Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Digital Health Leaders Podcast

Scale can give healthcare organizations access to greater technology, talent, and capability, but only if growth preserves the specialized knowledge that makes those resources valuable. Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, welcomes Venky Ananth, Head of US Healthcare at Infosys, for a conversation on balancing global scale with the realities of individual health systems.

Together, they explore what successful technology partnerships should deliver, how leaders can modernize critical environments without disrupting daily operations, and where standardization must give way to provider-specific context.

Key Takeaways:

• How health systems can gain the advantages of scale without sacrificing healthcare expertise, responsiveness, and institutional knowledge.

• Which areas of technology operations lend themselves to standardization and which decisions should remain close to individual health systems.

• How leaders can balance modernization with the reliability of critical systems and day-to-day operations.

• What disciplined sequencing looks like when modernization and operational demands compete for the same resources.

• How CIOs can structure strategic technology partnerships around clear accountability, measurable performance, and long-term value.

What makes healthcare technology truly work is rarely captured on a feature list. Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, joins Scott Sbihli, Chief Product Officer at symplr, to examine how leaders can look beyond functionality to design technology around the realities of healthcare’s increasingly connected environment.

From diagnosing why technology investments underperform to connecting workflows across organizational boundaries, they explore what creates meaningful product value in practice. Scott also shares his perspective on how AI is changing the way healthcare technology itself is built, and what leaders must consider as software gains greater autonomy in how it interprets intent and takes action.

Key Takeaways:

• Why successful healthcare technology depends on more than features, functionality, and adoption.

• How leaders can determine whether an underperforming investment needs optimization, integration, process redesign, or replacement.

• Where connected workflows can create greater value than adding capabilities to individual applications.

• How AI is reshaping healthcare software development, from design and coding to testing and release.

• What product and digital health leaders must consider as agentic AI gains greater discretion across healthcare experiences.

In this episode, Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, and Sundar Subramanian, CEO of Zyter, examine why the next competitive advantage may lie not in accessing more AI, but in orchestrating technology, people, and processes around the work that matters.

Their conversation moves beyond individual use cases to explore workflow redesign, cross-functional accountability, human oversight, and the foundations required to scale AI-enabled execution. They also consider how leaders can measure whether orchestration is actually improving clinical, operational, financial, and workforce outcomes rather than simply adding another layer of technology.

Key Takeaways:

• What separates AI experimentation from a repeatable capability to deliver enterprise value.

• Why meaningful AI adoption may require redesigning workflows, not simply automating existing steps.

• How leaders can establish accountability when AI-enabled work crosses organizational and functional boundaries.

• Where human judgment and oversight must remain explicit as AI coordinates increasingly complex work.

• Which outcomes executives should measure when deciding whether an AI investment is ready to scale.

Complexity may be inherent to healthcare, but that doesn’t mean leaders have to accept it. Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, welcomes Venkat Kavarthapu, CEO of symplr, for a conversation about what it takes to make simplicity a strategic advantage across modern healthcare organizations.

From listening more closely to the people experiencing operational challenges to using AI and data to rethink how technology is built and delivered, Venkat explores how leaders can reduce friction without sacrificing capability. He also shares perspectives on stepping into the CEO role, building trust across teams, and ensuring faster innovation ultimately translates into better experiences and outcomes for healthcare organizations, clinicians, and patients.

Key Takeaways:

• Where AI and data-driven innovation can reduce complexity for healthcare organizations and their workforces.

• How technology leaders can use AI to accelerate development while keeping customer value and outcomes at the center.

• Why meaningful innovation begins with listening to the people experiencing healthcare’s most persistent pain points.

• How trust, culture, and decisive leadership enable sustained performance through growth and change.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, welcomes Christopher Logan, Healthcare CISO at Zscaler, to explore what it takes to build security architectures that protect care delivery when systems, users, data, vendors, and AI increasingly operate beyond traditional boundaries. From uncovering systemic risks that conventional assessments may miss to strengthening operational resilience and securing AI at the architectural layer, they examine how healthcare leaders can rethink Zero Trust, access, and cyber preparedness without creating new barriers to clinical care.

Key Takeaways:

• What distinguishes cybersecurity investment from true operational resilience when critical systems or connections fail.

• How Zero Trust must evolve as identity, workloads, data, devices, and third parties move beyond the traditional network perimeter.

• How security leaders can strengthen segmentation and access controls without introducing unacceptable clinical friction.

• How security leaders can strengthen segmentation and access controls without introducing unacceptable clinical friction.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, sits down with Fran Rosch, President and CEO of Imprivata, to examine how agentic AI challenges long-standing assumptions about identity, access, authority, and accountability and what happens to healthcare identity and access management when the user is no longer human. As AI agents gain the ability to reason, delegate, and act across systems, traditional security controls may no longer be enough. Their conversation explores what healthcare leaders must reconsider about identity lineage, Zero Trust, human oversight, and governance as organizations prepare to secure a growing population of autonomous digital agents.

Key Takeaways:

• Which assumptions behind traditional identity governance are challenged when AI agents can reason and act independently.

• How organizations can preserve identity lineage and accountability as AI agents delegate work across systems.

• How Zero Trust and authorization models may need to evolve for dynamic, agentic environments.

