Episodes

Jody Long, a proud double alumna of Western Governor’s University, has dedicated her career to advancing the nursing profession since 1997. With more than 18 years of specialized experience in Emergency Care and nursing leadership, Jody has recently shifted her focus to Clinical Innovation and Technology—championing tools and solutions that elevate bedside care and empower nursing teams. She holds both a Master of Science in Nursing Informatics and a Master of Business Administration in Healthc...

Today, Ashley welcomes Trista Sebastian, an expert in Early Childhood Education and a self-proclaimed nutrition guru, for an in-depth conversation about the critical role childhood nutrition plays in shaping the health and development of young minds and bodies. Together, they explore how proper nutrition during these formative years influences not only immediate behavioral patterns and academic performance but also long-term health outcomes and social equity. Trista sheds light on the profound c...

In today’s Episode, Ashley sits down with Dr. Kim Kelly-Cortez to explore challenges nursing schools face, such as faculty shortages, limited clinical training slots, high burnout rates among current educators, and the financial barriers students encounter. We also delve into the ripple effects of these issues on healthcare, such as staffing shortages, overworked nurses, and potential impacts on patient care quality. Dr. Kimberly Kelly Cortez is the Senior Associate Dean and Director for the Pr...

On today’s episode, Ashley sits down with with Keith Somers. CRO at HealthCorum. Keith is an entrepreneur with a finance background who co-founded HealthCorum after a series of frustrating experiences navigating the healthcare system as a patient and caregiver. As CRO at HealthCorum, he leads the sales/marketing team on all market interactions while maintaining responsibility for company operations. HealthCorum is a company that provides data analytics and insights focused on the healthcare ind...

Today Ashley sat down and talked with Dr. Edwin Estavez. Edwin is the founder of the Altacair Foundation. He Previously, served as Market President of Value Based Care at Prominence Health, a leading health care company that provides high quality, cost-effective care to diverse populations. Edwin, has over 30 years of experience in health care and higher education administration, risk management, and business development, with a PhD in Administration and an MSW. He is passionate about organizati...

On today’s episode of The Race to Value, Ashley sits down with her colleague and friend, Dr. Melissa McLaren to discuss the importance of DEI in Healthcare and Education, and why building inclusivity is not just a buzzword, but something that is vital for the future. Dr. McLaren is an Associate Dean and Academic Program Director at the Leavitt School of Health at Western Governors University. She graduated with her BSN from The Ohio State University and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the U...

On today’s episode of Race to Value, Ashley sits down with Mark Young, CEO of MyCHN to discuss how MyCHN launched a partnership with Wysa, an AI-driven mental health platform. We discuss how this collaboration aims to bolster the well-being and mental health of MyCHN’s Crisis and Behavioral Health patients by providing them access to Wysa’s innovative AI personal mental health companion at no cost. Mark Young has worked in health services since 1989 and in community health since 1998. He has a ...

In today’s episode we chat with Geoffrey Roche, MPA. Geoffrey is the son of a nurse, future of work and education expert, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging advocate, champion for transforming health equity, and the host of the Ed Up Health Up podcast. His professional career includes over nine years in hospital administration as a strategic advisor to the President and CEO and department director of various departments, including Business Development and Planning, Government Affairs, C...

Welcome back to Race to Value! In this episode we introduce our new host, Ashley Schwartz and discuss the rebranding of the Institute for Advancing Health Value and how we are expanding our work. Today’s guest is Dr. Keith Smith (M.A., Ed.D., MBA, L.M., RMHC (ret.)) serves as the Executive Dean and Senior Vice President for Michael O. Leavitt School of Health at Western Governors University. He has strategic leadership experience in the business, nonprofit, and higher education sectors. His 26-...

In this episode of the Race to Value podcast, we are sharing inspiration for a more optimistic future in the value transformation of our country. This week’s interview brings a message of hope, compassion, and human connection balanced with the business success of value-based care within a national leading health system. Albert Einstein once said that “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile” and no one better captures that spirit of servant leadership than our guest this week. Philip...

The transformation of healthcare is a seemingly insurmountable challenge, yet overcoming any obstacle in the journey begins with the belief that it is possible to win! It’s not about the magnitude of the task; it is about the collective will to prioritize the wellbeing of every person we serve in our population. Perhaps when approached with the audacity to imagine a healthier and more equitable future for all, we’ll actually get there. And that is just what the Physicians of Southwest Washington...

We have a broken healthcare system. Too often, individuals today experience care that is fragmented, duplicative, wasteful, and confusing. Through value-based care, we can improve the health care experience by coordinating care, creating care teams that communicate with one another, and supporting individuals in their care journey with services that address their medical and non-medical needs. Accountable for Health is a nonpartisan national advocacy and policy analysis organization acceleratin...

The World Health Organization has declared climate change as “the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century.” As our planet grapples with the accelerating impacts of climate change, it is crucial that we adopt a climate lens in the value transformation of our healthcare industry. The repercussions of climate change extend far beyond environmental shifts; they manifest in various health issues, including challenges with clean water access, increased allergens, respiratory diseases, hea...

A new era in value-based care is emerging where employers are no longer sleeping giants willing to tolerate a broken fee-for-service healthcare system. ‘Poor health’ costs employers $575B in lost productivity on top of the $880B they already spend in premium dollars annually. Employers (and their employees) continued to get fleeced by unsustainable double-digit premium increases every year, with hospitals using that excess spend in commercial insurance to their subsidize losses on the public pay...

The future of health will be shaped by consumer expectations for a mobile-centric experience with personalized insights and care services. Information is determinant of health, where people already search for health information on Google hundreds of millions of times a day. Additionally people view YouTube videos about health conditions 100 billion times globally in a year. As consumers seek information ubiquity in their online experience, health information will also become more personalized th...

In caring for our communities, a carefully designed Care Continuum Blueprint becomes the roadmap to enhanced population health outcomes—a testament to the profound impact of integrated care and strategic coordination. There has never been a more compelling time to adopt a system of care based on population health management. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed substantial health disparities and compels us to take action. The population is aging, and the Medicare insolvency crisis is looming. Now is t...

With 1 out of every 3 U.S. health care dollars emanating from Washington, the federal government is the single largest payer of health services in the United States and accounts for nearly half of all national health spending. As our country ages, these forces are accelerating, with Medicare spending alone projected to increase by 7.5% annually through 2031. Healthcare companies that depend on government revenue – or are downstream from it – must begin to view policymakers as among their most im...

The future of care is not confined by walls; it thrives in the heart of homes, where compassion meets innovation, and healing becomes a daily experience. Home-based primary care with full-risk Medicare Advantage is a transformative model that not only brings health care to the doorstep of our seniors but also places the responsibility for their well-being squarely in the hands of dedicated providers, creating a proactive and patient-centered approach to aging with dignity and comprehensive care....

Many factors impact our health beyond genetics and aging. Collectively, these are called social determinants of health and include factors such as education, housing, income, occupation, hunger, language, literacy, where we live, and access to affordable healthcare services. However, there is a gap in the current list of social determinants of health, and that is the influence of “information” or an “information ecosystem” on patients’ behavior, engagement, and health outcomes. It is critical to...

A revolution is imminent in American healthcare, and “the revolution will not be televised” for passive observation. Value-based care transformation, like any other important movement, requires the active participation of all leaders on the frontlines. However, for these leaders to make the right decisions, they need to embrace innovation in order to realize the fullest potential of generative AI and predictive analytics. Through the reengineering of care delivery, we can achieve a more personal...

Everyone needs access to quality, affordable health care regardless of health status, social need or income. To reach this paradigm shift, healthcare leaders must evangelize within industry and communities they serve. There is a better path forward for American health care – one that is people-centered and transformational; however, to get there we must unite the power of one at the intersection of people, policy, and politics. By listening to people’s needs, jointly developing policy solutions,...

In the Race to Value, we must recognize that quality of life is the ultimate currency of healthcare, and this aim is all the more important in senior living facilities. Transforming health outcomes for skilled nursing and senior living populations is not just a goal; it’s a commitment to providing the care and dignity our elders deserve. This week, we profile a leader in the value movement who leads a company on a mission “to improve the health, happiness, and dignity of senior living residents”...

Connecting the health and wellbeing of patients of patients directly to the bottom line isn’t just good business; it is a visionary approach that shows how healthier outcomes can actually drive healthier profitability. Continued success in demonstrating the correlation between clinical and financial outcomes will be a catalyst for generating societal wellbeing that paves the way for others to adopt value-based care. And in doing so, we create a more sustainable and effective healthcare ecosystem...

Unlocking wellness and reshaping healthcare involves the profound bridge between Lifestyle Medicine and the Social Determinants of Health, a blueprint found in the wisdom of the Blue Zones. Blue Zones are regions of the world where people are known to live longer, healthier lives compared to the global average, often to 100 years of age. These areas have gained attention from researchers and health enthusiasts because they provide valuable insights into the factors that contribute to longevity a...