The Beat

HLTH

The Beat, powered by HLTH, is a weekly interview series dedicated to paving a better path forward for the future of health. Each week a variety of hosts bring you authentic conversations with prominent thought leaders. Through these interviews with people at the forefront of change in healthcare, we hope to spark new ideas and encourage new collaborations among listeners.

  1. AI atb HLTH: AI That Acts -The Rise of Intelligent Healthcare Agents

    9 HR AGO

    AI atb HLTH: AI That Acts -The Rise of Intelligent Healthcare Agents

    Today, host Sandy Vance sits down with Jeff McCool, the AVP of Healthcare Conversational AI at Amelia. Join a discussion with SoundHound AI, the leader in conversational intelligence, to learn how AI agents are helping healthcare companies overcome challenges like improving patient care and streamlining operations. Hear how the SoundHound Amelia Platform lets you build AI agents that understand, reason, and act so you can create the most seamless conversational experience.    In this episode, they talk about: The types of healthcare organizations Amelia partners with How Amelia’s platform approach supports health systems in multiple ways beyond a single tool Working with clients to establish guardrails for safe and effective AI adoption How conversational AI is expected to evolve in the coming years Real-world implementation success stories and lessons learned What differentiates SoundHound AI’s agents and the broader ecosystem created through partnerships Advice for healthcare leaders at provider and payer organizations navigating next steps with AI A Little About Jeff: Jeff McCool works at the intersection of healthcare and AI, helping organizations use conversational technology to solve real operational challenges. He is AVP of Healthcare Conversational AI at Amelia, where he partners with health systems to deploy AI-powered virtual agents that improve patient and employee experiences while reducing friction in everyday workflows. His focus is on practical AI adoption, what works in production, how teams implement it, and how to scale responsibly. Previously, Jeff held leadership roles at Ciox and Datavant Health, leading digital growth initiatives centered on interoperability, APIs, and healthcare data exchange. His background combines healthcare operations, technology, and go-to-market strategy. Jeff holds an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.

    22 min
  2. How Agentic AI Is Changing Healthcare From Integration to Impact

    1 DAY AGO

    How Agentic AI Is Changing Healthcare From Integration to Impact

    In this episode, host Sandy Vance and Ted Dinsmore discuss the ever-evolving role of AI in healthcare, industry trends, challenges, and solutions. They explore the concept of agentic AI and the Model Context Protocol (MCP), which aims to enhance data integration and efficiency in healthcare systems. They also highlight the importance of building trust in AI solutions, particularly in rural healthcare settings. Listen in to learn how SphereGen is addressing these challenges through innovative AI implementation approaches. In this episode, they talk about: Latest AI trend: agentic AI and bots, and MCP in the healthcare industry MCP allows us to speed up that integration Trust is a huge issue when you're having an impact on the patient The benefits of using MCP for hospitals and patients The concerns about the changes and cuts to rural healthcare The most common use cases when transitioning: eligibility, prior authorization, and denials management The effects on how healthcare systems are doing business with EHRs Next big use cases and what’s coming up next Solving challenges in rural healthcare over the next few years How rural healthcare and homecare are tied At the end of the day, it’s all about how AI can help free up time for people A Little About Ted: Ted Dinsmore is the President of SphereGen Technologies, located in New Haven, Connecticut, Toronto, Canada, and Pune, India. SphereGen is a software consulting firm that develops and supports custom software solutions for clients in AI and Automation, Application Development, and Extended Reality (AR, VR, MR). His experience in the world of IT spans over 30 years. When Ted started his first consulting firm, he became invested in developing and supporting Microsoft solutions for large multinational companies. Wanting to stay at the forefront of emerging technologies, his current company, SphereGen, embraces the world of AI/Automation and Mixed Reality (MR). SphereGen focuses on improving processes for healthcare organizations by leveraging innovative technologies, along with partners UiPath and Microsoft, to solve business problems.