• Why governing an agent's access may be fundamentally different from governing its intent and actions.

• Where human authority should remain nondelegable as healthcare increasingly operates at machine speed.

Peak Perspectives: Conversations from the Climb

Healthcare leaders rarely suffer from a shortage of ambitious ideas. The harder challenge is deciding which ones deserve investment and turning those choices into measurable results. Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, welcomes Peyman Zand, Chief Strategy Officer at CereCore, for a conversation about what separates a compelling strategy from one that actually delivers.

From allocating finite resources and realizing greater value from existing technology investments to creating governance that accelerates rather than restricts innovation, they examine the decisions behind sustainable enterprise performance. Peyman also explores the growing strategic implications of AI and what leaders must protect when possibility, profitability, and responsibility don't neatly align.

Key Takeaways:

• How leaders can prioritize investments and confidently say “not now” to compelling opportunities.

• Why effective governance can create greater clarity, accountability, and momentum for innovation.

• Where strong strategies most often break down between executive vision and measurable execution.

• What responsible strategic leadership requires when growth, performance, innovation, and ethical considerations compete.

• How health systems can uncover more value from technology capabilities they already own before making the next investment.

As innovation moves faster than healthcare can absorb it, Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, and Dr. Rod Tarrago, CMIO of Pediatrics at Amazon Web Services explore how leaders decide what deserves their attention and what truly improves care.

From making healthcare data actionable at the point of care to determining when AI is ready to assume greater responsibility, their conversation examines how leaders can pursue technological advancement without losing sight of safety, clinical judgment, and the people innovation is ultimately meant to serve.

Key Takeaways:

• How clinical experience, particularly in pediatrics, can shape approaches to technology adoption, risk, and innovation.

• What leaders risk overlooking when technological possibility moves faster than organizational priorities and patient needs.

• How healthcare organizations can turn expanding volumes of data into better decisions, safer care, and meaningful outcomes.

• Where leaders should draw the line between AI autonomy and nonnegotiable human judgment.

• How digital health leaders can balance speed, responsibility, and collective ambition as they prepare for healthcare’s next great advancement.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, is joined by Sandy Gupta, Co-Founder, President, and COO of Innovaccer, as they explore one of healthcare's most important leadership questions: How should organizations prepare for a future where AI is participating in care as part of its workforce?

As AI capabilities evolve from productivity tools to increasingly autonomous systems, healthcare leaders face new, consequential decisions about workforce design, governance, accountability, and value creation. Together, Russ and Sandy discuss how organizations can move beyond AI experimentation to build AI-enabled enterprises that strengthen human decision-making, create operational capacity, and improve care delivery.

Key Takeaways:

• Why healthcare's AI conversation is evolving from automation and productivity tools to autonomous agents capable of coordinating and executing work.

• How leaders can think about workforce augmentation, human oversight, and the evolving relationship between people and AI.

• What it means to reinvest AI-generated capacity into patient care, access, quality, and organizational growth.

• Which metrics matter most when evaluating the business and clinical value of AI investments.

• How organizations can prepare for agentic AI at scale through thoughtful governance, workforce planning, security, identity management, and technology architecture.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, sits down with Andy Smith, Managing Partner and Founder of Impact Advisors, for a candid conversation about leadership, culture, and what it takes to build organizations that thrive in periods of accelerated change. Andy shares perspectives on cultivating high-performing teams, sustaining culture at scale, and leading through complexity without losing sight of the people at the center of healthcare.

Together, they examine the profound promise of AI, what is means to fully embrace innovation, how to balance opportunity with accountability, and how industry leaders are revolutionizing care in a way that is both meaningful and sustainable.

Key Takeaways:

• How healthcare organizations are responding to economic pressures, workforce challenges, and evolving industry demands while continuing to move forward.

• What healthcare leaders should consider as they evaluate AI opportunities, including the balance between innovation, trust, ethics, and operational realities.

• How purpose-driven leadership and organizational culture create a foundation for long-term success, resilience, and innovation.

• Strategies for building high-performing teams that remain connected, accountable, and mission-focused during periods of rapid growth and change.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, welcomes Shane Cronin, Head of ITAM Services at SHI Healthcare, for a timely discussion on how digital health leaders are effectively creating the operational discipline necessary to sustain ongoing digital transformation. While AI and cloud modernization continue to dominate industry initiatives, many organizations are discovering that long-term success depends on something less visible but equally critical: governance, optimization, and a clear understanding of their technology environment.

Together, they explore how healthcare leaders can move beyond reactive technology management and build the visibility, accountability, and strategic alignment required to support innovation at scale — creating a stronger foundation for technology and AI readiness.

Key Takeaways:

1. Why technology optimization has evolved from a cost-management exercise into a core leadership strategy for enabling innovation and organizational growth.

2. How greater visibility into technology assets, spending, and utilization helps healthcare leaders make more informed strategic and financial decisions.

3. What effective governance looks like in an era defined by AI adoption, cloud expansion, SaaS proliferation, and increasing technology complexity.

