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. NICU Innovations

    5H AGO

    NICU Innovations

    The neonatal intensive care unit is one of medicine's most remarkable achievements, and one of its most persistent challenges. In this episode of Dose of Optimism, three innovators share how they are working to improve care for some of the most vulnerable patients in healthcare: premature and critically ill newborns. Dean Koch, CEO at smallTalk, explains how a sensor-equipped pacifier and a speaker device are being used to explore whether contingent voice interaction, where an infant controls when they hear their parent's voice, may support early brain development in the NICU environment. Saheel Sutaria, CTO and co-founder of Gravitas Medical, describes how a sensorized feeding tube is working to address one of the most common and potentially dangerous challenges in neonatal care: safely placing and monitoring enteral feeding tubes in tiny patients. Ross Sommers, CEO and founder of Firstday Healthcare and a practicing neonatologist, shares how his company is building a tech-enabled care model that supports NICU families through the transition home, filling a gap that leaves many parents feeling suddenly alone after weeks or months of intensive hospital care. Together, they paint a picture of a field on the move, where better data, smarter devices, and more connected care models are beginning to reshape what's possible for premature babies and their families. Connect with Dean Koch: Dean Koch LinkedIn smallTalk Website smallTalk LinkedIn smallTalk Instagram Connect with Saheel Sutaria: Saheel Sutaria LinkedIn Gravitas Medical Website Gravitas Medical LinkedIn Connect with Ross Sommers: Ross Sommers LinkedIn Firstday Healthcare Website Firstday Healthcare 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

    28 min
  2. The Love Metric

    MAR 24

    The Love Metric

    Healthcare has a habit of overlooking the obvious. In this episode, three innovators share how they are addressing some of medicine's most persistent blind spots, from a vital organ that has gone unmonitored for decades, to a fragmented system failing new mothers, to the children whose voices rarely shape the digital tools built for them. Todd Dunn, CEO of Accuryn Medical, shares why the kidney remains one of the least monitored organs in acute care settings, and how better real-time data could support clinical teams managing critically ill patients. He also introduces the concept of "think flow" (understanding how clinicians think, not just how they work), as a foundation for meaningful healthcare innovation. Melissa Hanna, CEO and co-founder of Mahmee, explains how her company is working to improve the fragmented experience of pregnancy and postpartum care in the United States, where maternal outcomes remain among the worst in the developed world. From doula support to remote patient monitoring, Mahmee aims to connect the dots across an often-disjointed episode of care. Michael Preston, Executive Director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, reflects on what it means to design technology truly centered on children, including why kids themselves should have a seat at the design table, and how Sesame Street continues to help families make sense of a rapidly changing world, including AI. Episode Resources: Competing Against Luck: The Story of Innovation and Customer Choice Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) LitLab.ai — curriculum-aligned decodables and fluency practice! AI and Us | Digital Well-being - Sesame Workshop YouTube Connect with Todd Dunn: Todd Dunn LinkedIn Accuryn Medical Website Accuryn Medical LinkedIn Accuryn Medical Instagram Connect with Melissa Hanna: Melissa Hanna LinkedIn Mahmee Website Mahmee LinkedIn Mahmee Instagram Connect with Michael Preston: Michael Preston - Executive Director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center Michael Preston LinkedIn The Joan Ganz Cooney Center Website The Joan Ganz Cooney Center LinkedIn Sesame Workshop Website Sesame Workshop Instagram Connect with us: KidsX Website KidsX LinkedIn Children's Hospital L.A. Website Children's Hospital L.A. Instagram

    59 min
  3. New Behavioral Health Care Models for Kids

    MAR 17

    New Behavioral Health Care Models for Kids

    Children’s mental health challenges are rising worldwide, yet access to effective care remains limited. In this episode, we explore new approaches to pediatric mental health with three leaders working to expand access and improve outcomes. Kristina Saffran, CEO of Equip, explains why eating disorders are one of the most misunderstood public health crises affecting children and adults, and how evidence-based family-based treatment can dramatically improve recovery when delivered earlier and more broadly. Dana Klein, co-founder of Gheorg, shares how a new generation of child-centered digital tools is helping children ages 7–12 build emotional resilience, develop coping skills, and identify mental health challenges before they escalate. Sophia Waitt, Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, adds the perspective of a therapist working directly with teens and young adults, discussing the mental health impact of social media, identity pressure, and digital environments on developing minds. Together, the conversation explores how innovation, technology, and early intervention can help address one of the most urgent pediatric health challenges of our time. Episode Resources: National Alliance For Eating Disorders Dr Louise Metcalf, Gheorg Founder & Psychologist Social media ban in Australia Connect with Kristina Saffran: Kristina Saffran LinkedIn Equip Website Equip LinkedIn Equip Instagram Connect with Dana Klein: Dana Klein LinkedIn Gheorg Website Gheorg LinkedIn Gheorg Instagram Connect with Sophia Watt: Sophia Waitt - Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT Sophia Waitt LinkedIn Kincove Website Kincove LinkedIn Kincove Instagram 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

    29 min
  4. Optimistic Canadians

    MAR 10

    Optimistic Canadians

    Canadian healthcare innovators are proving that optimism, data, and thoughtful technology can reshape pediatric care. In this episode, three leading physician-innovators share how digital health, artificial intelligence, and smarter care models are transforming outcomes for children and families. Dr. Shazhan Amed discusses how her startup Haibu Health is using digital health platforms and data integration to improve the lives of children living with type 1 diabetes, reduce hospitalizations, and support care across the entire lifespan. Dr. Joshua Liu, CEO at SeamlessMD, explores the evolving landscape of AI in healthcare, from the rapid rise of AI scribes to the next generation of tools focused on care delivery, workflow automation, and patient engagement. Dr. Devin Singh, Founder & CEO Hero AI, shares groundbreaking work using real-time AI models in the pediatric emergency department to accelerate diagnoses, reduce wait times, and improve care for vulnerable populations. Together, they offer an optimistic perspective on how Canada’s healthcare ecosystem is driving meaningful innovation in pediatric care. Episode Resources: Scribe - Smarter documentation software, powered by AI Revolutionize how you write text - AI Sidekick Connect with Dr. Shazhan Amed: Dr. Shazhan Amed LinkedIn Haibu Health Website Haibu Health LinkedIn Dr. Shazhan Amed BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Live 5210 - BC Children's Hospital Research Institute Connect with Dr. Joshua Liu: Dr. Joshua Liu LinkedIn SeamlessMD Website SeamlessMD LinkedIn SeamlessMD Instagram Connect with Dr. Devin Singh: Hero AI Website The Hospital for Sick Children Website The Hospital for Sick Children LinkedIn The Hospital for Sick Children Instagram Dr. Devin Singh 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

    51 min
  5. Sleep Studies... from Home?

    MAR 3

    Sleep Studies... from Home?

    Pediatric sleep care is undergoing a transformation, from hospital-based sleep labs to home-based, data-driven insights. In this episode, Dr. Eugene Kim and Conner Herman, explore how wearable technology and environmental behavioral sensors are reshaping how we understand children’s sleep. Dr. Eugene Kim shares how Apple Watch–based data collection could help identify sleep apnea risk before anesthesia, potentially reducing ICU admissions, shortening surgical delays, and improving perioperative safety. Meanwhile, Conner Herman explains how Percy uses multi-sensor fusion to objectively measure sleep behaviors at home, especially for children with autism and chronic conditions. Together, they reimagine pediatric sleep from two complementary perspectives: risk stratification before surgery and behavioral pattern detection in real-world environments The result is better data, less guesswork, fewer unnecessary medications, and earlier intervention. This episode dives into pediatric sleep innovation, anesthesia safety, behavioral health, and the future of home-based diagnostics for children. Episode Resources: Estimating Breathing Disturbances and Sleep Apnea Risk from Apple Watch American Academy of Sleep Medicine | AASM | Medical Society Connect with Dr. Eugene Kim: Eugene Kim, MD CHLA CHLA and Apple Watch Project The Division of Pain Medicine CHLA Department of Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine CHLA Virtual Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (vPICU) Connect with Conner Herman: Conner Herman LinkedIn Percy Website Percy LinkedIn Percy Instagram 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 Make March Matter: Make March Matter The 11th Annual Make March Matter Campaign Make March Matter contributors: Alfred Coffee Randy's Donuts Panda Express Katana LA Sushi Roku h.wood Group Delilah Los Angeles Nice Guy Restaurant

