HLTH Forward Podcast

Smriti Kirubanandan
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

HLTH (Health) Forward is where we hold space for Healthcare leaders, physicians, and key health policymakers to discuss what takes us to move Healthcare Forward. We want to hear challenges, ideas, and out-of-the-box solutions for us to unite our ecosystems further and move the needle towards an innovative, affordable, and all-inclusive healthcare ecosystem. * Not affiliated with HLTH events

  1. Molecules of the Mind: Dr. Eric Nestler on the Biology of Addiction and Depression, Mt.Sinai Health System

    OCT 6

    Molecules of the Mind: Dr. Eric Nestler on the Biology of Addiction and Depression, Mt.Sinai Health System

    In this episode, featuring Dr. Eric Nestler, offers a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of neuroscience, addiction, and depression. Dr. Nestler explains that both conditions share similar brain mechanisms, particularly within the limbic system, which regulates emotion and motivation. His laboratory’s research delves into how chronic stress or drug exposure alters molecular pathways in these emotional brain regions, leading to maladaptive behaviors. Through advanced techniques like transcriptomics, his team analyzes thousands of brain molecules simultaneously, helping to uncover key differences between healthy and diseased brains. This cutting-edge work not only enhances our understanding of mental health disorders but also opens new possibilities for targeted treatments and resilience-building therapies. Beyond the science, Dr. Nestler highlights broader social and ethical dimensions. He emphasizes that the global rise in addiction and depression reflects modern societal stressors—social isolation, technological pressures, and post-pandemic effects.  While innovative approaches like AI-driven analysis and brain–computer interfaces show promise, he cautions that such technologies must be pursued with great ethical care. Ultimately, his message centers on balance: advancing research while nurturing everyday resilience through healthy living, social connection, and emotional awareness. His closing insight—that true health comes from integrating science, empathy, and humanity—resonates as both hopeful and urgent for the future of healthcare. About Dr. Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, is a leading neuroscientist and physician renowned for his groundbreaking research on the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms underlying depression and drug addiction. Currently serving as the Interim Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Chief Scientific Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System, Dr. Nestler has played a transformative role in advancing brain science through his leadership of the Friedman Brain Institute and his own laboratory’s work. His research has shed light on how chronic stress and repeated drug exposure alter gene expression and neural circuits, particularly through discoveries such as the transcription factor ΔFosB, a key regulator of long-term changes in the brain’s reward pathways. Dr. Nestler earned his BA, MD, and PhD from Yale University and has held prominent academic positions at Yale, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Mount Sinai. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and has published hundreds of influential scientific papers. Deeply committed to diversity in science, Dr. Nestler is also known for promoting inclusive leadership and mentorship throughout his career. Support the show

    46 min
  2. Oscar Health: A CTO’s Blueprint for the Future of Insurance, Mario Schlosser

    SEP 24

    Oscar Health: A CTO’s Blueprint for the Future of Insurance, Mario Schlosser

    In this episode, Mario Schlosser, Founder & Chief Technology Officer at Oscar Health, emphasized his belief that the future of health insurance lies in decentralization, with providers taking on more responsibility for the role that insurers have traditionally played.  He argued that insurance companies, as they currently exist, act as unnecessary middlemen that add limited value to the system. Instead, Schlosser envisions a model where caregivers evolve to function like insurers, combining payment and care delivery into a unified structure.  He highlighted how Oscar Health’s technology-first infrastructure is designed not just for its own members but as a platform that providers could adopt, helping them manage care and financial risk more seamlessly. This integrated approach, he believes, would create a more efficient system that better aligns incentives to improve outcomes while reducing costs At the same time, Schlosser was clear that Oscar Health’s guiding mission is centered on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, which he described as the company’s “north star.” With millions of Americans relying on ACA plans, he sees this market as the proving ground for new models of consumer-focused, technology-enabled coverage.  By focusing exclusively on the ACA  in the 18 states it serves, Oscar is doubling down on serving individuals directly, ensuring affordability, better navigation, and improved health outcomes. Schlosser tied this vision to a broader hope: that U.S. healthcare will evolve toward an individualized system where people can stay with the insurance and care model they trust for the long term, making the ACA both a foundation and a catalyst for the transformation he wants to see. BIO Mario Schlosser is the Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer at Oscar Health. In this role, Mario leads product and engineering, with a focus on building Oscar’s technology platform for the future and continuing to set the strategy for +Oscar. Previously, Mario served as CEO of Oscar, leading the company from inception to serving over 1M members. Before co-founding Oscar, Mario also co-founded the largest social gaming company in Latin America, where he led the company's analytics and game design practices. Prior to that, Mario was a Senior Investment Associate at Bridgewater Associates and worked as a consultant for McKinsey & Company in Europe, the U.S. and Brazil. Mario also spent time as a visiting scholar at Stanford University, where he wrote and co-authored 10 computer science publications, including one of the most-cited computer science papers published in the past decade, in which he developed the EigenTrust Algorithm to securely compute trust in randomized networks. In May 2019, Mario and his co-authors, Sepandar D. Kamvar (Mosaic Building Group Inc) and Héctor Garcia-Molina (Celo), received the prestigious Seoul Test of Time Award from the International World Wide Web Conference Committee (IW3C2) for this work. Mario holds a degree in computer science with highest distinction from the University of Hannover in Germany and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Support the show

