The Beat

Latest Episodes:

AI @ HLTH Series: From Expertise to Engagement: Real-time AI-Coaching Solution Designed by Your Top Performers for Enhanced Healthcare Outcomes and Improved Customer Care Oct 17, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, host Sandy Vance is chatting with CTO & Co-Founder Mark Stoehr, and Jack Ryan, Chief Product Officer, both from XSELL, the leader in conversational AI for contact centers. They’re here to discuss their innovative eXpert Language Model (XLM), designed for real-time dialogue. They will explore the key challenges facing the industry, the benefits of AI in enhancing agent efficiency and customer satisfaction, and gain valuable insights into the future of AI in contact centers. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or a healthcare professional, this conversation promises to shed light on how generative AI is reshaping the landscape.

In this episode, they talk about:

XSELL’s Journey into the Healthcare Space
The Benefits of Generative AI's Adaptability
Feedback, Reviews, and Use Cases for XSELL
The Role of AI in Contact Centers
Delivering High Value to Organizations with Low Investment
How Insurance Companies Are Using and Considering Generative AI
The Importance of Respecting Domain Experts
XSELL’s Vision for the Future of Generative AI in Healthcare

A Little About Jack and Mark:

Jack Ryan is Chief Product Officer at XSELL. Jack comes to XSELL from a job leading user-facing products at Google Meet, AWS (Amazon Connect), and Qualtrics. As a technical lead, Jack worked across engineering, product, and UX to drive innovation and deliver exceptional user experiences.

Mark Stoehr is the CTO and technical Co-Founder of XSELL Technologies. While he was pursuing PhD in Computer Science from University of Chicago, he met co-founder Matt Coughlin and developed the vision of an AI that is trained to replicate great performance by a company's agents. Prior to that, during his PhD program, he had spent some time working on Google Home and consulted for several start-ups.

If you want to reach out to XSELL with questions or comments, email their marketing team at marketing@xselltechnologies.com

AI @ HLTH Series: Explore NTT DATA GenAI Innovations Use Cases in Healthcare Oct 14, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, host Sandy Vance chats with Raleigh Murch (the Managing Director of AI for HCLS at NTT DATA) and Dr. John Frownfelter (the Healthcare Industry Consulting Director at NTT DATA).
Join Sandy, Raleigh, and John as they explore the evolution and future of NTT DATA in healthcare innovation, highlighting key promising areas for AI integration. The discussion will also cover how organizations can grow and mature in their AI awareness, the importance of establishing robust governance structures, and the ongoing concerns within the healthcare community regarding AI solutions.

Raleigh and John also explain how NTT DATA is transforming healthcare and the importance of foundational processes when using GenAI. It will also showcase how we implement various GenAI solutions for our healthcare clients today. Discover more about NTT DATA's and GenAI's impact on Healthcare in this podcast at HLTH 2024. Don't miss this insightful conversation that could shape the future of healthcare!

In this episode, they talk about:

The Evolution and Future of NTT DATA in Healthcare Innovation
Key Promising Areas for AI Integration in Healthcare
Organizational Growth and Maturity in the Era of AI Awareness
Establishing Governance Structures and Enhancing Data Maturity for Healthcare
Addressing Concerns: The Healthcare Community's Hesitation Towards AI Solutions

A Little About Raleigh:

Raleigh Murch is a Managing Director for AI supporting NTTDATA’s Healthcare and Life Sciences vertical. Raleigh led the Technology organization for Slalom for the South-Central Region and was a regional SME for GenAI. Before Slalom, Raleigh was a leader within AWS’s Global Specialty Practice for AI/ML with a deep focus on computer vision and edge IoT solutions. His past roles include being a Silicon Valley founder for a maritime engine analytics company, embedded hardware prototype consultant, and a long career in the industry as a product and engineering org leader. Raleigh has been working in emerging technologies for most of his career and works hands-on with company leaders to help define the art of the possible in the industry.

