BackTable Innovation

It's official — NeuWave is exiting the market. In this episode, Dr. Christopher Beck hosts a conversation with Dr. Josh Kuban, an interventional radiologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, to discuss the impact that NeuWave's microwave tumor ablation technology has had on the field of interventional oncology and the recent announcement of its discontinuation, scheduled for March 2026. --- This podcast is supported by: Medtronic Emprint https://www.medtronic.com/emprint --- SYNPOSIS Dr. Kuban reflects on NeuWave's innovative beginnings in microwave ablation, which expanded to include four distinct systems and advanced ablation confirmation software. At its peak, the company held over 50% of the microwave ablation market and played a pivotal role in reshaping interventional radiology's view of the safety and effectiveness of this treatment approach. He also shares how NeuWave's departure will affect his practice and outlines the steps he's taking to prepare his team for the transition to alternative devices. The discussion broadens to the current landscape of microwave ablation, spotlighting emerging players in ablation confirmation software and robotic technologies. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction2:14 - Overview of Neuwave's Rise7:01 - Decision to Discontinue 14:56 - Navigating the Switch Different Technologies 21:54 - Buyback Program24:33 - Forecasting New Developments --- RESOURCES BackTable IND Ep. 23- Approach the Problem with Vision: Part I of the Neuwave Story : https://www.backtable.com/shows/industry/podcasts/23/approach-the-problem-with-vision-part-i-of-the-neuwave-story BackTable IND Ep. 24- Trials and Tribulations: Part II of the Neuwave Story: https://www.backtable.com/shows/industry/podcasts/24/trials-tribulations-part-ii-of-the-neuwave-story BackTable IND Ep. 25- Next Level Stuff, the Exit: Part III of the Neuwave Story:https://www.backtable.com/shows/industry/podcasts/25/next-level-stuff-the-exit-part-iii-of-the-neuwave-story Johnson & Johnson Press Release Regarding Discontinuation of NeuWave:https://www.medline.com/media/assets/pdf/vendor-list/Disco_notice.pdfMedTronic Emprint Ablation: https://www.medtronic.com/covidien/en-gb/products/ablation-systems/emprint-ablation-system.html Varian MicroThermX Ablation: https://www.varian.com/products/interventional-oncology/microthermx Safety and Effectiveness of Microwave Ablation of Liver Tumors: Initial Real-World Results from the Multinational NeuWave Observational Liver Ablation (NOLA) Registry (Odisio, 2025):https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39848330/

How did your last patient-physician interaction go? Did you wish that the other person had understood your perspective better? In this episode of Backtable Industry, hosts Dr. Ruchika Talwar and Anish Parikh discuss the complexities of medicine, focusing on the importance of communication between doctors and patients. --- SYNPOSIS The episode begins with an exploration of how medical and surgical training influence physician behaviors and the impact of new economic pressures on modern physicians, including the increasing need to see more patients in less time. The conversation also delves into the national sentiment of declining trust towards doctors, highlighting the impacts of disjointed care and the rise of patients turning to the internet for medical advice. The hosts emphasize the need for transparency, shared decision-making, and the benefits of using reliable information sources. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 04:42 - Declining Trust in Physicians 11:21 - The Doctor-Patient Relationship 15:09 - Taking Charge of Your Health 25:00 - The Role of Patient Advocacy and Education 28:55 - Shared Decision-Making 38:39 - Adapting to Better Informed Patients --- RESOURCES Wall St Journal Article- “Why We Don't Trust Doctors Like We Used To”: https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/why-we-dont-trust-doctors-like-we-used-to-79784b56?mod=googlenewsfeed&st=xP8KUR “Outlive” by Dr. Peter Attia: https://peterattiamd.com/outlive/

Teleradiology, artificial intelligence, and private equity takeovers—how do we navigate these rapid changes in the radiology landscape? In this episode, our co-hosts Dr. Ally Baheti and Dr. Mike Barraza bring Dr. Ben White back to the show to provide an update on the current radiology job market and share his insights on reclaiming value for the profession. Dr. White begins by reflecting on the changes since his last appearance with us in 2022, focusing primarily on the ongoing shortage of radiologists, which has lasted longer than anticipated during the pandemic, and the explosion of teleradiology. --- SYNPOSIS Today's radiologists are more mobile than ever, with remote work options and the appeal of sensationalized job postings. Dr. White also discusses the instability of more established practices, particularly when legacy partners depart after fulfilling their contractual obligations. In response, many practices are refinancing their debt, which has led to a decrease in practice acquisitions. Dr. White believes that large-scale healthcare operations often result in increased inefficiency and reduced agility. The downstream effects include the commoditization of teleradiologists, concerns about decreased quality of reads, a limited scope of practice for procedures, reduced access to imaging for smaller hospitals, longer wait times, and more unstable locum staffing. The doctors also speculate about the future division of radiology into different service tiers, depending on the level of access each hospital has to radiologists. Finally, Dr. White highlights his Independent Radiology job board, which lists open positions from physician-owned practices. His goal in creating the website is to address the pain points of other job advertisement sites, where misleading postings are common. He wants radiologists to consider joining a team of physicians, rather than simply accepting a job. His advice to all radiologists is to expect uncertainty in the job market and to remain flexible. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Current Radiology Job Market 07:43 - Updates on Private Equity in Radiology 16:26 - Role of Artificial Intelligence 22:46 - Growing Imaging Volume and Efficiency 26:51 - Challenges in Radiology Staffing 36:49 - Independent Radiology Job Board 50:07 - Future of Radiology and Final Thoughts --- RESOURCES BackTable VI Ep. 277- Private Equity and the Radiology Job Environment with Dr. Ben White: https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/277/private-equity-the-radiology-job-environment Independent Radiology Job Board: https://www.independentradiology.com/

What is the true role of the physician in today's rapidly changing healthcare landscape, and how do payment structures affect physician incentives? In this episode of Backtable Industry, urologist Dr. Ruchi Talwar and entrepreneur Anish Parikh discuss the state of the current healthcare system, including the frustrating aspects of payment models and incentives that lead to high costs and poor outcomes. --- SYNPOSIS Parikh and Dr. Talwar explore the complexities of healthcare insurance, Medicare, and the shift towards value-based care models. Dr. Talwar highlights examples of how employers and healthcare providers can work directly to offer more streamlined, quality-focused care at lower costs, and emphasizes the critical importance of physician involvement in shaping the future of healthcare. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 04:27 - The Complexity of Healthcare Access and Insurance 13:43 - Changes in Physician Compensation 18:27 - Value-Based Care Models 27:33 - Challenges and Misconceptions in Value-Based Care 30:51 - Physician-Led Programs and Their Benefits 36:13 - The Changing Landscape of Physician Autonomy 46:54 - Conclusion and Future Discussions

What makes a new technology “sticky?” Returning guest Dr. Raj Khalsa offers his insights on building a user-friendly application interface that will attract and retain interest. In this episode of Backtable Innovation, Dr. Khalsa discusses the inception and development of QuickTouch Clinical, a new application aimed at improving instant access to medical device information for endovascular specialists. --- SYNPOSIS Dr. Khalsa shares how his background in interventional radiology and engineering inspired his entrepreneurial journey, leading to the formation of the Omnigence and the subsequent creation of QuickTouch Clinical. Highlighting the challenges and lessons learned along the way, Dr. Khalsa emphasizes the importance of user experience, data accuracy, and iterative development. The episode also touches on the anticipated launch of the app, its features, and future scalability to other medical specialties. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 07:28 - Founding Omnigence 16:16 - Building the QuickTouch App 24:46 - User Experience and Future Plans 30:28 - Balancing Feedback and Development 31:07 - Targeting Beta Users and Expansion Plans 36:44 - Engagement Tools and App Features 40:32 - Preparing for Launch 48:52 - Balancing Clinical Practice and Entrepreneurship 56:10 - Final Thoughts and Advice --- RESOURCES BackTable INN Ep. 84- Unlocking Business Skills: Physician MBA Experiences with Drs. Raj Khalsa and Roger Tomihama: https://www.backtable.com/shows/innovation/podcasts/84/unlocking-business-skills-physician-emba-experiences Omnigence: https://omnigence.ai/ QuickTouch by Random Order AI: https://www.randomorder.ai/

Have you heard of interventional magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI)? In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, we dive into the exciting world of interventional MRI and its promising benefits for accessing previously difficult-to-reach biopsy and treatment areas. Host and interventional radiologist Dr. Kavi Krishnasamy is joined by Dr. David Woodrum, Director of the Interventional MRI Program at the Mayo Clinic, and Joshua Krieger, Director of Product Management at Cook Medical. --- SYNPOSIS The physician-industry trio discusses the history, current state, and future potential of interventional MRI, focusing on the advantages of low-field MRI in expanding access to imaging tools for patients—especially those with implants, hard-to-reach lesions, or concerns about radiation exposure. The group also explores how MRI is used for precise targeting and real-time monitoring in various medical procedures, including biopsy and ablation of liver and prostate lesions. Dr. Woodrum and Joshua share their experiences of integrating and streamlining interventional MRI into their department's workflow. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Woodrum and Joshua emphasize the importance of collaboration between clinicians, interventional radiologists, and the industry in advancing this innovative field. They also speculate on future developments, such as the potential integration of angiography with low-field MRI technologies. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 02:10 - History and Evolution of Interventional MRI 09:08 - Current State of Interventional MRI 12:59 - Developments in Low Field MRI 21:31 - Availability of MRI-Compatible Devices 27:50 - Benefits of MRI Over Other Modalities 34:52 - Real-Time Imaging in MR vs. CT 40:48 - Clinical Confidence in MR-Guided Biopsies 42:44 - Future of MRI in Interventional Radiology 47:14 - Starting an Interventional MRI Service Line 57:05 - Potential of MR in Vascular Interventions --- RESOURCES Interventional MRI Symposium: https://imri2024.org/

Many physicians are perfectly positioned to recognize areas of clinical need, so why are so few of them involved in medical innovation? In this episode of BackTable MSK, Dr. Kieran Murphy discusses the ideal circumstances and critical characteristics of physician innovators. Dr. Murphy is an interventional neuroradiologist, a professor at the University of Toronto, and a medical device innovator who has made significant contributions to the field, including the development of the Murphy needle for vertebral augmentation. --- SYNPOSIS Dr. Murphy talks about his recent book, “The Essence of Invention: Medicine and the Joy of Creativity,” which chronicles key innovations in interventional radiology. The book focuses specifically on the characteristics and circumstances of the innovators themselves. Dr. Murphy became interested in this topic after noticing patterns of innovation that clustered around certain institutions and leaders. He shares his insights on innovation, including the idea that innovation peaks during fellowship, the importance of uninterrupted reflective time for creativity, and how building long-term relationships can be essential for generating ideas and gaining support. He also discusses his work on ozone therapy, the development of the Murphy needle, and the significance of securing small-scale funding through patient donations for research. Additionally, Dr. Murphy touches on his upcoming books and explores the essential fusion of medicine and the liberal arts. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast 02:05 - The Role of Creativity in Interventional Radiology 09:52 - Inspiration Behind The Book 14:51 - Environments for Inventors to Flourish 25:18 - Use of Honey in Biopsies 31:32 - Advice for Physician Innovators 45:02 - Balancing Career and Family 51:23 - Upcoming Book 56:31 - Innovations in Radiation Protection 59:45 - The Future of Medical Education --- RESOURCES The Essence of Invention: Medicine and the Joy of Creativity: https://www.amazon.com/Essence-Invention-Medicine-Joy-Creativity/dp/1459754034

