The MATTER Health Podcast

Welcome to the third episode of Healthcare Horizons: AI and Mental Health. MATTER CEO Steven Collens dives into the story behind Joystik Life, a stress management app that uses autogenics to guide users through a series of phrases in short, time-efficient sessions designed to reduce stress, enhance performance and boost mental well-being. Hear from Sarah Pierce, chief clinical officer and co-founder of Joystik, as she explains the science behind autogenics, its impact on the nervous system and how Joystik is making stress management accessible for everyone. Take a listen to their full conversation!For more information, visit matter.health and follow us on social: LinkedIn @MATTERTwitter @MATTERhealthInstagram @matterhealth

According to Mental Health America, approximately 20.78 percent of adults experienced a mental illness in 2019-2020, and more than half (54.7 percent) of adults with a mental illness did not receive treatment, with financial barriers being a significant reason.1 Recent research highlights how artificial intelligence (AI) is significantly enhancing the accessibility of mental healthcare, including diagnosis, therapy and treatment, while also reducing biases for individuals with autism and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).In a conversation with MATTER CEO Steven Collens, Omer Golan, founder and CEO of MyWhatIf, discussed how AI fits into the mental healthcare landscape, how MyWhatIf’s two programs — one for veterans suffering with PTSD and another for cancer patients and their families with PTSD — provide AI-based tools to support mental health and more.Take a listen to their full conversation.For more information, visit matter.health and follow us on social: LinkedIn @MATTERTwitter @MATTERhealthInstagram @matterhealth

A 2023 study revealed that patients of therapists who overestimated their effectiveness often fared worse than those whose therapists had an accurate or even underestimated sense of their effectiveness. This is where measurement-informed care and care pathways become crucial. Blueprint, a MATTER startup member, provides essential resources to clients, clinicians and organizations, ensuring that mental healthcare is delivered as effectively as possible.MATTER CEO Steven Collens sat down with Danny Freed, founder and CEO of Blueprint, to explore current trends in the mental health tech landscape, the transformative role of AI in treatment and how Blueprint equips behavioral health organizations with the tools needed to deliver the most effective care.Their discussion offers a unique startup perspective on the evolution of mental healthcare through AI-driven solutions. Listen to learn more about the role of startups in mental health innovation.For more information, visit matter.health and follow us on social: LinkedIn @MATTERTwitter @MATTERhealthInstagram @matterhealth

As the inevitable need for vision care accelerates, so too does the demand from patients for improved technology, interactions and experiences with the healthcare system. To combat this rising issue, MATTER and VSP Vision™ launched the VSP Vision Innovation Challenge a global competition to source and support solutions enhancing the eye care patient experience.Join us for a conversation with three startups that are transforming the eye care experience, whether it’s making it more accessible, equitable or health-focused. Moderator, Will Flanigan, head of programs and partnerships of VSP’s Global Innovation Center, is joined by Dr. Ali Khoshnevis, co-founder and chief strategy officer of EyeCheq, Kimberly Wilson, founder and CEO of HUED, and Ehsan Vaghefi, founder and CEO of Toku Eyes. Listen in to learn more about the work of these three companies, gain new insights into eye health and vision care and be inspired by the opportunities for innovation in the vision care space. About Partner InsightsMATTER’s Partner Insights podcast series is a collaborative conversation with our partners to address healthcare’s biggest challenges while highlighting innovative solutions to overcome them.Learn more about the VSP Innovation Challenge.For more information, visit matter.health and follow us on social: LinkedIn @MATTERTwitter @MATTERhealthInstagram @matterhealth

The Peterson Health Technology Institute (PHTI) recently released a report on digital diabetes management solutions that concluded the solutions are generally adding costs to the healthcare system, rather than reducing expenditures. It is fair to say the report has been controversial. Join us for a conversation with PHTI Executive Director Caroline Pearson about the report, their methodology, the feedback they have received since publication and their plans for assessing two additional areas — digital hypertension management and mental/behavioral health.The conversation was moderated by MATTER CEO Steven Collens. For more information, visit matter.health and follow us on social: LinkedIn @MATTERTwitter @MATTERhealthInstagram @matterhealth

Join us for a conversation about how innovation is bridging the gap between oral and overall health. This podcast will feature a panel discussion that will tap industry-leading experts who will make the case for connecting chronic care with oral health and discuss how we can reduce health disparities through oral health.Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan CEO of CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, will introduce the SMILE Health program. Then, Katie D’Amico, vice president of growth and innovation at CareQuest Innovation Partners, will lead two panels of industry experts that’ll discuss connecting chronic care with oral health and reducing disparities through oral health. The panelists include:Panel discussion: Connecting chronic care with oral healthDr. Cary Sun, chief dental officer of Cigna HealthcareDavid Kochman, JD, chief corporate affairs officer of Henry Schein Inc.Panel discussion: Reducing disparities through oral healthKamila Chytil, chief operating officer of DentaQuest, a Sun Life CompanyDr. Maria Ryan, chief clinical officer of Colgate-Palmolive CompanyFor more information, visit matter.health and follow us on social: LinkedIn @MATTERTwitter @MATTERhealthInstagram @matterhealth

