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UnHack the Podcast

Hosted by Drex DeFord

In-depth conversations about cybersecurity strategy, risk management, and building resilient healthcare organizations in the face of evolving cyber threats.

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Episodes (296)

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UnHack the Podcast UnHack the News Executive Interview Solution Showcase Newsday 2 Minute Drill

Nov 21, 2025·Newsday

Newsday: Doing More with Less and Budgeting Wake-Up Calls with Bill Willis

November 21, 2025: What if your organization could reclaim millions of dollars just by rethinking processes you already have in place? Bill Willis , CTO of IDMWORKS , discusses the hidden costs plaguing healthcare IT, from runaway cloud storage bills to the shocking economics of password resets. Discover why identity management isn't just a security issue but a massive financial opportunity, how HR-IT integration is transforming onboarding from a week-long wait to day-one productivity, and why the cybersecurity crisis isn't really about technology at all. With real-world examples showing $2.5M to $5M in annual savings, this episode delivers the business case healthcare leaders need to drive change in 2026. Key Points: 01:06 Boston City Tour Highlights 02:36 Discussion on AI and Cloud Costs 10:05 Cybersecurity and Identity Management 19:12 Operational Efficiency and Cost Savings X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 19, 2025·Executive Interview

Executive Interview: How Complexity Kills Innovation and Lasting IT Leadership with Kurt Telep

November 19, 2025: Healthcare IT infrastructure has become so complex that teams have lost sight of the actual patient impact. Kurt Telep , Healthcare Field CTO at Nutanix , pulls no punches in this conversation about what's broken and how to fix it. From his personal regret about avoiding Kubernetes when it first emerged to explaining why 95% of healthcare organizations will consume AI rather than build it, Kurt delivers hard-earned wisdom on navigating constant technological change. He reveals why security tools become shelfware, how to reconnect IT decisions to clinical outcomes, and why the future belongs to leaders who embrace simplicity over complexity. Key Points: 02:21 A Better IT Infrastructure 08:09 Security Concerns with AI 09:40 Advice for Future Healthcare IT Leaders 15:22 The Importance of Simplicity X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 19, 2025·Executive Interview

Executive Interview: From Data Exchange to Data Utility with Dr. Steven Lane and Mike Cordeiro

November 19, 2025: Healthcare interoperability has evolved far beyond simple data exchange—but are we truly unlocking its potential? Dr. Steven Lane , CMO from Health Gorilla , and Mike Cordeiro , Senior Director of Interoperability Market & Product Strategy from MEDITECH join Bill Russell to explore how the industry is shifting from moving data to making it actionable. Discover why structured, normalized data is critical for clinical decision-making, how TEFCA is transforming payer-provider collaboration, and what AI integration means for overwhelmed clinicians. From the hidden costs of inefficient data exchange to patient empowerment through individual access services, this conversation reveals where interoperability stands today and the exciting developments shaping tomorrow's data-driven healthcare delivery. Key Points: 05:40 Challenges in Data Usability and Integration 08:04 Payer-Provider Interoperability 14:19 Patient Empowerment Through Data Access 18:09 Governance and Data Quality X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 17, 2025·Newsday

Newsday: Security Culture Saves Hospital and Resource Gaps with George Pappas

November 17, 2025: How does a 25-bed critical access hospital successfully stop a cyberattack when larger health systems fall victim? George Pappas , CEO of Intraprise Health , unpacks the Colorado hospital that shows how security culture beats expensive technology. The conversation reveals why vendor transparency remains elusive despite high-profile breaches, explores the harsh reality of hospitals that know their vulnerabilities but lack resources to fix them, and tackles AI governance challenges that traditional testing methods can't address. From Oracle-Cerner incidents to the frozen HIPAA NPRM, this episode delivers hard truths about healthcare security's funding gaps and the practical strategies that actually work for margin-pressed organizations. Key Points: 01:45 Vendor Contracts and Legal Challenges 06:21 Challenges with Cloud Security 11:26 Critical Access Hospitals and Cyber Preparedness 17:47 AI in Healthcare: Opportunities and Risks X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 12, 2025·Solution Showcase

Solution Showcase: Building a Successful 5-Year Digital Roadmap with Pam Austin and Chris Jenkins

November 12, 2025: After a major consolidation and Epic implementation during COVID-19, Ballad Health could have focused solely on survival. Instead, Pam Austin , CIO at Ballad Health , partnered with Chris Jenkins , EVP of Digital Strategy and Enterprise Imaging at Healthlink Advisors , to build a comprehensive five-year digital roadmap anchored in six strategic pillars. This conversation explores how they established IT governance that turns noise into clarity, created an Office of the CIO to free leadership for strategic thinking, and achieved millions in savings through application rationalization. Pam and Chris reveal why transparency drives engagement, how they keep 400+ team members aligned with the organizational mission, and their essential advice for healthcare leaders embarking on large-scale digital transformation. Key Points: 00:53 Creating a Five-Year Roadmap 07:49 Maintaining Focus and Prioritization 12:26 Office of the CIO and Strategic Impact 17:52 Sustained Success and Future Advice 20:12 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 10, 2025·Newsday

Newsday: AWS Outage Exploration and Removing Risk from Your Data with Vik Patel

November 10, 2025: When AWS experienced a major outage affecting over 500 companies, healthcare IT leaders were reminded that cloud architecture isn't just a technical decision; it's a strategic imperative. Vik Patel, COO from Tido dives into the cascading failures that exposed vulnerabilities in healthcare's cloud dependencies. From Epic instances running on AWS to the emerging challenges of AI data lakes, this conversation reveals why simplicity in architecture might be healthcare IT's most un

