Permanente Medicine Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Permanente Federation
Physician leaders of the Permanente Medical Groups at Kaiser Permanente and other industry thought leaders come together to discuss solutions to health care, transformational innovation within the industry, and the future of medicine. Join host Chris Grant, EVP and COO of The Permanente Federation, and his guests as they seek the answer to health, health care, and physician wellness in America.
In this episode of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, host Chris Grant sits down with John Yang, MD, president and medical director of the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group (HPMG), to explore the unique culture and community-oriented approach to health care delivery in Hawaii.
As the leader of the state's largest physician-led multi-specialty practice, Dr. Yang explores the geographic, demographic, and public health challenges of delivering care across the Hawaiian islands. The conversation digs into how HPMG has leveraged health care innovations to overcome access barriers across the islands.
Listeners will learn how deep community ties help build the trust needed to effectively support communities during natural disasters, like the devastating Lahaina wildfires. The episode highlights how cultivating deep community relationships and cultural understanding drives better patient outcomes both in the exam room and beyond.
Dr. Yang also discusses HPMG's proactive efforts to build a sustainable physician workforce, including growing their own talent through local training programs and providing robust support for clinician wellbeing.
In this episode of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, Chris Grant speaks with Ameya Kulkarni, MD, executive medical director of the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, about the future of physician-led, value-based care. The conversation explores how integrated care models can improve access, affordability, quality, and patient trust while reducing friction for both patients and physicians. Dr. Kulkarni also shares insights on physician well-being, meaningful work in medicine, and why rebuilding trust may be one of the most important investments in the future of health care.
In this episode of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, host Chris Grant, COO of The Permanente Federation, speaks with Letitia Bridges, MD, MBA, executive vice president and chief quality officer for The Permanente Federation and co-chair of Kaiser Permanente’s National Quality Committee.
Dr. Bridges shares a powerful and deeply human perspective on what it means to lead quality for one of the nation’s largest integrated care systems—where millions of patients rely on safe, evidence-based, empathetic, and coordinated care every day.
Together, they explore:
- Why quality is the North Star for Kaiser Permanente
- The role of prevention, evidence, and trust in delivering clinical excellence
- How systems of care improve outcomes in diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and more
- What patient-centered care looks like “from cradle to grave”
- The value-based model and why it drives nation-leading outcomes
- The challenges and opportunities facing healthcare today—from consumer expectations to regulatory disruption
- How demographic shifts (aging population, millennials) shape the future of care
- The role of AI and emerging technology in improving safety and effectiveness
- Why physician-led organizations deliver higher-quality care
- Her advice to the next generation of physicians and leaders
Dr. Bridges also shares a candid and lively glimpse into her life outside of medicine—raising three teenagers, exploring the outdoors, and finding joy, purpose, and balance amid it all.
Suicide is a deeply personal tragedy — and a pressing public health challenge. In this episode, we take a closer look at how health systems can lead meaningful change through prevention, early intervention, and compassion.
Dr. Pavan Somusetty, regional chief of mental health at Northwest Permanente and national leader for suicide prevention at Kaiser Permanente, joins Jackie Ryan, psychiatry practice director at Northwest Permanente and Zero Suicide program manager, to discuss how to change organizational culture around identifying patients, supporting them, and talking about suicide with them. They also share how to embed suicide prevention into all levels of the health system — even in non-mental health settings — using data, proactive screenings, and a comprehensive commitment to saving lives.
Together, they explore:
• What the evidence shows about what works
• How the Zero Suicide model is reducing suicide attempts
• Practical ways clinicians can better identify and support patients at risk
• The promise of AI and data analytics to strengthen prevention efforts
• The cultural shift needed to truly destigmatize mental health
It’s a conversation grounded in both expertise and empathy — because every life matters, and every encounter is an opportunity to help.
suicideprevention #suicide #zerosuicide #firearmssafety
AI and machine learning are at the forefront of transforming health care today — and when applied as value-based health care innovations that enhance the human touch and keep the patient in the center, they’re best positioned to set clinicians up for success.
Khang Nguyen, MD, chief transformation officer of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, discusses how AI can increase clinicians’ joy in medicine and improve patient outcomes with Chris Grant, chief operating offer and executive vice president of Kaiser Permanente, The Permanente Federation, and host of the Permanente Medicine Podcast.
The backdrop of rapid innovation, consolidation, and evolving patient needs means value-based care and its impact on medicine is changing. Think AI and robotics, emerging health disparities, and new corporate competitors challenging the status quo. What does all this mean for the present and future of patient-centered, integrated care?
In the 2024 season finale of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, Sachin Jain, MD, CEO of SCAN Group and SCAN Health Plan, joins Chris Grant, COO and executive vice president of Kaiser Permanente, The Permanente Federation, to survey the shifting landscape of the health care industry and explore its impact on patients and communities.
As health systems across the country are navigating clinician shortages, preparing the next generation of physician leaders is more important than ever. Innovation and transformation in medical education that trains early-career doctors for the modern workforce is essential to ensure that the practice of high-quality, integrated care remains strong.
In this episode of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, Chris Grant welcomes Ted O’Connell, MD, director of medical education for Kaiser Permanente Northern California and family medicine doctor for The Permanente Medical Group, and Lindia Willies-Jacobo, MD, senior associate dean for Admissions and Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity, and professor at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine in Southern California. Together, they survey the landscape of physician recruitment and retention, as well as share how Kaiser Permanente is working to address the clinician shortage.
On this episode of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, we dissect the emergence of AI and how Kaiser Permanente can use this technology to augment its approach to high-quality, patient-centered care. Brian Hoberman, MD, executive vice president and chief information officer for The Permanente Federation and chief information officer with The Permanente Medical Group and Ainsley MacLean, MD, chief medical information officer and chief AI officer for Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, join the show to share their perspectives on how AI can play a supportive role for medical practices.
The Permanente Medicine Podcast kicks off its 2024 season with this special extended episode featuring The Permanente Federation co-CEOs Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, and Ramin Davidoff, MD. Join the conversation with host Chris Grant, the Federation's chief operating officer, as the two physician executives share their leadership insights and vision for excellence when it comes to advancing the practice of Permanente Medicine. Dr. Ansari and Dr. Davidoff offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their co-CEO partnership and delve into some of the critical work taking place throughout the Permanente Medical Groups around improving patient outcomes, maintaining a human touch while adopting new technology, and supporting physician well-being, as the medical groups care for more than 12.5 million Kaiser Permanente members.
Through her first 100 days as co-CEO of The Permanente Federation and executive leader of 2 Permanente Medical Groups, Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, has been at the center of critical discussions focused on the present and future of health care. In this bonus episode of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, Dr. Ansari offers a glimpse into her areas of focus while supporting the work of nearly 24,000 Permanente physicians and 80,000 staff who serve 12.6 million Kaiser Permanente members. She also shares some of her keys to navigating this transformational period in medicine while championing Kaiser Permanente’s model for value-based integrated care.
A pandemic, social unrest, natural disasters, and rapid innovation are among the factors that have led health care to reevaluate what it means to provide equitable care. In this last episode of the 2023 season, Nkem Chukwumerije, MD, president and executive medical director of The Southeast Permanente Medical Group , and Ron Copeland, MD, senior vice president of National Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Policy for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, join host Chris Grant to discuss Kaiser Permanente’s latest equity, inclusion, and diversity efforts; examine how the medical community can better serve the underserved in health care; and reflect on their personal journeys in equity, inclusion, and diversity.
Program notes
· Learn more about Robert Livingston’s PRESS model for promoting racial equity in the workplace
· Find additional details on Kaiser Permanente’s equity principles and Belong@KP
· Watch a Permanente Live webinar on the future of equitable care
Over the last few years, health care has experienced rapid transformation and innovation. These changes have led to the increasing integration of technology into daily medical practices. This evolution brings both benefits and challenges that physicians and medical teams must navigate when caring for patients.
In this episode of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, host Chris Grant speaks with Ruth Chang, MD, family medicine physician and chief people officer for Northwest Permanente , and Ed Lee, MD, internist and executive vice president for information technology and chief information officer with The Permanente Federation, about the evolving dynamics of technology and its impact in health care. Listen to the discussion, including a look at the factors to consider for supporting physician well-being and analyzing how they fit in with the tremendous health care innovation that has taken place in recent years.
Program notes
- Watch a Permanente Live webinar recording: Supporting physician wellness through the COVID-19 pandemic
- Stanford Medicine’s WellMD Professional Fulfillment Model for physician well-being
- Learn more about the American Medical Association Health System Program
Emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, advanced care at home programs have evolved into a promising option for bringing hospital-level care directly to where patients live. In-home hospital-level care has the potential to make care more cost-effective while meeting growing consumer demands. Vivian Reyes, MD, regional medical director of Strategic Hospital Initiatives for The Permanente Medical Group in Northern California, and Margaret Paulson, DO, medical director for Advanced Care at Home and Home Health with Mayo Clinic, speak with host Chris Grant, chief operating officer of The Permanente Federation, about how these programs are growing and what the future has in store.
Program notes
- Learn more about Kaiser Permanente Care at Home
- View press release for Kaiser Permanente, Mayo Clinic investment in Medically Home
- Learn more about Mayo Clinic Advanced Care at Home
- Advanced Care at Home Coalition
So far in 2023, there has been an average of 1 mass shooting a day. In this episode of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, host Chris Grant, chief operating officer of The Permanente Federation, examines the relationship between gun violence and public health. Pavan Somusetty, MD, a psychiatrist specializing in suicide prevention and chief of Mental Health with Northwest Permanente, and Garen Wintemute, MD, director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at University of California, Davis, join the conversation and share their valuable perspectives on how to address this public health crisis of gun violence in America.
Program notes
- This episode was recorded in late January and references occurrences specific to that time frame.
- For more information on the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program, visit https://health.ucdavis.edu/vprp/.
- For more on the Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education.
The Permanente Medicine Podcast’s 2023 season kicks off with this episode looking at the latest advancements in quality care improvement. Host Chris Grant welcomes Nancy Gin, MD, executive vice president of Quality and chief quality officer of The Permanente Federation, and Kedar Mate, MD, president and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, as they explore the latest advancements and challenges facing the medical field.
Program notes
The following are programs referenced by the guests:
- Rise to Health Coalition (www.ihi.org)
- Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Joy In Work and Workforce Well-Being Program (www.ihi.org)
- Learning health systems from the National Academy of Medicine (nam.edu)
In this special edition of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, host Chris Grant talks with Permanente physician leader Richard S. Isaacs, MD, FACS, for Modern Healthcare’s Virtual Health Virtual Briefing. Dr. Isaacs serves as CEO and executive director, The Permanente Medical Group; president and CEO, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group; and co-CEO, The Permanente Federation. He discusses how health care delivery has evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic and what the future might hold for the field of medicine.
In this special edition of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, host Chris Grant shares an American Medical Association interview with Colin Cave, MD, medical director of External Affairs, Government Relations and Community Health at Northwest Permanente. Speaking with AMA Chief Experience Officer Todd Unger, Dr. Cave discusses how the medical community is treating climate change as a public health crisis.
In this special edition of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, host Chris Grant shares an American Medical Association interview with Colin Cave, MD, medical director of External Affairs, Government Relations and Community Health at Northwest Permanente. Speaking with AMA Chief Experience Officer Todd Unger, Dr. Cave discusses how the medical community is treating climate change as a public health crisis.
In the last episode of the 2022 Permanente Medicine podcast season, host Chris Grant, chief operating officer of The Permanente Federation, takes a closer look at the history and the origins of the Permanente Medical Groups – from their beginnings in the Kaiser Shipyards through the formation of The Permanente Federation and beyond. Jay Crosson, MD, founding executive director of The Permanente Federation and Paul Bernstein, MD, physician historian for The Permanente Federation, talk about the evolution of the Permanente Medical Groups and highlight some milestone moments that made the practice of Permanente Medicine what it is today. They also delve into the historic importance of The Permanente Federation, the national leadership and consulting organization for the medical groups. The Federation celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2022.
Host Chris Grant, chief operating officer of The Permanente Federation, puts on his sports cap for this episode of the Permanente Medicine podcast to discuss the intersection between athletics and medicine. Dr. Jason Brayley, Kaiser Permanente's medical director of sports medicine in Northern California and chief of sports medicine for Kaiser Permanente in Sacramento, and Doug Christie, an NBA coach and former player, join the show to share their unique perspectives. They discuss a range of topics including the connection between mental health and physical performance, COVID-19's impact on sports, and how to set yourself up for success when setting fitness goals.
Over the past few years, innovation in the use of technology to practice medicine has accelerated at an unprecedented rate. Host Chris Grant, chief operating officer of The Permanente Federation, talks about this dynamic with a leader in the information technology space. Dr. Geeta Nayyar, senior vice president and chief medical officer for Salesforce, helps examine the relationship between information technology and health care coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, its potential to drive better patient care, and what areas can be improved.
How can podcasting be used to elevate physician voices and help educate patients? Host Chris Grant talks with a couple of fellow health podcasters in this new episode. Dr. Katie Deming, radiation oncologist with Northwest Permanente and host of the Born to Heal podcast; and Scott Becker, founder and publisher of Becker's Healthcare and Becker's Hospital Review and host of the Becker's Healthcare Podcast, talk about the importance of elevating science-backed facts to public consciousness, trending topics in medicine, and sources of inspiration for their shows.
Kicking off the 2022 season of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, host Chris Grant examines the key role health systems play in supporting social and community health. Bechara Choucair, MD, senior vice president and chief health officer, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, and David Grossman, MD, interim vice president for social and community health, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, discuss leveraging Kaiser Permanente's unique model of care to address social determinants of health, how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated innovation in health care, and determining priorities now and in the future for addressing social and community health.
Program notes: -- 2-1-1 is a special abbreviated telephone number available to be used in communities to reach information about health and social services and referrals. -- Thrive Local is Kaiser Permanente's online social services resource directory for clinicians to connect patients with community resources and referrals.
In a special feature episode of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, host Chris Grant shares an American Medical Association interview with Permanente physician leader Stephen Parodi, MD, from its COVID-19 Update. Speaking with senior AMA chief experience officer Todd Unger, Dr. Parodi, associate executive director of The Permanente Medical Group, discusses the factors that signal a shift from pandemic to endemic.
Ramin Davidoff, MD, co-CEO of The Permanente Federation, came to the United States as a child after his family fled from Iran to escape the threat of violence and antisemitism. In the latest episode of the Permanente Medicine Podcast with Chris Grant, Dr. Davidoff shares insights on how he became a Permanente physician and ultimately assumed leadership positions during this pivotal time of the COVID-19 pandemic, significant social change, and a major shift in the practice of medicine.
In a special feature episode of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, host Chris Grant shares an American Medical Association (AMA) interview from its Moving Medicine Podcast featuring Permanente physician Marcus C. Griffith, MD. In a conversation with senior AMA news writer Sara Berg, Dr. Griffith, a psychiatrist and obesity medicine physician with The Southeast Permanente Medical Group, details the need for a unified effort among medical professionals around combatting COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. This interview originally aired on the AMA Moving Medicine Podcast.
In Part 2 of a special Permanente Medicine Podcast, host Chris Grant delves deeper into the topic of physician well-being with three Permanente physician wellness leaders. Together, they discuss keys to preventing physician burnout through the COVID-19 pandemic and examine how to support self-care in medicine moving forward.
Featured guests include:
• Dawn Clark, MD, obstetrician-gynecologist and chief wellness officer, Southern California Permanente Medical Group • Ashley Zucker, MD, psychiatrist, Southern California Permanente Medical Group • Reggie Mason, MD, pulmonologist and physician lead for total health and inculturation, The Southeast Permanente Medical Group
This is the second of a two-part podcast. (Listen to episode 14 for Part 1.)
If you have a mental health emergency, the National Suicide Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-273-8255.
As physicians work toward reaching the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting their wellness and preventing burnout becomes increasingly critical. In this episode of the Permanente Medicine Podcast with host Chris Grant, three Permanente physician wellness leaders discuss the emotional toll of addressing a pandemic and what can be done to support doctors and clinicians.
Featured guests include:
• Dawn Clark, MD, obstetrician-gynecologist and chief wellness officer, Southern California Permanente Medical Group • Ashley Zucker, MD, psychiatrist, Southern California Permanente Medical Group • Reggie Mason, MD, pulmonologist and physician lead for total health and inculturation, The Southeast Permanente Medical Group
This is the first of a two-part podcast.
If you have a mental health emergency, the National Suicide Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-273-8255.
In this episode of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, host Chris Grant delves into the topic of COVID-19 vaccine distribution – key learnings, significant milestones, and the path ahead to reach herd immunity. Tinisha Cheatham, DO, physician in chief of the Kaiser Permanente Baltimore service area; and Craig Robbins, national co-leader of Kaiser Permanente’s vaccination program; share their experience around raising vaccine awareness, developing partnerships with health agencies and community groups, and increasing advocacy among fellow physicians.
In this episode, host Chris Grant chats remotely with Susan Bailey, MD, and Margaret Ferguson, MD, MBA, to discuss their leadership path and advancing women in health care. Dr. Ferguson, a pediatric hospitalist and president and executive medical director of the Colorado Permanente Medical Group; and Dr. Bailey, an allergist and immunologist and president of the American Medical Association; touch on challenges they faced on the road to becoming prominent leaders in their fields, important trends for women in medicine, and advice for young physicians starting out on their career paths.