    31 min
  3. Beyond the Bottom Line: Aligning Finance and Care, Kate Musler, Chief Financial Officer @Highmark Health Plan

    AUG 20

    Beyond the Bottom Line: Aligning Finance and Care, Kate Musler, Chief Financial Officer @Highmark Health Plan

    In this episode, I sit down with Kate Musler, Chief Financial Officer of Highmark Health Plan, to talk about the incredibly complex puzzle of modern healthcare—where affordability, access, and quality must all coexist. Kate walks us through her path into the field and what has kept her here: the challenge of finding real solutions in a system that impacts every one of us.  We dig into the pressures of rising costs, the tough negotiations between payers and providers, and how Highmark approaches these conversations with patients at the center. Kate highlights the financial balancing act she oversees: keeping the organization stable and sustainable while ensuring people get the care they need when they need it. It’s a candid, eye-opening look at what it means to manage health insurance in a world where even small changes have massive ripple effects. We also dive into the shift toward value-based care, where providers are paid for outcomes instead of volume. Kate explains why this model is essential—not just for reducing unnecessary treatments and lowering costs, but for building healthier communities over the long term.  But as she points out, transitioning to VBC isn’t easy; it requires visionary leadership, true partnership between payers and providers, and the financial flexibility to support those changes without sacrificing quality.  We explore how technology, community programs, and reinvestment strategies are helping bridge the gap between financial responsibility and compassionate care. And through it all, Kate shares her hope that collaboration, transparency, and innovation will move healthcare toward a future where both patients and providers can thrive. About In March 2025, Kate Musler was promoted to the C-suite of Highmark Health Plan, the health insurance arm of Highmark Health. In this role, Kate is responsible for providing strategic financial leadership for the Highmark Health Plan. She is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining targeted efforts to ensure the economic stability and viability of the Highmark Health Plan, including the transformation necessary to operate as a successful integrated delivery and financing system. She first joined Highmark in 2019 as senior vice president of underwriting and swiftly moved up the ranks. During her tenure at Highmark, Kate has overseen various functions and ensured the financial stability of the health plan. In her previous role, she oversaw actuarial, underwriting, and provider network functions covering 7 million members. She was also responsible for efforts to create an advance payment program following the Change Healthcare cybersecurity breach that rocked the sector in 2024.  Her areas of expertise include underwriting, actuarial services, medical cost analysis, networking contracting and operations, and regulatory advocacy. Support the show

    48 min
  4. Paw-sitive Impact: Leading FidoCure’s Fight Against Pet Cancer, Christina Lopes, CEO

    AUG 4

    Paw-sitive Impact: Leading FidoCure’s Fight Against Pet Cancer, Christina Lopes, CEO

