The Health Technology Podcast

Making Healthcare Human Again, with Troy Tazbaz

Troy Tazbaz, currently Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy & Operations at Oracle and formerly Director of Digital Health at the FDA, has a powerful vision: making healthcare human again digitally. Driven by a profound personal experience supporting his wife through complex medical decisions during her battle with cancer, Troy recognized the deep inefficiencies and overwhelming demands placed on patients and caregivers. His journey inspired him to challenge the status quo, transitioning from a corporate technology career into healthcare innovation.

In this deeply personal and insightful episode, Troy discusses key moments that fueled his commitment to humanizing healthcare. He vividly describes the confusion at his wife's bedside, questioning drug interactions, and navigating complicated medical decisions. As Director of Digital Health at the FDA, Troy spearheaded efforts to integrate digital technologies into healthcare responsibly, establishing frameworks that ensure AI and other digital medical tools remain safe and effective.

Now back at Oracle, Troy continues his mission of transforming healthcare by shaping corporate strategies and operations that support impactful technological solutions. He emphasizes why slowing down to implement digital innovation thoughtfully is essential, and how human-centered design can restore compassion and simplicity to healthcare delivery.

Beyond his professional roles, Troy shares powerful reflections on personal resilience and insights gained from cycling across America—an experience highlighting the importance of slowing down to appreciate life's subtle beauty.

Join us for this compelling conversation hosted by Christine Winoto of the UCSF Rosenman Institute, as we explore how digital tools can genuinely serve patients and caregivers, returning humanity to the core of healthcare.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or ideas for future guests? We’d love to hear from you.
Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.

What Every Healthcare Leader Should Know, with Dr. Todd Brinton

What every healthcare leader should know is at the heart of this episode featuring Dr. Todd Brinton, Chief Scientific Officer at Edwards Lifesciences and a leading figure in medtech innovation. Dr. Brinton’s journey began in a sixth-grade classroom, where a fascination with the heart sparked a lifelong passion for both medicine and technology. That early curiosity led him to pursue engineering, medicine, and eventually leadership in heart health.

Before becoming a recognized leader, Dr. Brinton faced the same questions many young professionals do—wondering if he belonged, and whether he could move from engineering into medicine. Throughout his career, mentors played a crucial role in helping him find his potential, and setbacks became opportunities for growth. These experiences shaped his approach to leadership, resilience, and innovation in healthcare.

Dr. Brinton discusses lessons learned from building teams, founding companies like Shockwave Medical and BioParadox, and making difficult choices as both a physician and entrepreneur. He shares why honesty and kindness matter in leadership, how to create meaningful mentor relationships, and what it really takes to move ideas from the clinic to the corporate world. The conversation covers why embracing mistakes is essential for progress, why people—not just technology—will define the future of health innovation, and advice for those building their own path in healthcare.

Whether you’re leading a startup, managing a hospital team, or just starting your career, Dr. Brinton’s story offers practical insight for every stage. Hear directly from Dr. Todd Brinton as he joins Christine Winoto for a candid discussion about career pivots, mentorship, and the realities of healthcare leadership, brought to you by the UCSF Rosenman Institute.

For more on healthcare innovation, check out What 2 Billion Data Points Can Tell Us: James Mault on Smarter Care.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or ideas for future guests? We’d love to hear from you.
Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.

Covered California: Jessica Altman on Access, Equity & Affordability

Covered California is leading the way in making healthcare more accessible and equitable. Under the leadership of Executive Director Jessica Altman, the state’s health insurance marketplace has reached nearly 2 million enrollees, setting new records for affordable health coverage in California. In this episode, Jessica dives into how Covered California’s innovative outreach, tailored language support, and affordability programs are closing the coverage gap, especially for freelancers, gig workers, and families who often fall through the cracks.

Jessica draws on her roots in healthcare policy, shaped by family and her work at the US Department of Health and Human Services, to explain why insurance is so complex and how California’s unique blend of state and federal policy makes a real-world difference. We discuss why the “last mile” to coverage is often the hardest, how creative partnerships with community organizations break down language and cultural barriers, and why affordability remains the foundation of any successful health insurance system.

This episode also tackles the impact of the Affordable Care Act, the pros and cons of state vs. federal insurance regulation, and what other states can learn from California’s investments in outreach, Medi-Cal expansion, and targeted subsidies. Jessica shares real examples of how public opinion around coverage is shifting as families experience the benefits firsthand, and why Covered California’s commitment to customer service is rebuilding trust in a system long seen as confusing and impersonal.

Join us for this compelling conversation hosted by Christine Winoto of the UCSF Rosenman Institute.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or ideas for future guests? We’d love to hear from you.
Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.

 

Every Second Counts: Cardiac Arrest Prevention Innovation with Sameer Jafri

Cardiac arrest remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, striking without warning and demanding urgent emergency response. In this episode of The Health Technology Podcast, we spotlight cardiac arrest prevention, portable defibrillator innovation, and next-generation AED technology featuring Sameer Jafri, CEO and co-founder of Avive Solutions.

