Shows
Health & VeritasLive at the Yale Innovation Summit 2025In a special episode recorded at Connecticut’s largest entrepreneurship event, Howie and guest host Megan Ranney, the dean of the Yale School of Public Health, welcome four Yale innovators: entrepreneur and YSPH lecturer Kaakpema “KP” Yelpaala; Basmah Safdar, incoming director of Women’s Health Research at Yale; Kayla Wooley, a YSPH graduate and the founder of two nursing home staffing companies; and Yale College student Laurie Jimenez, founder of FulcrumCare, a value-based dental provider for Medicaid and Medicare patients. Links: The Yale Innovation Summit Yale Innovation Summit 2025 Yale Ventures Kaakpem...2025-05-3048 min
Health Equity Podcast ChannelStartUp Health NOW: Prioritizing Health Equity Through Sustained Action and Equitable InnovationLast year StartUp Health launched a Health Equity Moonshot with the goal of creating a guiding equity framework for how we support health startups. That work has been led by our Chief Impact Officer Kaakpema "KP" Yelpaala. One of the first things KP did was to build a cross-disciplinary impact board who could help us guide our policies, and one of the first people he turned to for that task was today’s guest, Aletha Maybank, MD, MPH. Dr. Maybank is the Chief Health Equity Officer & Senior VP at the American Medical Association. In th...2023-08-0258 min
InOn Health PodcastInnovative Healthcare Legislation and Equity Initiatives with Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera & Stephanie Pugliese, Office of eHealth InnovationUnder the visionary leadership of Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera, the state of Colorado hopes to connect 99% of households to high-speed internet by 2027. This is just one of the initiatives in a larger plan to lead by example in establishing sustainable practices for addressing health care inequity. As Lt. Governor Primavera moves into her second term, she is prioritizing more equitable legislation surrounding housing, healthcare and education. As the Covid-19 pandemic brought to light, many households have been negatively impacted by increasingly expensive healthcare and lack of access to digital services. In order to prevent f...2023-06-1326 min
StartUp Health NOW PodcastPrioritizing Health Equity Through Sustained Action and Equitable InnovationLast year StartUp Health launched a Health Equity Moonshot with the goal of creating a guiding equity framework for how we support health startups. That work has been led by our Chief Impact Officer Kaakpema "KP" Yelpaala. One of the first things KP did was to build a cross-disciplinary impact board who could help us guide our policies, and one of the first people he turned to for that task was today’s guest, Aletha Maybank, MD, MPH.
Dr. Maybank is the Chief Health Equity Officer & Senior VP at the American Medical Association. In the world of health equity, that’s a...2023-03-0358 minStartUp Health NOW PodcastKP Yelpaala Shares the Mission & Vision Behind StartUp Health’s Health Equity MoonshotAs our listeners will know, StartUp Health invests in what we call health moonshots. These are big, audacious health goals that guide us as we push innovative health entrepreneurs — our global army of Health Transformers — to collaborate and focus on long-term impact. We have health moonshots around curing cancer, improving women’s health, ending the opioid crisis, and we’ve recently added another focused on Type 1 diabetes.
