Episodes

Today I talk to global citizen, digital diplomat, and health entrepreneur Sehreen Noor Ali. Sehreen left her job as a technology executive to become a caretaker for her daughter, who was diagnosed with a serious pediatric illness. Seeing the pitfalls of healthcare up close, Sehreen was compelled to launch Sleuth, a database that crowdsources the experiences of parents of sick children. She worked for Obama. She speaks five languages. Her EQ score is off the charts. She’s an award-winning tech innovator. And she’s a fierce mama bear, which is why she named her company Sleuth (sleuth is the name of a group of bears). Between healthcare topics, we talk about the blunders of Crystal Pepsi, Die Hard, and startup culture. For more information, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, and @OffScripHealth on Twitter.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FDA, No effing way! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today I speak with Anne Marie Mercurio, a firebrand patient research advocate. She comes to her line of work with lots of personal experience as both a patient and a patient caregiver. She survived her Stage-3 cancer diagnosis, but she watched both of her parents die from the disease. And that’s why Anne is so committed to making sure patients come first in all medical decision-making. She’s funny, she’s fiery, and she’s highly effective in her deployment of F-bombs. Follow her on Twitter at chemobrainfog. For more information, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, and @OffScripHealth on Twitter. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special episode of Vax On, Matthew Zachary and Elura Nanos talk with Ms. Information and Krishna Stone from Gay Men's Health Crisis, the world's first HIV/AIDS service organization. They Discuss Ms. Information's unique approach to busting myths and how the LGBTQ community has been affected by COVID-19. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the show, I talk to Effie Parks, a fierce podcaster raising a child with a rare disease. After giving birth to her first child, Ford, Effie was dismissed by the medical community over concerns she had about her son's health. Almost a year later, Ford was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called CTNNB1 syndrome, which impairs speech and neurodevelopment. Effie had no handbook and no one to turn to, so she picked up a microphone and sounded the rallying cry for parents of disabled children and other caregivers. Her podcast, Once Upon a Gene, won the 2021 WEGO Health Award Winner for Best in Show: Podcast. Effie's here to talk about growing up in Montana, why language matters, and all of life's unexpected pivots. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Obama has Covid, China has Covid, and school HVACs have Covid. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Tania Small is the Vice President and Global Medical Oncology Head at GSK. She started her career as a pediatric oncologist and realized that her passion for helping patients would drastically accelerate by transitioning to the R&D side of healthcare. She did just that, as you'll hear in this episode when she describes how it felt to see her first FDA-approved medication prescribed to treat thousands more patients than she could have ever helped individually. Her latest passion is serving th...

On the show today, I talk to Zach Fink, CEO and Co-Founder at VyTrac, a telehealth company. Zach started his career out as an EMT before using his emergency medical skills as a disaster relief worker. Deeply passionate about healthcare access, he founded VyTrac to use remote technology to bring medical services to underserved populations. Zach is ALSO passionate about ’90s pop culture so we go deep on everything millennial from the proto-Internet to Olive Garden breadsticks and boy bands before we seamlessly transition to a discussion on the dark underbelly of our health care system, NBD. For more information, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, and @OffScripHealth on Twitter. Follow Zach on Twitter @FinkingOutLoud1. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we’re dropping a very special bonus episode. Out of Patients is just one of many shows on the OffScrip Health network – and we want to make sure all of our excellent podcasts are on your radar! The Heart of Healthcare is a show that explores the social determinants of health, including our food system, housing, climate change, and more. It’s hosted by long-time healthcare advocate Halle Tecco. Halle recently had the opportunity to welcome Mark Cuban to the show.  The two hit it off and talked about the soaring costs of prescription drugs and his new venture – Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The return of Queen Elizabeth, the importance of curmudgeon filters, and our incredible shrinking brains. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today I talk to Carly Flumer, two-time thyroid cancer survivor, Director of Medical Engagement at MMG, and Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer torch bearer. Carly was diagnosed with stage I, metastatic papillary thyroid cancer in January 2017 at the age of 27. She went through treatment, got her masters degree in health communication, and has been blowing up the twitterverse and blogosphere with her story and advice on how to manage a cancer diagnosis.  For information on us, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, and @OffScripHealth on Twitter.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ukraine is going through a lot right now… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today I speak with Frank Licciardi, a cancer survivor and an award-winning healthcare advocate. Frank was diagnosed with metastatic gastric cancer in his early thirties and given a one percent probability of survival. Not only did he beat the odds, but he’s 12 years cancer-free. Since then, Frank left his job in finance to serve as Chair Emeritus of the “Patient and Family Advisory Council for Quality” at Memorial Sloan Kettering, where he underwent his cancer treatment. And in 2020 Frank won the United Hospital Fund’s Excellence in Health Care Award. He’s here to talk about life without a stomach, Italian mothers, life without a stomach when you have an Italian mother, and his passion for patient-centered care and end-of-life issues. For more information, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, and @OffScripHealth on Twitter.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

England and Ikea have a lot in common... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On the show today I speak with Mel Mann, the longest living person who participated in the clinical trial for Gleevec. When Mel Mann was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia at age 37 in 1995, he was told he had three years to live. But he’s here some 26 years later and still going strong. Mel served as a major in the U.S. Army.  He kickstarted blood marrow drives all across the country. He started running marathons to raise money for cancer research. He went back to school to become a high school English teacher. And now Mel serves as a cancer advocate and patient activist. He's here to talk about his epic journey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trudeau, the calming magic of stroking sheep, and Super Bowl lunacy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On the show today, I speak with Alan Russell, Vice President of Research at Amgen. He’s got a long list of esteemed creds: He previously served as the Highmark Distinguished Career Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Director of the Disruptive Health Technology Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. He is the Founding Director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. He received the U.S. Army’s Greatest Invention Award, three Carnegie Awards for Excellence, and Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Dr. Russell #32 on the “Top 100 People Who Will Change America” list. Despite being a baller of the highest order, Alan Russell talks about the importance of humility, starting his career on the factory floor, and how to master serendipity. He’s not great at doing a southern accent but he has practically mastered everything else. Enjoy the show! For more information, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, a…

Got orange sauce? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today I talk to patient advocate, digital health influencer, and podcasting maven Grace Vinton. She hosts HITeaWithGrace on the HIT Like a Girl podcast, which celebrates women leaders in healthcare and health IT. She’s the smartest person in the room at any given time and she’s here to let us in on how the sausage gets made in the medical tech world.  Follow Grace @HITeaWithGrace on Twitter.  For more information, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, and @OffScripHealth on Twitter.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I talk to David and Robin Dubin, founders of the cancer advocacy organization AliveAndKickn, about Biden's new Cancer Moonshot initiative, which aims to reduce cancer deaths by half over the next 25 years. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Be well, John Spartan... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gil Bashe, the Nostradamus of healthcare (says Matthew), predicted the rise of digital health in 2000 with his book Branding Health Services: Defining Yourself in the Marketplace. In addition to being an ordained rabbi and former combat medic, Gil is a patient advocate, a champion of health innovation, and a promoter of human compassion. He currently serves as the Chair of Global Health at Finn Partners, a marketing agency, where he advocates for brands that improve the lives and health of their communities. Gil talks about the need to put more care into healthcare, the importance of being present, and books that are at his bedside. For more information, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, and @OffScripHealth on Twitter.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You’d have to CBD it to believe it… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today I talk to Michael Buller, the Senior Director of Content and Creative Services at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He’s a ten-year cancer survivor, a SUNY alum, writer, editor, and media producer. And Michael oversees Dana Farber’s amazing new podcast Unraveled about the mysteries of the science of cancer. He talks about the show and the importance of speaking human to patients. For more information, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, and @OffScripHealth on Twitter.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.