The Beat

About Shay Perera:Shay is the co-founder and CTO of Navina, with a decade of experience in elite intelligence units of the Israel Defense Forces, where he applied artificial intelligence from theory to real-world solutions. He contributed heavily to hands-on R&D efforts while assuming significant leadership roles. Armed with a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, specializing in machine learning, from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Shay, alongside Ronen, earned the 2018 National Security Award for their groundbreaking work in AI.Things You’ll Learn:AI is not just a futuristic concept but a current necessity for managing the overwhelming amount of healthcare data and streamlining clinical workflows, leading to improved patient outcomes and reduced administrative burdens for providers.The administrative burden is a significant pain point in healthcare, but AI can automate repetitive tasks, reduce the burden on providers, and streamline value-based care workflows, ultimately improving both clinical and economic outcomes.Emerging AI trends will change how physicians care for patients, saving time and enhancing knowledge of patient health.Clinical AI can act as a copilot, streamlining workflows and turning data into actionable insights for healthcare providers at the point of care and in the back office.  Healthcare organizations should focus on integrating AI solutions that can make physician life easier and ensure clinicians are involved as early as possible to gain trust in the process. Resources:Connect with and follow Shay Perera on LinkedIn.Learn more about Navina on their LinkedIn and website.Email Shay directly here.

Sandy Vance and Jason Warrelmann, the VP of Healthcare & Life Sciences at UiPath, discuss how AI and agentic automation are transforming the healthcare space. Jason also offers customer use cases to expand on real-life digital transformations. UiPath and Jason were at the ViVe event in February; check out the recordings on the ViVE website.In this episode, they talk about:The role that automation plays in the healthcare space: Humans don’t like being interoperability engines. Automation is a good universal API and it doesn’t hallucinate. Studies show a high failure rate for AI projects across industries, including healthcare. A small pilot turns into a big expensive project involving different vendorsTechnology changes so quicklyWhat kind of ROI will CFOs see?Examples of how UiPath is helping healthcare organizations achieve their goals with AI and automation.A Little About Jason:Jason Warrelmann leads the Healthcare and Life Sciences Practice at UiPath, which focuses on transforming the healthcare landscape and developing capabilities, integrations, and reusable components that make UiPath a healthcare automation platform, not just a tool that works in healthcare.

About Kali Arduini Ihde:Kali Arduini Ihde is a dynamic, results-driven digital transformation leader with 18+ years of experience in advancing healthcare through innovative technologies. As Director of Innovation at Northwestern Medicine, she orchestrates multi-million-dollar portfolios, fosters cross-functional alignment, and implements data-driven strategies to deliver client-centric solutions. She previously oversaw ePMO, scheduling, physician referrals, and operational transitions for Epic, forging strategic partnerships and streamlining organizational workflows. Kali holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri, complementing her robust project management acumen.Things You’ll Learn:It's crucial to ground innovation work in the organization's biggest problems. This ensures that any new technology being explored is directly relevant to improving patient care, workforce experience, or other key challenges.Finding real solutions amidst the AI hype requires a rigorous vetting process. Organizations should focus on finding solutions that can make meaningful impacts.Scaling AI innovation requires a dedicated team focused on implementation and widespread adoption. Innovation shouldn’t stop at testing it out but be applied and expanded to the whole organization.AI is poised to revolutionize healthcare by identifying issues and risks earlier. Coupled with precision medicine, the next generation of AI promises a future where treatment is tailored to the individual. This means that in 5-10 years, healthcare will look vastly different.Healthcare is expensive and takes a lot of people to complete. This should be considered when implementing AI solutions and technology.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.

In this conversation, Dr. Ryan Vega, Chief Health Officer for Vantiq, discusses the transformative role of AI in healthcare, the innovative capabilities of the Vantiq platform, and the importance of personalized healthcare solutions. He shares insights on the transition from the Veterans Health Administration to Vantiq, the use cases for their technology, and how generative AI is enhancing clinical decision-making. Dr. Vega emphasizes the need for transparency, safety, and effective orchestration of AI systems in healthcare, as well as the importance of collaboration with systems integrators and startups to drive innovation.In this episode , they discuss: Dr. Vega emphasizes the importance of workflow customization in healthcare.Vantiq's platform allows for low-code, no-code application development.Real-time orchestration of complex healthcare systems is crucial.Generative AI can significantly enhance clinical decision-making.Vantiq focuses on creating transparency and safety in AI workflows.The platform is designed to operate securely within healthcare environments.AI can augment human capabilities in critical care settings. A Little about Dr Ryan Vega: Dr. Ryan Vega serves as the Chief Health Officer for Vantiq and is the former Chief Innovation Officer for the Veterans Health Administration where he led enterprise innovation efforts across the largest integrated health system in the United States.His work has spanned large-scale digital modernization efforts, design and deployment of innovative care and payment models, and early design and development of healthcare software focused on improving health care delivery and experience for patients and providers.Dr. Vega also currently sits as the Physician in Residence for the Digital Medicine Society and holds academic appointments as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Administration at Georgetown University as well as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at George Washington University. He is the recipient of many awards for his work in healthcare innovation and has published numerous articles on the topic.

