Inside Alvarez Business Podcast

Carlos Alvarez College of Business

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Inside Alvarez Business is a podcast produced by the Carlos Alvarez College of Business at the University of Texas at San Antonio. It is dedicated to bringing you stories of our faculty, the real-world impact of their research and what led them to study these important topics.

Oct 7

Finding Patterns In Data

Data is in abundance, but making sense of that information is challenging for researchers. How can we tame the data to gain valuable research insights? Saidat Abidemi Sanni is an assistant professor in operations and analytics and an Alvarez Research Fellow in the Carlos Alvarez College of Business. Sanni has developed new approaches to extrapolate information from massive datasets that produce powerful research insights. Her recent research has looked at Airbnb listings as well as genetic factors influencing high blood pressure. Hear how data can be harnessed to produce powerful research insights. Stay connected with the UT San Antonio Carlos Alvarez College of Business to learn more about how we are empowering the next generation of business thinkers. Follow us on social media or visit us online at business.utsa.edu
Sep 8

Using Data to Make Better Decisions

How does an overtaxed healthcare system deal with increasing demands and staffing shortages that disrupt the delivery of healthcare? In this episode of Inside Alvarez Business we’ll explore ways to optimize healthcare delivery systems to ultimately improve patient health. Katherine Adams, a postdoctoral fellow in operations and analytics in the Alvarez College of Business, specializes in the operations of healthcare. An Alvarez research fellow, she completed her PhD in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Wisconsin. Quickly making an impact in the field, most recently she has published a paper in Operations Research. Hear how data and operations research can be used to help companies make better decisions. Stay connected with the UT San Antonio Carlos Alvarez College of Business to learn more about how we are empowering the next generation of business thinkers. Follow us on social media or visit us online at business.utsa.edu
Jul 8

How Can Entrepreneurship Help San Antonio?

Entrepreneurship is often celebrated for the value it creates, but researchers have often overlooked the value it leaves behind. In this episode, we explore what we miss when we study only the opportunities that get exploited rather than the ones that don’t, and how a kid from San Antonio came to believe that entrepreneurship might be the key to changing the city he loves. Alexander Lewis is the Melvin Lachman Chair in Entrepreneurship in the Alvarez College of Business. An assistant professor of management, his work in entrepreneurship explores how markets can be better harnessed to benefit not only entrepreneurs, but society at large. He’s published in some of the most elite journals in management including the Academy Management Review, Academy Management Journal and the Academy of Management Annals. Hear why value creation is important to the future of San Antonio. Stay connected with the UT San Antonio Carlos Alvarez College of Business to learn more about how we are empowering the next generation of business thinkers. Follow us on social media or visit us online at business.utsa.edu
Jun 4

Is AI Your Partner or Competitor?

How is artificial intelligence changing the field of accounting, and should we be concerned that AI will replace entry-level positions in this field? We explore those issues and more in this episode of Inside Alvarez Business. Abby Parker is the Nancy and Frank Kudla Fellow in Artificial Intelligence and assistant professor of accounting in the Alvarez College of Business. Her work explores the intersection of AI and accounting, and her recent research utilizes AI to predict accounting errors. Abby sees AI as a tool which can be used by accountants to improve the field of accounting, facilitating the tasks accountants engage in without necessarily replacing the accountants themselves. Hear her views on how AI will impact the field of accounting. Stay connected with the UT San Antonio Carlos Alvarez College of Business to learn more about how we are empowering the next generation of business thinkers. Follow us on social media or visit us online at business.utsa.edu
Apr 30

Economic Impacts of Opioid Crisis and Mental Health

While deaths from opioid overdoses have dramatically declined in the past few years, the crisis remains, claiming the lives of thousands of teens and young adults each year. Mental health concerns among youth are an important contributor to opioid use, yet parents often struggle with their own mental health challenges as they raise middle schoolers. In this episode, explore how two economics faculty members are tackling these important health-related issues, and what impact that research has within society. David Beheshti, assistant professor of economics, looks at the use and abuse of drugs, and the impact it has on labor markets. Qinyou Hu, assistant professor of economics, explores the interactions between health and education and the roles played by schools, families and the community. Hear how their research insights explain the economic forces shaping health, education and policy — and how those insights can inform better solutions for society. Stay connected with the UT San Antonio Carlos Alvarez College of Business to learn more about how we are empowering the next generation of business thinkers. Follow us on social media or visit us online at business.utsa.edu
Apr 3