    In my recent discussion with Christina Lopes, founder of FidoCure and fellow Young Global Leader, we examined a troubling but under-discussed reality: cancer incidence in companion animals is rising sharply. The trend mirrors human oncology—rooted in extended lifespans, environmental exposures, and improved detection—and raises critical questions for both veterinary and human medicine. The epidemiological data are compelling: 1 in 4 dogs will develop neoplasia during their lifetime.Nearly 50% of dogs over 10 years old receive a cancer diagnosis.An estimated 6 million canine cancer cases are identified annually in the U.S.Breed-specific predisposition is pronounced; purebred dogs are almost twice as likely as mixed breeds to develop certain cancers, with high-risk breeds showing onset as early as 5–7 years, compared to a median of 9 years in mixed breeds.Christina’s work at FidoCure is predicated on a big-data, precision-medicine model for veterinary oncology. By aggregating and analyzing genomic, clinical, and longitudinal health data from thousands of dogs, her team is building predictive algorithms capable of identifying at-risk individuals before symptomatic disease emerges. The vision is a transparent, owner-facing platform—one that transforms the “four-legged life course” into a navigable, data-informed journey that prioritizes prevention over reaction. From a translational science perspective, this work has profound implications. Comparative oncology—the study of naturally occurring cancers in animals to inform human health—benefits enormously from canine genomic data.  Recent research underscores the potential: The largest canine tumor sequencing study to date (671 dogs, across over 20 tumor types) identified dozens of mutation hotspots that parallel human oncogenic drivers.Comparative genomic analyses have demonstrated high concordance in mutations such as TP53, PIK3CA, and BRAF, opening the door for cross-species therapeutic strategies.Clinical trials in dogs using targeted therapies (originally developed for humans) have yielded response patterns that closely predict human outcomes—accelerating drug validation timelines.Christina’s mission exemplifies a systems-level approach: build robust datasets in veterinary health, leverage machine learning to forecast disease risk, and allow those insights to cycle back into both animal and human oncology. In our conversation, it became clear that advancing predictive and preventive medicine in dogs is not a niche pursuit—it is an accelerant for innovation in global cancer care. About Christina Lopes is the CEO and co-founder of FidoCure, a platform that utilises artificial intelligence and genomic sequencing to deliver personalised treatments for pet dogs with cancer, while also accelerating the development of lifesaving cancer therapies for humans. Under her leadership, FidoCure has expanded to over 1,350 veterinary clinics worldwide and has treated nearly 6,000 dogs afflicted with cancer. In collaboration with the AI Health leadership at Stanford University, Christina has developed the world’s largest and most comprehensive canine cancer dataset, comprising over two billion data points collected from patients in real-world clinical settings. She has co-authored peer-reviewed research published in leading scientific journals, including Nature Precision Oncology.  Support the show

    1h 42m
  5. Decoding Cancer : Dr. Edgar Engleman, Professor of Pathology, Stanford University

    JUL 15

    Decoding Cancer : Dr. Edgar Engleman, Professor of Pathology, Stanford University

    In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Edgar Engleman, a pioneering Pathologist and physician-scientist at Stanford University whose work has shaped the very foundation of cancer immunotherapy. As we face rising global cancer rates, Dr. Engleman shares his insights into the evolving landscape of cancer research and what the numbers really mean—scientifically and socially. We dive deep into his groundbreaking research on erythropoietin (EPO) and its surprising implications in cancer biology, as well as his continued innovations in using the immune system to fight tumors. Dr. Engleman also opens up about his involvement with vee-vo Capital and offers candid thoughts on the role of venture capital in bridging science and real-world impact. No conversation about the future of medicine is complete without exploring AI. Dr. Engleman shares his perspective on how artificial intelligence is beginning to transform cancer detection and prediction, and how it might reshape diagnostics, treatment decisions, and even drug development. But what strikes me most is Dr. Engleman’s enduring optimism—rooted in decades of scientific rigor. Despite the challenges, he remains steadfast in his belief that with a science-backed, collaborative approach, curing cancer is not just a dream—it’s a destination. This episode is a masterclass in science, hope, and what it means to pursue truth in medicine. About Dr. Edgar G. Engleman, MD, PhD, is a renowned pathologist and physician-scientist who serves as Professor of Pathology and of Medicine (Immunology & Rheumatology) at Stanford University School of Medicine. He received his BA magna cum laude from Harvard in 1967 and his MD from Columbia University in 1971. Following postdoctoral training in biochemistry at the NIH and immunogenetics at Stanford, he joined the Stanford faculty in 1978 and earned tenure in 1990. Dr. Engleman founded the Stanford Blood Center in 1980 and continues to serve as its Medical Director. He also co-directs the Tumor Immunology & Immunotherapy Program at the Stanford Cancer Institute and is affiliated with several interdisciplinary research centers, including Bio-X, the Diabetes Research Center, and the Neurosciences Institute. Dr. Engleman’s research has made pioneering contributions to the field of cancer immunotherapy. His laboratory was the first to isolate and engineer dendritic cells to stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, work that led to the development of Sipuleucel-T (Provenge), the first FDA-approved active immunotherapy for cancer. His recent work focuses on reprogramming tumor-associated myeloid cells to trigger T-cell responses against cancer, with these approaches now in clinical trials. Beyond oncology, his research explores immune mechanisms in metabolic diseases, neurodegeneration, and transplantation, influencing innovative strategies like radiation-based tolerance induction. Dr. Engleman has mentored over 150 trainees, published more than 300 scientific papers, and teaches a popular course on tumor immunology at Stanford. Support the show