For much of their education, physicians are encouraged to focus on developing clinical and procedural skills, with little formal training in business. For those who aspire to innovate and lead, is an MBA degree a worthwhile investment? In this episode of the Back Table Innovation podcast, Dr. Aaron Fritts explores the relevance and benefits of obtaining an MBA for physicians, joined by guests Dr. Roger Tomihama and Dr. Raj Khalsa. --- SYNPOSIS The discussion covers various MBA programs, including the Wharton Executive MBA and the Quantic Executive MBA, highlighting their strengths, particularly for mid-career physicians. Drs. Tomihama and Khalsa share their personal experiences with these programs, comparing in-person and online formats. They also explore the advantages of structured learning, networking opportunities, and how an MBA can empower physicians to bridge the gap between clinical expertise and administrative or entrepreneurial roles. This conversation underscores the importance of continuous learning in fostering a more impactful and fulfilling career in healthcare. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 01:34 - Dr. Tomihama's Wharton MBA Experience 06:10 - Dr. Khalsa's Quantic MBA Journey 09:39 - Comparing MBA Programs and Networking Opportunities 23:10 - Thoughts on MBA Learning Styles 26:10 - The Language of Business 26:50 - In-Person vs. Online Learning 27:21 - Foundational Knowledge for Startups 28:56 - Applying Business Skills in Healthcare 32:16 - Marketing and Behavioral Psychology 43:52 - Timing and Career Advancement 47:52 - Final Thoughts and Reflections --- RESOURCES BackTable VI Ep. 230: The Physician's MBA: Is It Worth It, and Where to Start: https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/230/the-physicians-mba-is-it-worth-it-where-to-start

Are you searching for a more effective and streamlined way to market your specialty practice? In this episode of BackTable Innovation, Dr. Reza Rajebi shares his thoughts on new frontiers in healthcare marketing and his innovative venture, Doctorize. --- SYNPOSIS Doctorize is a digital platform designed to help specialists market their practices and directly connect with patients. Dr. Rajebi shares his journey from academic to private practice, the challenges he faced in marketing to physicians and patients, and how Doctorize aims to solve these issues by providing digital tools. He emphasizes the importance of educational content, AI-powered data analysis, and a growing professional network. Dr. Rajebi also discusses the role of team support and how Doctorize aims to expand by engaging primary care providers and leveraging social media. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 02:13 - Starting an Entrepreneurial Journey 06:50 - Challenges in Healthcare Marketing 10:51 - The Concept of Doctorize 23:50 - Increasing Physician Involvement 35:59 - Marketing to Patients 42:41 - Support from Physicians and Societies 44:12 - Balancing Entrepreneurship with Clinical Practice 47:41 - Welcoming Discomfort --- RESOURCES BackTable VI Ep. 201- Jobs: The Good, the Bad and the Snugly with Dr. Reza Rajebi: https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/201/jobs-the-good-the-bad-the-snugly

Are you curious about the biotechnology startup world? Learn how our guest transitioned from trauma surgeon to entrepreneur in this episode of the BackTable Podcast. Dr. Chris Kinsella, CEO of Watershed Therapeutics and our host Dr. Bryan Hartley discuss the importance of using entrepreneurship to solve clinical needs. Watershed Therapeutics has created a novel bladder drug delivery platform to help women with recurrent urinary tract infections. --- SYNPOSIS The doctors systematically cover the process of identifying market needs, inventing solutions, bringing a product to the market, and managing risk. They also share examples of successful startup ventures and underscore the importance of perseverance, innovative thinking, and strategic market focus in forging a path to success. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 04:30 - The Birth of a Surgical Trainer 07:04 - Challenges and Innovations in Trauma Surgery 22:06 - Evaluating and Killing Ideas 28:27 - Challenging Assumptions 29:53 - Meeting a Co-Founder 33:07 - Developing the Solution 37:29 - Raising Funds 40:28 - Navigating Regulatory Challenges and Market Expansion --- RESOURCES Watershed Therapeutics: https://www.watershedtx.com/ Stanford Biodesign Innovation Fellowship: https://biodesign.stanford.edu/programs/fellowships/innovation-fellowships.html

Surgical arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation has been a mainstay of dialysis care for multiple decades. What does it take to break into such an established space with a new endovascular medical device? In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, Dr. Jeffrey Hull discusses the challenging journey of developing the Ellipsys system for endovascular AVF creation. --- SYNPOSIS We trace Dr. Hull's path from the device's initial conception in 2006, through the first-in-human cases in 2013, to regulatory approval and acquisition by Medtronic in 2020. Dr. Hull highlights the roles of key business mentors, the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration with vascular surgery and nephrology, and the impact of investment. He also shares valuable insights on the benefits of having competitors and selecting a well-thought-out exit strategy. Additionally, we explore deep vein arterialization (DVA) as another application of endovascular AVF creation in the context of peripheral arterial disease. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 03:05 - The Birth of the Percutaneous AV Fistula Creation 15:04 - First-in-Human Cases 17:58 - Navigating the Startup Journey 21:52 - Identifying Mentors and Investors 27:33 - Competition and Criticism 36:43 - Regulatory Hurdles 44:45 - Acquisition by Medtronic 49:14 - Deep Vein Arterialization for Peripheral Arterial Disease 54:40 - Final Thoughts and Advice --- RESOURCES Avenu Medical: https://avenumedical.com/ Gracz KC et al. Proximal forearm fistula for maintenance hemodialysis (1977): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/839655/ Hull JE et al. The Pivotal Multicenter Trial of Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Arteriovenous Fistula Creation for Hemodialysis Access (2018): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29275056/ Endovascular Today- Update on Percutaneous AV Fistula Creation (2015): https://evtoday.com/articles/2015-june/update-on-percutaneous-av-fistula-creation Mallios A, Jennings WC. Percutaneous arteriovenous fistula creation with the Ellipsys Vascular Access System-the state of the art (2020): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8353338/

In a society where discussions about medical malpractice are often concealed from the public eye, this episode of BackTable shines a spotlight on the powerful documentary ‘A World of Hurt: How Medical Malpractice Fails Everyone,' produced by Viknesh Kasthuri, a fourth-year medical student at Brown University. Released earlier this year, the film explores how the American medical malpractice system harms and disconnects patients and providers through three compelling case studies. --- SYNPOSIS We delve into Viknesh's motivations and the process behind creating the documentary, discussing the need for improved provider education on lawsuits, effective communication with patients and legal teams, and strategies for coping mentally and emotionally throughout this intensive process. Additionally, Viknesh provides a behind-the-scenes look at documentary production, including filming during the COVID pandemic, creating environments for patients and providers to share their stories, and submitting the documentary to film festivals. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 02:40 - Inspiration Behind the Documentary 06:10 - Technical and Legal Aspects of Documentary Production 14:34 - Releasing the Documentary 17:04 - Physician and Patient Responses to Medical Errors 20:27 - Highlighting Communication Resolution Programs 23:04 - Educational Gaps in Medical Training 26:43 - Exploring Systemic Solutions to Management of Medical Errors 30:16 - Final Thoughts and Future Projects --- RESOURCES A World of Hurt Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09IVcL6pACU BackTable VI Ep. 77- Doctors and Litigation: The L Word, with Dr. Gita Pensa: https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/177/doctors-litigation-the-l-word The L Word Podcast with Dr. Gita Pensa: https://doctorsandlitigation.com/podcast-2 BackTable ENT Ep. 90- Coaching Physicians Through the Stress of Malpractice Litigation, with Dr. Gita Pensa: https://www.backtable.com/shows/ent/podcasts/90/coaching-physicians-through-the-stress-of-malpractice-litigation Michigan Model Communication and Resolution Program: https://www.uofmhealth.org/michigan-model-medical-malpractice-and-patient-safety-umhs

Superficial venous disease can pose significant management challenges, particularly after patients have exhausted conservative and invasive therapies. This week, our host, Dr. Sabeen Dhand, interviews Dr. Ali Golshan, an interventional radiologist and the founder of SOLVEIN. Dr. Golshan discusses the latest advancements in treating superficial venous disease, highlighting both the benefits and complexities of thermal and non-thermal ablation techniques. --- SYNPOSIS Dr. Golshin introduces SOLVEIN, his innovative medical device designed to address these challenges. The conversation also includes practical tips for managing patients with venous insufficiencies, along with insights into the entrepreneurial journey involved in developing a new medical device. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 02:02 - Defining Superficial Venous Disease 05:43 - Diagnostic Techniques and Imaging 08:29 - Current Treatment Options for Venous Insufficiency 20:07 - Introducing SOLVEIN 29:42 - FDA Approval Pathway 33:37 - Advice for Aspiring Medical Entrepreneurs --- RESOURCES Dr. Ali Golshan's Practice: https://www.beachwellnessmd.com/

Dr. Samir Shah and our host, Dr. Aaron Fritts, discuss upcoming disruptions in radiology due to artificial intelligence (AI), including AI's role in making healthcare more accessible and affordable. --- SYNPOSIS Dr. Shah outlines his career trajectory, from his interventional radiology (IR) training to his entry into teleradiology. He describes his first encounter with AI through natural language processing for encoding radiology reports. Currently, he serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Qure AI, a platform that utilizes deep learning to aid in diagnosing medical conditions from pathology and radiology imaging. He emphasizes that AI will streamline medical workflows by automating patient summaries, image recognition, and cancer detection. These changes are particularly crucial in today's healthcare environment, which emphasizes productivity. The discussion also explores the benefits and challenges of integrating AI into modern radiology workflows and the learning opportunities it presents for trainees. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast 03:12 - Dr. Shah's Professional Journey 17:59 - Starting the CMO Role at Qure AI 20:42 - Mainstream Integration of AI 30:39 - Qure's Mission and Global Impact 37:20 - Early Cancer Detection 46:18 - Training Radiologists in AI --- RESOURCES BackTable Innovation Ep. 7- Viz.AI: Improving Access to Stroke Care using AI with Dr. Chris Mansi: https://www.backtable.com/shows/innovation/podcasts/7/vizai-improving-access-to-stroke-care-using-ai BackTable Innovation Ep. 29- Artificial Intelligence & Imaging: Present & Future with Aidoc Founder Elad Walach: https://www.backtable.com/shows/innovation/podcasts/29/artificial-intelligence-imaging-present-future-with-aidoc-founder-elad-walach BackTable Innovation Ep. 68- Transforming Radiology with Workflow Solutions with Dr. Woojin Kim: https://www.backtable.com/shows/innovation/podcasts/68/transforming-radiology-with-workflow-solutions BackTable Innovation Ep. 73- AI in Medicine: Navigating the New Frontier with Confidence with Dr. Matthew Lungren: https://www.backtable.com/shows/innovation/podcasts/73/ai-in-medicine-navigating-the-new-frontier-with-confidence Qure AI: https://www.qure.ai/ Dr. Samir Shah's email: Samir.Shah@qure.ai NightHawk Radiology: https://www.nighthawkradiology.com/ vRad Teleradiology: https://www.vrad.com/ Radiology Partners: https://www.radpartners.com/ AI Doc: https://www.aidoc.com/ Subtle Medical: https://subtlemedical.com/

