Hot Topics. Candid Conversations.

December 17, 2025

Population health strategies and technology are reshaping cardiovascular care. In this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS sits down with Chanel Swartz, MBA, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, vice president of value-based care operations at US Heart and Vascular. They explore how remote patient monitoring is enabling care teams to scale, improve outcomes, and manage large patient populations, all while reducing clinician burden.

Listen to "Population Health in Action: How Technology is Shaping CV Care" on Spreaker.

December 10, 2025

In this “Meet the Experts” HeartTalk episode, host Melanie Lawson, MS, talks with Jenny Kennedy, DNP, RN, CHFN, NEA-BC, FACC, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom. She explains the importance of being intentional when setting up remote heart failure programs and lessons from her nursing experience. She shares how her desire to “be a giant”—lift others up rather than seek the spotlight—guides her leadership. Additionally, she reflects on the spirit of Florence Nightingale, offering insights that may shift your view of team-based care and the future of cardiology.

Listen to "Meet the Experts: Jenny Kennedy" on Spreaker.

November 25, 2025

In this episode of MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, sits down with Clay Marsh, MD, chancellor and executive dean for Health Sciences at West Virginia University, to explore his unique perspective on redefining health. Dr. Marsh discusses the powerful role of biological age, mindset, purpose, and community in shaping long-term cardiovascular wellness. He shares compelling data linking stress, connection, and perception to chronic disease risk—and offers transformative insights for clinicians and patients alike.

Listen to "Quantifying Health: Data, Discovery and the Path to Longevity" on Spreaker.

November 12, 2025

In this “Meet the Experts” HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, sits down with MedAxiom President and CEO Jerry Blackwell, MD, MBA, FACC, for a candid conversation about leadership, teamwork, and service – drawing lessons from both medicine and his early days in sports. He shares how trust and humility guide his approach and why he sees change as something to run toward, not from. Plus, he shares a few personal insights (and laughs) that reveal what keeps him grounded through it all.

Listen to "Meet the Experts: Jerry Blackwell" on Spreaker.

October 10, 2025

In this episode of HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson is joined by MedAxiom's Joel Sauer, MBA, executive vice president of Consulting, and Karen Wilson, MHA, vice president of Member Services, to explore the complexity of subspecialty performance metrics in cardiovascular care. The conversation focuses on how MedAxiom’s MedAxcess data tool helps identify meaningful differences in cardiology subspecialties—revealing that “one size fits all” approaches often fall short. They emphasize the importance of deeper data participation and interpretation to build more accurate, fair, and actionable insights for organizations.

Listen to "When One Size Doesn't Fit All: Using MedAxcess to Drill Into Subspecialty Differences" on Spreaker.

September 16, 2025

Often referred to as the “sandwich generation,” today’s clinical leaders face a diverse set of challenges in navigating generational dynamics. In this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS addresses common leadership hurdles with Ana Mercurio-Pinto, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom, and Nicole Lohr, MD, PhD, FACC, FAHA, division director at University of Alabama at Birmingham. They highlight practical solutions for reducing burnout and effective ways to recruit and retain the next generation of cardiovascular providers.

Listen to "Closing Generational Gaps: Leading Change and Alleviating Burnout" on Spreaker.

September 3, 2025

August 21, 2025

In this "Meet the Experts" HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, speaks with Ana Mercurio-Pinto, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom. With a rich background in academic medicine, cardiovascular service line operations, and research management, Ana shares how her work is reshaping the future of care delivery. From optimizing physician performance and budgets to integrating complex hospital-physician systems, Ana brings a forward-thinking approach to transforming cardiovascular organizations. She also shares pivotal moments in her personal life that have fueled her commitment to innovation and collaboration.

Listen to "Meet The Experts: Ana Mercurio-Pinto" on Spreaker.

August 6, 2025

Remote patient monitoring is reshaping chronic care management. On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, speaks with Patricia Dickson, director of operations at Capital Cardiology Associates; Jude Hebert, vice president of Clinical Programs at Cardiovascular Logistics; and Samson Magid, CEO and co-founder of HealthSnap. They dive into virtual care tools that help practices stay connected with patients between visits, reduce staffing burdens and drive better outcomes.

Listen to "Reimagining Chronic Care: The Future of Remote Patient Monitoring" on Spreaker.

July 30, 2025

What makes the dyad leadership model so effective in cardiovascular care? On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, is joined by Joel Sauer, MBA, executive vice president of Consulting at MedAxiom and Jeff Carstens, MD, MBA, FACC, medical director of the Cardiovascular Service Line at UnityPoint Health. They explore how the dyad leadership model influences the design of physician compensation plans and strengthens cardiovascular programs by aligning clinical and administrative expertise.

Listen to "The Ideal Compensation Plan: A Dyad Leadership Approach" on Spreaker.

July 23, 2025

In this "Meet the Experts" HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS is joined by Jaime Warren Ed.D., MBA, BHS, CNMT, NCT, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom. With over two decades of clinical and executive experience, particularly in imaging services and hospital operations, Jaime shares insights into optimizing cardiovascular imaging spaces to improve workflows and team performance. Learn what motivates Jaime as a leader and what inspires her beyond the workplace.

Listen to "Meet The Experts: Jamie Warren" on Spreaker.

July 9, 2025

As cardiac rehab evolves, innovative care models are key to better outcomes and financial sustainability. In this special episode of HeartTalk, vice presidents of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom, Denise Busman, MSN, RN, CPHQ, FACC, and Jenny Kennedy, DNP, RN, CHFN, NEA-BC, FACC sit down with Sarah Shelton, cardiac rehabilitation manager and Rod Roeser, CEO at Heart and Vascular Care (HVC). They discuss how they successfully implemented Intensive Cardiac Rehab (ICR), including their strategies to overcome space and staffing challenges, boost provider and patient engagement, and scale ICR programs for clinical, operational, and financial success.

Listen to "Intensive Cardiac Rehab for Clinical, Operational and Financial Success" on Spreaker.

June 18, 2025

In this "Meet the Experts" HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS speaks with Denise Busman, MSN, RN, CPHQ, FACC, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom. With over 30 years of nursing and quality leadership experience, Denise shares her journey into healthcare and what it takes to make clinical transformation truly stick. Get to know Denise’s leadership style—and what fuels her passion both in and outside of healthcare.

Listen to "Meet The Experts: Denise Busman" on Spreaker.

June 17, 2025

In this episode of HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, sits down with Alex Struck, chief growth officer, and Dan Jensen, chief financial officer at CardioOne, to explore the growing challenges facing independent cardiology practices. They discuss the shifting landscape of hospital employment and share how CardioOne is helping cardiologists reclaim autonomy while maintaining financial and operational sustainability.

Listen to "Choosing The Right Path To Practice Independence" on Spreaker.

June 14, 2025

Lessons from the football field can translate to healthcare leadership. On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, speaks with John Erwin III, MD, MBA, MACC, FACP, FAHA, the chair of medicine at Prisma-Health Upstate, as he explores parallels between successful sports teams and high-functioning healthcare teams. Drawing from his background, they discuss team building, trust, and aligning roles for better patient care.

Listen to "From the Fields to the Frontlines: Team-Building Lessons from the Gridiron" on Spreaker.

May 28, 2025

Gaps in cardiovascular care have sparked the need for a better solution. On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, talks with Ben Peterson, MD, MPH, Interventional Cardiologist and Medical Director at Heart and Vascular Research Institute. They discuss the use of an AI tool to support patient identification and treatment needs, and envision a future of more personalized care.

Listen to "Using AI to Identify and Improve CV Patient Outcomes" on Spreaker.

