MedAxiom HeartTalk

A major change in outpatient cardiac care is underway. On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS sits down with David Kenigsberg, MD, FACC, FHRS, a clinical cardiac electrophysiologist based in Northern Broward County, Florida. Together, they unpack the shift toward performing ablation procedures in ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) — why it’s happening, how it improves patient access and cost-effectiveness.

In this “Meet the Experts” HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, sits down with Katie Willerick, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom, to explore what it really takes to move from dashboards to better patient care. Katie shares why “trust in the data” is essential to driving change and how building that trust across teams makes analytics fully actionable. She pulls back the curtain on how Lean Six Sigma thinking and clear definitions help teams work smarter and stay aligned.Guest Bio:Katie WillerickVice President, Care Transformation Services, MedAxiomAs Vice President of Care Transformation Services, Katie Willerick provides strategic leadership for MedAxiom’s care transformation analytics and consulting initiatives, helping cardiovascular organizations translate data into sustained operational and clinical improvement. She partners closely with MedAxiom members, partners and internal teams to advance system-wide performance across the continuum of cardiovascular care.Katie leads efforts to align data, process improvement and operational strategy, directing awareness and adoption of MedAxiom resources such as MedAxcess, Medicare claims data, population prevalence and incidence insights, and member-reported benchmarking. Her work supports informed decision-making related to access, capacity, workforce optimization and financial sustainability.With deep expertise in Lean Six Sigma methodology and healthcare operations, Katie provides guidance in areas including cath and EP lab utilization and staffing optimization, ambulatory surgery center pro formas and ramp-up strategy, device clinic operations, and broader cardiovascular service line performance. She is known for helping organizations move from insight to execution by designing scalable, data-driven improvement models.Katie began her healthcare career in 2005 in the hospital setting at a Baldrige Award-winning organization in the Midwest. She spent three years in the safety department, where she conducted failure modes and effects analyses (FMEAs), supported regulatory compliance initiatives, and implemented a system-wide hand hygiene observation program. She later transitioned to the process management department, facilitating enterprise-wide Kaizen events, developing productivity and performance metrics, and establishing benchmarking frameworks to support continuous improvement. During this time, she earned her Lean Six Sigma Green Belt through Motorola University.Katie holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a Master of Arts in industrial/organizational psychology from Western Michigan University.

Cardiology and emergency medicine teams are coming together to transform cardiovascular care. In this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, is joined by David Wohns, MD, FACC, FACP, FSCAI, division chief of cardiology at Corewell Health, and Meredith Busman, MD, emergency physician at Corewell Health, to discuss how shared pathways, trust, and streamlined communication are improving patient outcomes and hospital efficiency. They share real-world examples of protocol-driven care that enable faster decision-making and support smoother patient flow.

In this “Meet the Experts” HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, talks with Joel Sauer, MBA, executive vice president of consulting at MedAxiom, about building trust, aligning physicians and hospitals, and moving beyond purely transactional relationships. Joel reflects on what keeps him motivated—“I wanna be part of something bigger. And what’s bigger than patient care?” He also teases a project he’s deeply invested in—one that could reshape how programs think about quality and accountability.Guest Bio:Joel Sauer, MBAExecutive Vice President, Consulting, MedAxiomSince 2010, Joel Sauer has been providing consultative services around the country to accelerate the value transition in cardiovascular care. A significant area of concentration has been creating contemporary and effective physician/hospital partnership structures, utilizing employment and other contractual arrangements (such as professional services agreements) and joint ventures. His work includes full service line advancement, including governance and leadership development, and the creation of targeted co-management programs. Joel is an expert in vision and strategy setting, cultural and operational integration, and physician compensation plan design that promotes the vision and objectives of the organization.Prior to consulting, Joel spent 14 years in executive roles, including as CEO of a large health system medical group enterprise, a practice CEO and as an operating executive. This affords him perspectives and insights from multiple critical provider perspectives.A recognized national resource in cardiovascular physician compensation, Joel is the author of the annual MedAxiom Provider Compensation & Production Survey and has expertise in provider workforce planning and development. Along with the entire MedAxiom Care Transformation Services team, he is a resource in new federal payment models such as the Quality Payment Program, Value-Based Plans and other at-risk payment-based arrangements. Joel is often published in health care magazines, blogs and trade journals and is a regular speaker at national health care meetings.

What does it really take to build a successful ECMO program? On MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, speaks with John Mehall, MD, president of Integration Health and senior vice president of Heart & Vascular Partners, about the expanding role of ECMO in cardiac care. Dr. Mehall discusses rising utilization, improved survival outcomes, economic benefits for hospitals, and the critical importance of physician leadership, training, and institutional support to sustain effective ECMO programs.

Population health strategies and technology are reshaping cardiovascular care. In this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS sits down with Chanel Swartz, MBA, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, vice president of value-based care operations at US Heart and Vascular. They explore how remote patient monitoring is enabling care teams to scale, improve outcomes, and manage large patient populations, all while reducing clinician burden.