Philip Burton, founder of InHuevation, moderates a panel discussion featuring James Lott, founder and CEO of Scripted, and Luis Suarez, founder and CEO of Sanarai. Hear topics such as addressing disparities in outcomes, funding and access to care.For more information, visit matter.health and follow us on social: LinkedIn @MATTERTwitter @MATTERhealthInstagram @matterhealth

In recognition of Earth Day, we are taking a look back on last year's Loyola Chicago Health Equity Quest: Climate Change and Healthcare Delivery Summit. To kick off the program, Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome, Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer at the White House Council on Environmental Quality delivered a keynote address. Take a listen to her presentation, Bridging the Gap: Climate Justice and Health Equity. She also sat down with Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER, to dive deeper into the effects of climate change and health equity. Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome joined the Biden-Harris Administration in June 2022 as the senior director for environmental justice at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Under her leadership, the environmental justice team is working to deliver on President Biden’s ambitious environmental justice agenda, including implementing the recently signed Environmental Justice Executive Order, releasing the first-ever Environmental Justice Scorecard, advancing the Justice40 Initiative and launching the White House Campaign for Environmental Justice. Dr. White-Newsome became the first-ever federal chief environmental justice officer in 2023.For more information on Dr. White-Newsome's work, visit: https://bit.ly/4b8HhKrFor more information, visit matter.health and follow us on social: LinkedIn @MATTERTwitter @MATTERhealthInstagram @matterhealth

The conversation around maternal mortality does not stop here. By encouraging discussions about maternal health, we can foster collaboration and innovation, driving forward initiatives that improve outcomes for mothers, children and families, especially those in historically marginalized communities.Join us for the third and final episode of Healthcare Horizons, season one. In this episode, Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER, is joined by Colby Holtshouse, global med tech commercial organization head at Organon. Colby brings deep experience in commercializing groundbreaking medical technologies, with over a decade focused on women’s health. She’ll share insights from her work in medical innovation and learnings from her journey as a female entrepreneur in the women+'s health space, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs of navigating this critical sector.About Healthcare HorizonsMATTER’s Healthcare Horizons podcast series highlights some of the most industrious healthcare leaders who are challenging the status quo by developing novel solutions to address some of the industry’s greatest challenges. These conversations shine a light on key voices in healthcare and answer questions like:How can healthcare innovators leverage technology — like generative AI and synthetic biology — to its fullest potential?What healthcare models can (and should) be reimagined?How can interdisciplinary collaboration drive transformative breakthroughs in healthcare?Learn more about Organon.Learn more about The Jada System.For more information, visit matter.health and follow us on social: LinkedIn @MATTERTwitter @MATTERhealthInstagram @matterhealth

Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the number of women who died from pregnancy or a pregnancy-related cause in the United States in 2021 increased by 40 percent from 2020. The maternal mortality rate in the U.S. is now the highest since 1965, and the U.S. fares worse than any other industrialized nation. Throughout the inaugural season of Healthcare Horizons, we explore the leading causes behind this inequity and investigate innovative solutions to address maternal mortality.Join us as we welcome Dr. Sarosh Rana, head of maternal-fetal medicine and chief obstetrical transformation officer at UChicago Medicine. Dr. Rana discusses her efforts to address maternal mortality disparities for her patients and community, as well as UChicago Medicine’s recent “citation of merit” for its exceptional healthcare leadership.About Healthcare HorizonsMATTER’s Healthcare Horizons podcast series highlights some of the most industrious healthcare leaders who are challenging the status quo by developing novel solutions to address some of the industry’s greatest challenges. These conversations shine a light on key voices in healthcare and answer questions like:How can healthcare innovators leverage technology — like generative AI and synthetic biology — to its fullest potential?What healthcare models can (and should) be reimagined?How can interdisciplinary collaboration drive transformative breakthroughs in healthcare? Learn more about UChicago Medicine.For more information, visit matter.health and follow us on social: LinkedIn @MATTERTwitter @MATTERhealthInstagram @matterhealth