This week, we launched a Health Equity Moonshot at the Clinton Global Initiative in order to build a framework that re-orients these inspiring problem solvers to tackle the challenge beneath the challenge, the social a...2022-09-2025 min
InOn Health PodcastKP’s Prostate Cancer Journey Part 2 with Dr. Ahmad Garrett-PriceIn part two of this two-part episode, KP continues to share his personal story about his diagnosis of early-stage, moderately aggressive prostate cancer. As a young black male with no known prior history, he was significantly under the age to be screened for this condition. But he got screened early, and is thankfully cancer free after treatment from great physicians. In this conversation, KP is joined by Ahmad Garrett-Price MD, a board certified family physician and the founder of GP Health. As a top family physician, Ahmad brings the clinical view as well as the context surrounding t...2022-09-131h 04
InOn Health PodcastUnpacking Issues Around Black Men’s Health Part 1 with Dr. Ahmad Garrett-PriceIn part one of this two-part episode, KP shares his personal story about his diagnosis of early-stage, moderately aggressive prostate cancer. As a young black male with no known prior history, he was significantly under the age to be screened for this condition. But he got screened early, and is thankfully cancer free after treatment from great physicians. But this journey has led him to unpacking the topic of cancer, and specifically prostate cancer, among the Black male population. In this conversation, KP is joined by Ahmad Garrett-Price MD, a board certified family physician and th...2022-09-0648 min
InOn Health PodcastLooking Back with KPAs we near the end of season 2 of the InOn Health podcast, KP looks back on some of his favorite episodes from season 1 of the show.KP’s Top 5 Episodes:Episode 4: Integrating Emotional Support in the Maternal Health Journey with Simmone TaittEpisode 5: Paving the Way in Digital Health Innovation with Troy BannisterEpisode 6: Creating Inclusive Digital Health Innovations and Re-Defining Acute Care with Dr. Monique SmithEpisode 3: Building and Sustaining a Healthy Colorado for All with Dianne Primavera, Colorado Lieutenant GovernorEpisode 13: Cultural Humility Improves Mental Healthcare for Diverse Populations with Dr. Brandi Jackson and Kevin Dedner...2022-08-3006 min
InOn Health PodcastThe Role of Hospitals in Reducing Health Disparities and Creating Community (Revisited) with Joy LewisJoy Lewis—senior vice president of health equity strategies at the American Hospital Association—joins KP in this episode of the InOn Health podcast. They discuss the impact of hospitals in reducing health disparities for various populations in the United States. Joy reveals the vision of the American Hospital Association, which focuses on achieving a society of healthy communities with individuals reaching their highest potential for health, where everyone receives the necessary support to live the healthiest life possible. She provides insights into how (modifiable) societal factors influence health outcomes and conditions. She describes the a...2022-08-2327 min
InOn Health PodcastConfronting Racism & Racial Disparities in Healthcare Systems (Revisited) with Dr. Brittani JamesDr. Brittani James, family physician and Co-Founder of The Institute for Antiracism in Medicine, joins KP in the ongoing discussion addressing health equity. Dr. James begins the conversation by sharing her upbringing, witnessing segregated systems in and outside the healthcare system. She reveals how the Covid-19 pandemic spotlighted the racial disparities in the healthcare systems and the mental health impact on the Black community. While attending medical school at the University of Michigan, Dr. James reflects learning how black individuals are more inclined to experience health issues, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, b...2022-08-1641 min
InOn Health PodcastPublic Health & the American Medical Association with Dr. Aletha MaybankAletha Maybank, MD, MPH currently serves as the chief health equity officer and senior vice president for the American Medical Association (AMA) where she focuses on embedding health equity across all the work of the AMA and leading its Center for Health Equity.She joined the AMA in April 2019 as the association's inaugural chief health equity officer to launch AMA’s Center for Health Equity. Prior to this, Dr. Maybank served as the founding deputy commissioner for the Center for Health Equity at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Aimed at strengthening equity efforts and tr...2022-08-0951 min