    37 min

  6. JUN 16

    Hacking Human Recovery: The Former Lawyer Who's Revolutionizing How We Sleep

    In this compelling episode, I sit down with Matteo Franceschetti, the Italian-born Co-Founder and CEO of Eight Sleep, to explore how his journey from competitive ski racing to legal practice to clean-tech entrepreneurship led him to revolutionize the $500 million sleep optimization industry. Franceschetti shares his unique perspective on performance optimization, drawing powerful parallels between the recovery routines of elite athletes and the overlooked sleep needs of frontline healthcare workers. His company’s AI-powered platform is pushing boundaries by shifting the conversation from generic sleep hygiene to hyper-personalized, biometric-driven solutions designed for real-world impact. As a healthcare technology expert, I’ve long witnessed the gaps in digital health solutions when it comes to addressing burnout and well-being at scale. What struck me in this conversation is Franceschetti’s bold assertion: sleep is not just a wellness perk, it is a foundational form of preventive care. In a field where clinicians are constantly on call, managing life-or-death decisions, and working under relentless pressure, sleep should not be optional—it should be engineered and protected like any other critical health asset. We take a deeper dive into the data—statistics that are as concerning as they are compelling. One in three physicians report burnout. Healthcare workers sleeping less than seven hours per night face significantly higher rates of emotional exhaustion and clinical error. Franceschetti and I align on this point: the status quo isn’t just insufficient—it’s dangerous. Traditional wellness programs and sleep advice often ignore the deeply individualized nature of sleep, failing to account for how factors like genetics, shift work, stress hormones, and environmental disruption shape sleep architecture. Eight Sleep’s approach is different. By leveraging real-time bio-signals—like heart rate variability, respiratory rate, and temperature—their platform continuously adapts to the sleeper’s unique physiology, effectively becoming a dynamic sleep coach embedded in your bed. This is the kind of precision health tool that healthcare has been missing. From my vantage point in digital health innovation, Franceschetti’s work represents a promising shift toward preventive infrastructure rather than reactive treatment. As our system grapples with workforce shortages—only 70% of nurses remaining in practice, rising physician dropout rates—sleep tech could be a quiet but powerful lever. It’s not just about better rest; it’s about clinical accuracy, mental resilience, patient outcomes, and system-wide efficiency. We close the conversation by exploring how sleep optimization could become a strategic pillar in the healthcare system of the future. Franceschetti argues—and I agree—that investing in personalized sleep technology could yield downstream benefits: fewer medical errors, improved staff retention, better patient satisfaction scores, and lower long-term care costs. In an era where burnout threatens the very sustainability of care delivery, Eight Sleep’s technology isn’t just a consumer innovation—it’s a potential public health intervention. About Matteo Franceschetti is the Co-Founder and CEO of Eight Sleep, the sleep fitness company he established in 2014 in San Francisco. A native of Italy who was obsessed with performance from a young age as a competitive ski racer, tennis player, and car racer, Franceschetti transitioned from working in the top tier of the international legal world and founding two clean-tech companies before age 30 to revolutionizing sleep technology. Under his leadership, Eight Sleep has developed proprietary technology that uses cutting-edge AI and machine learning models to track bio signals during the night and o Support the show

    49 min
  7. The Neuroeconomics Edge: Decision Science for Better Health with Dr. Michael Platt

    JUN 2

    The Neuroeconomics Edge: Decision Science for Better Health with Dr. Michael Platt