    25 min
  3. At the Intersection of Healthcare Innovation & Security: Cloud Governance and Data Interoperability

    4 DAYS AGO

    At the Intersection of Healthcare Innovation & Security: Cloud Governance and Data Interoperability

    Advances in data interoperability, democratized cloud access, and responsible AI governance are reshaping what is possible in healthcare innovation. In this episode, host Sandy Vance welcomes Jim Ducharme, Chief Technology Officer of ClearDATA, to discuss each of these forces impacting healthcare, from improving care through connected data, to empowering teams with greater cloud access, to building the policies and controls required to govern AI responsibly.  Their conversation highlights the importance of secure, scalable infrastructure as healthcare organizations adopt AI and expand data sharing. Jim shares practical insights on balancing innovation with risk management, building trust in cloud environments, and establishing governance frameworks that support compliance. In this episode, they talk about: ClearDATA’s vision and the organizations they serve Technologies and solutions designed to protect sensitive patient data Understanding the financial and operational risks of cloud security failures How cloud democratization is making advanced technology more accessible The role of a secure cloud baseline in healthcare innovation Best practices for governance in data sharing and interoperability The relationship between AI and data trustworthiness How organizations can safely adopt and scale emerging AI capabilities A Little About Jim: Jim leads ClearDATA’s Engineering, Product Management, and IT teams. He has more than 25 years of experience leading product organizations in the identity, integrated risk, and fraud management markets. Prior to joining ClearDATA, Jim served as Chief Operating Officer of Outseer, an RSA Company, where he served over 10 years in executive leadership roles. Prior to RSA in 2012, he served in executive leadership roles for Aveksa, CA, and Netegrity. Ducharme frequently speaks at industry events and regularly contributes articles to trade publications. Jim also holds several patents and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree from the University of New Hampshire. He and his wife live in Maine in their dream log home, which was featured in Log and Timber Home Living magazine.

    23 min
  4. How Intelligent Automation Is Changing Healthcare Informatics

    4 DAYS AGO

    How Intelligent Automation Is Changing Healthcare Informatics

    AI is revolutionizing how health information is managed. Utilizing sophisticated algorithms, it can assist professionals in making more informed decisions. For instance, optical character recognition (OCR) can read and interpret medical records, identifying potential compliance issues and ensuring every page represents the correct patient.  In this episode, host Sandy Vance chats with Anupriyo Chakravarti, the Chief Technology and Product Officer at Verisma, about how healthcare organizations can use intelligent automation to reduce risk and uncover compliance gaps in order to free staff to work at the top of their license.  In this episode, they talk about: What Verisma can do for healthcare organizations Use case examples Some of the risks Verisma mitigates by finding missteps like unauthorized disclosures  AI is taking over the world of informatics Enabling people to work at the top of their license is critical People are not anti-AI, they are anti-opacity A Little About Anupriyo: Anupriyo Chakravarti joined Verisma Systems, Inc. in 2017 as the Senior Vice President of Research and Development. Anupriyo brings 25 years of experience as a highly effective leader in healthcare IT product management and software development for Fortune 500 companies and startups. Anupriyo joined Verisma after serving as vice president of product management and marketing at McKesson, where he led the product management and marketing functions of the Extended Care Services (ECS) business unit. Before McKesson, he worked for 11 years at Surgical Information Systems (SIS), where he led software development, and ultimately product management, to deliver solutions for the surgery and anesthesia departments at health systems and ambulatory surgery centers. Prior to working with SIS, Anupriyo worked for Arthur Andersen, Ryder Dedicated Logistics, IBM and TATA Motors. Anupriyo has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from IIT Roorkee in India.

