Welcome back to the Health Marketing Collective, where strong leadership meets marketing excellence.

On today’s episode, Sara Payne guides us through the rapidly changing landscape of health marketing and offers her bold predictions for 2026. But don’t expect another superficial look at the “latest AI shortcuts” or a list of emerging digital platforms—this episode is about something deeper and more lasting. Sara highlights a fundamental shift that’s transforming the very core of health marketing: the move from technological novelty to meaningful human connection, influence, and leadership.

Drawing on daily conversations with marketing leaders, founders, and executives—not just on industry reports—Sara Payne lays out six essential trends that will separate the leaders from the followers in health marketing over the next two years. These aren’t just predictions, but deliberate decisions and approaches. Sara challenges us to see that the brands that win will be the ones that move closer, not louder, focusing on real relationships, trust, and authentic influence.

Thanks for being a part of the Health Marketing Collective. The future of healthcare depends on it.

Key Takeaways:

1. Human Connection Becomes the Strategy: In an era where AI is making “mediocre marketing incredibly efficient,” true value now lies in creating fewer, more meaningful conversations. Sara stresses that human connection is no longer the “soft stuff”—it’s the strategic moat. Success will come to brands that invest in deeper relationships, invite-only roundtables, intentional follow-ups, and authentic presence, rather than just producing more content.
2. From Earned Media to Earned Influence: The definition of earned media is evolving. With shrinking newsrooms and fragmented attention, Sara explains that the new currency is “earned influence:” it’s not about where you show up, but who trusts and engages with you. PR strategies that chase only exposure will fall short; brands must now focus on building relationships, credibility, and trust within their communities and among peers.
3. Metrics Will Get Smaller and More Honest: The era of vanity metrics is ending. Sara predicts that brands will shift to measuring trust, depth of conversation, and quality of relationships—even if those numbers are less flashy. One trusted connection can outperform a thousand passive impressions. Successful brands will be those brave enough to prioritize and report these more intimate, honest metrics.
4. Executive Social Media as Leadership, Not Amplification: Simply sharing pre-written posts won’t cut it. In 2026, executive presence on social platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram must be deeper and more meaningful. People want access to how leaders think, not just what the marketing team writes for them. True executive social presence is about sharing genuine viewpoints, engaging in real dialogue, and showing curiosity, conviction, and humanity.
5. Customer-First Mindset is No Longer Optional: Centering on the customer is now the bare minimum. Self-centered messaging about a brand’s solution or roadmap will no longer be tolerated by audiences. Marketing must be grounded in genuine customer needs and real-world impact. Those who try to fake empathy or customer orientation “will be rejected.”

The question for every brand should move from “Does this scale?” to “Does this matter?” Personal, authentic moments—regardless of their size—will define...

Welcome to the Health Marketing Collective, where strong leadership meets marketing excellence.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Vasanta Pundarika, CEO of Lotuspring, a renowned healthcare investment banker, and trusted advisor to industry leaders who are working to bridge the gap between clinical conviction and sustainable scale—especially in women’s and behavioral health. Hosted by Sara Payne, this powerful conversation dives deep into why so many healthcare brands are missing a pivotal movement in women’s health, what it takes to truly earn women’s trust, and how marketing, operations, and clinical teams can come together to create meaningful experiences that serve women holistically.

Women’s health is having a moment—but as Vasanta shares, it’s more accurately a movement, driven by years of systemic gaps and a growing recognition that the status quo isn’t enough. Despite the buzz, many organizations talk about leading in women’s health without making necessary investments or creating real, differentiated experiences for female patients. A veteran in both finance and healthcare, Vasanta unpacks what ‘good’ truly looks like when brands commit to women’s health. From aligning marketing strategy with clinical substance, to collaborating across the C-suite, to acknowledging and addressing patient experience pain points—today’s episode lays out a clear, actionable path for healthcare leaders and marketers ready to close the gap and build genuine, lasting trust with women.

The discussion explores real-world pitfalls like “pink washing,” the underestimation of women’s health complexity, and siloed planning between departments. Vasanta Pundarika also highlights industry standouts and the need for both niche and broad-based organizations to step up. Specific case studies in behavioral health, perimenopause, and cardiac care underscore the urgency of creating inclusive solutions, not just for women but for the health of families and communities at large.

Thank you for listening to the Health Marketing Collective, where strong leadership meets marketing excellence. The future of healthcare depends on it.

