affordability14:13 Legislative Actions and Future Outlook18:12 Encouraging Clinician Involvement in Politics24:33 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Join Cole Lyons on the Strategy of Health podcast from The American Journal of Healthcare Strategy as he interviews Dr. Howard Shaps, Chief Medical Officer at Healthmap Solutions. Dr. Shaps shares lessons from his career in emergency medicine, health insurance, and consulting—and explains his transition to Healthmap Solutions.They tackle the real-world complexity of chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially when combined with diabetes and hypertension, and discuss how Healthmap uses AI-driven risk models, patient navigators, and care coordination outside the clinic to catch CKD earlier and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations. Dr. Shaps details strategies for preparing patients for dialysis and transplants, lowering crash dialysis rates, and reducing hospital readmissions.Get a look inside Healthmap Solutions' technology, operations, and intentional growth—Dr. Shaps’ perspective on where CKD care and population health are headed.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:26 Guest: Dr. Howard Shaps00:48 Career Journey01:36 Joining Healthmap Solutions03:47 CKD Care Challenges04:20 Healthmap’s Approach07:00 Technology & Risk Management11:40 Future of CKD14:15 High-Acuity CKD17:05 Building Care Teams22:47 Closing Remarks

In this episode of The American Journal of Healthcare Strategy podcast, we sit down with Brandon J. Robertson, Founder and CEO of UCP Merchant Medicine and in Televisit Solutions, to explore how clinical concierge models and lean design principles are transforming urgent care delivery at scale.Brandon shares how his team applied operational science—including queuing theory, the Theory of Constraints, and AI-driven clinical decision tools—to eliminate handoffs, slash visit times, and achieve an average Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 94. You’ll learn why traditional urgent care models fail, how AI-enhanced standing orders drive diagnostic consistency, and what it takes to create financially sustainable urgent care operations—even in low-reimbursement environments.We also cover the three-phase ROI model Brandon uses to help health systems justify investment in urgent care, including short-term profitability, mid-term referral capture, and long-term lifetime value. Whether you're a healthcare executive, strategist, or operations leader, this conversation is a masterclass in urgent care innovation and system-wide impact.00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction01:17 Brandon's Career Journey02:58 Founding UCP Merchant Medicine03:14 Theory of Constraints in Healthcare04:20 Reducing Urgent Care Door-to-Door Time05:05 Queuing Theory and Process Optimization08:03 Clinical Concierge Model16:30 AI in Urgent Care18:53 Economic Impact and Scalability21:21 Long-term Value of Urgent Care28:46 Customized Models and Data Science34:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Join host Cole as he sits down with Keeley White, Director of Community Health Programs at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, to explore the real-world challenges and successes of bringing nutritious food directly to patients through innovative clinic partnerships.Keeley White shares her unique journey from clinical dietitian to public health leader, offering firsthand perspectives on addressing rural barriers, transportation issues, and health equity for vulnerable populations. Listeners will learn how the Regional Food Bank’s programs collaborate with hospitals, clinics, and community partners to implement in-clinic food pantries, screen for food insecurity, and connect patients with sustainable nutrition resources. Keeley also unpacks practical strategies for building strong healthcare partnerships, effective grant management in cost-constrained environments, and the importance of piloting solutions tailored to each community’s unique needs.00:00 Introduction and Focus on Equity00:31 Meet Keely White: Director of Community Health Programs01:36 Keely's Journey into Nutrition and Public Health04:56 Challenges in Addressing Food Insecurity in Oklahoma07:44 Innovative Solutions for Rural and Urban Areas12:53 Healthcare Partnership Program Success20:20 Advice for Aspiring Community Health Leaders23:30 Conclusion and Future Prospects

Discover how MultiCare saved $7.5 million on pharmacy costs through innovative supply chain strategy and data-driven leadership. In this episode, Cole from the American Journal of Healthcare Strategy interviews Tyson Frodin, VP of Clinical Pharmacy, Supply Chain, and Technology at MultiCare, for an in-depth discussion on transforming pharmacy operations in a large health system.Tyson Frodin shares practical strategies for centralizing purchasing, leveraging pharmacy automation, and partnering with advanced data analytics firms to reduce costs and improve patient outcomes. Learn how MultiCare coordinated purchasing across 13 hospitals, updated their inventory management systems, and used actionable analytics to drive both acute care and retail pharmacy savings. Tyson also breaks down the impact of direct manufacturer contracting, strategic partnerships with companies like Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drug, and how these moves not only optimize costs but also enhance patient access and experience—especially in rural and critical access hospitals.Key topics include: pharmacy supply chain optimization, healthcare cost reduction, rural health strategy, 340B management, ambulatory footprint expansion, and the future of pharmacy procurement. If you're a healthcare leader, administrator, or pharmacy professional looking for actionable insights, this conversation is a must-watch.00:00 Introduction to Logistics Savings00:36 Meet Dr. Tyson Frodin01:47 Career Path and Leadership Journey03:43 Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Healthcare05:39 Strategic Growth and Partnerships11:50 Pharmacy Procurement and Cost Savings18:33 Leveraging Data Analytics for Better Outcomes25:59 Future of Pharmacy Supply Chain33:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, Cole from The American Journal of Healthcare Strategy sits down with KP Tacconi, Senior Innovation Manager at NYU Langone Health, to break down the realities of human-centered design, innovation strategy, and leading change in academic medical centers.

Dr. Malko shares actionable insights on the challenges and opportunities facing health plans in CKD management, from early identification and care coordination to the vital role of primary care physicians as “quarterbacks” for complex patient needs. She explores how risk-based partnerships between health plans and clinical partners (not just vendors) drive improved outcomes, better data sharing, and real collaboration across care teams.If you’re a health plan leader, executive, or healthcare strategist looking to advance your CKD strategy, this episode is packed with lessons on optimizing care coordination, reducing unnecessary utilization, and building sustainable partnerships.00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction01:26 Dr. Beth Malko's Career Journey03:37 The Importance of Primary Care in Complex Health Systems07:35 Health Plans and Primary Care Collaboration13:55 Selecting the Right Clinical Partners25:49 Challenges and Solutions in Data Management29:30 Primary Care and Specialty Care Integration38:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Don Berwick—Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and former Administrator of CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)—for an in-depth conversation about the challenges and opportunities facing U.S. healthcare.Dr. Don Berwick shares firsthand insights on running CMS during the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, the founding of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation, and what it means to shift an agency’s culture toward quality and patient-centered care. The discussion explores Medicare Advantage, payment reform, and how privatization and policy changes have shaped the healthcare landscape over the last decade. Dr. Berwick offers a candid assessment of the impact of political leadership, the influence of moneyed interests, and the need for a renewed social contract to achieve meaningful change.Listeners will also hear Dr. Berwick’s advice for the next generation of healthcare leaders: why collaboration, crossing disciplinary boundaries, and holding onto core values are key to progress. This episode is a must-watch for healthcare executives, policymakers, and anyone interested in healthcare strategy, Medicare, health policy, and leadership.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:43 Dr. Don Berwick's Background and Career02:22 Impact of the Affordable Care Act03:50 Challenges and Achievements at CMS06:04 Current State and Future of Healthcare13:04 The Role of Money in Healthcare22:22 Advice for Future Healthcare Leaders24:41 Cross-Disciplinary Learning and Innovation31:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts