The Heart of Healthcare | A Digital Health Podcast

In this episode, former Facebook product manager and internationally recognized whistleblower, Frances Haugen offers invaluable insights into how tech giants prioritizes profits over public safety, and the profound implications this has on mental health of young people.We explore her brave journey, which took her from the inner workings of Meta to testifying before the world's parliaments, sparking a global conversation about the role and regulation of social media. Listen in as we shed light on the pressing issues of our digital era, and the steps we can take to safeguard vulnerable populations from social media's impacts.Follow Frances Haugen on TwitterFollow host Halle Tecco on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

America’s homeless population is larger than in any other developed economy. On any given night, more than half a million people experience homelessness. One-third of them are in just one state—California. In this episode, Dr. Margot Kushel explains the country’s rise in homelessness and the critical impact of housing on the health needs of vulnerable populations. Dr. Margot Kushel is the director of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations and the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative. Her research focuses on reducing the burden of homelessness on health through examining efforts to prevent and end homelessness and mitigating the effects of housing instability on healthcare outcomes.Follow Dr. Kushel on TwitterFollow host Halle Tecco on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we dive into our dysfunctional healthcare system with guest Wendell Potter, a former health insurance executive turned whistleblower, advocate for healthcare reform, New York Times best-seller, and documentary producer.We discuss the role of private, for-profit health plans in the U.S. and how they’ve drained resources from the healthcare system while leaving Americans financially vulnerable and sick. We also touch upon Medicare Advantage (which is neither Medicare, nor an advantage), Medicare for All, “non-profit” hospital systems, and if we’ll ever break free from employment-based insurance.Learn more about Wendell’s new documentary, American Hospitals: Healing A Broken System.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I recently did an Ask Me Anything session with two Johns Hopkins students who have a student-led venture firm (A-Level Capital) and podcast (A-Level Capital Podcast). In this special episode, I share the recording where they asked me about digital health, startups, innovation, women's health, and career development. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

​There is a gap in America’s knowledge of women’s health. This is no surprise because it wasn’t until 1993 that Congress wrote an NIH inclusion policy into Federal law that encouraged women and minorities as subjects in clinical research. Much of what is considered ‘health standards’ are largely skewed towards men because of the years when women went unstudied. Even today, there remains gender inequality in healthcare as we face wide gaps in research and treatment ability for areas unique to women.​By elevating the importance of women’s health, we can deliver better, more inclusive data and insights; more targeted, accessible solutions; and enable better care for women worldwide. Not only that, but we shine a light on the importance of funding and uplifting companies that center around changing the business of our bodies.​In celebration of Women's Health Month, I joined Female Founder Collective for a panel discussion on solving women's health inefficiencies. I'm joined by Aagya Mathur (Aavia), Dr. Sophia Yen, MD, MPH (Pandia Health), and Alison Wyatt (Female Founder Collective).Learn more about the Female Founder Collective.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Eric Topol, the godfather of digital health, to explore the progress and barriers to innovation in healthcare, the potential of AI in transforming the industry, and the challenges faced by startups and big tech companies. Dr. Topol shares his insights on open-source healthcare, evaluating new innovations, and the importance of algorithmic fairness. Tune in to gain deep insights into the future of medicine and the power of technology in reshaping healthcare.Follow Dr. Eric Topol on TwitterFollow Halle Tecco on TwitterVisit the Heart of Healthcare website for transcripts and episode details.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The majority of bankruptcies in the US are due to medical debt. This only deepens inequity and the healthcare affordability crisis in our country. The stress and sigma that comes with medical debt forces people to avoid necessary care, only worsening outcomes.We need to shift the narrative about medical debt from personal failure to systems failure. In this episode we talk to the CEO of RIP Medical Debt, Allison Sesso. Her non-profit organization buys medical debt at a deep discount, and then wipes it out entirely for millions of Americans.Learn more about RIP Medical DebtSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Andy Dunn, successful founder and angel investor, talks about living with Bipolar I disorder. He discusses the stigma and challenges of mental health in the startup community. They explore the mindset of entrepreneurs and the importance of prioritizing mental health. The hosts reflect on criticism and hope for free expression in sharing their experiences. They also discuss the addictive nature of work and the magic of disclosure.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Heritage Month. Asian Americans represents only 6.8% of the US, yet make up a significant portion of the medical profession, comprising 22% of medical school graduates and 17% of active physicians. While Americans of Asian and Pacific Island descent have made many contributions to our healthcare system, they are facing increased discrimination at work and in their communities.In this episode, Dr. Esther Choo discusses the racism faced by AAPI healthcare workers, and what we can do about it.Follow Dr. Esther Choo on Twitter.Follow host Halle Tecco on Twitter.Visit The Heart of Healthcare website for episode recaps.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 2008, disillusioned by the medical system, Dr. Lakshmin left her residency to join an extreme wellness commune that turned out to be a cult. She was seeking something outside of mainstream medicine that could help with the anguish she was feeling. She yearned for community, and for something outside of the hierarchical structure of medicine. But what she found was that the industrial wellness complex is just as flawed.Dr. Pooja Lakshmin is a board certified psychiatrist focusing on women’s mental health, a New York Times contributor, the founder of Gemma, and the author of the new book Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness.Follow Dr. Pooja Lakshmin on InstagramFollow host Halle Tecco on InstagramVisit the Heart of Healthcare website for episode recaps and more!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.