The Health Technology Podcast

Eyes on the Future: Hunter Cherwek’s Mission to End Preventable Blindness

Every day, in many communities without enough resources, millions suffer from blindness that could be prevented. A lack of proper eye care, old training methods, and few modern tools leave many in the dark. In places where a simple cataract surgery could bring back both sight and hope, big challenges and a shortage of new ideas block the way.

Inspired by these problems, an amazing journey spans continents and changes lives. Born in a small town in Virginia, Dr. Hunter Cherwek—Vice President, Clinical Services and Technologies at Orbis International—took a path from the halls of Duke and Emory Universities to remote parts of the world. What began as a simple interest in medicine grew into a strong promise to end preventable blindness. A life-changing experience in Kenya set him on a course that reshaped his mission in eye care and pushed him to find better solutions for communities in need.

Dr. Cherwek is a well-known eye doctor and he is also a visionary who mixes the latest technology with a deep passion for teaching. His work at Orbis International, especially on the famous Flying Eye Hospital, has helped perform surgeries that restore sight in over 20 countries. He also created a prize-winning online learning and remote care program that supports health workers around the world. His six years as Medical Director of Strategic Markets in Beijing show his steady drive to change old ways and bring better eye care all over the world.

In this episode, Dr. Cherwek explains how a lucky scholarship and early global experiences shaped his promise to end preventable blindness, the challenges of providing modern eye care in low-resource areas, and how using tools like remote care and training simulations can change how we teach and treat patients. Here is our conversation.

From Loss to TIME's Magazine Best Inventions Award: Yoni Shtein’s Breakthrough in Healthcare

When patients leave the hospital, they often face a dangerous gap in care—a system where outdated methods and heavy paperwork leave them at risk for complications, repeat visits, and needless stress. Every day, many worry about returning home without the clear, compassionate support they need, and the burden falls on both patients and overworked care teams.

In this episode, we highlight a leader who turned personal loss into a mission for change. Yoni Shtein, the CEO and co-founder of Laguna Health, brings a blend of technical skill and business insight—from his early days in software engineering and high-stakes finance to confronting very human challenges. After the sudden loss of his mother-in-law, a tragedy that sparked his drive to improve post-hospital care, Yoni set out to build a solution that bridges the critical gap between hospital discharge and complete recovery.

Laguna Health has earned special recognition as the ADAPT awardee from the UCSF Rosenman Institute for its innovative approach to care management. Their breakthrough AI-powered co-pilot has also been honored with the Time Best Inventions Award. In addition, their work has been validated through strong clinical research partnerships with renowned institutions like Mayo Clinic and UCSF, and their collaboration with Elevance Health underscores their growing impact on care transitions.

Tune in as we explore Yoni’s journey from personal loss to healthcare leadership, discuss the evolution of Laguna Health’s groundbreaking technology, and uncover the insights that are changing how we think about post-hospital recovery.

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.

Rewiring the Brain: How Non-Invasive Tech is Tackling Anxiety, Insomnia & Obesity

Meeting Jason McKeown was like watching someone quietly change the future of healthcare. I first met him through the Rosenman Innovators program—where his company, Neurovalens, was honored in 2022—and it quickly became clear that his vision goes beyond ordinary medicine. A UK-trained doctor with a PhD in non-invasive neurostimulation, Jason is not only a doctor or a researcher; he’s a forward-thinking leader who has spent more than a decade combining brain science with technology to help people manage anxiety, insomnia, and metabolic disorders.

As the founder and CEO of Neurovalens, Jason has developed devices like Modius Sleep and Modius Stress. Both devices have received FDA approval and work by using gentle electrical signals to adjust the brainstem—the part of the brain that controls stress and sleep. His journey wasn’t easy, though. In our conversation, Jason explained how he balanced working as a doctor in the UK with building a startup until 2017, when he made the big decision to focus entirely on Neurovalens. What began as a project inspired by NASA research at UC San Diego has now grown into a mission to make advanced brain therapies available worldwide.

What impressed me most was Jason’s determination to challenge the norm. Whether he was sharing how veterans can now access Modius devices through the VA or describing how his team’s use of remote clinical trials sped up FDA approvals, his work is all about changing the way patient care is delivered.

In this episode, Jason explains the science behind non-invasive neurostimulation, discusses the challenges of growing a medtech startup, and tells how a NASA study on astronauts’ metabolism led to his obesity-focused device. He also shares why treating investors as key customers early on was a game changer for him.

Listening to him, you’ll see there is still so much to learn about the brain—and that we might be closer than ever to unlocking its secrets.

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 Zero to Unstoppable: Krista Drobac on Transforming Healthcare Delivery

Note: This episode was recorded on December 17, 2024, and reflects the policy landscape and political context of that time.