In this episode, they discuss:Building consumer trust in generative AI is essential for its success in health care.Deloitte plays a significant role in the health care sector, serving various stakeholders.A majority of consumers believe generative AI can reduce wait times and costs.Skepticism towards generative AI has increased among consumers over the past year.Distrust in AI tools is linked to concerns about bias and privacy.Health care data is a high-value target for cyber adversaries.Generative AI can enhance the patient-physician relationship if used correctly.Transparency and ethics are crucial in the deployment of generative AI.Healthcare organizations must educate both patients and clinicians about AI.Deloitte assists organizations in navigating the complexities of AI implementation.  Learn more about Deloittes research here : Building and maintaining health care consumers’ trust in generative AIhttps://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/health-care/consumer-trust-in-health-care-generative-ai.html A little about Jen:Jen Sullivan, Principal, Deloitte & Touche LLP, is a seasoned and innovative cyber strategy leader with 28 years of experience in technology and cybersecurity, with 24 years of deep focus in life sciences and health care. Her technical infrastructure background has expanded throughout her tenure to a range of security areas including cyber strategy, threat detection and response, data protection and privacy, regulatory compliance, and technical resiliency. Jen serves some of the industry’s largest and most complex clients and leads Deloitte’s Cyber Strategy and Transformation practice. Beyond client service, she has held pivotal leadership roles in talent and business transformation and has a deep passion around health equity. Jen serves on Deloitte’s Cyber executive leadership team, is a leader in Women in Cyber and is the Advisory Life Sciences & Health Care Generative AI leader. 

Introduction: In today’s episode, Sandy sits down with Dr. Dipul Patadia, MD, Senior Director, and Industry Advisor at Salesforce. Together, they explore how Salesforce is shaping the future of healthcare through Agentforce, an innovative AI tool designed to streamline healthcare processes and improve customer care.As AI-powered agents become an everyday part of healthcare, Dr. Patadia addresses common concerns around their implementation for administrative tasks. He also shares insights into how Agentforce ensures smooth operations while maintaining essential safeguards for patient care.In this episode, they talk about:How Salesforce ensures safe use of AI agents with human oversight in healthcareAutonomous AI agents vs. assistive agents: How Salesforce is revolutionizing digital healthcare supportLeveraging Salesforce’s AI expertise to create the most effective agents for healthcareThe story behind Einstein: how Salesforce’s AI can transform healthcare operationsA Little About Dr. Patadia:Dr. Patadia is a practicing emergency medicine physician. He serves as the Head of Health System Strategy and Innovation at Salesforce where he aids in contextualizing health systems’ needs with new and existing technology capabilities. Before joining Salesforce, Dr. Patadia came from Ascension and Advocate Health where he served as a Chief Medical Officer, leading clinical initiatives, and operations for two of its high-acuity hospitals. He has been instrumental in facilitating digital transformation, growing specialty service lines, improving quality outcomes, and designing innovative value-based care strategies.

In this episode, Sandy Vance speaks to Joseph Hernandez, VP of Channel Sales at BluIP, and Vivek Kuppuswamy, Principal Produce Manager at BluIP. They explore how BluIP’s Conversational AI and Virtual Agent solutions revolutionize healthcare workflows by automating patient interactions, streamlining appointment scheduling, and enhancing the patient experience. They also discuss how AI-driven communication reduces administrative burden, improves operational efficiency, and enables healthcare providers to move past organizational tasks and focus on delivering quality care.Episode NotesBeginning with a look at the history of automation in healthcare, Joseph and Vivek explain that the concept behind BluIP’s Conversational AI is not new; it fills a similar role to an automated voice menu. However, BluIP’s Conversational AI does not require callers to use specific language to understand their requests. It can also pick up on context and learn from new interactions. This technology helps to address populations who do not use apps like MyChart and want to interact with someone over the phone while streamlining workflows and reducing churn. Additionally, Joseph, Vivek, and Sandy discuss the future of AI at BlueIP and in health care in general.In this episode, they discuss:How AI is transforming the patient experienceThe opportunities that conversational AI is creating for healthcare providersThe primary use-cases for BluIP’s Conversational AI in the healthcare spaceHow BlueIP works with organizations to integrate conversational AI to meet their individual needsThe advances in virtual agent technology that solve for patient populations who want to interact over the phoneThe ROI for Conversational AI, which consists of a combination of tangible returns and a less tangible opportunity costHow Conversational AI reduces churn, increases patient satisfaction, and increases staff satisfactionThe future of Conversational AI in healthcare communicationsBluIP’s continued efforts to innovate, including reducing implementation timelines and low-code applicationsA little about Joseph and Vivek:Joseph Hernandez is a patient satisfaction advocate and technologist who specializes in conversational Artificial Intelligence and optimizing healthcare workflows. With a deep understanding of both digital channel contact centers and healthcare technologies, he designs patient-centered healthcare solutions for national health systems and community health centers. Drawing on his experience and understanding of the relationships between payers, providers, patients, and population health initiatives, Joseph helps customers optimize their current technology and adopt innovative solutions for the evolving healthcare landscape.Joseph is also an executive member of several healthcare organizations with a charter to close the gap in healthcare disparities and introduce technologies that lead to better patient outcomes; acting as a conduit between healthcare professionals and national healthcare organizations. At BluIP, Joseph is the VP of Channel Sales; matching clients with BluIP’s solutions.Vivek is a Principal Product Manager at BluIP, and is driving the growth of BluIP’s AI product portfolio. Prior to working at BluIP, Vivek spent 14 years building enterprise-grade SaaS products, with expertise in entertainment, CPG, and high-tech industries.