Maternal mortality rates continue to present a pressing health crisis in the United States, with Black women facing a disproportionately high risk — three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to their white counterparts. In the series premiere of Healthcare Horizons, we delve into the leading causes behind this disparity and explore innovative solutions to address maternal mortality.Join us as we welcome Dr. Elizabeth Garner, chief scientific officer of Ferring Pharmaceuticals, U.S. and president of the American Medical Women’s Association. Dr. Garner offers her insights on maternal mortality in the U.S., drawing from her extensive experience as both an executive and a leader in the field.About Healthcare HorizonsMATTER’s Healthcare Horizons podcast series highlights some of the most industrious healthcare leaders who are challenging the status quo by developing novel solutions to address some of the industry’s greatest challenges. These conversations shine a light on key voices in healthcare and answer questions like:How can healthcare innovators leverage technology — like generative AI and synthetic biology — to its fullest potential?What healthcare models can (and should) be reimagined?How can interdisciplinary collaboration drive transformative breakthroughs in healthcare?Learn more about Ferring Pharmaceuticals.Learn more about the American Medical Women’s Association.For more information, visit matter.health and follow us on social: LinkedIn @MATTERTwitter @MATTERhealthInstagram @matterhealth

On March 19, five dynamic startups innovating at the forefront of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia pitched their solutions to a panel of judges at MATTER during the Second Annual Alzheimer’s Association Pitch Competition. Prior to the pitches, Carl V. Hill, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer of the Alzheimer’s Association, gave a keynote address on the power of partnership in the pursuit of health equity in Alzheimer's and all other dementia. Hear more about his perspective and insight in this podcast. For more information, visit matter.health and follow us on social: LinkedIn @MATTERTwitter @MATTERhealthInstagram @matterhealth

The healthcare industry is full of data - today, approximately 30 percent of the world's data volume is being generated by the healthcare industry. And, sharing of this data can help to improve patient care. When different organizations share data, they can work together to better understand diseases and develop more effective treatments for patients. In a study run by Accenture, 84 percent of patients who share their health data have had a positive experience sharing it, and only two percent of respondents have had a negative experience. But, most patients who do not believe they share their data today say it is because no one has asked them to share it.Join panelists Alex Simmonds, drug development innovation lead at Bristol Myers Squibb, Colleen D’Abbene, director of U.S. diagnostics at Alexion, Colin Gibbons, sales leader with diagnostic cardiology solutions at Philips, and McCay Barnes, senior digital health product leader at Optum for a discussion moderated by Ben Ferrara, director of growth and corporate strategy in health and life sciences at Accenture, for a deep dive into how patients feel about sharing data, what are the barriers to sharing data and potential areas ripe for innovation.For more information, visit matter.health and follow us on social: LinkedIn @MATTERTwitter @MATTERhealthInstagram @matterhealth

Generative AI - artificial intelligence capable of generating text, images, video, synthetic data and more - exploded onto the scene the day ChatGPT was released to the public in November, 2022. The technology’s sheer growth, in both usage and valuation, has also generated a tremendous amount of hype.In healthcare, the technology is already beginning to demonstrate how it can reimagine the industry in new and exciting ways. Beyond easing administrative burdens and scaling tailored patient communication, generative AI is also accelerating drug discovery and clinical trials.Generative AI is truly at the forefront of healthcare transformation, with its impact reverberating across healthcare systems, providers, payers and more.Join VSP Global Innovation Center’s Head of Emerging Technology Jay Anderson, Insight Partners Managing Director Hilary Gosher and CB Insights Lead Analyst in Healthcare IT Alex Lennox-Miller for a discussion on the future of generative AI in healthcare, moderated by MATTER CEO Steven Collens.For more information, visit matter.health and follow us on social: LinkedIn @MATTERTwitter @MATTERhealthInstagram @matterhealth

Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report showing that the number of women who died from pregnancy or a pregnancy-related cause in the U.S. in 2021 increased by 40 percent from 2020. This rate of maternal mortality in the U.S. is now the highest since 1965, and the U.S. fares worse than any other industrialized nation.While all ages and races saw an increase in maternal mortality in 2021, Black mothers remain the most affected. Black women are 2.6 times more likely to die from pregnancy or pregnancy-related causes than white women in the U.S.In response, MATTER and 51 Labs partners Health Care Service Corporation, Laerdal Million Lives Fund, BayCare, Parkview Health, University of Chicago Medicine, Organon and Stryker launched the next iteration of 51 Labs to call on global innovators to submit applications with innovative healthcare solutions that prevent maternal mortality in the U.S. before, during and after birth.Join MATTER for a panel discussion on this topic with panelists Colby Holtshouse, head of global MedTech commercial organization and the former US maternal health lead at Organon, and Dr. Ira Sites, OBGYN at BayCare.For more information, visit matter.health and follow us on social: LinkedIn @MATTERTwitter @MATTERhealthInstagram @matterhealth