The Beat

Even those of us who are motivated to improve our health have a hard time getting answers from the traditional healthcare system.Clinicians are trained to diagnose and treat disease but have little experience in preventative medicine.So, where do we go to assess our current level of health and start making choices that will improve both quality and length of life?Dugal Bain is Cofounder and CEO of Lifeforce, a proactive health and longevity platform that empowers people to think clearer, feel stronger and live longer.Dugal has built a career around using technology to open access to better quality health care, holding leadership positions in finance, management consulting and health tech across three continents.On this episode of The Beat, Dugal joins hosts Dr. Gautam Gulati and Dr. Jessica Shepherd to discuss the future of longevity and disease prevention.Dugal describes the connection between lifestyle and health span and explains how the Lifeforce team identifies appropriate behavior changes and keeps members motivated for the long term.Listen in for insight on training clinicians in longevity medicine and learn Dugal’s top three not-so-obvious strategies for improving your health.Topics CoveredHow becoming a parent inspired Dugal to build LifeforceHow identifying a deeper purpose behind your health goals drives behavior changeUnderstanding the connection between lifestyle and health spanHow Dugal thinks about educating clinicians on the benefits of functional medicineWhat to expect when you become a member of LifeforceHow the Lifeforce team keeps members motivated for the long termHow Dugal’s team differentiates among longevity therapies that are hype, hope or realityDugal’s top 3 not-so-obvious strategies for improving your healthHow we might get unmotivated people to engage with services like LifeforceLifeforce’s efforts to train practitioners on proactive care and longevity medicineDugal’s insight around stem cells and contrast therapyConnect with Dugal BainLifeforceConnect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd & Dr. Gautam GulatiHLTHDr. Shepherd on XDr. Shepherd on LinkedInDr. Gulati on XDr. Gulati on LinkedIn

About Murray Brozinsky:Murray Brozinsky is Chief Strategy Officer of Amwell, a leader in hybrid care enablement. He was formerly the CEO of Conversa Health, which Amwell acquired in 2021. Murray is a creative entrepreneur who has started, run, and served as a senior executive at numerous companies. He has broad experience in leadership and strategy, bringing new products to market, generating revenue, building strategic relationships, and M&A. Murray is also a Board member and advisor to other promising technology start-ups in various industries. His main goal in healthcare is to put patients at the center of their care.Things You’ll Learn:By leveraging technology, healthcare can enhance patient experiences, reduce provider burnout, and bend the cost curve.Transforming healthcare begins by putting the patient at the center, focusing on prevention and wellness.Proactive care relies on early patient data collection, using technology to predict and intervene before health issues escalate.Implementing AI requires caution to avoid eroding trustOptimizing care delivery involves leveraging technology to identify patients needing immediate attention, and prevent unnecessary visits and calls.Resources:Connect with and follow Murray Brozinsky on LinkedIn.Follow Amwell on LinkedIn and visit their website.

Amir Azarbad, Managing Director of 10Pearls Healthcare Practice, and Frank Webster, Chief Medical Officer of HCSC, discuss their motivation for revolutionizing the healthcare industry, challenges in implementing change, practical solutions offered by 10 Pearls, managing a large healthcare company, and the potential impact of AI in the payer space.

Diogo Rau discusses the use of AI in life sciences, emphasizing the need to embrace it. He shares his vision of an Apple-like healthcare experience, focusing on patient-first approaches. The podcast explores leveraging AI for personalized medicine, fast innovation, and behavior change in patients.