May 21, 2025

In this "Meet the Experts" HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, sits down with Nicole Knight, LPN, CPC, CCS-P, executive vice president of Revenue Cycle Solutions and Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom. Known for her deep expertise in cardiovascular operations, revenue cycle optimization, and LEAN process improvement, Nicole shares highlights from her decades-long journey in healthcare leadership. Beyond the professional achievements, Melanie dives into the personal side of Nicole’s story—exploring the experiences that shaped her career, her passion for transforming care delivery, and what drives her commitment to advancing cardiovascular health.

Listen to "Meet The Experts: Nicole Knight" on Spreaker.

April 17, 2025

Welcome to the seventh episode of our HeartTalk podcast series, Revenue Recovery. Host Melanie Lawson, MS, speaks with Linda Gates-Striby, CCS-P, ACS-CA, Revenue Cycle Solutions consultant. They dive into how to appropriately capture Prolonged Care services and offer practical examples for your organization. Click here for the Revenue Recovery cheat sheet: https://hubs.ly/Q03hvhqw0

Listen to "Revenue Recovery: Prolonged Care Services" on Spreaker.

February 20, 2025

In April 2024, Cathie Biga, MSN, FACC, made history as the first non-physician president of the American College of Cardiology (ACC). On this episode of HeartTalk, Melanie Lawson, MS, talks with Cathie about her 40+ years of experience as a leader in cardiovascular care. She shares personal, inspiring and educational stories about her career and discusses her vision for the future.

Listen to "Leading From The Heart: Cathie Biga's Trailblazing Leadership Journey" on Spreaker.

December 13, 2024

On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, unpacks the complexities of the 2026 cardiovascular surgery bundled payment model with MedAxiom guests Nicole Knight, LPN, CPC, CCS-P, executive vice president of Revenue Cycle Solutions and Care Transformation Services, and Ginger Biesbrock, DSc, PA-C, FACC, executive vice president of Care Transformation Services. They examine critical components of CABG care that enhance patient outcomes and analyze how financial penalties and incentives influence care delivery.

December 11, 2024

In today's dynamic healthcare landscape, effective marketing strategies play a crucial role in influencing patient choices. Melanie Lawson, MS, host of MedAxiom HeartTalk, is joined by Kim Kaylor, senior vice president of Marketing and Communications at MedAxiom, and Cheyanne Reyome, marketing manager at Zywie, to delve into the complexities of healthcare marketing. They explore the importance of reaching the right patients through targeted, multi-platform messaging and share best practices for crafting impactful marketing strategies that help organizations thrive in a competitive landscape.

December 11, 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming clinician workflows as it is integrated into cardiovascular care. On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, sits down with Thomas O’Brien, MD, FACC, FHFSA, president of the Heart and Vascular Institute at The Christ Hospital, to discuss the Ambient note writer. They explore valuable insights into how organizations can implement this tool effectively to reduce documentation time and increase face-to-face patient interaction.

December 9, 2024

On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, and Kristi Artz, MD, FACLM, CCMS, certified lifestyle medicine specialist and medical director at Corewell Health Lifestyle Medicine, explore the transformative potential of virtual care in cardiovascular health. Discover how patient-centered approaches, hybrid care models and team-based strategies are reshaping care delivery and empowering patients to take charge of their health.

December 5, 2024

Cybersecurity attacks in the healthcare industry are on the rise. On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, sits down with Andy Tomaszewski, director of Strategic Consulting at Google. They discuss the critical questions your organization should be asking and examine proactive measures you can take to enhance your risk posture.

December 4, 2024

Navigating the legal considerations of physician-owned ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) can be challenging. On this episode of MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, sits down with Jim Daniel, JD, MBA, partner at Hancock, Daniel, & Johnson, P.C., specializing in healthcare business and regulated transactions, and Joel Sauer, MBA, executive vice president of Consulting at MedAxiom. They discuss why they have never seen a successful venture within the Safe Harbor Law and explore different viable options.