Global Impacts of Healthcare Supply Chain Issues

“How can you do actually more with less, spending less money, but being able to deliver more in terms of access of health products to patients,” shared Karimi. It may be inconvenient going to a store looking for a particular product and coming away empty-handed. But if the item you need is a healthcare product, the situation becomes dire and could be the difference between life and death. Amir Karimi, assistant professor of operations and analytics, studies how logistics and supply chain issues impact health care globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Listen to hear how small changes can lead to dramatic outcomes across the globe. Stay connected with the UT San Antonio Carlos Alvarez College of Business to learn more about how we are empowering the next generation of business thinkers. Follow us on social media or visit us online at business.utsa.edu
Mar 3

Improving Healthcare for Everyone - A Conversation with Stephen Schwab

“When I think about a project, I think about what can we learn that’s going to help healthcare as a whole. I’m interested in how do we improve healthcare for everyone.” Interfacing with healthcare is something that everyone must do? But beyond considering your provider’s background or credentials, have you ever considered how your relationship might impact the care you receive. This episode's guest is Stephen Schwab, an Army veteran who served three tours in Iraq. An assistant professor in management in the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, his work is focused on the role that interpersonal relationships play in maximizing performance. He examines this issue in the context of healthcare — the largest industry in the U.S. economy. Stay connected with the UT San Antonio Carlos Alvarez College of Business to learn more about how we are empowering the next generation of business thinkers. Follow us on social media or visit us online at business.utsa.edu
Feb 5

AI and the Future of Healthcare - A Conversation with Arka Roy

How can artificial intelligence and analytics transform the future of healthcare? In this episode of Inside Alvarez Business, Dean Jonathon Halbesleben sits down with Arka Roy, associate professor of operations and analytics at The University of Texas at San Antonio, to explore how cutting-edge research is improving clinical decision-making, hospital operations and patient outcomes. Roy shares the personal experiences that inspired his work in healthcare analytics, including optimizing anesthesiology schedules, enhancing cancer radiation therapy with AI and designing resilient surgery schedules for children's hospitals. Learn how predictive and prescriptive analytics, optimization models and interdisciplinary collaboration are reshaping the business of healthcare. Whether you're interested in healthcare innovation, academic research or the real-world applications of machine learning in medicine, this episode offers an inspiring and insightful deep dive. Stay connected with the UT San Antonio Carlos Alvarez College of Business to learn more about how we are empowering the next generation of business thinkers. Follow us on social media or visit us online at business.utsa.edu
Season 1 Trailer

Season 1 Preview

Welcome to Inside Alvarez Business, a podcast from the Carlos Alvarez College of Business at UT San Antonio that takes you beyond the buzzwords and into the real stories behind impactful business research. Hosted by Dean Jonathon Halbesleben, each episode explores the human side of academic discovery — spotlighting faculty whose research is tackling today’s biggest challenges. Season 1 focuses on the business of healthcare, with deep dives into how data science, operations, and artificial intelligence are transforming care delivery, improving hospital efficiency, and supporting clinician well-being. Stay connected with the UT San Antonio Carlos Alvarez College of Business to learn more about how we are empowering the next generation of business thinkers. Follow us on social media or visit us online at business.utsa.edu

1 Trailer

8 Episodes

Trailer

Season 1 Preview

Welcome to Inside Alvarez Business, a podcast from the Carlos Alvarez College of Business at UT San Antonio that takes you beyond the buzzwords and into the real stories behind impactful business research. Hosted by Dean Jonathon Halbesleben, each episode explores the human side of academic discovery — spotlighting faculty whose research is tackling today’s biggest challenges. Season 1 focuses on the business of healthcare, with deep dives into how data science, operations, and artificial intelligence are transforming care delivery, improving hospital efficiency, and supporting clinician well-being. Stay connected with the UT San Antonio Carlos Alvarez College of Business to learn more about how we are empowering the next generation of business thinkers. Follow us on social media or visit us online at business.utsa.edu

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Inside Alvarez Business is a podcast produced by the Carlos Alvarez College of Business at the University of Texas at San Antonio. It is dedicated to bringing you stories of our faculty, the real-world impact of their research and what led them to study these important topics.

Creator

Carlos Alvarez College of Business
Years Active

2026
Episodes

9
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 Carlos Alvarez College of Business at UT San Antonio
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Inside Alvarez Business Podcast