InOn Health PodcastThe Role of the Company in Creating a More Inclusive Healthcare Industry with André BlackmanAndré Blackman is a strategist, eco-system builder and entrepreneur, working in public health and social innovation. Founder and CEO of Onboard Health, specialized executive search and advisory firm focused on creating a more inclusive healthcare industry.In this episode we discuss his personal journey and career, his views of DEI, and what is required to sustain efforts to build a more equitable health system in the United States.Main TopicsAndré’s journey to a career in public health science and community impact and his desire to work toward systemic change and not...2022-08-0240 min
InOn Health PodcastInnovative Healthcare Resources for Women of Color with Ashlee WisdomAshlee Wisdom is a writer, healthcare professional and challenger of the status quo. She’s the co-founder and CEO of Health in Her Hue, a digital platform that connects Black women and women of color to culturally sensitive healthcare providers, health content and community. She’s a champion for health equity and has a passion for taking an equitable approach to healthcare innovation. Most recently, she worked for Junto Health, where she was the program director for the strategic venture group.In this episode, we dive into her personal journey, what lead her to start Health in Her...2022-07-2648 min
InOn Health PodcastIntegrating Digital Health with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with Dr. Félix Manuel ChineaDr. Félix Manuel Chinea is the Head of Health Equity & Inclusion Strategy at Doximity where he applies an equity-centered, inclusion lens to impact people, practices, and products. He is a graduate of Duke University School of Medicine with experience in health disparities and health equity research. Through this work, he highlighted the need for disaggregated data within the Latine community to address disparities in prostate cancer outcomes.Main TopicsDr. Chinea shares his journey to digital health and the areas of health equity and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). He also shares about h...2022-07-1937 min
InOn Health PodcastBroadening Access to Primary Healthcare in Rural Communities with Ashley MoretzAshley Moretz is the Director of Primary Care and Rural Health for the Utah Department of Health. His department coordinates a range of federal and state programs aimed at improving the health of Utah’s rural and medically underserved residents. Prior to his current role, Ashley served as a senior advisor around global social performance with Chevron Corporation. He’s also worked within the global health and development. He spent 12 years leading country-level programs, including public health activities on behalf of the USAID in Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kazakstan. In this episode, we’ll talk about Ashley’s profess...2022-07-1231 min
InOn Health PodcastHow Social Determinants of Health Could Transform U.S. Healthcare with Elizabeth BradleyElizabeth “Betsy” Bradley is the president of Vassar College and is one of the leading healthcare policy experts in the United States, including on the topic of social determinants of health. Betsy was on the faculty at Yale University for more than 20 years and most recently was the director of the Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy. She’s written more than 300 peer-reviewed papers and three books, including The American Healthcare Paradox.Betsy joins KP to discuss the importance of placing greater focus on the social determinants of health in the context of healthcare in the United States. Betsy...2022-07-0536 min
InOn Health PodcastAddressing Structural Racism Through Health Equity with Dr. Nathan T. ChomiloDr. Nathan T. Chomilo is Medical Director for the State of Minnesota’s Medicaid and MinnesotaCare programs and practices as a General Pediatrician and an Internal Medicine Hospitalist with Park Nicollet Health Services/HealthPartners. He received a Zoology degree from Miami University (Oxford, OH) and graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School. He completed his combined residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota and was the Pediatric Chief Resident at the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital. His advocacy work has included the impact early chil...2022-06-2835 min
InOn Health PodcastAdvancing Health Equity Through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with Dr. Medell Briggs-MalonsonDr. Medell Briggs-Malonson, MD, MPH, MSHS is the Chief of Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the UCLA Hospital and Clinic System and a practicing emergency room physician. She is also an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. In her current role, she is responsible for the implementation and oversight of organizational structures and initiatives that promote inclusivity and equity among UCLA Health staff, patients, and communities.In this conversation, we cover Dr. Briggs’ journey as a leader in both health equity and diversity, equity, and in...2022-06-2144 min
