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Straight Outta Health IT Podcast

  1. Home   /  About   /  Resources   /  Podcast
Straight Outta Health IT

An IOTECH Consulting Podcast Sponsored by WellLink

An unfiltered dialogue of healthcare leaders and influencers covering a wide variety of issues affecting healthcare & the health tech industry.

christopher kunney 2025

Host

Christopher Kunney, FHIMSS, eFACHDM, MSMOT

Managing Partner, IOTech Consulting

Christopher Kunney is a distinguished healthcare strategist, technologist, and advocate who has dedicated over 25 years to transforming healthcare through people-first, purpose-driven innovation.

Christopher Kunney is a distinguished healthcare strategist, technologist, and advocate who has dedicated over 25 years to transforming healthcare through people-first, purpose-driven innovation. As Managing Partner and Digital Transformation Strategist for IOTECH Consulting and CTO at Ask Me Your MD, Christopher brings a unique 360-degree perspective to the healthcare technology landscape, having served in executive roles across health systems, health IT vendors, and advisory firms.


Christopher's passion centers on using technology not merely to modernize healthcare systems, but to fundamentally humanize healthcare delivery. His expertise spans digital health roadmapping, interoperability, telehealth, data governance, and patient engagement strategies, with a steadfast focus on driving better outcomes, smarter workflows, and more equitable care.


Leadership & Experience
Throughout his career, Christopher has held pivotal leadership positions including Senior Vice President of Digital Acceleration at Divurgent, Chief of Strategy and Business Development for DSS Inc., Senior Vice President of Healthcare IT at the Coker Group, Executive Director of Emerging HIT for AT&T, and CIO at Piedmont Healthcare. His recent work includes leading the launch of JUNO EHR & JUNO Health, demonstrating his ability to translate strategic vision into tangible healthcare solutions.


Thought Leadership & Advocacy
As the founder and host of the "Straight Outta Health IT," an industry-acclaimed podcast, Christopher creates a platform for candid conversations about the transformative potential of health technology. His commitment to advancing the field extends to his academic involvement as Past Chairperson of the Industry Advisory Committee for Morehouse School of Medicine's MS Degree Program in Healthcare Informatics and Bioscience, and his service as instructor-at-large for Dignity Health Global Education.


Recognition & Credentials
Christopher's contributions to healthcare technology have earned him numerous accolades, including the 2024 HIMSS Changemaker Award, 2024 HHCP Award, and 2024 GA Titan Award nomination, HealthImpact Changemaker Award. He holds prestigious designations as a HIMSS Fellow, American College of Health Data Management Executive Fellow, CPHIMS certification, and serves as a HIMSS Ambassador and Partner. As a brain tumor survivor and TEDx speaker, Christopher brings both professional expertise and personal resilience to his advocacy work.


Education & Commitment
Christopher earned his BS in Computer Science/Mathematics from Fort Valley State University and an Executive MS in Management of Technology from Georgia Institute of Technology. His educational foundation, combined with extensive certifications in project management, quality control, and technical management, supports his comprehensive approach to healthcare technology transformation. 

At the core of Christopher's philosophy lies a fundamental belief: technology should serve people, not the other way around. This principle guides his work in helping healthcare organizations navigate the complex intersection of innovation, policy, equity, and patient care, ensuring that technological advancement always prioritizes human connection and improved health outcomes.

sohit jelani

Jelani's Legacy - Raising Awareness About Renal Medullary Carcinoma

1/27/2026  |  44 min

Rare diseases like renal medullary carcinoma demand earlier awareness, stronger advocacy, and faster specialist-driven care because delays can be deadly.
sohit ali pabrai

Cybersecurity in the age of artificial intelligence with Ali Pabrai

1/20/2026  |  44 min

AI is revolutionizing healthcare, but it’s also giving cybercriminals unprecedented speed, scale, and precision. In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Ali Pabrai, Chief Executive Officer at ecfirst, explores how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing cybersecurity risk management in healthcare.
sohit fl himss

Interviews from 2025 South Florida HIMSS IntegraTe Conference Pt 2

1/13/2026  |  41 min

Healthcare startups don’t fail because their tech isn’t cool, they fail because they don’t understand how healthcare actually buys, governs, and deploys change.
sohit fl himss 2

SOHIT Video South Florida HIMSS IntegraTe Conference - Pt 1

12/30/2025  |  27 min

AI, interoperability, and real-world readiness are converging to define the next era of healthcare IT.  

In this episode, Shaman Akhtar, Mike Costa, and Tom Stafford break down the challenges and opportunities shaping healthcare IT, as well as the growing need for true downtime resilience.
sohit dec 2

Navigating the Digital Health Legal Landscape with Dr. Stephanie D. Barnes

12/2/2025  |  57 min

Brilliant digital health ideas die every day, not because of technology, but because founders ignore the legal and regulatory realities of healthcare. In this episode, Dr. Stephanie D.
sohit nov18

Redefining Postpartum Care: From Pain to Purpose with Brittany Starobin

11/18/2025  |  26 min

The mother needs care too, not just the baby. In this episode, Brittany Starobin, founder of Haven Postnatal Retreat, discusses how her own battle with postpartum depression, including suicidal thoughts, led her to create a space that prioritizes mothers’ recovery during the “fourth trimester. ” She explores the U.
sohit nov11

Care for the Caregivers: Technology, Training, and Emotional Support for America’s Aging Families

11/11/2025  |  40 min

Family caregivers are the unsung heroes holding America’s healthcare system together. In this episode, Dr.
straight outta health it nov4

Digital Redemption: Technology as a Lifeline for Human Trafficking Survivors

11/4/2025  |  41 min

What if technology could be the key to healing trauma instead of deepening it? In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Dr.
sohit oct

Interviews from 2025 Southeasten Healthcare Innovation Summit Pt. 1

10/24/2025  |  53 min

From reshaping healthcare through innovation and AI to navigating complex mergers, regulations, and public health challenges, this special compilation brings together leading voices who are driving transformation in every corner of the healthcare ecosystem.
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