The HealthSpark: Igniting Healthcare Management Change with Dr. Raya

Beyond the Lab: Why One Engineer Chose Healthcare Consulting

Podcast Episode Description – Simar Sharma [https://www.linkedin.com/in/simarsharma/] In this episode, we sit down with Simar Sharma, an engineer-turned-consultant working at the forefront of life sciences strategy and healthcare innovation. Currently an Associate Consultant at Trinity Life Sciences, Simar advises biopharma clients on commercial strategy and market access across therapeutic areas including oncology, CNS, autoimmune disease, and rare conditions. With an MS in Bioengineering from UC San Diego—where she developed nanosensors for Traumatic Brain Injury diagnosis—Simar brings a rare blend of technical depth, policy awareness, and regulatory insight. Her career path from biotech research to life sciences consulting gives her a uniquely holistic perspective on how innovation actually moves from the lab bench to the patient bedside. Along the way, she leveraged case competitions, networking, and strategic career planning to successfully transition into consulting, offering valuable lessons for students and early-career professionals interested in the field. In this conversation, we explore: • The pivotal experiences that shaped her view of healthcare innovation • How case competitions influenced her professional development and helped prepare her for a career in consulting • What it really takes to break into life sciences consulting and build a successful career at the intersection of science and business • What she looks for when evaluating whether a therapeutic asset can truly succeed in the real world • Hard-earned insights from speaking with 100+ KOLs and payers—and what most people misunderstand about adoption and access • The biggest bottleneck in healthcare today: science, regulation, reimbursement, trust, or execution • Which innovations over the next 5–10 years are most likely to reshape care—and what must happen for them to stick This episode is a thoughtful deep dive into healthcare innovation, commercialization, and market access, while also providing an inside look at the consulting profession and practical advice for aspiring consultants looking to make an impact in healthcare and life sciences.  🎧 Podcast Credit  Creator, Host, & Editor: Dr. Ginger Raya [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gingerraya/]  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gingerraya/]

Breaking Into Healthcare Leadership: Fellowships, Internships, and Early-Career Paths That Open Doors

This episode was originally recorded last summer during a previous fellowship cycle. While some timelines and processes may have changed, the insights shared remain valuable for students and early-career professionals exploring healthcare leadership pathways. Breaking into healthcare leadership doesn’t follow just one path—and administrative fellowships are only part of the picture. In this episode, Dr. Ginger Raya sits down with three emerging leaders—Sydney Tischler, Sofia Tovar, and Britney Gomes—to unpack the full range of early-career opportunities that can launch a career in healthcare operations and leadership. From internships and graduate practicums to administrative fellowships and first post-grad roles, the conversation explores how each of these experiences builds momentum in different ways. Sydney reflects on her journey from hands-on clinical and research roles to completing an Administrative Fellowship at Baylor Scott & White Health, and into her current work leading value-based care initiatives. She shares what helped her stand out, how she evaluated opportunities strategically, and what she learned once she was inside a large health system. Sofia and Britney bring perspectives from both sides of the pipeline—pre-fellowship and current fellowship—offering honest insight into preparation, skill-building, and navigating rejection, uncertainty, and non-linear career paths. Together, they discuss: * How to choose between internships, residencies, fellowships, and consulting roles * What hiring leaders actually look for in early-career candidates * Why some candidates advance while others stall—and how to course-correct * How to think about long-term career fit across hospitals, health systems, and industry This episode is a practical playbook for students, residents, and early-career professionals looking to break into healthcare leadership—no matter which entry point they pursue. 👤 Guest Highlights Sydney Tischler, MPH Program Manager, Value-Based Care Former Administrative Fellow, Baylor Scott & White Health 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneytischler/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneytischler/]  BIO: Sydney Tischler currently works as a Program Manager at Baylor Scott & White Health in Dallas, TX, where she collaborates on initiatives to increase access for the system's Medicare population.  Sydney grew up outside of Dallas, TX, and attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned her undergraduate degree in public health. She developed a passion for healthcare and became involved in research, community service, and patient care. She found an interest in healthcare on a larger scale and decided to pursue an MPH in Healthcare Management at UTHealth Houston before completing an Administrative Fellowship at Baylor Scott & White Health in 2025.  As an administrative fellow, she shadowed healthcare executives and worked on various projects at hospitals, clinics, joint ventures, and in other corporate departments. Through these rotations, she gained a better understanding of the healthcare landscape and developed an interest in finding ways to combine public health, clinical experience, and business ventures to provide excellent care to the community. Sofia Tovar, MPH Candidate UTHealth Houston School of Public Health 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofia-tovar/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofia-tovar/]  Britney Gomes, MPH Administrative Fellow, Sutter Health 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/britney-gomes-50b83/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/britney-gomes-50b83/]  BIO: Britney Gomes is a 2025–2026 Administrative Fellow at Sutter Health in Northern California, where she focuses on ambulatory operations. In her role, she partners with clinical and executive leaders to support initiatives that improve access, patient experience, quality, and operational performance across medical practice. Britney earned her Master of Public Health in Healthcare Management from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in 2025 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a minor in Sociology from Baylor University. She is passionate about professional development and being a relationship driven leader, with a strong commitment to patient center care and cultivating engaged employee workspaces.  🎧 Podcast Credit Creator, Host, & Editor: Dr. Ginger Raya [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gingerraya/]

Leading Where It Matters Most: David Muns on Rural Healthcare Operations, Innovation, and the Future

Rural healthcare leaders are navigating some of the most complex operational challenges in the industry—often with fewer resources, tighter margins, and higher stakes for their communities. In this episode of Healthspark, Dr. Ginger Raya sits down with David Muns, a seasoned healthcare operations executive with more than 25 years of experience leading both large urban systems and rural facilities. From his personal leadership journey to his day-to-day work in rural hospital operations, David shares what it truly takes to keep care accessible, sustainable, and patient-centered outside of major metropolitan systems. Together, they explore: * What it’s really like to lead rural healthcare organizations—and how it differs from urban systems * Innovations that have meaningfully improved access, outcomes, and operations in rural settings * Rural-specific strategies that larger systems could learn from * The biggest threats facing rural healthcare today—and how leaders can mitigate them * What the future of rural healthcare may look like, and the leadership required to shape it This conversation offers grounded insight, real-world operational wisdom, and a clear-eyed look at what’s at stake for rural communities—and the leaders committed to serving them. Guest Bio David Muns is a healthcare operations leader, speaker, and consultant with over 25 years of experience across nonprofit, public, and proprietary healthcare organizations. He has served in executive roles including Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Inpatient Physician Services, led organizations ranging from 300 to 3,000 FTEs, and brings a unique background that includes service as a U.S. Air Force Medic. David is passionate about providing practical, real-world guidance for healthcare leaders responsible for day-to-day operations while maintaining a strong patient- and team-centered focus.  David's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-muns-mph-fache-341bb332/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-muns-mph-fache-341bb332/]  Email:  dmuns1990@gmail.com [dmuns1990@gmail.com] Podcast Credit Creator, Host, and Editor: Dr. Ginger Raya [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gingerraya/]

Rebuilding Healthcare Capacity: Beth Raboin on Virtual Staffing, Leadership, and the Workforce Crisis

The healthcare workforce crisis is no longer a looming threat—it’s a daily operational reality. In this episode of Healthspark, Dr. Ginger Raya sits down with Beth Raboin, CEO/Founder and the driving force behind Global Medical Virtual Assistants (GMVA), to explore how virtual staffing is reshaping the future of healthcare delivery. Beth shares her personal and professional journey—from competing as a Division I gymnast at the University of Florida to leading GMVA’s strategic vision and day-to-day operations. With more than 22 years of experience across the surgical device, pharmaceutical, and specialty pharmacy industries, Beth offers a rare blend of high-level strategy and executional insight. Together, they discuss what it truly takes to build scalable, sustainable virtual assistant solutions, why healthcare leaders must rethink how work gets done, and how innovation in staffing can help protect patient access, reduce burnout, and stabilize healthcare organizations during unprecedented workforce shortages. In this episode, you’ll hear: * Beth’s leadership journey and the defining moments that shaped her career * How GMVA supports healthcare organizations through virtual staffing solutions * The philosophies and innovations behind building scalable healthcare operations * The biggest threats facing U.S. healthcare delivery today—and how virtual staffing can help * Practical advice for healthcare leaders struggling to modernize operations Guest Bio Beth Raboin is CEO and Founder leading GMVA in vision and the day-to-day business operations securing the functionality of the business to drive extensive and sustainable growth. Combining her strong leadership and determination with over 22 years of corporate experience in the private and public sector of Surgical Device, Pharmaceutical, and Specialty Pharmacy Industries – she keeps the company moving forward with high-level strategy while understanding the details of day-to-day execution to ensure steadfast success. Previous to Beth’s corporate and entrepreneur experience, she competed as a full athletic scholarship athlete as a Division I Gymnast at the University of Florida where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science at the College of Health and Human Performance in Health Sciences. Connect with Beth & GMVA * Website: https://gmva.com [https://gmva.com] * LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/globalmedicalva [https://linkedin.com/company/globalmedicalva] * Facebook: https://facebook.com/globalmedicalva [https://facebook.com/globalmedicalva] * Instagram: https://instagram.com/globalmedicalvas [https://instagram.com/globalmedicalvas] * YouTube: https://youtube.com/@globalmedicalvirtualassistants [https://youtube.com/@globalmedicalvirtualassistants] Podcast Credit Created, hosted, and edited by Dr. Ginger Raya [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gingerraya]

Fixing Patient Access: Turning Healthcare Data into Decisions with Peyton Fry

Patient access is one of healthcare’s most talked-about priorities—and yet one of its most persistent pain points. In this episode of Healthspark, Dr. Ginger Raya sits down with Peyton Fry, founder of Glass Raven, to unpack why access bottlenecks continue to frustrate patients, burn out staff, and quietly drain revenue from health systems. Peyton shares a candid look at the single biggest reason many healthcare analytics initiatives fail, and why problem identification and organizational context matter more than dashboards or tools alone. Together, they explore why patient access can feel both highly prioritized and consistently overlooked—and how healthcare organizations can better evaluate ROI against the real risks of adopting new technologies. This conversation also dives into what it takes to build a healthcare services business rooted in relationships, trust, and measurable outcomes. The result is a practical, grounded discussion for healthcare executives, operators, and innovators working to turn data into decisions that actually move the needle. About the Guest Peyton Fry is the founder of Glass Raven, a healthcare consulting and analytics firm specializing in patient access optimization. He helps health systems bridge the gap between operations and digital tools, translating data into scalable strategies across referral management, call center performance, and clinic capacity utilization. Peyton holds a Master of Health Administration from Texas A&M University and has partnered with organizations including Houston Methodist and Intermountain Healthcare. Guest Links * Peyton Fry (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/peyton-fry-mha-a4356862/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peyton-fry-mha-a4356862/] * Glass Raven (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/company/glass-raven/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/glass-raven/] * Glass Raven Website: https://www.glassraven.health/ [https://www.glassraven.health/] Podcast Creator, Host & Editor: Dr. Ginger Raya [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gingerraya/]