InOn Health PodcastInOn Health Podcast Season Two TrailerIn this season, we will continue to discuss themes related to health equity in the United States. We are also going to dive into the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion and how it relates to reducing health disparities.The conversations will continue to bridge personal narrative and the important work of our national and local leaders. We will continue to speak with entrepreneurs, thought leaders, community advocates, policy makers, and politicians regarding the nuance of these topics and practical solutions that are working in communities.We will also take on the theme of leadership—sp...2022-06-0700 minStartUp Health NOW PodcastKP Yelpaala of InOn Health: Health Equity Isn’t Just the Right Thing to Do, It’s Also Good for BusinessToday’s guest is Kaakpema "KP" Yelpaala, the CEO and Co-founder of InOn Health, a StartUp Health portfolio company that delivers patient engagement solutions with an emphasis on cross-cultural communication. This conversation you’ll hear is pulled from a Fireside Chat at the StartUp Health Festival @ ViVE and is hosted by Katya Hancock, a partner at StartUp Health. The two discuss KP’s work at InOn Health, which centers around health literacy and patient communication. And they also dig into health equity – an area of particular passion and focus for KP – to try to get beyond the hype and the buzzwords...2022-05-1018 min
InOn Health PodcastThe Impact of COVID-19 on Health Equity and Public Health Information with Chelsea ClintonChelsea Clinton, Phil, MPH, joins KP in this episode of the InOn Health podcast. Chelsea is a longtime public health advocate and the vice chair of the Clinton Foundation where she works to improve the lives and inspire emerging leaders across the United States and around the world. In addition to her Foundation work, Chelsea teaches at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and has written several books for young readers, including many New York Times bestsellers. She is also the daughter of former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Cl...2021-10-1246 min
InOn Health PodcastCultural Humility Improves Mental Healthcare for Diverse Populations with Dr. Brandi Jackson and Kevin DednerDr. Brandi Jackson, chief behavioral health officer at Howard Brown Health, and Kevin Dedner, CEO and founder of Hurdle, join KP in this episode of the InOn Health podcast. Dr. Jackson and Kevin address the structure of the mental healthcare system in the United States. They elaborate how the current system lacks effective therapeutic alliance for people of color in the U.S, resulting in poor provider fits and patients terminating therapy prematurely. For example, 50% of Black Americans terminate therapy sessions prematurely, compared to 33% for other general populations. Dr. Jackson and Kevin explain this dynamic is due to a...2021-10-0541 min
InOn Health PodcastHow Implicit Bias and Structural Racism Creates Health Disparities with Dr. Veronica Gillispie-BellDr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell joins KP in this episode of the InOn Health podcast. Veronica is the senior site lead and section head for women’s services at Ochsner Health. She is also the medical director for the Perinatal Quality Collaborative and Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review for the Louisiana Department of Health. Veronica discusses implicit bias and structural racism within the United States healthcare system. She explains how systemic policies and laws have created and upheld systemic disparities. Veronica addresses maternal mortality and the gaps between black and white women. For example, a black woman wit...2021-09-2837 min
InOn Health PodcastHow Structural Inequality in American Society Impacts Health Inequities and Disparities with Neil Lewis, Jr.In this episode of the InOn Health podcast, Neil Lewis Jr., assistant professor at Cornell University, joins KP to discuss systemic and structural issues of inequity in American society and how they relate to health inequities and disparities. Neil explains how these themes correlate to behavioral science and public health communication. Neil’s passion for research initially led him to study educational inequality. His findings acquired understanding factors leading to disparities in educational outcomes, ultimately leading to the study of health disparities and health equity issues due to similar undermining factors demonstrated in both dom...2021-09-2134 min
InOn Health PodcastAdvancing Health Information Exchange to Better Serve Coloradans with Carrie PaykoçIn this episode of the InOn Health podcast, Carrie Paykoç, director of the Office of eHealth Innovation in Colorado, joins KP to discuss the intersection of public policy and technology and how it works to support all Coloradans for their health and wellbeing. Before joining Colorado’s Office of eHealth Innovation, Carrie previously held various positions in non-profit organizations, healthcare startups, and tech companies. The Office of eHealth Innovation launched in 2015 through executive order to establish strategy, policy, coordinate funding across Colorado. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the office primarily focused on implementing projects and init...2021-09-1430 min
