Ignite: Healthcare Marketing Podcast

Cardinal Digital Marketing

Hear the latest performance marketing strategies, industry news, and innovative tactics that will help grow your healthcare organization. Brought to you by Cardinal Digital Marketing, our CEO Alex Membrillo sits down with industry leaders and the nation's top healthcare marketing professionals to uncover practical insights to boost your digital presence and attract more patients.

  1. 5d ago

    MMM is a powerful tool, but not a silver bullet

    Media mix modeling can tell healthcare marketers where there may be more opportunity, but it can't answer every question about where and how to spend. In this episode of The Strategists' Corner, Rich Briddock, Chief Strategy Officer at Cardinal Digital Marketing, and Ben Dutter, Chief Strategy Officer at Power Digital, unpack where MMM fits in a modern healthcare measurement strategy. As MMM becomes easier to access, they explore what it does exceptionally well, where healthcare's long patient journeys and fragmented data create limitations, and why the strongest measurement strategies pair modeling with testing and other sources of data. In this episode, you'll learn: Where MMM adds the most value in healthcare and where it falls short Which leading indicators to model when patient revenue takes months to materialize How match market tests validate and add detail to what MMM predicts What to do when the data challenges existing media assumptions If you're evaluating MMM or making media decisions with imperfect healthcare data, this is the episode to queue up next. RELATED RESOURCES A triangulation approach to healthcare marketing measurement - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/triangulation-healthcare-marketing-measurement-framework/ RevRx™: Unlocking the Power of Media Mix Modeling - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/media-mix-modeling-revrx/ The search plateau problem: Why healthcare marketers need incrementality testing - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/healthcare-incrementality-testing/ The healthcare marketer's guide to conversion signal optimization  - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/conversion-signal-optimization-strategy/

  2. Sep 8

    Healthcare Growth Is Hiding in Your Funnel

    More leads won't fix growth if patients are already slipping through the cracks in the journey you have. In this episode of Ignite, Ashley Petrochenko, VP of Brand Marketing at Cardinal Digital Marketing, sits down with Jesse Feist, Director of Growth Marketing at Spring Fertility, to unpack where healthcare marketers are overlooking growth inside the funnel they already have. Drawing on 15 plus years across dozens of healthcare and fertility brands, Jesse breaks down how speed to lead, long-term nurture, conversion friction, and patient advocacy turn existing demand into sustainable growth, and why AI powered search is starting to reward real patient trust over paid reach. You'll learn: Where to find conversion friction before increasing ad spend Why speed to lead can make or break patient acquisition How to nurture patients through long, complex decision journeys How to turn happy patients into advocates that fuel organic and AI driven discovery If you want to uncover more growth from the demand and patient trust you already have, this episode of Ignite is one to listen to next. RELATED RESOURCES Connect with Jesse - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-fiest-4926369a/ The healthcare marketer's guide to conversion signal optimization - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/conversion-signal-optimization-strategy/ What is a patient journey? Examples to grow your practice - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/what-is-a-patient-journey-grow-your-practice/ How to build a full-funnel healthcare marketing strategy - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/healthcare-full-funnel-marketing-strategy/ Marketing + operations: Why total alignment is vital to growth - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/healthcare-marketing-operations-alignment

  3. Sep 1

    Multi-Location Healthcare Needs a De Novo Playbook

    Marketers who wait until opening day to promote a new location are already behind. In this episode of Ignite, host Lauren Leone, President of Cardinal Digital Marketing, sits down with Evan Ilgenfritz, VP of Paid Media at Cardinal, to break down how multi-location healthcare organizations can build a smarter, repeatable playbook for de novo growth. They walk through how media strategy should evolve from pre-launch awareness, to patient acquisition, to an evergreen approach that keeps provider schedules full. You'll learn: How to build demand before a new location opens, without wasting budget too early The real launch trigger marketers miss, and why it isn't the day your doors open Which media channels matter at each stage, from awareness to conversion to evergreen How to turn every de novo launch into a sharper playbook for the next one If you're planning new locations or scaling into new markets, this episode will help you build a smarter, more repeatable approach to de novo growth. RELATED RESOURCES The de novo marketing playbook for healthcare - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/de-novo-marketing-strategy-new-healthcare-locations/ 4 essential steps for marketing your de novo office  - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/dso-de-novo-digital-marketing-strategy/ Why healthcare groups shouldn't fear website consolidation - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/multi-site-healthcare-groups-website-consolidation/ https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/expanding-channel-media-mix-strategy/ - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/performance-creative-the-key-to-paid-media-success/

