In this episode we have the opportunity to learn from Dr. Spencer Kubo, a cardiologist and healthcare innovator whose career has spanned academic medicine, clinical research, medical device development, and digital health. Dr. Kubo began his career on the faculty at the University of Minnesota, where he conducted research, taught, cared for patients, and served as medical director of the heart failure and heart transplant program. He later transitioned to industry, working as a fractional chief medical officer for several startup companies developing innovative cardiovascular technologies, including cardiac support devices, transcatheter valve replacements, and leadless cardiac pacing. More recently, he has focused on digital health and the opportunity to use technology to improve the way we care for patients between visits. In this conversation, Dr. Kubo shares his perspective on the rigor and reliability of modern clinical research, the challenges of translating proven care processes into scalable solutions, and the potential of digital health to provide continuous support to patients when they are at home. He discusses his work helping heart failure patients after hospital discharge, using simple, bite-sized, asynchronous digital communication to improve engagement and dramatically reduce readmissions during this particularly vulnerable period. Dr. Kubo also explores the potential of artificial intelligence to identify subtle trends in patient data, improve diagnostics, analyze enormous volumes of clinical information, and augment—not replace—the expertise and human judgment of physicians. Finally, he shares his thoughts on what needs to change in healthcare, including creating incentives for prevention and behavioral health, and the importance of using technology to give physicians more time to build trust and meaningful relationships with their patients. Listen and learn from Dr. Spencer Kubo.
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