Outcomes Rocket

Saul Marquez

The Outcomes Rocket podcast brings you conversations with the healthcare leaders actually building the future of care. Hosted by Saul Marquez, founder and CEO of Outcomes Rocket and a 17 year medical device veteran.

Every episode goes deep with one operator: a health system executive, a medtech commercial leader, a health tech founder, a clinician, an investor. They talk about what they’re building, what broke along the way, and what they’d do differently.

With more than 2,000+ episodes in the archive, this is one of the largest libraries of healthcare leadership interviews anywhere. No fluff, no press release talk. Just people who’ve done the work telling you how they did it.

If you’re responsible for outcomes, revenue, or both, you’ll leave each episode with something you can use this week.

New episodes weekly.

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Yesterday · 15 min
Building AI That Works With Radiologists, Not Against Them with Dr. Jeff Chang, Co-Founder and CEO of RAD AI
Radiology teams are facing rising imaging volumes, persistent staffing shortages, and growing burnout, making workflow-focused AI more important than ever. In this episode, Dr. Jeff Chang, Co-Founder and CEO of RAD AI, discusses building generative AI solutions that help radiologists work faster while maintaining their existing workflows. Jeff shares how RAD AI started by automating parts of radiology reporting, then expanded into patient follow-up and AI-powered reporting tools that reduce dictation time and support more consistent care. He also discusses why successful healthcare AI must fit naturally into clinical workflows, the lessons RAD AI learned while navigating early startup challenges during COVID-19, and how generative coding could accelerate innovation across healthcare. Tune in to learn how workflow-driven AI can reduce radiologist burden, improve follow-up care, and support the future of medical imaging! Resources: Connect with and follow Dr. Jeff Chang on LinkedIn. Follow RAD AI on LinkedIn and explore their website!
Thursday · 15 min
Why Founders Must Keep Reinventing Themselves with Steve Preda, Founder and CEO of Summit OS Group
A business cannot scale beyond its founder unless the founder is also willing to evolve. In this episode, Steve Preda, Founder and CEO of Summit OS Group, discusses the systems founders need to build scalable, leadership-led companies. Steve shares how business operating frameworks helped him grow and sell his investment banking firm, which in turn inspired him to create Summit OS. He explains how the system establishes execution momentum, develops leaders into “mini CEOs,” and helps businesses progress from operational discipline to strategic differentiation. He also touches on why healthcare professionals must understand the business they lead, even when they delegate its daily management, and why continual reinvention is essential as companies grow and face disruption. Tune in to learn how the right systems can help founders strengthen execution, empower their teams, and build businesses that can scale beyond them! Resources: Connect with and follow Steve Preda on LinkedIn. Follow Summit OS Group on LinkedIn and explore the Summit OS website! Visit StevePreda.com to explore Steve’s books, podcasts, videos, and other resources. Explore the Summit OS book library, including Summit OS: A Fable. Preorder Steve’s upcoming book, 5 Climbs: That Take Your Business to the Top of the Mountain. Listen to Steve’s Management Blueprint podcast. Download the free Summit OS Starter Toolkit.
Wednesday · 22 min
Making Mental Health Support as Accessible as a Text Message with Johnny Crowder, Founder and CEO of Cope Notes
Mental health support becomes more accessible when it reaches people through a tool they already use every day. In this episode, Johnny Crowder, Founder and CEO of Cope Notes, discusses turning his lived experience with mental health challenges into a simple, evidence-based support platform. Johnny explains how Cope Notes delivers daily text messages featuring psychology facts, exercises, and journaling prompts written by peers and reviewed by clinicians. He talks about why text messaging can reach more people than an app, how employers can measure its impact through engagement, productivity, turnover, and healthcare claims, and why preventive support can benefit people whether or not they are currently struggling. Tune in to learn how accessible, bite-sized mental health support can help people build healthier thinking patterns one text at a time! Resources: Connect with and follow Johnny Crowder on LinkedIn. Email Johnny directly at johnny@copenotes.com. Follow Cope Notes on LinkedIn and explore their website! Learn more about the evidence behind Cope Notes on their research page. Try Cope Notes free for seven days at copenotes.com.
