Turn on the Lights Podcast
Episodes
How Stories Can Help People Rethink Health Care Reform with Shantanu Rai
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Stories can help people understand why health care keeps failing both patients and clinicians. In this episode, Shantanu Rai, a primary care physic...
Who Sets the Table for Quality Measurement in U.S. Health Care? with Brenna Rabel & Michelle Schreiber
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How do we decide what “good care” looks like, and who gets to choose the scorecard? In this episode of Turn on the Lights, Kedar Mate speaks with...
AI, Interoperability, and the Next Era of Quality Measurement with Jeff Geppert
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How do health care quality measures get created, and are we measuring too much? In this episode, Jeff Geppert, Senior Research Leader at Battelle Mem...
The Hidden Math Of Aging That Is Bankrupting Middle-Class Families with Dr. Joanne Lynn
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What would it look like if aging in America came with a real plan instead of a quiet free fall? In this episode, Dr. Joanne Lynn, a longtime geriatri...
The Cost Shifting Cycle Behind Your Rising Premiums with Chris Van Gorder
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Leading a major health system today means juggling patient-first ethics with a financing model that keeps tightening the screws. In this episode, Chr...
Disrupting the Aging Services Model Through Community-Based Care with Marta Corvêlo
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to reimagine aging services in a complex health and social care system? In this episode, Marta Corvêlo, President & Chief Executiv...
Why The US Pays More For The Same Medications Than Everyone Else with Dr. Jerry Avorn
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
America’s drug crisis isn’t a science problem; it’s a pricing and policy problem that blocks patients from medicines that already exist. In thi...
The Power of Everyday Mindfulness: Healing, Community, and Public Health Impact with Brother Phap Luu
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mindfulness isn’t a “nice-to-have”; it’s a low-cost public health lever that changes how people handle pain, emotions, and community life. In...
Beyond Compliance: Vivek Garg on Patient-Centered Quality and Real-Time Improvement
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Summary: Quality measurement matters only if it helps patients and clinicians deliver better care in real time, not just prove compliance after the f...
Medicaid Work Requirements and the Unraveling of Health Coverage with Ben Sommers
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Millions of Americans could lose health coverage in the coming years, and the consequences may be more profound than most people realize. In this epi...
Who Guards Healthcare AI? Inside CHAI’s Push for Trust and Transparency with Dr. Brian Anderson
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Trust in health care AI won’t happen by hype. It will be earned through transparent standards, independent evaluation, and real-world performance mo...
From Chaos to Care: Dr. Gary Kaplan on Leading with Quality
02 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a health system decides that quality comes first? In this episode, Dr. Gary Kaplan, who retired as the longtime CEO of Virginia Mas...
Patient Safety in the Age of AI: Risks, Rewards, and Reality live at the IHI Forum
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The energy is electric at the IHI Forum, even before the forum officially begins. In this episode, co-hosts Kedar Mate and Don Berwick discuss how AI...
The Cost of Not Listening: How Medical Silencing Harms Patients with Dr. Rageshri Dhairyawan
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when clinicians stop hearing the very people they’re trying to help? In this episode, Dr. Rageshri Dhairyawan, a Consultant Physician ...
From Bankruptcy to Rescue: Dr. Gregg Meyer on the Emergency that Transformed Massachusetts Healthcare
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The collapse of a major hospital system set off one of the most complex healthcare emergencies Massachusetts has ever faced. In this episode, Dr. Gre...
Medicaid: What’s at Risk, and Why It Matters Now More Than Ever with Cindy Mann
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Medicaid is a massive, life-sustaining program whose new work requirements and funding cuts risk stripping coverage from millions of people who can’...
Relearning Trust: How Science, Communication, and Preparedness Must Evolve with Dr. Michael Osterholm
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the biggest threat to our survival isn’t the next virus, but our failure to learn from the last one? In this episode, Dr. Michael Osterholm...
Healing Those Who Served: Dr. David Shulkin on the VA’s Legacy and the Future of American Health Care.
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A nation’s promise to those who served becomes a lesson in how health care can truly heal. In this special Veterans Day episode, Dr. David Shulkin...
Information Sickness: How Our Media Environment Is Harming Public Health with Joshua Sharfstein & Joanne Kenen
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our information environment has become a social determinant of health. In this episode, Joshua Sharfstein, a public health leader and professor at Jo...
From Patient to Advocate: Rosie Bartel on Transforming Pain into Change
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“I just went there for a routine knee replacement, or so I thought.” In this inspiring episode, Rosie Bartel, a patient partner and advocate, edu...
Upstream Medicine: Healing Through Trust, Dignity, and Context - with Dr. Sandeep Kapoor
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The healers we need now don’t stop at the exam room; they go upstream to the causes of suffering and make safety, dignity, and trust part of the cli...
Regulation, consternation, Food and Drug Administration - with Robert Califf
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The integrity of evidence-based policy is under threat when political agendas override scientific rigor. In this episode, Dr. Robert Califf, former F...
The chronic impact of health care corporatization on clinicians and patients - with Peter Grinspoon
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The corporatization of health care is driving a mass exodus from primary care, creating a crisis that affects both physicians and patients alike. In ...
The economics of medication - with Vinay Patel
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One of the biggest drivers of high drug prices in America is the opaque rebate system between pharmaceutical companies and insurance providers, where ...
The story of the NHS and what we can learn from it - with Bob Klaber
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While universal health care offers immense equity and access, it still faces real challenges around fragmentation, funding, and integration. In this ...
Housing, homelessness, and health - with Rosanne Haggerty
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The key to ending homelessness is not just more housing, but better systems of collaboration, urgency, and coordination at the community level. In th...
Looking Back, Looking Ahead: Optimism, Concern, and the Future of Health Care with Don Berwick & Kedar Mate
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Celebrating 100 episodes is no small feat! In this episode, co-hosts Kedar Mate and Don Berwick look back on their podcast journey, highlighting powe...
Safety x AI - with Jason Adelman
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Human error in health care is inevitable, but system-level solutions offer real hope for reducing harm. In this episode, Dr. Jason Adelman, a leading...
Madd love: Reducing recidivism rates in young adults - with Gregg Croteau
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The criminal justice system in the U.S. is, at its core, a healthcare issue, one that demands healing, not punishment. In this episode, Gregg Croteau...
It shouldn't take a crisis to make us talk about public health - with Howard Koh
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Public health is invisible when it works and only noticed when it fails. In this episode, Dr. Howard Koh reflects on the chronic underfunding, politi...
Inequities, inequalities, and truth to power - with Steven Woolf
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A 20- to 30-year life expectancy gap between neighborhoods just miles apart reveals the brutal reality of health inequity in the United States. In th...
Graduate medical education and social contracts - with Tom Nasca
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The survival of professional trust in medicine depends not only on individual doctors but on the systems and institutions that shape their behavior. ...
Home-based care to tackle maternal health inequities and improve outcomes - with Rebekah Gee
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. ranks worst among developed nations for maternal and child health outcomes, highlighting a systemic failure that demands urgent attention. I...
Humans in health care - with Tom Fisher
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Health care fundamentally lacks accountability to the humanity of its patients due to systemic profit-driven motives. In this episode, Dr. Thomas F...
The story of palliative care, on the big screen - with Jessica Zitter
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most overlooked but transformative tools in health care is the courage to face hard truths, especially at the end of life. In this episode...
Kindness and what matters to you - with Maureen Bisognano
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The most powerful antidote to a fragmented health care system may be something deceptively simple: listening. In this episode, Maureen Bisognano shar...
The human impact of today's politics on the oldest public hospital in America - with Eric Wei
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the hospitals serving society’s most vulnerable were actually delivering some of the most essential care in the country? In this episode, D...
The connection between meaning and purpose to reduce staff burnout - with Steve Swensen
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Burnout among health care professionals isn't just a staffing issue; it’s a crisis rooted in systems, culture, and misaligned values. In this episo...
Health Care AI at Speed – Recorded at IHI Leadership Alliance Spring Meeting 2025 with Brett Moran, Charles Binkley & Lucas Zier
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
AI in health care is advancing rapidly, with promising uses in imaging and admin tasks, but its diagnostic and patient-facing roles demand careful, hu...
Upstream and downstream determinants of health and the water we drink - with Cydian Kauffman
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Consumers must understand the crucial difference between legally permissible contaminant levels and true health-based goals for drinking water. In ...
Join the patient revolution - with Victor M. Montori
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integr...
Imagine a public health system built on mutual aid, participation, and dignity with Eric Reinhart
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integr...
Has healthcare fully realized the potential of AI? with Eric Horvitz
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integr...
Democratizing Expertise with Sanjeev Arora
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integr...
Keeping Patients over Profits with Dhruv Khullar
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integr...
Demystifying Dental Health with Melissa Burroughs
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integr...
Catholic Health Care with Patricia Gabow
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integr...
Movement Building and Large Scale Change with Joe McCannon
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integr...
Rational Public Policy with Mike Chernew
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integr...
The Evolution of Palliative Care with Christine Cassel
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integr...
Think Tanks and Their Role in Health Care Policy with Andrea Ducas
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integr...
Anyone Can Choose Leadership with Dennis Wagner and John Scanlon
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating an oral health care system that is accessible, equitable, and integr...
The Economics and Ills of U.S. Health Care and Health Insurance with Zack Cooper
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The structure of the U.S. health care system, particularly employer-sponsored insurance, is significantly impacting the economic well-being of most Am...
Continuous Learning for Better Care with Daniel Hyman and Peter Margolis
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Learning health networks offer a powerful, cost-effective approach to improving health care outcomes by fostering collaboration. In this episode, Dr....
Approaching Systems Change with Dan Heath
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The key to improving broken systems lies in identifying leverage points and strategically restacking existing resources. In this episode, Dan Heath, a...
The Past, Present, and Future of Health Plan Innovation with Liz Fowler
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How well is the U.S. health care system working, and what is being done to address its biggest challenges? In this episode, Dr. Liz Fowler, former Dep...
Turn off the lights with Jeff Thompson at the IHI Forum
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Health care institutions can significantly reduce their environmental impact while also saving money and improving community health. In this episode...
There is no quality without equity with Thea James and Bisola Ojikutu
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can we tackle deep-rooted health inequities and ensure sustainable change in our communities? In this episode, Dr. Thea James, Vice President of M...
Building an Age Friendly Movement with Terry Fulmer and Faith Mitchell
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Despite decades of progress in geriatric care, too many older adults still struggle to receive the reliable, evidence-based care they deserve. In this...
Is medical education stuck in the past? with Abraham Nussbaum
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is medical education stuck in the past, or can innovative approaches reshape the future of health care? In this episode, Dr. Abraham Nussbaum, Chief E...
The importance of the "hand-off" in health care with Christopher Landrigan
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that sleep-deprived doctors are more likely to make critical errors or that poor communication during patient handoffs can jeopardize car...
Workforce planning, workforce wellbeing, and workforce retention with Navina Evans
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can healthcare systems worldwide overcome workforce challenges while adapting to shifting demographics, advancing technologies, and evolving patie...
Cutting through the misinformation with Celine Gounder
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In a world where misinformation often outpaces facts, clear public health communication and preparedness are more crucial than ever. In this episode, ...
When people of the system own the system with April Kyle and Doug Eby
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine a health care system where patients are not just recipients but co-owners, shaping the services they receive based on the needs of their commu...
Health system ownership with Hayden Rooke-Ley
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is the rapid growth of Medicare Advantage a solution for health care efficiency, or is it a costly gamble that benefits insurers more than patients? ...
Politics, mobilization, and political force with Marshall Ganz
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when we reduce people to mere data points in a world driven by economic values? In this episode, Marshall Ganz, the Rita T. Hauser Senio...
What is social capital and what value does it have in health care? with Tom Lee
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Could health care thrive if leaders treated trust and teamwork as carefully as they manage finances? In this episode, Thomas H. Lee, Chief Medical Off...
Ethical conundrums aplenty with Vardit Ravitsky
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When health care meets ethics, our choices reveal as much about our values as they do about our scientific advances. In this episode, Vardit Ravitsky,...
How technology giants like Google are impacting healthcare with Michael Howell
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
AI is rapidly transforming health care, offering technology companies new possibilities for improving patient outcomes and revolutionizing care delive...
Expanding the role of health systems beyond traditional hospital care with Michael Dowling
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Transforming health systems requires addressing social determinants of health and expanding beyond traditional hospital care. In this episode, Michael...
Can trust in health care journalism be rebuilt? with David Rousseau
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In a time when trust in health care leadership and media is faltering, how can transparent, local, and solution-driven journalism bridge the gap and r...
Using information, insights (and humans) to improve outcomes with Eric Poon
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
AI implementation in health care, especially for predicting conditions like sepsis, needs collaboration between data scientists and clinicians to ensu...
Building will and change with agency with Pedja Stojicic
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Community organizing empowers patients, clinicians, and providers to advocate for necessary reforms. In this episode, Dr. Pedja Stojicic, Executive Di...
The importance of access to information and data as a patient and caregiver with Susannah Fox
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Early online patient communities were pioneers in sharing personal health data to support others with similar conditions. In this episode, Susannah Fo...
The transformative shift from health care in hospitals to home-based care
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Studies indicate that treating patients at home can result in lower mortality rates compared to traditional hospital care. In this episode, Dr. Bruce ...
Maintaining medical care amidst bombs with Dr. Olesya Vynnyk and Dr. Miguel Cendoroglo Neto
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Ukrainian medical community has shifted from emotional reactions to systematic approaches in response to the war. In this episode, Dr. Olesya Vynn...
Art, activism, and health care with Michelle Browder
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Michelle Browder began using art at 13 to channel her energy and fight against racism, leading to her lifelong journey in activism. In this episode, M...
Rerun: What Happened to Patient Safety with Sue Sheridan
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How accountable are we when it comes to injuries caused by medical errors? Since this archive episode aired, patient safety remains a serious issue, w...
