HealthBiz with David E. Williams

In this engaging discussion with Shara Cohen, the CEO of Carallel, we explore her journey from a history major with a passion for volunteering to a leader in the healthcare industry. Shara shares her early experiences as a candy striper, delivering meals on wheels, and how those moments helped shape her career path. We also discuss her time at Berkeley, law school, and her work with the Oakland A's, which provided valuable life lessons and fueled her passion for healthcare and legal topics.We then dive into the mission and purpose of Carallel, a company  geared to serving  family caregivers. Discover how Carallel provides a human-led, tech-enabled service that makes caregiving easier and helps healthcare organizations and employers deliver a caregiver strategy to attract and retain members.As of March 2025 HealthBiz is part of CareTalk. Healthcare. Unfiltered and can be found at the following links: Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2GTYhbNnvDHriDp7Xo9s6Z Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caretalk-healthcare-unfiltered/id1532402352 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CareTalkPodcast CareTalk website https://www.caretalkpodcast.com/ Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Episodes through March 2025 were produced by Dafna Williams.

Growing up as the daughter of immigrants, Neepa Patel, CEO of WellRight, always knew she wanted to make a difference in healthcare. However, it wasn't until she dove into the business side  that she found her true calling. In this episode, Neepa takes us through her unique journey and shares the invaluable lessons she's learned along the way—including the importance of making decisions quickly when you have enough information and how "done beats perfect."We also delve into employee wellness and the impact it can have on the workplace, especially during this global pandemic. Neepa shares insights on how companies are encouraging employees to interact with each other through friendly competitions, community giving, and volunteering activities, all facilitated by WellRight's innovative platform. Tune in as we explore the future of workplace wellness and the power of creating new habits, like the simple act of making your bed each morning, that can lead to a greater sense of accomplishment and well-being.As of March 2025 HealthBiz is part of CareTalk. Healthcare. Unfiltered and can be found at the following links: Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2GTYhbNnvDHriDp7Xo9s6Z Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caretalk-healthcare-unfiltered/id1532402352 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CareTalkPodcast CareTalk website https://www.caretalkpodcast.com/ Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Episodes through March 2025 were produced by Dafna Williams.

Hear insights on improving access to clinical trials with  guest, Sam Eells, co-founder of Lightship. We dive deep into her inspiring journey from her early interests in science and healthcare, to her work in public health that led to the founding of Lightship. Learn how Sam's experiences at UCLA shaped her passion for creating better patient experiences and addressing health disparities in clinical trials.Sam and I explore the mission of Lightship and how it aims to revolutionize the clinical trial industry by providing improved patient experiences, greater access, and more choices for participants. We discuss the crucial relationship between clinical research and public health, and how the pandemic has shifted the industry's focus to collaboration and innovation. Find out why Lightship's customer-centric approach is a game-changer and why you should care about the services this groundbreaking company provides.We also examine the importance of social determinants of health in clinical trials and the role environmental sustainability can play in shaping the future of research.As of March 2025 HealthBiz is part of CareTalk. Healthcare. Unfiltered and can be found at the following links: Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2GTYhbNnvDHriDp7Xo9s6Z Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caretalk-healthcare-unfiltered/id1532402352 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CareTalkPodcast CareTalk website https://www.caretalkpodcast.com/ Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Episodes through March 2025 were produced by Dafna Williams.

United Healthcare reported a data breach late last week. https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/united-healthcare-reports-data-breach-that-may-have-revealed-customers-personal-information/ Apparently a hacker used credential stuffing to break into some member portals in February. United just figured this out recently, and responded by forcing password resets and giving affected members two years of identity theft protection services.This leaves a lot of questions, like:1. What is credential stuffing?2. Why did it take so long to discover?3. Should members be concerned? What about those who’ve had an abortion or gender affirming care?4. Did United fix the problem?As of March 2025 HealthBiz is part of CareTalk. Healthcare. Unfiltered and can be found at the following links: Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2GTYhbNnvDHriDp7Xo9s6Z Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caretalk-healthcare-unfiltered/id1532402352 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CareTalkPodcast CareTalk website https://www.caretalkpodcast.com/ Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Episodes through March 2025 were produced by Dafna Williams.

In this episode, we discuss the impact of 9/11 on the pharmaceutical industry,  role of medical science liaisons, and  importance of establishing uniformity in medical affairs competencies with Will Soliman, CEO of the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA). We  explore  challenges of implementing standardization, role of PBMs in drug pricing, and  potential for unethical behavior in the industry.(0:10) - 9/11 Impact on Pharma(7:33) - Medical Science Liaisons(12:13) - Establishing Uniformity in Medical Affairs Competencies(17:58) - Barriers to Standardization(21:13) - PBMs and Drug Pricing(0:10) - 9/11 Impact on Pharma In this episode, I speak with Will Soliman, CEO of the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA), about his background, the influence of his father, and the role of the pharmaceutical industry. Growing up in Jersey City, Will was encouraged by his parents to pursue a career in STEM, leading him to major in biochemistry in college. He discusses the impact of 9/11 on immigration policies and scientific output, as well as his early career as a pharmaceutical sales rep before transitioning to a medical science liaison role.(7:33) - Medical Science LiaisonsIn this chapter, we delve into the role of a medical science liaison (MSL) and the transition to managing MSLs. MSLs are the "Navy SEALs" of pharmaceutical companies, responsible for educating doctors about disease states and various products. They often have advanced degrees, such as MDs, PhDs, or pharmacy degrees. The conversation also highlights the move towards a more formal medical affairs function within pharmaceutical companies in the last couple of decades. The discussion then shifts to the entrepreneurial journey of founding a specialty pharmacy called US Pharmacy Lab, focusing on personalized service and compounding for high-end customers.(12:13) - Establishing Uniformity in Medical Affairs CompetenciesIn this chapter, we explore the origins of the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA) and the need for a uniform competency standard in the medical affairs industry. The lack of consistency and potential compliance nightmares within pharmaceutical companies led to the creation of the ACMA, which now works with around 200 pharmaceutical companies to provide board certification and establish uniformity within organizations. We also discuss the importance of maintaining the integrity of the medical affairs profession and ensuring that medical affairs professionals have the proper competencies to interpret and present data accurately'(17:58) - Barriers to Standardization (3 Minutes)We discuss the challenges faced in implementing standardization in the pharmaceutical industry, including resistance from the "old guard" who feel their existing qualifications are sufficient. Despite this, there has been an overwhelmingly positive response to the push for standardization, as it is seen as vital to the industry's future. We also touch on the implications of the Inflation and Reduction Act, which requires drug manufacturers to pay the federal government if their prices increase faster As of March 2025 HealthBiz is part of CareTalk. Healthcare. Unfiltered and can be found at the following links: Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2GTYhbNnvDHriDp7Xo9s6Z Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caretalk-healthcare-unfiltered/id1532402352 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CareTalkPodcast CareTalk website https://www.caretalkpodcast.com/ Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Episodes through March 2025 were produced by Dafna Williams.

Dr. Barry Chaiken's book, Navigating the Code calls for revolutionary technology to transform the patient-physician journey. He believes in IT as healthcare's greatest problem solving tool for the 21st Century.As of March 2025 HealthBiz is part of CareTalk. Healthcare. Unfiltered and can be found at the following links: Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2GTYhbNnvDHriDp7Xo9s6Z Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caretalk-healthcare-unfiltered/id1532402352 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CareTalkPodcast CareTalk website https://www.caretalkpodcast.com/ Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Episodes through March 2025 were produced by Dafna Williams.

CalmWave uses AI to combat alarm fatigue in the ICU. CEO Ophir Ronen is a multi-time entrepreneur and a Search & Rescue volunteer.As of March 2025 HealthBiz is part of CareTalk. Healthcare. Unfiltered and can be found at the following links: Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2GTYhbNnvDHriDp7Xo9s6Z Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caretalk-healthcare-unfiltered/id1532402352 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CareTalkPodcast CareTalk website https://www.caretalkpodcast.com/ Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Episodes through March 2025 were produced by Dafna Williams.