From his early days volunteering at cardiac screenings to founding a nonprofit focused on heart health at UCLA, Sameer’s dedication to life-saving innovation has always been personal. With Avive Solutions, he is pioneering the development of connected, portable AEDs, making advanced emergency response accessible in homes, schools, sports fields, and public spaces everywhere.

Sameer shares how Avive’s smart defibrillator ecosystem is changing outcomes by bridging the gap between bystanders and medical professionals. By integrating real-time data and rapid response capabilities, Avive’s technology empowers communities to act decisively and improve cardiac arrest survival rates.

Whether you’re a healthcare innovator, a clinician, or someone passionate about medical technology, this episode reveals what it takes to challenge the status quo in cardiac care. Tune in to hear how Sameer Jafri is transforming the future of emergency medicine through connected devices, better access, and relentless advocacy for cardiac arrest prevention.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or ideas for future guests? We’d love to hear from you.

Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.

What 2 Billion Data Points Can Tell Us: James Mault on Smarter Care

What happens when a heart surgeon sees too many patients discharged too soon, with no clear way to monitor their recovery? For Dr. James Mault, MD, it sparked a 25-year journey to reshape the future of healthcare. From operating rooms in Denver to boardrooms at Microsoft and Qualcomm, James’s mission has remained the same: bridge the gap between hospital care and home through continuous, remote patient monitoring.

Today, as Founder and Executive Chairman of BioIntelliSense, James is pioneering wearable technology that tracks vital signs in real-time, empowering clinicians and families to catch warning signs early, before they become emergencies. With over 80 patents, multiple startup exits, and leadership roles at major tech companies, his career blends deep clinical expertise with bold innovation.

James shares his remarkable path from aspiring astronaut to serial healthcare entrepreneur. We explore the origin of his passion, the turning points that shaped his career, and how his technology is already transforming care for hundreds of thousands of patients across the globe.

You’ll hear how James is scaling clinical insights through data, simplicity, and purpose, revealing what 2 billion data points can teach us about smarter, more human-centered care. Whether you're a founder, clinician, or caregiver, this episode offers a powerful look at how one surgeon’s mission is changing the way the world heals.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or ideas for future guests? We’d love to hear from you.

Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.

What Dying Teaches Us About Living: Insights from Ira Byock

Picture a hospital room late at night, the soft hum of machines in the background. A family gathers quietly around their loved one, unsure how to navigate the complexities of end-of-life care. It’s a scene playing out every day across the country, highlighting a crucial yet often neglected part of healthcare—the way we care for people as their lives near an end.

Joining me today is Ira Byock, a renowned physician, author, and passionate advocate for palliative care, whose groundbreaking work has transformed how we think about living—and dying—well. As the Emeritus Professor of Medicine and Community & Family Medicine, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Ira has dedicated his career to ensuring that end-of-life care is compassionate, comprehensive, and patient-centered. From developing the influential Missoula Demonstration Project to leading the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's initiatives on end-of-life care, Ira’s pioneering efforts have touched millions of lives.

Drawing deeply from his early experiences in rural family medicine, Ira witnessed firsthand the profound gaps in care for dying patients, sparking a lifelong mission to humanize healthcare. His belief that moments of crisis can also be opportunities for growth and wellbeing and reshaped our understanding of what it means to care for the whole person.

In this episode, we explore Ira's remarkable journey—from a young physician confronting ethical dilemmas, to a visionary leader reshaping the landscape of hospice and palliative care.

We'll discuss the challenges of balancing compassionate care with a profit-driven healthcare system, the transformative power of treating patients as whole people, and Ira’s innovative vision for a more humane and effective healthcare future.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or ideas for future guests? We’d love to hear from you.

Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.

 

Transforming Tribal Health: Roselyn Tso’s Game-Changing Vision

Think of a mother living in a remote village in Alaska. It’s a cold morning, temperatures well below freezing, and she needs urgent medical care for her child—but there’s no road connecting her village to any hospital. Her only hope is a plane or a boat, neither of which might arrive in time. Across America, thousands of Native Americans face similar hurdles every day—lack of access to basic healthcare, clean water, and enough nutrition. This is not a challenge of the distant past; it’s happening today, in the wealthiest country in the world.

I first met Roselyn Tso at last year’s Rosenman Symposium, where her talk left a profound impression on me. Her insights into the healthcare barriers that tribal communities face struck a deep chord, highlighting an urgent issue that many of us rarely think about.

Stepping forward to tackle these issues head-on is Roselyn, a proud Navajo Nation citizen who has dedicated her life to improving healthcare for American Indians and Alaska Natives. As Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS) from 2022 to 2025, Roselyn managed healthcare delivery to approximately 2.8 million individuals, becoming the first Navajo citizen and second woman to ever hold this role. Her career spans more than four decades, each day driven by a deep personal commitment shaped by her own upbringing on the Navajo reservation.

Roselyn believes real solutions require more than just medicine—they demand community engagement, cultural sensitivity, and innovation. Under her leadership, Indian Health Service championed initiatives addressing food insecurity, transportation challenges, and infrastructure gaps, fundamentally reshaping what healthcare means in tribal communities.

In our conversation, Roselyn shares her powerful personal journey, the realities faced by Native communities, and her visionary approach to leadership and collaboration. She offers compelling insights into the systemic changes needed to make healthcare truly equitable and effective.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or ideas for future guests? We’d love to hear from you.

Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.

The Future of Palliative Care: Insights from Steve Pantilat

It’s late at night. You’re in a hospital room, holding the hand of a loved one just diagnosed with a serious illness. The doctor has explained the treatment options. However, the weight of the diagnosis still feels overwhelming.

You ask yourself: How do we make the most of the time we have? How do we ensure they’re comfortable, supported, and able to live well—despite what lies ahead?

This is where palliative care plays a vital role. It’s a medical specialty focused on improving quality of life for patients and families during some of life’s most difficult moments. In fact, few people understand this better than Dr. Steven Pantilat. He’s a pioneer in the field and one of the nation’s most trusted voices in redefining care for serious illness.

As the Chief of the Division of Palliative Medicine at UCSF, Steve has spent decades pushing for patient-centered care. He began during the AIDS crisis in San Francisco, where he saw firsthand how much compassion matters—especially when a cure is out of reach. As a result, those early experiences shaped his mission: to place dignity and empathy at the heart of healthcare.

Therefore, in this episode, Steve walks us through that journey—from early crisis care to becoming a national leader. We explore the major challenges he’s faced, the lessons he’s learned, and his bold vision for the future: a healthcare system where palliative care is standard for everyone facing serious illness.

Moreover, his story reminds us that healthcare is not just about curing disease—it’s about caring for people.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or ideas for future guests? We’d love to hear from you.

Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.

The One-Click Pharmacy Revolution: Laura Jensen’s Mission

Managing medications shouldn’t be this hard. For millions of people, it’s a daily struggle—juggling prescriptions from multiple doctors, refilling at different pharmacies, and trying to keep track of what to take and when. Copays are confusing, refill schedules don’t align, and the stress of managing it all often falls on caregivers. This isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a crisis. Missed doses, medication errors, and the sheer administrative burden can lead to worse health outcomes and unnecessary stress for families.

This is the problem Laura Jensen has spent her career tackling. Laura is the Director of Manufacturer & Provider Business Development at Amazon, where she worked to make pharmacy care more transparent, affordable, and accessible. Her journey began at PillPack, where she helped pioneer a model that brought the best of long-term care pharmacy into the homes of everyday patients. At Amazon Pharmacy, she built on that foundation to create a seamless, patient-centered experience that leverages technology to simplify medication management.

She continues to drive innovation in healthcare, building on her deep expertise and passion for patient advocacy.

In this episode, Laura shares her journey from PillPack to Amazon Pharmacy, the challenges of rebuilding pharmacy systems from the ground up, and her vision for a future where accessing medications is as easy as clicking “buy now.” She also opens up about how her upbringing as the daughter of a nurse shaped her perspective on healthcare and why patient advocacy is at the heart of everything she does.

This is a conversation about innovation, empathy, and the power of technology to transform lives. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a caregiver, or someone who’s ever struggled to manage medications, Laura’s insights will inspire you.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or suggestions for future guests? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.

From Emergency Room to Mission Critical Leadership: Dr. Daniel Dworkis

Imagine this: a patient arrives in the ER, their life hanging in the balance. The clock is ticking, and the pressure is overwhelming. But here’s the thing—it’s not just about having the right knowledge or tools. It’s about how a team, often strangers to each other, can come together in seconds to deliver the right care at the right moment. This “last mile” problem—getting critical care to the patient when and where it’s needed—is one of the most urgent challenges in healthcare.

This is where Dr. Dan Dworkis comes in. Dan is an emergency physician, researcher, and the Chief Medical Officer of the Mission Critical Teams Institute. With a background in molecular medicine and emergency care, Dan has spent his career studying how individuals and teams perform under pressure. His work isn’t just about saving lives in the ER—it’s about understanding the science of stress, resilience, and teamwork, and applying those lessons to high-stakes environments everywhere.

Dan’s journey started with a love for science and technology, but it was in the emergency department where he found his calling. There, he saw how systemic issues—like access to care, poverty, and social inequities—intersected with medicine. But what really grabbed his attention was the art of performance under pressure: how people and teams rise to the occasion in the most demanding moments.

Through his work at the Mission Critical Teams Institute, Dan has collaborated with organizations like NASA, fire departments, and space programs to rethink how teams prepare for and respond to crisis. His insights are helping reshape how we think about stress, teamwork, and delivering results when it matters most.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or suggestions for future guests? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.