In this episode of the Digital Health Heavyweights podcast, Norm Volsky interviews Nandan Rao, CEO of Starlight, a virtual proactive care clinic. Nandan shares his background, including his experience founding Virtual Lab and his transition from international public health to digital health. He discusses the importance of culturally sensitive coaching, the mission of Starlight to improve patient adherence, and the successes the company has achieved in partnership with major health systems. Following the model of CMS ACCESS, Starlight coordinates closely with provider groups for referrals and co-management The conversation also touches on the challenges of navigating the healthcare system, the importance of technology in enhancing patient care, and the personal experiences that shape Nandan's leadership style.

Check out their website here: https://hellostarlight.com/

Takeaways

🧠 Nandan Rao has a diverse background in public health and technology.

🌟 Starlight focuses on improving patient adherence through health coaching.

🤝 Culturally sensitive coaching is crucial for patient engagement.

💻 The integration of technology with healthcare can enhance patient outcomes.

📉 Value-based care is essential for improving healthcare efficiency.

🩺 Patient relationships with coaches drive better health outcomes.

🏥 Starlight has successfully partnered with major health systems.

🧩 Understanding patient behavior is key to increasing program participation.

💰 The healthcare system often prioritizes profit over patient care.

🧘‍♂️ Nandan emphasizes the importance of self-care and stress management for leaders.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Nandan Rao and Starlight

01:27 Founding Virtual Lab and Its Impact

04:41 Comparing International Public Health and Digital Health

07:13 The Value of an Eclectic Career in Leadership

12:17 The Inspiration Behind Starlight

23:48 Starlight's Mission and Approach

24:58 Success Stories and Outcomes from Starlight

29:15 Enhancing Patient Engagement through Referrals

32:15 The Balance of Technology and Human Touch in Healthcare

36:06 Leveraging Technology for Better Patient Outcomes

39:28 Creating Meaningful Patient Experiences

40:23 Scaling Healthcare Solutions Across Diverse Populations

44:14 Navigating the Financial Landscape of Healthcare

55:30 Personal Well-being in a High-Stress Environment

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In this episode of the Digital Health Heavyweights podcast, Norm Volsky interviews Dr. Kumar Dharmarajan, co-founder and chief medical officer of World Class Health. They discuss Dr. Dharmarajan's journey in healthcare, the challenges of patient experience, and the importance of technology in improving healthcare delivery. The conversation delves into the economics of employer-sponsored healthcare, the mission behind founding World Class Health, and the potential of direct contracting and global healthcare solutions. Dr. Dharmarajan shares insights on engagement strategies, innovations, shaping the future of healthcare, and his personal health practices.

Takeaways

💡 Clinical inspiration matters in healthcare operations

⚙️ Building technology for doctors requires understanding their workflow

🧑‍⚕️ Patient experience is often poor and needs improvement

🏢 Employer-sponsored healthcare is the largest payer in the U.S.

💰 Direct contracting can lead to significant cost savings

🌎 Global healthcare can offer high-quality care at lower prices

📈 Engagement strategies must be tailored to the audience

🔍 Data transparency is crucial for innovation and accountability

📊 Incentives should align between providers, employers, and patients

🧘‍♂️ Wellness and personal health practices are vital for healthcare leaders

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Kumar Dharmarajan and World Class Health

02:40 Lessons from Clover Health: Clinical Inspiration and Successes

05:17 Building Tech for Doctors and Patients: Key Principles

07:27 The Importance of Reducing Friction in Healthcare

09:55 Transitioning to Global Care Delivery: Motivations and Market Opportunities

12:28 Understanding Cost Disparities in Healthcare

14:25 Challenges in the Healthcare System: Misalignments and Transparency

17:38 Founding World Class Health: Personal Stories and Market Gaps

29:06 Global Centers of Excellence: Engagement and Cost Reduction

31:37 The Role of Nurses in Patient Care

34:23 Cost Savings in Healthcare

36:36 Demand for Specific Healthcare Services

38:32 Misconceptions About International Healthcare

41:39 Innovations in Global Healthcare

44:58 Engagement Strategies in Healthcare

51:59 Personal Wellness Practices

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In this episode of the Digital Health Heavyweights podcast, host Norm Volsky interviews Noah Kotlove, Founder and CEO of Berry Street, a virtual nutrition therapy platform connecting patients with dietitians for one-on-one personalized nutrition care across more than 25 conditions, and leveraging AI to empower providers and patients . Noah shares his patient-first journey how working with a dietitian helped him lose weight and why nutrition counseling remains one of the most underutilized benefits in U.S. healthcare despite broad commercial coverage that is often $0 out of pocket. The conversation explores Berry Street’s rapid growth since January 2023, its $50M raise in 2025, the difference between dietitians vs. “nutritionists,” and how Berry Street supports patients navigating the GLP-1 era with sustainable nutrition and behavior change.

Takeaways

🥗 Nutrition therapy is widely covered by commercial insurance, yet remains deeply underutilized.
🧠 Dietitians support behavior change beyond “eat this / don’t eat that,” including relationship-with-food work.
⚖️ “Food freedom” helps patients avoid guilt spirals and build sustainable habits.
🍿 Small guardrails (like portioning snacks into a bowl) can compound into major outcomes over time.
🏢 Large enterprises often struggle with zero-to-one innovation—startups thrive because they’re built for it.
🚀 Berry Street scaled rapidly after launching in January 2023, reaching tens of millions in annualized revenue (as shared on-air).
💰 Berry Street raised $50M in 2025, driven by growth, a massive market tailwind, and strong provider/patient experience.
🩺 Dietitians are credentialed clinicians who can bill insurance; “nutritionist” is not a standardized credential term.
💉 GLP-1s are a powerful tool, but dietitian support helps protect nutrient intake, adherence, and long-term sustainability.
🍌 A simple daily habit: pairing fruit (banana) with protein/fats (peanut butter) can improve satiety and energy stability.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Noah Kotlove and Berry Street
01:35 Noah’s Path into Healthcare: A Patient-First Story
04:10 How Dietitian Care Drives Sustainable Behavior Change
07:24 Principles Behind Noah’s 60–65 lb Weight-Loss Journey
11:41 Founding Sobriety Soft: Early Entrepreneurship in Health Tech
15:25 Lessons Learned Building a Product for a Sensitive Community
18:25 Accenture to Startup CEO: Lessons from Enterprise Innovation
21:11 The Origin and Meaning Behind the Name “Berry Street”
23:19 Why Nutrition Therapy Is Massively Underutilized
24:34 Fundraising Advice: Authenticity in a Tough Capital Market
26:20 What Drove Berry Street’s $50M Raise and Growth Strategy
28:35 Dietitian vs. Nutritionist: Credentials, Training, and Trust
31:00 Inside the Berry Street Patient Experience
33:26 Insurance Coverage Explained: Preventive vs. Medical Nutrition Care
35:11 Go-to-Market Strategy: From DTC Growth to Health Plans
35:58 Becoming In-Network: Scaling Provider Contracts Nationally
37:20 Clinical Outcomes and the GLP-1 Nutrition Pathway
39:13 The Role of Nutrition in a GLP-1-Driven Future
48:45 Managing Stress and Staying Centered as a Founder
50:12 Healthy Habits and Simple Nutrition Wins
53:01 Closing Thoughts and Final Reflections

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