Tuesday · 14 min
Why Healthcare’s Old Processes Can’t Keep Up with Medicaid Changes with Asya Rudikoff, Co-Founder and CEO of AccessIQ
Protecting Medicaid access starts with identifying coverage risks before paperwork problems interrupt care. In this episode, Asya Rudikoff, Co-Founder and CEO of AccessIQ, discusses how her experience as a physical therapist and home healthcare leader exposed the consequences of preventable Medicaid disenrollment. She explains how procedural issues, including missed forms, outdated contact information, and complicated renewal processes, can cause eligible patients to lose coverage. Asya also explores how these disruptions affect families, provider revenue, hospitals, health plans, and state healthcare spending. She shares how AccessIQ uses coverage signals to identify at-risk patients, help organizations prioritize outreach, and shift Medicaid coverage management from reactive problem-solving to proactive prevention. Tune in and learn how actionable data can help protect Medicaid coverage, preserve access to care, and support healthcare organizations. Resources Connect with Asya Rudikoff on LinkedIn. Follow AccessIQ Health on LinkedIn and visit its website. Connect with Asya Rudikoff via email at asya@accessiq.health
September 18 · 15 min
Meeting Patients Where They Are Through Continuous Care with Aqil Chishty, CEO of TimeDoc Health
The future of healthcare is not limited to clinics and hospitals. It is increasingly about meeting patients where they are and supporting them between visits. In this episode, I speak with Aqil Chishty, CEO of TimeDoc Health, about shifting healthcare from episodic visits to continuous, longitudinal care. Aqil explains how TimeDoc Health serves as a bridge between patients and providers through chronic care management, remote patient monitoring, behavioral health support, and other virtual care programs. We discuss why compassion is essential for effective care coordination, how regular communication can prevent unnecessary hospital visits, and why healthcare organizations must listen closely to both patients and clients. Aqil also shares why he believes the home will become an increasingly important setting for care delivery. Tune in to learn how compassionate care coordination can close gaps, support providers, and help patients manage their health between appointments! Resources: Connect with and follow Aqil Chishty on LinkedIn. Follow TimeDoc Health on LinkedIn and explore their website!
September 17 · 7 min
The Three Foundations of Intelligent Robotic Surgery with Jean-Pierre Hubschman, Founder and CEO of Horizon Surgical Systems
The future of robotic surgery lies in helping surgeons see better, make stronger decisions, and operate with greater precision. In this episode, Jean-Pierre Hubschman, Founder and CEO of Horizon Surgical Systems, discusses the development of Polaris, a physical AI platform built specifically for ophthalmic surgery. He explains how variations in surgeons' vision, judgment, and technical execution can influence patient outcomes, even for routine procedures. Jean-Pierre explores how robotics and real-time imaging can provide intelligent surgical assistance while keeping physicians in control. He also shares his vision for making consistently high-quality eye surgery accessible to every patient, regardless of who performs the procedure. Tune in to discover how physical AI and robotics could transform the future of eye surgery! Resources: Connect with and follow Jean-Pierre Hubschman on LinkedIn. Follow Horizon Surgical Systems on LinkedIn and explore their website!
September 16 · 10 min
The Future of Remote Robotic Surgery with Tomas Baltrunas, Chief Medical Officer and Founder of Sentante
Robotic surgery should solve the entire clinical problem, not become another expensive tool in the operating room. In this episode, Tomas Baltrunas, Chief Medical Officer and Founder of Sentante, discusses the development of an intuitive robotic platform designed for endovascular procedures. He explains that successful medical robotics must support the entire procedure while allowing physicians to work with familiar instruments and established techniques. Tomas also shares Sentante's progress, including European approval for peripheral procedures and FDA Breakthrough Device designation for remote stroke treatment. He believes remote robotic care has the potential to expand access to specialized treatment and reduce healthcare disparities regardless of a patient's location. Tune in to learn how remote robotic procedures could make advanced vascular and stroke care more accessible! Resources: Connect with and follow Tomas Baltrunas on LinkedIn. Follow Sentante on LinkedIn and explore their website!
September 15 · 26 min
Knowing Your Value in Value-Based Care Contracting with Rachael Jones, Founder and CEO of Syntax Health
Value-based care works best when payers and providers have the transparency, data, and shared understanding needed to succeed together. In this episode, Rachael Jones, Founder and CEO of Syntax Health, now part of Lightbeam Health Solutions, talks about simplifying the financial complexities of value-based care. Rachael explains how Syntax combines contract modeling, performance analysis, and actuarial science to help healthcare organizations understand risk and determine their true earning potential. She also discusses why community health centers deserve a stronger position in value-based care conversations, how clearer information can improve payer-provider collaboration, and why every additional dollar earned can help these organizations better serve their communities. Tune in to learn how actuarial intelligence and greater transparency can help community health centers maximize value-based care opportunities! Resources: Connect with and follow Rachael Jones on LinkedIn. Follow Syntax Health (a Lightbeam Solutions Company) on LinkedIn and learn more on their website!
September 11 · 18 min
Making Clinicians’ Lives Easier to Improve Patient Care with Gadi Shenhar, Co-Founder and CEO of Droxi
Making primary care more sustainable starts with giving physicians more time to care for patients. In this episode, I speak with Gadi Shenhar, Co-Founder and CEO of Droxi, about using AI to reduce the administrative workload that overwhelms primary care teams. Gadi shares how a medication error involving his grandmother led him to investigate the deeper problem of clinician burnout. He explains how Droxi brings relevant patient information directly into the EHR workflow, helping physicians manage their clinical inboxes with fewer clicks. We also discuss how listening to providers helped improve product adoption and how supporting advanced primary care management can help practices generate recurring revenue while strengthening care between visits. Tune in to learn how thoughtful AI design can reduce clinician burden and help build a more sustainable future for primary care! Resources: Connect with and follow Gadi Shenhar on LinkedIn. Follow Droxi on LinkedIn and explore their website!
September 10 · 14 min
How Nashville Became a Leading Healthcare Hub with Apryl Childs-Potter, CEO of the Nashville Health Care Council
Strong healthcare businesses are built on strong relationships, collaboration, and a shared commitment to advancing the industry. In this episode, Apryl Childs-Potter, CEO of the Nashville Health Care Council, discusses how Nashville evolved into one of the nation's leading healthcare hubs through the growth of healthcare companies, investors, and specialized service providers. She explains the Council's role in connecting industry leaders through year-round programs and its relationship-focused Sessions conference. Apryl highlights how these initiatives foster candid conversations and meaningful partnerships across the healthcare ecosystem. She also shares how bringing leaders together in trusted environments helps drive collaboration and industry-wide problem-solving. Tune in to discover why Nashville has become the Healthcare City and a leading destination for healthcare innovation and collaboration! Resources: Connect with and follow Apryl Childs-Potter on LinkedIn. Follow the Nashville Health Care Council on LinkedIn and explore their website! Learn more about the Nashville Health Care Sessions conference at NashvilleHealthcareSessions.com.
September 9 · 26 min
ASC Insights: AI, Robotics, and the Future of Outpatient Spine Surgery with Dr. Jeffrey Roh, orthopedic spine surgeon and Chief Medical Officer at Excel Health
The future of spine surgery is increasingly in the outpatient setting. In this episode of ASC Insights, Dr. Jeffrey Roh, orthopedic spine surgeon and Chief Medical Officer at Excel Health, shares how minimally invasive technology is accelerating the shift from inpatient to outpatient spine surgery and transforming the ASC landscape. He discusses the clinical, economic, and patient-experience advantages of ASCs, as well as the evolving role of reimbursement, robotics, and AI in surgical care. Looking ahead, he envisions increasingly autonomous robotic systems, smaller procedures, and a healthcare system where outpatient surgery becomes the default for an expanding range of cases. Tune in as Dr. Jeffrey Roh explores why the future of spine surgery is moving beyond the hospital, and how minimally invasive technology, AI, and robotics are reshaping what’s possible in the ASC. Resources: Connect with and follow Dr. Jeffrey Roh on LinkedIn. Follow Excel Health on LinkedIn and explore their website!
September 9 · 14 min
When Healthcare Cybersecurity Becomes a Patient Safety Issue with Kile Garrett, Chief Revenue Officer at TripleKey
Healthcare cybersecurity is ultimately about protecting patients, clinicians, and the systems they rely on to deliver care. In this episode, I sit down with my friend Kile Garrett, Chief Revenue Officer at TripleKey, to discuss the growing risks within healthcare’s software supply chain. Kile explains why software vulnerabilities can emerge even after an application enters production and how TripleKey continuously monitors code to identify risks that traditional tools may overlook. We also explore why health systems and technology vendors need to take a more collaborative approach to cybersecurity. Kile and I discuss how The Pitt illustrates the real consequences of a hospital cyberattack and reminds us that patient care can become the ultimate victim of a security breach. Tune in to learn how continuous monitoring, greater visibility, and industry-wide collaboration can make healthcare technology safer! Resources: Connect with and follow Kile Garrett on LinkedIn. Follow TripleKey on LinkedIn and explore their website! Explore TripleKey’s free software scan and enterprise dashboard.
