Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Episode Title: How Health Systems Are Reshaping Clinical Decision-Making by Turning Molecular Data into Actionable Care
Air Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Erica Spicer Mason (A)
Guest: Solomon Moshkovich (B), President of Clinical Diagnostics at Natera

Episode Overview

This episode explores how health systems are harnessing molecular data to advance precision medicine and reshape clinical decision-making. Guest Solomon Moshkovich from Natera discusses breakthrough advancements in diagnostics and the integration of AI-driven tools, using real-world examples from cancer and chronic kidney disease care. The conversation highlights both the clinical and operational impacts of deploying molecular data for more personalized, efficient, and evidence-based care.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Natera’s Mission & Solomon’s Background

(00:43 – 01:52)

• Natera's Foundation: Founded by Stanford and MIT engineers, Natera has been innovating DNA analysis from blood for 20 years.
• Impact: Serves millions yearly in pregnancy, cancer, organ transplant, and chronic kidney disease diagnostics.
• Personal Commitment: Solomon, with a math background, emphasizes personal and organizational passion for patient impact.

2. Advancements in Precision Medicine

(02:38 – 06:39)

• Precision Oncology's Evolution: "The prior 10 years, I think, were full of discoveries about what you could do with information genomic profiling information from a tumor sample from a patient with cancer." (Solomon, 02:41)
• Targeted & Immunotherapy: Genetic profiling enables matched therapies; immunotherapies leverage the immune system.
• MRD Testing Breakthrough:
  • Molecular Residual Disease (MRD): Detects disease recurrence or remission by analyzing blood for tumor DNA.
  • Natera’s Signatera Test: Personalized for each patient, detecting unique cancer mutations with high specificity—finding recurrence a year before imaging.
  • Practice & Economic Impact: Changes oncology at scale, improves outcomes, avoids unnecessary treatments, and addresses healthcare costs.
• Evidence-based Integration: “We’re serving millions of patients every year and their physicians. These are medical tests ordered by physicians.” (Solomon, 01:21)

3. Integrating Molecular Diagnostics into Health Systems

(07:08 – 09:10)

• Challenges for Leaders:
  • Generating robust clinical evidence for new tests.
  • Integrating into workflows after evidence is established.
• Natera’s Solutions:
  • Significant investment in research and peer-reviewed validation ($500M+ annually).
  • Deploying AI-based systems to identify eligible patients and develop clinical decision support (CDS) tools.
  • Seamless EMR integration to track utilization and patient outcomes.
  • “We’re super excited about how AI enables us and our partners to accelerate that effort and, and ultimately improve patient care.” (Solomon, 08:56)

4. AI & Digital Tools in Translating Molecular Data

(09:10 – 14:25)

• Cancer Management Example:
  • Bladder Cancer & Signatera:
  • MRD-guided care, published in NEJM, increased survival by 40% in muscle-invasive bladder cancer using immunotherapy only in MRD-positive patients, sparing 50%+ of patients from unnecessary toxic and costly treatments.
  • “More than half of patients are negative for residual disease after surgery and can safely avoid treatment. Which is just incredible...” (Solomon, 09:58)
• Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD):
  • Rhena Site Test: Identifies germline mutations tied to CKD. CKD affects 40M+ Americans; genetic testing is shifting paradigms—like BRCA testing in oncology decades ago.
  • AI helps health systems identify, test, and treat overlooked CKD patients via EMR integration.
  • “Genetics in chronic kidney disease is where cancer was 20 years ago. And so there's going to be a sea change in how those patients are diagnosed and how they're managed based on their genetic status.” (Solomon, 11:13)
• Early Cancer Screening:
  • Blood-based Tests: New methylation-based tests are being developed for early detection of colorectal and other cancers in asymptomatic populations.
  • Focus on system-level deployment with AI to maximize early detection and positive outcomes.
  • "How do you deploy a population level test like that with the expectation that it's going to detect cancer at an earlier stage, which everyone knows is linked with better outcomes?" (Solomon, 13:36)

5. Broader Implications and Future Outlook

(14:25 – 16:51)

• Impact on Costs & Patient Experiences:
  • Precision diagnostics optimize resources and patient pathways; e.g., major reduction in unnecessary prenatal procedures due to Natera’s Panorama test.
  • "We've got a really bright future. So looking forward to continuing this conversation." (Solomon, 16:43)
• Patient-Centered Focus:
  • Many at Natera (employees and their families) have been direct beneficiaries of the technologies.
  • Numerous patient and physician testimonials illustrate real-world impact.
  • “I'm very, very optimistic about the next phase for Natera and for the precision medicine industry. Really like you said, optimizing the use of resources, getting treatment to patients who need it, and the right treatment at the right time, which takes precision diagnostics and also helping patients avoid unnecessary treatment or unnecessary interventions.” (Solomon, 15:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On MRD and Personalized Cancer Care:

  “Natera developed a test called the Signatera test, is the first ever in history personalized test for every single patient... The test can detect recurrence a year earlier than you'd see it on a scan and with extremely high specificity.”
  (Solomon, 04:40)

• On the Power of AI for Implementation:

  “That’s where Natera is partnering with Health Systems to deploy artificial intelligence based solutions to help identify the patients who are eligible... and really develop the clinical decision support tools and solutions that are going to improve adoption of evidence based medicine.”
  (Solomon, 07:51)

• On Cost-saving and Patient-centered Impacts:

  “Our Panorama non invasive prenatal test now has probably resulted in an over 80% reduction in amniocentesis and chorionic biopsy procedures across the country. It's just amazing.”
  (Solomon, 16:22)

• On the Industry's Future:

  "I'm very, very optimistic about the next phase for Natera and for the precision medicine industry... getting treatment to patients who need it, and the right treatment at the right time."
  (Solomon, 15:45)

Key Timestamps

• 00:43 — Natera's background and mission
• 02:38 — Advancements in precision medicine and MRD
• 07:08 — Challenges for health systems integrating precision diagnostics
• 09:10 — AI's role in translating molecular data to care actions
• 09:38 — Example: Bladder cancer care transformation with MRD
• 11:50 — Example: Genetic testing in chronic kidney disease
• 13:50 — Example: Early cancer screening innovations
• 15:23 — Broader patient impact, Natera’s organizational culture
• 16:22 — Panorama test reducing prenatal invasive procedures

Conclusion

This episode provides a deep dive into how advanced molecular diagnostics, enabled by AI and digital integration, are fundamentally shifting the clinical and economic landscape in U.S. healthcare. Through impactful real-world examples, Solomon Moshkovich illustrates how Natera and its partners are pioneering the future of precision medicine — increasing survival, improving patient experiences, and optimizing use of system resources. Listeners gain valuable, concrete insights into where the field stands today and where it is headed next.