Newsletter
HITea With Grace

HITea With Grace

Where we spilll the tea on HIT

Erica Olenski Spills the Tea on the Texas Medicaid “Unwinding”

Welcome to HITea With Grace, where we dive deep into the heart of pressing healthcare issues. In today's episode, I'm beyond honored to be joined by friend and inspiration Erica Olenski, a stellar healthcare communications professional and the Founding Executive Director of August's Artists. We embark on a heartfelt journey as Erica shares her deeply personal and challenging experience as a caregiver for her son, August, navigating pediatric cancer and the complexities of the healthcare system.  Erica had firsthand experience with the Texas Medicaid "unwinding" process, unveiling the profound challenges faced by families like hers - losing necessary coverage without anyone to turn to. Through her narrative, we glean insight into the bureaucratic hurdles and systemic issues that jeopardize the continuity of care for children like August, whose medical needs demand unwavering support. As the dialogue broadens, Erica articulates the critical role of Medicaid coverage for families grappling with pediatric cancer and other serious conditions. She underscores the disruptive impact of coverage interruptions and advocates for improvements in the Medicaid enrollment and renewal process to safeguard against future crises.  Erica's advocacy work and organizational initiatives, such as August's Artists, memorializing and cherishing the patient artwork inside the hospital room, serve as beacons of hope, offering solace and support to families in their healthcare journey. Please consider supporting the work this critical organization is doing: https://www.augustsartists.org/
May 7, 2024

Dr. Stacey Johnston Spills the Tea on Automating Medication Reconciliation During a Transitioning to Epic

Welcome to HITea Tuesday, where we spill the tea on HIT. This week we have Stacey Johnston, MD, VP Vice President Chief Applications Officer at Baptist Health with us to share about her transitioning their disparate EHRs to EPIC and deciding to also automate medication reconciliation in the process.  With the patient and caregiver experience as their north star, she talks about saving her team 70,000 clicks in a year’s time by choosing to do both at the same time, improving patient care and reducing administrative burden across the board for both providers and healthcare consumers. Stacey is an ambitious ray of sunshine from the sunshine state and an inspiration to us all as one of the first women CMIOs. She speaks about what strategies keep her team and her at the top of their game as leaders in digital transformation. Be sure to tune in!
April 30, 2024

Smriti Kirubanandan Spills the Tea on Health Equity

Welcome to HITeaWithGrace, today we have Smriti Kirubanandan on the pod to spill all the tea on healthcare equity and technology. Smriti kicks things off by sharing her captivating career journey, filled with twists, turns, and invaluable experiences. From navigating the complexities of healthcare to championing technology's role in bridging gaps, she's a true trailblazer in the field. As we dive deeper, Smriti unpacks the intricacies of equity in healthcare, revealing the crucial metrics and interconnected frameworks driving disparities. But fear not, she's armed with expert recommendations for tackling these challenges head-on, from promoting tech access to reshaping education paradigms. With her insights, we're not just sipping on knowledge – we're brewing up a revolution in healthcare equity. So grab your favorite mug and listen in!
April 23, 2024

Lilly Stairs Spills the Tea on Building the “Chronic Boss Collective”

Today on HITea, Grace had the absolute pleasure of learning from Lilly Stairs, the brilliant mind behind Chronic Boss Collective & Patient Authentic. Lilly started by talking about the journey that led her to found Chronic Boss Collective, a space where professionals with chronic conditions come together to network and reshape the narrative surrounding their experiences. With heartfelt experiences and a keen eye for much-needed societal challenge, Lilly talks about how a simple shift in perspective can have a monumental impact, inspiring people to turn their pain into purpose.  Wrapping up our conversation, Lilly shared invaluable insights on navigating challenges as a leader with a chronic condition, maximizing productivity, and empowering the people around you to dream big and execute bigger. Her words, filled with grace and wisdom, left us feeling inspired and ready to make a difference. Don't miss out on this episode, where Lilly shares her unique perspectives on resilience, leadership, and building supportive community centered around unexpected, deeply-personal, commonalities.
April 2, 2024

Kim Perry Spills the Tea on Healthcare AI Beyond the Buzzword

Welcome to HITea with Grace! Get ready for a lively chat with Kim Perry, a trailblazer in AI and healthcare. We look past the AI buzzword to talk about how large language models are reshaping medicine and the hurdles leaders face in this dynamic space. Plus, we'll dish out tips on mentorship, sponsorship, and building a supportive community. As we peer into the horizon of medical AI, our guest paints a compelling picture of emerging trends that demand attention from Health Information Technology (HIT) professionals. From personalized medicine to predictive analytics, she anticipates a future brimming with opportunities for innovation and transformation. Join us for an enlightening conversation as we explore the intersection of AI and healthcare leadership, guided by the wisdom and vision of our esteemed guest.
March 26, 2024

Dr. Parmjot Baines Spills the Tea on Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema & Innovation

Get ready to steep in knowledge as we recognize Lymphedema Awareness Month on this episode of HITea! Dr. Parmjot Bains, our guest and CEO of ImpediMed, talks about managing breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) with early intervention and groundbreaking technology.   Dr. Bains doesn't just spill the tea; she brews it to perfection! We dive into the impact of legislation like the Lymphedema Treatment Act on BCRL management and explore the role of compression garments in the big picture. Plus, we'll chat about how chronic lymphedema can be caught before symptoms occur, so clinicians can intervene before the condition becomes chronic, as well as the daily challenges faced by individuals dealing with chronic BCRL.   Grab your favorite mug and join us to uncover how awareness, education, and cutting-edge innovations are stirring up a better quality of life for those affected by BCRL.
March 19, 2024

Susannah Fox Spills the Tea on the “Patient Rebel”

On this glorious HITea Tuesday, we sit down with Susannah Fox, author of "Rebel Health," to explore the transformative world of patient-led research and innovation. Susannah explores the inspiration behind her book and delves into the concept of the "health rebel alliance." She shares how healthcare consumers can become part of this alliance and discusses the four archetypes driving the patient-led revolution: seekers, networkers, solvers, and champions. Join us as we envision the future of healthcare shaped by patient empowerment and collaboration, and discover practical advice for advocating for oneself in navigating illness outside traditional healthcare systems. Gain valuable insights on how businesses, governments, and organizations can better support and leverage the power of patient-led initiatives to drive positive change in healthcare outcomes on a larger scale.
March 12, 2024

Cat Middleton Spills the Tea on Digital Health Investor Impact on Diversity and Health Equity

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation in this HITea episode of "Fund Like a Girl" with Cat Middleton, a seasoned investor committed to shaping the future of digital health. Cat talks with us about her investment thesis, emphasizing the empowerment of individuals to become active stewards of their health.  Beyond the realm of traditional investment talk, Cat explores the crucial role investors play in reshaping diversity at the leadership level. This episode goes on to unravel how intentional investments can work to improve health equity and access to healthcare, help dismantle biases in healthcare, and foster an environment of inclusivity while driving transformative change.
March 5, 2024
View All Episodes

HITea With Grace

HIT Like a Girl Pod’s "HITea With Grace", hosted by digital health expert Grace Vinton, spotlights women leaders in the healthcare IT and pharma innovation sector. What sets Grace's podcast apart is the intentional inclusion of women patient and caregiver leaders in the dialogue – often overlooked perspectives in conversations about healthcare and research innovation.

As a patient advocate, digital health influencer, and award-winning healthcare communications professional, Grace is deeply committed to promoting technologies that save lives and amplifying patient and caregiver voices in the process. She is well-known for telling powerful innovation stories and educating the industry on emerging trends, helping shape industry categories.

Grace has interviewed over 40 women leaders on her podcast to date, magnifying their industry know-how, as well as their personal and professional stories. Her commitment extends beyond the microphone, actively contributing to the evolution of patient-driven healthcare and technology. Grace's standout quality lies in her audacious goal: to engage with every woman leader in the healthcare industry – spanning care, research, and even funding – and challenge them to incorporate real patient and caregiver voices and experiences into their work.

Host

Grace Vinton

Grace Vinton

Grace Vinton is a dynamic award-winning healthcare PR professional, patient advocate, and podcast host of HIT Like a Girl Pod’s “HITea With Grace”: amplifying the voices of women leaders in healthcare and pharma innovation. She has worked with 50+ healthcare innovation organizations, translating complex advancements into compelling narratives, shaping industry categories.

Grace is Patient Representative on Sequoia Project’s Carequality Advisory Board, championing patients’ data access and prioritizing evolving patient needs within the national interoperability framework. Grace’s mission: “Empathy is not enough. Real change demands advocacy and action.”

You may also like

Join our community and never miss
your favorite episodes

Join Our Newsletter

We gratefully acknowledge the many organizations that have generously supported our podcasts and platform.

Network Sponsors and Advertisers

Event and Media Partners