In this “Meet the Experts” HeartTalk episode, host Melanie Lawson, MS, talks with Jenny Kennedy, DNP, RN, CHFN, NEA-BC, FACC, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom. She explains the importance of being intentional when setting up remote heart failure programs and lessons from her nursing experience. She shares how her desire to “be a giant”—lift others up rather than seek the spotlight—guides her leadership. Additionally, she reflects on the spirit of Florence Nightingale, offering insights that may shift your view of team-based care and the future of cardiology.Guest Bio:Jenny KennedyDNP, RN, CHFN, NEA-BC, FACCVice President of Care Transformation Services, MedAxiomAs Vice President of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom, Jenny advises cardiovascular programs and industry organizations across the country on clinical pathways, guideline implementation, quality improvement, operations, disease-specific certification, remote management, strategic planning and more. She is passionate about developing programs that span the care continuum and serve those with complex health diseases to benefit communities, patients and care providers. She encourages innovation and understands the importance of building relationships with mutual trust to empower high-performing teams that can change the lives of the communities they serve.Jenny brings nearly 20 years of clinical and leadership experience in the healthcare field, with a focus in cardiology, to her role at MedAxiom. Prior to joining the team, Jenny was the director of heart failure and electrophysiology at Wellstar Health System in the metropolitan Atlanta area. She has vast experience with clinic operations, cardiology and specialty clinics, and coordination of programs that span the care continuum.Jenny holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice, a Master of Science in Nursing specializing in healthcare system leadership, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. A lifelong learner, she holds Certified Heart Failure Nurse and Nurse Executive Advanced Certifications. She is also an active member of the Association of Heart Failure Nurses.

In this episode of MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, sits down with Clay Marsh, MD, chancellor and executive dean for Health Sciences at West Virginia University, to explore his unique perspective on redefining health. Dr. Marsh discusses the powerful role of biological age, mindset, purpose, and community in shaping long-term cardiovascular wellness. He shares compelling data linking stress, connection, and perception to chronic disease risk—and offers transformative insights for clinicians and patients alike.Guest Biography:Dr. Clay Marsh is a nationally renowned leader in academic medicine, personalized health care and pulmonary and critical care. He has dedicated his career to helping individuals achieve better health and building innovative ecosystems that make it easier for people to thrive.As chancellor and executive dean of WVU’s Health Sciences Center, Dr. Marsh leads five health professions schools—dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health—along with statewide allied health programs and clinical operations. He also serves as West Virginia University’s lead representative and spokesperson in health, health education and academic medicine at the national and international levels.

On this “Meet the Experts” HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, sits down with MedAxiom President and CEO Jerry Blackwell, MD, MBA, FACC, for a candid conversation about leadership, teamwork, and service – drawing lessons from both medicine and his early days in sports. He shares how trust and humility guide his approach and why he sees change as something to run toward, not from. Plus, he shares a few personal insights (and laughs) that reveal what keeps him grounded through it all.Guest Bio:Jerry Blackwell, MD, MBA, FACCPresident and CEO, MedAxiomAs the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MedAxiom, Jerry guides the course of the organization with a passion for physician leadership, teaching and care transformation – particularly team-based care and organizational performance improvement. He maintains a clinical practice with special interests in advanced imaging, including cardiovascular MRI, CCTA and cardiac PET.He has more than 30 years of experience in cardiovascular medicine, including academic cardiology, private practice and large integrated cardiovascular group leadership. Most recently, he served as executive vice president and chief clinical officer of the Ballad Health System. Blackwell has been involved with both MedAxiom and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) for many years. He has served on the ACC's Board of Governors, the Board of Directors for the Cardiology Advocacy Alliance, and the ACC's Health Affairs Committee.Blackwell graduated from Marshall University’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and completed residency/chief residency/fellowship at the Ohio State University and the University of Alabama - Birmingham. He earned his executive MBA from the University of Tennessee.Watch the episode here:https://youtu.be/DzbM7n75aVs

In this episode of HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson is joined by MedAxiom's Joel Sauer, MBA, executive vice president of Consulting, and Karen Wilson, MHA, vice president of Member Services, to explore the complexity of subspecialty performance metrics in cardiovascular care. The conversation focuses on how MedAxiom’s MedAxcess data tool helps identify meaningful differences in cardiology subspecialties—revealing that “one size fits all” approaches often fall short. They emphasize the importance of deeper data participation and interpretation to build more accurate, fair, and actionable insights for organizations.

Often referred to as the “sandwich generation,” today’s clinical leaders face a diverse set of challenges in navigating generational dynamics. In this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS addresses common leadership hurdles with Ana Mercurio-Pinto, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom, and Nicole Lohr, MD, PhD, FACC, FAHA, division director at University of Alabama at Birmingham. They highlight practical solutions for reducing burnout and effective ways to recruit and retain the next generation of cardiovascular providers.

In this episode of HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, is joined by Paula Furcron, director of specialty services at NextGen Healthcare, for a discussion on the growing role of AI in cardiovascular care. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence is enhancing patient engagement, streamlining workflows and improving both provider satisfaction and clinical outcomes. From self-scheduling to personalized charting, Paula shares real-world examples of AI making a meaningful impact, without losing the human touch.

In this "Meet the Experts" HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, speaks with Ana Mercurio-Pinto, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom. With a rich background in academic medicine, cardiovascular service line operations, and research management, Ana shares how her work is reshaping the future of care delivery. From optimizing physician performance and budgets to integrating complex hospital-physician systems, Ana brings a forward-thinking approach to transforming cardiovascular organizations. She also shares pivotal moments in her personal life that have fueled her commitment to innovation and collaboration.Guest Bio:Ana A. Mercurio-PintoVice President, Care Transformation ServicesAs Vice President of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom, Ana applies her wide range of experience in budgeting, forecasting, physician/practice profit and loss reports, clinical and federal/non-federal research operations, new program development, service-line integration, and dyad and other matrixed leadership structures to help cardiovascular organizations transform care. Energized by the possibilities, Ana has a keen interest in helping members better integrate hospital/physician organization, ease faculty transitions, optimize staffing, improve administrative and research operations, and launch startup ventures.She has extensive professional experience running large, multi-specialized cardiovascular medicine divisions and has had the privilege of working and partnering with some of the industry’s thought leaders, including master clinicians, practice-changing clinical trial investigators, and groundbreaking research scientists. She is dedicated to developing nimble and adaptive organizations that combine the best of traditional practice with the spirit of continuous modernization in the face of evolving and changing times.Ana has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Boston University Questrom School of Management and a master’s in management with a concentration in healthcare management. Additionally, Ana has pursued certificates in launching new ventures and research administration.

Remote patient monitoring is reshaping chronic care management. On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, speaks with Patricia Dickson, director of operations at Capital Cardiology Associates; Jude Hebert, vice president of Clinical Programs at Cardiovascular Logistics; and Samson Magid, CEO and co-founder of HealthSnap. They dive into virtual care tools that help practices stay connected with patients between visits, reduce staffing burdens and drive better outcomes.Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/n85VT8P-yQA

What makes the dyad leadership model so effective in cardiovascular care? On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, is joined by Joel Sauer, MBA, executive vice president of Consulting at MedAxiom and Jeff Carstens, MD, MBA, FACC, medical director of the Cardiovascular Service Line at UnityPoint Health. They explore how the dyad leadership model influences the design of physician compensation plans and strengthens cardiovascular programs by aligning clinical and administrative expertise.Watch the episode here: https://hubs.li/Q03yVmLv0

In this "Meet the Experts" HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS is joined by Jaime Warren Ed.D., MBA, BHS, CNMT, NCT, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom. With over two decades of clinical and executive experience, particularly in imaging services and hospital operations, Jaime shares insights into optimizing cardiovascular imaging spaces to improve workflows and team performance. Learn what motivates Jaime as a leader and what inspires her beyond the workplace.Watch the episode here: https://hubs.li/Q03yVcgK0

As cardiac rehab evolves, innovative care models are key to better outcomes and financial sustainability. In this special episode of HeartTalk, vice presidents of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom, Denise Busman, MSN, RN, CPHQ, FACC, and Jenny Kennedy, DNP, RN, CHFN, NEA-BC, FACC sit down with Sarah Shelton, cardiac rehabilitation manager and Rod Roeser, CEO at Heart and Vascular Care (HVC). They discuss how they successfully implemented Intensive Cardiac Rehab (ICR), including their strategies to overcome space and staffing challenges, boost provider and patient engagement, and scale ICR programs for clinical, operational, and financial success.Watch the episode here: https://hubs.li/Q03yVhS80

In this "Meet the Experts" HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS speaks with Denise Busman, MSN, RN, CPHQ, FACC, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom. With over 30 years of nursing and quality leadership experience, Denise shares her journey into healthcare and what it takes to make clinical transformation truly stick. Get to know Denise’s leadership style—and what fuels her passion both in and outside of healthcare.Watch the episode here: https://hubs.li/Q03yVgXp0

In this episode of HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, sits down with Alex Struck, chief growth officer, and Dan Jensen, chief financial officer at CardioOne, to explore the growing challenges facing independent cardiology practices. They discuss the shifting landscape of hospital employment and share how CardioOne is helping cardiologists reclaim autonomy while maintaining financial and operational sustainability.Watch the episode here: https://hubs.li/Q03yVh9r0

Lessons from the football field can translate to healthcare leadership. On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, speaks with John Erwin III, MD, MBA, MACC, FACP, FAHA, the chair of medicine at Prisma-Health Upstate, as he explores parallels between successful sports teams and high-functioning healthcare teams. Drawing from his background, they discuss team building, trust, and aligning roles for better patient care.Watch the video here: https://hubs.li/Q03yVwVs0