A Little About John:

John Frownfelter, MD, FACP Healthcare Industry Consulting Director- Lead for Data-Driven Health, NTT DATA. Dr. Frownfelter brings more than 20 years of physician leadership experience to bear on the challenges in healthcare today. His HealthIT leadership roles in the c-suites of large provider organizations including Henry Ford Health, UnityPoint Health, and Trinity Health, are augmented by more recent work in consulting and with healthcare startups. He has a broad range of expertise in organizational care transformation, change management with health IT, strategic planning, and leveraging analytics to empower organizations at all levels. At NTT DATA Dr. Frownfelter is leading several initiatives including digital transformation through virtual care at home and Generative AI for healthcare.

AI @ HLTH Series : Next-gen engagement and AI for clinical trial patients and sites Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, host Sandy Vance chats with Sharmin Nasrullah, the GM of Life Sciences Clinical. In this insightful conversation, they explore how AI and data are revolutionizing the landscape of clinical trials, paving the way for holistic and personalized approaches in the pharmaceutical industry. Tune in to discover the innovations shaping next-generation trials and how organizations are leveraging technology to enhance patient experiences and outcomes.

In this episode, they talk about:

The birth of Salesforce’s Life Science Cloud platform
What Salesforce is doing in the clinical trial space
Understanding recruitment processes in clinical trials
How Salesforce eases the research burdens for sponsors and sites
Patient information transfer from providers to Salesforce Life Science Cloud Platform
The impact of AI advancements on the clinical trial process
Systems replaced by Salesforce’s cloud application
How the cloud system matches patients with clinical trials

A Little About Sharmin:

Sharmin Nasrullah is the GM of Life Sciences, Clinical at Salesforce. As General Manager, Sharmin leads the overall product strategy and go-to-market strategy for the R&D clinical suite of applications and products on Life Sciences Cloud, leveraging the best of the Salesforce platform and ushering in a new wave of innovations in clinical development.

Before Salesforce, Sharmin held several leadership positions across the industry including leading digital health enterprise architecture at AstraZeneca, leading product and sales strategy in clinical data management at Veeva Systems, and leading clinical operations at Stanford University’s academic research organization.

Sharmin holds a Master of Science in Bioengineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Waterloo.

AI @ HLTH Series: The Future of Healthcare Training: ReflexAI's AI Innovations Unveiled Oct 02, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Beat Podcast, host Sandy Vance sits down with Sam Dorison, Co-Founder and CEO of ReflexAI, to explore the transformative role of AI technology in healthcare. From its origins at the Trevor Project to its groundbreaking applications today, ReflexAI is revolutionizing patient care through advanced AI-driven simulations. Join us as Sam delves into how ReflexAI’s innovative solutions are addressing critical challenges in the healthcare industry, enhancing patient support, and improving training environments. Discover the impact of ReflexAI’s technology and get an insider’s look at how it’s shaping the future of healthcare.

ReflexAI helps maximize training and quality assurance platforms using AI in order to help cut costs and increase efficiency. You can email questions and reach out to Sam at contact@reflexai.com.

In this episode, they talk about:

The evolution of ReflexAI from its inception at the Trevor Project.
How ReflexAI leverages AI technology to tackle challenges in the healthcare industry.
Creating Healthcare Flight Simulator for front line clinicians
Specific use cases where ReflexAI’s AI-driven simulations have been particularly impactful in healthcare settings.
How ReflexAI’s AI-driven simulations enhance patient support and training across various healthcare environments.
An overview of the mechanics behind ReflexAI and its impact on improving patient care.

A Little About Sam:

Sam Dorison is the Cofounder and Chief Executive Officer at ReflexAI. An expert in artificial intelligence strategy and product deployment, Dorison has been involved with AI-powered products in industries ranging from mental health to cybersecurity to smart cities.

