E8: Shawn Valenta

In this episode of Tech-Centric Planet, hosts Mary Beth Hosking and Professor Martin Parr speak with telehealth pioneer Shawn Valenta about how virtual healthcare delivery is transforming access, efficiency, and sustainability in medicine. Drawing on over two decades of experience, including his role as the first Director of Telehealth at the Medical University of South Carolina, Shawn explains how remote care not only improves outcomes and reduces costs but also cuts carbon emissions by eliminating unnecessary travel. He highlights successes from scaling national telehealth programs to innovations in correctional healthcare, where virtual emergency services now deliver specialist care within minutes. Shawn reflects on overcoming regulatory and reimbursement hurdles, the importance of data-driven outcomes, and the potential of AI to support providers and patients alike—underscoring telehealth’s role in creating more equitable, sustainable healthcare systems worldwide.