Startup Physicians

In this episode of Startup Physicians, I sit down with Dr. Payal Adhikari, a pediatrician who made the leap from private practice into the startup world. We talk about what it takes to step into non-clinical roles and how networking, self-belief, and clinical expertise all play a part. Dr. Payal Adhikari shares her personal journey, the skills she had to build, and how she found real opportunities in biotech and consulting. This conversation is all about action and showing physicians that they already have what startups need while also encouraging them to take the next step toward building something new. 

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - From Medicine to Startups: A Journey Begins
[09:28] - Navigating the Biotech Landscape
[18:42] - Building a Consulting Business
[28:22] - Empowering Physicians in Startups

In this conversation, I explore the intersection of design, business, and personal fulfillment—especially through the lens of healthcare innovation. I believe the best solutions often come from deconstructing problems, not just reacting to them. That mindset has shaped how I approach both clinical challenges and startup opportunities.

One of the core messages I share is around life design: identifying what brings you joy, then being intentional about shaping your life and career around it. I talk about how physicians—despite being trained in rigid systems—have immense capacity to innovate. We just need more spaces that invite us to lead.

That’s why I introduced the idea of a physician incubator program—something designed to support doctors who are ready to step into advisory, founder, or innovation roles. Because when we bring our clinical expertise to the table, we don’t just improve systems—we redesign them entirely.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - The Essence of Design in Business and Life
[02:49]  - Deconstructing Problems for Effective Solutions
[07:34] - Life Design: Choosing What Brings Joy
[10:08] - Innovating in Healthcare: The Physician's Role
[14:35] - Creating Pathways for Physician Entrepreneurs

In this episode on Startup Physicians, Chris Poole and I discuss the challenges and insights related to building startups in the healthcare sector. We emphasize the importance of starting with a clear problem, understanding unit economics, and evaluating market viability. Chris shares his journey from being an entrepreneur to a venture leader, highlighting the non-linear paths many take in their careers. The discussion also covers the significance of validating business ideas and the role of physicians in entrepreneurship.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Introduction to Healthcare Ventures
[02:42] - Chris Poole's Journey in Venture Capital
[05:34] - The Non-Linear Path of Entrepreneurship
[07:56] - Identifying Problems in Healthcare
[11:13] - From Idea to Viable Business
[13:55] - Understanding Unit Economics
[19:02] - The Importance of Market Validation
[21:45] - Building a Sustainable Business Model
[26:34] - Closing Thoughts and Resources

What happens when clinical expertise meets data-driven financial modeling? In this episode, Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with Isaac Edrah, a healthcare actuary and founder of Paramean Solutions, to explore how physician insight can dramatically shape — and de-risk — value-based care models.

Isaac shares stories from the field, including one orthopedic collaboration that uncovered billions in potential savings. Together, they unpack the hidden leverage physicians offer in startup and venture settings — especially when financial risk and clinical pathways collide.

Physicians don’t need to become data experts to make a difference. They need to understand their own value — and learn how to partner with teams like Isaac’s to drive smarter, faster, and more scalable innovation.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Introduction to Actuarial Insights in Healthcare
[02:50] - The Role of Actuaries in Healthcare
[06:06] - Collaboration Between Clinicians and Actuaries
[09:00] - Real-World Examples of Clinical Models
[12:12] - The Importance of Clinical Expertise
[14:59] - Value Creation in Healthcare Startups
[17:53] - Bridging the Gap Between Data and Clinical Practice
[20:59] - Encouraging Physician Involvement in Startups
[24:03] - Challenges in Collaborating with Physicians
[27:10] - Conclusion and Call to Action

When a devastating clinical moment sparks a career in innovation, what happens next? In this powerful episode, Dr. Alison Curfman is joined by her longtime collaborator and friend, Dr. Dave McSwain — CMIO at UNC Health and co-founder of the national pediatric telehealth research network, Sprout. Together, they reflect on how a single missed opportunity to intervene became the catalyst for designing systems that now save lives.

Dr. McSwain shares the story of how telehealth helped save a child’s life, and how strategic research and collaboration transformed a fledgling idea into a national framework. They unpack the power of evidence in healthcare innovation, the difference between casual metrics and rigorous evaluation, and why startup founders must learn to speak both clinical and financial languages.

Whether you're a physician-turned-founder or a clinician curious about what’s possible, this episode is a masterclass in taking meaningful experiences and turning them into scalable, fundable, system-level change.

Episode Highlights

[00:00] - Introduction to Innovation in Pediatric Telehealth
[03:03] - The Evolution of Telehealth: A Decade of Change
[05:59] - Personal Stories: The Impact of Telehealth on Patient Outcomes
[08:54] - Building a Research Network: Overcoming Barriers in Telehealth
[11:54] - The Importance of Evidence in Healthcare Innovation
[15:09] - Navigating Financial Challenges in Healthcare Programs
[18:06] - The Role of Data in Evaluating Healthcare Technologies
[20:57] - Leveraging Academic Skills in the Startup World
[23:45] - Collaboration: Finding Your People in Healthcare Innovation

In this episode of the Startup Physicians podcast, Dr. Pam Sullivan shares her unique journey from physical therapy to emergency medicine and ultimately to leadership roles in healthcare startups. She discusses the challenges and opportunities she faced as a woman in medicine, her transition into leadership, and her pivotal experiences in scaling operations at Landmark. Dr. Sullivan emphasizes the importance of mentorship, the need for adaptability in startups, and offers valuable advice for physicians considering career changes.

