Outcomes Rocket

Prioritizing real-world solutions and fostering a culture of innovation is key to successfully implementing new technologies in healthcare.  In this episode, Karli Arduini Ihde, Director of Innovation at Northwestern Medicine, discusses the organization's approach to evaluating and implementing innovative technology solutions. She highlights the challenge of navigating numerous AI options and the importance of selecting solutions that address key problems and show value within a 3–6 month pilot. Northwestern Medicine ensures responsible AI implementation with a team of data scientists who assess technologies for bias and effectiveness. Karli also shares how the organization is scaling AI innovation to improve efficiency and identify patient risks earlier than ever before. Tune in and learn why healthcare is on the cusp of transformative change! Resources: Connect with and follow Kali Arduini Ihde on LinkedIn. Learn more about Northwestern Medicine on their LinkedIn and website. Discover more about Northwestern Medicine’s innovations here.

Technology can be used to address critical healthcare gaps and improve clinical trial diversity. In this episode, Dr. Marisa Cruz, Vice President of Global Digital Medicine at AMGEN, shares her insights into AMGEN’s forward-thinking digital health initiatives. From the company’s ambitious goal to reduce cardiovascular incidents to innovations in AI-driven clinical trial diversity, Dr. Cruz discusses how cutting-edge technologies are being integrated to enhance patient outcomes and make healthcare more accessible. She also highlights the company’s initiatives to empower patients directly, allowing them to take a proactive role in their health through digital engagement. Dr. Cruz dives into the future of digital health and patient-centered care, spotlighting how innovation can bridge gaps in accessibility and improve health outcomes globally. This episode was sponsored by Amgen. Tune in and learn how AI and machine learning are bridging the gaps in healthcare!  Resources: Connect with and follow Marisa Cruz on LinkedIn. Follow Amgen on LinkedIn and visit their website. Explore Amgen PARC website. Discover the LATTICE Consortium website. 

Tackling the labor shortage in science and medicine requires valuing healthcare as a noble profession and using technology to streamline training. In this episode, Kevin Mahoney, CEO of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, discusses the challenges of talent shortages amid a retiring baby boomer generation and a smaller incoming workforce, emphasizing the need for technology to fill the gap. He shares Penn Medicine's innovative initiatives, including flash radiation for cancer treatment and a startup providing maternal support, highlighting their commitment to both technological advancements and human connections. Kevin touches on the need to repair broken systems by speaking to the patients and fixing the issues, refocusing on clinical outcomes, and reimagining the delivery of care. He also underscores that embracing change management with intentionality is crucial for healthcare organizations. Tune in and learn how one of the nation's leading health systems is embracing bold strategies to improve healthcare delivery and workforce development! Resources: Connect with and follow Kevin Mahoney on LinkedIn. Discover more about Penn Medicine’s University of Pennsylvania Health System on their LinkedIn and website.

Diseases don't discriminate, so it is crucial that medicines are accessible to and effective for as many people as possible.  In this episode, Sasha Tyndale, Director of Diversity and Patient Inclusion at AbbVie, discusses the company’s commitment to inclusive clinical research, highlighting the importance of representing diverse populations affected by diseases. Sasha shares how her team integrates patient perspectives into clinical program design to proactively address potential barriers. She introduces the ADMIRE program, which is focused on engaging underrepresented healthcare professionals in research. Sasha also emphasizes humanizing the healthcare experience by hearing patient stories and addressing challenges. She delves into AbbVie's bold initiatives, including foundational changes to clinical development processes and partnerships with community organizations to increase access to clinical trials and simplify language in study materials. Finally, Sasha challenges listeners to educate themselves and others about clinical research. Tune in and learn how to become an advocate for inclusive healthcare! Resources: Connect with and follow Sasha Tyndale on LinkedIn. Discover more about AbbVie on their LinkedIn and website. Sign up for the ADMIRE program here. If you are considering participating in AbbVie’s clinical research program, click here.

The alarming rise of early-onset cancers, particularly in individuals under 50, demands a critical shift in our understanding and approach to cancer care.  In this episode, Dr. Karin Tollefson, Chief Oncology Medical Officer at Pfizer, discusses the concerning 79% increase in cancer diagnoses among younger people since 1990, highlighting the urgent need to address this trend. She emphasizes that this is a multifactorial issue, with likely contributors including Western lifestyle factors such as poor diet, obesity, sedentary habits, and exposure to toxins, as well as genetic predispositions. Dr. Tollefson also underscores the need for increased screening accessibility, particularly with colonoscopies, and molecular testing to tailor treatments for younger patients often diagnosed at later stages. Furthermore, she addresses the importance of making clinical trials more accessible to diverse populations and ensuring comprehensive survivorship care, including mental health, family planning, and fertility considerations, as cancer survival rates increase. Finally, Dr. Tollefson calls on the need to partner with advocacy organizations and to educate the public about early detection, healthy lifestyles, and available resources.  Tune in and learn about the critical shifts needed in cancer care to address early-onset cases. Resources: Follow Dr. Karin Tollefson, Chief Oncology Medical Officer at Pfizer, on LinkedIn. Discover more about Pfizer on their LinkedIn and website. Read more on Pfizer in Oncology here.  Patient Resources/Advocacy Links: Explore This Is Living With Cancer’s Advocacy Support’s website. Visit the Global Colorectal Cancer Alliance’s website here. (Pfizer was one of their sponsors) Learn more about the transformative work CancerCare is doing. Find CancerCare’s guide on Biomarker Testing here. Read the best practices for Biomarker Testing Coverage here. (Pfizer had input and was a sponsor) Get AONN Biomarker Navigation here. For the Precision Medicine Toolkit, look here. Empower yourself or your patients with essential navigation resources–a site co-created with AONN, to find materials on breast, prostate, health equity, geriatric, and more. (Patient navigators can download and share educational tools for enhanced support.) Deepen your understanding of prostate cancer here. 

