The Medical Alley Podcast (Presented by MentorMate)

On this episode of The Medical Alley Podcast, we chat with Will Geist , the President of the Protein Sciences Segment at Bio-Techne.  Will talks about finding causes that have driven him throughout his career, the future of funding in the bio-tech space, how Bio-Techne is developing new and exciting innovations, and much more. Send us a message! Follow Medical Alley on social media on LinkedIn , F...

Mitch Chepokas was a nine-year-old boy with Osteosarcoma, a gargantuan heart, and a dream to selflessly give to other families fighting their own childhood cancer battles. But Mitch knew he wouldn't be able to give for long, so he made a pinky swear promise with his dad to carry on that spirit of support long after he was gone. And that's exactly what Pinky Swear Foundation has done ever...

Recorded live at the Medical Alley 2025 Summit, this panel discussion explores the landscape of women's health from many angles and how it goes far beyond so-called bikini medicine. Featuring:  Roberta Antoine Dressen (President & CEO, Medical Alley), Stephanie Sassman (Portfolio Leader, Women's Health, Genentech), Kathy Tune (Co-Founder & Board Chair of Marani Health, Managing P...

On today's episode of The Medical Alley Podcast, we welcome Francis Medical 's President and CEO Mike Kujak . Named after the founder of the company's father who went through his own cancer journey, Francis Medical is on a mission to develop urological cancer treatments that are, "tough on cancer yet gentle on patients." In this conversation, Mike talks about that mission,...

Recorded live at the Medical Alley 2025 Summit, this panel discussion explores how innovation is driving efficiency, enabling transformative solutions, and redefining care delivery models to meet the evolving needs of patients and healthcare systems. Featuring:  Jodi Hubler (Board Director, Gratum Ventures), Will Geist (President, Protein Sciences Segment, Bio-Techne), Jaclyn Wainwright (Co-Founde...

On this episode of The Medical Alley Podcast, we speak with Medrio CEO Nicole Latimer . Nicole dives into her professional journey, how Medrio specializes in cloud-based electronic data capture solutions designed to accelerate clinical trials, and how modern technology and data solutions are reshaping the clinical trial process. Send us a message! Follow Medical Alley on social media on LinkedIn ,...

On this episode of The Medical Alley Podcast, we have a conversation with Wayne Paterson , CEO and Managing Director of Anteris Technologies. In late December of 2024, Anteris Technologies launched an IPO to support the development of DurAVR, a Transcatheter Heart Valve (THV) designed to treat aortic stenosis. Wayne discusses the IPO and DurAVR’s development, the future of Anteris Technologies, an...

On this episode of The Medical Alley Podcast, we have a conversation with Jon Solberg , Business Development Manager of Pepin Manufacturing.  Family-owned for more than three decades, Pepin Manufacturing has a long Minnesota history of fulfilling its promise of providing solutions for OEMs. Whether that's taking a CAD file and finding the sweet spots for improvement or collaborating with an O...

On this episode of The Medical Alley Podcast, we have a discussion with Dr. Ray Baker , Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Neuromodulation, for Boston Scientific. Dr. Baker entered the medical field for a single reason—the opportunity to help people—and that’s exactly what he’s done throughout his storied professional journey. Now, through the work Boston Scientific and Dr. Baker is doing w...

On this episode of The Medical Alley Podcast, we sit down with Scott Drikakis , VP Global Sales and Marketing of Intricon .  Intricon specializes in the manufacture of miniature, wearable medical devices. While a lot of what the company does may be small, the impact of its products is huge. We talk with Scott about his journey to Intricon, the company's dedication to improving patient outcome...

On this episode of The Medical Alley Podcast, we chat with Stephanie Kent , the President & CEO of Carbon Medical Technologies (CMT). Stephanie details how her professional experience allows her to ask the right questions, CMT's work with pyrolytic carbon in the medical device sector (including its Durosphere product), how CMT navigates regulatory challenges when bringing products to mark...

On this episode of The Medical Alley Podcast, industry experts share insights on improving patient outcomes, enhancing operational efficiency, and driving market success. Panelists from S3 Connected Health, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, and Vocxi Health discuss the promise of smart implantable and wearable medical devices, specific challenges and how to tackle them, and developing a winning data s...