Episode Highlights

[00:00] - Introduction to Startup Dynamics
[02:24] - Pam Sullivan's Unique Career Path
[07:37] - Transitioning to Leadership Roles
[12:57] - The Journey into Startups
[16:50] - Scaling Operations in Startups
[20:23] - Lessons from the Urgent Care Experience
[26:45] - Advice for Physicians Considering Career Changes

In this episode of Startup Physicians, I sit down with Dr. Hansa Bhargava—pediatrician, writer, and Chief Clinical Strategy and Innovation Officer at Helio—to unpack her journey from clinical burnout to a purpose-driven career in health media, technology, and innovation.

We talk about what it really takes to step away from traditional medicine, why you don’t need another degree to move into industry, and how physicians can leverage their clinical background as a strategic asset in startups and AI development. We also dig into the mindset required to make bold transitions, how to navigate hybrid career paths, and why control over your time may be the most important variable in long-term fulfillment.  If you're a physician looking for impact, autonomy, and alignment, this episode will help you see what’s possible—and how to start. 

Episode Highlights

[00:00] - Navigating the Journey of Medicine
[09:08] - The Importance of Work-Life Balance
[17:58] - Transitioning from Clinical to Innovative Roles
[27:06] - Embracing Change and Growth in Medicine

In this episode, I sit down with Shelli Pavone, co-founder of Inlightened, a platform built to bridge the gap between healthcare innovators and professionals. Shelli shares her journey through healthcare and startup leadership, and we dive into why startups often miss the mark when they don't meaningfully involve clinicians in the innovation process. We explore how clinician feedback can prevent costly mistakes, why healthcare professionals should be compensated for their input, and how engaging with innovation can reignite a physician’s passion for impacting healthcare. Shelli also highlights how Inlightened simplifies the administrative side of consulting, creating a low-risk, high-value opportunity for physicians to step into the startup space. If you’ve ever wondered how your expertise could shape the future of healthcare—without needing prior consulting experience—this conversation is for you.

Episode Highlights
[00:00] — Introduction to Inlightened and Its Mission
[03:10] — The Disconnect Between Healthcare Innovators and Providers
[05:51] — Building Connections: The Role of Inlightened
[09:01] — The Innovation Lifecycle and Importance of Feedback
[11:53] — Engaging Healthcare Professionals: The Onboarding Process
[15:09] — The Value of Diverse Perspectives in Healthcare Innovation
[18:00] — Opportunities for Physicians in the Innovation Space
[20:52] — Conclusion and Call to Action

In this episode, I explore the powerful parallels between clinical care and startup innovation. As physicians, we are expert diagnosticians—trained to identify real problems, design strategic solutions, and build trust under pressure. Our ability to operate in uncertainty, assess risk, collaborate across disciplines, and drive continuous improvement positions us perfectly to thrive in the startup world. I walk through ten key analogies that show how our clinical mindset, from systems thinking to resilience and agility, translates directly into healthcare innovation. If you’ve ever wondered how to apply your skills beyond the bedside, this conversation is for you.

 Episode Highlights

[00:00] — Introduction: Why Physicians Are Natural Innovators
[02:30] — Diagnosing Problems in Startups Like Patients in Medicine
[06:00] — Building Strategic Solutions: Treatment Plans to Business Plans
[09:45] — Thriving in Uncertainty and Assessing Risk
[13:00] — The Power of Interdisciplinary Collaboration
[16:20] — Building Trust with Patients and with Startup Stakeholders
[20:10] — Data Collection, Learning Loops, and Agile Iteration
[24:00] — Knowing When to Ask for Help (and Why It Matters)
[27:15] — Resilience Under Pressure: A Shared Skill Across Fields
[30:40] — Systems Thinking: Seeing the Bigger Picture
[34:00] — Continuous Improvement: The Link Between Medicine and Startup Growth
[36:00] — Final Reflections: How to Leverage Your Clinical Skills in Innovation

Summary
This episode, I discuss the growing opportunities for physicians in the startup world and how to successfully transition from clinical roles to entrepreneurial ventures. I share why identifying real healthcare problems, designing thoughtful solutions, and building sustainable business models are critical steps—often without needing large amounts of initial capital. I also walk through some of the common challenges physicians face during this transition and introduce a new incubator program created specifically to support physician-founded startups.

If you're a physician even thinking about what's possible beyond traditional clinical work, this conversation will help you reframe your skills, explore real business opportunities, and approach entrepreneurship with clarity, courage, and purpose.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] Introduction to startup opportunities for physicians and why now is the time.
[02:48] How to identify healthcare problems worth solving — and where to start.
[06:43] The critical role of discovery before designing solutions.
[12:49] Building a business model: who pays, how much, and why it matters.
[17:37] Overcoming common challenges: perfectionism, uncertainty, and starting small.
[24:15] Why community and structured support are essential for physician entrepreneurs.
[28:05] An inside look at the new incubator program designed for physician-founded startups.
 [31:42] How physicians can create scalable startups that attract venture funding.
 [35:00] Final thoughts on building momentum, creating impact, and forging your own path.