Key Takeaways:

1. Move Beyond “Pink Washing”:

Simply rebranding existing services or adding “women’s health” messaging is not enough. Vasanta cautions against the pitfall of making things “pink” instead of developing real, differentiated clinical protocols and care pathways that address women’s unique healthcare needs. Authenticity and substance, not symbolic gestures, win trust.

2. Patient Experience Is the Product:

Women’s trust is built—or broken—in the details of the patient journey. Friction, complexity, or mismatched promises quickly erode brand loyalty. Brands that reduce barriers, provide holistic navigation, and deliver truly seamless experiences demonstrate that they “see” and value their female patients.

3. Alignment Across Marketing, Clinical, and Operations Is Essential:

Growth in women’s health—and sustainable, trusted brands—requires collaborative strategy development. Vasanta recommends convening marketing, clinical, operations, and strategy leaders together to ensure what’s being marketed is real, deliverable, and meaningfully distinct for women.

4. Word of Mouth and Community Influence Are Powerful Drivers:

The “voice of the customer”—listening to real women, collecting feedback, and amplifying their positive experiences—matters immensely in healthcare. Pilots, testimonials, and sharing what works for women allows brands to build authentic, organic trust and a broader community impact.

5. Don’t Underestimate the Scope of Women’s Health Needs:

Women’s health extends far beyond OBGYN care. Behavioral health, heart health, and other specialties have unique female presentations and logistical barriers. Leaders must invest...

Welcome to the Health Marketing Collective, where strong leadership meets marketing excellence.

On today’s episode, Sara Payne is joined by Nishant Shukla, Chief Marketing Officer at SCAN Health Plan, for a candid and compelling discussion about one of this year’s most talked-about health marketing campaigns: “Health Insurance is Broken.” As SCAN geared up for the 2025 Medicare open enrollment period, its bold new initiative ditched rosy portrayals of senior life in favor of authentic, relatable stories that put the frustrations of the healthcare system front and center.

Nishant shares the strategy and intention behind the campaign—anchored in SCAN’s activist roots—revealing how honest storytelling and a commitment to genuine experience resonate with both members and the broader industry. The episode dives into the campaign’s genesis, the challenges and benefits of taking a public stand, how member and employee feedback shaped the creative approach, and the measurable impact on brand awareness, business performance, and industry dialogue.

Key Takeaways:

1. Authenticity Is Boldness in Health Marketing: Nishant emphasizes that boldness in healthcare marketing doesn’t require shock value—it demands authenticity. The “Health Insurance is Broken” campaign resonated because it spoke honestly about the pain points seniors face in navigating health insurance. By focusing on what members really experience, Scan Health Plan created a rallying cry that drew attention, trust, and excitement from both consumers and employees.
2. Mission-Driven Messaging Builds Lasting Trust: SCAN’s activist heritage—from its founding by “12 Angry Seniors” seeking better healthcare—remains the guiding force behind the brand’s messaging. Nishant advises marketers to ensure campaigns are connected to organizational mission, which enables them to speak candidly about what’s broken and what needs to change. This deep alignment fosters pride, trust, and a strong connection between the organization and its members.
3. Listening and Insight Drive Campaign Success: The campaign’s success was grounded in thorough consumer and market insight—listening to member experiences, analyzing service calls, and gathering direct feedback. Nishant shares how SCAN’s continuous feedback mechanisms (including direct emails to the CEO and regular review of service interactions) allow them to understand real member pain points. This ongoing listening translates into creative that feels fresh, different, and honest to the target audience.
4. Positive Impact Internally and Externally: The effects of the campaign were felt throughout the organization. Members expressed pride, prospective members saw something new, and employees felt energized—motivated to improve every touchpoint of the member experience. Even competitors reacted, some defensively, which Sara points out is often a sign the campaign is truly breaking through. The “Health Insurance is Broken” narrative has united Scan’s staff and members around a shared mission of improvement.
5. Bold Campaigns as Calls to Industry Action: Nishant sees the campaign not just as marketing, but as a “clarion call” for the entire health insurance industry to acknowledge inefficiencies and strive for real change. By owning imperfections and committing publicly to fixing them, SCAN challenges the status quo—and invites other stakeholders to do the same. The campaign’s early success, including record enrollment numbers and strong engagement metrics, demonstrates that honest, member-focused storytelling can lead to transformative business results and industry momentum.

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