In this episode of TAG’D: Beyond the Award, host Justin Starbird sits down with BJ Maack, Senior Director of Healthcare Solutions at Enovis, one of the inaugural winners of the TAG Awards for MedTech 2025!

Discover the incredible story behind MotionMD, the award-winning platform revolutionizing orthopedic practices through automation, transparency, and better patient experiences.

From humble beginnings cutting neoprene braces in the '70s to leading the way in healthcare tech innovation, Enovis is not just making waves—they’re creating better, together. BJ shares how MotionMD was born out of necessity, scaled through vision, and is now empowering clinics nationwide to work smarter, not harder.

🔥 Whether you're a healthcare innovator, a MedTech enthusiast, or just love a good story of transformation, this conversation highlights how purpose-driven technology can truly change the game!

🏆 Celebrate Enovis’s TAG Award win—tune in to hear what’s next for this trailblazing team!

Learn more about Enovis, The TAG Awards, and the rest of the 2025 winners: https://www.tagawards.co/medtech-25/

In this episode of TAG’D: Beyond the Award, host Justin Starbird sits down with Mike Kolberg, VP and General Manager of Codonics—an award-winning MedTech company redefining medication safety in hospitals.

Fresh off their 2025 TAG Award win, Mike shares how Codonics’ Safe Label System is preventing medication errors in the OR, why listening to clinicians is their best R&D tool, and how the company continues to innovate with new solutions like RFID upgrades and in-room drug waste verification. From trade show relationship-building to culture-changing tech, Codonics is proving that the best medtech doesn’t just work—it works with people.

Whether you're in hospital operations, medical device innovation, or simply fascinated by how technology is saving lives, this episode is for you!

Get ready for an inspiring journey on this episode of TAG'D: Beyond the Award! Host Justin sits down with Mat Johnson, the visionary CEO of Althing Clinic, to dive into the revolutionary AIRs System. Hear how this 2025 TAG Award winner for MedTech in the Healthcare category is transforming scalable, preventative health and behavioral risk intervention.

Mat shares the compelling story behind AIRs, from its origins in addressing critical behavioral health challenges in K-12 education to its expansion into supporting veterans, first responders, and senior citizens. Learn how this innovative solution prioritizes agency, privacy, and proactive intervention, empowering individuals to seek the help they need.

Listen to the challenges of building a highly regulated, yet universally accessible, healthcare technology and the profound impact it's having on patient engagement and outcomes. Tune in to understand what it truly takes to build technology that meets people where they are and revolutionizes how we approach public health.

You won't want to miss this conversation about a system that's not just groundbreaking, but life-changing.

TAG’D: Beyond the Award – Featuring Vibrant Gastro’s Asaf Bar

In this episode of TAG’D: Beyond the Award, host Justin Starbird sits down with Asaf Bar, CEO of Vibrant Gastro, winner of the Top Innovator Award at the 2025 TAG Awards for MedTech. Discover how Vibrant is transforming GI care with its revolutionary, FDA-cleared drug-free vibrating capsule that treats chronic constipation through bioelectronic therapy.

With 39 million Americans suffering from this often-ignored condition, Vibrant’s technology is a game-changer, delivering relief without side effects or medication. Asaf dives into the development journey, clinical success, and the future potential of this platform to address a wide range of gut-brain axis disorders.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about MedTech, patient-centered innovation, and what it takes to bring a disruptive medical device to market.

Join host Justin Starbird on this episode of TAG'D: Beyond the Award, as he sits down with Adrian Mendes, CEO of Perimeter Medical Imaging AI. Perimeter recently earned the prestigious TAG Awards Top Innovator Award in MedTech 2025 for their groundbreaking OCT System with Image Assist AI, recognized for its exceptional contributions to surgical imaging and AI integration.

Adrian walks Justin through the incredible journey of developing this transformative technology. The current OCT System provides surgeons with real-time, unprecedented clarity, enabling them to achieve clear margins in cancer surgeries, particularly in breast cancer, by leveraging advanced imaging to deliver crucial visual information during operations. 

The conversation then shifts to their next-generation product, currently awaiting FDA approval, which takes innovation a step further by integrating artificial intelligence. This AI layer acts as an intelligent assistant, helping surgeons rapidly identify suspicious areas within images and streamline decision-making in the operating room.

Adrian shares the company's ambitious vision for expanding the application of their technology beyond breast cancer to other types of cancers, underscoring the broad impact it could have on patient outcomes. He also conveys the immense excitement surrounding the continuous innovation within the MedTech industry and how Perimeter is at the forefront of this evolution, consistently pushing the boundaries of what's possible in medical imaging and AI. This episode offers a deep dive into the technology, mission, and the clear future of precision surgery.

In this episode of TAG’D: Beyond the Award, host Justin Starbird welcomes Steve Everly, Event Director at Informa Markets, to talk about what makes MD&M East more than just a trade show. 

They dive into the powerful, human element of live events—how shaking hands, exchanging ideas, and nurturing new talent can spark innovation, unexpected partnerships, and real business growth!

Whether you're a veteran exhibitor, a first-time attendee, or someone looking to bring your team to the floor, this conversation explores the true ROI of being present. 

Steve shares why in-person touchpoints matter more than ever, how MD&M is evolving to meet the moment, and why the inaugural TAG Awards will make this year's event even more special.

🎯 What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why 11 to 20 digital touches can't replace a single handshake

• How live events foster mentorship, growth, and meaningful partnerships

• The behind-the-scenes strategy of keeping MD&M East fresh and future-focused

• What inspired The Aebli Group’s journey into the MedTech space

• Why the TAG Awards are a milestone moment at this year’s show

• What’s in store for attendees this May in New York City

📅 Don’t miss MD&M East, May 20–22 at the Javits Center in NYC.

Experience the energy, the innovation, and the people that make this event so special. Come connect, collaborate, and celebrate with industry leaders—and don’t forget to check out the TAG Awards!

🎧 Tune in and discover how events drive visibility, validation, and velocity for bold new ideas.

👉 Learn more and register: www.mdmeast.com

📬 Questions? Reach out to Steve directly: [email protected]

The TAG Awards are here, and we’re thrilled to introduce one of our esteemed judges—Omar Ford, Editor-in-Chief at MD+DI! In this special episode of the TAG'D: Beyond the Award Podcast, host Justin Starbird sits down with Omar to discuss his incredible career in journalism, his passion for medtech innovation, and why he’s excited to be part of the TAG Awards judging panel.

With years of experience covering groundbreaking advancements in medical technology, Omar has seen firsthand what it takes for a company to stand out. As a respected voice in the industry, he brings deep insight, sharp analysis, and an eye for excellence—making him the perfect addition to the TAG Awards team.

In this episode, Omar shares his thoughts on
📍what makes great marketing
📍why authenticity is key in brand storytelling
📍and what he’ll be looking for in this year’s TAG Award winners!

If you want to learn from one of the best in the business and get an inside look at what it takes to win, this is the episode you won’t want to miss!

Tune in now and get ready for an exciting TAG Awards season!

In the latest episode of TAG’D: Beyond the Award, host Justin Starbird welcomes a longtime friend and industry leader, Rick Curtis, Principal of LAMM Dynamics Group, to the TAG Awards judging panel.

Rick’s career spans over two decades in the MedTech space, where he has played a pivotal role in strategic investments, M&A, and the growth of innovative medical device companies.

Rick shares insights from his experience leading businesses, evaluating partnerships, and positioning companies for success. He emphasizes the importance of making strategic bets on cutting-edge science and building strong, mutually beneficial relationships with customers. His leadership at EirMed, where he guided startups through FDA clearance and into full-scale manufacturing, offers a unique perspective on what makes a company stand out in a competitive industry.

As a TAG Awards judge, Rick is excited to support companies that are pushing the boundaries of innovation. He believes that recognition can be a game-changer, helping early-stage businesses differentiate themselves, attract top talent, and gain credibility with investors.

Tune in to hear Rick’s take on industry trends, the value of strategic partnerships, and why the TAG Awards matter for MedTech pioneers. Listen now!

In this episode of TAG’D: Beyond the Award, host Justin Starbird welcomes Dr. MaryBeth Privitera, a renowned expert in human factors engineering and medical device innovation. As a professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati and Principal of Design and Human Factors at SentiAR, MaryBeth offers a unique perspective on bridging industry and academia.

Key Highlights:

Please tune in to hear MaryBeth’s expert insights and learn what it takes to excel in the ever-evolving world of medtech innovation! You can also read more about Dr. Privtera on our blog at the TAG Awards..

In this episode of TAG'D: Beyond the Award, we welcome Tor Alden, a prominent leader in the MedTech and healthcare innovation industries! Not only is Tor a trailblazer in healthcare, but he also serves as a distinguished judge for the inaugural TAG Awards, an event that recognizes groundbreaking achievements in MedTech. 

Listen as Tor dives deep into the importance of innovation in transforming the healthcare landscape and shares what it takes to make a MedTech project stand out.

Throughout this conversation, Tor highlights key factors that judges look for when evaluating submissions, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the TAG Awards judging process. He also talks about the larger impact of innovation on the healthcare industry and what’s coming next on the horizon. 

Whether you’re a startup, entrepreneur, or industry leader, Tor’s insights are invaluable for anyone passionate about the future of healthcare and MedTech innovation.

Key Takeaways:

Listen in to hear firsthand how recognition and innovation work together to push the boundaries of what’s possible in MedTech. Whether you’re looking for guidance or simply want to learn from one of the best in the industry, this episode is a must-listen!

To read more about Tor, check out our most recent blog featuring his insights as well.