    17 min
  5. Securing Healthcare's Passwordless Future with Imprivata

    5 DAYS AGO

    Securing Healthcare's Passwordless Future with Imprivata

    In this episode, host Sandy Vance chats with Dr. Sean Kelly, the Chief Medical Officer and the SVP of Customer Healthcare Strategy at Imprivata. Together, they unpack how healthcare organizations can strengthen cybersecurity without slowing clinicians down—exploring everything from mobile device security and passwordless authentication to adaptive authentication, risky user behaviors, and the very real implications for patient safety, workflow efficiency, and ROI for healthcare leaders. In this episode, they talk about:How cybersecurity can be improvedThe impact that Imprivata has on clinicians Why multi-factor authentication systems aren’t more prevalent in the healthcare industryThe risky behaviors that open up organizations to security risksThe different things that Imprivata offers organizationsThe risks of patient harm in cybersecurity and privacyAdvice for CIOs or CFOs: workflow implications, security compliance, security and efficiency ROI, and financial valueAdaptive authentication at ImprivataA Little About Sean:Dr. Sean Kelly brings a uniquely well-rounded perspective to healthcare, shaped by a career that spans emergency medicine, healthcare leadership, technology, teaching, and entrepreneurship. An emergency physician at Beth Israel Lahey Health in Boston and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School, he is also the Chief Medical Officer and SVP of Customer Healthcare Strategy at Imprivata, where he helps guide product vision, go-to-market strategy, and customer experience after more than a decade with the company from startup through IPO and private equity ownership. He has led high-performing teams in both clinical and executive settings, contributed to care delivery improvements impacting millions of patients, published widely in emergency medicine and medical education, and earned multiple teaching awards. His background includes training at Harvard College, UMass Medical School, and Vanderbilt University, co-founding a concierge medical practice on Martha’s Vineyard, international teaching and humanitarian work, and service in roles ranging from hospital administration to disaster relief—all grounded in a deep commitment to learning, mentorship, and collaboration.

    25 min
  6. The AI Blueprint for Precision Medicine

    6 DAYS AGO

    The AI Blueprint for Precision Medicine

    The data necessary to achieve the promise of precision medicine are now available with low-cost whole-genome sequencing, microbiome analysis, proteomics, and other large datasets. Bioscope has developed a team of AI personas to help clinicians realize that promise in a way that will revolutionize the practice of medicine. In this episode, Sandy Vance speaks with Don Brown, MD, Founder and CEO of Bioscope, about how AI and large-scale biological data are converging to make precision medicine practical for clinicians. They explore Don’s entrepreneurial journey, the origins of Bioscope, and how a subscription-based, clinician-first approach is shaping the future of personalized care. In this episode, they talk about:Don Brown’s unconventional journey from double-wide to CEO of a groundbreaking companyThe inspiration behind founding Bioscope and the problem it was created to solveHow Don’s “entrepreneurial bat signal” attracted talent, partners, and early momentumWhy Bioscope began by partnering with concierge medical practices rather than large health systemsHow Bioscope’s per-patient, per-year subscription model works in practiceReal-world use cases and early case studies demonstrating clinical impactWhat the current early rollout looks like and where Bioscope is headed nextA Little About Don:Don Brown, MD, is a serial software entrepreneur, physician, and leader in precision medicine. Over his career, he has founded and scaled multiple groundbreaking technology companies, including Software Artistry, Interactive Intelligence, LifeOmic, and most recently Bioscope.AI. His companies have collectively generated billions in value through public offerings and acquisitions by organizations such as IBM, Genesys, and Fountain Life. In addition to his entrepreneurial work, Don is an active advisor, investor, and philanthropist, including a $30 million gift that established the Brown Immunotherapy Center at Indiana University School of Medicine. Don holds a bachelor’s degree in physics and a master’s degree in computer science from Indiana University, an MD from Indiana University School of Medicine, and a master’s degree in biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. A lifelong learner, he is fluent in multiple languages, an instrument-rated pilot, an avid outdoorsman, and the author of Understanding Life. He currently serves as Founder and CEO of Bioscope.AI, where he is focused on transforming how clinicians use data to deliver personalized care.

