The world of investing, investor culture, startup culture, Series-B rounds, and cap tables are foreign concepts to many people, especially me. And to further reinforce my "fish out of water" status in this particular sector of the life sciences industry, I doubled down by welcoming Deanna Dammers to join me live in-studio at OffScrip Health HQ, whom I have christened "The VC Whisperer." Deanna possesses a rare breed of communications skills in the investor relations world, in addition to growing her portfolio as VP of Investor Relations for Kiffik Biomedical, an innovative new digital health platform transforming remote patient monitoring. She is also an avid animal lover and smart as a whip. Hear if you can spot her nervousness, as this was her first podcast interview. Enjoy the show.

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Today's modern-day pharmacist faces very different challenges, especially given America's rural health crisis. Everything from access and resourcing to burnout and pricing, patients are more dependent than ever on the relationship with their local pharmacist. Joining Matthew on today's episode is Eddilisa Martin, PharmD, owner & CEO, and Clara Health/M&B Sciences. She is the first in her family to graduate from college and the first African-American to receive a PharmD from the University of Oklahoma's College of Pharmacy. Having spent over 25 years in the life science industry, including 20 years as a national clinical executive for the life science sector, Eddilisa shares her extraordinary story and unique perspectives on navigating the nonsense of pharmacy benefits and COA assistance and preauthorizations and syllables that drive us crazy. Enjoy the show.

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I am privileged to have lived an unordinary life. No one asks to get sick, yet here we are, drafted into a life born of our condition, fueled by the right amount of rage and disappointment, and motivated to do our best to plug the holes in the dam that we can.

From fixing Macs in the 1990s at Omnicom, giving piano concerts for the American Cancer Society, sitting on the Advisory Board of Google Health, volunteering for the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, kicking off Health2.0, and moonlighting with Stand Up To Cancer, to founding Stupid Cancer, hosting The Stupid Cancer Show, producing the OMG! Cancer Summit and CancerCon, and reinventing myself with #OutOfPatients and OffScrip Health, it's been a very "Forrest Gump-ish" ride.

Hearing "Write a book!" was a near-weekly suggestion throughout those years, yet I never felt it was the right time. The shelves in my office at Stupid Cancer featured hundreds of books, wall-to-wall. Human lives put to paper, some of whom are no longer with us.

Well, now it's time – and it's official.

For the past year, I've been in a stealth mode partnership with award-winning collaborative writer Debra Ollivier to create an extraordinary—and wholly original—book proposal. Together, with representation by literary agent Amanda Annis, at Trident Media Group, I am ecstatic to announce that "Permission To Be Pissed: A Practical Field Guide To American Healthcare" sold to Mayo Clinic Press.

Note: This is not a memoir.

Like "The Cancer Mavericks: A History of Survivorship," my book will tell the story of American Healthcare as it pertains to history, activism, progress, and how ordinary citizens can change the world one act at a time. Stories of those upon whose shoulders I stand, as well as today's advocates working on behalf of one patient or one million.

A comedy book at its core, coupled with some "Dummies" ethos, and brainless explainers, I envision a world where it lives in the back pocket of every American who has been screwed by healthcare or is hoping not to get screwed in advance.

It is time to stop depending on the industry to bend toward justice. It is time for all Americans to know all of the secret tips, tricks, and hacks hiding in plain sight and for the unsilent minority of patient advocates to have our voices and our stories heard by Millions of Americans.

Stay tuned.

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Vanessa M. Rissetto, MS, RD, CDN, goes toe-to-toe with Matthew Zachary in a quick-witted battle of wry sarcasm, dark comedy, and GenX nostalgia in this throwback episode about life before the Internet when food, in general, was less horrible and how a BA in History transformed her into a Certified Dietitian Nutritionist. As the CEO and Co-Founder of Culina Health. she and her team offer personalized virtual nutrition care from experts you can trust – and it's covered by insurance, no less. They're reinventing what it means to work with a nutritionist without guilt, shame, or gimmicks. Learn more at https://culinahealth.com.

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[FANBOY ALERT] For most healthcare geeks, Andy Slavitt may be best known as the Former Acting Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). For millions more, he is the podcast hero we didn't know we needed and the one we so clearly deserved as the host of Lemonada Media's award-winning podcast, "In The Bubble with Andy Slavitt."