4. The leadership mindsets and decision-making approaches that help organizations remain agile, resilient, and prepared.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, sits down with Vivek Swaminathan, CEO of Cardamom Health, for a thoughtful conversation on what it takes to succeed in healthcare's next era of transformation. As health systems navigate accelerating AI adoption, mounting operational pressures, and evolving patient expectations, leaders are being challenged to move beyond innovation for innovation's sake and focus on measurable outcomes.

From building the foundational capabilities needed to scale AI responsibly to transforming data into actionable insights, they discuss how healthcare organizations can turn emerging technologies into meaningful operational impact.

Key Takeaways:

1. How organizations can establish the right foundation for successful AI adoption and long-term scalability.

2. What separates organizations that are building for healthcare's next era from those still applying new technologies to legacy operating models.

3. How healthcare leaders can convert growing volumes of data into operational intelligence that drives measurable outcomes.

4. The role of leadership, culture, and trust in sustaining innovation and organizational growth.

5. Lessons from healthcare executives navigating continuous disruption while remaining focused on mission and patient impact.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, sits down with Anupama Ambe, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Healthcare at Kyndryl, for a conversation on the technologies and leadership strategies revolutionizing healthcare's next chapter. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience leading complex transformation initiatives, Anupama shares insights on how healthcare organizations are approaching modernization in an era defined by AI, hybrid cloud, cybersecurity threats, and rising demands for operational resilience.

Key Takeaways:

1. Emerging strategies for strengthening cyber resilience, managing risk, and building secure digital ecosystems in increasingly connected healthcare environments.

2. The role of infrastructure, data, and automation in helping leaders improve decision-making, and support long-term organizational resilience.

3. What the next generation of healthcare technology leaders will need to succeed, and how organizations can create pathways for diverse talent to drive future innovation.

4. Strategic insights into modernizing critical infrastructure while maintaining trust, security, and continuity of care.

5. Leadership principles for guiding large-scale transformation, aligning teams around shared priorities, and sustaining momentum through continuous change.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, connects with Dr. Shiv Rao, Founder and CEO of Abridge and practicing cardiologist, for a compelling discussion on the evolving role of AI in clinical care. Drawing from his unique vantage point at the intersection of medicine and technology, Dr. Rao shares how firsthand clinical experience is shaping the development of ambient, generative AI tools designed to reduce cognitive burden and restore focus to patient care. Together, they examine the growing importance of trust, the responsibility of leaders to guide ethical AI adoption, and how human-centered design principles can scale alongside rapid innovation.

Key Takeaways:

1. The shift from traditional documentation to ambient AI and its impact on clinician focus, burnout, and workflow efficiency.

2. The role of storytelling in measuring meaningful impact and reinforcing human connection in digital transformation.

3. How frontline clinical experience is influencing the design and deployment of generative AI in healthcare environments.

4. Practical guidance for scaling AI innovation while preserving empathy, nuance, and the patient-provider relationship at the core of care.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, continues the conversation on digital identity with Clay Ritchey, CEO of Verato, and Inderpal Kohli, Chief Technology Officer at Healthix, in this second installment of the identity series. Moving beyond strategy into execution, this discussion explores how trusted identity is operationalized across complex healthcare ecosystems to support care coordination, data exchange, and AI readiness. Drawing from their work at the intersection of health systems, HIEs, and national data networks, Clay and Inderpal share real-world perspectives on the risks of fragmented data, the importance of closing identity gaps, and the role identity plays as a foundational layer for scalable, trustworthy innovation.

Key Takeaways:

1. Why incomplete or inconsistent identity data creates real-world risks for care quality, clinician trust, and patient safety across interconnected systems.

2. How leading organizations are addressing the “last mile” of identity resolution to improve longitudinal patient records and care coordination.

3. The role of identity as critical infrastructure for interoperability, enabling seamless data exchange across providers, payers, and community partners.

4. Strategic guidance for digital health leaders on elevating identity from a back-end IT task to a core priority for innovation, scalability, and ecosystem-wide transformation.

5. What it means to be “AI-ready” in healthcare, and why accurate identity is essential for trustworthy data pipelines and reliable insights.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, welcomes Theresa Meadows, Chief Information Officer in Residence at symplr, for an in-depth conversation on the evolving role of the healthcare CIO. Drawing on decades of leadership experience and a unique vantage point across health systems, Theresa explores how digital health leaders are expanding beyond traditional IT responsibilities to become strategic business partners. Together, they examine the realities of leading through complexity, the importance of enterprise-wide perspective, and how today’s CIOs are driving alignment, simplification, and lasting organizational impact.

Key Takeaways:

1. How the role of the healthcare CIO is evolving from technology steward to strategic business leader amid rising industry pressures and complexities.

2. The growing importance of business acumen and how digital health leaders can strengthen their influence on organizational strategy.

3. Where complexity is creating the greatest friction in healthcare today and how simplification strategies like integration and standardization can unlock better outcomes.

4. The role of leadership, mentorship, and community stewardship in shaping the future of digital health and supporting the next generation of CIOs.

In this episode, Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, is joined by Lyle McMillin, Associate Vice President of Product Management at Hyland, for a dynamic discussion on turning digital health ambition into measurable performance. The conversation examines how healthcare leaders translate innovation — particularly in cloud, AI, and enterprise imaging — into scalable, real-world use and impact. Lyle shares frontline insights on what’s driving meaningful progress today, what’s getting lost in the noise, and how organizations can build trust while navigating complex digital transformation decisions.