Before launching ReflexAI, he served as Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people. There, he published five peer-reviewed articles on mental health and oversaw teams including crisis services, training, research, technology, and finance. Dorison previously worked at McKinsey & Company and Harvard Kennedy School. He graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. He also holds an LL.M. from Cambridge University and a master’s degree from University College London, both as a Marshall Scholar. Beyond ReflexAI, Dorison is heavily involved in causes that support families impacted by cancer. Dorison lives in New York City with his husband.

AI @ HLTH Series: Harnessing AI for Diabetic Retinopathy Sep 30, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, host Sandy Vance chats with Optomed Managing Director David Frasch about how AI can augment physicians' abilities and daily responsibilities in this space. Optomed is a handheld fundus camera manufacturer based in Finland and has been in operation for the last 20 years.

In this episode, David will shed light on how Optomed cameras harness the power of AI to enhance the diagnosis and management of diabetic retinopathy. They explore the development of cutting-edge algorithms for medical diagnostics, the challenges of creating clinical algorithms without standardization, and the broad applications of AI across the healthcare sector. Stay tuned for a fascinating discussion on the transformative impact of AI in healthcare!

In this episode, they talk about:

How Optomed leverages AI to improve diagnosis and treatment of diabetic retinopathy
Developing advanced algorithms for medical diagnostics
Challenges in creating optimal clinical algorithms without standardization
Applications of AI across various sectors in the healthcare industry
Addressing ethical and privacy concerns in AI-driven healthcare solutions
Emerging trends in the application of AI in medicine and healthcare
The strategic partnership between AI Health and Optomed
Future collaborative opportunities between AI Health and physicians

A Little About David:

With a decade of experience in medical sales within ophthalmology, David has recently excelled in building high-performance sales teams at BioTissue. As a director there, he successfully transformed the team's performance from worst to first, a process that was both challenging and rewarding. In his new role at Optomed, David aims to replicate this success by focusing on team development and growth. He is committed to growing the team in a controlled manner and laying a strong foundation for building a powerful and resilient organization.

AI @ HLTH Series: Exploring the Intersection of Generative AI and Healthcare Data Sep 25, 2024

Show notes

Today, Host Sandy Vance is talking with Robert Dwyer, PhD EVP, Chief Data Scientist at Certilytics about AI and healthcare. Dr. Dwyer is here to help demystify and readiness of generative AI. They delve into the transformative impact of generative AI on healthcare data and its revolutionary potential for the industry. Join us as we explore Certilytics, a company dedicated to creating a user-friendly interface for interacting with healthcare data, and their role in empowering healthcare organizations to enhance their efficiency with AI.

AI's role in healthcare is now presenting new opportunities for healthcare data and analytics to go beyond just Large Language Models (LLMs) and deliver business intelligence that can impact healthcare administration strategies and help accelerate improved outcomes & efficiency in healthcare.

In this episode, they talk about:

Dr. Dwyer’s background in generative AI and his journey to Certilytics
How generative AI is transforming the insights that healthcare leaders and organizations can derive from their data
The impact of data availability on the use and effectiveness of AI in healthcare
Certilytics’ goal to develop a user-friendly interface that enhances how users interact with healthcare data
The current surge in AI technology and its implications for the industry
The latest advancements and innovations in large language models
The influence of federal regulations on the adoption and application of AI in healthcare
How healthcare organizations are leveraging AI-enriched data to improve outcomes and efficiency

A Little About Dr. Robert Dwyer:

Dr. Dwyer joined Certilytics in 2014, bringing over a decade of mathematical modeling and machine learning experience in both the private sector and academia, where he worked on problems ranging from the quantification of medical and financial risk to predictive genomics. He is responsible for overseeing the design and pathing of new ML/AI products. Dr. Dwyer graduated from the University of Virginia in 2009 with a B.S. in Biology. He then obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. in computational biology from Princeton University, where he developed variations of maximum entropy algorithms to predict three-dimensional protein folding patterns by mining genomic sequence data. Prior to Certilytics, he worked with a number of startups and think tanks to develop algorithms to predict student loan repayment rates and to track Defense Department allocations.

