A Dose of Optimism

Omkar Kulkarni

A Dose of Optimism is a podcast dedicated to exploring the world of healthcare innovation and the optimists driving meaningful change.  Hosted by Omkar Kulkarni, this show shines a light on bold ideas, transformative solutions, and the passionate individuals working every day to make healthcare better for children and their families. Each episode dives into the real-world challenges facing the healthcare industry and highlights the people and organizations pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. From tackling mental health and food allergies to reimagining hospital care and harnessing Artificial Intelligence for better outcomes. Listeners will discover game-changing solutions, hear stories of creativity and resilience, and gain inspiration from leaders who believe in building a healthier, more hopeful future.  From medical professionals and entrepreneurs to patients and community advocates, the podcast brings together diverse voices united by a shared commitment to improving healthcare delivery. Whether you’re working inside the industry or simply curious about the innovations shaping tomorrow’s care, A Dose of Optimism offers insight, connection, and inspiration. “The content, views, opinions, and information presented on this podcast do not reflect the views of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles or of the sponsors of the podcast. CHLA does not endorse the views, opinions and information presented on this podcast and CHLA specifically disclaims any legal liability or responsibility for the podcast’s content.” 

  1. Season 2 Premiere: Return of the Parentrepreneurs!

    -6 H

    Season 2 Premiere: Return of the Parentrepreneurs!

    We’re kicking off Season 2 by spotlighting parent-innovators who turned lived experience into action. This episode brings together founders who are reshaping pediatric mental health, literacy, and NICU care through empathy, technology, and perseverance. Hafeezah Muhammad, founder and CEO of Backpack Healthcare, shares how her son’s mental health crisis led her to build a technology-enabled, family-centered mental health platform that serves children as young as four and supports parents, caregivers, and clinicians together. Carla Small, founder of Sprout Labs, explains how science-backed literacy tools and AI can identify dyslexia early, personalize instruction, and prevent years of academic struggle and declining self-esteem. Phil Martie, founder of Nicolette, reflects on his NICU journey as a parent of premature twins and how it inspired him to build tools that turn complex hospital data into clear, empowering insights for families navigating neonatal intensive care. Together, these conversations highlight the power of early intervention, empathetic design, and technology that meets families where they are, before crises deepen and systems fail them. Episode Resources: Medicaid Orton-Gillingham Approach Learn more from the previous ‘’parentrepreneurs’’ episodes: The Mighty Parentrepreneurs Autism: Tools to help doctors and parents Connect with Hafeezah Muhammad: Backpack Healthcare Website Backpack Healthcare Facebook Backpack Healthcare Twitter Backpack Healthcare Instagram Backpack Healthcare LinkedIn Backpack Healthcare TikTok Hafeezah Muhammad LinkedIn Connect with Carla Small: Sprout Labs Website Sprout Labs LinkedIn Sprout Labs Instagram Carla Small LinkedIn Connect with Phil Martie: Nicolette Website Nicolette LinkedIn Nicolette Instagram Phil Martie LinkedIn Connect with us: KidsX Website KidsX LinkedIn Children's Hospital L.A. Website Children's Hospital L.A. Instagram Children's Hospital L.A. LinkedIn

