Russo Edge Podcast

Public Health Is Public Wealth: Dr. Michelle Williams on Why Prevention Pays

What if the systems that keep people alive, healthy, and productive were valued the same way elite organizations value performance? In this episode, Solomon Wilcots speaks with Dr. Michelle Williams [https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/327959], professor of epidemiology and population health at Stanford University School of Medicine [https://med.stanford.edu/], former dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health [https://hsph.harvard.edu/], and author of The Cure for Everything [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/718881/the-cure-for-everything-by-michelle-a-williams-with-linda-marsa/]. She explains how the often-invisible systems of public health shape daily life, from clean air and safe water to maternal health and prevention, and why public health should be seen not only as a moral imperative, but as an economic one. This conversation examines what happens when public health systems are built well, when they are neglected, and why prevention should be understood not as an afterthought, but as an investment in resilience and long-term prosperity.

The New Dynamics of Hospitals: What Leaders Need to Know with Scott Becker

What’s really putting pressure on hospitals today, and what does it mean for the companies working with them? In this episode of the Russo Edge, Scott Becker [https://scottbeckerauthor.com/#author], founder and publisher of Becker’s Healthcare [https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/], joins host Solomon Wilcots to explore the new realities shaping hospitals and health systems across the country. Drawing from daily conversations with executives on the front lines, Scott offers a clear view of how they are navigating a more complex, resource-constrained environment while continuing to deliver patient care at scale. If you lead a healthcare organization, build solutions for hospitals, or want a sharper understanding of how the system is evolving, this conversation offers a grounded, executive-level perspective on what matters now and what to watch next.

The First Venture Fund for Paralysis: SCI Ventures Founder Adrien Cohen

What happens when a seasoned tech founder applies venture discipline to one of the toughest medical challenges: turning spinal cord injury research into real treatments? In this episode of the Russo Edge, Adrien Cohen [https://www.sciventures.com/team], founder of SCI Ventures [https://www.sciventures.com/], joins host Solomon Wilcots for a conversation about building a global venture philanthropy fund designed to accelerate therapies for spinal cord injury. Adrien shares how his personal journey brought him into the SCI community, and why the most promising science too often stalls in the gap between academic discovery and clinical adoption. Adrien explains how SCI Ventures is designed to solve that problem with an evergreen model that funds and de-risks breakthrough programs, then reinvests returns back into the mission to keep the cycle going. He also talks about how SCI Ventures was co-created with leading partners in the field, including the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Wings for Life, and the Shepherd Center, and why collaboration across foundations, clinicians, researchers, and industry is essential to speed progress. From due diligence and portfolio strategy to what success could look like over the next 5–10 years, this conversation is a practical look at how venture philanthropy can help move spinal cord injury science from the lab to patients faster.

AI, Data, and Venture Capital: Sahir Ali on Smarter Biotech Investing

What happens when a scientist, engineer, and VC see the same future — one where data and biology converge to change medicine? In this episode of The Russo Edge, Sahir Ali [https://www.modivc.com/about-us], Founder and General Partner of Modi Ventures, [https://www.modivc.com/] joins Solomon Wilcots to discuss how artificial intelligence and data are reshaping the business of biotech. Drawing on his background across programming, Wall Street, and cancer research, Sahir explains how his firm uses a portfolio theory approach to manage risk, identify value, and back the next generation of healthcare breakthroughs. From AI-enabled discovery to Houston’s fast-growing life sciences hub, Sahir offers a window into how venture capital is evolving — and how data-driven strategies can create smarter, more sustainable innovation in biotech.

Behind the Byline: What Journalists Look for When Covering Biotech

In this episode of The Russo Edge, two leading journalists pull back the curtain on how science becomes a headline. Heather McKenzie [https://www.biospace.com/heather-mckenzie], Senior Editor at BioSpace [https://www.biospace.com/]and Ben Glickman [https://www.wsj.com/news/author/ben-glickman], Reporter at The Wall Street Journal [https://www.wsj.com/], join host Solomon Wilcots to share what earns their attention, what builds trust, and what turns them off before a single question is asked. Together, they break down how biotech companies can communicate complex data with clarity, why timing is everything when engaging in the press, and how credibility can be strengthened long before a major announcement. From background conversations to clear trial summaries and investor context, this conversation offers practical, real-world advice for biotech leaders.