Artificial intelligence is poised to revolutionize healthcare, becoming one of its most crucial applications.  In this episode, Kimberly Powell, the vice president of NVIDIA’s healthcare department, discusses how AI is transforming healthcare from drug discovery to surgical procedures. She highlights the ability of AI to represent drugs in computers, accelerating drug development and clinical trials, with some AI-designed drugs already in clinical trials. Kim explains how generative AI can enhance surgical outcomes through digital agents that aid in pre-op preparation, provide real-time surgical guidance, and automate post-op documentation. She notes how AI can help to provide healthcare access globally by codifying medical expertise and powering cost-effective, miniaturized devices. Kim also touches upon the importance of guardrails for privacy, security, and bias in AI systems, including embedding AI models directly into medical devices.  Tune in and learn how AI is reshaping the future of healthcare as a digital employee! Resources: Connect with and follow Kimberly Powell on LinkedIn. Discover more about NVIDIA on their LinkedIn and website.

Independent quality assurance labs are critical for evaluating health AI models, just like in other sectors.  In this episode, Dr. Brian Anderson, president and CEO of the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI), discusses the organization's initiatives to create a national network of certified labs and a model card (AI nutrition label) to assess AI safety and effectiveness. He highlights the challenges in defining and measuring bias, especially in generative AI, and the importance of transparency and collaboration between industry, government, and academia to build trust. Dr. Anderson also covers the need for provider upskilling in AI literacy and the potential of AI tools, like ambient scribes, to mitigate clinician burnout. Finally, he explains how public access to evaluation reports is key to public trust. Tune in and learn about the future of AI regulation in healthcare and learn why physicians must educate themselves on AI! Resources: Connect with and follow Dr. Brian Anderson on LinkedIn. Discover more about Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) on their LinkedIn and website.

Oral health is essential for overall well-being, as problems like cavities and gum disease can lead to serious issues, including heart disease and complications during pregnancy. In this episode, Dr. Maria Ryan, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer at Colgate-Palmolive, discusses the global health crisis of oral diseases, highlighting that 50% of people worldwide suffer from them. She emphasizes the need to integrate oral health into medical education and practice, noting the current disconnect between medical and dental professions. Dr. Ryan also touches upon the “Oral Health Quotient” (OQ), a tool aimed at educating the public on the importance of oral health, and the need to address the profound disparities in access to care, especially in underserved communities. She also advocates for preventive strategies, early education, and increased coverage of dental services to improve health equity.  Tune in and learn how dental health can impact overall wellness and why integrating oral care into healthcare systems is essential! Resources: Connect with and follow Dr. Maria Ryan on LinkedIn. Discover more about Colgate-Palmolive on LinkedIn and their website.

Holistic support, including lifestyle changes, is essential for weight management and diabetes, as GLP-1 medications are only one part of the solution. In this episode, Dr. Carolyn Jasik, the Chief Medical Officer of Omada Health, discusses their approach to GLP-1s, emphasizing the importance of wraparound support, including mental health and physical therapy, as well as addressing concerns like muscle loss and the sustainability of weight loss. She highlights that the goal for many people is not to be on these medications forever and that an important element to consider is the rebound physiology that could drive people to regain weight after stopping treatment. Dr. Jasik also shares Omada's perspective on AI, explaining how it assists providers with clinical decision support based on their vast member history but doesn't replace the human connection needed for empathetic care.  Tune in and learn how Omada is leveraging AI to create a more personalized and effective healthcare experience that also focuses on long-term sustainability! Resources: Connect with and follow Dr. Carolyn Jasik on LinkedIn. Discover more about Omada Health on LinkedIn and their website.

Successful healthcare investment involves finding companies that reduce costs, improve quality, and enhance the patient experience, especially for underserved populations. In this episode, Andrew Adams, co-founder and managing partner of OAK HC/FT, discusses his firm's investment philosophy, focusing on backing the best entrepreneurs who can execute at scale. His company supports its portfolio companies by providing guidance on team building, customer introductions, technology decisions, and exit strategies. Andrew highlights Reveleer as an example, showcasing how OAK assists in acquisitions and growth. He also shares that they believe in the transformative power of technology, especially AI and SaaS, to improve administrative efficiency and drive better clinical outcomes, emphasizing the importance of measuring ROI through tangible impacts, such as time savings for clinicians.  Tune in and learn how a blend of technology and personalized services is key to reaching patients and driving real value within the healthcare system! Resources: Connect with and follow Andrew Adams on LinkedIn. Discover more about OAK HC/FT on LinkedIn and their website.