Growth Plates

You've all spent plenty of time seeing orthopaedic implants used in their final form. But where do these things come from? And how are they made? What you see in the ORis a polished implant, but behind that device is a hidden, high-stakes journey where one broken link in the chain can delay care and alter outcomes. In this episode, Gary Thomas, SVP of Manufacturing at Onkos Surgical, takes us...

Every dollar, device, and decision in healthcare is shaped by a committee most people never think about: the value analysis committee. In this episode, supply chain leader Angelique Beslic and industry veteran Mark Copeland pull back the curtain on how these groups operate, from balancing cost, quality, and outcomes to navigating physician preferences and vendor relationships. They reveal why valu...

Surgeon Reimbursement isn’t just about cutting checks; it’s about understanding the hidden economy that drives surgical decisions. In this episode, Dr. Arjun Saxena, orthopedic surgeon and physician partner at the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, takes us inside the complex world of surgeon pay structures. We uncover how RVUs actually work, the role ofancillary revenue streams, and the game-changing...

Is marketing just the team that makes flyers and books dinners? Not even close. In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Michael Rhee, a veteran marketing leader in the orthopedic industry, to unpack the real power and complexity of marketing within MedTech. From shapingproduct roadmaps before R&D sketches a single concept to driving launch strategies and guiding resource allocation, mark...

What happens when a brilliant medical device gets regulatory approval but no one will pay for it? That’s the reality for countless innovations that overlook one critical factor: reimbursement. In this eye-opening episode, Jo Devers, partner at JD Lyman, breaks down the true meaning of reimbursement and why it’s far more complex than most realize. From coding and coverage to payment and policy, you...

What if the biggest barrier to medical innovation isn’t science, but everything around it? In this episode, veteran R&D leader Kyle Lapin unpacks the hidden friction behind getting orthopedic devices from sketch to surgery. He exposes why most ideas never make it, how red tape quietly kills progress, and why solving the right problem is more radical than inventing the next “big thing.” We move...

You’ve read the studies. You’ve shared the articles. But have you ever paused to question what kind of evidence you’re putting in front of your customers? In this conversation, clinical affairs expert Erin Mundstock shares insight into a part of an orthopaedic business that is frequently misunderstood by sales professionals. Erin will help describe why not all evidence is equal, why randomized tri...

What if the reason a medical device fails isn’t bad design, but a communication gap? In this episode, we dig into a topic often overlooked but absolutely critical: quality in MedTech. Patrick is joined by Travis Christman of Priority Medical, a problem solver at heart with deep expertise in ensuring that medical devices don’t just meet regulations, but truly meet patient needs. With insights from...

Ever wondered why some medical devices make it to market while others disappear into oblivion? Why some "game changing" innovations take years or decades to get approved? It all comes down to one often misunderstood word: Regulatory. In this episode, we dive into the real story behind regulatory affairs with Christine Scifert, Partner at MRC Global, and Al Nanni, Founder of North MedTech...

The orthopedic sales world is demanding . Knowing your product specs isn’t enough if you want to stand out and build a long-lasting career. But where do you go to truly understand the bigger picture of the MedTech industry, beyond the operating room and daily quotas? Growth Plates Podcast is designed to answer exactly that. In this episode, you'll learn what this show is all about: providing o...