Podcast Summary: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Guest: Dr. Harminder (Mindy) Grewal, Chair of Family Medicine, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Clinical Lead at Dayton VA Medical Center
Host: Laura Dardo
Date: December 13, 2025
Episode Theme:
Exploring Dr. Grewal’s international journey in medicine, her vision for whole-person care, current innovations at Wright State University and Premier Health, key opportunities and challenges in U.S. healthcare, and the importance of street medicine and value-based care for vulnerable populations.

Main Theme Overview

This episode focuses on Dr. Grewal’s unique, international healthcare leadership journey and her strategic perspective on the transformation of family medicine. Core themes include operational alignment between academic and clinical partners, bold investments in whole-person and street medicine, the impact (and ethical challenges) of AI in healthcare, and the importance of nurturing an adaptable, patient-centered workforce ready to serve diverse and underserved populations, especially in rural and at-risk communities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dr. Grewal’s Background and Inspirations

[00:37–05:44]

• International Journey:
  • Trained and practiced medicine across India, the UK, and the U.S., spanning OBGYN, pediatric medicine/surgery, and family medicine.
• Systems Thinking:
  • Early passion for foundational truths in science, striving to apply robust logic to the complexities of healthcare delivery.
  • Views healthcare advancement as dependent both on science and on collective community will.
• Transformational Experience:
  • At Syracuse VA Medical Center, shifted from treating patients to advocating for women veterans, realizing limitations in traditional medicine.
  • Pursued integrative medicine and board certification; led Syracuse VA to become a Whole Health pilot site, recruiting and training wellness coaches.
  • Academic leadership and new program development at SUNY Upstate; received federal HRSA funding to expand rural residency.
• Current Leadership:
  • Since 2023, Chair at Wright State; advances include: new rural residency, addiction and lifestyle medicine initiatives, and a street medicine program.

“I am a servant leader and I do wish to bring positive change in the communities that I serve.” — Dr. Grewal [00:42]

Opportunities and Headwinds in Current Landscape

[06:03–10:55]

• Major Partnership:
  • Premier Health and Wright State University created a new long-term affiliation in April 2024.
    • Enhances regional access to care, boosts research, education, workforce development.
    • Enables broader interprofessional collaboration and federal funding opportunities.
• AI Implementation:
  • Launching Ambient AI DAX Copilot to streamline clinical documentation and reduce physician burnout.
• Agilon Partnership:
  • Collaboration with a tech-enabled value-based care platform targeting Medicare Advantage, providing tools and navigation for better outcomes among seniors.
• Street Medicine:
  • Grant-funded initiative bringing care and social services to people experiencing homelessness or housing instability in Dayton.
• Education Innovation:
  • Introduction of “Food is Medicine” (and plans for “Exercise is Medicine”) electives for medical students; foundational steps in lifestyle medicine education.
• Rural Health:
  • Closely tracking rural health transformation funding, recognizing unpredictability in rural access and capacity challenges.
• AI as Wild Card:
  • Advocates for ethical AI use; serves on Dayton VA’s Vision 10 AI Committee.

“We are also very excited about introduction of AI...so it’s going to allow us to focus more on what we do best, that is take care of patients, not having to spend twice as much time on documentation.” — Dr. Grewal [08:30]

Vision for Value and Strategic Growth

[11:25–14:42]

• Mission-Centered Growth:
  • Alignment with partner organizations while defining a clear departmental mission: preparing physicians to enhance community health via state-of-the-art, patient-centered care.
• Key Initiatives:
  • Strengthen rural medicine pathways.
  • Leverage digital tools and AI for rural and community health.
  • Community engagement through Street Medicine and Addiction Medicine.
  • MD-in-Three accelerated pathway to primary care.
  • Robust pipeline for local family medicine providers.
• Whole Health Philosophy:
  • Aims to create a “replicable patient centered high value whole person care model” combining AI, digital tools, health coaching, and integrated behavioral/lifestyle supports.
  • Supporting research and clinical trials, lean process optimization, faculty development, and “mini blue zone” community wellness initiatives.

“We have to create a replicable patient centered high value whole person care model...powered by digital tools, agentic and ambient AI as well as high touch and humanistic and community-based tools.” — Dr. Grewal [13:30]

High-Impact Risk/Investment: Street Medicine

[15:28–18:00]

• Program Launch:
  • Start date: January 2025.
  • Partners: Wright State, Premier Health, Dayton Dream Center; multiple federal grants secured.
• Key Features:
  • Mobile, low-barrier clinical care, behavioral health, substance use support.
  • Focus on those experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
  • Interprofessional education: 50+ students trained annually in trauma-informed, harm-reduction, chronic disease management, and social determinants of health.
  • HRSA grant includes structured training, faculty development, evaluation, and sustainability planning.
• Strategic Outcomes:
  • Reduces ED reliance, improves care linkage for the most vulnerable.
  • Strengthens workforce training and community engagement.

“This program will increase access to care for individuals often who are disconnected from the healthcare system and experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder and behavioral health challenges, hopefully to reduce ED reliance and improve linkage to ongoing care.” — Dr. Grewal [17:37]

Looking Ahead: Opportunities and Foundational Building Blocks

[18:35–20:42]

• Chronic Disease Management & Value-Based Care:
  • Leverage tech (telehealth, remote monitoring, agentic/generative AI) for scalable, cost-effective chronic care, especially among elderly and those in rural/underserved areas.
• Hybrid Care Models:
  • Envisions more virtual-first and hybrid outpatient models.
  • Senior care, obesity/lifestyle medicine, and rural health are crucial.
  • Predicts payment model shifts (e.g., direct-to-consumer, increased autonomy) will shape access and demand.
• Whole Person Care Models:
  • Calls for scalable, clearly defined whole-person care powered by digital transformation, partnership, and patient autonomy.

“Medicine still hasn’t found its beautiful simple basic equations, but we can strive for whole person care that can be scaled up...We have to strive for health while taking care of the sick.” — Dr. Grewal [20:28]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the value of vision and change:

  “I'm just hoping that I could be the spark.” — Dr. Grewal [14:27]

• On AI’s transformative, but double-edged, potential:

  “AI in healthcare is another wild card. I’m very optimistic, but unethical use of AI can be disastrous.” — Dr. Grewal [09:50]

• On transformational programs:

  “The street medicine program...is going to be a mobile, community-based clinical initiative...for individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability.” — Dr. Grewal [15:39]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Career Journey and Foundations: 00:37–05:44
• Opportunities & Headwinds: 06:03–10:55
• Vision for Strategic Value & Growth: 11:25–14:42
• High-Impact Investment — Street Medicine: 15:28–18:00
• Future Opportunities & Foundational Vision: 18:35–20:42

Tone and Language

Dr. Grewal’s discourse is passionate, humble, and deeply aspirational, balancing realism about current healthcare challenges with optimism and a clear vision for innovation and service to vulnerable communities. She emphasizes servant leadership, team collaboration, and the pursuit of scalable models for whole-person care.

Summary

For listeners seeking to understand the evolving landscape of family medicine and healthcare delivery, Dr. Grewal offers a unique systems perspective grounded in global experience, practical leadership, and a commitment to compassion and evidence-based innovation. The episode is a compelling portrait of visionary yet grounded healthcare leadership — charting a course toward truly community-centered, technology-enabled, and whole-person oriented medical care.