On this episode of The Medical Alley Podcast, host Ben Wagner sits down with two experts in the sustainability field from long-time industry leader CMTA .  Brent Wavra (Principal & Director of Business Development) and Stephen Westerback (Mechanical Engineer) shed light on sustainability and decarbonization in healthcare facilities, the main drivers pushing the industry toward sustainability,...

For some patients, clinical trials represent a chance to battle their ailment with cutting edge—and potentially lifesaving—treatments and technologies. But access to innovation can be rife with delays, red tape, and other challenges. That’s why Heidi Dieter , Chief Research Administrator at Mayo Clinic, is on a mission to develop new strategies to help streamline the path to participating in clini...

“As a society, we can no longer afford the human and economic cost of not putting more emphasis on the health of women.” -- Stephanie Sassman  “Bikini medicine,” the assumption that a woman's health and wellbeing is the same as a man’s except for the parts that are covered by a bikini, is woefully misguided. On this episode of The Medical Alley Podcast, Melinda Morimoto (Sr. Benefits Director...

Curt Bludworth knows firsthand the importance of hospice care—his own father was the recipient of the special blend of kindness and compassion only hospice nurses can provide.   Now in his role as Chief Human Resources Officer for St. Croix Hospice , Curt reflects on that experience often as he helps guide the company in its simple-yet-crucial mission to, “go into communities where we’re needed.” ...

On this episode of The Medical Alley Podcast, we welcome Peter Glessing , Medical Alley's Senior Director of Government Affairs & Communications, to discuss election results at both the state and federal level. Peter offers insights into how the evolving political landscape may impact Medical Alley Partners, the broader ecosystem, and key policy priorities. He discusses what these shifts...

Joel Theisen is not a fan of the word "care," but that's not because he doesn't have a lot of it. As an RN, he saw firsthand the shortcomings of the healthcare system in the United States, and that's why he's on a mission with his company, Lifespark, to reimagine it.  Referring to Lifespark as the "anti-care" company, Joel instead chooses to laser focus on h...

In this episode of The Medical Alley Podcast, we chat with Mitch Foley , VP of Stryker ENT. Mitch talks about Stryker's presence in the Twin Cities, its ongoing to mission to bring new products while reimagining how ENT care can be delivered, and advice for professionals looking to take their career to new levels. Send us a message! Follow Medical Alley on social media on LinkedIn , Facebook...

In this episode of the Medical Alley Podcast, host Ben Wagner talks to Technical Manger Jason Longhorn of Element Materials Technology. The conversation runs the gamut from the role Element plays in the medical testing market, COVID-19 and the ongoing recovery of the industry, the use of Ethylene oxide (EtO) in sterilization (and potential alternatives), and more. Send us a message! Follow Medical...

On this episode of the Medical Alley Podcast, we're coming to you live (at least at the time of recording) from the floor of MD&M Minneapolis, a premier medtech and medical manufacturing convention. In a series of short interviews, host Ben Wagner talks with guests about what conversations were happening between major companies, how each company is helping transform healthcare in its own...

Navigating the complexities of groundbreaking treatments can create headwinds. With innovations like Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) at the forefront, challenges such as financial uncertainties, regulatory shifts, and global adoption become paramount. Join us for an insightful discussion on how global partners address these challenges, focusing on safety & efficacy, financial impacts, and clinical...

In this episode of the Medical Alley Podcast, host Ben Wagner looks into the future of 3D-printed healthcare with Amy Alexander, Unit Head, Mechanical Development & Applied Computational Engineering at Mayo Clinic. From custom prosthetics and implants to sharpening the accuracy of medical devices, 3D-printed technology is (literally) reshaping the landscape of healthcare. Amy shares her expert...

In this episode of the Medical Alley Podcast, host Ben Wagner sits down with Jessica Sylvester, founder and CEO of Humla Health , to explore how her innovative platform is transforming nurse staffing in the healthcare industry.  Jessica shares her deeply personal journey from working as a nurse to creating a tech-driven solution that empowers nurses and healthcare facilities alike. We discuss the...

Medical device companies often lag behind other industries in adopting advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), to digitally transform their organizations throughout the total product life cycle. In this episode of the Medical Alley Podcast, experts from MDIC, FDA, and more, share their insights on the current landscape of digital transformation in the medical device industry a...