About Marisa Cruz:Dr. Marisa Cruz is the Vice President of Global Digital Medicine at AMGEN, a renowned global biotechnology company. An endocrinologist and internist, she continues to practice medicine at UCSF, bringing a clinical perspective to her work in digital health. Dr. Cruz oversees AMGEN’s digital health strategy, focusing on harnessing data and technology to improve patient outcomes and bridge healthcare accessibility gaps.Things You’ll Learn:AMGEN is driving innovation in digital health with initiatives like the LATTICE Consortium, aiming to reduce cardiovascular incidents by 50%.AI and machine learning are playing a crucial role in improving clinical trial diversity and accessibility.Emerging digital health trends, including implementation science and patient-centered care, are reshaping the future of healthcare.AMGEN’s patient engagement platform, PARC, empowers patients to actively participate in their own healthcare journey.Resources:Connect with and follow Marisa Cruz on LinkedIn.Follow Amgen on LinkedIn and visit their website.Explore Amgen PARC websiteDiscover the LATTICE Consortium website. 

About Kevin Mahoney:Kevin B. Mahoney is the Chief Executive Officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, a cornerstone of Penn Medicine. Overseeing six hospitals, 13 multispecialty centers, and numerous outpatient facilities across Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey, he leads efforts to advance patient care, medical education, and research. Since joining Penn Medicine in 1996, Mahoney has held key leadership roles, becoming CEO in 2019. He has spearheaded major initiatives, including the development of the 1.5-million-square-foot Pavilion and the integration of Penn Medicine’s electronic health records system. A champion of health equity, he established a partnership with Wharton to invest in businesses addressing social determinants of health. Recognized among the most influential figures in healthcare, Mahoney holds an MBA and doctorate from Temple University.Things You’ll Learn:The healthcare field faces a critical talent shortage due to retiring baby boomers and a smaller subsequent generation demanding innovative solutions. Cultural shifts are crucial to attracting talent to science and medicine, emphasizing the nobility of healthcare professions over purely financial incentives.Healthcare organizations must remain agile and adaptable, embracing new regulations and technological advancements while staying focused on what matters most: patient care.Artificial intelligence is a crucial tool for achieving precision medicine, enabling proactive healthcare interventions based on individual patient profiles.By repairing systems and improving clinical outcomes, healthcare systems can find ways to continue improving the landscape.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.

About Sasha Tyndale:Sasha Tyndale is a seasoned leader in the pharmaceutical industry with over 20 years of experience spanning oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and more. As Director of Diversity and Patient Inclusion at AbbVie, she drives patient-centric strategies and innovative clinical operations. With expertise in precision medicine and personalized healthcare, she collaborates cross-functionally to enhance patient engagement and future-proof organizations. Previously, she held key roles at PAREXEL and Johnson & Johnson, specializing in strategic patient recruitment and clinical innovation. Sasha holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Rutgers University. Passionate about advancing equitable healthcare, she is committed to transforming research and improving patient outcomes.Things You’ll Learn:AbbVie is making clinical trials more inclusive by ensuring they represent diverse populations affected by the diseases being studied.Through programs like ADMIRE, AbbVie is expanding research access by involving underrepresented healthcare providers in clinical research.AbbVie is simplifying participation in clinical trials by making study materials clearer and designing studies that minimize patient burden.Patient voices are essential in humanizing research, providing valuable insights into real-life disease challenges, and encouraging greater participation in clinical trials.AbbVie is taking bold action to challenge traditional research practices, collaborate with community partners, and improve healthcare access and representation.Educating individuals about clinical trials empowers communities to make informed decisions about participation in medical research.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.