Dr. Aditya Bagrodia sits down with Elie Toubiana, founder and CEO of ScribeMD.ai, to discuss the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical documentation. --- SYNPOSIS Their conversation covers the capabilities and benefits of using an AI-driven medical scribe that ensures HIPAA compliance, reduces physician burnout, and enhances patient interactions. Elie also shares his insights about the technology's adaptability across various medical fields. Finally, Dr. Bagrodia and Elie discuss ethical considerations surrounding applications of AI in other aspects of healthcare, such as medical workup and diagnosis. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 06:00 - How ScribeMD AI Works 14:14 - Integration with EMR 20:31 - Legal Considerations with AI Technology 26:34 - Cost Implications of AI Scribes 38:46 - Future of AI in Medical Diagnosis 41:45 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts --- RESOURCES ScribeMD.ai https://www.scribemd.ai/

In this episode of the BackTable Innovation Podcast, host Dr. Bryan Hartley interviews Dr. Stephen Pomeranz, founder and CEO of ProScan Imaging, co-founder of Medality (formerly MRI Online), and a pioneering radiologist in MRI technology. This is the second part of a two-episode series on ProScan. --- SYNPOSIS The doctors discuss the growth and evolution of ProScan Imaging, including Dr. Pomeranz'a personal journey to becoming an entrepreneur, as well as business strategies that have led to ProScan's success. Dr. Pomeranz describes the business's unique physician-owned structure, which allows physicians to team up and directly invest in tangible assets of technology and real estate. Additionally, a core principle of ProScan's business has been an emphasis on service excellence, which has been made possible by recruitment of hospitality leaders. Overall, this episode highlights the importance of high-quality patient care, learning from other industries, and the significance of finding mentors and the right business model for aspiring physician entrepreneurs. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast 04:58 - Service Excellence and Scaling Up 12:09 - Technology Investment Opportunities for Physicians 21:37 - Teaching within the Private Practice Sphere 27:40 - Job Flexibility and Investment Opportunities Within ProScan 35:14 - Advice for Early Stage Entrepreneurs 38:19 - Future Endeavors for ProScan 43:18 - Episode Summary and Final Thoughts --- RESOURCES BackTable Innovation Episode 75- ProScan's Path: Medical Expertise to Business Success Part 1: https://www.backtable.com/shows/innovation/podcasts/75/proscans-path-medical-expertise-to-business-success-part-1-with-dr-stephen-j-pomeranz ProScan Imaging: https://proscan.com/ MRI Total Body Atlas by Stephen J. Pomeranz: https://www.amazon.com/Total-Body-Atlas-Stephen-Pomeranz/dp/1882576063 Medality: https://medality.com/

This episode of the Back Table Podcast features Dr. Stephen Pomeranz, a trailblazing radiologist who shares his journey from taking over a struggling medical practice to founding ProScan Imaging, one of the leading imaging centers in the country. --- SYNPOSIS Dr. Pomeranz discusses his early motivations for entering the field of radiology, his initial opportunity to learn about MRI in its early stages, and his unexpected but rewarding path to starting his own imaging company. He recounts obstacles of overcoming professional challenges, including dealing with resource limitations and navigating financial risks, during his mission to provide more patient-centered and efficient care. Dr. Pomeranz also describes how he built networks based on his connections with radiologists all over the world, non-physician providers trained in radiology, and business partners. We end by discussing Dr. Pomerantz's philanthropic efforts, his perspective on the integration of AI, and the importance of a growth mindset in transforming patient care. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 01:03 - Dr. Pomertanz's Early Career and MRI Education 09:30 - Quality Patient Care with Independent Practice 13:22 - The Beginning and Expansion of ProScan 19:42 - Thoughts on the Future of Radiology 23:42 - Integrating Non-Physician Providers in Radiology 28:50 - Structured Training Within Radiology Practices 34:21 - Philanthropic Endeavors and Reflections --- RESOURCES ProScan Imaging: https://proscan.com/ MRI Total Body Atlas by Stephen J. Pomeranz: https://www.amazon.com/Total-Body-Atlas-Stephen-Pomeranz/dp/1882576063

In this episode, host Dr. Bryan Hartley takes us on a deep dive into the origin story and mission of Pulmera, a medtech company dedicated to transforming the field of bronchoscopic lung cancer diagnosis by retrofitting existing fluoroscopy machines into cone beam CT-like scanners. Dr. Hartley is a vascular and interventional radiologist and co-founded Pulmera, alongside interventional pulmonologist Dr. Harmeet Bedi at Stanford. Pulmera is developing a novel approach to enhance physicians' ability to diagnose lung nodules accurately through innovative technology. Dr. Hartley shares insights into the challenges of existing diagnostic methods, the inspiration behind Pulmera, and the technology's potential to combine the best of 3D imaging and endoscopy techniques. Dr. Hartley discusses the benefits for both patients and physicians, such as improved diagnostic yields and patient outcomes, and introduces an investment opportunity for the BackTable community to be part of this revolutionary project. The episode also explores the broader implications of this technology across various medical specialties beyond pulmonology. --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 - Introduction 02:18 - Personal Journey: From Vanderbilt to Stanford Biodesign 06:11 - Pulmera's Mission: Enhancing Diagnostic Accuracy in Lung Biopsies 15:02 - Introducing a Game-Changing Technology for Bronchoscopic Procedures 22:09 - Challenges and Breakthroughs in Portable CT Imaging 27:44 - Economic Impact of Enhanced Diagnostic Procedures 29:48 - Building a Team and Securing Funding for Innovation 31:30 - Understanding Investment Opportunities and Equity Financing --- RESOURCES Dr. Bryan Hartley's email: bryan.hartley@pulmera.com Dr. Bryan Hartley's cell: 423-432-0612 Pulmera: http://www.pulmera.com/ Stanford Biodesign Fellowship: https://biodesign.stanford.edu/programs/fellowships/innovation-fellowships.html BackTable Innovation Episode #1 - Needs Driven Innovation with Dr. Todd Brinton (Stanford BioDesign): https://www.backtable.com/shows/innovation/podcasts/1/needs-driven-innovation BackTable Innovation Episode #30 - Host Stories with Dr. Bryan Hartley and Dr. Eric Gantwerker (Stanford BioDesign): https://www.backtable.com/shows/innovation/podcasts/30/host-stories BackTable VI Episode #422 - Pathology 101: Solid Advice for Percutaneous Biopsies with Dr. Andrew Sholl: https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/422/pathology-101-solid-advice-for-percutaneous-biopsies

In this episode, Dr. Matthew Lungren discusses the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, sharing insights into large language models, deep learning, and machine learning in improving patient care, enhancing clinical workflows, and optimizing medical research. Dr. Lungren is a pediatric diagnostic and interventional radiologist, and the Chief Data Science Officer at Microsoft Health and Life Sciences. He advocates for a future where AI acts as a tool for healthcare professionals, allowing them to devote more time to patient care rather than administrative tasks. Additionally, the discussion explores concerns such as AI's impact on employment and interactions with insurance companies, while presenting resources for healthcare professionals to engage with and learn about AI technologies actively. --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 - Introduction 03:00 - The Journey to AI Expertise: Dr. Lungren's Story 05:48 - Decoding AI: From Basics to Large Language Models 13:07 - AI's Impact on Healthcare and Beyond 15:57 - Exploring AI's Potential in Content Creation and Clinical Efficiency 20:22 - The Future of AI in Healthcare: Opportunities and Challenges 25:27 - Leveraging AI for Diagnostic Radiology and Beyond 27:42 - The Transformative Potential of Generative AI in Healthcare 33:40 - Addressing Concerns: AI's Role in Insurance and Patient Advocacy 36:41 - Empowering Healthcare Professionals with AI: Practical Applications and Future Outlook --- RESOURCES Fundamentals of Machine Learning for Healthcare - Stanford University Coursera Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/fundamental-machine-learning-healthcare Dr. Matt Lungren's LinkedIn Learning Course on Generative AI: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/an-introduction-to-how-generative-ai-will-transform-healthcare/introduction-to-generative-ai-in-healthcare DeepLearning.AI Website (Professor Andrew Ng): https://www.deeplearning.ai/ Fast.AI Website (Professor Jeremy Howard): https://www.fast.ai/ Professor Jeremy Howard YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@howardjeremyp/featured Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMMS) Meeting: https://www.himssconference.com/en/homepage.html

In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, host Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews guest Dr. Ramsey Al-Hakim about the inception and journey of Auxetics, a med-tech company innovating in the vein stent market. Dr. Al-Hakim is the co-founder of Auxetics and the Section Chief of the Division of Interventional Radiology at Scripps Hospital in San Diego, CA. Dr. Al-Hakim covers the initial challenges of understanding the market and securing capital, the clinical significance of addressing stent-adjacent stenosis, and the process of developing a stent with a negative Poisson effect to counteract it. Dr. Al-Hakim highlights Auxetics' approach to combining cutting-edge interventional technologies with world-class imaging tools for enhanced procedural efficiency in venous interventions. The company's progress through benchtop work, animal testing, and plans for first-in-human studies outside the U.S., aiming for commercialization within the next four to five years, is also outlined. Contributions from key figures in the vascular community and the role of mentorship and perseverance in navigating the complexities of medical device innovation are discussed as well. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/ Reflow Medical https://www.reflowmedical.com/ --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 - Introduction 03:11 - The Market and Problem Solving 12:13 - Journey of Creating a Stent 22:28 - Birth of Auxetics 26:53 - Learning Process and Support from the University 29:16 - Building the Dream Team 33:01 - Starting a Company 36:42 - Challenges and Triumphs of Fundraising 37:44 - Current Status and Future Plans 45:32 - Importance of Community and Mentorship --- RESOURCES Auxetics: https://www.auxeticsinc.com In-stent restenosis and stent compression following stenting for chronic iliofemoral venous obstruction: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34174500/ Venous Stenosis Animal Model Utilizing Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30717966/ The Messy Middle: Finding Your Way Through the Hardest and Most Crucial Part of Any Bold Venture: https://www.amazon.com/Messy-Middle-Finding-Through-Hardest/dp/0735218072