Key Takeaways:

1. What determines whether AI, cloud, and automation initiatives scale effectively across clinical and operational environments.

2. The gap between hype and reality in digital health, including which trends are truly delivering results.

3. Practical strategies for scaling digital solutions across fragmented systems, workflows, and organizational cultures.

4. How leaders can evaluate emerging technologies and make confident, future-focused investments that deliver long-term value.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, welcomes Cletis Earle, Field CTO for Healthcare at Citrix, for a thoughtful discussion on what it takes to build resilient, high-performing digital health environments. Drawing on his experience as both a health system executive and technology strategist, Cletis shares practical insight into how organizations can better align technology investments with clinical and operational priorities. Together, they explore how healthcare leaders are modernizing legacy systems, improving workflows, and enabling secure, seamless access to critical data.

Key Takeaways:

1. How leading health systems are unlocking measurable value from technology investments to improve care delivery and workforce efficiency.

2. Practical approaches to modernizing applications and workflows in ways that enhance both caregiver experience and patient outcomes.

3. Strategies for balancing security, compliance, and frictionless access to clinical systems in distributed care environments.

4. The leadership mindset required to build resilient digital infrastructures while mentoring and developing the next generation of healthcare IT leaders.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, sits down with Adam Gale, Founder and CEO of KLAS Research, and Dr. Richa Gupta, Vice President of Care Transformation at Ambience Healthcare to discuss the future of artificial intelligence in healthcare operations. As recipients of the CHIME and KLAS Trailblazer Award, Ambience Healthcare represents a new generation of technology companies recognized not just for innovation, but for measurable outcomes inside health systems. Together, the leaders explore how ambient AI is evolving beyond documentation support into broader clinical and operational intelligence—impacting coding accuracy, compliance, and revenue integrity.

Key Takeaways:

1. How health systems are redefining AI maturity as they move from experimentation to enterprise-scale deployment across clinical and operational workflows.

2. Why ambient AI is expanding beyond clinician documentation to influence coding accuracy, compliance, and revenue integrity across health systems.

3. The organizational conditions required to successfully scale AI initiatives, including workflow integration, leadership alignment, and clinician adoption.

4. What separates high-performing healthcare AI vendors from early-stage solutions that struggle to move beyond pilot programs.

5. How digital health leaders can balance innovation, governance, and trust as artificial intelligence becomes embedded in core healthcare operations.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, welcomes Dr. Jacob Strand, Chair of Palliative Care at Mayo Clinic in Rochester and Enterprise Chair for the Palliative Care Specialty Council to the show for a conversation that challenges how health systems think about care delivery for patients with serious illness. Together, they examine how digital health leaders can move beyond traditional models of specialty care to build scalable systems that connect data, clinical insight, and operational accountability, ensuring the right care reaches the right patient at the right time.

1. How predictive analytics can help health systems identify patients with serious and complex illness earlier, enabling more proactive and coordinated care.

2. Why designing scalable clinical workflows is essential for improving outcomes and managing rising healthcare complexity.

3. The role digital health leaders play in connecting data, clinical teams, and operational strategy to support more patient-centered care models.

4. Practical ways health systems can use data and digital tools to align care delivery with what matters most to patients and families facing serious illness.

5. Lessons from Mayo Clinic’s approach to integrating palliative care insights across the enterprise to support clinicians and improve patient experience.

In this episode, Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, speaks with PV SubbaRao, President of Healthcare Provider at NTT DATA, about what it truly takes to operationalize AI for lasting transformation. Together, they discuss the leadership decisions, governance structures, and workflow redesign required to scale AI responsibly while driving measurable improvements in financial sustainability, operational resilience, and care delivery.

Key Takeaways:

1. Why AI represents a structural shift in healthcare operations and the signals that indicate organizations have reached a true transformation inflection point.

2. The governance, data architecture, and investment decisions required to successfully move AI initiatives from pilot programs to enterprise-scale deployment.

3. How leading organizations are redesigning clinical and operational workflows, roles, and decision-making structures as AI becomes embedded into everyday work.

4. What distinguishes true AI-enabled revenue cycle transformation from traditional automation efforts and how it can support long-term financial sustainability.

5. The leadership, cultural shifts, and performance metrics required to align the C-suite and measure the real impact of AI-driven transformation across the enterprise.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, sits down with Abdul Shaikh, Global Leader for Digital Health at Amazon Web Services, for a forward-looking conversation on what it takes to scale artificial intelligence responsibly across healthcare. Drawing from global experience advising health systems, payors, and governments, Dr. Shaikh shares insights on how leaders can move from AI pilots to accountable, enterprise-level impact while ensuring technology adoption strengthens both care delivery and confidence in the health system.

Key Takeaways:

1. How to recognize the moment AI shifts from isolated innovation projects to enterprise-wide operational exposure requiring formal governance and executive oversight.

2. The foundational infrastructure, cloud architecture, interoperability, and cybersecurity capabilities needed to scale AI safely across health systems.

3. What true workforce readiness looks like as AI reshapes clinical documentation, operational workflows, and decision-making responsibilities.

