News & Stories

Episode 132: A Year in Healthcare: Hard Truths, New Hope

This episode flips the script as producer Jimmie Markham interviews host Dan Karnuta about the year’s biggest healthcare themes. They revisit discussions from previous episodes on AI governance, operational adoption, workforce resistance, healthcare education pipelines, insurance pitfalls, nursing workflow redesign and physician well-being. Karnuta emphasizes that rapid technological change demands strong communication, thoughtful change management and a workforce prepared to partner with AI.

They also explore deeper systemic issues, including healthcare’s “klugeocracy” — a system built on decades of quick fixes. Despite the complexity and inefficiency this creates, Karnuta ends on a hopeful note: the industry is talking openly about its challenges, experimenting with new solutions and developing leaders committed to improving the system.

Karnuta is an associate professor in the Naveen Jindal School of Management’s Organizations, Strategy and International Management Area as well as director of its Professional Program in Healthcare Management.

Nov. 21, 2025

Episode 131: Healing the Healers — Restoring Purpose and Leadership in Medicine

In this episode of The Business of Healthcare Podcast, host Dan Karnuta welcomes Don Taylor, director of the Alliance for Physician Leadership at The University of Texas at Dallas’ Naveen Jindal School of Management, for a discussion about Taylor’s new book, Healing. They discuss how the U.S. healthcare system fails to support physicians’ well-being, both mentally and spiritually. Taylor describes how doctors struggle with the stress, isolation and burnout of leadership expectations although they do not get trained in that aspect of their careers.

They also discuss how the U.S. healthcare system prioritizes profit over true health, creating a structure where sickness — not wellness — drives revenue, leaving doctors feeling voiceless and disconnected from their calling.

Karnuta is an associate professor in the Naveen Jindal School of Management’s Organizations, Strategy and International Management Area as well as director of its Professional Program in Healthcare Management.

Oct. 28, 2025

Episode 130: Reimagining Nursing Through Innovation and Technology

In this episode, host Dan Karnuta speaks with Dr. Terry McDonnell, chief nursing officer at Duke University Health System. They focus on how technology is reshaping the nursing profession. They discuss workforce retention, supporting nurses who are new to the profession and initiatives such as innovation units, virtual care centers and ambient voice recognition. They also also explore the future of home-based care, wearable technology, ethical AI use and programs like healthcare high schools to help strengthen tomorrow’s workforce.

Karnuta is an associate professor in the Naveen Jindal School of Management’s Organizations, Strategy and International Management Area as well as director of its Professional Program in Healthcare Management.

August 28, 2025

Episode 129: Centering Humans in Healthcare AI Implementation Basic Details

This episode explores how artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare, emphasizing that success depends more on people and processes than on the technology itself. Host Dan Karnuta and guest Dr. Matt Brubaker, chairman and CEO of healthcare consulting firm FMG Leading, discusses implementation challenges, fear of change and the importance of aligning AI adoption with organizational strategy, leadership and mission.

Karnuta is an associate professor in the Naveen Jindal School of Management’s Organizations, Strategy and International Management Area as well as director of its Professional Program in Healthcare Management.

July 25, 2025

Episode 128: Alternative Health Plans: Do You Know the Risk?

In this episode of The Business of Healthcare Podcast, Becky Greenfield, a healthcare attorney and a partner at boutique law firm Wolfe Pincavage, joins host Dan Karnuta for a discussion about the complexities and risks associated with alternative health plans that are not mandated by the Affordable Care Act. Plans like healthcare sharing ministries, limited benefit plans and short-term insurance can appear similar to conventional healthcare insurance but they lack essential consumer protections like coverage for pre-existing conditions, essential health benefits, and balance-billing safeguards.

Although these plans are attractive due to their lower costs, they can can result in significant out-of-pocket expenses and limited provider networks. The conversation also highlights the challenges the hospitals face when treating patients with these plans, including confusion over payment responsibilities and financial risk due to underpayment or denials.

Karnuta is an associate professor in the Naveen Jindal School of Management’s Organizations, Strategy and International Management Area as well as director of its Professional Program in Healthcare Management.

May 20, 2025