Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Ryan Gates, Executive Dean and Senior Vice-President of the Leavitt School of Health at WGU, discusses his journey from educator and pharmacist to healthcare executive and academic leader. He shares how WGU is addressing critical workforce shortages through industry partnerships, technology-enabled learning, and innovative approaches to expanding access to healthcare education.

This episode recorded live at the Becker's 23rd Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC + The Future of Spine Conference features Dr. Martin Jenter, Orthopedic Surgeon, Integrowth Orthopedic Specialists and Henry Ford Health System & Medical Director, Michigan Outpatient Surgical Center ASC. He discusses the rapid growth of outpatient joint replacement, the challenges posed by health system consolidation and electronic health records, and how physician-led ambulatory surgery centers can enhance efficiency, patient experience, and clinical outcomes.

In this episode, Omkar Kulkarni, MPH, Vice President, Chief Innovation & Transformation Officer, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Founder & Managing Director, KidsX, discusses how AI and digital health are transforming patient access, care delivery, and operational efficiency.

In this episode, Kelly Munson, President and CEO of Independence Health Group, discusses the evolving Medicaid and ACA landscape, the impact of policy changes on coverage and affordability, and the role of managed care in improving health outcomes. She also shares insights on food as medicine, healthcare innovation, and leadership lessons from becoming the organization's first female CEO.

This episode recorded live at the Becker’s 16th Annual Meeting features Eduardo Conrado, President, Ascension. Here, he discusses Ascension’s ambulatory growth strategy, investments in serving Medicaid and uninsured populations, and how the organization is redesigning care delivery to improve access, patient experience, and long-term community health.