In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, host Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews guest Dr. John Qiao about exploration of physicians' role in medical innovation, particularly among interventional radiologists. Dr. Qiao shares insightful information about the origin of RadioClash and details his journey as an entrepreneur. Through this discussion, Dr. Qiao covers the challenges encountered during the startup phase, the invention of a single-probe electroporation device, and the future applications of this novel medical technology. The episode concludes with broader advice on how to manage the demands of professional work, entrepreneurship, and personal life. --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 - Introduction 02:39 - Dr. Qiao's Journey into Medicine and Entrepreneurship 11:40 - Birth of Radioclash: A Unique Solution for Cancer Treatment 17:58 - Future of RadioClash: Targeting Metastatic Cancer 25:20 - Future of Electroporation Therapy 35:21 - Challenges of Building a Company 44:37 - Path to Market and Future Plans 47:28 - Balancing Clinical Practice and Entrepreneurship --- RESOURCES RadioClash website: https://www.radioclash.co/ News Article on Dr. John Qiao: https://voyagehouston.com/interview/meet-john-qiao-m-d-of-radioclash-ltd-co/ Radiation Therapy as a Modality to Create Abscopal Effects: Current and Future Practices: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7086111/ The Abscopal Effect: A Reemerging Field of Interest: https://ascopost.com/issues/november-25-2018/the-abscopal-effect-a-reemerging-field-of-interest/ BackTable VI Episode #402 - Immunotherapy in HCC: Evolving Treatment Paradigms: https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/402/immunotherapy-in-hcc-evolving-treatment-paradigms Tavo and Pembrolizumab in Patients With Stage III/​IV Melanoma Progressing on Either Pembrolizumab or Nivolumab Treatment (Keynote-695): https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03132675 PANFIRE-3 Trial: Assessing Safety and Efficacy of Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) + Nivolumab + CpG for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04612530 Radiofrequency Ablation for the Palliative Treatment of Bone Metastases: Outcomes from the Multicenter OsteoCool Tumor Ablation Post-Market Study (OPuS One Study) in 100 Patients: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33129427/ The improvement of irreversible electroporation therapy using saline-irrigated electrodes: a theoretical study (Northwestern study): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21728392/ Irreversible electroporation reverses resistance to immune checkpoint blockade in pancreatic cancer: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-08782-1

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews Dr. Patrick Neville, a vascular surgeon and entrepreneur. Dr. Neville shares his journey of identifying a clinical problem and developing a solution, which culminated in the innovation of Wire Watch, a tool designed for efficient wire management during endovascular cases. Dr. Neville discusses the importance of believing in your solutions, the need for persistence, and the value of strategic partnerships in navigating the startup process. His partnership with the engineering firm BioTex led to the development of a simple product that is now used in cases by interventionalists across multiple specialties. --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 - Introduction 02:12 - Recognizing the Importance of Wire Management 06:42 - Partnership in Product Development 09:14 - Wire Watch in Action: User Experience 16:15 - Cost Savings and Clinical Adoption 22:44 - Mindset for Approaching Device Innovation --- RESOURCES Wire Watch: https://www.biotexmedical.com/wirewatch/ BioTex Medical: https://www.biotexmedical.com/

In this episode of the Back Table Innovation Podcast, host Dr. Diana Velazquez-Pimentel, a radiologist and biomedical engineer, chats with Dr. Alim Mitha about the novel idea of biodegradable flow diverters and the future of interventional neuroradiology. Dr. Mitha is a cerebrovascular, endovascular, and skull base neurosurgeon and biomedical engineer at the University of Calgary. During his neurosurgery residency, Dr. Mitha also completed a master's degree in biomedical engineering. Afterwards, he pursued additional fellowships in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery, as well as endovascular neurosurgery. Since then, he has started a research lab focused on tissue engineering and biomedical device development. He explains the role of flow diverters and how they are used to guide blood flow away from the intracranial aneurysms. While flow diverters have been applied to treatment of many different types of aneurysms, Dr. Mitha notes that these devices carry thrombogenic risks. During his training, he saw that it was not preferable to deploy a flow diverter in a young patient who would have to remain on antiplatelet therapy for the rest of their life. As a result, Dr. Mitha began to develop a polymer-based biodegradable flow diverter that could be absorbed by the body after the aneurysm had been occluded, in addition to being visible on non-invasive imaging. He explains the process of building a prototype, incorporating a company, joining a start-up incubator, and now performing first in-human-clinical trials. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR RADPAD® Radiation Protection https://www.radpad.com/ --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 Introduction 03:05 Understanding the Role of Flow Diverters 08:17 The Conception of a Biodegradable Flow Diverter 11:35 The Challenges and Successes in Prototyping 13:53 A Path Towards Commercialization 16:10 Considerations for Clinical Adoption 24:00 Developing Skills for Engineering and Entrepreneurship 27:29 First-In-Human Trials and Early Feedback 30:36 Innovating Within the University of Calgary --- RESOURCES University of Calgary Creative Destruction Lab: https://creativedestructionlab.com/locations/calgary/ The Brain Conferences: https://www.fens.org/meetings/the-brain-conferences

In this episode, interventional radiologist Dr. Bryan Hartley interviews Dr. Woojin Kim, a musculoskeletal radiologist and serial entrepreneur. Dr. Kim is a musculoskeletal (MSK) radiologist with a background in imaging informatics and a founder of three companies. He outlines his journey, from his early life as an immigrant in the US to his entrepreneurial successes in the field of radiology. Dr. Kim shares the processes, challenges, and lessons learned from founding and exiting three different startups. As an MSK fellow, he developed Yottalook, a search engine for radiology images, which eventually became his first company, iVirtual. After a brief time working in private practice, he returned to academia and co-founded his second company, Montage, a radiology search and data mining tool that offers clinical and operational analytics. Later on, he entered the artificial intelligence (AI) space and co-founded Equium, an application for radiology resource and staffing optimization. In recent years, Dr. Kim has shifted his focus to non-interpretive AI, a field that is centered around streamlining the radiologist's workflow and improving work-life balance. Throughout the episode, Dr. Kim shares advice for other entrepreneurs. He highlights the importance of building companies with good co-founders whose skills and experiences complement each other. He also encourages listeners to look at other industries and network to gain ideas about how to improve their own fields. Finally, he emphasizes that companies that are looking to be acquired should demonstrate adequate knowledge over return on investment, total cost of ownership, and regulatory requirements. --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 - Introduction 01:35 - Dr. Woojin Kim's Medical Training 05:11 - Developing an Interest in Informatics 11:04 - Creating Yottalook and iVirtuoso 17:00 - Building Montage Healthcare Solutions 24:45 - Acquisition of Montage and Working for Nuance 27:33 - Leveraging AI for Resource Optimization 32:58 - Rad AI and the Impact of Noninterpretive AI 41:24 - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs --- RESOURCES Rad AI: https://www.radai.com/ Equium: https://www.equium.io/ Nuance: https://www.nuance.com/index.html

In this episode of Back Table ENT, host Dr. Gopi Shah explores the entrepreneurial journey of Dr. Rohan Walvekar, an otolaryngologist at Louisiana State University-New Orleans and innovator/CEO of nDorse, a team engagement software application. Dr. Walvekar shares his experience in launching ‘nDorse' — his novel team engagement software designed for healthcare providers. This idea was sparked from his realization that daily contributions and positivity within the healthcare space could be better recognized with real time feedback. He noticed that hospital nursing turnover was high, which could have been attributed to insufficient engagement and connection with coworkers. The nDorse software application can be used by anyone in an organization and allows users to post meaningful recognitions (via messages, emojis, pictures, GIFs) for their coworkers, with the ability to tag recognitions to the organization's specific mission and values. Since its implementation, nDorse has been adopted even in various educational and financial institutional settings. Dr. Walvekar describes his journey to creating the application, including the software building process, initial sales, mentors, and the nDorse team. He also offers advice for physician entrepreneurs about being thoughtful with innovation and resilience in the startup sphere. --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 02:46 A Focus on Real Time Recognition for Coworkers 04:48 Introduction to nDorse: A Team Engagement Software 13:06 Market Research and a Minimum Viable Product 20:16 Product Launch and First Customers 23:04 Financing the Project 26:03 Pitching to New Clients 29:00 Team Members and Mentors 31:44 Balancing Innovation with Clinical Practice 36:20 Challenges During the Entrepreneurship Journey --- RESOURCES nDorse: https://www.ndorse.net/ BackTable ENT Ep. 115- Management of the Plunging Ranula: https://www.backtable.com/shows/ent/podcasts/115/management-of-the-plunging-ranula Healthcare Plus Solutions Group: https://healthcareplussg.com/

In this episode, Dr. Eric Gantwerker and Dr. Nilesh Vasan, Founder/CEO of Adroit Surgical and Head & Neck Surgeon at University of Oklahoma (OU Health), discuss the development of Adroit Surgical. --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn free AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/4Wi8D5 --- SHOW NOTES First, Dr. Vasan describes his surgical training and lifelong passion for invention. Originally from New Zealand, Dr. Vasan completed a head & neck fellowship at OU Health. His surgical experience includes private and academic practice. During his time in private practice, Dr. Vasan worked on interdisciplinary teams to manage difficult airways. He credits this experience with sparking his interest in developing better tools for intubation. Next, Dr. Gantwerker and Dr. Vasan review the development of Adroit Surgical's first product, the Vie-Scope. The battery-powered Vie-Scope combines superior visualization with portability to facilitate intubation across settings. Hoping to improve visualization during hand-held laryngoscopy, Dr. Vasan sketched a modified anterior commissure laryngoscope that would become the Vie-Scope. He then worked with an experienced patent attorney who helped him develop and notarize his innovation. Then, the surgeons cover advice to building networks. A pitch competition in Oklahoma City connected Dr. Vasan with associates whose complementary expertise helped grow Adroit Surgical. Dr. Vasan then worked alongside a well-connected distributor who raised awareness of the Vie-Scope in his target markets. Today, the Vie-Scope enables successful first-pass intubation in emergent and operating room settings. --- RESOURCES Adroit Surgical: https://adroitsurgical.com/ “Crossing the Chasm” by Geoffrey Moore https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-3rd-Disruptive-Mainstream/dp/0062292986 “Creativity, Inc: Overcoming the Unseen Forces that Stand in the Way of True Innovation” Ed Catmull & Amy Wallace https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Overcoming-Unseen-Inspiration/dp/0812993012

In this episode, host Dr. Dana Dunleavy interviews NFL player Taylor Rapp and neurointerventional radiologist Dr. Wayne Olan about the role of the Q collar in safeguarding the brain from impact. --- SHOW NOTES Taylor Rapp, a native of Washington state, pursued his college education at the University of Washington, where he also played football. He was later drafted by the LA Rams and played for them for a few years. Recently, Taylor made a move to Buffalo, NY, and now plays safety for the Buffalo Bills. He recounts his brain injury and severe concussion in 2021 while he was playing for the LA Rams. Later on, he heard about the Q collar from his agent and subsequently incorporated it into his gear in the following season. Dr. Olan discusses the origin of the Q collar, which was initially developed in the military to protect and minimize brain movement. He highlights a study from St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital where the role of the Q collar was examined utilizing Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), a type of MRI technique that specifically examines the white matter tract. Within a cohort of 500 athletes, 77% of athletes who wore the Q collage showed no evidence of shear injury whereas 73% of athletes who did not wear the collar showed gray-white matter shearing injury. He further discusses the mechanism by which the Q collar protects the brain from injury. It stabilizes the brain and minimizes movement by decreasing venous return to the brain by 30%, which he compares to wearing a necktie. He makes an important distinction that the Q collar does not occlude venous return, therefore, does not have significant clinical adverse effects. They end the episode by advocating for the significance of educating younger athletes about the risks of contact sports and enhancing safety across all sports. --- RESOURCES Neck Collar with Mild Jugular Vein Compression Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28437225/

