You already know what’s broken in healthcare.

The question is—do you know how to build something that actually fixes it?

In this solo episode, Dr. Alison Curfman breaks down the 5 foundations every physician founder needs to go from clinical insight → startup launch.

After co-founding a company that scaled to 100,000 patients, raising over $100M across ventures, and working inside private equity evaluating healthcare startups, Alison shares the exact frameworks most physicians were never taught—but need to succeed.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between having an idea and knowing what to do next, this episode will give you a clear path forward.

In this episode, I discuss:

• How to validate a healthcare problem before you build
• What “unit economics” actually means (in plain English)
• How to build operations that scale quickly
• Smarter ways to fund your startup without risking your savings
• How to pitch, network, and get early traction

📄 Download the free Physician Founder Framework:

👉 https://StartupPhysicians.com/resources

🎧 Listen on our website: https://www.startupphysicians.com/podcast

Becoming a founder isn’t about leaving medicine.

It’s about expanding your impact.

Chapters:

00:00 You know what’s broken in healthcare 

02:30 Why most physician founders get stuck 

04:00 Foundation 1: Validate the right problem 

11:00 Foundation 2: Business model + unit economics 

19:30 Foundation 3: Operations that scale 

26:00 Foundation 4: Capital strategy 

34:00 Foundation 5: Pitch, network, and sell 

41:30 What the next 12 months could look like 

44:30 Startup Physicians Incubator + next steps

Physicians are increasingly exploring careers beyond traditional clinical practice, and venture capital is one path that allows doctors to help shape the future of healthcare innovation. 

In this episode of the Startup Physicians Podcast, Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with radiologist and healthcare venture leader Dr. Daniel Dow to discuss how physicians can transition into the startup and venture capital ecosystem.

After more than a decade in clinical radiology, Dr. Dow began exploring new ways physicians could influence healthcare innovation. Through startup accelerators, mentorship, and venture investing, he discovered the enormous need for clinical insight within the healthcare startup world.

Today, he serves as Chief Innovation Officer at Healthcare Shares, a venture capital community focused on bringing together physicians, healthcare operators, founders, and investors to support healthcare startups with both financial capital and intellectual capital.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why physicians are underrepresented in healthcare startups

 • How doctors can become advisors, mentors, or investors in early-stage companies

 • The difference between traditional venture capital and community-driven models

 • Why many healthcare startups fail — and how physician involvement can improve success

 • How physicians can begin exploring venture capital and startup investing

If you’re a physician curious about healthcare startups, venture capital, or non-clinical career paths, this episode offers a practical and inspiring starting point.

As Dr. Dow explains, physicians bring unique expertise that startups desperately need — and becoming involved in innovation can help doctors reclaim autonomy, purpose, and impact in healthcare.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Introduction and Meeting at the HLTH Conference

1:15 From Radiologist to Healthcare Innovation

4:20 Discovering Startup Accelerators and New Physician Career Paths

7:45 Why Physicians Are Underrepresented in Healthcare Startups

11:30 How Venture Capital Works in Healthcare

15:45 The Healthcare Shares Model: Investing With Intellectual Capital

20:00 Advisory Roles vs Investor Roles for Physicians

23:30 Why Venture Capital Bets on Founders

27:50 How Physicians Can Get Involved in Healthcare Startups

29:00 Advice for Physicians Exploring Non-Clinical Careers

 RESOURCES:

• HLTH Conference
• Health Wildcatters Accelerator
• Healthcare Shares 
• Heather Fork Career Coaching for Physicians 
• Columbia Business School Venture Capital Program 
  
  

What happens when a physician decides not to follow the traditional path?

In this episode of the Startup Physicians Podcast, Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with Dr. Payel Gupta, a board-certified allergist and immunologist who took a series of bold, intentional risks — from global health sabbaticals to becoming a health tech co-founder — ultimately leading to a successful startup acquisition.

Dr. Gupta shares her journey from traditional clinical training to co-founding a telemedicine company in the allergy space during the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as consulting turned into a co-founder role (after she boldly suggested they needed a physician at the table). The company partnered directly with a pharmaceutical manufacturer to deliver FDA-approved allergy immunotherapy via telemedicine — and was later acquired by LifeMD in 2022.

