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,...

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...

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 fro...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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 role...

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 p...

In this episode (a replay from earlier this year), we’re diving into how startups think and what we as physicians can learn from their approach to innovation. If you’ve ever wondered how design thinking, rapid iteration, and minimum viable products (MVPs) could reshape healthcare, this episode is for you. We’ll explore how startups thrive on speed, creativity, and disruption, and why adopting thei...

In this episode of the Startup Physicians Podcast , I sit down with Dr. Janene Fuerch , neonatologist, entrepreneur, and Director of the Stanford Biodesign Innovation Fellowship. Janene shares how her path in academic medicine unexpectedly led her to become a leader in healthcare innovation, and how she’s helping other physicians make a broader impact beyond the bedside. We talk about how physicia...

In this episode of Startup Physicians, Dr. Alison Curfman interviews Kevin Baumlin, an emergency physician and Chief Medical Affairs Officer at the Science Center.  They discuss the evolving role of physicians in healthcare startups, the importance of clinical insight in product development, and the various pathways for aspiring founders and advisors in the healthcare space.  Kevin shares his care...

In this episode on Startup Physicians, I had the chance to sit down with Dr. Kieran McLeod, a former emergency physician who made the leap from clinical work in South Africa to building startups in Australia. We first connected on LinkedIn, and this conversation reminded me just how powerful it is when physicians share their ideas publicly. Kieran walks through his early career, how a failed plan...

In this episode on Startup Physicians, I sit down with Dr. Heather Lampel to talk about what it really looks like to move from traditional clinical medicine into the pharmaceutical startup space. Heather shares her story with clarity and honesty. From her roots in clinical genetics to navigating an entirely new industry. We talk about what surprised her, what challenged her, and how she kept learn...

On this episode of Startup Physicians, I interview Dr. Shakira Grant, who shares her remarkable journey from practicing medicine to influencing healthcare policy and AI development. We talk about the importance of health equity and the role physicians must play in shaping AI tools that serve all populations effectively. Shakira reflects on her time in Congress, the challenges of integrating AI in...

One of our most requested episodes — revisiting how Dr. Harris translated frontline insight into healthcare innovation at scale.  Ever wondered how a physician can transition from clinical care to founding a successful digital health startup? In this episode of Startup Physicians , I sit down with Dr. Bronwyn Harris, a pediatric cardiologist turned healthcare innovator. From her early days in biom...

Originally released in March 2025, this episode with Dr. Paige Bhansali remains one of our most downloaded and discussed conversations and we're bringing it back for anyone who missed it. What if you could break out of the traditional physician career path and create a role that blends clinical care with entrepreneurship and innovation? In this episode, I sit down with my friend and colleague...

On this episode of Startup Physicians, I sit down with Dr. CK Wang, a medical oncologist who made the leap from clinical practice into the tech world. We talk about his transition from traditional oncology to leading roles at IBM Watson Health and Coda, where he’s working on some of the most exciting applications of AI in healthcare. CK shares candid reflections on what it really takes to move fro...

On this episode of Startup Physicians, I talk with Dr. Anurag Gupta about his journey from being an emergency physician to founding Tembo Health, a company dedicated to supporting older adults, especially those living with dementia. He shares the role that curiosity has played in his entrepreneurial path, the importance of networking, and his perspective on the ongoing debate around pursuing an MB...

In this episode on Startup Physicians, I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Manju Dawkins, founder of Thimble Health, a company transforming how we manage the physical and emotional stress of needle procedures. Manju shares her journey as a physician entrepreneur, and we dig into the story behind her idea, how she took it from concept to product, and the challenges that come with building some...

In this episode of Startup Physicians , I sit down with Dr. Darren Klugman — a pediatric cardiac intensive care physician who made the leap into health tech innovation. Together, we explore the critical role physician insight plays in shaping successful healthcare startups. Darren shares his own journey from clinical practice to industry, and highlights how his medical expertise and administrative...

In this episode of Startup Physicians, Dr. Liz Clayborne shares her journey from being a medical resident to becoming the CEO and founder of Nasaclip, a medical device company focused on addressing the common issue of nosebleeds. She discusses the importance of identifying problems in clinical practice, the process of developing a medical device, and the significance of intellectual property. Dr....

In this episode, I share three actionable steps for physicians who are curious about stepping into the startup world. First, I talk about the importance of self-discovery., getting clear on your motivations, values, and what truly drives your interest in innovation. Then we explore strategic networking, not just meeting people, but building relationships that align with your goals and values. And...

In this mini episode, I break down the three most common mistakes I see physicians make when stepping into the startup world and how to avoid them. I talk about why it’s so important to understand your real value, what it takes to adopt a true growth mindset, and how to navigate the steep learning curve of entering a completely new space. I’ve made these mistakes myself, and I’ve seen how easily t...