November 22, 2024

On this episode of MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) for cardiovascular care with guests Effie Andrikopoulou, MD, MBA, FACC, FASE, associate professor at the University of Washington and medical director at Harborview Medical Center, and Denise Busman, MSN, RN, CPHQ, FACC, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom. They explore how care teams can integrate AI into everyday practice and consider the current challenges and opportunities to improve patient outcomes.

Listen to "Adopting AI in Your CV Program" on Spreaker.

November 19, 2024

Delivering cardiovascular care in rural America comes with unique challenges, including limited access to cardiologists, transportation difficulties and geographic barriers. On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS sits down with guests Jenny Kennedy, MSN, RN, CHFN, NEA-BC, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom; Frank Briggs, PharmD, MBA, vice president of Heart and Vascular Institute at WVU Medicine; and George Sokos, DO, FACC, professor and chair of the Department of Cardiology at WVU Medicine. They dive into these obstacles and discuss actionable solutions to help rural healthcare organizations provide better care to patients.

November 14, 2024

Change is simplification, and simplification is change. On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, and Jaime Murillo, MD, FACC, FASE, senior vice president and chief medical officer of Medical Affairs at UnitedHealth Group, discuss modern strategies for programs to streamline cardiovascular care delivery through a few main pillars of simplification.

November 14, 2024

On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, is joined by Carol Ann Tolbert, practice administrator at Aurora Denver Cardiology Associates HealthONE, and Kevin Hoffman, founder and CEO of Vector Remote Care, to discuss advancements and opportunities since the 2023 Heart Rhythm Society Consensus Statement. Together, they examine the challenges facing today’s cardiac device clinics—from managing extensive data and addressing staffing needs to implementing effective remote monitoring practices—and explore how technological innovations are shaping the future of cardiac care to deliver better patient outcomes.

August 7, 2024

It’s becoming increasingly important to ensure your care team stays up to date with best practices for managing patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) in the device clinic. On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, speaks with James Allred, MD, FACC, CEO and co-founder of CV Remote Solutions; Austin Reed, vice president of Business Development, Strategy and Innovation, at CV Remote Solutions; and Nicole F. Knight, LPN, CPC, CCS-P, executive vice president of Revenue Cycle Solutions and Care Transformation at MedAxiom. They discuss the unique challenges related to highly technical roles and complex workflows in the device clinic. They also offer educational solutions to enhance your care team’s understanding of function, programming and troubleshooting CIEDs.

Listen to "Device Clinic Essentials for the Care Team" on Spreaker.

July 18, 2024

Partnering with a private equity (PE) firm demands thorough diligence. On MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, talks with guests Josh Ginsberg, executive director at The Heart House, and Kartik Giri, MD, managing partner at The Heart House. They share how aligning with their PE partner’s values and practical implementation tactics helped them achieve their potential.

July 10, 2024

Each year, new evidence shows how cardiac inflammation contributes to the progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and ultimately leads to cardiac events. On MedAxiom HeartTalk, Jeff Carstens, MD, cardiovascular service line medical director at UnityPoint Health, shares his perspective on recent developments, appropriate patient identification, risk factors and new treatments, including low-dose colchicine.

June 28, 2024

Early detection of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) can prevent disease progression and improve outcomes. On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, is joined by Sonya Tuerff, MD, MBA, FACS, RVPI, FSVS, CHCQM, vascular surgeon at Lebanon VA Medical Center. They discuss how early detection of PAD facilitates the optimization of guideline-directed medical therapy and consider current barriers and solutions for early detection programs.

June 27, 2024

Cardiovascular imaging can be complex and challenging. On this episode of MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, sits down with Janine Broda, vice president of Enterprise Solutions at ScImage, and Christine Nielsen, clinical consultant of Enterprise Solutions, also at ScImage. They discuss approaches to overcome common obstacles, including lack of resources, cost efficiency, and cyber security.