InOn Health PodcastThe Role of Hospitals in Reducing Health Disparities and Creating Community with Joy LewisJoy Lewis—senior vice president of health equity strategies at the American Hospital Association—joins KP in this episode of the InOn Health podcast. They discuss the impact of hospitals in reducing health disparities for various populations in the United States. Joy reveals the vision of the American Hospital Association, which focuses on achieving a society of healthy communities with individuals reaching their highest potential for health, where everyone receives the necessary support to live the healthiest life possible. She provides insights into how (modifiable) societal factors influence health outcomes and conditions. She describes the a...2021-09-0726 min
InOn Health PodcastImproving Rural Community Health Through Specialty Care with Chris PuseyIn this episode of the InOn Health podcast, Chris Pusey, chief operating officer at Rural Partners in Medicine, joins KP to discuss the current challenges of rural healthcare in the United States. Before joining Rural Partners in Medicine (RPM)—an organization dedicated to developing sustainable models for providing specialty care to rural populations across the United States—he served eight years in private equity investing in healthcare services businesses and later pursued entrepreneurial endeavors focused on health and fitness. Chris addresses how critical access in rural communities has evolved and the gaps in rural healt...2021-08-3139 min
InOn Health PodcastAddressing Health Policy and Inclusivity to Improve Health Equity with Sarah DashIn this episode of the InOn Health podcast, Sarah Dash, president and CEO of Alliance for Health Policy, joins KP to discuss her roles in health equity and healthcare initiatives in the United States. Sarah shares how she pursued a career path in public health policy, inspired by Edward Stierle’s biography, A Dance Against Time: The Brief, Brilliant Life of a Joffrey Dancer. Before joining Alliance for Health Policy, Sarah shares her background as a Health Policy Advisor and Senior Legislative Assistant under Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro and Senator John D. Rockefeller IV. She outlines her rol...2021-08-2432 min
InOn Health PodcastCreating Inclusive Digital Health Innovations and Re-Defining Acute Care with Dr. Monique SmithIn this episode of the InOn Health podcast, KP introduces Dr. Monique Smith, ER physician and founding executive director of Health DesignED. Dr. Smith opens the conversation by sharing her upbringing as a first-generation Jamaican American and how it influenced her to study anthropology as a pre-med student at Harvard University. She explains how she incorporated her anthropology lens into her practice as a practitioner of public health and health systems redesign—providing patient care requires understanding people and their stories. Dr. Smith discusses the concept of equitable, tech-enabled care—stemming from the idea of en...2021-08-1736 min
InOn Health PodcastPaving the Way in Digital Health Innovation with Troy BannisterIn this episode of the InOn Health podcast, KP welcomes Troy Bannister, Founder, and CEO of Particle Health, a platform enabling healthcare companies with secure and comprehensive access to medical data. Troy begins the conversation by sharing his experiences working in an ambulance throughout college, which ultimately paved his career in the digital health space and inspiration to launch Particle Health. Troy reveals insights about the traditional barriers often encountered when patients attempt to access their medical records, including the challenges of maintaining organization within the documents. Troy discusses how he examined other tech c...2021-08-1034 min
InOn Health PodcastIntegrating Emotional Support in the Maternal Health Journey with Simmone TaittIn the fourth episode of the InOn Health podcast, KP welcomes Simmone Taitt, CEO & Founder of Poppy Seed Health. Simmone founded Poppy Seed Health after experiencing a traumatic miscarriage, with no follow-up support or wellbeing services. Her experiences inspired her to become a doula and launch a platform that provides on-demand, 24/7 text access and emotional support for pregnant women and those who experience miscarriages, provided by doulas, midwives, and nurses. Simmone shares how her experiences growing up in a first-generation immigrant family shaped her view of the world and perspective of what defines diversity. S...2021-08-0336 min