When Krista Drobac arrived in Washington, D.C., fresh out of college, she had no car, no connections, and no clear path—just a determination to make a difference in politics. What began as a leap of faith quickly turned into a lifelong mission to transform healthcare policy. Today, as a founding partner of Sirona Strategies, Krista is a driving force behind some of the most innovative approaches to care delivery—from telehealth to home-based models.

Her career took root in the late 1990s, when she led a groundbreaking campaign for stem cell research, uniting patient groups to advocate for life-changing treatments. Since then, Krista has become a trusted voice in healthcare policy. She is a true leader focused on spotting growth opportunities and mitigating risks stemming from policy changes at both federal and state levels. By merging market dynamics with regulatory shifts in Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial care, she guides companies—from startups to Fortune 10 giants—in building models of care that capture new opportunities. With deep relationships across both industry and government, and a rich history in the United States Senate, the Obama Administration, the National Governors Association, and state government, she is uniquely qualified to spot trends that drive change. In addition, she founded three coalitions dedicated to ensuring patients have access to telehealth, more home-based care, and integrated social services.

In our conversation, Krista takes us behind the scenes of her journey—from her early days advocating for stem cell research to her current efforts to revolutionize care delivery. She opens up about the challenges of balancing innovation with affordability, the importance of addressing the root causes of chronic disease, and why now is the time for bold, transformative ideas in healthcare.

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.

Healing, Hope, and Humanity: Dr. BJ Miller on Compassionate Care

When I first spoke with Dr. BJ Miller, I felt the weight of his experiences transform into something unexpectedly hopeful. BJ is a palliative care physician and he’s also a storyteller of life’s hardest truths, a triple amputee who turned personal tragedy into a mission to redefine how we approach suffering, dignity, and mortality. Years ago, I watched BJ Miller’s TED Talk on What Really Matters at the End of Life, I was struck by his bold challenge to healthcare’s design—how it was built around diseases rather than people. He spoke with a clarity that cut through the clinical detachment of modern medicine, emphasizing that suffering is not just something to be erased but an intrinsic part of being human. He invited us to see death and illness not as failures but as natural, even meaningful, parts of life.

When my husband, Dan Rosenman, died suddenly of a heart attack while mountain biking 11 years ago, BJ’s words became a lifeline. His reflection on the difference between necessary and unnecessary suffering helped me shift my perspective: rather than trying to “fix” my grief, I learned to live alongside it and open my eyes to see the beauty of grief. That’s why I invited him here—to share how we might reshape our approach to life’s most difficult realities with creativity, presence, and compassion.

Known globally for that groundbreaking talk, he co-founded Mettle Health, a telehealth service providing support for patients and caregivers. His journey began with a life-altering accident at Princeton, where he lost three limbs—an event that reshaped his understanding of vulnerability and resilience. Through his work at UCSF, the Zen Hospice Project, and now Mettle Health, he has challenged medicine to prioritize humanity over cure rates, integrating art, spirituality, and raw honesty into care.

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.

Beyond GLP-1s | Sloan Saunders’ Holistic Vision for Sustainable Obesity Treatment

The obesity epidemic demands solutions that go beyond temporary fixes or single-medication approaches. While drugs like GLP-1 agonists dominate headlines, lasting change requires reimagining care delivery, addressing systemic inefficiencies, and tackling root causes. Enter Sloan Saunders, a former investment banker turned healthcare innovator, whose company FlyteHealth is pioneering a holistic model for obesity treatment—one that merges financial strategy, advanced technology, and patient-centered care.

After a 15-year career in banking and private equity, Sloan co-founded FlyteHealth to confront the gaps he saw in obesity care: outdated clinical practices, fragmented insurance coverage, and an over-reliance on short-term interventions. Selected for the UCSF Rosenman Innovators Program in 2022, FlyteHealth now partners with employers, payers, and health systems—including a groundbreaking initiative with the state of Connecticut—to deliver scalable, cost-effective care that prioritizes long-term health over quick fixes.

In this episode, Sloan shares his unconventional leap from finance to healthcare entrepreneurship, the lessons that shaped FlyteHealth’s mission, and how technology tackles clinical inefficiencies to personalize care and address root causes. He also offers insights into the future of obesity treatment, from employer partnerships to redefining health investments. Tune in for a candid conversation about disrupting norms, overcoming founder challenges, and building solutions that prove sustainable obesity care is possible—when we look beyond the prescription pad.

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.

Breaking the Stigma | Joanna Strober & MIDI Health Revolutionizing Menopause and Women’s Midlife Care

Joanna Strober, Founder & CEO of MIDI Health, is a trailblazer in women’s health innovation. With a career marked by resilience and vision, Joanna has consistently driven meaningful change across industries. From her early days in venture capital to founding Kurbo Health—a digital therapeutic for childhood obesity that served tens of thousands of adolescents worldwide before being acquired by Weight Watchers in 2018—Joanna has always sought to make a lasting impact.

Today, she leads MIDI Health, a groundbreaking platform dedicated to transforming women’s midlife health. Selected as a Rosenman ADAPT finalist, MIDI Health joined the prestigious Rosenman Institute cohort, solidifying its role as the only holistic women’s health platform for perimenopause and menopause care covered by insurance. Inspired by her own experiences with hormone transition and its profound effects on sleep, energy, weight, and mood, Joanna created MIDI Health to make expert midlife care accessible, equitable, and comprehensive.

In this episode, Joanna shares her unconventional career journey, the lessons she’s learned from each pivot, and how her personal experiences shaped the mission of MIDI Health. She delves into the challenges of scaling a virtual healthcare platform for menopause, the importance of insurance coverage in digital health, and her vision for a future where women receive the care they deserve. Listeners will gain valuable insights into resilient leadership, healthcare innovation, and the power of turning personal challenges into transformative solutions.

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 Poetry to Precision: Dr. Matthew Lungren’s AI Healthcare Revolution

Dr. Matthew Lungren’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of empathy, curiosity, and innovation. Starting as an English major, his career took a pivotal turn while volunteering at a Kosovo refugee camp, where he discovered the profound impact of combining knowledge, data, and compassion to address healthcare challenges—particularly in underserved communities.

Dr. Lungren earned his MD and MPH, practiced as an interventional radiologist, and became a prominent leader in medical AI. At Stanford, he directed the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI), contributing to over 200 publications on groundbreaking research in multi-modal data fusion, computer vision, and natural language processing for healthcare applications. His influence extends beyond academia through his work at Amazon, his popular Stanford Coursera course on machine learning in healthcare, and his current role as Chief Scientific Officer for Microsoft Health & Life Sciences. Dr. Lungren also maintains a part-time clinical practice at UCSF and holds an adjunct professorship at Stanford University, demonstrating his commitment to patient care and mentorship.

In this episode, Dr. Lungren explores the integration of AI into healthcare, offering insights on reducing physician burnout, uncovering new patient data insights, and building a more equitable and innovative future for healthcare.

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 One Patient to Millions: Dr. Sanjeev Arora’s Transformative Vision Behind Project ECHO

Dr. Sanjeev Arora’s quiet determination and profound sense of purpose shine through in everything he does. A renowned liver disease specialist and visionary social entrepreneur, Dr. Arora has spent over 30 years creating innovative solutions to address some of the most critical gaps in healthcare.

As the Founder and Executive Director of Project ECHO, he has transformed healthcare equity with a revolutionary vision: democratizing specialized medical knowledge so no one, regardless of their location, is left behind. What began in 2003 as a small effort to address hepatitis C in underserved areas has grown into a global movement spanning 194 countries, empowering health workers and logging over 4 million attendances.

Dr. Arora’s passion for equity goes beyond treating diseases. His mission empowers communities to tackle systemic challenges like education and climate change while building resilient networks of knowledge that span the globe.

In this episode, Dr. Arora discusses the powerful story behind Project ECHO, the challenges of scaling such an ambitious model, and the transformative impact it has had on millions of lives. He also shares his bold vision of reaching 6 billion people and how shared expertise can strengthen entire communities.

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.

How AI is Freeing Up Your Doctor | Ankit Jain

Imagine a healthcare experience where doctors spend less time on hold with insurance companies and more time connecting with their patients. In “How AI is Freeing Up Your Doctor,” we sit down with Ankit Jain—founder of Infinitus—to explore how advanced AI automation is streamlining the communication channels that underpin our healthcare system.

Ankit’s story reflects a career defined by innovation. He drew on his engineering expertise at Google, where he played a pivotal role in launching Google Play, before striking out on his own. After founding Quettra—acquired by SimilarWeb—Ankit set his sights on one of healthcare’s greatest pain points: endless back-office tasks that absorb time and resources. With Infinitus, he’s leveraging AI to handle these administrative calls and workflows, allowing healthcare professionals to focus on what truly matters—patient care.

In this episode, we discuss the challenges of integrating AI into a complex healthcare ecosystem and explore the opportunities it creates for more effective data sharing, better patient outcomes, and renewed clinician satisfaction. Join us as we delve into the story behind Infinitus, uncovering how AI-driven solutions are not just freeing up doctors, but opening the door to a more connected and compassionate healthcare future.

Do you have any thoughts or guest suggestions? Please email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.