In this episode, host Dr. Jose Silva speaks with Dr. Duke Herrell, CEO and CMO of Virtuoso Surgical, a robotic surgery tool known for its exceptional dexterity and precision. --- SHOW NOTES Dr. Duke Herrell is a minimally invasive urologic surgeon and professor at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Herrell came to Vanderbilt for his surgical fellowship, where he met Bob Webster, a mechanical engineer who had developed concentric tube robots made out of an elastic metal. Together, they worked to form the metal into curves that could create a tentacle-like motion for clinical applications. Over the next 15 years, Dr. Herrell and three co-founders started their company, Virtuoso Surgical, and received grant funding to move forward with their startup. The surgical device features two 1-millimeter dextrous tools inserted through a rigid scope that is capable of carrying a versatile array of instruments. The device is currently intended for the urologic procedures including removal and enucleation of prostate tissue, bladder lesion removal and sampling, and transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT). Notably, the device addresses a critical issue in tumor staging by improving the accuracy of margin determination, which is a game-changer for the 50% of TURBT procedures that yield specimens lacking muscle or clear margin information. Beyond urology, the device has the potential to improve other surgical procedures that utilize a rigid scope in a constrained environment including pulmonology, neurosurgery, and ENT interventions. Dr. Herrell and his team are also developing EndoTheia, a micromachine instrument that functions as a steerable catheter, specifically designed for flexible ureteroscopy. This device is currently in the verification and validation phase. --- RESOURCES Virtuoso Surgical: https://virtuososurgical.net/

In this episode, hosts Dr. Aaron Fritts and Dr. Bryan Hartley interview Scott Becker, founder and publisher of Becker's Healthcare, a media company dedicated to serving the specialized interests of healthcare leaders. --- SHOW NOTES Scott's background consists of a blend between healthcare law and media. He attended Harvard Law School, where he served as a teaching assistant for many students, including young President Obama, a third year law student at the time. In his twenties, Scott worked at a large firm and specialized in healthcare law, representing surgeons and surgical centers. While working within a large law firm, he realized that he wanted to take control of his own career and subsequently transitioned to a healthcare media focus in his 30s. He brought on Jessica Cole, a college student at the time, to handle team organization and commercialization for his small newsletter. Together, they expanded into websites, newsletters, and organized conferences in Chicago. Recognizing the growing interest in these conferences, Scott expanded his team to cater to a wider customer base. Due to higher demand and larger hospital budgets, hospitals and health systems ultimately became their primary focus. After talking to target customers, they developed separate media service lines including reading and audio content. Scott talks about the transition from brand advertising to lead generation advertising, a strategy focused on reaching the target customer and generating profits from those leads. The journalists at Becker's Healthcare generate these leads by consistently staying updated on healthcare leadership trends, evolving perspectives, and audience engagement to create personalized content and maintain their connection with the audience. Scott and the hosts explore the challenges of artificial intelligence and Chat GPT in engaging with audiences, strategies for distinguishing a business in a media landscape inundated with information, and methods for creating highly engaging and interactive conferences. This year marks the 29th Annual ASC Conference, with hundreds of participants and notable speakers including Rob Gronkowski and Mia Hamm. --- RESOURCES ASC Annual Conference https://conferences.beckershospitalreview.com/beckers-october-asc-annual-conference-2023 Becker's Hospital Review https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/ Good to Great by Jim Collins https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996 Peter Attia https://peterattiamd.com/

In this episode, Dr. Gopi Shah interviews Dr. Krishan Ramdoo, CEO and founder of TympaHealth, a London-based startup that has developed an all-in-one device for hearing health assessment which incorporates otoscopy and microsuction functionalities. --- SHOW NOTES Krishan is an ENT surgeon with a Ph.D. in global hearing health. In the early years of his career, while serving as a junior resident on the geriatric service, Krishan encountered a significant number of patients with undiagnosed hearing loss. He realized that this issue extended beyond just geriatric patients. Recognizing the scarcity of specialists and their lengthy waitlists, Krishan conceived the idea of developing a device to assess prevalent ear conditions such as hearing loss, cerumen impaction, and infections through a more accessible approach for primary care clinicians. The TympaHealth device is a specialized otoscope that connects to a mobile viewing device, enabling high-definition imaging of the tympanic membrane. It also incorporates a spacing mechanism to facilitate cerumen removal with use of a standard suction probe, eliminating the need for a microscope. Additionally, the device is accompanied by headphones for accurate hearing screening assessments. TympaHealth offers a training program for healthcare clinicians to administer the service. In case of uncertainty regarding a finding, clinicians can alert a specialist for remote review and guidance with just one click. TympaHealth recently launched in the US and is currently conducting pilot studies. Then, the hosts discuss the challenges of establishing a startup, including attracting investigators and building a diverse team. For physicians interested in entrepreneurship, Krishan highlights networking events as a way to gain insight into the commercial world and master the art of giving compelling pitches to potential investors. --- RESOURCES AI in Clinical Medicine: Section III Ch. 24 https://www.wiley.com/en-gb/AI+in+Clinical+Medicine:+A+Practical+Guide+for+Healthcare+Professionals-p-9781119790648 Tympa Health https://tympahealth.com/

In this episode, Dr. Jacob Fleming interviews Dr. William Morrison, the medical director of Trace Orthopedics. Trace Orthopedics is developing a minimally invasive implantable device for tendon repairs. --- SHOW NOTES William's passion for radiology traces back to his early love for art. In the initial stages of his career, he conceived the idea of a curved, steerable needle to navigate this L5-S1 space for discographies. After bringing the needle to market, its adoption was hampered by cost factors and the challenge clinicians faced in transitioning from traditional straight needles to the new design. Despite the initial challenges and disappointment with the needle's limited uptake, the product found a valuable application in celiac plexus blocks for pancreatic cancer and has shown to reduce surgical risks and complications compared to the traditional approach. After taking several years off from his innovation journey, William's personal experience with a partial rotator cuff tear drove him back into action. At that time, the available treatment options were strictly rehabilitation-focused, severely limiting his activity. He crafted a device in his garage using materials from Home Depot to percutaneously anchor tendons. Taking his prototype to Jefferson, where the idea gained endorsement, he proceeded to obtain a patent and established the Trace Orthopedics company. The implanted device has the ability to withstand greater force compared to commonly used suture anchors and is a minimally invasive procedure that is both efficient and single-step. William's invention has garnered interest from various medical specialties. With FDA approval in sight, the device is expected to hit the market within the next year. During their last remarks, William addresses the persistent challenge of public awareness regarding the full scope of minimally invasive interventional practices within radiology when discussing potential investments. According to William, radiology currently stands at a critical juncture where the significance of imaging and research in driving product development has never been more crucial. --- RESOURCES Trace Orthopedics: https://www.traceorthopedics.com/

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews Dr. Mehdi Razavi about his journey to entrepreneurship and in developing Saranas Early Bird, a vascular device that allows for early detection of perioperative bleeding. --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn free AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/8OyLFJ --- SHOW NOTES Before venturing into entrepreneurship, Mehdi was a dedicated EP cardiologist with limited exposure to entrepreneurship. After his fellowship, Mehdi took part in a Medtronic project. This experience energized him and ignited a desire to explore more opportunities for entrepreneurship. Mehdi conceived the idea for Early Bird when he suspected a hematoma in one of his patients following an atrial ablation procedure. Recognizing the risk of postoperative bleeding in such procedures, he envisioned a solution for early hematoma detection. The device that he developed is a specialized venous axis sheath equipped with ringed electrodes. These electrodes continuously emit sub-physiologic electrical signals both throughout and after a medical procedure, enabling real-time monitoring of the sheath's impedance or resistance. This technology can detect a drop in impedance, indicating potential bleeding, as blood exhibits the lowest impedance in the body. Because their technology works as a warning system, Mehdi and his co-founder Alex Arevalos decided to name their company after the early bird genus, Serenus. Despite working for 5-6 years to secure a patent for the idea, Mehdi remained persistent in his preclinical studies, understanding the significant impact his innovation could have on his medical specialty and the potential benefit for patients. For physicians transitioning into entrepreneurship, Mehdi suggests initiating the process of establishing a company early on to introduce more organization and delegate specific roles effectively, which allows for more time to continue working as a clinician. --- RESOURCES Saranas Early Bird: https://saranas.com/

In this episode, Dr. Diana Velazquez-Pimental and Dr. Eric Keller interview Dr. Dafydd Loughran, CEO and founder of Concentric Health, a digital health solution that's revolutionizing the process of consent and facilitating informed decisions through digital tools. --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn free AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/B39384 --- SHOW NOTES Dafydd's idea for Concentric originated from his experiences at an orthopedic clinic in his second postgraduate year. At that time, he found himself faced with the challenge of obtaining patient consent, all while still developing his knowledge and skills as a recent medical school graduate. He developed an aid memoir of the risks and benefits of different procedures to add value to the conversations with his patients. Dafydd continued to add to his resource, digitalize it, and before long, his colleagues began requesting access and utilization of it. Dafydd built a team and applied for a grant which was accepted. Concentric is a platform that supports conversations on shared decision making between clinicians and patients. It allows patients to better understand procedures by providing clear and detailed information from written information to videos and animations. Clinicians can select a procedure and personalize the content to their patient to make a template that includes indications for the procedure, alternatives therapies, and risk profiles. Patients can view this information before their scheduled consultations with their provider, allowing a more meaningful conversation and for the patient to have more time with the information given. As shown in Dafydd's research studies, 28% of patients reported gold standard shared decision-making using the old paper process compared to 72% with the Concentric digitalized form, highlighting the impact of collaboration used in this technology. Concentric services have been utilized across many medical specialties, with a central focus on actively engaging patients in the decision-making process by delivering relevant and well-informed information. --- RESOURCES Concentric Health: https://concentric.health/ Imperial article on shared decision making using Concentric: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35697552/

