The Healthcast

Welcome to NXAI HealthCast where we explore healthcare, technology, and business development. Each episode features conversations with healthcare leaders, founders, and specialists shaping the future of medicine. We discuss what’s working in healthcare today and the future of healthcare with Artificial Intelligence, with the goal of improving patient outcomes. We highlight real solutions, share practical insights, and explore how technology can build a smarter healthcare system.

The Healthcast is a technology podcast hosted by Phil Zappone, with 49 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Phil Zappone hosts The Healthcast, a technology show with 49 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #50

  AI Patients that Talk Back | Silo Med AI

  Jul 26, 202631 min

  In this episode of The HealthCast, host Phil Zappone sits down with the team behind Silo Med, a platform creating AI-powered patient simulations for medical education. Dr. Richard Selinfreund, Andrew Primous, and Elijah Meldrim explain how clinical expertise, storytelling, software engineering, and generative AI come together to create realistic virtual patients that medical students and residents can interview, diagnose, and learn from in a safe environment. The idea began with a failed attempt to build a traditional medical video game. The team quickly discovered that preprogrammed simulations could not anticipate every question, decision, or mistake a learner might make. The emergence of generative AI changed that by allowing virtual patients to respond dynamically and adapt to each conversation. The result is a training platform designed to identify both knowledge gaps and behavioral gaps before learners begin treating real patients. The team explains why medical education should evaluate more than whether a learner reaches the correct diagnosis. Strong clinicians must also build trust, recognize when patients are withholding information, respond to emotional concerns, and maintain the human relationship at the center of care. Phil and the Silo Med team also discuss accessibility, real-time scoring, responsible AI, accreditation, global medical education, veterinary applications, and the challenges of earning trust in a crowded AI market. Episode Chapters 00:47 – Meet the Silo Med team 01:42 – What Silo Med does 02:27 – How clinicians traditionally learned 03:00 – The failed video game that led to an AI breakthrough 04:36 – Building the first virtual patient 05:33 – Expanding simulations across medical specialties 05:58 – How storytelling brings virtual patients to life 08:13 – Real-time scoring and software development 09:48 – Why Silo Med has not moved into virtual reality 10:23 – Turning an academic project into a business 11:37 – Expanding access to medical education globally 12:43 – Why simulated patients should mislead or withhold information 14:58 – Designing a patient’s backstory and emotional state 15:39 – Silo Med’s mission and the team’s individual purpose 18:18 – Measuring knowledge and behavioral gaps 20:07 – Teaching empathy during difficult diagnoses 21:04 – The responsible use of AI 21:59 – Building trust with medical institutions 23:06 – Early exploration of veterinary medicine 24:42 – Validation and the future of accreditation exams 26:18 – Integrating simulations into medical curricula 27:08 – How Silo Med defines success 28:07 – Funding and adoption barriers 28:48 – Letting the technology speak for itself 29:10 – Where to learn more about Silo Med Episode Resources: Website | https://silomed.ai/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/silomed/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/silomedai/ Email | sales@silomed.ai Check out what I do helping small businesses here: Website | https://nxaihealth.com/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-zappone-647957379/ Thank you for watching, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe!

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  Episode #49

  Navigating a Medical Crisis Without Getting Lost in the System | Shlomit Liberty, Patient Path NYC

  Jul 26, 202641 min

  In this episode of The Healthcast, host Phil Zappone speaks with Shlomit Liberty, founder of Patient Path NYC, about helping patients and families navigate some of the most overwhelming and confusing moments in healthcare. Shlomit began her career as a medical speech-language pathologist, specializing in swallowing disorders, communication, and cognition in adults recovering from serious illness, surgery, and acquired brain injuries. Her work placed her at the center of complex medical decisions involving nutrition, rehabilitation, discharge planning, and collaboration across specialties. Over time, she noticed a recurring problem: patients and families were often surrounded by highly skilled clinicians but still did not understand what was happening, what their options were, or what questions they needed to ask. That realization led Shlomit to become a board-certified patient advocate and launch Patient Path NYC. She describes her role as medical crisis management—serving as a bridge between patients, families, and hospital teams. By reviewing medical records, attending conversations, translating clinical language, tracking recommendations, and helping coordinate communication, she works to ensure that important information does not fall through the cracks. Phil and Shlomit discuss the emotional importance of eating and swallowing, the difference between educating patients and policing their decisions, and why informed consent requires more than quickly asking, “Do you have any questions?” The conversation also explores discharge planning, rehabilitation options, conflicting medical recommendations, medication timing, independent versus hospital-employed advocates, and the potential for technology and AI to help patients become more informed participants in their care. Episode Chapters 00:50 – What a medical speech-language pathologist does 02:01 – Diagnosing swallowing disorders through imaging 04:35 – How speech pathology connects across medical specialties 06:10 – The emotional meaning of food and swallowing 06:58 – Advocating for informed patient decisions 08:18 – Shifting from judgment to education 09:40 – Why families struggle to ask questions in the hospital 10:05 – Translating medical language after clinicians leave 13:23 – The idea behind Patient Path NYC 15:48 – Who typically needs hospital-based advocacy 17:56 – Why families often seek help later than they should 20:40 – Medical crises and communication breakdowns 22:58 – Building relationships with the full care team 24:02 – Translating the medical chart into plain language 25:00 – Keeping families informed and aligned 26:18 – Tracking tests, medications, and conflicting recommendations 29:41 – Why patient advocacy remains unfamiliar 32:00 – How AI can help patients advocate for themselves 35:15 – AI-assisted medical imaging and swallowing assessment 37:52 – Growing a high-touch patient advocacy business Episode Resources: Website | https://patientpathnyc.com/ LinkedIn | http://linkedin.com/in/shlomit-liberty-28a221113/ Email | shlomit@patientpathnyc.com Check out what I do helping small businesses here: Website | https://nxaihealth.com/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-zappone-647957379/ Thank you for watching, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe!