This conversation is a masterclass in:

• Why physicians are uniquely positioned to succeed in startups
• How to take calculated career risks without sacrificing financial security
• The real-world MBA you gain by building a company
• What value physicians bring to product, marketing, compliance, validation, and payer strategy
• How to leverage LinkedIn to land consulting and advisory opportunities

We also dive into imposter syndrome, physician risk tolerance, and the two beliefs that can fundamentally change your career trajectory:

1. Physicians are exceptional problem solvers.
2. There are countless ways for doctors to create income and impact.

If you've ever wondered whether there’s more beyond traditional clinical practice — this episode will expand what feels possible.

Resources & Links:

• Partners in Health, Dr. Paul Farmer's Social Justice Health Care Organization: https://www.pih.org/
• Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder: https://www.tracykidder.com/mountains-beyond-mountains.html
• Connect with Dr. Payel Gupta on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/payel-gupta-md-facaai-4b178411
• Listen to her podcast: The Itch (All About Allergies & Asthma): https://www.itchpodcast.com/about-the-show
• Learn more about the Startup Physicians Launchpad (Advisory & Consulting Program): https://www.startupphysicians.com/launchpad
• Explore the Startup Physicians Incubator (For Physician Founders): https://www.startupphysicians.com/incubator

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction to Dr. Payel Gupta

01:30 – Global Health Sabbatical & Meeting Paul Farmer

05:00 – Taking Early Career Risks

07:00 – COVID, Pregnancy & A Career Pivot

09:30 – Becoming a Health Tech Co-Founder

11:30 – Telemedicine + Pharma Direct-to-Consumer Model

13:00 – Startup Acquisition in 2022

14:30 – Why Physicians Struggle with Risk

16:00 – The Two Beliefs That Change Everything

20:30 – The Physician Value in Health Tech

24:30 – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

27:00 – How to Use LinkedIn for Consulting Opportunities

29:30 – Launchpad & Incubator Opportunities

What if the skills that made you a great physician are the exact skills that can launch your next career?

In this episode of Startup Physicians, Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with emergency physician turned founder and startup executive, Dr. Alex Mohseni, to unpack how doctors can break into health tech, innovation, and leadership — without waiting for permission and without going back for another degree. 

Alex shares how he went from exporting EMR data in his emergency department to becoming a Chief Innovation Officer, startup medical director, and founder of ClinX Academy. His journey proves a powerful point: you can just start.

Inside this conversation, we cover:

• Why physicians freeze when the career path isn’t linear
• How to create startup opportunities instead of applying online
• The abundance mindset that unlocks doors
• How to evaluate health tech companies strategically
• Why community physicians are massively undervalued in innovation
• How understanding Medicare Advantage, ACOs, and risk models makes you indispensable
• The difference between vanity advisors and real clinical value
• Why you don’t need an MBA to become a healthcare executive
• How to wake up excited about your work again

This episode is for physicians who:

• Feel stuck in traditional clinical roles
• Want to explore startups, health tech, or venture
• Are curious about CMO or medical director roles
• Want to create impact beyond the bedside
• Are ready to think bigger about their career

The healthcare system is changing rapidly. AI, digital health, and value-based care are reshaping everything. Physicians who understand both clinical care and business strategy will define the future.

If you’ve been waiting for permission — this is it.

References:

Search for Startups: exa.ai

Clinx Academy: ClinxacademyNon-Clinical Physician Jobs & Physician Side Gigs | ClinX. Use code ALISON for 10% off.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Dr. Alex Mohseni

01:30 – From Emergency Medicine to Innovation

03:40 – Solving Problems Without Formal Training

07:00 – Escaping the Linear Physician Career Path

10:00 – Abundance Mindset in Business

13:30 – How Startup Opportunities Actually Happen

17:00 – Using Regulation to Predict Market Trends

19:30 – Why Startups Are So Energizing

21:00 – How to Break Into Health Tech

24:00 – Why Community Physicians Are So Valuable

28:00 – Creating Your Own Opportunity

30:30 – What Is ClinX Academy?

33:00 – If You’re Waking Up With Dread

35:00 – Final Encouragement for Physicians

Career transitions are not failures — they’re expansion.

In this episode of the Startup Physicians Podcast, Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with child psychiatrist turned tech founder Dr. Marissa Caudill, co-founder of SuperDoc Tech, to talk about career reinvention, physician entrepreneurship, and building scalable systems that actually work.

Marissa shares her nonlinear journey:

• From MD-PhD and academia
• To private practice owner
• To employed psychiatrist at Kaiser
• To launching a parent-focused brand
• To co-founding a HIPAA-compliant tech platform for physicians

Along the way, she learned a hard truth many physician founders discover: being excellent at medicine doesn’t mean you’re equipped with the backend systems needed to grow a business.