    I’ve always been fascinated by the mystery behind our choices — why we hit snooze instead of going for a walk, why we reach for comfort food even when we know better, and why some people seem to have the willpower to make healthier decisions with ease. This week on HLTH Forward, I had the absolute privilege of diving deep into those questions with Dr. Michael Platt, a renowned neuroscientist who’s reshaping how we understand decision-making and the human brain. Dr. Platt holds joint appointments in neuroscience, psychology, and marketing at the University of Pennsylvania and leads the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative. His work isn’t just academic — it’s deeply human, grounded in the belief that understanding how our brains work can help us live healthier, more connected, and more intentional lives. We talked about what really goes on inside our brains when we face health choices — whether it's picking between a salad or fast food, deciding to work out or stay on the couch, or even choosing to trust a physician. Dr. Platt broke down how our brains weigh risks and rewards, and how subtle shifts in awareness and intention can lead to profound changes in behavior. Some of my favorite insights: A decision is a decision is a decision. Whether it’s about health, love, or leadership — the same brain circuits are at play.Intentionality is key. Slowing down gives your brain time to override impulsive behaviors and choose long-term rewards.Trust matters. The people and environments around us dramatically shape our health decisions.Habit > willpower. Make good decisions easier by reducing friction and turning them into routines.Healthier brains make healthier lives. Dr. Platt’s three keys? Move your body, connect with others, and keep your mind active.He also shared the story behind his neuroscience startup, Cogwear, which is bringing clinical-grade brain data to the real world — helping individuals, teams, and even couples better understand how they think, feel, and connect. What I loved most about this conversation was how practical it was. Dr. Platt doesn’t just study the brain — he gives us tools to work with it. If you’ve ever felt stuck in unhealthy patterns or wondered why you know better but don’t do better, this episode is for you. About Michael L. Platt is a neuroscientist, psychologist, and anthropologist whose work focuses on what makes us human. His mission is to use these insights to help us achieve our best selves—at work, at home, and in the community. His principal questions focus on the biological mechanisms that underlie decision-making in social environments, the grasp of which has broad-scale implications for improving human performance, mental health, and wellbeing in societies worldwide.  He is the James S. Riepe University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, with appointments in the Perelman School of Medicine, the School of Arts & Sciences, and the Wharton School. Platt works at the intersection of economics, psychology, and neuroscience.  As the Director of the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative, Platt leads efforts to connect brain science and business. He is also the founder of Cogwear, a neurotechnology company developing wearable devices that provide clinical-grade cognitive feedback.  Platt has authored over 170 peer-reviewed papers and over 60 review and opinion papers. His work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Klingenstein Foundation, the McDonnell Foundation, and the Department of Defense, among others. He has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, the Guardian, and National Geographic, as well as on ABC’s Goo Support the show

    2h 5m
  8. The Four-Day Formula : Dale's Vision for Modern Work Culture For Better Health, Dr. Dale Whelehan, Founder @ Four Day Work Week

    MAY 18

    The Four-Day Formula : Dale's Vision for Modern Work Culture For Better Health, Dr. Dale Whelehan, Founder @ Four Day Work Week

    In this episode I had the opportunity to interview a fascinating behavioral scientist and former CEO of Four Day Week Global about the concept of reduced working hours- Dr. Dale Whelehan. He explained how his interest in this field began when observing surgeons suffering from impaired decision-making and emotional regulation due to excessive working hours. What struck me most was his insight that today's workforce has fundamentally changed since the five-day workweek was introduced – we've shifted from physical, repetitive labor to highly cognitive work, yet human attention spans remain limited to about 3.5 hours of optimal performance daily. He emphasized that a four-day workweek isn't merely about cutting hours but redesigning work to eliminate unproductive time, with pilot studies across multiple countries showing reduced stress, better recovery, increased productivity, and improved business outcomes. During our conversation, I was particularly moved by his observations about the broader personal and societal impacts of reduced working time. People report sleeping more, exercising more, and having greater time for family, friends, and community engagement. Women especially report higher levels of wellbeing, helping close persistent gender gaps. He shared a compelling perspective on how work has become a "de facto religion" in our society as we worship productivity at the expense of human connection. When I asked about the future of healthcare, his response was thought-provoking: AI will transform knowledge requirements for healthcare professionals, creating an opportunity to refocus on interpersonal connections and compassionate care. He cautioned that we must address systemic issues of recruitment and retention rather than simply attracting healthcare workers from countries that need them most – a perspective that left me contemplating the global ethics of our current healthcare systems. About  Dr. Dale Whelehan is a behaviour scientist with a diverse range of experience comprising human capital, culture, change management, workforce experience, performance consulting, organisational behaviour, and representation and rights. Having originally trained as a physiotherapist, Dale completed a PhD exploring the impact of fatigue and sleep deprivation in healthcare workers, particularly surgeons, and has published extensively in this field. More recently, Dale was a senior human capital consultant for Deloitte Ireland where he specialised in behavioural science implementation to enable large scale organisational change.  Considered an expert in the field of wellbeing, Dale is passionate about the intrinsic role work plays in fatigue and performance - and how shorter working hours can bring about radical transformation for people's health and happiness. Support the show

    1h 6m
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Ratings & Reviews

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About

HLTH (Health) Forward is where we hold space for Healthcare leaders, physicians, and key health policymakers to discuss what takes us to move Healthcare Forward. We want to hear challenges, ideas, and out-of-the-box solutions for us to unite our ecosystems further and move the needle towards an innovative, affordable, and all-inclusive healthcare ecosystem. * Not affiliated with HLTH events

Information

  • Creator
    Smriti Kirubanandan
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 HLTH Forward Podcast
  • Show Website
    HLTH Forward Podcast