PHILADELPHIA, PA — Vitable Health has announced the debut of its podcast series, The Five Mile Difference, a thought-provoking platform aimed at addressing healthcare access disparities and fostering innovative strategies for improving care for underserved communities. The series brings together leading voices from healthcare, human resources, and benefits strategy to tackle systemic inequities and highlight actionable solutions.\n\nThe podcast draws its name from a striking statistic in the United States, where average life expectancy can differ by over 20 years between communities just five miles apart. According to Vitable Health, such stark disparities stem from wealth inequality, limited access to care, and structures that disproportionately impact frontline and hourly workers.\n\n“ The Five Mile Difference is an extension of our mission to make quality care more accessible for everyday workers,” said Joseph Kitonga, CEO and founder of Vitable Health. “Our goal is to shine a light on the real barriers Americans face when it comes to healthcare—and to tap into the insights of thought leaders and industry experts on how we can take meaningful steps to ensure underserved populations have better access. This platform is about mobilizing bold ideas into action.”\n\nThe inaugural episode features Tom Sondergeld, former Vice President of Global Benefits at Walgreens Boots Alliance, who brings over three decades of experience in corporate benefits leadership. During the debut conversation, Sondergeld and host Kitonga explore critical issues, including systemic disparities in access, unsustainable healthcare costs, and the gaps between traditional benefits and employee utilization.\n\n“We’re a sick care system, not a health care system. We wait until you’re sick to intervene—by then it’s often too late,” said Sondergeld, emphasizing the need for a proactive healthcare approach. He also highlighted Vitable Health’s strategy of integrating virtual primary care with employer-compliant plans as a model capable of addressing these issues effectively.\n\nKitonga expressed enthusiasm for launching the series with Sondergeld. “His leadership at Walgreens, managing healthcare for hundreds of thousands of employees, gives us an unparalleled foundation for tackling these issues,” said Kitonga.\n\nAccessible on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Vitable Health’s website, The Five Mile Difference aims to elevate the conversation around healthcare delivery and inspire real-world improvements. Additional episodes and guest speakers will be announced soon as the series continues to build momentum in reshaping access to care for underserved populations.

Vitable Health Launches Podcast Series to Address Healthcare Disparities

Vitable Health has launched a podcast series, The Five Mile Difference, to address healthcare access disparities and foster innovative solutions for underserved communities. The series features experts from healthcare, human resources, and benefits strategy, highlighting systemic inequities and actionable approaches to improve care for marginalized populations.