Digital Health Heavyweights

Welcome to the Digital Health Heavyweights Podcast, where innovation meets healthcare transformation. Join your host, Norm Volsky, as he sits down with Alyssa Jaffee, a distinguished Partner at 7wire Ventures, leading the charge in investments that shape the future of digital healthcare.In this episode, Alyssa shares her wealth of expertise in venture capital, honed during her tenure at Pritzker Group Venture Capital, where she played a pivotal role in investments such as Bright.md and Tovala. As a board member of Ayogo Health and a board observer with MedArrive, Brightline, Zerigo Health, NOCD, and Jasper Health, Alyssa brings a unique perspective on the intersection of healthcare and technology.Delve into Alyssa's journey, from her early days at Hyde Park Angels and Healthbox to her role as a Co-Founder of TransparentCareer, a groundbreaking NVC-winning company committed to guiding individuals in making data-driven career decisions.Alyssa's pre-business school experience as the Senior Director of Performance Technologies for the Advisory Board Company adds another layer to her extensive background. Discover how her role in expanding new business through the sales of technology platforms, combined with a rigorous travel schedule, provided her with unparalleled insights into hospital executive teams' strategic needs. Listen as we jump into her early career mindset, and how that shaped her future.Alyssa shares her choice to get her MBA at Chicago Boothe, and specifically her course Entrepreneurial Discovery, brought her to VC. Then we jump into her successes at 7wire, her mission, impact and more!Join us for an insightful conversation that explores Alyssa Jaffee's remarkable career, her innovative approach to digital healthcare investments, and the trends shaping the future of the industry. This is the Digital Health Heavyweights Podcast, where thought leaders like Alyssa redefine the landscape of healthcare and technology-enabled services.Follow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

In this episode, we are honored to host Jamey Edwards, the Chief Platform Officer at StartUp Health, a visionary organization founded in 2011 to invest in a global army of health entrepreneurs known as Health Transformers. Jamey, who joined StartUp Health in 2022, leads the charge in supporting and scaling digital health innovation across the organization's extensive portfolio.With a career spanning over 25 years in healthcare entrepreneurship, Jamey has been a driving force behind transactions exceeding $10 billion in value. He is an advisor, mentor, and coach to entrepreneurs nationwide, recognized as a thought leader in digital health and entrepreneurship. Jamey's journey includes co-founding and leading impactful companies like Emergent Medical Associates, Pacific HealthWorks, Language Access Network, and the recently merged Cloudbreak Health, which went public via SPAC in a groundbreaking $1.4 billion transaction.As the orchestrator of StartUp Health's Value Creation Platform, Jamey collaborates with over 300 portfolio companies and almost 1,000 health transformers, helping them "level-up" at every stage of their development. In this episode, we delve into StartUp Health's mission, the challenges, and opportunities in supporting such a diverse range of ventures, and the innovative approaches observed among the global army of health transformers committed to achieving health moonshots.Join us for an insightful conversation as Jamey shares success stories, discusses trends in digital health, and provides valuable advice for entrepreneurs striving to make a significant impact in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape. Get ready to be inspired and informed as we explore the dynamic world of health innovation with Jamey Edwards on the Digital Health Heavyweights!Follow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

In this exciting new episode of Digital Healthy Heavyweights, our host Norm sits down with Aasim Saeed, the Founder & CEO of Amenities Health, for an in-depth conversation that takes us on a captivating journey through Aasim's remarkable career in the healthcare and business world.Join us as Aasim shares his early experiences at the prestigious McKinsey Health Institute, where his passion for healthcare innovation began to take shape. Aasim's venture into accounting and finance with the co-founding of Livewire, which eventually led to its acquisition by H+R Block, is a story of entrepreneurial spirit and determination that will leave you inspired.The conversation then takes a turn into Aasim's brief stint in healthcare advisory and his pivotal role in Baylor Scott & White Health's Digital Health office, where he played a significant role in transforming the healthcare landscape. Discover the challenges, opportunities, and insights that shaped his journey.Aasim's ultimate move to create and found Amenities Health, a company dedicated to helping health systems acquire new patients, build patient loyalty, and tackle revenue problems, is a testament to his commitment to making a meaningful impact in the healthcare industry. Norm and Aasim delve deep into the reasons that inspired him to start Amenities Health and the challenges he faced in securing Series A funding in today's dynamic economic climate.But the episode doesn't stop at business talk. Aasim also offers valuable advice for startups facing similar funding hurdles, making this a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs navigating today's competitive landscape.As the episode comes to a close, we get a surprising glimpse into Aasim's personal life and learn about his recent venture into skateboarding as a stress relief. It's a reminder that even the most accomplished professionals have their unique ways of finding balance and relaxation.Join Norm and Aasim Saeed in this insightful and inspiring conversation that highlights the journey of a true digital health heavyweight. Tune in now to Digital Healthy Heavyweights!Follow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

