As healthcare IT evolves at a breakneck pace, the right partnerships, technologies, and go-to-market strategies can define success. In this episode, Jon Lange speaks with Joe Schauenberg, Managing Director and Head of Healthcare IT Investment Banking at William Blair, to explore the current healthcare IT landscape and the outlook for continued innovation and investment. Joe shares insights from advising some of the sector’s most transformative companies, discusses how AI is reshaping everything from provider workflows to revenue cycle management, and explains why distribution - and not just product quality - has an outsized impact on success in the market. From mentorship in banking to what makes a compelling M&A story, this episode offers a front-row view of the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of healthcare IT.

Key Takeaways

• AI is driving significant impact across provider workflows, revenue cycle, and documentation
• Investment bankers play a key advisory role beyond transactions—leveraging objectivity, data, and sector expertise to guide strategic decisions.
• Mentorship and apprenticeship are critical components of the investment banking business.
• Growth, AI strategy, and ability to upsell existing customers are key factors that influence buyer interest and deal valuations.

What does it take to reorient a 172-year-old healthcare company toward driving groundbreaking innovations? In this episode, Jon Lange speaks with Brent Saunders, Chairman and CEO of Bausch + Lomb, about how he’s reinvigorating one of the world’s most iconic eye care brands. Brent shares how the company is focused on driving major innovations across its broad portfolio, including Project Halo, a potential breakthrough in contact lens material science that could result in a new paradigm of all-day comfort. Jon and Brent explore what it means to be a great leader in healthcare, the importance of curiosity and humility, and Brent’s personal recipe for happiness. This is a wide-ranging conversation about eye care, leadership, and how to foster a mission-driven culture to ultimately advance the standard of care for patients.

Key Takeaways

• Bausch + Lomb is investing in major innovation across its portfolio, including Project Halo, a potential breakthrough in contact lens material science that could result in a new paradigm of all-day comfort.
• A new contact lens under development may help slow the progression of myopia in children, which could be a game-changer for pediatric eye care.
• Revitalizing innovation requires top talent; Brent’s focused on building out his R&D team as a first step toward taking big swings on groundbreaking innovations.
• Success is a long game; Brent and Jon discuss the myth of “overnight success” and how passion, hard work, and consistency are key ingredients for real success over the long term.

As America’s population ages and the need for care continues to increase, home-based care is rapidly becoming a central pillar of the healthcare system. In this episode, Jon Lange speaks with David Baiada, CEO of Bayada Home Health Care, about how the company has scaled its mission-driven operation to become one of the largest home-based care companies in the U.S. David shares how Bayada’s nonprofit structure, people-first culture, and forward-thinking approach to technology are helping to meet surging demand while preserving compassion at the core of care. With insights on leadership, culture, the future of care delivery, and the importance of listening, this episode offers a powerful vision of healthcare built on purpose and performance.

Key Takeaways:

• Bayada is one of the nation’s largest home-based care providers, delivering services across seven specialties in 24 states and five countries.
• The organization transitioned from a family-owned company to a nonprofit to ensure long-term mission alignment and sustainability.
• Workforce shortages pose a major challenge, and the solution will need to be multi-faceted.
• Bayada takes a rigorous, systems-level approach to culture management, embedding values into hiring, training, recognition, and performance.