InOn Health PodcastBuilding and Sustaining a Healthy Colorado for All with Dianne Primavera, Colorado Lieutenant GovernorThis episode of the InOn Health Podcast features Colorado Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera. She is a lifelong Coloradan and is a leading patient advocate who has spend three decades fighting for every Coloradan’s access to quality, affordable healthcare.The Lieutenant Governor talks about how the early years of her professional career opened her eyes to the need for equitable and affordable access to healthcare for everyone. Both as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and a customer service professional in healthcare policy and financing, she was able to witness many of the inequities in the sy...2021-07-2729 min
InOn Health PodcastConfronting Racism & Racial Disparities in Healthcare SystemsDr. Brittani James, family physician and Co-Founder of The Institute for Antiracism in Medicine, joins KP in the ongoing discussion addressing health equity. Dr. James begins the conversation by sharing her upbringing, witnessing segregated systems in and outside the healthcare system. She reveals how the Covid-19 pandemic spotlighted the racial disparities in the healthcare systems and the mental health impact on the Black community. While attending medical school at the University of Michigan, Dr. James reflects learning how black individuals are more inclined to experience health issues, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, b...2021-07-2042 min
InOn Health PodcastProviding Equitable Access During the Covid-19 Pandemic with Eric Parrie, CEO of COVIDCheck ColoradoThe InOn Health podcast premiere features Eric Parrie, an educator, social entrepreneur, and CEO of COVIDCheck Colorado. Eric led CovidCheck through statewide testing and vaccination access initiatives throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. InOn Health partnered with COVIDCheck Colorado to support school communities and organizations, children, and their families while communicating news and services effectively.KP and Eric discuss some of the significant influences during the pandemic, addressing the roles of public health, community organizing, and health equity—all contributing factors to overcoming the virus and providing a path forward in healthcare. Eric provides insight into co...2021-07-1336 min
InOn Health PodcastInOn Health Podcast Season One TrailerHealth equity issues in our country have been around for decades – largely impacting communities of color and rural areas. When it comes to economic and racial disparities in health the evidence is clear. This is more than a hot topic. Covid-19 has exposed the underbelly of how social determinants of health and racial disparities play out in our country. What we need now is to impart lasting change.Welcome to the InOn Health podcast. I’m your host Kaakpema Yelpaala, and I’m the co-founder and CEO of InOn Health.In t...2021-07-0101 min
AMA Prioritizing EquityCOVID-19 Vaccine & Equitable DistributionIn our first Prioritizing Equity panel of 2021, join leaders in health justice as they discuss strategies for equity in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Panel: Torian Easterling, MD, MPH—First deputy commissioner and chief equity officer at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Kaakpema "KP" Yelpaala, MPH—Chief executive officer & founder, access.mobile International, Inc. Moderator: Aletha Maybank, MD, MPH—Chief health equity officer, group vice president, Center for Health Equity, American Medical Association Originally aired January 28, 2021. The AMA's Digital Code of Conduct: https://www.ama-assn.org/code-conduct2021-01-2832 min
Advancing HealthRecharging to Better Connect during COVID-19With COVID-19 on the rise, hospitals and other organizations are leveraging technology to expand outreach to patients and communities. In this podcast, Priya Bathija, vice president of AHA’s The Value Initiative, speaks with Kaakpema Yelpaala, founder and CEO of access.mobile again about using mobile technology to address health needs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.2020-06-1011 minAdvancing HealthRecharging to Better Connect during COVID-19With COVID-19 on the rise, hospitals and other organizations are leveraging technology to expand outreach to patients and communities. In this podcast, Priya Bathija, vice president of AHA’s The Value Initiative, speaks with Kaakpema Yelpaala, founder and CEO of access.mobile again about using mobile technology to address health needs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.2020-06-1011 min
Advancing HealthUsing technology to improve health outcomesPriya Bathija, vice president of AHA’s The Value Initiative, speaks with Kaakpema Yelpaala, founder and CEO of access.mobile, about using mobile technology to engage patients in their health.2019-12-0422 minAdvancing HealthUsing technology to improve health outcomesPriya Bathija, vice president of AHA’s The Value Initiative, speaks with Kaakpema Yelpaala, founder and CEO of access.mobile, about using mobile technology to engage patients in their health.2019-12-0422 min