Welcome to the Digital Health Heavyweights podcast, where we dive deep into the intersection of healthcare, technology, and innovation. In this episode, we are thrilled to host Allison Baum Gates, an experienced investor and thought leader with a keen focus on the future of work, venture capital, and technology. Allison brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, having carved a distinguished path in the world of venture capital. Her passion lies in breaking down barriers to innovation and fostering growth in the ever-evolving landscape of digital health. As the author of "Breaking into Venture," a no-holds-barred guide to the mysterious world of venture capital published by McGraw Hill, Allison provides invaluable insights for those navigating this complex industry. Join us as we explore Allison's journey, unravel the intricacies of venture capital, and discuss the pivotal role of technology in shaping the future of healthcare. Get ready for a candid and informative conversation that delves into the challenges and opportunities in the digital health space, all while gaining a unique perspective from one of the industry's heavyweights. Even ending with some of the ways Allison personally gets involved in health and wellness. Tune in for an engaging discussion that promises to enlighten, inspire, and uncover the untapped potential within the realms of healthcare innovation.Follow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

In the latest episode of Digital Health Heavyweights with your host, Norm Volsky, we dive into the world of health and benefits technology with a true industry visionary. Norm sits down with Barbara Flitsch, the founder of Amp, LLC, for a captivating conversation that spans decades of experience and innovation.Barbara's extensive involvement in the health and benefits industry, including her role at EHIR (Employer Health Innovation Roundtable), where Norm is a frequent presenter, provides the backdrop for a discussion that will inspire and inform entrepreneurs and innovators in this ever-evolving landscape.Throughout the episode, Barbara shares her inspiration for starting Amp, providing a concise overview of what the company stands for and its mission in the digital health space. As a pioneer who witnessed the transformation of technology and innovation in the mid-90s, she compares that era to today, highlighting the incredible progress that has been made.One of the pivotal moments in Barbara's career was her experience at Definity, which shaped her success and passion for the industry. She offers instrumental advice to those who aspire to follow in her footsteps, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs she faced throughout her journey.Norm acknowledges the strength of Barbara's networking relationships and how she has built a strong web of connections that have contributed to her success. The episode is a testament to the importance of nurturing professional relationships in the health and benefits landscape.In the final segment, Norm and Barbara emphasize the significance of practicing what they preach when it comes to health and well-being. They share insights on maintaining physical and mental health, offering valuable tips and strategies. Barbara even shares her warm bean salad recipe, providing a taste of both her expertise and her personal approach to a healthy lifestyle.Don't miss this episode of Digital Health Heavyweights as Norm Volsky and Barbara Flitsch take you on a journey through the past, present, and future of digital health, all while offering invaluable advice and inspiration for entrepreneurs in the health and benefits space! Follow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

Join us on this episode of Digital Health Heavyweights with host Norm Volsky, where we sit down with Jason Parrott, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Growth and Partnerships at Vida Health. In this insightful discussion, we explore Jason's remarkable journey through the healthcare benefits landscape.Jason takes us back to his early days at AT&T, sharing how the telecommunications giant dipped its toes into healthcare. From there, we trace the evolution of healthcare benefits since the mid-1990s, with a focus on the impact of startups and their role in employee well-being. Throughout his career, Jason has closely collaborated with innovative vendors, contributing to the ever-changing healthcare benefits landscape. We delve into these partnerships and their significance.Jason also sheds light on EHIR's emergence and its impact on healthcare at Boeing and Vida Health. Discover why he chose to join Vida Health and the unique opportunities he saw within the company. Our discussion explores the unexpected challenges Jason encountered after his transition to Vida Health, providing valuable insights into the digital health industry. He outlines the advantages of working on the vendor side and best practices for effective collaboration with benefits consulting firms and brokerages.Entrepreneurs and founders will benefit from Jason's expertise on pitching solutions to potential customers and approaching benefits leaders with confidence. He reflects on the crucial traits essential for founder success.Hear Jason's insightful predictions for the future of the benefits space, his personal wellness practices, and more in this enlightening episode of Digital Health Heavyweights!Follow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

Get ready for an insightful journey through the evolving landscape of healthcare with our latest episode of "Digital Health Heavyweights," hosted by Norm Volsky. Our distinguished guest, Jamie Hall, President & CEO of CirrusMD, takes us on a captivating ride through his illustrious career in healthcare. In this engaging conversation, Norm and Jamie explore the dynamic changes in the healthcare industry from its early days of innovation to its present state. They delve into the challenges and triumphs of healthcare sales, celebrating Jamie's proudest achievements along the way. The episode takes a deep dive into the birth of Transcarent and Jamie's instrumental role in its inception. Fast-forward to today, as Jamie leads CirrusMD, they discuss the significant impact it has on the industry and healthcare as a whole. Discover the invaluable contributions Jamie has made to CirrusMD's growth and the hurdles they conquered to become the industry powerhouse they are today. As heavyweight leaders, Norm and Jamie share insights on building exceptional cultures within their leadership teams, emphasizing the importance of trust. For those in sales-related roles looking to advance their careers, Jamie offers invaluable advice drawn from his extensive experience. In an exclusive revelation, we're unveiling groundbreaking developments at CirrusMD that will revolutionize the virtual care landscape. Tune in to this episode to be among the first to get the inside scoop! The episode concludes on a personal note as Jamie shares his approach to health and wellness, highlighting the significance of being purposeful in nurturing the body and mind. Don't miss this compelling episode as Norm Volsky and Jamie Hall take you on a journey through the past, present, and future of healthcare. Tune in now to stay ahead of the curve in the world of digital health!Follow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

