Building Better Health

Artificial intelligence is everywhere, and every industry is wrestling with the implications of this new technology. Healthcare is no exception, but the stakes are arguably higher. How do we make sure we get it right when we're moving at warp speed? In Episode 6 of Building Better Health, host Terence Samuel sits down with Madhu Pawar, executive in residence at Optum, and Dr. Robert Wachter, chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco to explore how AI is changing healthcare. From helping clinicians spend less time on paperwork to improving care and the overall experience for members and providers, they discuss where AI adds value and why human judgment still matters.

For all the talk about biohacking and wellness trends, we rarely address the real root causes driving longevity. In America today, how long you live isn't just about your personal choices — the biggest factors are your bank account and your zip code. In Episode 5 of Building Better Health, host Terence Samuel sits down with Dr. Eugene Hsu, Chief Medical Officer for Optum Home and Community Care Delivery, and Dan Buettner, National Geographic explorer and founder of Blue Zones. Together, they discuss actionable strategies to help people live longer, healthier lives, from changing city infrastructure to combating the loneliness epidemic. About Building Better Health: Healthcare is complicated — and it’s changing fast. Building Better Health explores what’s working in healthcare today and what helps people live longer, healthier lives. Each episode features conversations with researchers, clinicians, and innovators on topics like preventive care, chronic conditions, mental health, affordability, Medicare and employer coverage, value‑based care, and the role of technology and data in improving outcomes. Join us as we explore how we can make healthcare work better for everyone.

Every woman will experience menopause yet the healthcare system has long been unprepared to support them. Today, an estimated 75 million women in the U.S. are navigating perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause, but too many still struggle to access evidence-based care. Decades of outdated research, gaps in physician training and persistent misconceptions left generations of women without the treatment they needed. In Episode 4 of Building Better Health, host Terence Samuel is joined by Dr. Lisa Saul, Chief Medical Officer for Women’s Health at UnitedHealth Group, and Dr. Barbara Levy, Chief Medical Officer at Visana Health. Together, they discuss how flawed science reshaped menopause care, why the healthcare system has been slow to prioritize women’s midlife health, and what it will take to ensure every woman has access to evidence-based, personalized care.

Chronic disease among young Americans is at record levels. The U.S. healthcare system has historically operated as a reactive "sick care" model, from heavily favoring high-cost crisis interventions to undervaluing the proactive care that prevents illness in the first place. In Episode 3 of Building Better Health, Host Terence Samuel is joined by guests Dr. Wyatt Decker, Chief Physician for Value-Based Care and Innovation at UnitedHealth Group, and Dr. Toyin Ajayi, Co-founder and CEO of Cityblock Health. Together, they discuss actionable solutions, from shifting to proactive care models to leveraging community health networks and reaching vulnerable populations early. Timestamps: 0:00-1:06: Introduction 1:07-5:51: Discussing Fixing the Healthcare System 5:52-7:30: Working in Rural Health 7:31-9:36: The Rise of Chronic Diseases 9:37-11:45: How Preventative Care and Chronic Disease Connect 11:46-14:39: Why Chronic Disease Remains a Problem in Our Healthcare System 14:40- 17:32: How Do We Address Healthcare Delivery 17:33-21:02: Is the Healthcare System Moving Fast Enough? 21:03- 26:12: How We Can We Work to Change the Systems Level Issues? 26:13- 28:36: Sharing Optimism in the Healthcare System 28:37-32:53: Addressing Chronic Disease in Young People 32:54-33:12: Conclusion

Physician burnout is at record levels. The U.S. healthcare system has made it harder to practice medicine than it ever should be - from a frustrating lack of control to an outdated culture that treated long shifts like a badge of honor.     In Episode 2 of Building Better Health, Host Terence Samuel is joined by guests Patrick Conway, Chief Executive Officer at Optum, and Dr. Sharmila Makhija, Dean & CEO of the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. Together, they discuss actionable solutions for healthcare reform — from upgrading clinical infrastructure to rewriting the medical school curriculum — to give doctors their autonomy back and protect the true calling of medicine.     Timestamps: 0:00-0:55: Introduction   0:56-6:08: Dr. Conway and Dr. Makhija’s Career Journey and Current Positions   6:09-8:59: Discussing Physician Burnout   9:00-12:09: How Burnout Fits into the Healthcare System   12:10-14:05: Connecting Medical School and Training to Address Whole Health Concepts   14:06-16:22: What Do Clinicians Need the Most Right Now?   16:23-20:29: How Do We Get More Clinicians into Primary Care?   20:30-24:29: Discussing the State of American Healthcare   24:40-27:35 How the Healthcare System’s Culture is Changing   27:36-29:43: How Do Physicians Take Care of Themselves   29:44-30:22: Conclusion     Learn more about Building Better Health: https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/uhg/what-we-do/podcast.html Follow UnitedHealth Group on social media:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unitedhealth-group/ X: https://x.com/UnitedHealthGrp Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unitedhealthgroup/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unitedhealthgroup/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unitedhealthgroup