Nov 5, 2025·Executive Interview

Executive Interview: Making Big Innovations Without Risking It All with Mark Galea

November 5, 2025: Mark Galea , SVP and CIO at Willis Knighton Health , shares how they achieved world-class EMR results at a fraction of typical costs, proving that digital transformation doesn't require unlimited budgets. Leading a $1.4 billion health system in northern Louisiana, Mark deployed MEDITECH Expanse to 140 clinics in just 14 months while cutting IT operating costs to the lowest quartile. He discusses a "follow the leader" approach to AI adoption, explains why most hospitals can't afford to place bets on unproven technology, and shares impressive clinical outcomes. His philosophy: technology should be about getting our doctors “back to even”, not adding more stress. Key Points: 01:07 Challenges and Opportunities at Willis Knighton 07:18 Stabilizing and Deploying Expanse 10:43 Embracing Innovation 18:05 Cost-Effective Innovations and Results 25:19 Advice for Healthcare IT Leaders X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 4, 2025·UnHack the Podcast

UnHack (the Podcast): Passion Over Paychecks and Hidden Risk with Mary Dickerson and Gordon Groschl

November 4, 2025: Identity has become the foundation of healthcare security, but managing it is more complex than ever. In part two of this UnHack (the Podcast), Mary Dickerson , Associate VP and CISO of UTHealth Houston & Gordon Groschl , CISO and Director of HTM at Texas Children’s Hospitals , explore how organizations are shifting from prevention to resiliency. They also share candid career advice for aspiring cybersecurity professionals, challenging the industry's unrealistic entry-level requirements and explaining why passion matters more than credentials. From volunteer firefighting to CISO leadership, discover the unconventional paths and practical strategies shaping healthcare security today. Key Points: 00:24 Identity as the New Perimeter 04:09 Transition from Prevention to Resiliency 09:17 Behavior Analysis in Cybersecurity 12:17 Lightning Round: Personal Insights 15:35 Advice for Aspiring Cybersecurity Professionals X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 3, 2025·Newsday

Newsday: The CxO Pulse - Insights and Lessons from 229 Summits with This Week Health

November 3, 2025: What are healthcare IT leaders really concerned about? Fresh from three 229 Project summits across the country, Bill Russell, Sarah Richardson, and Drex DeFord pull back the curtain on the most pressing conversations happening right now. From simplifying AI governance with a two-track vendor approach to rethinking hiring strategies for an agent-driven future, this episode captures the pulse of healthcare leadership in real time. Discover why some organizations are solving hundreds of problems while others struggle with their first five, and learn the one-word qualities leaders are seeking in their next hires to thrive in today's rapidly changing landscape. Key Points: 04:24 AI Success Factors 09:57 Balancing Moonshots and Practical Solutions 14:37 Sourcing Strategy and Engagement 22:32 Building Organizational Culture 26:27 Leadership and Succession Planning X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Oct 29, 2025·Solution Showcase

Solution Showcase: Smooth and Rapid Growth In the M&A Era with Glen Phares and Brent Lamm

October 29, 2025: When UNC Health embarked on integrating 14 hospitals and hundreds of clinics across North Carolina, they needed more than just technology—they needed a scalable playbook. Brent Lamm , SVP and CIO at UNC Health , joins Glen Phares , National Director for Healthcare Solution Delivery at Experis Health Solutions , to reveal how UNC Health built repeatable processes for rapid M&A integration. From consolidating nine different payrolls into one ERP system to managing infrastructure migrations that enable innovation. With strategic staffing partner Experis, they've transformed what could be overwhelming growth into a competitive advantage. Key Points: 02:24 UNC Health's Mission and Growth 05:20 Experis Health Solutions 06:43 Challenges and Strategies 14:47 The Role of Infrastructure 18:36 Future of Burnout in Healthcare X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Oct 29, 2025·Executive Interview

Executive Interview: Empowering Healthcare with New Age Networks with Perry Welch

October 29, 2025: Cellular networks are transforming healthcare delivery, but what makes 5G truly different from its predecessor? Perry Welch , EVP and Chief Revenue Officer at Airwavz Solutions , discusses creating a robust network infrastructure that can handle the demanding requirements of modern medical technology. As healthcare systems begin exploring what's possible with this upgraded network, the question shifts from "can our phones work?" to "what new capabilities can we unlock?" Discover why focusing on your network is becoming essential for healthcare environments. Key Points: 03:20 WiFi vs DAS in Healthcare 06:21 The Future of 5G and Beyond 09:47 Implementation and Coverage Challenges 15:34 Airwavz's Healthcare Focus and Conclusion X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Oct 28, 2025·UnHack the Podcast

UnHack (the Podcast): Zero Trust and the Identity Perimeter with Mary Dickerson and Gordon Groschl

October 28, 2025: Mary Dickerson , Associate VP and CISO of UTHealth Houston & Gordon Groschl , CISO and Director of HTM at Texas Children’s Hospitals , discuss the current research landscape. Identity has become the ultimate battleground in healthcare security, but most organizations still don't have the fundamentals right. From securing non-human identities to enabling research without compromising compliance, these CISOs share hard-won lessons from the frontlines. Key Points: 03:36 Challenges in Integrating Research and Clinical Services 06:10 Building Secure and Agile Research Environments 10:04 Collaboration Across Institutions for Research 12:11 Top Projects: AI in Radiology 14:58 Merging Identity and Security Operations X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer