Podcast Episode Summary: Rachel Feinman of Tampa General Hospital Ventures

Podcast: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Host: Scott King (Becker’s Healthcare)
Guest: Rachel Feinman, Vice President, Innovation and Managing Director, TGH Ventures
Date: November 29, 2025
Length: ~8 minutes (core content)

Overview of Episode

In this episode, Scott King interviews Rachel Feinman about her journey from practicing attorney to healthcare innovation leader, the evolving ventures portfolio at Tampa General Hospital (TGH), and current trends and strategic priorities in healthcare innovation. They discuss challenges such as regulatory uncertainty, the explosion of AI technologies, and the critical importance of consumer-centric care and brand investment. Feinman shares practical examples from TGH and identifies key opportunities for growth in the future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Rachel Feinman’s Background & Unique Perspective

• Feinman reflects on her transition from law to healthcare innovation at TGH Ventures.
• She emphasizes the value of curiosity and analytical skills from her legal background:
  • Quote: “One of the things I think as a, an investor, whether in healthcare or in any other industry is, and in innovation generally, you really have to have an unending sense of curiosity because we really fly high across the entire organization.” (01:25)
• Skills in negotiation and deal-making from her attorney days remain central to her current work.

Current Healthcare Trends: Opportunities & Headwinds

• Ongoing regulatory uncertainty, particularly with upcoming midterms and government actions, is a primary concern:
  • Quote: “We are monitoring the regulatory environment and the uncertainty around all of that…there is only so much certainty to be had right now and you know, and that's driving a lot of, of what it is that we do.” (02:46)
• Feinman frames nimbleness and adaptability as critical, suggesting that regulatory headwinds can be turned into opportunities if organizations remain agile.
• Rapid technology developments, especially in tech and AI, are seen as significant tailwinds:
  • Quote: “…making sure that we are leveraging this new round of technology to support our team members, clinical and non clinical, and continue to provide the best care we can to our patients…” (03:40)

Driving Growth and Value at TGH

• Feinman details a period of system-wide growth at TGH.
• Focus is on scaling proven innovations rather than constantly seeking the next new thing:
  • Example: Deployment and expansion of a Real-Time Location System (RTLS) for equipment and OR optimization, including computer vision for surgical tray tracking.
    • “[RTLS] has been able to provide a lot of, a lot of efficiency gains for our team members and being able to locate equipment more easily. We're bringing it into the perioperative space because we know that having our ORs run on time impacts everything for us.” (04:40)
• The importance of aligning innovation efforts with the growth trajectory of the entire health system:
  • “All of that really kind of thinking about how we scale innovation we've laid in to match the growth of the, of the system overall.” (05:30)

Risks & Investments Worth Making

• Feinman advises doubling down on investments in brand and consumer-centric care, especially during times of uncertainty:
  • Quote: “…one of the things that we have that is always an investment worth making is in ourselves and our brand and the value that we bring to our patients.” (05:47)
  • Emphasizes trust in the Tampa General brand as a key asset to be leveraged in innovative care models.

Best Opportunities for Future Growth

• The discussion returns to the transformational potential of AI:
  • “You can't talk enough about where and how [AI] is going to impact growth.” (07:04)
  • Specific examples mentioned:
    • Voice agents in experience centers
    • Automation of back-office administrative functions
    • Ambient listening and AI-driven clinical support tools for frontline staff
  • Underlines the opportunity to “do a lot more with less and put those resources where they need to be and enhancing care for our patients.” (07:46)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On bringing an attorney’s mindset to healthcare innovation:
  “I definitely bring that from my background as an attorney, not to mention looking at and negotiating deal documents, which is directly relevant to the work that I did in my many years as an attorney.” (01:55)

• On the importance of agility in uncertain times:
  “…as long as we're nimble and we're able to quickly react, I think we can end up on the right side of any which way the regulatory winds may blow.” (03:20)

• On the value of the TGH brand:
  “That brand that our patients can trust is something that I think is always an investment worth making.” (06:27)

• On AI as a catalyst for future growth:
  “I think for us the best opportunities are to really thoughtfully layer in AI…that really help our frontline team members and our providers.” (07:20)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:34–01:12: Feinman’s background and legal career influence
• 01:25–02:25: Value of curiosity and legal skills in healthcare innovation
• 02:46–04:15: Key industry headwinds (regulatory) and tailwinds (technology/AI)
• 04:15–05:41: Examples of innovation scaling and efficient growth at TGH
• 05:46–06:58: Investment focus: doubling down on trusted brand and consumer-centric care
• 07:03–08:07: Impact of AI and strategic opportunities for the future

Conclusion

This episode offers a concise yet rich overview of how Tampa General Hospital Ventures is navigating the present and future of healthcare innovation. Rachel Feinman’s unique background as an attorney informs her approach to deals, risk, and opportunity. Key takeaways revolve around the balance between regulatory caution and technological optimism, the deep value of brand trust, and the radical potential of AI. The conversation is pragmatic and forward-looking, providing both strategic and practical insights for healthcare leaders and innovators.