Recorded in November, 2024, Meg welcomes Dr. Monica Soni, Chief Medical Officer of Covered California, a free service that connects Californians with brand name health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

Dr. Monica Soni is the Chief Medical Officer of Covered California and a practicing primary care physician. She is a board member at Mercy Housing California and previously served on the Los Angeles County Hospital and Healthcare Delivery Commission. Dr. Soni holds a medical degree from Harvard Medical School and is deeply committed to improving population health, reducing disparities, and ensuring healthcare is accessible and affordable for all.

In this episode of Game-Changing Women of Healthcare, Monica speaks about driving meaningful healthcare reform from within one of the country’s largest health insurance marketplaces. With nearly 1.8 million Californians enrolled, Covered California is tackling some of the system’s toughest challenges: provider shortages, cost barriers, health plan accountability, and fragmented care. Dr. Soni opens up about launching statewide initiatives that link financial incentives to quality improvement, reducing deductibles for enrollees, and holding health plans to a higher standard.

A practicing primary care physician and former commissioner for the Los Angeles County Hospital and Healthcare Delivery Commission, Dr. Soni brings a unique, on-the-ground perspective to policy leadership. This is a must-listen for anyone passionate about the future of equitable, high-quality, and sustainable care.

Further Reading:

-Dr. Monica Soni’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmonicasoni/

-Covered California: www.coveredca.com

-Mercy Housing California: https://www.mercyhousing.org/california/

-The California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS): https://calkids.org/about/

-California Child Savings Account Program: https://www.capta.org/child-savings-account

-UCLA: https://www.ucla.edu/

-Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science: https://www.cdrewu.edu/

Episode Credits:

The Game-Changing Women of Healthcare is a production of The Krinsky Company.

Hosted by Meg Escobosa.

Produced by Meg Escobosa, Calvin Marty, Chelsea Ho, and Wendy Nielsen.

Edited, engineered, and mixed by Calvin Marty.

All music composed and performed by Calvin Marty.

©2025 The Krinsky Company

In honor of Rare Disease Day, Meg Escobosa is joined by Kinnari Patel, President, Head of Research & Development, and Chief Operating Officer of Rocket Pharmaceuticals.

Meg and Kinnari discuss the significant impact of genetic testing and drivers for finding cures for rare diseases, the demands and rewards that come with spearheading Rocket Pharmaceuticals, and how true passion has solidified her unwavering commitment to creating a positive impact for rare disease patients.

Kinnari Patel, PharmD is President, Head of Research & Development and Chief Operating Officer of Rocket Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage company seeking gene therapy cures for patients with rare diseases. Kinnari has more than 20 years of pharma experience, including stints at Bristol Meyers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, and Pfizer.

Kinnari graduated with a BS in Biology and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. She completed an Executive MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and the C-Suite Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.

Outside of Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Patel is a member of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine’s (ARM) Board of Directors and serves on the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) Global Advisory Board.

Further Reading:

• Kinnari Patel’s LinkedIn
• Rocket Pharmaceuticals
• Rocket Pharmaceuticals' LinkedIn
• National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
• Rare Disease Day
• Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine
• Invitae Unlock™ Immunology Program
• Alliance for Regenerative Medicine
• Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association

Episode Credits:

The Game-Changing Women of Healthcare is a production of The Krinsky Company.

Hosted by Meg Escobosa.

Produced by Meg Escobosa, Calvin Marty, Chelsea Ho, Markala Comfort, and Wendy Nielsen.

Edited, engineered, and mixed by Calvin Marty.

All music composed and performed by Calvin Marty.

©2025 The Krinsky Company

Meg welcomes Dr. Kelly LeBlanc, Chief of Anesthesia and President of the Medical Staff at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital. Dr. LeBlanc is also a physician partner with U.S. Anesthesia Partners (USAP), a physician-owned, clinician-led organization providing anesthesia services in more than 700 inpatient and outpatient facilities across the country, serving more than 2 million patients annually.

At USAP, Dr. LeBlanc is part of the Clinical Operations Committee, focusing on enabling great patient outcomes, developing exceptional clinical leaders, and creating a positive clinical culture, which includes a healthy work-life balance.

Meg and Dr. LeBlanc discuss USAP’s role in addressing staffing shortages within health systems. Dr. LeBlanc highlights the importance of creating a positive clinical culture and improving the employee experience. She shares how USAP is implementing innovative strategies, such as a culture committee and surveys, to listen to and address the needs of their team members. Dr. LeBlanc reflects on her journey into medicine and anesthesia, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and caring for patients. The importance of representation and mentorship in attracting and retaining more women, especially minorities, in medicine is highlighted as well. Dr. LeBlanc’s experiences overcoming barriers speak to the the importance of creating a supportive and inclusive culture within the healthcare industry.

Further Reading:

• USAP
• Houston Methodist
• DEI and Anesthesiology Residents
• Inspirational Black Men and Women in Medicine: Dr Kelly LeBlanc of Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital On 5 Things You Need To Create A Successful Career In Medicine
• Health: Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital taking patient care to new levels

Episode Credits:

The Game-Changing Women of Healthcare is a production of The Krinsky Company.

Hosted by Meg Escobosa.

Produced by Meg Escobosa, Calvin Marty, Chelsea Ho, Markala Comfort, and Wendy Nielsen.

Edited, engineered, and mixed by Calvin Marty.

All music composed and performed by Calvin Marty.

©2024 The Krinsky Company