    23 min
  7. AI at HLTH : Communication as a Clinical Advantage

    17 FEB

    AI at HLTH : Communication as a Clinical Advantage

    In this episode, host Sandy Vance chats with Sophie Cheng, the Senior Vice President of Product Marketing at Sinch. They discuss the most common communication pitfalls and share a handful of remedies so you can start sending smarter messages. You’ll walk away with tangible tips on how to:  ✔️ switch from omnichannel to optimal channel ✔️ leverage AI to fix your no-show problem ✔️ build patient trust through advanced messaging In this episode, they talk about:What Sinch does and how it uses AI to simplify and personalize communication for customersHow AI-driven communication is being applied in healthcare and what leaders need to understandWhy better communication leads to faster interactions, improved patient experiences, and higher conversion ratesHow omnichannel communication strategies streamline workflows for healthcare organizationsHow Sinch helps organizations identify the right channels and interfaces for their patient populationsWhat it means to operate at the speed of trust, and why transparency mattersHow AI can make patient interactions feel more empathetic and humanWhy organizations should never underestimate the impact of their communication strategyA Little About Sophie:Sophie Cheng is the Senior Vice President of Product Marketing at Sinch, the global leader in CPaaS and the company behind the Customer Communications Cloud. With more than 15 years of international marketing experience, Sophie has held strategic roles across Europe, Asia, and North America, partnering closely with Product, Growth, and M&A leaders to manage complex, global portfolios. At Sinch, she leads global product marketing, partner marketing, and analyst relations, helping organizations deliver seamless, trusted communication experiences across messaging, voice, and email. Before Sinch, Sophie served as VP of Global Product and Customer Marketing at ZoomInfo and led Product Marketing at Chorus.ai. A true global citizen, she has worked extensively across EMEA, APAC, and the U.S. Sophie holds advanced degrees from the University of St. Gallen and Singapore University and is an active member of the CMO Alliance.

    19 min
  8. AI at HLTH: Sustaining Healthcare IT: The Shift from Reactive Response to Predictive Resilience

    13 FEB

    AI at HLTH: Sustaining Healthcare IT: The Shift from Reactive Response to Predictive Resilience

    Enterprise IT is drowning in repeat incidents, slow triage, and reactive firefighting—burning teams out while costs rise and service quality slips. In this episode, Sandy and Umesh Shiknis of Publicis Sapient explore how Sapient Sustain uses AI-driven automation, predictive insights, and self-healing workflows to break the cycle, turning IT operations from constant crisis mode into a resilient, proactive engine that sustains the business. They also discuss how Publicis Sapient is leveraging AI to address challenges in the healthcare sector. They put an importance on modernizing legacy systems while also emphasizing the concept of agentic AI. Check out more about Sapient Sustain here: https://www.publicissapient.com/sapient-ai/sustain In this episode, they talk about:Publicis Sapient focuses on human-centered digital transformation in healthcareAI can accelerate product development and modernize legacy systemsIt's easy to confuse automation with simple elements of machine learning, which are progressively more deterministicOrganizations must establish guardrails for AI implementation because of how powerful agentic AI can beSapient Sustain helps healthcare companies manage and stabilize their applicationsThe end-user experience is crucial in technology deploymentAI can significantly reduce technical debt in healthcare organizationsHealthcare leaders should look at the boring stuff and focus on practical AI applicationsEducate your workforce to embrace the future instead of fearing itA Little About Umesh:Umesh Shiknis is Executive Vice President and Global Chief Growth Officer at Publicis Sapient, a human-centered, product-led digital business transformation firm. He leads global growth and go-to-market strategy, scaling new buying centers, accelerating client impact, and driving transformational revenue across industries. Previously, Umesh held senior leadership roles at Capgemini, Infosys, and ISG. His current focus is on taking the Publicis Sapient AI product suite—Sapient Slingshot, Bodhi, and Sapient Sustain—to market, turning AI innovation into measurable, enterprise-wide outcomes.

    22 min

About

The Beat, powered by HLTH, is a weekly interview series dedicated to paving a better path forward for the future of health. Each week a variety of hosts bring you authentic conversations with prominent thought leaders. Through these interviews with people at the forefront of change in healthcare, we hope to spark new ideas and encourage new collaborations among listeners.

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