About Rekha Kumar:Dr. Rekha Kumar is a globally recognized leader in the field of Obesity Medicine, currently holding the position of Chief Medical Officer at Found, a weight care platform. With a past role as the medical director of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, Dr. Kumar has shared her insights on the international stage regarding the medical evaluation and treatment of obesity. Contributing significantly to her field, she has authored various papers and textbook chapters and serves as an Associate Editor for the Obesity Journal. Her expertise extends to diverse topics, including the clinical assessment of patients with obesity and metabolic syndrome, the impact of obesity on reproductive health and fertility, and thyroid disease. Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Kumar has actively participated in global health initiatives, exploring the landscape of metabolic diseases in countries like India, China, and Tanzania. She is a valued member of the board of advisors for the Duke Global Health Institute and holds Board Certifications in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism, and Obesity Medicine.Things You’ll Learn:Obesity is a heterogeneous disease. What works for one person may not work for another.Found's outcomes boast a 90% success rate, with patients achieving a 10% body weight loss in one year.Research says 40% of adults and 20% of children have obesity. The US obesity treatment market is about $15 billion. The US weight loss market is about 160 billion.There’s a biological component to obesity; it’s not just willpower, diet, and exercise.The root cause of each person’s weight gain can be vastly different.Resources:Connect with and follow Rekha Kumar on LinkedIn.Follow Found on LinkedIn and visit their website.

About Kate Renwick-Espinosa:Kate Renwick-Espinosa is the dedicated President of VSP Vision Care, the nation's largest healthcare organization by membership, offering vision benefits to 1-in-4 people in the U.S. With over 85 million members globally, 63,000 clients, and a vast network of 41,000 providers, Kate passionately wakes up every day with the mission of helping people see their best vision. Specifically, she oversees operations and strategic direction for various channels, including employer-based benefits, health plan alliances, benefits brokers, and direct-to-consumer.With a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of California, Davis, and an MBA from California State University-Sacramento, Kate's journey reflects a commitment to transforming healthcare accessibility and experience for individuals and communities alike.Things You’ll Learn:Vision care is a healthcare secret weapon, offering a gateway to detecting over 270 health conditions through eye exams.The eyes provide a unique perspective into the body, allowing for early detection of conditions like pre-diabetes and markers for heart attacks or strokes.Healthy eyesight is life-changing at every stage of life, impacting academic success, detecting underlying health issues, and ensuring a fulfilling life.Employers can enhance productivity and save costs by encouraging employees to manage their healthcare through comprehensive benefits, including vision care.Annual eye exams are a crucial aspect of self-care, ensuring individuals stay proactive about their eye health and overall well-being.Resources:Connect with and follow Kate Renwick-Espinosa on LinkedIn.Follow SVP Vision Care on LinkedIn and visit their website.

About Anne Heatherington:Anne Heatherington is the R&D Chief Data and Technology Officer at Takeda, a top biopharmaceutical leader in Cambridge, Massachusetts. With over four years at Takeda, Anne leads the Data Sciences Institute team, steering the data, digital, and technology strategy for Research & Development. Her diverse career includes key roles such as Senior Vice President at Summit Therapeutics plc and Vice President at Pfizer. After 12 years at Pfizer, Anne chaired the Technical Review Committee, showcasing her leadership. Anne holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Queen's University Belfast, a Ph.D. in Pharmacokinetics from the University of Manchester, and is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Washington.Things You’ll Learn:Drug development is at a critical point where marrying traditional approaches with new innovations is crucial to avoid obsolescence, emphasizing the need for adaptability in the industry.Takeda aims to become the most trusted digital biopharmaceutical company, driving innovation in the healthcare sector.Achieving success in digitalizing drug development involves combining knowledge of regulations, a strong foundation in science, and a dedication to innovation.It’s more impactful to solve real-world problems with AI rather than just following the hype.Takeda collaborates with MIT, leveraging AI to address business problems and develop solutions, such as using speech as a biomarker for diseases.Resources:Connect with and follow Anne Heatherington on LinkedIn.Follow Takeda on LinkedIn and visit their website.

About Deborah Glasser:Deborah Glasser holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a B.A. with honors from Tufts University. Deborah is currently the Head of Vaccines in North America at Sanofi. In this role, she spearheads a team committed to pursuing scientific breakthroughs, focusing on the development and enhancement of immunizations. Sanofi, a global pharmaceutical giant, places a strong emphasis on innovation, and Deborah plays a crucial role in driving the vision forward, expanding access to vaccines, and advancing public health initiatives throughout the U.S. and Canada.Drawing on a rich and varied professional background, Deborah brings more than a decade of experience to her current role. Her journey includes an illustrious 13-year tenure at Biogen, where she held diverse positions across its U.S., European, and global organizations. Notably, she played a key role in the successful launch of Tecfidera, an oral multiple sclerosis product that achieved remarkable success, generating $1.3 billion in U.S. sales within its first four full quarters on the market.Things You’ll Learn:The vaccine industry faces intense competition.RSV stands as the primary reason for infant hospitalizations.Approximately 70 out of every 100,000 individuals end up hospitalized due to the flu.The flu poses a significant and serious risk, with an average of 36,000 deaths annually, potentially reaching 98,000 in severe seasons. These deaths are preventable.It's crucial to recognize the seriousness of the flu and take preventive measures to avoid unnecessary fatalities.Resources:Connect with and follow Deborah Glasser on LinkedIn.Follow Sanofi on LinkedIn and visit their website.

All too often, the people building healthcare solutions in the public sector have never seen a patient. The same goes for policymakers.And the voices of real people with real health problems get lost.That’s why Andy Slavitt advocates for a collaborative approach to solving critical problems in healthcare. An approach that leverages the lived experiences of everyday Americans to inform innovation and policy.Andy is General Partner of Town Hall Ventures, a healthcare firm that invests in underrepresented communities, and Founder of United States of Care, a national nonprofit health advocacy organization.Andy has led many of the nation's most important healthcare initiatives, serving as President Obama's Head of Medicare and Medicaid and overseeing the turnaround, implementation, and defense of the Affordable Care Act.On this episode of The Beat, Andy joins hosts Dr. Jessica Shepherd and Dr. Gautam Gulati to discuss the future of public-private partnerships to drive innovation and policy decision making.Andy explains why policy drives innovation in healthcare, exploring the obstacles to adopting effective policy on a national level and what prevents hospital systems from prioritizing prevention over treatment.Listen in for insight on what inspired Andy’s work with underserved communities and learn how he finds companies building simple healthcare solutions and invests in helping them scale. Topics CoveredThe experiences that inspired Andy’s work to serve underrepresented communitiesWhy it’s so challenging to build effective healthcare policy in our political systemAndy’s approach to solving critical problems in healthcare through collaboration among innovators, policymakers and everyday citizensThe common attributes of companies Andy invests in through Town Hall VenturesWhy Andy believes that policy drives innovation in the healthcare spaceThe obstacles to adopting effective healthcare policy on a national levelWhat prevents hospital systems from prioritizing prevention over treatmentHow Andy invests in companies building simple healthcare solutions and helps them scale (e.g.: urgent care centers for mental health crises) Connect with Andy SlavittTown Hall VenturesUnited States of CareIn the Bubble PodcastAndy on X Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd & Dr. Gautam GulatiHLTHDr. Shepherd on XDr. Shepherd on LinkedInDr. Gulati on XDr. Gulati on LinkedIn ResourcesConnections

About Byron Crowe:Dr. Byron Crowe is the Chief Medical Officer at Solera Health, a faculty member at Harvard Medical School, and a practicing internist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Byron oversees clinical program development for Solera's suite of health solutions, addressing physical, mental, and social well-being for millions of patients nationwide. With a rich background in healthcare, his expertise lies in digital health innovation and human-centered design, navigating the complexities of health systems. Things You’ll Learn:Chronic conditions affect six out of ten US adults, making it a space needing further innovation.Solera Health’s HALO platform helps patients, providers, and payers, offering evidence-based solutions and streamlining operations.Measuring outcomes at the individual level provides objective evidence of improvement.The next decade is a tremendous learning opportunity for those invested in digital health solutions.It's hard to manage chronic conditions, but if managed well, they can make a big impact on someone's long-term trajectory.Resources:Connect with and follow Byron Crowe on LinkedIn.Follow Solera Health on LinkedIn.Visit the Solera Health website here.Get a copy of The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande here.