We discuss:

• Why career transitions are normal (and necessary) for physicians
• The “Valley of Despair” in entrepreneurship — and how to push through
• Why most doctors build chaotic tech stacks that don’t talk to each other
• How an all-in-one CRM platform (based on Go High Level) can simplify marketing, scheduling, automation, and patient communication
• The power of community and done-with-you support when learning something new

If you’ve ever:

• Considered leaving your W-2
• Felt overwhelmed by tech and marketing
• Wanted to scale beyond 1:1 clinical work
• Struggled with burnout inside your own business

This episode is for you.

Because you don’t need to abandon medicine to build something bigger — you need better systems, better support, and the willingness to feel like an intern again.

🔗 Learn more about SuperDoc Tech: superdoctech.com/startupphysicians

 🎟️ Use code PODCAST50 for 50% off your first 3 months.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction

 01:00 – Marissa’s Nonlinear Career Path

 03:45 – Burning Out in Private Practice

 06:45 – Why She Left Kaiser

 09:15 – Normalizing Physician Career Transitions

 13:45 – The Emotional Cycle of Change

 17:00 – From Course Creator to Tech Founder

 21:45 – What SuperDoc Tech Actually Does

 25:30 – Why Most Physician Tech Stacks Fail

 29:00 – Real Client Wins

 31:00 – Final Takeaways

In this episode of Startup Physicians, Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with Dr. Michael Fang, a practicing geriatrician and serial entrepreneur, to explore how physicians can build impactful healthcare startups—without leaving clinical medicine.

Michael shares his journey from traditional medical training to founding multiple healthcare technology companies, beginning with something deceptively simple: an Excel spreadsheet tracking social factors affecting elderly patients. Long before “social determinants of health” became a buzzword, Michael identified how caregiver availability, nutrition access, and home support predicted hospital readmissions with striking accuracy.

That insight led to a startup that ultimately scaled to serve over 7 million patients internationally, helping health systems allocate resources more effectively—years before U.S. reimbursement models caught up.

Throughout the conversation, Michael breaks down why physicians are uniquely positioned to be entrepreneurs, how curiosity fuels innovation, and why you don’t need to learn to code or get an MBA to build meaningful solutions. He also explains how entrepreneurship can actually reduce burnout, offering physicians a renewed sense of agency and creativity.

Finally, Michael introduces Ryze Health, a company designed to support independent medical practices by making healthcare benefits more affordable and accessible—reinforcing his broader mission to democratize healthcare.

This episode is a must-listen for physicians who:

• See broken systems and want to fix them
• Are curious about entrepreneurship but don’t know where to start
• Want to build alongside medicine, not abandon it

Chapters

00:00 – Physician to Entrepreneur (Without Planning It)

02:51 – Seeing the System Break in Real Practice

03:35 – Predicting Readmissions With an Excel Sheet

05:56 – Social Determinants of Health Before It Had a Name

09:48 – Why Physicians Are Built for Entrepreneurship

12:30 – You Don’t Need to Code (Or Get Another Degree)

14:39 – Finding Startup Partners Outside Medicine

15:34 – Practicing Medicine While Building Companies

19:22 – Entrepreneurship as Burnout Prevention

20:10 – The Secret Weapon: Physician Curiosity

22:37 – Asking “Why” Inside Broken Systems

24:36 – Introducing Rise Healt

27:10 – Why Independent Practices Matter

29:03 – A Call to Physicians Ready to Build

Resources Mentioned

• Rise Health: RyzehealthEmpowering Independent Physicians | Ryze Health Insurance & Practice Benefits
• Startup Physicians: StartupphysiciansStartUp Physicians | Physician Entrepreneurship, Consulting & Leadership
  
  

What does it really take for a physician to build a successful health tech company—without abandoning clinical medicine?

In this episode of Startup Physicians, Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with Dr. Osama Hashmi, dermatologist, entrepreneur, and CEO of Empiricus, to unpack his unconventional journey from pre-med student to multi-time founder.

Osama shares how early exposure to healthcare policy, liability, and system inefficiencies sparked a deeper curiosity—not just about treating patients, but about changing the systems that shape patient care.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why understanding the problem matters more than understanding technology
• How Osama started his first company before medical school—with no entrepreneurial background
• The myth that physicians must quit medicine to build startups
• Why starting with manual solutions often leads to better technology later
• The difference between services-based businesses and tech startups
• How Empiricus is rethinking physician–pharma communication
• Why founders bring optimism to a healthcare system facing rapid change
• Practical, low-risk ways physicians can explore entrepreneurship today

This conversation is especially valuable for physicians who feel curious—but unsure—about business, startups, or innovation. Osama breaks down complex ideas into approachable, actionable insights and reminds us that you don’t need to be technical, fearless, or all-in to get started.

Chapters:

00:00 – From Med School Dreams to System-Level Questions

02:55 – Why Business & Capital Drive Real Change in Healthcare

04:35 – Starting a Company Before Medical School

06:45 – How Physicians Actually Get Started in Entrepreneurship

08:40 – Physicians Are Closer to the Real Problems Than Anyone Else

10:55 – Start Manual, Then Add Technology

14:55 – Services vs Tech: Choosing the Right Business Model

15:25 – The Vision Behind Empiricus & DocUpdate

17:30 – Free E-Prescribing & Physician-Centered Tools

19:00 – Why Physician Communities Matter More Than Ever

21:05 – Founders Think Differently About the Future of Medicine

24:45 – You Don’t Have to Quit Medicine to Be an Entrepreneur

26:20 – Practical Advice for Doctors Curious About Startups

28:10 – Building Teams vs Being the Best Individual Performer

Resources & Links

• Impiricus – Ethical pharma–physician engagement ImpiricusHome
• DocUpdate App – Free e-prescribing & physician tools (iOS & Android) DocupdateHome
• Connect with Dr. Osama Hashmi – LinkedinOsama Hashmi MD MPH - Impiricus | LinkedIn
• Startup Physicians Programs & Community – startupphysicians.com

In this episode of Startup Physicians, Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with renowned physician-scientist, entrepreneur, and futurist Dr. Daniel Kraft to explore what it truly means to build at the intersection of medicine, technology, and innovation.

From launching an online medical bookstore as a resident during the early days of the internet, to co-founding Stanford Biodesign innovations, advising and investing in digital health startups, leading conversations on AI in healthcare, and even serving as a flight surgeon and astronaut finalist—Daniel’s career defies the traditional medical path.

Together, Alison and Daniel discuss how physicians can identify real pain points, why beginner’s mind is such a powerful advantage, how AI will reshape clinical care faster than any previous innovation, and what doctors must do now to remain relevant, ethical, and impactful in the next decade of medicine.

This conversation is a must-listen for physicians curious about entrepreneurship, digital health, AI, venture, or simply expanding their impact beyond the exam room—without leaving medicine behind.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Daniel became an entrepreneurial physician before it was mainstream
• Turning clinical frustration into a million-dollar startup during residency
• The power of identifying real pain points in medicine
• Stanford Biodesign and why structure matters in healthcare innovation
• Why early-career physicians often see opportunities others miss
• The current explosion of AI and digital health tools—and why it’s overwhelming
• How AI will change medicine faster than EMRs or telehealth ever did
• The importance of physician voices in AI ethics and guardrails
• Feature vs company: how founders should think strategically
• Capital strategy advice for non-technical physician founders
• Aerospace medicine, flight surgery, NASA work, and astronaut selection
• Why crossing disciplines creates the most meaningful innovation
• How physicians can expand impact without abandoning clinical work

Chapters:

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction to Dr. Daniel Kraft

01:05 – An Entrepreneurial Mindset Before It Was “Allowed”

02:10 – Building an Online Medical Bookstore as a Resident

04:00 – Lessons from an Early Startup Exit

06:00 – Stanford Biodesign & Finding Clinical Pain Points

07:40 – Creating a Medical Device from Bedside Frustration

09:50 – Digital Health Overload & Why Clinicians Feel Behind

11:35 – Design Thinking in Healthcare Innovation

13:45 – Physician Fears Around AI (and Why They Matter)

15:40 – AI Guardrails, Ethics, and Patient Safety

18:40 – Why Healthcare Can’t Innovate at a 17-Year Pace Anymore

20:00 – Venture Capital, Startups & Feature vs Company

22:00 – Advice for Non-Technical Physician Founders

26:30 – Aerospace Medicine, NASA & Becoming an Astronaut Finalist

29:00 – Final Advice for Physicians Expanding Beyond Clinical Care

Resources Mentioned:

• Daniel Kraft's website: DanielkraftmdDaniel Kraft M.D.
• NextMed Health: NextmedNextMed Health: Re-imagining the Future of Health and Medicine digital health platform
• Continuum Health Ventures: ContinuumhealthContinuum Health Ventures | Healthspan Venture Capital
• Stanford Biodesign Program StanfordPrograms
  
  

Physicians are trained to follow clear pathways—but innovation, advisory work, and startup leadership rarely come with a playbook.

