Podcast
Under the Same Sky
Hosted by GroundGame.Health Inc. · EN
Under the Same Sky is our regular series of conversations with healthcare thought leaders. GroundGame.Health Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Abner Mason explores advancements in health equity with our guests, discussing challenges and opportunities that all healthcare organizations should consider as they work to advance their own health equity initiatives. (NOTE: These conversations are broadcast live via LinkedIn. When you watch live, you can ask questions of Abner or our guests during the broadcast. Follow GroundGame.Health on LinkedIn to be notified of future programs.)
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Under the Same Sky: April 2025 with Francisco Silva of the California Primary Care Association
Apr 24, 202500:34:40Tap to summarizeAccess to high-quality healthcare is a cornerstone of thriving communities, and community health centers have a vital role of in the healthcare landscape. In this episode of Under the Same Sky, host Abner Mason welcomed Francisco Silva, President and CEO of the California Primary Care Association (CPCA), for an in-depth conversation about community health centers. Francisco shared his personal journey into healthcare leadership and offered insights into the services, mission, and impact of the health centers that the CPCA represents.
Transcribe →Under the Same Sky: March 2025 with Tamala Risher, Patient Assistance Coordinator and Advocate
Mar 26, 202500:30:29Tap to summarizeThe rising cost of prescription medications is a growing concern for many individuals, particularly those with chronic illnesses or life-threatening conditions. Despite remarkable medical advancements that provide better treatment options and improve quality of life, affordability remains a major barrier. In this episode of our series, host Abner Mason met with Tamala Risher, a patient assistance coordinator and advocate, to discuss the financial struggles individuals face when it comes to accessing their prescriptions and the resources available to help them.
Transcribe →Under the Same Sky: February 2025 with Dr. Shantanu Agrawal of Elevance Health
Mar 5, 202500:29:45Tap to summarizeIn this episode of our series, host Abner Mason speaks with Dr. Shantanu Agrawal, Chief Health Officer for Elevance Health to discuss activating whole health. Their conversation explored the importance of removing barriers to health, fostering partnerships with community-based organizations, and more.
Transcribe →Under the Same Sky: December 2024 with Michael Gonzales and Crystal Ayoob of Umoja Health
Dec 4, 202400:31:37Tap to summarizeIn this episode of our series, host Abner Mason speaks with Crystal Ayoob, MHA, RDN, and Michael Gonzales, both of Umoja Health. The company combines healthcare, nutrition, and logistics expertise to deliver to quality, healthier food nationwide through partnerships with food banks, healthcare providers, and government agencies. This enables their partners to better address food insecurity.In their conversation, Abner, Crystal, and Michael dive into the critical issue of food insecurity, and explore innovative ways to bridge the gap between health and social needs — and how Umoja's groundbreaking approach is reducing costs for payers while delivering greater access to nutritious food for members.
Transcribe →Under the Same Sky: November 2024 with Daryl Twerdahl of Meals on Wheels California
Nov 21, 202400:32:51Tap to summarizeIn this episode of our series, host Abner Mason speaks with Daryl Twerdahl, executive director for Meals on Wheels California, the umbrella organization for local Meals on Wheels organizations across the state. Abner and Daryl discussed what goes into the mission to improve the lives of seniors, persons with disabilities, and their families through nutrition, resources, advocacy, and connection — including how Meals on Wheels involves much more than merely keeping people fed. They also touched-on the organization's work in bringing together state government, local government, the private sector, and philanthropy to prepare California for coming demographic changes, and to continue the state's leadership in aging, disability, and equity.
Transcribe →Under the Same Sky: October 2024 with June Simmons of Partners in Care Foundation
Oct 31, 202400:33:29Tap to summarizeIn this episode of our series, host Abner Mason speaks with June Simmons, president and CEO of Partners in Care Foundation. They will discuss her journey to patient-centered care and her current work as a health equity leader. June is an esteemed health care executive who stands at the forefront of patient-centered care integration. As the founding President and CEO of Partners in Care Foundation, she pioneered evidence-based interventions, transformative medication management, chronic condition support, and seamless care transitions. Partners collaborates with organizations to shape a visionary health care landscape, emphasizing community-based services and forging robust partnerships.
Transcribe →Under the Same Sky: September 2024 with Tracy Watts of Mercer
Sep 19, 202400:34:52Tap to summarizeIn this episode of our series, host Abner Mason speaks with Tracy Watts. She's a Senior Partner and US Leader for Healthcare Policy at Mercer. She advises large employers on their health benefit strategies for active and retired employees. A consultant with Mercer for over 35 years, she’s widely quoted as a spokesperson for Mercer's survey of employer sponsored health benefit plans, and is a lead contributor on Mercer’s US Health News blog. In this wide-ranging discussion, Tracy will share the tools and models that Mercer is building to help employers better protect their employees from climate change related extreme weather in hopes of bringing a health equity lens to the climate change discussion. In addition, she touches on a range of health-equity-related topics relative to benefit plans.
Transcribe →Under the Same Sky: August 2024 with David Michaels, PhD, MPH, of the George Washington University School of Public Health
Sep 9, 202400:31:54Tap to summarizeIn this episode of our series, host Abner Mason speaks with David Michaels, PhD, MPH. Dr. Michals is an epidemiologist, and former Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Currently, Dr. Michaels is a professor at the George Washington University School of Public Health. In this conversation, Abner and David focus on the National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health in light of the pressing issues of worker safety amidst climate change, specifically the new OSHA initiative recently announced by President Biden. They also explore the intersection of public health, occupational safety, and health equity.
Transcribe →Under the Same Sky: June 2024 with Mark Savage, JD, of Savage & Savage LLC
Jun 28, 202400:29:00Tap to summarizeIn this installment of our series, host Abner Mason speaks with Mark Savage, Managing Director with Savage & Savage. A civil rights litigator by training, Mark has a long history as a public advocate. Today, he continues this work by making a difference through electronic health information technologies, promoting both adoption and refinement of health data sharing standards. California-based, the work Mark does in the state along with his collaborators is driving real change on the ground, while having a broader impact on the national healthcare landscape.
Transcribe →Under the Same Sky: May 2024 with Susan Rawlings Molina and Chris Burrows of GroundGame.Health
May 29, 202400:44:59Tap to summarizeIn this installment of our series, Abner Mason hosts a discussion with Susan Rawlings Molina, CEO of GroundGame.Health, and Chris Burrows, a Community Engagement Resource Specialist with the company. Recently, SameSky Health merged with GroundGame.Health, and in this episode, we discuss how GroundGame.Health helps people overcome health-related social needs, and how the merger with SameSky Health will accelerate this important work with our health plan partners. Additionally, Chris Burrows provides a real-world example of how the support we provide actually works, the difference it can make, and how it can reduce costs for health plans.
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