September 8 · 14 min
Stop Accelerating Broken Processes: A New Approach to AI in Healthcare with Jeff Norton, VP of Business Development at Multiview Financial
Healthcare organizations are under increasing financial pressure, making efficiency, visibility, and better decision-making more important than ever. In this episode, Jeff Norton, VP of Business Development at Multiview Financial, explains how automation and financial technology can help healthcare organizations reduce manual work, improve reporting, and potentially cut the time required for month-end close. He also discusses why organizations should approach AI strategically by first fixing inefficient processes and establishing clean, reliable data rather than simply accelerating broken workflows. Jeff’s advice for healthcare leaders is simple: slow down to hurry up, do your homework, and make sure the technology you adopt delivers real value for your organization. Tune in to hear Jeff Norton’s perspective on making AI and financial technology work for healthcare organizations, not just adding another piece of technology to the stack! Resources: Connect with and follow Jeff Norton on LinkedIn. Follow Multiview Financial on LinkedIn and explore their website.
September 4 · 11 min
Why Billing Starts at the Front Desk with Kristin Van Natta, Business Development at RCM 360 a Med Tech Solutions Company
Billing doesn't start in the billing department. In this episode, Kristin Van Natta, Business Development at RCM 360 a Med Tech Solutions Company , discusses how staffing shortages and rising adoption of technology are reshaping healthcare revenue cycle management. She explains why clean claims start at the front desk and how accurate data, coding, and documentation can help prevent denials. Kristin also explores how organizations can thoughtfully implement AI and automation while ensuring new solutions integrate with their EHRs and deliver real operational value. She shares how practices can use RCM analysis and benchmarking to identify inefficiencies and strengthen their financial performance. Tune in to learn how smarter technology and proactive RCM strategies can help healthcare organizations prevent denials, improve efficiency, and strengthen access to care. Resources: Connect with and follow Kristin Van Natta on LinkedIn. Follow RCM 360 a Med Tech Solutions company on LinkedIn and explore their website
September 3 · 24 min
Why Strong AI Governance Gives Organizations Freedom to Innovate with Eddie Borrero, Chief Information Technology Officer at Cyera
Healthcare organizations need to understand what their AI can access, what it does, and how its decisions affect patients. In this episode, I speak with Eddie Borrero, Chief Information Technology Officer at Cyera, about helping healthcare organizations adopt AI while protecting sensitive data and maintaining strong governance. Eddie explains how companies are implementing AI across the workforce, business platforms, and software development, and why each area requires clear controls, accountability, and oversight. We also discuss his “offense and defense” framework, the importance of least-privilege access, and the risks created when AI agents inherit more permissions than they need. Eddie also shares why healthcare leaders need visibility, traceability, and explainability to understand how AI uses data and makes decisions. Tune in to learn how effective governance can help healthcare organizations embrace AI securely and responsibly! Resources: Connect with and follow Eddie Borrero on LinkedIn. Follow Cyera on LinkedIn and explore their website! Learn more about Cyera Agent Guardian.
September 2 · 11 min
From Manual Medical Records to Smarter Healthcare Data Exchange with Joe Van de Graaff, VP of Growth at Sherpas Healthcare Solutions
For community health centers with limited staff, a request for thousands of medical records can quickly become an overwhelming administrative burden. In this episode, Joe Van de Graaff, VP of Growth at Sherpas Healthcare Solutions, explains how Sherpas helps healthcare providers and payers securely find and release medical records while reducing the operational burden of audits, compliance reviews, and data requests. He discusses why FQHCs are particularly well-suited to Sherpas' mission and business model, how automation and EHR interoperability can streamline record retrieval, and why AI could play an increasingly important role in transforming manual healthcare workflows. Joe also shares what he is seeing across the community health landscape as organizations balance limited resources with growing administrative demands. Tune in to learn how smarter medical record workflows can help community health centers spend less time carrying the administrative load and more time serving their patients! Resources: Connect with and follow Joe Van de Graaff on LinkedIn. Follow Sherpas Healthcare Solutions on LinkedIn and explore their website.
September 1 · 14 min
Taking the Risk No One Else Will in Cardiovascular Innovation with Manny Villafana, Founder and CEO of Medical 21
Taking the risk no one else will: how Medical 21 is working to replace harvested blood vessels with an artificial coronary artery that becomes part of the patient’s own body. In this episode, Manny Villafana, Founder and CEO of Medical 21, returns to discuss his team's progress in developing an artificial coronary artery for bypass surgery. Drawing on more than five decades of medical device innovation, he reflects on how his earlier companies helped create longer-lasting pacemakers and lifelong heart valves that transformed cardiovascular care. Manny explains how Medical 21's graft is designed to grow into a living blood vessel made from the patient's own cells, potentially eliminating the need to harvest vessels during bypass surgery and reducing pain, recovery time, infection risk, and costs. He also shares updates on the company's preclinical progress, partnership with the Mayo Clinic, fundraising efforts, and why pursuing seemingly impossible ideas is essential to advancing medicine. Tune in to learn how bold thinking, regenerative technology, and a willingness to take risks could reshape coronary bypass surgery! Resources: Connect with and follow Manny Villafana on LinkedIn. Follow Medical 21 on LinkedIn and explore their website!
August 31 · 20 min
Building Better Behavioral Health Systems with Data, Trust, and Human Judgment with Rebecca Ragland
AI is transforming healthcare, but in behavioral health, how do we make sure technology doesn't come at the expense of human connection? In this episode, Rebecca Ragland, Clinical Global Account Executive at Multi-Health Systems, explores how scientifically validated assessments and emerging technologies can improve behavioral healthcare while preserving the human element. She discusses the growing role of AI in clinical workflows and why clinicians must remain central to decision-making, particularly as technology advances faster than organizations can adapt. Rebecca also explains how trusted, structured data can serve as a guardrail for responsible innovation, helping organizations improve consistency and expand access without sacrificing human judgment and connection. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on how AI and technology can expand access to behavioral healthcare while keeping human connection, clinical judgment, and trust at the center. Resources: Connect with and follow Rebecca Ragland on LinkedIn. Learn more about Multi-Health Systems on their LinkedIn and visit their website.
August 26 · 15 min
Bridging Healthcare Innovation and the Business of Medicine with Roger Owens, Chief Commercial Officer at Ultromics
Finding heart failure earlier gives patients a better chance to begin treatment before the disease progresses. In this episode, Roger Owens, Chief Commercial Officer at Ultromics, discusses how AI-powered echocardiography can improve the early detection of HFpEF and cardiac amyloidosis. He explains how EchoGo integrates seamlessly into existing hospital workflows, enabling physicians to identify signs of heart failure from standard echocardiograms. Roger also explores the operational, reimbursement, and implementation challenges healthcare organizations face when adopting AI in clinical practice. He emphasizes that advances in treatment options make earlier diagnosis increasingly important for improving patient outcomes. Tune in to discover how AI-powered cardiac diagnostics can support earlier intervention and better patient outcomes! Resources: Connect with and follow Roger Owens on LinkedIn. Follow Ultromics on LinkedIn and explore their website!
August 25 · 18 min
A Bright Future for Patient-Matched Surgical Technology with Nancy Hairston, President and CEO of MedCAD
Patient-matched technology is changing surgery by making the implant conform to the patient, not the patient to the implant. In this episode, I speak with Nancy Hairston, President and CEO of MedCAD, about her unique journey from sculpture and 3D animation to the development of customized surgical solutions. Nancy explains how MedCAD uses patient imaging to design precise surgical plans, guides, anatomical models, and implants for each individual. We also discuss how these systems can simplify procedures, reduce operating room time, and potentially combine two surgeries into one. Nancy shares how advances in 3D-printed metals have accelerated production and why she believes patient-matched technology has a bright future across healthcare. Tune in to discover how art, engineering, and 3D printing are making surgery more precise and personalized! Resources: Connect with and follow Nancy Hairston on LinkedIn. Follow MedCAD on LinkedIn and explore their website!

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