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  Episode #48

  How Great Nurses Become Great Leaders | Kristi Reguin-Hartman, AMSN

  Jul 21, 202630 min

  In this episode of The Healthcast, host Phil Zappone speaks with Dr. Kristi Reguin-Hartman, President of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, about nursing leadership, clinical transformation, healthcare technology, and the future of medical-surgical nursing. Dr. Reguin-Hartman shares the experience that first inspired her to pursue nursing: caring for a college student who had become paralyzed after a traumatic hockey injury. A single line he later wrote—“In the mornings, it was better”—showed her how meaningful it could be to make even a small difference in someone’s life. She reflects on her journey from earning an ADN to completing a DNP, the mentors who encouraged her to accept opportunities before she felt fully prepared, and the philosophy that has shaped her career: say yes. The conversation also examines some of the most urgent challenges facing nurses today, including unsafe staffing levels, excessive workloads, limited autonomy, difficult work environments, and the continued misconception that medical-surgical nursing is simply a starting point rather than a complex specialty. Phil and Dr. Reguin-Hartman discuss why nurses must be included in healthcare technology design from the beginning, how health systems can improve technology adoption, and why clinical workflows should be built around the people who will actually use them. The episode closes with a look at the future of nursing, from virtual and corporate nursing roles to AI, advocacy, professional recognition, and the importance of ensuring that the best voices—not simply the loudest—shape healthcare’s next chapter. In This Episode - How staffing, workload, acuity, and payment models intersect - The risks of assigning one medical-surgical nurse too many patients - AMSN’s fellowships, awards, education, publications, and advocacy - How AI and rapid innovation may reshape healthcare - Why healthcare cannot always put money first Episode Chapters 00:53 – The experience that inspired a career in nursing 03:41 – Learning to care for a patient with complex needs 05:02 – A defining moment in nursing leadership 07:10 – How saying yes shaped Dr. Reguin-Hartman’s career 10:10 – Helping nurses understand that they have a voice 11:27 – When nursing becomes part of your identity 13:09 – Bridging healthcare technology and nursing leadership 14:23 – Why healthcare technology implementations struggle 15:26 – Rethinking staffing, workload, and patient outcomes 17:48 – The biggest issues facing medical-surgical nurses 19:50 – Nursing attrition and evolving career paths 21:34 – Workflows that create the most friction for nurses 22:51 – How AMSN chooses programs and initiatives 23:17 – Fellowships, health equity awards, and professional recognition 24:36 – Expanding recognition beyond traditional medical-surgical units 25:22 – Education, publications, and member resources 26:40 – The greatest opportunities and challenges ahead 28:40 – Where listeners can learn more about AMSN Episode Resources: Website | https://amsn.org/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-reguin-hartman/ Check out what I do helping small businesses here: Website | https://nxaihealth.com/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-zappone-647957379/ Thank you for watching, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe!

