It’s late at night, and you’re sitting in a hospital room, holding the hand of a loved one who’s just been diagnosed with a serious illness. The doctor has explained the treatment options, but the weight of the diagnosis feels overwhelming. Questions swirl in your mind: How do we make the most of the time we have? How do we ensure they’re comfortable, supported, and able to live well, even in the face of illness?

This is where palliative care steps in—a field dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients and their families during some of life’s most challenging moments. And few people understand this better than Dr. Steven Pantilat, a pioneer in palliative care and a leading voice in redefining how we approach serious illness.

As the Chief of the Division of Palliative Medicine at UCSF, Steven has spent decades advocating for patient-centered care, focusing on symptoms, values, and emotional support. His work began during the AIDS crisis in San Francisco, where he saw firsthand the importance of honoring patients’ wishes and providing compassionate care, even when a cure wasn’t possible.

In this episode, Steven shares his journey from those early days to becoming a national leader in palliative care. We’ll explore the challenges he’s faced, the lessons he’s learned, and his vision for a future where palliative care is an integral part of healthcare for everyone facing serious illness.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or suggestions for future guests? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.

Managing medications shouldn’t be this hard. For millions of people, it’s a daily struggle—juggling prescriptions from multiple doctors, refilling at different pharmacies, and trying to keep track of what to take and when. Copays are confusing, refill schedules don’t align, and the stress of managing it all often falls on caregivers. This isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a crisis. Missed doses, medication errors, and the sheer administrative burden can lead to worse health outcomes and unnecessary stress for families.

This is the problem Laura Jensen has spent her career tackling. Laura is the Director of Manufacturer & Provider Business Development at Amazon, where she worked to make pharmacy care more transparent, affordable, and accessible. Her journey began at PillPack, where she helped pioneer a model that brought the best of long-term care pharmacy into the homes of everyday patients. At Amazon Pharmacy, she built on that foundation to create a seamless, patient-centered experience that leverages technology to simplify medication management.

She continues to drive innovation in healthcare, building on her deep expertise and passion for patient advocacy.

In this episode, Laura shares her journey from PillPack to Amazon Pharmacy, the challenges of rebuilding pharmacy systems from the ground up, and her vision for a future where accessing medications is as easy as clicking “buy now.” She also opens up about how her upbringing as the daughter of a nurse shaped her perspective on healthcare and why patient advocacy is at the heart of everything she does.

This is a conversation about innovation, empathy, and the power of technology to transform lives. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a caregiver, or someone who’s ever struggled to manage medications, Laura’s insights will inspire you.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or suggestions for future guests? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.

Imagine this: a patient arrives in the ER, their life hanging in the balance. The clock is ticking, and the pressure is overwhelming. But here’s the thing—it’s not just about having the right knowledge or tools. It’s about how a team, often strangers to each other, can come together in seconds to deliver the right care at the right moment. This “last mile” problem—getting critical care to the patient when and where it’s needed—is one of the most urgent challenges in healthcare.

This is where Dr. Dan Dworkis comes in. Dan is an emergency physician, researcher, and the Chief Medical Officer of the Mission Critical Teams Institute. With a background in molecular medicine and emergency care, Dan has spent his career studying how individuals and teams perform under pressure. His work isn’t just about saving lives in the ER—it’s about understanding the science of stress, resilience, and teamwork, and applying those lessons to high-stakes environments everywhere.

Dan’s journey started with a love for science and technology, but it was in the emergency department where he found his calling. There, he saw how systemic issues—like access to care, poverty, and social inequities—intersected with medicine. But what really grabbed his attention was the art of performance under pressure: how people and teams rise to the occasion in the most demanding moments.

Through his work at the Mission Critical Teams Institute, Dan has collaborated with organizations like NASA, fire departments, and space programs to rethink how teams prepare for and respond to crisis. His insights are helping reshape how we think about stress, teamwork, and delivering results when it matters most.

Do you have thoughts on this episode or suggestions for future guests? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.