    39 min
  2. CMIOs: Speaking Multiple Languages to Deliver Innovation

    30/12/2025

    CMIOs: Speaking Multiple Languages to Deliver Innovation

    Pediatric healthcare is shaped by systems that are often invisible to patients and families, yet deeply influential in how care is delivered. In this episode of A Dose of Optimism, Omkar Kulkarni is joined by three leaders working at the intersection of pediatrics, informatics, and digital transformation. Rod Tarrago, CMIO Pediatrics at Amazon Web Services, and Troy McGuire, CHIO at CHLA, share how informatics and data-driven design can reduce friction in pediatric care. Together, they discuss interoperability, clinician workflows, and the importance of building systems that support care teams without adding unnecessary burden. Shaun Miller, CHIO at Cedars-Sinai, brings a health system perspective on clinical decision support, physician wellness, and the responsible use of digital tools. He explains how thoughtful technology implementation can improve efficiency while keeping clinicians focused on patient care. This conversation highlights how careful system design, collaboration, and practical innovation can make pediatric healthcare more connected, more humane, and more sustainable for the people delivering and receiving care. Episode Resources: TEFCA - Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement CDEC - California Data Exchange Center RHIO - Regional Health Information Organization LANES - Los Angeles Network for Enhanced Services K Health: 24/7 Access to High-Quality Medicine Cedars-Sinai Connect - 24/7 world-class care without the wait RPM - Remote Patient Monitoring - example 1  example 2 Connect with Rod Tarrago: Amazon Web Services (AWS) Website Amazon Web Services (AWS) LinkedIn Amazon Web Services (AWS) Instagram Rod Tarrago LinkedIn Connect with Troy McGuire: Troy McGuire LinkedIn Children's Hospital L.A. Troy McGuire Connect with Shaun Miller: Cedars-Sinai Website Cedars-Sinai LinkedIn Cedars-Sinai Instagram Shaun Miller LinkedIn Connect with us: KidsX Website KidsX LinkedIn Children's Hospital L.A. Website Children's Hospital L.A. Instagram Children's Hospital L.A. LinkedIn

    25 min
  3. Community Health Innovations

    23/12/2025

    Community Health Innovations

    Improving children’s health requires more than medical care alone. It depends on access to nutritious food, early learning support, trusted information, and healthcare systems designed around families. In this episode of A Dose of Optimism, Omkar Kulkarni speaks with three leaders working across different parts of the pediatric ecosystem. Sam Polk, CEO of Everytable, shares how food access and affordability shape health outcomes and why he believes nutritious meals should be available in every community. Patti Miller, Director of Too Small to Fail (Clinton Foundation), discusses the role of early childhood development, media, and caregiver support in building lifelong health and learning foundations. Laura Wood, EVP, Patient Care Operations and System Chief Nurse Executive at Boston Children's Hospital brings the perspective of a nurse leader, highlighting how care delivery models, professional practice environments, and digital tools can better support children and families. Together, they explore how cross sector collaboration can help address complex challenges in children’s health and why optimism comes from practical, people centered solutions already taking shape. Episode Resources: Compton Unified School District CLA, The Laundry Association American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) California Department of Social Services Read: Early Literacy Policy Statement Read: Univision Communications, Inc. and Too Small to Fail Read: Spotify launches a new Kids category with a focus on learning activities, language development Epic Corporation American Academy of Nursing (AAN) Read: The CAMEO tool: Capturing the complex nature of pediatric nursing Connect with Sam Polk: Everytable Website Everytable LinkedIn Everytable Instagram Feast Website Feast LinkedIn Sam Polk LinkedIn Sam Polk Instagram Connect with Patti Miller: Clinton Foundation Website Clinton Foundation LinkedIn Clinton Foundation Instagram Too Small to Fail Too Small to Fail Instagram Patti Miller LinkedIn Connect with Laura Wood: Boston Children's Hospital Website