4. The critical questions executives and boards should ask about AI performance, bias, transparency, and long-term accountability.

5. Why patient trust is the ultimate measure of success for AI in healthcare—and how leaders can ensure transparency and confidence as AI becomes embedded in the care experience.

Derrek Hallock, Senior Vice President of Growth at SHI Healthcare, joins Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, to explore what it takes to scale digital health with intention in today’s healthcare ecosystem. Calling on his deep experience in operational leadership, process optimization, and building high-performing teams, Derrek shares his approach to accelerating growth across teams and healthcare systems.

Throughout their discussion, they examine how healthcare organizations can responsibly scale technology infrastructure, navigate innovation such as generative AI and next-generation security, and leverage digital health solutions to expand access, advance equity, and improve outcomes across diverse care settings.

Key Takeaways:

1. How healthcare leaders can define and pursue growth beyond revenue, focusing on operational efficiency, provider impact, and patient outcomes.

2. Key challenges and opportunities health systems face when scaling digital infrastructure, including AI adoption, hybrid cloud environments, and next-generation security frameworks.

3. Practical guidance for prioritizing innovation so technology investments deliver sustainable value, measurable outcomes, and long-term transformation.

4. Leadership principles that support sustainable growth, including transparent communication, a “no surprises” management style, and a culture of continuous learning and accountability.

5. How digital health strategies can expand access to care, particularly for rural and underserved communities, while aligning with provider priorities around cost, scalability, and resilience.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, sits down with Melissa Ursi, Chief Executive Officer of Quoris, for a timely conversation on leading with intention during periods of organizational and industry transformation. With more than 20 years of experience across healthcare IT and executive leadership, Melissa shares how Quoris is navigating its next chapter, balancing evolution with the trust, culture, and expertise that leaders and teams rely on.

Together, they explore what it takes to sustain alignment through change, translate technology strategy into operational results, and develop future-ready leaders in a healthcare environment defined by complexity, scale, and constant evolution.

Key Takeaways:

1. How healthcare organizations can evolve their brand, structure, and strategy without disrupting the culture and trust that underpin long-term client and team relationships.

2. Practical strategies for maintaining clarity, consistency, and shared purpose across distributed teams without sacrificing flexibility.

3. Where healthcare organizations most often struggle to turn technology investments into measurable outcomes and how to close the gap between strategy and execution.

4. What digital health leaders should prioritize beyond implementation to drive long-term adoption, optimization, and sustained value from technology initiatives.

5. The skills, mindsets, and leadership behaviors that will define the next generation of healthcare IT leaders and how today’s executives can intentionally develop emerging talent.

What Keeps You Up at Night? – Tales from the Digital Frontier 

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, sits down with Tim Lankes, Vice President of Healthcare at Rackspace, for a candid conversation on the realities behind cloud modernization in healthcare. Drawing on decades of experience leading large-scale healthcare technology and services initiatives, Tim shares how organizations are balancing innovation with security, cost, and continuity of care amid increasing regulatory and operational pressures.

Throughout their discussion, they explore what’s driving successful cloud and multicloud strategies today, including separating hype from practical value in AI adoption to scaling pilots into enterprise-wide impact.

Key Takeaways:

1. How digital health leaders can modernize infrastructure, strengthen data accessibility, and align technology with human adoption to deliver outcomes that matter.

2. Where multicloud strategies are creating the greatest operational value and what often gets overlooked.

3. What it takes to move cloud and AI initiatives from pilot projects to sustained, enterprise-wide platforms.

4. How AI is delivering practical benefits today by optimizing cloud environments and supporting data-driven decision-making.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, sits down with Rick Shepardson, Chief Strategy Officer at Optimum Healthcare IT, for a focused discussion on how healthcare organizations can move beyond implementation to realize meaningful value from digital health initiatives. Together, they explore practical insights on aligning people, data, and strategy to drive measurable progress — examine how digital health leaders are navigating modernization amid operational pressures—leveraging data to empower clinicians and patients, rethinking the role of legacy systems, and evaluating emerging technologies such as cloud, AI, and automation.

Key Takeaways

1. Where health systems are finding the greatest opportunities to improve clinician performance, patient experience, and operational results through smarter use of data.

2. How healthcare organizations can unlock hidden clinical, operational, and financial value from legacy systems as part of broader modernization efforts.

3. Practical approaches to unlocking value from legacy systems and integrating historical data into modern analytics and AI strategies.

4. Leadership insights on guiding teams through uncertainty while fostering alignment, trust, and continuous learning.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, sits down with healthcare leader Clint Drawdy, Chief Executive Officer, for a thoughtful conversation on the evolving state of digital health. With decades of experience guiding teams through transition and transformation, Clint offers perspective on what health systems are facing today — from shifting organizational expectations to the growing influence of AI on workforce development and culture. Together, they explore how leadership, trust, and people-centered decision-making shape the success of digital initiatives, and what it takes to build resilient teams prepared for the future of care delivery.

Key Takeaways:

1. The emerging challenges, priorities, and expectations health systems are navigating as digital transformation accelerates.

2. How AI and automation are reshaping talent needs and strategies for fostering a culture where people and technology evolve together.

3. What leaders should prioritize when hiring for innovation, including balancing technical skills with collaboration and human judgment.

4. Strategies for building and supporting the digital health workforce of the future, including critical competencies required for sustained innovation.

What Keeps You Up at Night? – Tales from the Digital Frontier

The Case for Audacity in AI and Capacity Management Strategy

Russ Branzell welcomes Erik Barnett, Health Partner at Guidehouse and leader of the Health Technology Consulting Practice, for a candid discussion on the realities of AI adoption in healthcare. Drawing on his experience as both a clinician and business leader, Erik shares insights on building trust, establishing governance, and scaling AI initiatives — from optimizing patient flow and care team coordination to ensuring responsible, strategic implementation.

Key Takeaways:

1. How gaps in digital maturity and disconnected strategies can create organizational risk.

2. AI use cases that are overhyped versus those with tangible impact on patient care and operations.

3. The role of governance and leadership in operationalizing AI responsibly and building trust.

4. Strategies for selecting partners and scaling innovations effectively across health systems.

5. Why audacious goals and bold bets are essential for meaningful transformation in healthcare.

What Keeps You Up at Night? – Tales from the Digital Frontier  

Empowering Providers and Platforms: How Digital Health Must Evolve  

Host and Guest: 

• 1. Russ Branzell, CHIME President & CEO  
  2. Bob Segert, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Athenahealth 

This episode introduces the identity crisis facing healthcare and explores why 80% coverage isn’t the ceiling — it’s just the floor. With a candid conversation between Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, and Clay Ritchey, CEO, Verato, they unpack the future of patient identity, the risks of fragmented data, and why clean, connected, and complete records are essential to transforming care.

What Keeps You Up at Night? – Tales from the Digital Frontier  

Trust, Scale, and Strategy: What We Still Get Wrong About Digital Health Execution 

Host and Guest: 

1. Russ Branzell, CHIME President & CEO  

2. Phil Sobol, Chief Commercial Officer, CereCore 

Podcast Description

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, sits down with Phil Sobol, Chief Commercial Officer at CereCore, to explore the real pressures and opportunities facing digital health leaders today. From navigating operational realities and scaling EHR innovations to separating hype from impact in data and interoperability, Phil shares candid insights from the frontlines of healthcare technology. Together, they explore the importance of trust, relationship-driven strategy, and bold investments in people and long-term growth.

Key Takeaways:

1. The operational complexities – including staffing shortages and large-scale tech transitions – that are challenging digital health leaders to rethink strategy and execution.

2. Overhyped trends in digital health, and the solutions driving measurable impact inside health systems to improve interoperability and patient care.

3. Strategies for scaling successful pilot programs to enterprise-wide adoption of EHR and other digital initiatives.

4. Best practices for building trust and credibility with healthcare leaders in a crowded technology landscape.

5. Bold leadership strategies to drive sustainable growth and innovation in healthcare services.

In this episode, CHIME President and CEO Russ Branzell is joined by Fran Rosch, CEO of Imprivata. Together, they delve into one of digital health’s most critical challenges: how to secure access in a distributed, digitally dependent, and rapidly evolving care environment.

From the growing risks of third-party access to the real-world adoption of passwordless workflows and mobile identity, Fran shares how healthcare organizations can protect patient safety while enabling clinical efficiency. They discuss the imperative need for strategic leadership in times of change, the evolution of digital identity beyond traditional hospital walls, and the innovative solutions shaping the future of trusted access.

Key Takeaways:

1. Discover proactive strategies to manage third-party access and reduce risk.

2. Understand the true impact of passwordless authentication on clinical workflows, trust models, and user experience.

3. Hear what successful organizations are doing to implement mobile identity at scale while balancing legacy systems and cultural change.

4. Explore how digital identity is evolving into a strategic asset that supports distributed care and clinical collaboration.

5. Identify the trends shaping the next generation of trusted access, including AI, cloud, and system interoperability.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, sits down with Dr. Okan Ekinci, CMIO & Global Head of Digital Technology at Roche Information Solutions, to explore the evolving roles of digital health in one of the world’s largest biotech organizations. From aligning diagnostics and pharmaceutical innovation to enhancing cybersecurity and unlocking AI’s clinical potential, Dr. Ekinci shares how Roche is navigating digital transformation in healthcare on a global scale. This insightful conversation also addresses the cultural and leadership shifts necessary to sustain innovation and ensure long-term impact in healthcare and life sciences.

Key Takeaways:

1. Key challenges and opportunities in integrating diagnostic data with treatment decisions.

2. Emerging frameworks to overcome data silos and drive clinical interoperability.

3. Biotech-specific cybersecurity threats and strategies for balancing protection with innovation.

4. The top technologies transforming patient care and shaping the future of precision medicine.

5. Leadership imperatives for building a culture of sustainable innovation in life sciences.

As healthcare extends beyond traditional walls, leaders are rethinking how, where, and by whom care is delivered. In this episode of CHIMEcast, CHIME President and CEO Russ Branzell sits down with Dr. Ben Zaniello, Chief Medical Officer at Best Buy Health, to unpack the future of Hospital-at-Home and remote care. 

Together, they explore what it takes to build scalable, tech-enabled care models—from integrated platforms to in-home logistics—while tackling the policy, operational, and cultural challenges leaders must navigate. This is a real-world conversation about leading through transformation, future-proofing care, and staying grounded in the clinical mission. 

Participants 

• Russ Branzell, CHIME President & CEO (Host) 
• Ben Zaniello, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Best Buy Health 

In the latest Leader2Leader episode, Russ Branzell, President & CEO of CHIME, sits down with John Chirillo, Principal Security Architect at Connection, for a timely conversation on cyber resilience, digital trust, and the future of healthcare security.

Together, they explore the evolving cybersecurity landscape, the challenges healthcare organizations are facing, and how leadership, continuous learning, and community engagement are key to staying ahead. From real-world insights to future-forward thinking, this episode is a must-listen for digital health leaders navigating today’s complex threat environment.

In this episode of CHIME’s Leader-to-Leader Podcast, Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, sits down with Jason Rose, CEO of Clearsense, to explore the evolving role of data in healthcare. Jason shares his insights on data-driven innovation, overcoming security and access challenges, and the importance of leadership in healthcare technology.

Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the future of healthcare data and the strategies that leaders can use to drive meaningful change and improve patient outcomes. 

In this episode, CHIME President and CEO, Russ Branzell welcomes Rachael England, Associate Principal of Digital Technologies at Vizient, to unpack the complex realities facing digital health leaders who are driving innovation amid mounting economic pressures. Rachael shares insights from working closely with provider CIOs and IT teams to reduce costs, streamline vendor relationships, and ensure digital strategies align with long-term goals. Together, they explore the balance between visionary leadership and sustainable execution, discussing how strategic partnerships can maximize value without sacrificing agility.

Key Takeaways:

• How digital health leaders are navigating budget constraints, vendor fatigue, and pressures to innovate
• Strategies to reduce IT spend and complexity leveraging GPOs and strategic partnerships
• Real-world use cases for AI in procurement and IT decision-making
• How to overcome hurdles in AI adoption with the right data and collaboration
• Thought leadership principles for maintaining focus, avoiding burnout, and leading effective and sustainable digital transformation

In this episode, Harmeet Chauhan, CEO of GS Lab | GAVS Technologies, shares his insights on the evolving role of AI and data infrastructure in healthcare. He emphasizes the importance of building robust, scalable data foundations before implementing AI and advanced analytics to ensure measurable outcomes. Harmeet discusses his perspective on how emerging trends, such as the integration of unstructured and patient-generated data into AI models, are shaping the future of healthcare.

Key Takeaways:

• Why strong data infrastructure is essential before adopting AI and advanced analytics in healthcare.
• Proven frameworks for building scalable, healthcare-ready data platforms that can support sustainable AI integration.
• Strategies for communicating the ROI of foundational data engineering efforts to stakeholders focused on immediate outcomes and short-term results.
• Emerging trends in AI adoption, including the integration of unstructured and patient-generated data into AI models.
• Leadership strategies for aligning technical teams and executives to drive successful investments in data infrastructure and AI.

Allyson Fryhoff, Managing Director of Global Healthcare and Life Sciences at Amazon Web Services (AWS) joins Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME to discuss how healthcare organizations are navigating various phases of cloud adoption and the implications for data interoperability, cybersecurity, and the human element of care. Recently recognized as the 2025 Best in KLAS award winner for Public Cloud, Allyson highlights AWS' approach to customer success and the significance of relationship management to drive desired outcomes in effective cloud migrations.  

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the long-term impact of healthcare's ongoing transition to the public cloud on patient care
• Strategies for prioritizing innovation and sustainability in cloud migrations while minimizing spend and disruptions to patient care
• Innovative solutions in early cloud adoption stages that create immediate value to healthcare delivery
• Pivotal leadership frameworks for fostering collaborative team environments that drive successful cloud innovation

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME welcomes PV SubbaRao, Senior Vice President of Global Healthcare and Life Sciences at Rackspace for an in-depth discussion on the rapidly evolving landscape of cloud strategy in healthcare. PV shares his insights on the biggest shifts in cloud strategy, common challenges, and how digital health leaders can best balance scalability, security, and flexibility in a hybrid or multi-cloud environment.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the shift from traditional cloud approaches to flexible, multi-cloud ecosystems in healthcare.
• How healthcare leaders can balance scalability, security, and flexibility when adopting hybrid or multi-cloud models.
• Frameworks for ensuring cloud strategies align with business priorities, patient care objectives, and regulatory compliance.
• Strategies for developing and retaining top cloud talent in the face of ongoing workforce gaps in the healthcare sector.
• How healthcare leaders can build resilience and adapt to cybersecurity, cost, and regulatory challenges while embracing digital transformation.

Jason Barr, Vice President of Healthcare at ID.me joins Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME to breakdown the complexities of federated identity in healthcare – including the implications of TEFCA and its impact on patient authentication and interoperability. Jason discusses identity verification’s impact on data sharing, security, and patient trust in an increasingly digital healthcare ecosystem and advises healthcare leaders on how to secure workforce identities from the cyberattacks targeting healthcare employees throughout the industry.

