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. Public Health: Policy, Trust, and Emerging Technology

    8H AGO

    Public Health: Policy, Trust, and Emerging Technology

    In this week’s episode of A Dose of Optimism, we explore how health policy, public trust, and emerging technology continue to shape the future of pediatric care. Tom Priselac reflects on decades of healthcare leadership, including his role as Chair of the American Hospital Association during the development of the Affordable Care Act. He shares how large health systems evolve, why access and quality must move together, and what remains unresolved for Medicaid, public health infrastructure, and underserved communities.Joining him is Boston Children's Hospital innovation leader John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and entrepreneur who bridges public health, data science, and digital innovation. John discusses how real-time data, scalable technology, and cross-sector collaboration can strengthen healthcare systems and improve population health. Together, they explore how leadership, policy, and innovation intersect, and why trust, adaptability, and long-term thinking matter more than ever in healthcare. Episode Resources: Affordable Care Act iCAN (International Children's Advisory Network) Introducing OpenAI for Healthcare MedTutor AI in Action: AI-Powered Innovation Could Transform Medical Education on Celiac Disease Accelerating scientific breakthroughs with an AI co-scientist Connect with Tom Priselac: Thomas M. Priselac Linkedin Cedars-Sinai Website Cedars-Sinai Instagram Cedars-Sinai LinkedIn Connect with John Brownstein: John Brownstein LinkedIn John Brownstein Instagram Boston Children's Hospital Website Boston Children's Hospital LinkedIn Boston Children's Hospital 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

    37 min
  2. Trauma, Grief and Resilience

    JAN 20

    Trauma, Grief and Resilience

    In this deeply moving episode of A Dose of Optimism, we explore how parents, families, children and caregivers navigate trauma, grief, and loss and what meaningful support looks like in the aftermath of a crisis. Dr. David Schonfeld, Director at the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement, shares decades of experience helping schools and communities respond to disasters, violence, and loss, emphasizing why resilience does not mean children should be left to cope alone. Emma Payne, Founder & CEO at Help Texts., reflects on how personal loss led her to create scalable, compassionate bereavement support that meets families where they are. Dr. Solfrid Raknes discusses how evidence-based digital tools, like the Helping Hand Digital Game, can help children and adolescents build coping skills, even in the most fragile and conflict-affected settings. Together, this conversation centers on presence, care, and long-term healing, reminding us that recovery is possible when children and those who care for them are supported with intention and humanity. Episode Resources: Project Open Arms The Nevada Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Wendy G Lichtenthal - Miller School of Medicine Mary Frances O'Connor - UCLA The Center for Good Mourning - Arkansas Children's The Dougy Center for Grieving Children & Families The Happy Helping Hand Manual - Dr. Solfrid Raknes (for teachers, psycho social staff, facilitators)  Connect with Dr. David Schonfeld: National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement Website  National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement LinkedIn National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement Instagram National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement Facebook Dr. David Schonfeld LinkedIn Connect with Emma Payne: Emma Payne LinkedIn Help Texts Website Caregiver and Grief Support for Children's Hospitals Help Texts Instagram Help Texts Facebook Help Texts LinkedIn Help Texts TikTok Connect with Dr. Solfrid Raknes: Dr. Solfrid Raknes LinkedIn Dr. Solfrid Raknes Instagram Helping Hand Digital Game Attensi Website Connect with us: KidsX Website KidsX LinkedIn Children's Hospital L.A. Website

    41 min
  3. Leading Pediatric Care Through Challenge and Change

    JAN 13

    Leading Pediatric Care Through Challenge and Change

    In this episode of A Dose of Optimism, Omkar sits down with two leaders shaping the present and future of pediatric healthcare. Paul Viviano, CEO of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, shares a candid perspective on what it means to lead a children’s hospital during a period of unprecedented pressure. From workforce shortages and Medicaid uncertainty to research funding and equity in access, Paul reflects on the realities facing pediatric systems and the leadership principles required to navigate them with clarity and purpose. Kyle Horne, Project Manager for CHLA’s Literally Healing program, brings a deeply human lens to hospital care. Kyle explains how books, storytelling, and literacy support can create moments of comfort, understanding, and hope for children and families during hospitalization. His work reminds us that healing is not only clinical but emotional and developmental as well. Together, this conversation highlights how leadership, creativity, and compassion intersect to support children and families, even in the most challenging environments. Episode Resources: Medicaid - US health insurance for adults and children with limited income and resources Medi-Cal Insurance Coverage - California Medicaid Literally Healing at Children's Hospital Los Angeles - an innovative reading program Drew Daywalt - American author and filmmaker Benson Shum - book author and illustrator Books mentioned in the episode: How Do You Care for a Very Sick Bear? The Little Engine That Could Grumpy Monkey Up All Night Guess How Much I Love You The Day the Crayons Quit The Book with No Pictures

    39 min
  4. Season 2 Premiere: Return of the Parentrepreneurs!

    JAN 6

    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
  5. CMIOs: Speaking Multiple Languages to Deliver Innovation

    12/30/2025

    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
  6. Community Health Innovations

    12/23/2025

    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
  7. 40 Optimists in One Room in Chicago

    12/09/2025

    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
4.9
out of 5
30 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.”