Rerun - Penalized for Being Sick: The Uniquely American Crisis of Medical Debt with Berneta L. Haynes
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Since this archive episode aired early in our podcast, organizations have paid off billions of dollars in medical debt, and many hospitals have stoppe...
We need a health care system that supports healthy aging with Maria Carney and Charles Kenney
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The aging population is rapidly growing, posing significant challenges for global health care systems. In this episode, Dr. Maria Carney, Chief and Me...
Patient empowerment and community engagement for better health outcomes
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Patients and their families feel more empowered and regain normalcy by participating in their own care. In this episode, Dr. Kavita Bhavan, Chief Inno...
The future of medical education with Holly Humphrey
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Disparities in patient care based on race and insurance status lead to frustration, fueling a growing movement to unionize and push for fair treatment...
The importance of evidence-based medicine and health care with Dr. Rita Redberg
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Significant variations in medical treatments, even within the same state, challenge the belief that medical care is primarily based on science. In thi...
The Power of Patients and Clinicians Aligning on a Deep Issue: Prior Authorization Law Change, with Dr. Nisha Mehta and Dr. Tina Shah
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine mobilizing a community of doctors and patients to spark change in the health care system. In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta and Dr. Tina Shah s...
Beacons of scientific truth, with Alan Weil
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Evidence is paramount in policy-making due to its reliance on the scientific method. In this episode, Alan Weil, the editor-in-chief of Health Affairs...
Information exchange and the role publications play in health care and medical media today, with Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, 17th Editor-in-Chief of JAMA and the JAMA Network
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The US health care system is facing a crisis of mistrust, with less than half of Americans trusting health care professionals. In this episode, Kirste...
Let's talk about "hospitalists" and what the term means with its inventor Robert Wachter
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The transition from paper to digital in healthcare has been a rollercoaster, but vital for progress. In this episode, Dr. Robert Wachter explores the ...
If you don't learn their story, you're cheating the patient and yourself with Dr. David Reuben
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Advocacy and action are needed to address the gaps in elderly care and improve the quality of life for older adults. In this episode, Dr. David Reuben...
Taking the Policy Route to Improve Coverage and Care with Leslie Dach, Founder and chair of Protect Our Care
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Despite legislative efforts, the American health care system continues to grapple with persistent challenges. In this episode, Leslie Dach discusses t...
The Need for a Healthier, More Supportive Environment and System for Health Care Professionals with Eileen Barrett, J. Corey Feist, and Wendy Dean
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can health care organizations align their values to support both high-quality patient care and the well-being of their staff? In this episode, Dr....
Patient-Centric Care with Susan Edgman-Levitan
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can health care providers ensure that patient priorities like symptom management and emotional support are consistently addressed through a patien...
Big Data, Big Opportunity to Improve Patient Care with Dr. John Halamka, President of Mayo Clinic Platform
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The democratization of AI technologies has the potential to revolutionize health care on a global scale, leveling the playing field and ensuring more ...
Do Health Care Systems Really Focus on Ensuring that Patients Have a Positive Experience? with Meg Gaines
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A deep connection with patients is crucial, even in brief encounters, and it is possible by listening and empathizing. In this episode, Meg Gaines sha...
Why Do Prescription Drugs Cost So Much with Aaron Kesselheim, Professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The US is the only country in the world that doesn't negotiate drug prices. In this episode, Aaron Kesselheim delves into the complexities of America'...
A Lesson in Preparedness: Qatar, COVID, and the FIFA World Cup
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In sports and pandemics alike, having a clear "play" is crucial. In this episode, Dr. Ahmed Al Mohammed and Brendon Morris take a deep dive into the...
Is Health Care for Women and Families Still a Neglected Aspect of the US Health Care System? with Dr. Neel Shah
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Supporting maternal health is vital for promoting social justice in the health care system. In this episode, Neel Shah discusses the neglect of women'...
The Concerning Influence of Private Equity in the Health Care with Rosemary Batt
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Private equity's acquisition of health care facilities prioritizes profits over patient care, raising concerns about health care standards. In this ep...
Combating Misinformation and Restoring Faith in Evidence-Based Medicine with Rich Baron
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tailored patient engagement isn't merely about courtesy; it's a strategic necessity for fostering trust and enhancing health care results. In this ep...
Building a Culture of Appreciation for the Nursing Community with Bonnie Barnes and Deb Zimmermann
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nurses, representing 60% of the health care workforce, are the primary providers of 90% of essential health services, highlighting their vital role in...
From Theory to Practice with Vineet Arora
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Medical education is evolving towards a tech-driven, holistic approach, forging a skilled and patient-focused health care workforce. In this episode, ...