June 24, 2024

Leaders play an essential role in shaping workplace culture. On this episode of MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, sits down with Rachael Dorval, MBA, BSN, RN, executive director at Baptist Heart & Vascular Institute; Pelbreton C. Balfour, Jr., MD, MS, FACC, FSCMR, HF-CERT, medical director also at Baptist Heart & Vascular Institute; and Jaime Warren, EdD, MBA, BHS, CNMT, NCT, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom. They identify key factors that contribute to employee satisfaction and retention and discuss methods to promote a culture of open communication, inclusivity and belonging.

June 3, 2024

Rapid advances in cardiac imaging technology have generated a renewed interest around PET and PET/CT. On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, speaks with Martin Shirley, president and CEO of TTG Imaging. They discuss the most important considerations when offering cardiac imaging and how to maximize imaging modalities within your practice.

June 3, 2024

Strategic planning is often considered a marker of organizational health and forward-thinking culture. On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, is joined by Tom Draper, MBA, MAACVPR, FACC, vice president at WellStar Center for Cardiovascular Care; Barry Mangel, MD, chief cardiology officer at WellStar Health System; and Denise Busman, MSN, RN, CPHQ, FACC, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom. They provide insights into how your cardiovascular service line can run more efficiently through an "external-to-internal leadership” perspective.

May 29, 2024

On this MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, discusses a case study with guests Jeff Carstens, MD, cardiovascular service line (CVSL) medical director at UnityPoint Health, and Sharese Van Sloten, MHA, BAN, RN, operations director for the CVSL at UnityPoint Health. They consider how guideline-directed medical therapy decreased congestive heart failure (CHF) in their patient population and explore how their process improvement model can be applied to other areas of cardiovascular care.

May 28, 2024

Welcome to the next episode of our HeartTalk podcast series, Revenue Recovery. Host Melanie Lawson, MS, speaks with MedAxiom’s Nicole F. Knight, LPN, CPC, CCS-P, executive vice president of Revenue Cycle Solutions and Care Transformation, and Linda Gates-Striby, CCS-P, ACS-CA, Revenue Cycle Solutions consultant. They discuss the coverage eligibility for Interprofessional Consultation services and share specific examples your practice can use to capture those services, all while improving patient care.

Click here for the Revenue Recovery cheat sheet:
https://hubs.ly/Q02yqht40

Listen to "Revenue Recovery: Interprofessional Consultation" on Spreaker.

May 22, 2024

On this episode of MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson, MS, and guest Effie Andrikopoulou, MD, MBA, FACC, associate professor at the University of Washington and medical director at Harborview Medical Center, explore current and emerging applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in cardiology. They discuss real-world examples of how AI changed patient processes and offer solutions to common challenges of AI integration.          

May 14, 2024

Welcome to the next episode of our HeartTalk podcast series, Revenue Recovery. Host Melanie Lawson, MS, speaks with MedAxiom’s Nicole F. Knight, LPN, CPC, CCS-P, executive vice president of Revenue Cycle Solutions and Care Transformation, and Linda Gates-Striby, CCS-P, ACS-CA, Revenue Cycle Solutions consultant. They discuss specific use cases for CPT code 99211 and give implementation tips to help ensure your practice leaves no dollar on the table.

Click here for the Revenue Recovery cheat sheet:
https://hubs.ly/Q02x7ncv0

Listen to "Revenue Recovery: 99211 for Established Patient Visits" on Spreaker.

May 10, 2024

Whether you are contemplating a sale, merger or strategic partnership, understanding and optimizing your practice’s value is imperative. On MedAxiom HeartTalk, host Melanie Lawson sits down with guests Justin Hand, MBA, managing director at Westcove Partners, Gary Herschman, JD, board of directors and firm member at EBG Law, and Kevin Mair, MBA, FACHE, CMPE, vice president of Care Transformation Services at MedAxiom. Together, they discuss their different perspectives and provide insights and actionable strategies for your practice to use whether you are considering a transaction or not.