In this special bonus episode of the Permanente Medicine Podcast with Chris Grant, we go to our archives for an interview with Imelda Dacones, MD, president and CEO of Northwest Permanente, which was taped prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Dacones delves into her journey to becoming a physician leader and key areas of public interest where doctors can add their voices to the debate.
The Permanente Medicine Podcast with host Chris Grant returns with a behind-the-scenes look at Kaiser Permanente’s COVID-19 response from 2 Permanente physician leaders who have played key roles. Stephen Parodi, MD, associate executive director of The Permanente Medical Group and Kaiser Permanente’s national infectious disease leader, and Edward Lee, MD, executive vice president and chief information officer of The Permanente Federation, join Grant remotely to share their perspectives on innovations in patient care, lessons learned, and silver linings from the pandemic.
Podcast host Chris Grant continues his conversation with former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, MD. In the second part of their interview, Dr. Carmona reflects on his political career, including a poignant conversation with the late U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy. He also tackles some of the difficult health issues facing Americans today, including vaping.
In the first episode of Season 2, podcast host Chris Grant interviews long-time friend and former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, MD. Currently chief of health innovations at Canyon Ranch, Dr. Carmona dives into his incredible life story — from growing up in New York's Spanish Harlem, experiencing homelessness, being a combat-decorated Vietnam veteran, and becoming the nation's 17th U.S. Surgeon General. He also discusses the government's role in addressing adverse childhood experiences, as well as the moments and mentors that were pivotal to him along his unconventional road to success.
Is there a role for social media in the doctor's office? In the last episode of Season 1, podcast host Chris Grant interviews Permanente physicians Amanda Williams, MD, MPH, and Najeh Ahmad, MD, MPH of The Permanente Medical Group in Northern California to discuss the value of physician presence on social media. The physicians share their experiences building a community on Twitter, their thoughts on the importance of a physician presence on social media, and what they’d like to learn from the next generation of doctors.
Kaiser Permanente is launching a new school of medicine in summer 2020, and in this episode, podcast host Chris Grant chats with Mark Schuster, MD, PhD, founding dean and CEO of the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine. They talk about advice to future medical students, fighting burnout in medical school, innovative technology planned for the school's curriculum, and the importance of health systems science.
More than 1,000 people per day are treated for improper use of prescription opioids, and the federal government has declared an opioid epidemic in the United States. Podcast host Chris Grant interviews Sameer Awsare, MD and Carol Forster, MD, about the opioid epidemic and physician-led initiatives that have safely and responsibly helped patients manage pain.
Dr. Awsare is an internist and associate executive director for The Permanente Medical Group, and leader of its opioid initiative. Dr. Forster is a trained pharmacist, primary care physician, and recently retired physician director of Pharmacy & Therapeutics and Medication Safety for the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group. An expert in pharmaceutical policy and practice, she has also served in many other capacities, including having testified in front of the U.S. Senate on opioid policy, representing Kaiser Permanente on the National Quality Forum's Opioid Action Team, and serving on the Virginia Governor’s Task Force on Opioid and Heroin Use.
Ceci Connolly, president and CEO of the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP), joins podcast host Chris Grant to talk about how health systems that involve a partnership between health plan and physicians can foster efficiency in care, and the dealing with the challenges of lag time from research and bringing evidence-based care to the doctor's office.
A former national correspondent for the Washington Post, Connolly currently works with some of the most innovative executives in the health sector to facilitate and improve the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, affordable care.
In Part 2 of our conversation with Edward M. Ellison, MD, we learn more about how Permanente Medicine is the answer to health and health care in America, physician leadership styles, the importance of inclusion in health care, and finding solutions to the nation's opioid epidemic.
Edward M. Ellison, MD, executive medical director and chairman of the board for Southern California Permanente Medical Group and chairman and CEO of The Southeast Permanente Medical Group, shares what it takes to become a physician, how doctors should practice self care to avoid physician burnout, and early plans for the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine.
Dr. Ellison is also co-CEO of The Permanente Federation, a consortium of all the Permanente Medical Groups in the nation, supporting the work of more than 22,000 Permanente physicians and 80,000 employees.
Podcast host Chris Grant interviews Richard S. Isaacs, MD, FACS, on the challenges facing health care, what it takes to be an inspiring physician leader, stepping into his leadership roles with The Permanente Medical Group and Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, and the biggest health care innovation to come.
Dr. Isaacs, named one of Modern Healthcare’s "Top 50 Most Influential Physician Executives and Leaders" for 2018, serves as CEO and executive director, The Permanente Medical Group; president and CEO, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group; and co-CEO, The Permanente Federation.