    32 min
  4. 40 Optimists in One Room in Chicago

    09/12/2025

    40 Optimists in One Room in Chicago

    Once a year, a very special group gathers in person: the behind-the-scenes innovators, operators, clinicians, policymakers, and digital health leaders shaping the future of children’s healthcare. This year, that group met in Chicago at the KidsX Pediatric Health Innovation Summit, and we recorded the entire experience. In this unique live episode, Omkar shares highlights from the day: inspiring stories from leaders like AVIA CEO Clay Holderman, discussions on patient experience and digital tools from Stacy Zoucha, insights into pediatric AI from Ali Nasser, and conversations about policy, innovation pathways, device development, and the role of federal agencies with Stephen Konya and Dr. Juan Espinoza. It’s a rare look at the community of “innovation enablers” working to make healthcare better for children, the people who build connections, remove barriers, and help new ideas find their way into practice. Episode Resources: Cancer Moonshot℠ - NCI MAHA report CTIP - FDA-funded MedTech accelerator FDA Pediatric Device Consortia (PDC) Grants Program Connect with summit speakers: Clay Holderman - CEO at AVIA Stacy Zoucha - Director of Digital Health and Innovation at Children's Nebraska Ali Nasser - Manager, Insights & Advisory at AVIA Stephen Konya - Chief, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships for the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Dr. Juan Espinoza - Chief Research Informatics Officer at Lurie Children’s Hospital Connect with us: KidsX Website KidsX LinkedIn Children's Hospital L.A. Website Children's Hospital L.A. Instagram Children's Hospital L.A. LinkedIn KidsX Summit was sponsored by: AVIA Health Website AVIA Health LinkedIn Gozio Health Website Gozio Health LinkedIn Learn more about today’s podcast episode sponsor: Q-rounds Website Q-rounds LinkedIn Learn more about our podcast sponsor: Nabla Website Nabla LinkedIn

    39 min
  5. From Minecraft to Remote Monitoring: Innovating the Patient Experience

    02/12/2025

    From Minecraft to Remote Monitoring: Innovating the Patient Experience

    Pediatric innovation has never been static, and today, children’s hospitals across the country are adopting new tools that make care more connected, supportive, and responsive to family needs. In this episode of A Dose of Optimism, Dr. Bimal Desai of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Dr. Zafar Chaudry of Seattle Children’s share how their teams are rethinking the patient and caregiver experience through digital innovation.  Dr. Desai discusses the unique realities of pediatric remote patient management, how digital check-ins are supporting medically complex children at home, and why small, high-need populations are often the biggest drivers of meaningful impact.   Dr. Chaudry then shares how Seattle Children’s is approaching AI thoughtfully (emphasizing culture, trust, and workflow) and why tools like their Minecraft hospital world are giving young patients a sense of agency during their hospital stay. Together, they offer a grounded and hopeful look at how digital health, careful design, and cross-disciplinary collaboration can make care more supportive for families, while keeping clinicians at the center of decision-making. Episode Resources: Infant Single Ventricle Monitoring and Management Program (ISVMP) at CHOP CHOP Neonatal CATCH Program Remote patient management (RPM) at CHOP CHOP's Compass Care Seattle Children’s, Mojang Studios and Hive Games Partner to Craft Unique Minecraft World for Kids in the Hospital Inside the AI-powered assistant helping doctors work faster and better at Seattle Children’s Hospital Connect with Dr. Bimal Desai: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia LinkedIn Connect with Dr. Zafar Chaudry: Seattle Children’s Hospital LinkedIn Connect with us: KidsX Website KidsX LinkedIn Children's Hospital L.A. Website Children's Hospital L.A. Instagram Children's Hospital L.A. LinkedIn Learn more about our sponsor: Nabla Website Nabla LinkedIn

    42 min
  6. The Mighty Parentrepreneurs

    25/11/2025

    The Mighty Parentrepreneurs

    When a child becomes seriously ill, parents often find themselves navigating overwhelming information, emotions, and decisions, all while trying to stay present for their families. In this episode, we meet two remarkable innovators whose ideas were born from these very moments. Aubrey Kelly, CEO of Rabble Health, shares the story of her son’s leukemia diagnosis, the emotional and logistical realities of living at a children’s hospital, and how that experience reshaped her understanding of patient support. Drawing on her biopharma background, she explains why she created Rabble Health to help families access information, resources, and shared decision-making tools when they need them most. We also meet Ella Casano, the Stanford student who invented Medi-Teddy at age 12 after seeing how intimidating IV bags looked to children receiving treatment. What began as a school project has now supported more than 15,000 pediatric patients worldwide through a nonprofit committed to making care feel a little less frightening. This conversation highlights how families, through lived experience, creativity, and determination, can drive meaningful improvements in pediatric healthcare. Connect with Aubrey Kelly: Aubrey Kelly LinkedIn Rabble Health Website Rabble Health LinkedIn MyRabble App Connect with Ella Casano: Medi Teddy Website Medi Teddy Instagram Ella Casano LinkedIn Ella Casano Instagram Make a tax-deductible donation to 501(c)3 nonprofit at www.medi-teddy.org Connect with us: KidsX Website KidsX LinkedIn Children's Hospital L.A. Website Children's Hospital L.A. Instagram Children's Hospital L.A. LinkedIn Learn more about our sponsor: Nabla Website Nabla LinkedIn

