Becker’s Healthcare Podcast – Episode Summary

Guest: Dr. N. Nicole Moayeri, MD, MS, Neurological Surgeon at Cottage Health
Host: Carly Beam
Date: December 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, neurosurgeon Dr. Nicole Moayeri of Cottage Health discusses the wave of innovation transforming neurosciences and neurosurgery, focusing on the role of artificial intelligence, interdisciplinary collaboration, biotechnology, and patient-centered trends shaping clinical practice. She shares her own career trajectory and the exciting advancements happening at Cottage Health that are bringing academic-level care to a community hospital setting.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dr. Moayeri's Career and Background

• Dr. Moayeri is the director of neurosciences at Cottage Health, Santa Barbara.
• Education: Stanford University (BS, MD); Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston.
• Worked for 20+ years in Northern California before being recruited to Cottage Health to develop their brain tumor and epilepsy programs.

  “I’ve been fortunate to…develop their brain tumor and epilepsy program.” (00:52–01:42)

Excitement Around Current Innovations

Artificial Intelligence and Imaging

• Dr. Moayeri highlights the transformative power of AI, particularly in medical imaging and natural language processing (NLP) to analyze radiology reports and improve patient outcomes.

  “I think these technologies are really going to hold a lot of promise for us … in terms of identifying diseases that might have been missed.” (02:03–02:41)

• AI helps with early identification and follow-up of conditions like small brain aneurysms, ensuring patients don't get lost in the healthcare system.
• Example: Use of NLP and large language models to sift through data, improving diagnosis, follow-up, and care plans.

  “If we can capture [patients], put them back into a surveillance system … then I think … our system will be more fail proof and will be safer for our patients.” (03:57–06:12)

• Dr. Moayeri contributed to developing this AI system with Illuminated, to be presented at the International Stroke Conference.

Biotechnology and Immunotherapies

• Ongoing research on using biotechnology, immunotherapies, and engineered cells to address malignant brain tumors, in collaboration with UCSB.

  “We’re exploring… research opportunities … especially how we can address malignant brain tumors with the new immunotherapies and engineered cells.” (02:41–03:30)

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Collaboration is central to care at Cottage Health, involving endocrinologists, ophthalmologists, neurologists, neuro-oncologists, oncologists, and radiation oncologists for complex cases (e.g., pituitary adenomas, brain tumors).

  “The decisions that are made in that collaborative manner always are better.” (07:03–08:24)

• Weekly multidisciplinary tumor boards enhance patient outcomes.
• The goal is to provide patients with high-level care locally, reducing the need to travel to large urban centers.

Lessons from Working with Spine Surgeons

• Dr. Moayeri collaborates closely with orthopedic spine colleagues, especially on complex or shared cases like spine tumors or traumatic injuries.
• Partnership and “knowing what you’re good at” are crucial for exceptional patient care.

  “Everyone knows what they’re good at and has a level of confidence and comfort … together we can do the parts that we’re really best equipped to do.” (09:18–10:23)

Healthcare Trends to Watch for 2026

Direct Contracting with Employers

• Interest in negotiating contracts directly with employers to bypass some administrative burdens created by insurance processes, improving efficiency and cost savings.

  “We’re just starting those conversations now at Cottage Health because I think there is a great opportunity … for us to improve cost savings for them and … become more efficient.” (10:34–11:12)

Palliative Care and Compassion in Medicine

• Emphasis on sustaining the human side of healthcare—compassion, kindness, and mindfulness—both for patients and providers.
• The hospital’s robust palliative care program supports quality of life for patients, especially those with terminal brain tumors.

  “The human side of healthcare … we can never lose sight of. … It’s how we make it sustainable.” (11:12–12:44)

Vision for Growth (2025–2026)

• Recruitment: Recently added a neuro-oncologist; seeking two new neurologists to improve patient access.
• Reducing wait times for specialty care.
• Expanding translational and clinical research, particularly with new neuro-oncology expertise.
• Launching PR campaigns and website improvements to educate the community about local expertise and technology.

  “We're going to be doing a major sort of … PR campaign, developing our website so patients can find us … our referring doctors can find us … so that we can ensure patients get the care they need right here, close to home.” (12:59–14:57)

• Technology: Cottage Health offers advanced tech—such as intraoperative MRI, navigation, LIT, ultrasound, and robotics—matching academic hospital standards while maintaining a community hospital’s approach.

  “We do have an intraoperative MRI at Cottage. … So the idea is that we want to deliver that level of academic medicine care … with experienced surgeons treating patients.” (14:59–15:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On AI’s Promise:

  “Having that immense amount of data will really guide us into how we advise our patients and track them … based on data and outcomes.” — Dr. Moayeri (03:57–05:36)

• On Collaboration:

  “Collaboration is the most important part of medical care because none of us know everything.” — Dr. Moayeri (07:03–07:28)

• On Healthcare Efficiency:

  “There’s so many layers … for insurance companies and pre-authorizations, which really is unnecessary work, I believe. … It is just detracting from the delivery of healthcare.” — Dr. Moayeri (10:34–12:02)

• On Compassion:

  “The human side of healthcare, which we can never lose sight of … kindness, compassion, mindfulness… it’s how we make it sustainable.” — Dr. Moayeri (11:40–12:44)

• On Local Excellence:

  “We want to deliver that level of academic medicine care … with technologies that we have … but we don’t have the residents; we have experienced surgeons treating patients.” — Dr. Moayeri (14:59–15:50)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction & Dr. Moayeri’s Background: 00:44–01:42
• Exciting Innovations in Neuroscience: 02:03–03:30
• Role of AI in Patient Care: 03:30–06:12
• Emphasis on Preventive Care: 06:12–06:37
• Collaboration Across Specialties: 07:03–08:52
• Insights from Spine Surgeon Partnerships: 08:52–10:23
• Healthcare Trends Beyond AI: 10:34–12:44
• Growth & Recruitment Plans: 12:59–14:57
• Community Hospital with Academic Capabilities: 14:59–15:50
• Closing Remarks: 16:02–16:11

Tone:
Dr. Moayeri is optimistic, collaborative, and patient-focused, emphasizing both cutting-edge science and the human element of care.

This summary captures the core insights, innovations, and philosophy driving Dr. Moayeri’s leadership at Cottage Health, offering a useful overview for healthcare professionals and policy thinkers interested in the future of neuroscience, technology, and community-based care.