Key Takeaways:

• The crucial importance of federated identity in securing patient and workforce authentication.
• How to navigate federal compliance requirements and security protocols related to TEFCA and the final authentication rule.
• Actionable strategies for balancing security, privacy, and user experience in identity management.
• Emerging technologies in identity security solutions.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME welcomes fellow CHIME Board Member, Jon Manis, SVP and CIO at CHRISTUS Health to the show for an insightful conversation about the transformative power of a "Think Differently" mindset in healthcare. A long-time leader in digital health, Jon shares his perspectives on challenging conventional thinking to drive innovation and the need for modern CIOs to evolve from IT managers to strategic business leaders.

Key Takeaways:

• Actionable leadership strategies for CIOs on how to implement transformational change amid financial, operational, and cultural challenges.
• The evolving role of CIOs as a strategic business leaders and change agents in driving industry-wide transformation.
• Why healthcare must shift from provider-centric to consumer-first models to stay competitive in the digital economy.
• How healthcare leaders can cultivate meaningful, consumer-friendly environments while prioritizing digital transformation

Key Takeaways:

• Key insights into the challenges of AI adoption and its potential to create sustainable solutions to improve patient care.
• Leadership strategies to drive global collaboration in responsible AI adoption, enhancing patient support, and improving access to services.
• How to enhance human intelligence and care in AI integration and ensure clinicians, administrators, and care teams can optimize workflows.
• Advancements in Next Gen technologies that are influencing digital transformation on a global scale.  

Adam Gale, Founder and CEO of KLAS and Shiv Rao, MD, Founder, CEO of Abridge join Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME as they discuss the significance of the KLAS Trailblazer Award, the impact of its recognition, and what broader trends in digital health and AI-driven solutions healthcare executives should consider as they seek to future-proof their organizations. 

Key Takeaways:

• The significance of the BEST in KLAS Awards in the evolving landscape of digital health.
• How to achieve accuracy, usability, and clinician trust in AI adoption amid regulatory challenges and concerns.
• The role AI in reducing clinical burnout to regain time and focus on patient care.
• Critical insights to the future of AI in healthcare and its potential impact on diagnostics, patient engagement, and clinical decision support.

Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, welcomes Adnan Iqbal, CEO, Luma Health and Michelle Winfield-Hanrahan, Chief Clinical Access Officer, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to the show for a critical conversation about the complex realities facing clinical care teams, improving patient outcomes, and the power of preserving human connection in healthcare.

Tune in as we explore how leaders can balance technological innovation and automation with meaningful patient-provider interactions and experiences to define quality care.

Key Takeaways:

• Strategies for leveraging AI to reshape workflows, drive operational efficiency, and enhance patient care.
• Thought leadership solutions for scaling innovation to empower both patients and overburdened clinical teams.
• Leadership insights into fostering the right skills, culture and mindset for teams to ensure successful, secure adoption of digital innovation.

This episode is sponsored by Luma Health

CHIME President and CEO, Russ Branzell welcomes BJ Schaknowski, CEO at symplr and Matt Kull, EVP, Chief Information and Digital Officer at Inova Health as they discuss the key challenges and opportunities facing digital health leaders at the intersection of technology, innovation, and operational efficiency.  

Hear critical insights on AI integration, ensuring long-term sustainability in cloud migration, and the importance of cybersecurity as a strategic enterprise risk. Our guests offer their perspectives on balancing financial pressures with the need for innovation and cultivating leadership to drive efficiency and resilience in an era of constant disruption.  

Tune in for actionable advice on making smart technology investments, fostering interoperability, and building a foundation for sustainable, impactful transformation in digital health.

Guests 

• Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME (Host)
• BJ Schaknowski, CEO, symplr 
• Matt Kull, EVP, Chief Information and Digital Officer, Inova Health 

In the latest Leader-to-Leader episode, Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, and Paul Slaughter, Chief Operating Officer of Nordic Global, discuss how digital health leaders can overcome operational challenges and support rural health initiatives through innovation.   

The conversation explores the critical role of leadership in navigating critical challenges, supporting rural healthcare, and staying ahead of emerging trends in digital health innovation. Tune in to hear Paul’s thoughts on how leaders can empower their teams, maximize the potential of new technologies, and ensure patient-centered care in an ever-evolving industry.

CHIME President and CEO, Russ Branzell welcomes Dr. Heather Haugen, Vice President of Healthcare and Life Sciences at NTT Data to the L2L Podcast for an inspiring episode. An expert in health information technology, Dr. Haugen, author of the bestselling book Beyond Implementation: A Prescription for the Adoption of Healthcare Technology, shares her insights on how digital health leaders can drive the implementation of revolutionized innovation while prioritizing the wellbeing of their teams and organizations.  

Tune in as Russ and Heather delve into NTT Data’s approach to navigating the digital revolution in healthcare, the growing role of artificial intelligence, and the importance of governance and security in these rapidly advancing technologies.  

Heather discusses her approach to leadership in a complex healthcare ecosystem and shares her outlook on the future of information technology.  

In this episode, Russ Branzell, CHIME President & CEO, talks with Dr. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director at Apollo Hospitals, about digital health's role in global collaboration.

Host:

Russ Branzell, CHIME President & CEO