Do you have any questions for Robert Dwyer? Reach out by emailing him at robert.dwyer@certilytics.com.

Executive Series: Standing Out in the Competitive Venture Capital Market with Ezra Mehlman Sep 09, 2024

Show notes

About Ezra Melhman:

Ezra Melhman is a seasoned healthcare investor and business leader with a rich background in providing strategic guidance to hospitals, healthcare systems, and healthcare companies. He joined Health Enterprise Partners (HEP) in 2010, as a Managing Partner, bringing with him a wealth of experience in consulting and research services for the healthcare industry.

Before joining HEP, Ezra served as a Senior Analyst at the Advisory Board Company (NASDAQ: ABCO), where he offered best-practice consulting and research services to hospitals and health systems. Following his tenure at the Advisory Board Company, he further honed his expertise as a Senior Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, focusing on engagements in the provider space.

Currently, Ezra holds positions on the board of directors of several prominent healthcare companies, including The Intermed Group, Wildflower Health, Kno2, Proven Behavior Solutions, Family First Adolescent Services, and Aware Recovery Care. He has a proven track record of successful board engagements, having previously served on the boards of AxiaMed, Applied Pathways, CenterPointe Behavioral Health System, InDemand Interpreting, Jvion, and Twistle, all of which were acquired by leading healthcare entities.

In addition to his board roles, Ezra contributes to academia as a member of the faculty at Columbia Business School and serves on the Health Policy and Management Executive Council at Harvard School of Public Health. He holds a BA cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis and earned his MBA from Columbia Business School. With his extensive experience and dedication to advancing healthcare, Ezra continues to make significant contributions to the industry.

Things You’ll Learn:

Profitability is now being highly rewarded among healthcare companies.
The focus is shifting towards essential technologies and services in the healthcare sector.
Stable healthcare services companies are garnering more interest amidst market uncertainties.
A surge in M&A activity is anticipated, driven by private equity firms and strategic buyers.
Specialization in a specific area can differentiate oneself in the venture capital space.

Resources:

Connect with and follow Ezra on LinkedIn.
Learn more about Health Enterprise Partners on LinkedIn and their website.

Executive Series: Early Stage Investment in Digital Health with Lynne Chou O'Keefe Sep 02, 2024

Show notes

About Lynne Chou O'Keefe:

Lynne Chou O’Keefe is the Founder and Managing Partner of Define Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm focused on investing in digital health companies redefining healthcare. Define Ventures focuses on incubation, seed, Series A, and Series B-stage digital health startups (www.definevc.com). Lynne has partnered with entrepreneurs to help them build category-defining digital health companies, such as Livongo (NASDAQ: LVGO), HIMS (NASDAQ: HIMS), Unite Us, etc. Previous to Define Ventures, Lynne’s experience includes both healthcare operating, investing, and finance roles. Previously, she was a Senior Partner at Kleiner Perkins, focused on digital health and connected devices early-stage investing. Before joining Kleiner Perkins, Lynne worked at Abbott Vascular and Guidant in multiple roles, launching over ten product families in the US and internationally. Lynne was responsible for building the global commercial strategy and therapy development, as well as playing a key role in the clinical, reimbursement, and operational strategy for these therapies. Earlier in her career, Lynne worked at Apax Partners with a focus on software venture capital investing. In addition, Lynne worked at Goldman Sachs in the Mergers and Acquisitions group and worked on multiple multi-billion dollar acquisitions and sell-side transactions in various industries. Lynne has been named WSJ’s Women in Venture Capital to Watch in 2020. Lynne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Things You’ll Learn:

Define Ventures leverages a founder-centric approach to provide strategic insights and partnerships that empower their portfolio companies with an unfair advantage in the digital health market.
With $800 million in AUM and partnerships with about 24 companies to date, Define Ventures has become a significant player in the Silicon Valley startup ecosystem, emphasizing strategic insights and a deep understanding of the healthcare industry.
It is important to be a supportive and empathetic partner to founders.
Define Ventures offers strategic insights and an 'unfair advantage' by leveraging partnerships with providers, payers, and employers to transform the industry and support founders on their journeys.
The striking a balance between growth and profitability with portfolio companies and believes the next 48 months will be dynamic for healthcare ventures.

Resources:

Connect with and follow Lynne on LinkedIn.
Learn more about Define Ventures on their LinkedIn and website.

Executive Series: Playbook for Success in Venture Capital Investments with Scott Barclay Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

About Scott Barclay:

Scott Barclay is a Managing Director at Insight Partners based in Palo Alto. His Computational Care thesis envisions the future of US and global healthcare built at the intersection of empathy and scalable technology. Scott’s early career traversed capital markets with Banc of America Securities in Europe and the US, The Boston Consulting Group, and CVS Health. At CVS and then after, Scott helped create and scale the nation’s e-prescribing ecosystem, running iScribe (acq Allscripts) and as Chief Strategy Officer of Surescripts. Prior to Insight, Scott built his investing career as a healthcare angel investor and advisor (NaviHealth, Doximity, Elation) and, from 2015 – 2020, as a Partner at DCVC, a world-class early-stage deep tech venture capital firm, where he was a director or observer on the Boards of companies like Carbon Health, Freenome, SafelyYou, and many others.

Things You’ll Learn:

The three big themes that are set to revolutionize healthcare investment.
The art and science behind Insight Partners' long-term investment and operational support strategies.
Navigating valuation adjustments in turbulent markets and fostering founder relationships.
The investment wisdom in an era of market recalibration—what it really takes to write the check.
Sustainability and profitability: Scott’s forecast on public exits for health tech startups.

Resources:

Connect with and follow Lynne on LinkedIn.
Learn more about Insight Partners on their LinkedIn and website.

Executive Series: Strategic Deal-Making in Healthcare with Ian Wijaya Aug 19, 2024

Show notes

About Ian Wijaya:

Ian Wijaya is the Co-Head of Lazard’s North America Healthcare practice. Ian joined Lazard in 2011 and co-founded the Firm’s healthcare services practice, with a focus on M&A, strategic advisory, and recapitalization advisory for managed care insurance payers, providers across the continuum of care (e.g., acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, post-acute care, etc.), PBMs, distributors, payor and provider services companies, HCIT, and digital health companies.

Ian is a member of Lazard’s Opinion Committee and the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Healthcare, as well as a Corporate Leader on the Council on Foreign Relations.

Ian has advised on more than $250 billion of corporate finance transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, financial restructurings and reorganizations, joint ventures, and other matters, and has advised on several of the largest and most transformative M&A transactions in healthcare, including three of the largest in recent history.

Prior to joining Lazard, Ian was an investment banker at Greenhill & Co. in New York, where he focused on healthcare M&A but also provided M&A advice to companies in the technology and retail sectors. Prior to Greenhill & Co., he worked in the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs & Co. and the financial restructuring group of Houlihan Lokey in New York.

Ian has an M.B.A. in Finance and Strategy from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a B.A. (cum laude) from Dartmouth College.

Things You’ll Learn:

The candid examination of market barriers and what it takes to finalize deals in turbulent times.
The healthcare tech market demands investments in businesses with sustainable unit economics and the potential for operating leverage, promoting a balance between profit and growth.
Strategic buyers and private equity are looking for healthcare services that can enhance supply chain visibility, manage costs efficiently, and improve patient outcomes through tech-enabled solutions.
AI stands poised to revolutionize healthcare across several domains, with an emphasis on clinical decision support, population health management, and automation of administrative tasks.
AI in healthcare will likely boom in 3 areas: clinical support, population health management, and operational automation.

Resources: