Inside Alvarez Business Podcast

Economic Impacts of Opioid Crisis and Mental Health

While deaths from opioid overdoses have dramatically declined in the past few years, the crisis remains, claiming the lives of thousands of teens and young adults each year. Mental health concerns among youth are an important contributor to opioid use, yet parents often struggle with their own mental health challenges as they raise middle schoolers. In this episode, explore how two economics faculty members are tackling these important health-related issues, and what impact that research has within society.  David Beheshti, assistant professor of economics, looks at the use and abuse of drugs, and the impact it has on labor markets. Qinyou Hu, assistant professor of economics, explores the interactions between health and education and the roles played by schools, families and the community. Hear how their research insights explain the economic forces shaping health, education and policy — and how those insights can inform better solutions for society. Stay connected with the UT San Antonio Carlos Alvarez College of Business to learn more about how we are empowering the next generation of business thinkers. Follow us on social media or visit us online at business.utsa.edu [https://business.utsa.edu/]

Global Impacts of Healthcare Supply Chain Issues

“How can you do actually more with less, spending less money, but being able to deliver more in terms of access of health products to patients,” shared Karimi. It may be inconvenient going to a store looking for a particular product and coming away empty-handed. But if the item you need is a healthcare product, the situation becomes dire and could be the difference between life and death.  Amir Karimi, assistant professor of operations and analytics, studies how logistics and supply chain issues impact health care globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Listen to hear how small changes can lead to dramatic outcomes across the globe. Stay connected with the UT San Antonio Carlos Alvarez College of Business to learn more about how we are empowering the next generation of business thinkers. Follow us on social media or visit us online at business.utsa.edu [https://business.utsa.edu/]

Improving Healthcare for Everyone - A Conversation with Stephen Schwab

“When I think about a project, I think about what can we learn that’s going to help healthcare as a whole. I’m interested in how do we improve healthcare for everyone.” Interfacing with healthcare is something that everyone must do? But beyond considering your provider’s background or credentials, have you ever considered how your relationship might impact the care you receive. This episode's guest is Stephen Schwab [https://business.utsa.edu/faculty/profiles/schwab-stephen.html], an Army veteran who served three tours in Iraq. An assistant professor in management in the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, his work is focused on the role that interpersonal relationships play in maximizing performance. He examines this issue in the context of healthcare — the largest industry in the U.S. economy. Stay connected with the UT San Antonio Carlos Alvarez College of Business to learn more about how we are empowering the next generation of business thinkers. Follow us on social media or visit us online at business.utsa.edu [https://business.utsa.edu/]

AI and the Future of Healthcare - A Conversation with Arka Roy

How can artificial intelligence and analytics transform the future of healthcare? In this episode of Inside Alvarez Business, Dean Jonathon Halbesleben sits down with Arka Roy, associate professor of operations and analytics at The University of Texas at San Antonio, to explore how cutting-edge research is improving clinical decision-making, hospital operations and patient outcomes. Roy shares the personal experiences that inspired his work in healthcare analytics, including optimizing anesthesiology schedules, enhancing cancer radiation therapy with AI and designing resilient surgery schedules for children's hospitals. Learn how predictive and prescriptive analytics, optimization models and interdisciplinary collaboration are reshaping the business of healthcare. Whether you're interested in healthcare innovation, academic research or the real-world applications of machine learning in medicine, this episode offers an inspiring and insightful deep dive. Stay connected with the UT San Antonio Carlos Alvarez College of Business to learn more about how we are empowering the next generation of business thinkers. Follow us on social media or visit us online at business.utsa.edu [https://business.utsa.edu/]

Season 1 Preview

Welcome to Inside Alvarez Business, a podcast from the Carlos Alvarez College of Business at UT San Antonio that takes you beyond the buzzwords and into the real stories behind impactful business research. Hosted by Dean Jonathon Halbesleben, [https://business.utsa.edu/about/dean.html] each episode explores the human side of academic discovery — spotlighting faculty whose research is tackling today’s biggest challenges. Season 1 focuses on the business of healthcare, with deep dives into how data science, operations, and artificial intelligence are transforming care delivery, improving hospital efficiency, and supporting clinician well-being. Stay connected with the UT San Antonio Carlos Alvarez College of Business to learn more about how we are empowering the next generation of business thinkers. Follow us on social media or visit us online at business.utsa.edu [https://business.utsa.edu/]