What if your child left their life-saving EpiPen at home on prom night—and it inspired a whole new medical device?

In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Edwin Pribitkin reveals the true story behind his invention: an auto-injector that attaches directly to your smartphone, born from a father’s panic and a daughter’s stubbornness.

Dive into the highs and lows of medical innovation as Dr. Edwin Pribitkin and Eric Hacherl explore what it really takes to bring a healthcare device from a sketch on the back of a napkin to the hands of millions—including lessons in failure, the complexities of building the right team, and why even world-class doctors have to learn new business skills.

Plus, get an insider look at Jefferson Health’s new venture arm and its mission of transforming ideas into impact for the Philadelphia life sciences community.

Episode Overview

[00:00] Introduction and background of Dr. Edwin Pribitkin[07:33] Dr. Edwin Pribitkin's unconventional journey into medicine[12:19] The origin story: how a prom night argument led to a life-saving invention[17:52] Moving from idea to patented product[18:21] Challenges of FDA approval and market validation[22:17] Proving the need: market research and user behavior[25:03] From prototype to startup: finding the right team[34:27] Projected timeline for commercialization[36:00] Evolving the device into a platform for other emergency medications[40:04] Jefferson’s venture and innovation strategy[44:27] The importance of team-building in healthcare entrepreneurship[49:37] Episode wrap-up and closing remarks