The Health Technology Podcast

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.

The Amazon Effect: Vin Gupta on Reinventing Healthcare

What does it take to transform an entire industry? Dr. Vin Gupta, a distinguished leader in public health and healthtech, shares his remarkable journey from medical training at Columbia and Harvard to his impactful service in the United States Air Force Medical Reserve Corps. As the Chief Medical Officer of Amazon Pharmacy, Dr. Gupta spearheads clinical strategy and innovation, leveraging technology to redefine pharmacy services and enhance consumer experiences.

In this episode, delve into Dr. Gupta’s groundbreaking work in healthcare policy, clinical research, and the seamless integration of technology in patient care. Gain exclusive insights into the consumerization of healthcare and explore his visionary outlook on the future of pharmacy services. Whether you're a healthcare professional, tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the intersection of technology and health, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on driving meaningful change in the healthcare landscape.

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

Revolutionizing Obesity Care: Dr. Diana Thiara on GLP-1 Drugs

Our guest today is Dr. Diana Thiara, the medical director of the UCSF Weight Management Program. She also serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCSF, and the Program Director of the UCSF Obesity Medicine Fellowship. Dr. Thiara specializes in internal medicine, focusing on obesity and weight management. Her work integrates innovative patient programming, culinary medicine, and virtual curriculums for obesity patients.

Dr. Thiara's journey from a small town in Illinois to leading obesity medicine on the West Coast is nothing short of inspiring. Her passion for community and medicine, influenced by her father's role as a town doctor, guided her career path, resulting in extensive contributions to medical education and patient care, including the Robert H. Crede Award for Excellence in Community Service.

In this episode, you will hear Dr. Thiara discuss the nuances of obesity management, her perspective on GLP-1 drugs, and her innovative approaches to patient care.

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

The Intersection of Community, Technology, and Health | Roni Zeiger

Roni Zeiger is a distinguished physician and technologist with a profound impact on digital health. With a medical degree and a master’s in biomedical informatics, Roni has seamlessly integrated technology and healthcare throughout his career.

He served as the Chief Health Strategist at Google, leading transformative projects like Google Health and Google Flu Trends, which revolutionized global access to health information.

Roni also co-founded Smart Patients, a platform fostering patient support and learning through shared experiences. Currently, at GirlTrek, he exemplifies his commitment to community health and social justice, focusing on increasing life expectancy for Black women by addressing critical issues such as inactivity, isolation, and injustice.

This episode explores Roni’s groundbreaking work at Google, Smart Patients, and GirlTrek, along with his vision for the future of healthcare and the power of community-driven solutions.

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

Leading the Telehealth Revolution for Women | Gloria Lau

Our guest today is Gloria Lau, co-founder and CEO of Hello Alpha. With a mission to improve access to women's healthcare, Gloria brings over a decade of experience in data science, machine learning, and AI from her time at LinkedIn, Google, and Stanford University, where she serves as consulting faculty. 

Gloria's unique perspective stems from her personal challenge in navigating the complex US healthcare system, which inspired her to create Hello Alpha. Her work is transforming women's health by providing affordable and comprehensive virtual primary care.

In this episode, we discuss Gloria’s journey from technologist to healthcare pioneer, the challenges she faced in founding Hello Alpha, and the impact of her work on making healthcare accessible and affordable. 

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

Dr. Graham Gardner | Creating Efficient Healthcare Systems

Dr. Graham Gardner is a visionary in healthcare innovation. He is the co-founder and CEO of Kyruus Health, leading the development of a platform that revolutionizes patient access and provider data management, now serving over 425 thousand providers and 1,000 hospitals.

Dr. Gardner’s unique perspective is shaped by his background in cardiology and his entrepreneurial journey, which includes co-founding Generation Health, a genetic benefit management company that was acquired by CVS Caremark. His work with Kyruus has set new standards for patient-provider matching, significantly enhancing healthcare access and efficiency.

In this episode, we discuss Dr. Gardner’s transition from medicine to entrepreneurship, and how Kyruus is transforming healthcare access and efficiency. We also explore his thoughts on the future of healthcare technology and the importance of data-driven decision-making.

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

Dr. Monica Gandhi | Rebuilding Trust in Health Institutions

Our guest today is our very own, Dr. Monica Gandhi, a distinguished expert in HIV and infectious diseases. She is a Professor of Medicine at UCSF and the Associate Division Chief of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, overseeing significant research and clinical operations.

Dr. Gandhi’s unique perspective is shaped by her extensive work in HIV research and her pivotal role in public health education. Through her groundbreaking efforts, she has pioneered low-cost solutions for antiretroviral measurements and advanced treatment strategies for women with HIV. She plays a crucial role in public health education, mentoring early-career researchers, and addressing the COVID-19 pandemic through her writing and public outreach.

In this episode, we explore the state of people’s trust in healthcare, Dr. Gandhi’s insights into the intersection of collectivism and health, and her vision for rebuilding authority in public health institutions.

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

The Affordable and Proactive Future of Healthcare with Drew Hobby

Our guest today is Drew Hobby, the Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer of Blue Cross of Idaho. Drew has spearheaded the transition from fee-for-service to value-based payments, making healthcare more affordable for members and clients. He now oversees the Healthcare Economics, IT, and Strategy teams pushing for innovation in healthcare delivery and affordability.

Drew's deep understanding of healthcare dynamics and commitment to value-based care emphasizes the significance of innovative strategies in enhancing patient outcomes and controlling costs. His work has not only transformed healthcare economics at Blue Cross of Idaho but also improved access to care for many underserved populations.

In this episode, you will hear about Drew's insights on the complexities of health insurance, the importance of proactive care management, and his efforts to tackle the healthcare affordability crisis

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