The 229 Podcast

January 8, 2026: Dr. Michael Pfeffer, SVP and CIDO at Stanford Medicine, reveals how his team built a secure AI sandbox in just six weeks—and what they learned from analyzing thousands of user prompts. From ambient scribes that actually work to ChatEHR transforming clinical workflows in real-time, Michael shares the practical wins and honest challenges of deploying AI across an academic medical center. Discover why different AI models excel at different tasks, how Stanford approaches governance without slowing innovation, and why the future of healthcare might finally match the vision we've been promised for decades.Golf Tournament Registration: https://carahevents.carahsoft.com/Event/Details/686801-ThisWeekHealthKey Points:05:14 The Green Button Initiative09:29 Ambient Listening in Clinical Settings15:32 Stanford's Unique Approach to Innovation26:03 ChatEHR: A Game Changer34:09 Capturing Patient Stories with TechnologyX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

January 7, 2026: Chuck Christian, CTO of Franciscan Health, and Charles Anastos, Senior Partner at Chartis, share the unfiltered story of migrating a 12-hospital Epic environment to Microsoft Azure—including the moment their hosting partner suddenly exited the business mid-contract. Chuck reveals why they rejected the "easy button" of Epic hosting, how they navigated a complex RFP with six vendors, and the non-negotiables that made or broke partnerships. From building a dedicated cloud cost analyst role to running production in their DR site for 30 days, this conversation delivers hard-won lessons on treating cloud migration as a strategic transformation, not just infrastructure relocation. Learn what happens when you demand trust and integrity over vendor promises.Key Points:03:11 Choosing the Right Cloud Partner08:50 The RFP Process and Vendor Evaluation13:33 Security and Resilience in Cloud Migration22:13 Lessons Learned and Future PlansX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

January 6, 2026: Healthcare is transforming through connection, and 2026 promises to take that mission further than ever before. This Week Health is expanding its reach with 63 events across 30 cities, bringing healthcare leaders together for deeper conversations and meaningful relationships. From coast-to-coast dinners connecting local leaders to new training programs educating both sides of the healthcare IT ecosystem, the focus remains on building bench strength across the industry. With 176 HCSP members already engaged and a new fellowship program launching to advance IT professional careers, the entire talent pipeline is being transformed. Discover how community, education, and personal connections are shaping healthcare's future in 2026.Key Points:00:13 Exciting Plans for 202601:51 Women's CIO Summit and Talent Pipeline04:04 Community Building and Networking09:12 Fundraising and Charity EventsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

January 5, 2026: ServiceNow's $7 billion acquisition of Armis signals a major shift in healthcare IT consolidation strategy. Jason Rose, CEO of Clearsense dives into what this deal means for health systems juggling overlapping security tools and bloated app portfolios. The conversation shifts to bold predictions for 2026, including a massive wave of multi-billion dollar health system mergers and the rural hospital crisis. Jason reveals how Trinity Health eliminated $100 million in operational costs through strategic app archiving, while the panel explores why AI implementation will finally move beyond hype into real-world deployment. Key Points:01:39 ServiceNow Acquisition of Armis07:26 Application Consolidation in Healthcare17:10 Predictions for 202630:39 Closing Remarks and Subscription InformationX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

December 29, 2025: As 2025 draws to a close, Drex, Sarah, and Bill gather to reflect on a year of struggles and triumphs. From unprecedented CIO turnover among top talent to the stark reality of workforce exhaustion, this candid conversation reveals why even quality leaders are finding themselves displaced. They explore how fear has stifled innovation, why AI advanced faster than expected with synthetic media, and how organizational culture emerged as the true differentiator in digital transformation success. They also share personal highlights from their year of summits and dinners, proving that even in challenging times, community and purpose remain paramount.Key Points:00:50 Reflecting on 2025: Surprises and Challenges06:25 What We Got Right in 202513:22 Personal Reflections and Key Takeaways18:55 Looking Ahead: Future Plans and Initiatives22:47 Conclusion and Community EngagementX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer