From scaling D2C mental health platforms to driving value-based care models, Omar Mousa has seen it all. In the latest episode of “Hard Problems, Smart Solutions: The Newfire Podcast,” Omar joins host Brendan Iglehart , Staff Healthcare Architect at Newfire, to unpack the challenges and lessons from building healthtech products at every stage of growth . Omar, who most recently served as VP of Product and Engineering at Ventricle Health , shares his perspective on product-market fit, go-to-market experimentation, and making smart build-vs-buy decisions in healthcare. Brendan and Omar discuss Omar’s experiences across various health tech companies, the lessons he has learned about product development in the sector, and the challenges of navigating both direct-to-consumer and clinical product environments. The conversation delves into topics such as the importance of focusing on core business areas in build versus buy decisions , the role of technology in enhancing patient care , and strategies for effectively engaging patients in value-based care models . Omar also shares his thoughts on the evolving landscape of health tech and the impact of AI on handling unstructured data. Tune in to gain strategic insights on scaling health tech operations and developing impactful healthcare products. 00:00 Introduction to Hard Problems, Smart Solutions 00:38 Guest Introduction: Omar Mousa 01:37 Omar's Career Journey in Healthcare Technology 08:40 Challenges in Healthcare Technology 15:51 The Role of AI in Healthcare 17:51 Navigating Healthcare's Complex Stakeholder Mix 22:47 Gathering and Utilizing User Feedback 24:03 User Feedback and Instrumentation 24:53 Patient Reported Outcome Measures 25:32 Build vs Buy Decisions in Product Development 27:03 Challenges of Buying All Solutions 28:37 Pitfalls of Building All Solutions 30:01 Advantages of a Hybrid Approach 30:27 Stages of Company Growth and Product Strategy 32:26 Considerations for Buy Decisions 36:13 Considerations for Build Decisions 37:34 Navigating D2C vs Clinical Product Development 39:02 Improving Patient Engagement in VBC Workflows 43:21 Final Thoughts and Contact Information…

In this episode of Hard Problems, Smart Solutions, host Will Crawford , Head of Advisory Services and CTO at Newfire Global Partners, converses with Dr. Paulo Pinho, a practicing physician and seasoned health informaticist. Dr. Pinho shares his diverse career journey, combining clinical practice, payer technology, and entrepreneurship. In this episode, you will gain insights into: Why interoperability remains elusive despite decades of effort (hint: legacy systems + fragmented incentives). How standards like SNOMED, LOINC, and ICD-10 evolved and why they often fall short for real-world care. What clinicians really need from AI tools (and why trust, not just tech, is key to adoption). How ambient listening and NLP are reshaping clinical documentation and enabling better decision-making. Why data equity matters and how biases in healthcare documentation can quietly undermine even the best machine learning models. Concrete examples of innovation : from COVID test standardization to fall risk modeling using multi-source data. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:18 Meet Dr. Paulo Pinho 00:36 The Evolution of Healthcare Standards 02:44 Challenges in Data Standardization 06:32 Advances in Medical Knowledge 12:23 AI in Healthcare: Opportunities and Challenges 23:54 The Role of Coding Systems in Healthcare 26:19 Success Stories in Healthcare Technology 40:04 Equity and Access in Healthcare 43:31 Advice for Clinicians and Non-Clinicians in Health IT 48:35 Conclusion and Future Topics…

In this episode of Hard Problems, Smart Solutions, the Newfire Podcast, host Brendan Iglehart , Staff Healthcare Architect at Newfire Global Partners , discusses the critical role of accurate provider directories in healthcare with Ron Urwongse , co-founder of Defacto Health . Ron, an expert in healthcare data interoperability, shares his journey and insights into the development and optimization of provider directories. The conversation covers the intersection of various healthcare stakeholders, the importance of data accuracy, regulatory impacts, and the future of healthcare data standards. Listeners are provided with actionable strategies for navigating healthcare interoperability and enhancing operational efficiency and patient care outcomes. 00:00 Introduction to Hard Problems, Smart Solutions 00:37 Meet Ron Urwongse: Pioneer in Healthcare Data 03:28 The Importance of Accurate Provider Directories 08:30 Regulatory Impact on Provider Directories 13:15 Challenges and Innovations in Data Standards 25:08 Future Trends in Healthcare Data 30:16 Actionable Strategies for Organizations 33:13 Conclusion and Final Thoughts…

In this episode of Hard Problems, Smart Solutions, the Newfire Podcast, host Gordon Wong, VP of Data AI at Newfire Global Partners , welcomes Sandeep Dhamale, Director of Engineering, Data and Intelligence at the American Medical Association . Sandeep shares his journey from fintech to healthcare, highlighting how his fintech experiences have shaped his strategies in tackling healthcare's data challenges. He discusses transformative projects at AMA, including Datalabs GPT and the AMA Intelligent Platform, and emphasizes the importance of scalable data solutions for improving patient and operational outcomes. Together, they explore how healthcare organizations can overcome data challenges , achieve interoperability , and measure the ROI of their data efforts . The conversation also covers the intersection of data product development, AI, and maintaining security and privacy in healthcare. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Hard Problems, Smart Solutions 00:21 Guest Introduction: Sandeep Dhamale 01:14 Career Journey: From Fintech to Healthcare 05:38 Challenges in Healthcare Data 07:47 Measuring ROI in Healthcare Data Efforts 10:07 Data Marketplaces in Healthcare 13:21 AMA Intelligent Platform 22:05 AI and Generative AI in Healthcare 30:10 Security and Privacy in Healthcare Data 33:32 Maintaining and Scaling Data Platforms 36:58 Emerging Technologies and Future Trends 45:18 Conclusion and Closing Remarks…

On this episode of Hard Problems, Smart Solutions: The Newfire Podcast, Newfire’s Head of Advisory Services Will Crawford sits down with Laura Louthan , founder of Angel Cybersecurity. Laura, a seasoned virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO), discusses how businesses can creatively address security challenges without stretching their budgets. Drawing on her extensive experience with notable companies like Sephora and Equifax, Laura offers valuable insights into building secure infrastructures , managing risk , and crafting effective and budget-conscious security strategies . Listen in for a deep dive into maximizing your security impact while conserving resources. Key Topics: Introduction to Laura Louthan and her background in cybersecurity. Balancing security and budget constraints for startups and smaller businesses. Finding the right security leadership. Unique security challenges within the healthcare sector. Educating employees on the importance of security practices. Managing third-party vendor risks and evaluations. The role of AI in enhancing security tools and practices. Implementing an effective incident response plan. Advice for future security professionals.…

In the inaugural episode of "Hard Problems, Smart Solutions," Newfire's VP of Data and AI, Gordon Wong , hosts Emily Lindemer, Executive Director of Data and Healthcare Innovation at JPMorgan Chase & Co. They discuss AI's transformative potential in healthcare, emphasizing the importance of streamlining data and addressing administrative inefficiencies to improve patient outcomes. The conversation explores Emily's career journey, the current state of AI in healthcare , and practical advice for organizations looking to implement AI solutions with a focus on technical, regulatory, and ROI perspectives . Particular emphasis is placed on addressing healthcare disparities through robust data infrastructure and scalable platforms, with strategic insights for organizations looking to leverage AI effectively. Key takeaways include focusing on feasible, high-impact applications and the necessity for robust data infrastructure.…