INTERVIEWS

Returning guest, Christoph Dankert, SVP of Provider Partnerships at Carrum Health, which offers surgical and cancer care for employee-sponsored health benefits discusses how Centers of Excellence (COEs) are increasingly becoming the top strategy for employers to give their employees access to top-quality care at the most affordable cost and how the data is proving higher survival rates and cost savings per cancer episode for employer customers. Carrum also just announced a partnership with Grail, a benefit option for self-insured employers to provide an early detection test for more than 50 types of cancer. An early diagnosis increases the likelihood of survival and also reduces the cost of care for both patient and employer.

Dr. Thomas Slavin, Chief Medical Officer at Myriad Genetics and board-certified in clinical genetics and molecular diagnostics discusses how genetic insights can provide better risk stratification at biopsy and how testing can guide treatment recommendation. One study found that 60% of providers cited a lack of knowledge of genetic testing and the inadequate coordination of referrals as barriers to treatment.

Dr. Kendra Outler, MD, founder of Uzima Health & Wellness discusses health disparities she has seen and experienced in major medical centers. She talks about the education and advocacy work that Uzima is currently engaging in to empower Black communities to find better health and healthcare.

As a Broadway performer living with moderate-to-severe asthma, Tommy Bracco knows how difficult living with the disease can be. Tommy grew up singing and dancing and has always had a passion for the performing arts, but due to his asthma, he struggled with breath control and lung capacity. Tommy finally found Dupixent® (dupilumab) and it has helped make a difference in his life. That is why Tommy is working with Sanofi and Regeneron on LungZone, an online campaign created by Sanofi and Regeneron to guide people with moderate-to-severe asthma toward better lung health. You can visit www.JoinLungZone.com to watch Tommy’s story and to learn steps people living with moderate-to-severe asthma can take to put their lung health first, including asking their doctor about Dupixent as a treatment option.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, and the knee is one of the most affected joints. OA of the knee is a chronic, degenerative disease, which means it never goes away and can worsen over time. According to a new survey, all patients have tried some form of treatment to address their pain; however, 97% still report that their daily lives are negatively impacted by their condition. Dr. Brian Carr, an orthopedic surgeon from Las Vegas discusses this new survey and shares his non-opioid approach to managing pain. To learn more visit www.pacira.com and www.yourxfactor.com

Dr. Mary O’Connor, MD, Chair of the Movement is Life Board of Directors, and Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Vori Health discusses Movement is Life, a philanthropic, multi-disciplinary coalition that seeks to eliminate racial, ethnic and gender disparities in joint health by helping address barriers to equitable care and promoting physical mobility. She talks about Movement is Life’s mission and vision, and what they seek to accomplish with their newly accomplished non-profit standing. To further support Movement is Life’s continued growth, Zimmer Biomet has made a multi-million, multi-year commitment to growing national and community-based programs focused on early intervention, education, behavior change, and patient advocacy to empower patients with joint pain to be proactive in their care journey.

Dr. Stuart Lustig, National Medical Executive for Behavioral Health at Evernorth, a Cigna Company, discusses key findings from the Evernorth Vitality Index, the largest study on the state of vitality, health and productivity in America. The survey of more than 10,000 American adults (aged 18-75) found that less than one in five U.S. adults report high levels of vitality – defined as the capacity to pursue life’s joys with health, strength and energy. This is the first tool to measure health and vitality levels for personal, business and community impact. Learn more here.

Barbara Abernathy, a rare blood cancer survivor shares her experience with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a life-threatening condition that can occur after an allogeneic stem cell transplantation when the donor immune cells attack the recipient’s organs and tissues. She is joined by her physician, Dr. Hugo Fernandez, Chair and Medical Director of Moffitt Malignant Hematology and Cellular Therapy at Memorial Healthcare System to talk about the importance of being vigilant about changes in your health or the health of those for whom you care, and resources that offer helpful ways to monitor symptoms post-transplantation.

Dr. Nicholas Kassebaum, MD, Adjunct Associate Professor in Health Metric Sciences at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) discusses the findings from a new study, conducted in conjunction with Smile Train, looking at the impact of orofacial clefts and undernutrition.

Jamie Pagliaro, EVP and Chief Learning Officer of RethinkFirst, a software and solutions provider in behavioral health that offers evidence-based treatment tools, training, and clinical support, discusses the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders and how it affects the entire family. He talks about Rethink’s Medical Necessity Assessment – the industry’s first-ever research-backed protocol that’s helping clinicians prescribe appropriate levels of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism. He also discusses closing the care gap for children with these developmental disparities in low-income zip codes.