Startup Physicians

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

What does it actually take for a physician to break into startups or venture capital—and do you need an MBA to do it?

In this episode of Startup Physicians, Dr. Alison Curfman talks with Dr. Zhen Chan, a practicing pediatrician and founder of Grapevyne. Zhen shares how he moved from a traditional training path to venture work, what “due diligence” looks like in the real world, and why clinical insight is often the missing piece in healthcare products.

They also discuss why physicians often overvalue credentials, how networking creates opportunities faster than another degree, and how Zhen pivoted Grapevyne from a job marketplace into a community built to help clinicians expand their skills and impact in 2025 and beyond.

Takeaways

• Zhen Chan transitioned from clinical medicine to startups.
• Networking is crucial for career development in healthcare.
• Experience can be more valuable than formal education.
• Venture fellowships provide exposure to the startup ecosystem.
• Clinical perspectives are essential in evaluating healthcare startups.
• Grapevyne aims to empower physicians and medical professionals.
• The importance of adaptability and pivoting in entrepreneurship.
• Understanding regulatory pathways is vital for healthcare innovation.
• Building a community can enhance professional growth.
• Physicians have unique insights that can drive startup success.

Connect with Zhen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhenmd)
Learn more about Grapevyne: https://grapevyne.health)

https://instagram.com/zhen_md

https://www.tiktok.com/@zhenmd

Chapters

00:00 – Intro + Zhen’s background
01:30 – MBA vs real-world experience
03:10 – Why he pivoted from fellowship plans
05:55 – Networking as the unlock
12:05 – Venture fellowships + due diligence explained
16:10 – Unpaid roles, equity, and value exchange
21:05 – What he learned: how investors think
24:50 – The unique value of physician perspective
28:15 – What Grapevyne is building now
30:45 – Pivot story + closing

In this episode of Startup Physicians, Dr. Alison Curfman interviews Dr. Takashi Nakamura, an emergency physician whose search for a simple telemedicine side gig evolved into a fully remote, 50-state clinical career and a leadership role in digital health.

Takashi shares how wanting to be more present for his young family in Hawaii led him to explore telemedicine, ultimately becoming licensed in all 50 states plus DC. That national licensure opened unexpected opportunities: medical group ownership, corporate practice of medicine (PC) leadership, compliance roles, and executive positions within rapidly scaling digital health startups.

The conversation explores:

• How telemedicine side work grew into a high-leverage, location-independent physician career
• What PC ownership and corporate practice of medicine mean for early-stage startups
• The path from clinician to executive without an MBA or formal business training
• Why an abundance mindset is essential in the physician innovation community
• The lifestyle transformation that telemedicine can offer—holidays off, nights at home, flexibility, and autonomy
• How Takashi’s program, All In Remote / ER Physician Academy, helps physicians obtain multi-state licensure and uncover both clinical and non-clinical roles in digital health
• How physicians can transition into advisory roles, administrative positions, executive leadership, or even launch their own companies

The episode highlights the vast—and often unseen—career landscape available to physicians beyond traditional brick-and-mortar practice, and how telemedicine can serve as both a bridge and a springboard to greater freedom, fulfillment, and impact.

Listeners who are contemplating career redesign, craving flexibility, or seeking meaningful work beyond conventional practice will find a roadmap filled with possibility.

00:01 – Welcome & Introduction to Dr. Takashi Nakamura
00:45 – From ER Shifts to Telemedicine as a Side Gig
02:20 – Getting Licensed in All 50 States and DC
03:56 – PC Ownership, Corporate Practice of Medicine, and Compliance
08:13 – Executive Roles, Medical Groups, and Learning on the Job
14:42 – Creating All In Remote and ER Physician Academy
17:40 – Helping Physicians Replace Income and Expand Opportunities
22:04 – From Virtual Clinical Work to Executive and Founder Paths
23:52 – Redesigning Career, Holidays, and Lifestyle Around Your Values
26:14 – The Upside of 1099 Work and Working on Your Own Terms
27:51 – Final Advice: Find Like-Minded Physicians and Positive Community

website: airphysicianacademy.com

In this episode of Startup Physicians, Dr. Alison Curfman interviews Dr. Jhonatan Bringas Dimitriades, a Peruvian physician whose global journey led him from clinical practice in Latin America to recertifying in the Netherlands and ultimately becoming a health tech CEO.

Jhonatan shares how he navigated the challenge of learning Dutch, rebuilding his medical career abroad, and entering the world of health tech without a formal business background. His curiosity and clinical expertise propelled him through roles in product management and business development before co-founding Keiku, an AI-powered digital stethoscope and ambient scribe designed to transform how clinicians capture and interpret patient data.

Together, they explore the realities of building hardware as a physician founder, the power of partnerships, the importance of embracing imperfect MVPs, and the many translatable skills physicians already possess that prepare them for startup leadership. This episode offers a clear, inspiring look at what’s possible when physicians step into innovation.