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews Dr. David Grew, the creator of PRIMR. PRIMR is an online video library that serves the dual purpose of aiding patients in comprehending their cancer diagnosis and treatment choices while also assisting clinical research teams in enhancing their trials with IRB-approved digital content. --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn free AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/wNStIo --- SHOW NOTES David is a radiation oncologist at St. Francis Hospital, a Yale-affiliated cancer center in Hartford, Connecticut. Five years into his practice, he noticed that due to the COVID pandemic, patients were attending their initial consultations alone. To enhance patient understanding, he started drawing illustrations to simplify complex cases. Patients appreciated these drawings and wanted to share them with their families. David seized this opportunity to create a library of narrated whiteboard videos, which he shared with patients to facilitate communication with their loved ones. David initially shared this platform with fellow clinicians, but they struggled to find the time to create content or share links with their patients, leading to underutilization. However, during a conversation with a researcher friend, he recognized the platform's potential to convert a lengthy 40-page informed consent form into a concise two-minute video for patients participating in clinical trials. As he leveraged this model, his business grew significantly and expanded to become a multidisciplinary international team. With his team, he curated a platform aimed at helping interested patients to learn more about treatment options through a library of IRB-approved content for clinical trials. Towards the end of their discussion, the hosts delve into the advantages and drawbacks of being a clinician-entrepreneur. They explore topics such as facing the fear of failure, enjoying a creative outlet, achieving a better work-life balance, and fostering a stronger connection with their medical specialty. --- RESOURCES PRIMR: https://www.primrmed.com/ Dr. Grew's Twitter: @DoctorGrew PRIMR Twitter: @PRIMR_MED

In this episode, host Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews Dr. Anthony Chang, delving into the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to enhance the efficiency of clinicians' workflow and diagnostic processes. --- SHOW NOTES Dr. Chang is the founder of AI Medicine and chair of the American Board of AI in Medicine. Driven by his fascination with mathematics and computer science, he took the leap to join Stanford's AI and data science program after dedicating 25 years to the practice of pediatric cardiology. Following four years of intensive education, he conceived AI Medicine—an innovative interface bridging the realms of clinicians and artificial intelligence. Dr. Chang envisions AI making a significant impact on clinicians through various avenues, such as revolutionizing medical imaging and devices, harnessing the power of deep learning, and integrating robotic process automation to alleviate the administrative load on clinicians and to enhance their efficiency. Within his own clinical practice, Dr. Chang employs ChatGPT as a checklist and a safety measure, especially when navigating complex decisions and intricate diagnoses. Dr. Chang advises clinicians who wish to integrate AI into their practices to begin by becoming proficient in "AI conversation," which involves familiarizing themselves with the vocabulary and principles of artificial intelligence. As a medical school professor, Dr. Chang integrates AI education into the curricula of his medical students and endorses the use of ChatGPT, allowing students to formulate advanced queries and assessing ChatGPT's responses by critiquing the generated answers. Along with writing the second edition to his book, Dr. Chang is currently planning the next AI Med Global Summit. This global gathering attracts clinicians spanning various subspecialties and is slated to take place in Florida in 2024. He also invites any interested clinicians to join the Alliance of Centers of AI Medicine (ACAM), a growing group of 77 healthcare centers that virtually meet monthly to discuss their uses of AI. --- RESOURCES Intelligence-Based Medicine Book: https://ai-med.io/resources/intelligence-based-medicine-by-anthony-c-chang/ AI Med Global Summit: https://gs24.ai-med.io/

In this episode, host Dr. Eric Gantwerker interviews Adam Block, a health economist, public health professor, and founder of Charm Economics, an economic consulting company for medical technology businesses. --- SHOW NOTES Adam originally intended to go to medical school; however, his true passion for economics emerged during college. He served as a consultant at Blue Cross Blue Shield and pursued a PhD in Health Economics during the 2008 recession and the Obama administration's healthcare reform. Adam then headed to Capitol Hill, where he contributed to the drafting of sections of the Affordable Care Act. He has also worked within a variety of healthcare companies such as Fidelis, a Medicaid managed care organization, and Montefiore, a leading force in transforming Medicaid into a value-based care model. Adam provides some background into the new wave of healthcare technologies. During the COVID pandemic, Telehealth technologies experienced significant progress and development. Medicare's decision to cover virtual visits proved highly successful, since it offered patients who faced challenges with transportation or childcare the opportunity to receive necessary care. As the pandemic unfolded, Telehealth evolved into a versatile solution that could be accessed at any time and location. It also brought exciting opportunities for those serving in healthcare quality improvement roles, as well as tech companies seeking to create new devices and services. Finally, Adam speaks about founding Charm Economics, a company that specializes in development of financial models for digital health firms. Their expertise lies in identifying value propositions and strategies to reduce care costs and enhance turnover within these propositions. For startups seeking venture capitalist funds, Block advises them to first identify who their target investor is and to showcase a clear and focused path to the desired outcome of creating value. He also emphasizes the importance of maintaining communication with mid-level managers who can advocate for the product and help sell it to target buyers. --- RESOURCES Charm Economics: https://www.charmeconomics.com/ Healthcare Dive: https://www.healthcaredive.com/ Healthcare Payer Intelligence: https://healthpayerintelligence.com/ Becker's Newsletter: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/e-weeklies/beckers-hospital-review-e-weekly.html Modern Healthcare: https://www.modernhealthcare.com/ The Physician's Guide to Doctoring podcast: https://www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com/

In this episode, host Dr. Diana Velazquez-Pimentel interviews emergency medicine doctor-entrepreneur Dr. Robbie Huddleston about the process of building Surgery Hero, a digital health clinic that helps patients prepare for and recover from elective surgery. --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn free AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/S1CISd --- SHOW NOTES First, Dr. Huddleston explains the process of “pre-habilitation,” in which patients actively prepare for a medical intervention ahead of time. This concept was first introduced in the oncology world. Where patients were encouraged to improve functional capacity and physiological reserve prior to starting chemotherapy. Surgery Hero recognizes that there are physiological and mental ways to prepare its members. The company offers one-on-one health coaching to help optimize lifestyle behaviors, as well as a digital platform for member education over the surgical procedures and recovery processes. Surgery Hero has partnered with the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK to receive patient referrals and work towards improving perioperative outcomes. Dr. Huddleston emphasizes the need to collect data over quantitative hospital measures, such as length of stay, but also patient-reported improvements in health literacy. Surgery Hero is currently running a clinical trial over the effects of preoperative health coaching to support patients undergoing lower limb arthroplasties. Finally, they discuss the challenges of product adoption. To make the digital platform as easy for patients to understand as possible, all education materials are written in a clear and non-complex manner. Additionally, there is flexibility built into the system so that different institutions can enroll patients in the way that works best for them. On the horizon, Dr. Huddleston would like to expand Surgery Hero to cover nonelective surgeries and new modalities of health coaching. --- RESOURCES Surgery Hero: https://www.surgeryhero.com/ Robbie@SurgeryHero.com Phreesia Patient Activation Measure: https://www.phreesia.com/patient-activation-measure/ Center for Perioperative Care (CPOC): https://cpoc.org.uk/ Evidence-Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM): https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-london-world-congress-2023/ Coaching for Health by Arti Maini and Jenny Rogers: https://www.amazon.com/Coaching-Health-Education-Humanities-Counselling/dp/0335262309

In this episode, host Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews interventional radiologist Dr. Gregg Khodorov about design thinking to improve healthcare outcomes, getting involved with innovation as a trainee, and ways to successfully advocate for idea implementation. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR RADPAD® Radiation Protection https://www.radpad.com/ --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn free AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/88AWhz --- SHOW NOTES Dr. Khodorov was introduced to design thinking when he was pursuing his MBA before medical school. Design thinking revolves around the idea of human-centered design, and it is useful when thinking about healthcare outcomes. The process involves a combination of the scientific process and creative elements. In medical school, Dr. Khodorov led a student organization that taught innovation concepts and encouraged his classmates to explore the entrepreneurship space. The doctors review examples of good and bad designs, such as pill packs instead of orange pill bottles, the confusing EpiPen drug delivery system, the automated voice system on AEDs, and instructions for scrub machines. Then, they focus on design projects that Dr. Khodorov has been working on during his residency. During his intern year, he introduced design thinking to surgical didactic conferences. As an IR resident, he has embarked on collaboration projects with industrial design students to improve the angio suite. One of these improvements was ceiling-mounted lighting that improves visibility during procedures. Dr. Khodorov believes that valuable insights can be offered by people outside of medicine, since they often question the status quo of healthcare and can generate ideas to solve efficiency and safety problems. He notes that it is important to judge two specific characteristics of each idea– effort and impact. The best ideas are the ones with the lowest effort and the highest impact. The next step is to convince stakeholders to accept and invest in the idea. It is helpful to find key performance indicators, forecast numerical outcomes, and identify mentors who will champion the idea. Pitching an idea as a quality improvement initiative is a great way to get dedicated time to work on the project, although it is important to pay attention to institutional policies about intellectual property. Throughout the episode, Dr. Khodorov shares some of his favorite innovation resources, including conferences, workshops and books. --- RESOURCES Health Design Lab: https://www.healthdesignlab.com/ Health Design Thinking: https://www.amazon.com/Health-Design-Thinking-Creating-Products/dp/0262539136 Google Ventures: https://www.gv.com/ This is Service Design Doing: https://www.thisisservicedesigndoing.com/

In this episode, host Dr. Bryan Hartley interviews Rishi Nayyar, co-founder and CEO of PocketHealth, the first patient-centered medical image exchange platform. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR RADPAD® Radiation Protection https://www.radpad.com/ --- SHOW NOTES PocketHealth is a subscription-based image sharing service that allows patients to store, access, and share their medical imaging with providers across different health systems. Rishi and his brother Harsh developed the idea for this service after realizing how antiquated and frustrating it was for patients to physically carry their CDs to different physician offices. Additionally, with the sheer volume of medical images ordered today and the cost of data storage, hospitals usually delete images after a certain period of time. First, the Nayyar brothers conducted their own market research by calling hundreds of local hospitals and clinics and asking them about their image exchange process. This process confirmed that the status quo of image exchange was a burdensome process for patients and inspired them to configure a patient-centered service. The second stage of their entrepreneurial pursuit was to figure out how the service would be paid for. The founders realized that patients were willing to pay a small subscription fee (instead of paying for CDs) to safely indefinitely store and virtually send their own and their family members' images to healthcare providers using a link or QR code. Overtime, insurance companies have become willing to reimburse this subscription fee. This payment model allows hospitals and clinics to participate in image exchange at no cost, and has been a key factor in encouraging widespread adoption as well as enabling the growth of their enterprise image sharing business. Rishi highlights the fact that he had the advantage of being an outsider to healthcare when he first started the company, which helped him recognize issues with the current system instead of just accepting the standard processes. He shared the same perspectives as patients who were interacting with the system as non-health experts. PocketHealth's success in the last eight years has propelled it to take on new challenges, such as patient education within radiology reports. Finally, Rishi gives advice to budding entrepreneurs. He encourages them to pick a problem that they don't mind grinding at, since there is a large initial time and effort requirement needed to convince people to adopt their product. Additionally, the innovation journey is long, so to manage one's psyche, it is wise to set short term achievable benchmarks and reflect on day-to-day progress. --- RESOURCES PocketHealth: https://www.pockethealth.com/