Surgeon, technologist and entrepreneur Dan Riskin  founded Verantos to ensure that Real World Evidence (RWE) would fulfill its potential. High-fidelity RWE is challenging and expensive to create, especially at scale. But Verantos appear well on its way.Chapters:(0:00:10) - Real World Evidence(0:13:51) - High Validity Real World Evidence(0:21:19) - Real World Evidence Challenges(0:29:19) - Revolutionizing Healthcare With Technology(0:35:24) - Thanks for listeningChapter Summaries:(0:00:10) - Real World Evidence (14 Minutes)In this episode, we explore the potential of real-world evidence (RWE) in healthcare and the challenges faced in realizing its full potential. Guest, Dan Riskin, CEO of Verantos, shares his journey from an early interest in healthcare and technology to becoming a leading figure in the field. We discuss his involvement in health policy, his work with Health Fidelity and Dock Dock, and the founding of his latest venture, Verantos, which aims to provide high-validity RWE at scale.(0:13:51) - High Validity Real World Evidence (7 Minutes)We delve into the challenges of using routinely collected data in healthcare and the fear that it would be done poorly, potentially leading to incorrect treatments and patient harm. The FDA's involvement in setting a framework for real-world evidence (RWE) is discussed, as well as the difficulties and expenses in achieving high validity RWE - including accuracy, completeness, and traceability. The success of Verantos in this field is attributed to its early visibility into the framework, years of experience, and advanced technology, including the use of AI. (0:21:19) - Real World Evidence Challenges (8 Minutes)In this portion of the conversation, we discuss the limitations of traditional natural language processing (NLP) in real-world evidence (RWE) and how AI-based inference can improve accuracy and insights. We also touch on the need for RWE companies to expand beyond oncology and into other therapeutic areas, and the importance of maintaining patient privacy and security when working with health systems. Finally, we explore the challenges of generating profits in the RWE industry and the potential for innovative business models to address these issues.(0:29:19) - Revolutionizing Healthcare With Technology (6 Minutes)We explore the importance of knowing whether a company is a pharma services firm or a pharma tech firm, as each comes with its own business model, growth, and margin prospects. Focusing on the pharma tech side, we discuss the potential for cash efficiency, breakeven success, and a path to profitability. Furthermore, we look ahead at the future of healthcare, emphasizing the need to learn from every patient interaction and leverage technology, data, and compute power to create tailored treatment plans. Finally, we touch on the love for science fiction and its influence on the technological advancements in various industries'(0:35:24) - Thanks for listening (1 Minute)In this part of the conversation, we express our thanks to the listeners for joining us on the Health Biz podcasAs of March 2025 HealthBiz is part of CareTalk. Healthcare. Unfiltered and can be found at the following links: Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2GTYhbNnvDHriDp7Xo9s6Z Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caretalk-healthcare-unfiltered/id1532402352 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CareTalkPodcast CareTalk website https://www.caretalkpodcast.com/ Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Episodes through March 2025 were produced by Dafna Williams.

Arrive Health provides information to prescribers at the point of care, helping improve affordability, which leads to better access and outcomes. CEO Kyle Kiser describes how it all works.As of March 2025 HealthBiz is part of CareTalk. Healthcare. Unfiltered and can be found at the following links: Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2GTYhbNnvDHriDp7Xo9s6Z Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caretalk-healthcare-unfiltered/id1532402352 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CareTalkPodcast CareTalk website https://www.caretalkpodcast.com/ Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Episodes through March 2025 were produced by Dafna Williams.

Becky Payne led  development of The Federal Plan for Equitable Long-Term Recovery and Resilience, which commits federal agencies to strengthen the vital conditions needed to improve nationwide well-being. It’s a government-wide approach to bring to bear the huge breadth of federal resources to improve resilience at the individual and community level.She is now President and CEO of the Rippel Foundation, whose vision is a cohesive system of health that focuses on health and well-being; a system that is thriving, equitable, and sustainable.As of March 2025 HealthBiz is part of CareTalk. Healthcare. Unfiltered and can be found at the following links: Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2GTYhbNnvDHriDp7Xo9s6Z Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caretalk-healthcare-unfiltered/id1532402352 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CareTalkPodcast CareTalk website https://www.caretalkpodcast.com/ Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Episodes through March 2025 were produced by Dafna Williams.