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  Episode #47

  The Truth About Aging that Every Family Needs to Hear | Emily Coskun

  Jul 18, 202641 min

  In this episode of The Healthcast, host Phil Zappone speaks with geriatrician Dr. Emily Coskun about how healthcare can better serve one of the country’s fastest-growing and most medically complex populations: older adults. Dr. Coskun shares how caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic changed the direction of her career and ultimately led her to geriatrics. She also reflects on the mentors and patients who shaped her approach to medicine, including the responsibility physicians have when guiding people through serious diagnoses, cognitive decline, end-of-life decisions, and other defining moments. The conversation explores what makes geriatric medicine different from traditional adult medicine, including the Four M’s of age-friendly care: what matters most, medications, mobility, and mind. Dr. Coskun explains why deprescribing, fall prevention, cognitive screening, social connection, and care planning are essential to helping older adults maintain their independence and quality of life. Phil and Dr. Coskun also discuss ageism, the shortage of geriatricians, gaps in long-term care coverage, caregiver burden, and the growing need for home-based services. They examine practical programs that can improve outcomes and reduce costs, including adult day services, comprehensive geriatric assessments, frailty screening, hospital-at-home models, and the Hospital Elder Life Program. The episode closes with a look at how technology—including telemedicine, point-of-care ultrasound, fall-detection wearables, and AI—can support the deeply human side of geriatric care. Episode Chapters 00:43 – How Dr. Coskun found her calling in geriatrics 02:18 – A personal example of aging in place 03:47 – The mentor who became her professional North Star 05:10 – The national shortage of geriatricians 06:45 – Ageism and how society values older adults 08:01 – Handling difficult diagnoses and defining moments 09:43 – What older patients teach us about life 11:12 – Understanding the Four M’s of geriatric care 13:51 – Why good physicians know when to stop medication 15:10 – Evidence-based approaches to longevity 16:47 – The greatest gaps in outpatient and home care 17:44 – The cost of long-term care and caregiver burden 19:37 – Adult day services, socialization, and cognitive health 20:57 – Misconceptions about the cost of geriatric care 23:04 – Rising hospital demand and patient complexity 25:05 – Rural healthcare shortages and specialty access 26:57 – Telemedicine and consultative geriatric care 27:40 – Comprehensive assessments and frailty screening 29:38 – A high-impact investment for hospital leaders 31:06 – Point-of-care ultrasound for older adults 32:42 – Wearable technology and fall detection 33:39 – Opportunities to reduce readmissions and costs 35:25 – Hospital-at-home and remote monitoring 38:52 – Combining high-touch care with high-tech tools 40:11 – The exercise shown to reduce fall risk Episode Resources: Website | https://xacweillcornell.org/emily-brooke-coskun-md Check out what I do helping small businesses here: Website | https://nxaihealth.com/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-zappone-647957379/ Thank you for watching, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe!

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  Episode #46

  Teaching the Doctors of Tomorrow | Bei Zhang

  Jul 16, 202636 min

  In this episode of The Healthcast, host Phil Zappone sits down with Dr. Bei Zhang, an MD-PhD educator working at the intersection of pathology, medical education, and healthcare innovation. Dr. Zhang shares how a lifelong curiosity about living things led her to pathology—a field where biology and detective work come together to uncover how and why disease develops. She also reflects on her early passion for teaching, the mentors who shaped her career, and why she views education as both a privilege and a responsibility. The conversation explores where traditional medical education is struggling to keep pace with a rapidly changing healthcare environment. Dr. Zhang explains why future physicians need more than clinical knowledge: they must learn how to filter overwhelming amounts of information, understand emerging technologies, collaborate across disciplines, and apply what they learn in authentic patient-care settings. Phil and Dr. Zhang also discuss online education, virtual patient simulations, barriers to innovation within academic medicine, and the importance of introducing patient-centered learning from the beginning of medical school. When it comes to artificial intelligence, Dr. Zhang describes AI as a powerful but “wild horse”—capable of taking healthcare and education to extraordinary places, but only when both the technology and its users are properly trained. She shares how she incorporates AI into learning sessions with her students to strengthen their questioning skills and critical thinking rather than allowing the technology to replace the learning process. Episode Chapters 00:48 – What drew Dr. Zhang to medicine and pathology 01:34 – Discovering a passion for teaching and innovation 04:42 – The teachers and mentors who shaped her career 07:35 – Why pathology is essential to patient care 08:51 – Finding personal purpose through teaching 11:50 – Where traditional medical education is falling behind 12:49 – Building a strong foundation for future physicians 15:06 – The skills today’s medical students need 17:19 – The lasting impact of online medical education 19:08 – AI as a powerful but “wild” tool 21:01 – The biggest barriers to educational innovation 23:24 – Bridging classroom learning and clinical practice 25:14 – Virtual patients and practice-based learning platforms 27:17 – Redesigning physician training around the patient 31:13 – Why medical schools must invest more in educators 32:43 – The greatest opportunity and challenge facing healthcare education 33:56 – Bringing students, teachers, and AI into the same learning session Episode Resources: LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/bei-zhang-96235b3a/ Check out what I do helping small businesses here: Website | https://nxaihealth.com/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-zappone-647957379/ Thank you for watching, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe!

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