In this episode, host Dr. Diana Velazquez-Pimentel interviews Georgia Näder, Vice President of Futuring and Business Transition at Ottobock, a German prosthetics and orthotics company, on the history of the company, their innovation process, and what to look for in the future of Ottobock. --- SHOW NOTES Ottobock was started by Georgia's great grandfather, Otto Bock, in 1919. He began the company after World War I to help people who needed prosthetic limbs after sustaining amputations in war. The company began in Berlin, where they started by making fabrication components. They had to relocate due to social unrest, and their headquarters is now in Duderstadt, Germany. In the 1950s, the company began to work internationally, and opened a subsidiary in Minneapolis. Georgia's father led the business for 30 years, and now it is her turn. After finishing her MBA last year, she took on the position of CEO, and works from France in organizational setup, market research, and prepares the company for generational change. Ottobock has been a world leader in prosthetics since their start. They were the first to make a knee joint with a brake mechanism. They have also created hands that allow grasping, and heavy lifting. More recently, they have created a microprocessor knee, which has software that allows it to locate the knee in space and modify it's position in real time. This allows the user to move more naturally, walk backwards, walk up and down stairs, and climb over objects with ease and safety. Ottobock also makes orthotics and neuroplasticity suits, used by patients with neuromuscular disorders such as multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy. These suits are personalized to each individual's needs, and need only be worn for one hour per day to provide all day symptom relief. One of Ottobock's most recent innovations came from an idea by one of their engineers in the Research & Development department, who is an amputee himself. It allows the user to change their own prosthetic for different uses within seconds, rather than going to a clinician. This quick change adapter allows people to easily change from their daily use arm or leg to one specialized for sports or other specific activities. Georgia works with the market access team to improve accessibility and reimbursement for patients. She says that Ottobock's future involves developing closer relationships with clinicians, patients and research centers to continue to be a leader in prosthetics and orthotics. --- RESOURCES Ottobock https://www.ottobock.com/en-us/home Instagram: @ottobock

In this episode, host Dr. Bryan Hartley interviews head and neck surgeon and entrepreneur Dr. Alex Langerman about the story of his startup, ExplORer Surgical and his idea generation advice for physician-innovators. --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn free AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/5yb4nD --- SHOW NOTES Dr. Langerman starts by describing his journey into head and neck surgery and his University of Chicago research lab, where he conducted research over improvements in the operating room (OR) setting. The idea to make the OR more efficient stemmed from a conversation with a medical student who wondered why so many operating tools were opened and laid out, but never used. This question led him on a tour of different ORs around the country, where he learned that a lot of his colleagues shared the same frustrations about inefficiencies in the OR. When he returned to his institution, he visited different surgical departments and integrated their concerns into a roadmap of aspects that could be improved upon. We also discuss the value of bringing in non-physicians who have fresh perspectives. Dr. Langerman sought feedback and help from business and design students, which eventually led to the incorporation of his company, ExplORer Surgical, and a pitch at the New Venture Challenge Competition. While he worked on communication with surgeons about minimizing waste in the OR, his co-founder, Jennifer Fried, led the effort to find investors. The company's inflection point occurred when they shifted the focus away from healthcare institutions and towards medical device companies. The ExplORer Surgical app became a playbook that device companies could use to educate operators and ensure that their devices were being implemented in the exact way that they were intended to be used, thus ensuring consistent outcomes and minimizing complications. It also offers a way for sales representatives to virtually teleconference into the OR and guide operators through the procedure. During COVID, this technology became incredibly useful to ensure that collaboration between the OR and medical device companies could still continue. The company was eventually acquired by GHX Medical in 2021. Dr. Langerman encourages physician entrepreneurs to try “idea harvesting,” defined as pitching your idea to others, in the effort to see what resonates with them and learn how to improve your pitch. Additionally, finding a team of business professionals that can help run day-to-day operations is a great way to free up time and energy for further idea generation. --- RESOURCES Dr. Alex Langerman Website: https://alexanderlangerman.com/ New Venture Challenge Competition: https://polsky.uchicago.edu/programs-events/new-venture-challenge/ SBIR and STTR Grants: https://www.sbir.gov/about Social Physics by Alex Pentland: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/314230/social-physics-by-alex-pentland/

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews CEO and founder of Medisetter, Anirban Lahiri, about his experience with digital health innovation within developing countries and lessons he's learned about building sustainable physician communities. --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn free AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/mWawIv --- SHOW NOTES Anirban starts by describing his journey into entrepreneurship and the digital health space. Due to frequent international moves during his childhood, he grew interested in different countries and was open to the idea of being a global citizen. During business school, he explored Southeast Asia and recognized that this was a sector that had tremendous potential for economic growth. After graduation, he joined a Scandinavian private equity fund and moved to Vietnam where he learned about the economic landscape there. The idea behind Medisetter spawned from a personal injury that he suffered while playing football in Vietnam. He experienced an arduous and frustrating search for medical specialists who could accurately treat his condition, and he ended up receiving differing opinions and multiple procedures from doctors in different countries. This experience sparked an idea in him: Anirban wanted to create a platform to facilitate patient travel to doctors and centers of excellence, especially when the patient's immediate local area did not have these specialists. However, these plans were halted when the COVID pandemic presented challenges to medical care and travel. Anirban pivoted Medisetter's focus towards helping pharmaceutical and device companies create high-quality medical educational content for physicians in developing countries. By addressing the physician side of the supply-demand mismatch for medical care, there is an opportunity to build up medical knowledge and networks in under-resourced settings. The market research behind this idea was mainly built on interviews with individual physicians about their unmet needs and behaviors. The pandemic turned out to be a major catalyst towards webinar education, which was well-received by both physicians and companies. As for advice regarding digital health innovation, Anirban encourages entrepreneurs to learn about the regulatory landscape before diving in. In developing countries, it is common for regulatory guidelines to be catching up with new innovations instead of outlining their path. Additionally, he notes that simply copying and pasting models across different locales is not advisable. It is important to strike a balance between local patient/provider nuances and exposure to global medical advances. --- RESOURCES Medisetter: https://medisetter.com/ Ep. 2- Why Rusty Hofmann Built an Innovative Digital Health Company: https://www.backtable.com/shows/innovation/podcasts/2/why-dr-rusty-hofmann-built-an-innovative-digital-health-company

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews Dr. Nisha Mehta, a radiologist and founder of the Physician Side Gigs online community. --- SHOW NOTES Dr. Mehta traces her journey from being a radiologist between jobs to managing and advocating for one of the largest grassroots physician communities, with more than 162,000 online members. She started Physician Side Gigs as a private Facebook group with a few doctors to get advice on managing finances for her paid writing and speaking engagements. Overtime, the size and scope of the group grew so much that there was a branch point where a separate group, Physician Community, formed. Both groups remain active today– while Physician Side Gig still centers around business and personal finance education, Physician Community is more free flowing and fosters a variety of conversations about the healthcare environment, clinical practice, and physician advocacy. This advocacy really came into the spotlight during the peak of COVID-19, when members of the online community collaborated to create a list of physician demands for the federal government and were successful in securing $70 billion for physicians in a stimulus package. Dr. Mehta cites the lack of bureaucracy in the group as factors that helped contribute to this outcome. The groups' goals are to provide members with peer support and bridge them to opportunities to pursue other interests and revenue streams. We also discuss Dr. Mehta's personal career trajectory and how her priorities shifted throughout the years. In the beginning stages of Physician Side Gigs, she was able to balance a full time clinical practice and manage the online group in her free time. However, as the group grew in audience and partnerships, she re-evaluated her priorities and saw that fostering the community gave her more energy and allowed her to make more impact than her clinical practice did. She now practices radiology on a per diem basis and devotes most of her time to Physician Side Gigs and physician advocacy. She has also hired staff members to help moderate the group and ensure that it remains a safe and supportive environment. Finally, Dr. Mehta speaks about physician autonomy. The decision to pursue a side gig is not always based on revenue maximization. Instead, side gigs can be a way for physicians to dedicate time to pursuing their non-clinical interests and prevent burnout. Her biggest advice for doctors is to be intentional about what they want their lives to look like, and to not get caught up in others' expectations for them. In the long run, having career autonomy can extend career longevity and allow physicians to navigate their lives on their own terms. --- RESOURCES Physician Side Gigs Website: https://www.physiciansidegigs.com/ Ep. 194 (VI)- Financial Basics with the White Coat Investor: https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/194/financial-basics-from-the-white-coat-investor Ep. 277 (VI)- Private Equity and the Radiology Job Environment with Ben White: https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/277/private-equity-the-radiology-job-environment Ep. 27 (INN)- Physician Underdog with LOUD Capital Founder Navin Goyal: https://www.backtable.com/shows/innovation/podcasts/27/physician-underdog

In this episode, co-hosts Dr. Aaron Fritts and Dr. Diana Velazquez-Pimentel interview Dr. Phil Haslam, founder of Which Medical Device and current president of BSIR, about the process of creating a resource bank of medical devices that spans multiple specialties. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR RADPAD® Radiation Protection https://www.radpad.com/ --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn free AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/SfFu13 --- SHOW NOTES Dr. Haslam began his career as a clinician in medicine, but always knew he wanted to do radiology, specifically interventional radiology. In the UK, you have to train in either medicine or surgery before subspecialty training. He had been an IR consultant for around 8 years when he suddenly couldn't find the right t-fasteners for a gastrostomy tube placement. He searched the internet for alternatives, but realized it was very cumbersome to complete such a search. Around this same time, he was getting into photography and frequented the website DP Review, which was a way to browse different lenses and parts for cameras, with ratings and information about the pieces. Inspired by this website, he thought a similar website for IR devices would be helpful to clinicians who practice in different environments and are required to know different devices. He began by finding a local web developer and used his own money to pay for the initial website development. He then began loading products he had used, specifically devices he liked or didn't like. He started telling colleagues about the website, and the word spread fast. What he found difficult was not traction to the website, but getting members to contribute to content, such as writing device ratings or uploading instructional videos. After a couple years, he decided to branch outside of IR into other device heavy specialties like cardiothoracics and orthopedics. He asked colleagues from other specialties to contribute as editors. Dr. Haslam believes the high traction in the IR device section is due to his frequent attendance of conferences, as well as his relationships with industry. Finally, we discuss future goals for Which Medical Device. Dr. Haslam hopes to upload more instructional videos to the website and the YouTube page. Additionally, he plans to bolster his editorial board to include even more specialties. He encourages people to engage by suggesting new devices for the website; they can do so via the home page of the website. He will add more in-depth reviews and device comparisons, as well as launch a device of the month column. --- RESOURCES Website: https://www.whichmedicaldevice.com YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYnn3mCZGfgbUJmmehopcnw Email: phil@whichmedicaldevice.com British Society of Interventional Radiology: https://www.bsir.org