    30 min
  7. Preventing Allergies Before They Start

    18/11/2025

    Preventing Allergies Before They Start

    Food allergies affect millions of children across the U.S., but what if many could be prevented before they start? In this episode of A Dose of Optimism, host Omkar Kulkarni speaks with Daniel Zakowski, CEO of Ready, Set, Food!, and Dr. Jaclyn Bjelac, pediatric allergist and immunologist at the Cleveland Clinic, about the groundbreaking science and strategies behind early allergen introduction. Daniel Zakowski shares how a personal family experience led to the creation of Ready, Set, Food!, a company making it simple for parents to safely introduce common allergens like peanut, egg, and milk during infancy. He explains the public health impact, from insurance coverage to Medicaid partnerships and legislative progress across states. Dr. Bjelac brings the clinical perspective, breaking down decades of research and the pivotal LEAP study that changed everything, proving that early exposure can reduce peanut allergy by more than 70%. She explains the connection between eczema and food allergies, and why empowering parents with the right information can transform lives. It’s an inspiring look at how science, innovation, and advocacy are reshaping the future of childhood health, one spoonful at a time. Episode Resources: Centene Corporation: Managed Care & Healthcare Solutions Aetna: Health Insurance Plans Medicaid: Keeping America Healthy Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) Oral immunotherapy (OIT) Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) Epicutaneous Immunotherapy (EPIT) Peanut Allergy Drop Allergy Therapeutics advances peanut allergy vaccine with promising early trial data Connect with Dr. Jaclyn Bjelac: Cleveland Clinic - Dr. Jaclyn Bjelac Cleveland Clinic Instagram  Dr. Jaclyn Bjelac LinkedIn Dr. Jaclyn Bjelac Instagram Connect with Daniel Zakowski: Ready. Set. Food! Website Ready. Set. Food! Instagram Daniel Zakowski LinkedIn Connect with us: KidsX Website KidsX LinkedIn Children's Hospital L.A. Website Children's Hospital L.A. Instagram Children's Hospital L.A. LinkedIn Learn more about our sponsor: Nabla Website Nabla LinkedIn The content, views, opinions, and information presented on this podcast do not reflect the views of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles or of the sponsors o

    32 min

À propos

A Dose of Optimism is a podcast dedicated to exploring the world of healthcare innovation and the optimists driving meaningful change.  Hosted by Omkar Kulkarni, this show shines a light on bold ideas, transformative solutions, and the passionate individuals working every day to make healthcare better for children and their families. Each episode dives into the real-world challenges facing the healthcare industry and highlights the people and organizations pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. From tackling mental health and food allergies to reimagining hospital care and harnessing Artificial Intelligence for better outcomes. Listeners will discover game-changing solutions, hear stories of creativity and resilience, and gain inspiration from leaders who believe in building a healthier, more hopeful future.  From medical professionals and entrepreneurs to patients and community advocates, the podcast brings together diverse voices united by a shared commitment to improving healthcare delivery. Whether you’re working inside the industry or simply curious about the innovations shaping tomorrow’s care, A Dose of Optimism offers insight, connection, and inspiration. “The content, views, opinions, and information presented on this podcast do not reflect the views of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles or of the sponsors of the podcast. CHLA does not endorse the views, opinions and information presented on this podcast and CHLA specifically disclaims any legal liability or responsibility for the podcast’s content.”