Launched just before the world went to shit in early 2020, In The Bubble became a literal voice of reason while we were sanitizing our Amazon boxes and fighting for toilet paper at Costco as if they were Cabbage Patch Kids in the 1980s. A weekly vocal elixir of sorts, Andy and his storied dry wit blended healthcare policy, layman's breakdowns, and human vulnerability with a healthy splash of entertainment thanks to such early guests as Tina Fey, Al Franken, and Matthew McConaughey. Each episode brought — and still brings —a little structure and sanity to an otherwise chaotic world. Today, Andy is currently USofCare Co-Founder and Board Chair Emeritus and still fighting the system for the benefit of all Americans to get less screwed by our broken healthcare system,.

In the Bubble has been on my Mount Rushmore of podcasts since day one. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Dr. Sejal Vyas is a Pediatric and Adult Neuropsychologist with 25 years of experience who performs neuropsychological evaluations, legal/forensic assessments, learning consultations, and cognitive remediation. Her areas of expertise include neurodevelopmental syndromes (such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and other genetic conditions), neurologic syndromes (such as concussions, traumatic brain injury, and epilepsy), as well as other neuropsychiatric conditions (such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder). She has an established track record working with children, adolescents, and young adults and is set to partner with New York State on some groundbreaking research and programming later this year.

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For today's special 300th episode, Matthew talks among himself, reflecting with gratitude on how it all started and how it's still a thing. No guests; just Matthew and his thoughts. (Which, while usually an alchemical recipe for disaster, turns out pretty good this time around. Thank you to everyone who has helped bring this show into existence and believes in its mission, purpose, and impact.

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In today's episode, Matthew fanboys out a bit, visiting Central Park SOLE for an interview with Board Certified Foot Surgeon and the star of the hit TLC show, "My Feet Are Killing Me." Dr. Brad Schaeffer.

Spoiler: There's a lot of talk about feet. Before Brad became a famous TV star, he began life raised in rural America and has been very open about his struggle with his sexual identity within a traditional and religious community. He found his true self and, only recently, bravely and publicly chose to come out to America about who he is.

In pursuing a career in podiatry, he trained at a Comprehensive Foot & Ankle Reconstructive Surgical Residency Program at Hoboken University Medical Center and crafted his skillset in cutting-edge surgical techniques and regenerative medicine.

There is so much to love about this man, what he stands for, and why—after listening to this episode—you should watch TLC's My Feet Are Killing Me and see for yourself. Brad practices Hippocrates daily and embodies the spirit and practice of what it means to truly care for the patient first.

He's also pretty awesome. 

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Mental health is an umbrella term that spans a spectrum of severity. But when it comes to treatment-resistant major depressive disorder, it's a whole other ball game. A former healthcare communications executive, Jon Nelson is a living, breathing example of hope and progress in the mental health ecosystem. Joining Jon is Dr. Helen Mayberg, a neurologist, and psychiatrist at the Nash Family Center for Advanced Circuit Therapeutics. Learn how the latest advances in Deep brain stimulation (DBS) practically cure suicidal patients like Jon, but not without a considerable asterisk around access, approval loopholes, coverage, emerging skepticism, and, of course, massive stigma.

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One might not inherently presume to put the words "Verizon" and "Healthcare" in sequential order, but that is precisely what Gary Lynch is here to talk about. The former 80s compute nerd, and professional strongman competitor is the Global Practice Lead for Verizon's Healthcare and Life Sciences Vertical. Proving that the communications giant is more than just cell phones, we talk about how the future of telehealth and rural health depends more on telecommunications infrastructure than we ever perceived. You'll also hear how Verizon implements health literacy and education initiatives nationwide with the most unlikely retail partners. That, and a healthy dose of 80s references.

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This ad-free episode of Out of Patients is made possible by the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for community oncology practices and, most importantly, the patients they serve. COA is the only organization dedicated solely to community oncology, where most Americans with cancer receive treatment. Learn more at https://timetoscreen.org.

In today's episode, Matthew is joined by Debra Patt, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, a practicing oncologist and breast cancer specialist in Austin, Texas, and an executive vice president of Texas Oncology with responsibilities in healthcare policy and strategic initiatives. She is an active leader in breast cancer and research in healthcare informatics.

Their conversation ranges from cancer screenings, medical burnout, and COVID's impact on society to physician self-care, rural health challenges, and the mandatory dosage of 80s pop culture references.

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What happens when the agency veteran has healthcare land in her lap? How might a decades-long marketing and healthcare communications background inform perspective, self-advocacy, decision-making, and the digestion of medical and support-related communications? Well, the answer may surprise you. KayAnn Schoeneman is the President of Curley Company and a young adult survivor of colon cancer. Her advocacy focuses heavily on prevention, testing, and screenings before recommended age. Her agency's client work evocates her belief in giving back while digging deep into purpose-driven social justice causes.

