The Health Technology Podcast

The Hidden Workforce That Keeps Healthcare Running with Dr. Sunita Mutha

Healthcare is a team effort, but we don’t always see the full team. Behind every physician visit, every hospital discharge, and every community clinic, there’s a vast, often invisible network of professionals keeping the system running. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Sunita Mutha [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunita-mutha-md-43388419/], Director of the Healthforce Center [https://healthforce.ucsf.edu/] and Professor of Medicine at UCSF [https://www.ucsf.edu/], to talk about these hidden threads holding our healthcare system together. She shines a light on the vital roles played by medical assistants, patient navigators, community health workers, and clinic leaders—roles that are essential, yet too often overlooked. Dr. Mutha walks us through the Healthforce Center’s mission to strengthen this workforce, from building lasting leadership programs that ripple across organizations, to fostering statewide collaborations, to producing data-driven insights that inform policy at every level. We also dive deep into the realities of burnout—why it’s not just about overwork, but about the erosion of meaning in the work itself. Dr. Mutha reframes burnout as a structural failure, not a personal shortcoming, and shares practical ways to design systems that support the people who make care possible. This is an honest, inspiring look at the human infrastructure of healthcare—what it takes to sustain it, and why investing in people is the key to a more equitable and resilient system. Do you have thoughts on this episode or ideas for future guests? We’d love to hear from you.  Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.

Dignity, Death & the End of Life Option Act

What does it mean to provide care when medicine can no longer cure? In this episode, UCSF palliative care physician [https://palliativemedicine.ucsf.edu/] Dr. Brieze Bell [https://www.linkedin.com/in/briezebellmd/]shares her journey from professional dancer to integrative medicine leader, and how those seemingly unrelated paths came together in a life devoted to service, presence, and healing at the edge of life. Dr. Bell reflects on the principle of non-abandonment, the emotional complexity of medical aid in dying, and her role leading UCSF’s End of Life Option Act program. She describes the system's work behind transforming this sensitive process into a compassionate, accessible, and legally sound experience for patients and families. Alongside deeply personal stories—including the death of her mother and a heartfelt posthumous letter from a patient—Dr. Bell reminds us that showing up for someone in their most vulnerable moment can change everything. This conversation is essential listening for clinicians, caregivers, and anyone contemplating the ethics and emotions surrounding end-of-life care. Listen in as Christine Winoto, director of the UCSF Rosenman Institute, explores the dignity, discomfort, and transformative grace that define this powerful chapter of healthcare. Tune in to hear what it truly means to be a companion at the end of life. Do you have thoughts on this episode or ideas for future guests? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.

Curing Genetic Disease Before Life Begins with Tippi MacKenzie

What if we could cure genetic disease before a baby is even born? In this episode, pediatric and fetal surgeon Tippi MacKenzie shares how in utero gene therapy and stem cell transplants could stop devastating diseases before life begins. Dr. MacKenzie [https://mackenzielab.ucsf.edu/] is a pioneer in fetal genome surgery and in utero stem cell therapy, with a mission to give every child a healthy start. As Director of the UCSF Broad Stem Cell Center, she leads groundbreaking clinical trials treating disorders like alpha thalassemia while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in regenerative medicine. She also opens up about her personal journey—from Juilliard-trained pianist to surgeon-scientist—and the New England Journal of Medicine article that changed the course of her career. We discuss the unique biology of the fetus, why fetal immune tolerance presents a once-in-a-lifetime treatment window, and how her team is using lipid nanoparticles to develop future-ready gene editing strategies. We also explore how to better support the next generation of clinician-scientists and why stronger partnerships between academia and industry are key to bringing therapies from lab to patient. Do you have thoughts on this episode or ideas for future guests? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.

Making Healthcare Human Again, with Troy Tazbaz

Troy Tazbaz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/troytazbaz/], currently Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy & Operations at Oracle [https://www.oracle.com/]and formerly Director of Digital Health at the FDA, has a powerful vision: making healthcare human again digitally. Driven by a profound personal experience supporting his wife through complex medical decisions during her battle with cancer, Troy recognized the deep inefficiencies and overwhelming demands placed on patients and caregivers. His journey inspired him to challenge the status quo, transitioning from a corporate technology career into healthcare innovation. In this deeply personal and insightful episode, Troy discusses key moments that fueled his commitment to humanizing healthcare. He vividly describes the confusion at his wife's bedside, questioning drug interactions, and navigating complicated medical decisions. As Director of Digital Health at the FDA, Troy spearheaded efforts to integrate digital technologies into healthcare responsibly, establishing frameworks that ensure AI and other digital medical tools remain safe and effective. Now back at Oracle, Troy continues his mission of transforming healthcare by shaping corporate strategies and operations that support impactful technological solutions. He emphasizes why slowing down to implement digital innovation thoughtfully is essential, and how human-centered design can restore compassion and simplicity to healthcare delivery. Beyond his professional roles, Troy shares powerful reflections on personal resilience and insights gained from cycling across America—an experience highlighting the importance of slowing down to appreciate life's subtle beauty. Join us for this compelling conversation hosted by Christine Winoto [https://rosenmaninstitute.org/people/christine-winoto-founder-director/] of the UCSF Rosenman Institute [https://rosenmaninstitute.org/], as we explore how digital tools can genuinely serve patients and caregivers, returning humanity to the core of healthcare. Do you have thoughts on this episode or ideas for future guests? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.

What Every Healthcare Leader Should Know, with Dr. Todd Brinton

What every healthcare leader should know is at the heart of this episode featuring Dr. Todd Brinton [https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-brinton-md-96441615/], Chief Scientific Officer at Edwards Lifesciences [https://www.edwards.com/] and a leading figure in medtech innovation. Dr. Brinton’s journey began in a sixth-grade classroom, where a fascination with the heart sparked a lifelong passion for both medicine and technology. That early curiosity led him to pursue engineering, medicine, and eventually leadership in heart health. Before becoming a recognized leader, Dr. Brinton faced the same questions many young professionals do—wondering if he belonged, and whether he could move from engineering into medicine. Throughout his career, mentors played a crucial role in helping him find his potential, and setbacks became opportunities for growth. These experiences shaped his approach to leadership, resilience, and innovation in healthcare. Dr. Brinton discusses lessons learned from building teams, founding companies like Shockwave Medical and BioParadox, and making difficult choices as both a physician and entrepreneur. He shares why honesty and kindness matter in leadership, how to create meaningful mentor relationships, and what it really takes to move ideas from the clinic to the corporate world. The conversation covers why embracing mistakes is essential for progress, why people—not just technology—will define the future of health innovation, and advice for those building their own path in healthcare. Whether you’re leading a startup, managing a hospital team, or just starting your career, Dr. Brinton’s story offers practical insight for every stage. Hear directly from Dr. Todd Brinton as he joins Christine Winoto [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-winoto-8b412b/] for a candid discussion about career pivots, mentorship, and the realities of healthcare leadership, brought to you by the UCSF Rosenman Institute. For more on healthcare innovation, check out What 2 Billion Data Points Can Tell Us: James Mault on Smarter Care [https://rosenmaninstitute.org/podcasts/james-mault-remote-patient-monitoring-innovation/]. Do you have thoughts on this episode or ideas for future guests? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.