Welcome to another insightful episode, this time, featuring Rebecca Mitchell, MD and Executive Vice President, Investment Team and Product at Vive Collective! In this episode, we have the privilege of sitting down with Rebecca to delve into a wide range of topics that shed light on Rebecca's unique journey in the Digital Health field. The discussion takes us on a fascinating journey through Rebecca's move from clinical medicine to product leadership, including her tenure as the VP of Product Management at Livongo, a digital health heavyweight in its own right. She provides an insider's perspective on Livongo before and after its merger with Teladoc and shares the pivotal changes made to the product during her leadership.With a transition to Homeward, Rebecca shares her experiences of being on the ground during the company's first year, including product development and team building. She then walks us through her current role as EVP at Vive Collective, where she provides insight into her investment focus within digital health, and why she believes clinicians are so important in the investment community.Listeners gain valuable advice from Rebecca on what traits she looks for in founders and what entrepreneurs should consider before venturing into the healthcare sector or building a healthcare product.As usual, the episode wraps up with a glimpse into Rebecca's personal wellness practices, including her favorite exercises, stress reduction techniques, and healthy recipes.Join us for this enlightening conversation with Rebecca Mitchell, filled with insights into the digital health industry, entrepreneurship, and the guiding principles that have shaped her extraordinary career.Follow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

Welcome to a groundbreaking episode of the Digital Health Heavyweights podcast, hosted by Norm Volsky. In this special episode, we're joined by two remarkable guests: Evan Falchuk, CEO of Family First, and Alaina Melena, Senior Vice President of Innovation & Strategy at Family First.Discover how Evan transitioned from an attorney to a healthcare leader and what inspired his journey with Best Doctors. Alaina, with an Economics and Anthropology background, shares her path into healthcare and Mercer. Evan takes us from developing contracts to leading Best Doctors, while Alaina navigates two decades in Broker Consulting. Learn about the healthcare landscape of the early 2000s, their experiences, and if they crossed paths at Best Doctors.Evan's major challenges, proudest accomplishments, and tips for effective team leadership are unveiled, while Alaina shares her challenges and insights as a Broker Consultant. Explore their guiding principles, Evan's move to Family First, the changing landscape of family caregiving, and lessons from Best Doctors. Dive into Family First's recent funding success and gain funding advice from Evan.Discover why Alaina joined Family First after consulting and hear their wisdom for potential entrepreneurs. They discuss essential traits for founders and share bold predictions for digital health.In a personal touch, learn about their wellness practices, favorite exercises, stress-reduction techniques, and go-to healthy recipes.Join us as we delve deep into the minds of Evan Falchuk and Alaina Melena, two healthcare titans, on the Digital Health Heavyweights podcast. Don't miss this insight-packed episode on the future of digital health and personal well-being.Follow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

Join host Norm Volsky in this captivating episode of Digital Health Heavyweights as he sits down with Sami Inkinen, the visionary CEO and Founder of Virta Health. In this thought-provoking conversation, Sami shares his journey from the tech world to healthcare, the accidental discovery that ignited his passion for revolutionizing diabetes care, and the critical traits of successful founders.Sami tells us that 'Silicon Valley was his Hollywood'- he always dreamed of building. He goes into his story with Trulia, the IPO of Trulia and its eventual merger with Zillow Group. Reflecting on his time at Trulia, Sami emphasizes the importance of building a successful template from scratch, hiring the best talent, and maintaining an unwavering commitment to excellence.At Virta Health, Sami is on a mission to reverse type 2 diabetes through telemedicine and technology. He delves into the profound responsibility that comes with healthcare, where the margin for error can be a matter of life and death. Sami shares the challenges of merging engineering and medical mindsets to create a cohesive team.The episode also explores Sami's personal journey from manual labor on a farm to becoming a championship rower and how physical health is integral to mental performance. Sami's dedication to reversing diabetes in 100 million people started as an accidental discovery, leading to the birth of Virta Health. Sami discusses the transformative impact of Virta Health, from its humble beginnings to its current valuation in the BILLIONS, highlighting the importance of humility and continuous improvement. He explains the significance of having a physical outlet for mental resilience.The conversation touches on Virta's transition from clinical trials to securing its first customers and the explosive growth that followed, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sami reveals the strategic decision to sell to self-insured employers and the rationale behind the B2B2C model.Throughout the episode, Sami shares valuable insights for aspiring founders, emphasizing the importance of unwavering passion, perseverance, ethics, and problem-solving skills. He challenges the notion of IQ as the sole indicator of success and highlights the significance of curiosity paired with intellect.Tune in to this enlightening episode of Digital Health Heavyweights to gain a deeper understanding of Sami Inkinen's remarkable journey and the groundbreaking work being done at Virta Health to reverse diabetes and transform lives. Don't miss this inspiring conversation with one of the digital health industry's true heavyweights.Follow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast