TrainSmart: The Medical Device Educators’ Podcast

In this episode, Liz interviews Holly Scott about organizational effectiveness. In their conversation they discuss how to get "the path of least resistance to get to certain goals." Holly shares the importance of ensuring there are both healthy companies and healthy careers and how the med tech industry can do just that. Related Resources: Holly is Vice President and a Senior Partner at The Mullin...

What do you do if your physician training eLearning module becomes obsolete before the product is even launched? In this episode, Liz and Rachel discuss this exact experience and how they used "simple tech" to create training that could be iterated for the procedure's key learnings. Related Resources: Need someone to help you get creative about training? We'd love to partner with you! Email traini...

It's easy to want a product launch to feature flashy tech tools like VR systems, complex eLearning, or intricate benchtop models. But investing in flashy tech tools too soon can waste time and resources when the procedure is still likely to adapt to key learnings. In this episode, Liz and Rachel discuss what executives should be considering when choosing which tech tools to use in their next produ...

In this episode, Liz and Rachel dive into TechSmith's 2024 Video Viewer Trends Report discussing the key takeaways from the report and how they see these trends in practice - specifically in the MedDevice space. Related Resources: TechSmith's 2024 Video Viewer Trends Report Looking to utilize video in your training in 2025? We'd love to partner with you! Email training@cumbyconsulting.com . Connec...

This month Liz is joined by Matthew Pierce, a video expert from TechSmith! They chat through why video works well for training and their top considerations for creating and using training videos. Matt challenges us to get curious about the videos we watch in order to create the videos we'd like to see. He also shares a lot of great tips for ensuring your video quality is great, even on budget. Rel...

In this episode, Liz and Rachel discuss a recent eLearning product module which needed more updates than anticipated as it tried to keep up with the product's roadmap. As the product continued to develop and release new software, it quickly became apparent that the investment in eLearning wasn't worth it for such a rapidly changing product. Tune in to hear the low budget solution they offered to t...

Executives, as you plan your budget, give training a headcount. Tune in to hear the skills your headcount needs and those they don't. Liz and Rachel discuss how content development and facilitation skills are crucial for the product's success. Related Resources: Need a consultant to set up a future headcount for success? We'd love to partner with you! Email training@cumbyconsulting.com . Connect w...

Have you started your 2025 budget yet? How are you making decisions about where to allocate funds? In this episode, Liz and Rachel discuss what they think companies should think about as they build their budgets for 2025, including which technologies are worth investing in and where companies might be able to cut costs. As always, they return to strategy and ensuring your budget for the coming yea...

This week Liz is joined by Terri Burke, a venture partner, to learn more about how MedTech start ups can and should fundraise. Terri shares what venture capitalists want to know about your value proposition, clinical trial process, technology, pricing strategy, risks, people, and key inflection points. You'll also hear the ways venture capitalists continue to journey with the company after the inv...

In this episode, Liz & Rachel discuss a recent commercial product launch they worked on in partnership with a company and the other consultants the company had hired. During their conversation, they cover their key learnings from the experience and the action steps they (and the company) took to ensure all deliverables were consistent, on-brand, and on time. Related Resources: Preparing for yo...

Once you've approved the budget for a training consultant, how do you choose which one to hire? In this episode, Liz and Rachel discuss questions you can ask to find the best consultant to meet the training needs of your product and your company. They also offer questions for ensuring that the consultant can successfully partner with your organization to create and implement a new training pro...

In this episode, Liz and Rachel discuss five types of internal bias that may be present as you develop a training strategy and how to overcome that bias - using consultants. Becoming aware of these biases can help you push past "the way we've always done it" to create effective and engaging training. Related Resources: Need someone to help you uncover your internal biases? We'd l...

In this episode, Liz is joined by Holley Proctor Miller of Grey Matter Marketing to discuss the ways consultants can positively impact medtech organizations. In this episode, you'll hear how consultants can overcome bias and save you time. Liz and Holley also explain why hiring a medtech consultant is a longer-term investment for your company, not a one-time business expense, and what you shou...

In this episode, Liz and Rachel share a recent experience working with a large, global, capital equipment organization to create a unified training strategy. The company had multiple business units in multiple regions - all working in silos to develop training content, which was focused on the products' features, but lacked any explanation of their benefits. Through interviews, meetings with a...

Executives, this one's for you! Listen in as Liz and Rachel discuss the prime time to set a training strategy for your launch whether you're working with external consultants or building it internally. They'll discuss why it's so important to give this strategy development the time and resources needed to be creative and strategic in the development process. Related Resources: Need...

The Lippitt-Knoster Model for Managing Complex Change explains the six elements required for successful change: vision, consensus, skills, incentives, resources, and an action plan. In this episode, Liz and Rachel discuss the model and the results if just one element is missing. Throughout their conversation, you'll hear how this model can help ensure a successful med device product launch. Re...

In this episode, Liz is joined by Monica Campbell, Sr. Director of Pain Interventions Medical Education and Sales Training at Medtronic. They discuss how having a clear strategy gives teams a clear direction, permission to say no, and reasons to celebrate. Tune in to hear more about the development of training strategies, how to respond when they change, and how to best share them with key stakeho...

How can we put testing measures in place to ensure we are achieving competency? One of our clients recently faced this same question. In today's episode, Liz & Rachel walk through the process of creating unbiased assessments, gaining key stakeholder alignment and using a 3-pronged testing approach - all of which resulted in a more confident and competent sales team. Related Resources: Need...

Executives, you have the power to set your assessment culture! In this episode, Liz and Rachel discuss their high expectations for rep assessments, the importance of developing assessments that ensure patient safety and procedural consistency, and the keys for building a culture that understands and supports your assessment culture. Related Resources: Need someone to work with your physicians to g...

Join us as we discuss Miller's Pyramid of Clinical Competency (1990) which is still used in medical schools today. Milller's Pyramid recognizes that a physicians ability to DO the task in actual practice is much more significant than their ability to KNOW the facts. Listen in as Rachel and Liz discuss each level of the pyramid and the ways Cumby Consulting's training programs seek to a...

We're so happy to have Dr. Kathy E. Magliato MD, MBA, FACS on the podcast this week. In addition to being one of the few female cardiothoracic surgeons in the world, she is also an entrepreneur, a NY Times Bestselling author, and a nationally recognized media expert on heart disease (fun fact, she helped characters on a pretty popular medical TV show). She has a wealth of knowledge and the tra...

Have you ever asked a physician to provide you with a case study, and then, upon receiving it the night before you needed it, found out it didn't include what you needed? In this episode, Liz and Rachel discuss how providing physicians with a case study template gave our client the content they needed - in a way they needed it for an upcoming advanced eLearning course. Tune in to hear how know...

It's easy for an external or physician training to become crowded with internal employees who want to observe or learn. But how does that effect the learning environment? In this episode, Liz and Rachel discuss the implications of crowding external training with internal employees and the questions you should ask before inviting your internal employees. Related Resources: Need a partner you ca...

In this episode, Liz and Rachel discuss how to coach KOLs to prevent information overload by discussing John Sweller's Cognitive Load Theory. Tune in for their tips on managing the intrinsic load of the content while improving the germane load through presenting the information with existing schema. Finally, learn how to reduce the extraneous load which may distract from the learning. Related...

This month we're joined on the TrainSmart Podcast by Dr. Melynda Barnes. As a a double board-certified Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and Otolaryngologist and Chief Medical Officer at Ro, Dr. Barnes brings a wealth of perspective on physician training, how to best coach physician faculty, and the value of a medical device rep. Tune in for great insight, encouragement, and inspiratio...