  4. Aug 25

    Building orthopedic growth through community partnerships

    What if orthopedic growth starts long before a patient needs an appointment? On this episode of Ignite, Ashley Petrochenko, VP of Brand Marketing at Cardinal, sits down with Brandon Weinberg, Senior Brand Strategist at Rothman Orthopaedics, to unpack how Rothman builds trust before the moment of need. Drawing on his background in sports marketing with the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers, Brandon shares how Rothman uses community partnerships, patient stories, educational content, and digital access to stay relevant across the patient journey, from an urgent injury to elective surgery. In this episode, you'll learn: How sports partnerships create trust before patients need care How Rothman balances urgent and considered patient journeys Why authentic patient stories can strengthen orthopedic brand preference How marketing teams can grow demand while staying aligned with physician capacity If you want to rethink how your healthcare brand builds patient relationships before the moment of need, this episode is worth a listen. RELATED RESOURCES Connect with Brandon - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonweinberg/ Why capacity-driven marketing is non-negotiable - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/capacity-driven-marketing-media-investment-strategy/ What is a patient journey? Examples to grow your practice - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/what-is-a-patient-journey-grow-your-practice/ How to build a full-funnel healthcare marketing strategy - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/healthcare-full-funnel-marketing-strategy/ Why healthcare groups shouldn't fear website consolidation - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/multi-site-healthcare-groups-website-consolidation/

  5. Aug 18

    One brand strategy powers 40 dental locations

    Most DSOs think scale requires complexity. But what if one brand could actually make growth simpler? On this episode of Ignite, host Ashley Petrochenko, VP of Brand Marketing at Cardinal, sits down with April Sharry, VP of Marketing at Dental Depot. April shares how she has spent 10 years helping scale the organization to 40 general dentistry locations and five orthodontic practices across four states, while keeping one recognizable brand at the center. She breaks down how that approach simplifies campaigns, budget allocation, and marketing operations while preserving the founder-led culture and community roots that make Dental Depot stand out. You'll walk away with: How one brand architecture simplifies marketing across dozens of locations Why founder-led culture protects brand integrity through expansion How fixing review management helped Dental Depot reach 4.7 stars Why community marketing can build recognition beyond traditional ROI If you're navigating multi-location growth or weighing a move toward one unified brand, this episode offers a practical blueprint for scaling without sacrificing what makes the brand memorable. RELATED RESOURCES Connect with April - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilsharry/ DSO marketing: Branded house vs. house of brands - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/dso-marketing-branded-house-vs-house-of-brands/ Why healthcare groups shouldn't fear website consolidation - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/multi-site-healthcare-groups-website-consolidation/ 4 essential steps for marketing your de novo office - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/dso-de-novo-digital-marketing-strategy/ Dykema DSO 2026 takeaways: What dental marketers need to know for a strong EOY - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/dykema-dso-2026-takeaways-what-dental-marketers-need-to-know-for-a-strong-year-end/

