Insurance jargon makes most people run the other way—until they need it. In this episode of The MedList, Kevin and Donna sit down with Kristen Rivers, JD (SVP of Sales, Pareto Health) to break down employer-sponsored insurance in plain English. They explore why costs keep rising, what “ownership vs. policyholder” really means, how transparency changes everything, and practical ways employers and employees can work together to build better benefits—without sacrificing care.

What if technology could make healthcare feel more personal instead of more complicated? In this episode of The Med List, Kevin and Donna talk with Percipio Health CEO and co-founder Eric Rock about how artificial intelligence and smartphones can support patients and clinicians without replacing the human connection at the heart of care.

Eric shares how his work has evolved from improving efficiency in emergency departments to building tools that help people stay healthier at home—using technology that’s already in their hands. Together, they explore how AI can help patients feel more supported between visits, how care teams can stay connected to what really matters in a person’s daily life, and why trust must come before innovation.

From scanning vitals with a simple selfie to helping clinicians better understand medication use and mental well-being, this conversation shows how AI can be used thoughtfully—to listen, to guide, and to bring patients and providers closer together.

This episode isn’t about machines taking over healthcare.
It’s about using technology to make care more compassionate, more accessible, and more centered on the people who need it most.

Dr. Brad Anderson—AT&T Endowed Professor of Telemedicine at Oklahoma State University (OSU)—joins The Med List to show what virtual care looks like when it’s built for real-world rural medicine. We unpack how OSU places remote clinicians throughout rural communities to reduce costs and keep care close to home. You’ll also hear how school-based telehealth is improving attendance and speeding up treatment, why “shared visits” allow family members to join from anywhere, and how wearables + AI tools could reshape workflow without losing the human touch.

After a personal hormone “wake-up call” that led to 10 medications and ultimately surgery, Melinda Fowler — The Hormonal Pharmacist — set out to change how women understand hormones, preimentopause and menopause. If you’ve ever been told “your labs are normal” but you feel anything but normal, know this episode is for you. Women are often dismissed during perimenopause and menopause because of a perfect storm of historical, educational, and systemic failures — not because their symptoms aren’t real. We unpack the fallout of the WHI study, how to test hormones correctly, and how to make informed decisions about HRT—without fear, hype, or guesswork.

In this season kickoff of The MedList, we’re joined by Dr. Benjamin Schwartz—orthopedic surgeon turned physician executive and SVP at Commons Clinic—to explore what happens when specialty care is built around outcomes, not volume. We talk about the real-world shifts behind value-based care: optimizing patients before surgery, reducing complications through smarter medication strategies, and how weight loss can dramatically change joint health. Dr. Schwartz also shares how AI and simple tools like automated post-op texts can extend the doctor-patient relationship beyond the clinic—improving recovery, preventing avoidable ER visits, and bringing trust back to care.

This is the last week to review and enroll in Medicare Open Enrollment for 2026! Learn about changes and important items to consider when picking a plan. And while you have your med list in front of you, it’s a great time to have a medication review.

Learn how an entire telehealth team is Impacting patient care through better access and health outcomes

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Jennifer Mondillo, Clinical Associate Professor and Track Coordinator for the Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner program at Villanova University. With expertise spanning geriatrics, neurology, and healthcare leadership, Dr. Mondillo shares how emotional intelligence and effective leadership can transform the quality of care for aging populations. From her years of teaching and research to her hands-on clinical experience, Dr. Mondillo offers wisdom on bridging the gap between knowledge and compassionate practice.