00:00 – Introduction & Global Background
01:10 – Training in Latin America & Moving to Europe
03:05 – Recertifying in Dutch
04:55 – Entering Health Tech as a Medical Advisor
07:15 – Physicians’ Translatable Skills
10:20 – Growing into Business & Startup Roles
13:35 – The Origin of Keiku
18:10 – What Keiku Is & What It Does
22:50 – AI, Auscultation, and Documentation
26:15 – How Hardware Gets Built
29:25 – Advice for Physician Innovators
30:50 – Startup Physicians Pathways & Closing

Jhonathan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbringasd/

Keikku Smart Stethoscope - https://www.keikku.health/

In this episode of the Startup Physicians Podcast, Dr. Alison Curfman talks with Dr. Lyndsey Garbi, neonatologist, pediatrician, and co-founder/CMO of Blueberry Pediatrics. Lyndsey shares how she went from new attending to startup founder, why she became the “professional naysayer” to protect pediatric safety, and how Blueberry built a scalable, high-quality virtual care model for kids.

Alison and Lyndsey explore what children actually need from care, why telehealth can enhance safety when designed well, and how creativity becomes an antidote to burnout for physicians. They also break down what CMO roles look like inside startups and offer practical paths for doctors who want to get involved in digital health or leadership.

Whether you’re a pediatrician, a parent, or a physician curious about the startup world, this conversation will open your eyes to what’s possible beyond traditional practice.

00:00 — Welcome & Reconnecting
01:48 — Lyndsey’s Path to Pediatrics & Startups
03:37 — Staying Clinical While Founding
05:05 — Founding Blueberry Pediatrics
07:30 — Building Safe Pediatric Telehealth
08:56 — Challenging Traditional Medical Dogma
11:05 — What Families Really Need in Pediatric Care
12:23 — Telehealth Safety & Continuity
14:08 — “Attending… Now What?”
15:34 — Blueberry’s Model & Quality Measures
19:11 — What a CMO Does in a Startup
22:57 — Pathways Into Startup Roles for Physicians
26:01 — Academia vs. Industry Growth
29:04 — Creativity as an Antidote to Burnout
30:59 — Advice to Pediatricians: Ask for What You Need
32:37 — Closing & Where to Find Lyndsey

website: www.blueberrypediatrics.com

@blueberrypediatrics on socials

In this episode of the Startup Physicians Podcast, Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with Dr. Nerissa Kreher, MD, MBA—a pediatric endocrinologist who transitioned into biotech and pharma and went on to serve as a four-time Chief Medical Officer with multiple IPOs.

Nerissa shares how an unexpected career setback opened the door to the pharma industry, what medical affairs and clinical development roles actually look like, and how physicians can build the business and regulatory skill sets needed to thrive in biotech. She explains how to communicate across cross-functional teams, design clinical trials, and navigate both the highs (like successful IPOs) and the lows (like program shutdowns).

Alison and Nerissa also dig into imposter syndrome, confidence, humility, and why physicians must embrace learning and ask for help—just like they do in clinical practice. Nerissa also highlights her work developing first-in-human transfer RNA therapies and discusses her coaching program, Pharma Industry MD Coach, which supports physicians exploring industry roles.

This episode is packed with tactical insights and mindset shifts for any physician curious about biotech, pharma, or leadership roles beyond clinical medicine.

00:00 – Introduction to Dr. Nerissa Kreher
01:08 – A Career Pivot That Changed Everything
04:01 – Entering Pharma + Early Mindset Shifts
07:14 – Building New Skills Beyond Medicine
11:23 – Clinical Development & Designing Trials
13:59 – Moving Through Companies & Becoming a CMO
16:18 – Handling Setbacks in Drug Development
18:27 – Mindset, Imposter Syndrome & Asking for Help
23:05 – Inside the IPO Experience
28:04 – What She’s Building Now
29:35 – Supporting Physicians Through Coaching
30:57 – Closing Thoughts

Pharma Industry MD Coach Website: www.industryMDCoach.com

IG: PharmaindustryMDCoach

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-industrymdcoach-b501301ba/

In this episode of the Startup Physicians Podcast, host Dr. Alison Curfman talks with Dr. Lara Zibners, a pediatric emergency physician whose winding career path led her from the chaos of the PEDs ER to the world of women’s health innovation. What starts as light-hearted humor between two ER docs quickly evolves into a powerful conversation about identity, reinvention, and the unexpected paths physicians can take beyond clinical practice.

Lara shares her journey from insisting she’d never be a doctor, to practicing in the U.S. and U.K., to ultimately leaving the bedside after a mix of personal, professional, and global circumstances made clinical practice unsustainable. She opens up about her seven failed rounds of IVF, adoption, surrogacy, and the lived experiences that inspired her to co-found a vaginal drug-delivery medtech company—reshaping how women receive progesterone and other therapies.

Alison and Lara dive into:

• The surprising origins of Lara’s medical career
• Practicing medicine across two countries and navigating identity as a physician
• How infertility and motherhood shaped her mission in women’s health
• The reality of transitioning out of clinical medicine
• How physicians can translate clinical expertise into startup leadership
• The importance of storytelling when raising capital or influencing change
• Why learning, networking, and experimentation matter more than having a perfect plan
• Practical advice for doctors exploring entrepreneurship or seeking a more aligned career path

This conversation blends humor, vulnerability, and startup strategy—making it essential listening for any physician who’s curious about new career possibilities or the future of women’s health innovation.

Connect with Dr. Lara Zibners:

• Lara's Website: https://www.larazibners.com/
• Calla Lilly Clinical Care: https://www.callali.ly/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlarazibners/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laraz/
• Podcast: Unstable Vitals - https://www.unstablevitals.com/