  6. Aug 11

    From broken attribution to 14% dental patient growth

    If you're still measuring marketing with disconnected dashboards, you're leaving patient growth on the table. In this episode of Ignite, host Ashley Petrochenko, VP of Brand Marketing, sits down with Kassie Churchill, VP of Marketing at Kids Care Dental & Orthodontics, to unpack how her team rebuilt a broken attribution system into 14% new patient growth. They dig into why AI search, online reviews, and hyperlocal marketing are reshaping how parents choose healthcare providers, and how to tie every initiative back to measurable business outcomes. You'll learn: How to rebuild attribution around patient growth instead of vanity metrics Why AI search and ChatGPT are already driving patient bookings How a review generation strategy drove an 85% increase in five star reviews How to prove marketing's impact with executive-level metrics Listen in to learn how today's healthcare marketers are turning better measurement into better patient growth. RELATED RESOURCES Connect with Kassie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/churchillk/ Optimizing for AI search: A new era in healthcare marketing - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/optimizing-for-ai-search-a-new-era-in-healthcare-marketing/ What is a patient journey? Examples to grow your practice  - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/what-is-a-patient-journey-grow-your-practice/ How to build a full-funnel healthcare marketing strategy - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/healthcare-full-funnel-marketing-strategy/ Building a privacy-safe engine for patient growth - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/health-system-privacy-safe-measurement-framework-case-study/

  7. Aug 4

    CTV Isn't Just a Branding Channel Anymore

    Your bottom-funnel channels can only take you so far. If you're pouring more budget into search or Meta and paying more for the same pool of patients, it may be time to rethink how you're generating demand. On this episode of the Ignite Healthcare Marketing Podcast, Lauren Leone, President of Cardinal Digital Marketing, sits down with Ruchi Patel, Group Media Director at Cardinal, to explain why Connected TV has evolved from a branding tactic into one of healthcare marketing's most effective demand generation channels. Drawing from real client campaigns, Ruchi shares how healthcare organizations can overcome market saturation, expand their audience before patients start searching, and turn CTV into an evergreen driver of patient growth. You'll learn: Why bottom-funnel marketing eventually reaches a growth ceiling How CTV creates demand that improves downstream conversions The KPIs that prove CTV is driving business results How to optimize CTV with audience, creative, and cross-channel testing If you want to build a more sustainable patient acquisition strategy instead of simply spending more on existing channels, this is an episode you won't want to miss. RELATED RESOURCES When & How to Expand Your Healthcare Media Mix - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/expanding-channel-media-mix-strategy/ How to Build a Full-Funnel Healthcare Marketing Strategy  - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/healthcare-full-funnel-marketing-strategy/ How to Build a Full-Funnel Healthcare Marketing Strategy - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/healthcare-full-funnel-marketing-strategy/ Performance Creative: The Key to Paid Media Success - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/performance-creative-the-key-to-paid-media-success/

    CTV Isn't Just a Branding Channel Anymore
  8. Jul 28

    Speed to Lead Wins More Patients

    Generating more leads isn't enough if patients can't book an appointment when they're ready. In this episode of Ignite, Ashley Petrochenko Cardinal's VP of Brand Marketing sits down with Dental Marketing Industry Expert Ana Doran to explore why patient acquisition depends on more than great campaigns. Drawing on her experience supporting multi-location dental organizations, Ana shares how speed to lead, operational readiness, AI-powered engagement, and authentic branding help practices turn more inquiries into booked appointments. You'll learn: Why responding within 30 seconds can dramatically improve appointment bookings Why marketing and operations must work together to drive patient growth Why show rates matter more than lead volume when measuring marketing success What to validate before scaling a winning campaign across locations If you want your marketing to convert more patients instead of simply generating more leads, hit play on this episode. RELATED RESOURCES Connect with Ana - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-doran-ab5b53185/ Marketing + Operations: Why Total Alignment is Vital to Growth - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/healthcare-marketing-operations-alignment/ Is Your Organization Actually Ready for Marketing? - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/marketing-readiness/ What is a Patient Journey? Examples to Grow Your Practice - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/what-is-a-patient-journey-grow-your-practice/ How to Build a Full-Funnel Healthcare Marketing Strategy - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/healthcare-full-funnel-marketing-strategy/

4.7
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

Hear the latest performance marketing strategies, industry news, and innovative tactics that will help grow your healthcare organization. Brought to you by Cardinal Digital Marketing, our CEO Alex Membrillo sits down with industry leaders and the nation's top healthcare marketing professionals to uncover practical insights to boost your digital presence and attract more patients.

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