In this episode of Startup Physicians, Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with Dr. Jennifer Miles-Thomas, urologic surgeon, former private practice CEO, MIT MBA, and healthcare innovation leader at Northwestern Medicine.

Jennifer shares how she navigated the transition from academic medicine to private practice, led a large surgical group through the COVID-19 crisis, and ultimately moved into system-level innovation, incubators, and startup advising.

This conversation is a grounded look at how physicians create value outside of patient care—without burning out, giving work away for free, or abandoning medicine altogether.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why physicians underestimate their value in startups and innovation
• What becoming a CEO during COVID taught Jennifer about leadership and pivoting
• How private practice prepares doctors for entrepreneurship
• Why AI and data literacy matter for physicians—without needing a tech background
• How to start advisory work without getting taken advantage of
• The role of incubators and health system innovation programs
• Practical ways physicians can explore non-clinical impact while staying grounded

This episode is especially relevant for physicians who feel ready for more impact, creativity, or system-level influence—but want to move intentionally.

Chapters:

00:00 – Why Physicians Belong in Innovation

00:53 – Academic Medicine vs Private Practice Reality

02:59 – Becoming CEO in January 2020

03:43 – Pivoting During COVID

04:55 – Why an MBA (and Why MIT)

06:05 – AI Isn’t Magic—It’s Math

08:25 – Moving Into Health System Innovation

10:45 – The Hidden Value of Physicians in Startups

13:00 – How to Start Advisory Work

17:59 – Avoiding Exploitation in Business

21:56 – Defining and Pricing Your Value

25:23 – Incubators, Accelerators & Health System Opportunities

29:13 – Final Advice for Physicians Exploring What’s Next

🔗 Connect with Dr. Jennifer Miles-Thomas: www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermiles-thomas

In this episode of Startup Physicians, host Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with dermatologist, researcher, and inventor Dr. Adam Friedman to explore what happens when physicians lean into curiosity instead of rigid career plans.

Dr. Friedman shares how an accidental discovery during medical school—creating nanoparticles in a basic science lab—ultimately reshaped his entire professional trajectory. What began as an effort to strengthen a residency application evolved into a long-term commitment to invention, dermatology, and translational research, culminating in market-ready skincare products and an ongoing clinical pipeline.

The conversation explores the reality of physician innovation beyond buzzwords: the role of observation, the importance of teams and mentors, and the nuance of intellectual property when building physical products. Dr. Friedman offers practical insight into how ideas become protected, validated, and scaled—while also emphasizing that sharing ideas thoughtfully is often essential to progress.

Together, Dr. Curfman and Dr. Friedman discuss why many physicians remain stuck at the idea stage, how early-career “yes phases” create unexpected opportunities, and why abundance—not scarcity—drives sustainable innovation. The episode also highlights Dr. Friedman’s work with cannabinoid-based dermatologic products and what it means to see something invented in training become part of patients’ daily lives.

This episode is a grounded, honest look at physician entrepreneurship—one rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and the courage to follow what’s interesting, even when the path isn’t clear.

Takeaways

• Dr. Friedman describes himself as having 'career ADHD' due to his diverse interests in dermatology.
• Curiosity is essential for innovation; asking 'why' can lead to discoveries.
• Accidental discoveries can lead to significant advancements in medicine.
• Saying yes to opportunities can open doors to new paths in one's career.
• Building a supportive network is crucial for success in any field.
• Intellectual property is important for protecting innovative ideas.
• Sharing ideas with trusted individuals can enhance the development process.
• Mentorship plays a vital role in career development and innovation.
• There is an abundance of opportunities in the medical field.
• Technology can significantly enhance treatment options in dermatology.
  
  

Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-friedman-0340778/

Chapters

00:00 – Meet Adam Friedman, dermatologist & inventor
01:30 – Why curiosity shaped his career
03:45 – Accidental discoveries that change everything
06:50 – Saying yes early in your career
10:55 – Why many physicians stay stuck
14:10 – From lab discovery to real products
18:55 – The role of mentors and teams
22:40 – Intellectual property myths for physicians
26:10 – Why companies need physicians early
30:05 – Seeing patients use what you invented