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When the doctor says, "go home," that isn't the end of the story, especially when you're navigating your adolescence and young adulthood against the grain when all of your cohorts go off to live their lives. Emily Parks is the founder of POP!, a growing community of patients living with rare and/or chronic illnesses who also identify as living with Medical PTSD. She is a fiercely vocal rare disease advocate and a chronically ill young adult making waves with her highly vocal activism. Today, Emily is the Massachusetts Pilot Director for the Health Advocacy Summit and the secretary of MedStar Georgetown Hospital's Patient & Family Advisory Council for Quality and Safety. For more about POP! visit https://popmedicalptsd.org.

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Among the many cool things I love about my job interviewing amazing people is when I interview amazing people who also went to my alma mater, Binghamton University. Or what, as alumni of the 80s and 90s, will always refer to as SUNY Binghamton. (Sorry, not sorry.)

Amy Gittelman fits both bills and happily took the hot seat to discuss why Pharma marketing sucks. what "digital media" meant back when AOL floppy disks were filling up our landfills, and, to get real for a moment, what it's like when your sister is diagnosed with Stage 2B Ovarian Cancer.

Caregiving is an art form, and, in many cases, it can make all the difference in the quality of life experienced by a cancer patient. All the more reason for driving her purpose and passion while leading the first virtual patient acquisition platform leveraging the telehealth and virtual care industry.

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Jessica Spangler, aka eCommJess, is a clinical pharmacist and first responder by day and a human cheat sheet for managing finances in her spare time. Health literacy is financial literacy, and even after working grueling hours in the ER and managing burnout, Jess takes to TikTok to proffer tips, tricks, shortcuts, loopholes, and sometimes basic civics to her millions of followers. Did you know you have negotiating power over your bill if your hospital is a nonprofit? Did you know that your credit score can be affected by financial toxicity? Probably not. eCommJess is the expert you never knew you needed to untangle yourself when healthcare (or anything else) comes to mess up your life. For more about Jess, visit her website and follow her on TikTok, where she does a great job talking to herself.

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Christina Merrill is the Founder & CEO of the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to support patients, their families, and caregivers every step of the way during a cancer diagnosis or bone marrow transplant. She is also the creator of Cancer Buddy, a social support network mobile app for people facing cancer. She joined Matthew in-studio to discuss, among other things, the intrinsic need to end isolation, connect with a community that knows what you're going through and unite to support each other through our collective experiences. As of this recording, Cancer Buddy is available for free for iOS devices in the app store.

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Dr. Sudhir Gadh is a board-certified psychiatrist and Commander in the US Navy Reserve. He is also Medical Director for the Center for Recovery and Wellness, with a core focus on low-dose Lithium, as a comprehensive approach for patients to improve brain function. Joining Matthew live in-studio, they talk about our nation is failing to address the mental health crisis, empathy in medicine, physician burnout, ongoing stigma, and, most interestingly, the history of 7-Up. You heard that right. In his words, “Psychiatry is about understanding and adjusting your life story towards progress.” Enjoy the show.

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Marie Wilda is an American advocate and true champion for the independent pharmacist. While not one herself, her career experience in the sector, coupled with her unbridled passion in rallying for the voice of the independent pharmacist, has put her on the map as one of the more outspoken voices in the country. Her years of military experience with the US Navy provided her with the skills and discipline needed to advocate nationally for one of the most trusted professions in healthcare. But how can Americans support their local pharmacists? Enjoy the show.

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Stand-up comedian Ben Freeberg is a young adult survivor of testicular cancer. In 2022, he turned his pain into purpose, leveraging his career in finance, and launched create Oncology Ventures, an early-stage, cancer-focused venture fund investing in start-ups whose purpose is to fundamentally change the way cancer care is designed and delivered at scale. As Managing Partner, Ben oversees pretty much everything while working his way into the world of cancer advocacy, start-up culture, and the sometimes dark underbelly of the role non-profits play (or don't play) in the space. I know this is a first-of-its-kind venture, so time will tell if everyone else is as intelligent as Ben hopes they are.

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Bryan Cush and Brian Dragich are the co-founders of Tidal Health, an agency that focuses on healthcare and practice management. Their job is to help their practices better navigate the nonsense that patients face, like scheduling, wait times, EMR distractions, insurance nightmares, billing, overall satisfaction, and more. So, whether it's reputation management or showcasing medical expertise, their track record is fascinating, with some really interesting case studies showing how they are genuinely making healthcare suck less. For more information, visit https://www.tidalhealthgroup.com/

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