In this episode, host Aaron Fritts interviews engineer Lucien Blondel, co-founder and CTO of Quantum Surgical. We discuss robotic applications for interventional oncology procedures and the Epione robot's impacts on workflow and accuracy. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR RADPAD® Radiation Protection https://www.radpad.com/ --- SHOW NOTES Lucien first started innovating with robotics in the orthopedics, then neurosurgery fields. He has worked in startups and large corporations. Now, he is focused on interventional oncology. The catalyst for his idea came when his former startup was acquired. Lucien chose to create a company with three other co-founders and then explore. Quantum Surgical's mission is to democratize minimally invasive cancer treatment through pre-planning, advanced robotic assistance, and tumor ablation confirmation. Lucien started by obtaining the broad vision of the market. He noticed a clear unmet need: There was a proven clinical technique, but outcomes were very operator-dependent. Quantum Surgical's Epione robot could help alleviate this gap. Higher accuracy can lead to decreased invasiveness and more patient comfort in the outpatient setting. The first application for Quantum Surgical was pre planning software for interventional oncology procedures. He noticed that operators had difficulty visualizing masses for ablation. The robotic image vision software allows merging of CT and MRI images. Additionally, it can provide 3D modeling of ablation zones, map out needle trajectories, and confirm ablation by comparing pre-procedure and post-procedure imaging. Lucien emphasizes that the Epione robot can provide multiple functionalities for the same procedure, reducing the need to utilize different devices. The built-in features are programmed to adjust to patient movements and allow the physician to choose the safest path for needle placement. Finally, we discuss implications of robotics for workflow. Doctors can be more efficient in reviewing images, placing needles, and confirming ablation zones. Epione also reduces the need to obtain images during the procedure. At the moment, Epione is primarily focused on ablation of liver and kidney tumors. However, Lucien envisions the technology expanding to tumor biopsies, especially those that are located in high risk areas. Quantum Surgical is also looking into machine learning and prediction of local tumor progression. --- RESOURCES Quantum Surgical: https://www.quantumsurgical.com/epione/ Less Invasive Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/less-invasive/id1604673690 ROSA One Robot: https://www.zimmerbiomet.com/en/products-and-solutions/zb-edge/robotics/rosa-brain.html

In this episode, host Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews FLOW Medical cofounders Dr. Osman Ahmed and Dr. Jonathan Paul about how they built a company with the goal of designing a data-driven thrombolytic device that can deliver personalized care for patients with pulmonary embolism. --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn free AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/KikSeM --- SHOW NOTES Dr. Paul, interventional cardiologist, begins by explaining how he and Dr. Ahmed, interventional radiologist, came to work together. Dr. Ahmed came to the University of Chicago shortly after Dr. Paul started a pulmonary embolism response team (PERT) program. Dr. Ahmed, through his IR training, had experience with PE/VTE. They met and decided to combine their knowledge to build the program together. They both saw a need for new catheter directed thrombolytic (CDT) devices in their respective fields. The landscape of thrombectomy device innovation was booming, but they did not see the same innovation happening for CDT. After they both received the COVID vaccine, they were eating at Panera and drew out the idea for their device on a napkin. Neither of them had prior engineering experience and didn't know how to proceed after this, so they relied on the University of Chicago's entrepreneurial programs as a starting place. They then did market research and used their own internal research funding to subcontract with an engineering firm. They have been working on the design prototype since, and are conducting animal studies to trial the device. Once they reach design freeze, they will start the regulatory process and NIH 510(k) submission. They also have an NIH SBIR grant for small businesses doing innovative research. They plan to have the device on market in mid 2024. The goal for their device is to make it a catheter that can provide real-time feedback to minimize the complications of both too little or too much thrombolytic therapy. They are installing a sensor on the device that displays how much of the clot is lysed and allows for personalized PE treatment. They hope to incorporate AI into their data management, which they will use to tailor treatment in future patients. --- RESOURCES FLOW Medical: https://www.flowmedical.co

In this episode, Dr. Diana Velazquez-Pimentel interviews plastic surgeon and Plexaa founder Dr. Saahil Mehta. They discuss the novel concept of preconditioning the skin before reconstructive breast surgery and Plexaa's product solution for reducing wound healing complications. --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn free AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/L2pwLc --- SHOW NOTES Dr. Mehta first started exploring the topic of preconditioning the body for healing when he learned about skin-sparing mastectomy. He realized that while this procedure provided great benefit for reconstruction outcomes, it left behind thin, poorly perfused skin that was vulnerable to necrosis. Dr. Mehta started a clinical research project over heat stress and the subsequent chaperone protein and endogenous carbon monoxide release that allows for vasodilation and improved perfusion. His early studies involved mouse models and human patients who used hot water bottles over their skin on the day before surgery. The promising data led Dr. Mehta to apply for and win an NIHR grant to run a full clinical trial with heated water bottles. He found that preconditioning and applying supraphysiological heat stress to the skin prior to operation resulted in reductions in rates of skin necrosis, re-operation, and need for outpatient follow up. Today, Plexaa is a bra insert that can be heated to an exact temperature using a phone app. The technology is made possible by a principal circuit board that ensures a safe and accurate heat delivery to breast cancer patients who may have altered sensation to skin sensation from prior radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Plexaa has partnered with institutions and is planning to help doctors and nurses incorporate the product into their pre-operative planning and send Plexaa directly to patients' homes. In the future, Plexaa aims to bring its technology to other surgical specialties such as orthopedics and ENT. --- RESOURCES Preconditioning preHEAT Clinical Trial: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30656059/ Future Surgery Conference: https://www.futuresurgeryshow.com/ Plexaa: https://plexaa.com/ Email: saahil@plexaa.com

In this episode, Dr. Diana Velazquez-Pimentel interviews Dr. Nick de Pennington, former neurosurgeon of the National Health Service (NHS) and founder of Ufonia, an automated telemedicine platform that seeks to expedite delivery of routine, uncomplicated clinic visits. --- SHOW NOTES Dr. de Pennington saw the clinical need for this product when he realized that clinicians were spending large amounts of time performing routine clinical activities instead of providing complex care where it is most needed. Automated routine visits for uncomplicated encounters could free up clinicians' time, provide greater convenience to patients, and reduce the cost of healthcare services. Ufonia's first product was focused on follow up appointments for cataract surgery, one of the most common, straightforward, and safe procedures in the world. The telemedicine system converses with patients, takes a relevant history, and then recommends the next steps of care for the patient. The system also captures feedback about the patient experience, which helps clinical teams identify areas of satisfaction and improvement. From a flexibility standpoint, patients are able to call at any time and spend as much time as they would like on the call. Natural language processing allows the platform to process the patient's audio into text, run it through a conversation engine to generate a response, and then feed it back to the patient in audio format. The system was tested with the target demographic of the elderly patients, who are the highest utilizers of healthcare services. Dr. de Pennington also describes the process of this technology's adoption by physicians. On one hand, they can see that this technology could help them reduce burnout-inducing activities. On the other hand, product implementation is extremely difficult if it requires physicians to change their clinical pathways. Therefore, Ufonia seeks to integrate into existing pathways, such as their goal to help triage the Two Week Wait appointment system that the NHS has implemented for patients with symptoms that might indicate cancer. Finally, Dr. de Pennington gives advice to physician-entrepreneurs. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on specific skills, identifying paying customers, and networking outside of your usual clinician circles. --- RESOURCES Ufonia: https://www.ufonia.co/ Getting it Right the First Time (GRIFT): https://gettingitrightfirsttime.co.uk/

In this crossover episode of BackTable, Dr. Eric Gantwerker interviews Dr. Chris Kaufmann and Dr. Marlan Hansen from the University of Iowa about their startup company, iotaMotion, which has developed the first FDA-approved robotic cochlear implant insertion system. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR iotaMotion https://iotamotion.com/ --- SHOW NOTES First, Dr. Kaufmann and Dr. Hansen speak about their backgrounds and interests in entrepreneurship and engineering along with their medical focus. As otolaryngologists, both wanted to find a way to improve cochlear implant insertion in order to preserve cochlea function and structure. Their device, iotaSOFT, robotically assists surgeons during implantation and minimizes the risk of advancing the implant too far within the cochlea. They emphasize that this is a tool to assist surgeons, not change the technique with which they operate. They also note that their primary motivation was to help patients, so they were more concerned about safety and effectiveness rather than market competition and monetization. Then, they speak about the development path of their product and start up company. They filed for intellectual property rights under the University of Iowa and then formed a startup company that licensed the technology in order to commercialize the device. They discuss how they slowly added more employees and consultants to their company and set phases and goals for hiring and fundraising. Next, they explain challenges they had to overcome, such as the FDA approval process and COVID-19 setbacks on their clinical studies. They noted that iotaSOFT has received support from many surgeons once they understood that the robotic system merely assisted their surgeries without taking any control away from them. Finally, they discuss future plans for iotaSOFT such as integrating it with other devices and developing it further to be able to reside in the cochlea with the implant.

In this episode, Dr. Diana Velazquez-Pimentel interviews Dominik Burziwoda and Dr. Torsten Schröder about their experience with starting Perfood, a digital therapeutics company that focuses on individualized nutrition changes as a means to treat chronic disease. The CE experience for this Podcast is powered by CMEfy - click here to reflect and earn credits: https://earnc.me/oFXIHs --- SHOW NOTES The co-founders discuss their backgrounds and interests. For Dr. Schröder, this was clinical medicine and biomedical research. On the other hand, Dominik had prior experience with finance, law and e-commerce. Their combination of skills made it possible to establish Perfood as a startup and run successful clinical trials. Perfood seeks to empower consumers to learn more about their own glycemic reactions that result from different types of foods in their diet. The components of the product include a continuous glucose monitor and access to an app that will make dietary recommendations with the goal of lowering a patient's glycemic index. This idea was spurred by the recognition of a link between blood glucose and various chronic diseases, as well as a lack of access to nutritional therapy. We discuss the true meaning of a “digital therapeutic,” which is a software (which has been clinically evaluated and regulated) that can induce a treatment effect. With Perfood, the intended treatment effect is to help patients modify their lifestyle and lower blood glucose levels. Due to Germany's centralized healthcare system, Perfood can be prescribed by any physician and patients will be fully reimbursed for the cost. So far, it has been approved in Germany for treatment and prevention of migraines. Dr. Schröder emphasizes that patients who experience the most success with Perfood are people who are motivated and able to make changes to their diet. The company aims to conduct more clinical trials that explore nutrition as a treatment for diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, chronic inflammatory diseases, and malignancy. Perfood takes a patient-first approach by collaborating with patient advocacy groups and soliciting feedback from early users. Perfood is also exploring new markets in the United States and looking to partner with institutions to start pilot projects. --- RESOURCES Perfood: https://perfood.de/ Email: dominik.burziwoda@perfood.com A Digital Health Application Allowing a Personalized Low-Glycemic Nutrition for the Prophylaxis of Migraine: Proof-of-Concept Data from a Retrospective Cohort Study: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/4/1117 Mobi Health News: https://www.mobihealthnews.com/ Exit and Outcomes: https://exitsandoutcomes.com/ Digital Therapeutics Alliance: https://dtxalliance.org/ HLTH 2022: https://www.hlth.com/2022event