    26 min
  6. Moonshots in Pediatric Healthcare

    FEB 24

    Moonshots in Pediatric Healthcare

    What does a “moonshot” look like in pediatric healthcare? In this episode, three visionary leaders share how artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and consumer-grade design thinking are transforming care for children worldwide. Dr. Timothy Chou introduces the Pediatric Moonshot, a global effort to deploy privacy-preserving AI across 500 children’s hospitals to reduce healthcare inequity and improve outcomes through patient digital twins. Prof Iain Hennessey explores how quantum computing could revolutionize scheduling, imaging, and diagnostics, positioning hospitals today for breakthroughs 7–10 years from now. Aaron Patzer, Founder and CEO of Vital.io, shares how consumer product design principles are improving emergency care, eliminating friction, and transforming patient experience at scale. This conversation looks beyond incremental change, and into the future of pediatric medicine. Episode Resources: BevelCloud - Empowering the Future of Distributed AI Connect with Dr. Timothy Chou: Dr. Timothy Chou LinkedIn Pediatric Moonshot Website Pediatric Moonshot LinkedIn Pediatric Moonshot Podcast Connect with Prof Iain Hennessey: Prof Iain Hennessey LinkedIn Alder Hey Innovation Website Alder Hey Innovation LinkedIn Connect with Aaron Patzer: Aaron Patzer LinkedIn Vital.io Website Vital.io Linkedin Intuit, Inc. (Intuit, QuickBooks, QB, TurboTax, ProConnect, and Mint) Make March Matter 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

    47 min
  7. Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles

    FEB 17

    Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles

    What if pediatric procedures could be less painful, less invasive, and safer for long-term health? In this episode, three leading physician-scientists from Children's Hospital Los Angeles share how breakthrough technologies are transforming children’s medicine. Dr. Jeffrey I. Gold explains how immersive virtual reality reduces pain, anxiety, and even eliminates sedation for certain procedures. Dr. John Wood discusses how low-field MRI is reducing radiation exposure and anesthesia in pediatric imaging. And Dr. James Amatruda reveals how zebrafish models are accelerating cancer research and improving outcomes for children with rare tumors. From bedside innovation to cutting-edge research labs, this conversation explores how technology is reshaping pediatric care, today and for the future. Episode Resources: MAGNETOM Free.Max (wide bore mri) CHLA Researcher Uses Low-Field MRI to Assess Lung Capacity in Children With Single Ventricle Hearts Fluoroscopy MR fluoroscopy USC Viterbi School of Engineering Krishna Garikipati - USC Viterbi School of Engineering Ching-Ling (Ellen) Lien, PhD Connect with Dr. Jeff Gold: Jeff Gold Children's Hospital Los Angeles Jeff Gold Linkedin Connect with Dr. John Wood: John Wood Children's Hospital Los Angeles  Connect with Dr. James Amatruda: Dr. James Amatruda Children's Hospital Los Angeles Dr. James Amatruda LinkedIn Amatruda Lab Children's Hospital Los Angeles 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

    44 min
  8. Honoring the ‘12th Man’ in Pediatric Care

    FEB 10

    Honoring the ‘12th Man’ in Pediatric Care

    In this episode, we explore how pediatric healthcare leaders are redesigning systems to prevent harm before it happens. Anne Lyren, Chief Medical and Strategy Officer of the Solutions for Patient Safety (SPS) Network, explains how children’s hospitals across the country collaborate to reduce serious harm through shared data, transparency, and continuous improvement. Rebecca Egger, CEO of Little Otter, brings a data and mental health lens, discussing why early childhood mental health has long been underestimated and how better data systems can surface risks earlier and more equitably. Manju Dawkins, Founder and CEO of Thimble, challenges long-standing assumptions around pain, fear, and “the way it’s always been done,” sharing how thoughtful design can transform needle procedures and raise the standard of care. Together, this conversation reframes patient safety as a systems problem, one that can be solved through collaboration, empathy, and intentional design. Episode Resources: KidsX x SPS Patient Safety Innovation Challenge Anna Taddio, Professor - Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy Connect with Anne Lyren: Children's Hospitals' Solutions for Patient Safety Website Children's Hospitals' Solutions for Patient Safety LinkedIn Anne Lyren LinkedIn Connect with Rebecca Egger: Little Otter - a Hazel Health Company Little Otter LinkedIn Little Otter Instagram Rebecca Egger LinkedIn Connect with Manju Dawkins: Thimble Website Thimble LinkedIn Thimble Instagram Manju Dawkins 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

    28 min
4.9
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

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.”