BackTable Innovation

In this episode of the BackTable Innovation Podcast, host Dr. Bryan Hartley interviews Dr. Stephen Pomeranz, founder and CEO of ProScan Imaging, co-founder of Medality (formerly MRI Online), and a pioneering radiologist in MRI technology. This is the second part of a two-episode series on ProScan. --- SYNPOSIS The doctors discuss the growth and evolution of ProScan Imaging, including Dr. Pomeranz’a personal journey to becoming an entrepreneur, as well as business strategies that have led to ProScan’s success. Dr. Pomeranz describes the business’s unique physician-owned structure, which allows physicians to team up and directly invest in tangible assets of technology and real estate. Additionally, a core principle of ProScan’s business has been an emphasis on service excellence, which has been made possible by recruitment of hospitality leaders. Overall, this episode highlights the importance of high-quality patient care, learning from other industries, and the significance of finding mentors and the right business model for aspiring physician entrepreneurs. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast 04:58 - Service Excellence and Scaling Up 12:09 - Technology Investment Opportunities for Physicians 21:37 - Teaching within the Private Practice Sphere 27:40 - Job Flexibility and Investment Opportunities Within ProScan 35:14 - Advice for Early Stage Entrepreneurs 38:19 - Future Endeavors for ProScan 43:18 - Episode Summary and Final Thoughts --- RESOURCES BackTable Innovation Episode 75- ProScan’s Path: Medical Expertise to Business Success Part 1: https://www.backtable.com/shows/innovation/podcasts/75/proscans-path-medical-expertise-to-business-success-part-1-with-dr-stephen-j-pomeranz ProScan Imaging: https://proscan.com/ MRI Total Body Atlas by Stephen J. Pomeranz: https://www.amazon.com/Total-Body-Atlas-Stephen-Pomeranz/dp/1882576063 Medality: https://medality.com/

This episode of the Back Table Podcast features Dr. Stephen Pomeranz, a trailblazing radiologist who shares his journey from taking over a struggling medical practice to founding ProScan Imaging, one of the leading imaging centers in the country. --- SYNPOSIS Dr. Pomeranz discusses his early motivations for entering the field of radiology, his initial opportunity to learn about MRI in its early stages, and his unexpected but rewarding path to starting his own imaging company. He recounts obstacles of overcoming professional challenges, including dealing with resource limitations and navigating financial risks, during his mission to provide more patient-centered and efficient care. Dr. Pomeranz also describes how he built networks based on his connections with radiologists all over the world, non-physician providers trained in radiology, and business partners. We end by discussing Dr. Pomerantz’s philanthropic efforts, his perspective on the integration of AI, and the importance of a growth mindset in transforming patient care. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 01:03 - Dr. Pomertanz’s Early Career and MRI Education 09:30 - Quality Patient Care with Independent Practice 13:22 - The Beginning and Expansion of ProScan 19:42 - Thoughts on the Future of Radiology 23:42 - Integrating Non-Physician Providers in Radiology 28:50 - Structured Training Within Radiology Practices 34:21 - Philanthropic Endeavors and Reflections --- RESOURCES ProScan Imaging: https://proscan.com/ MRI Total Body Atlas by Stephen J. Pomeranz: https://www.amazon.com/Total-Body-Atlas-Stephen-Pomeranz/dp/1882576063

In this episode, host Dr. Bryan Hartley takes us on a deep dive into the origin story and mission of Pulmera, a medtech company dedicated to transforming the field of bronchoscopic lung cancer diagnosis by retrofitting existing fluoroscopy machines into cone beam CT-like scanners. Dr. Hartley is a vascular and interventional radiologist and co-founded Pulmera, alongside interventional pulmonologist Dr. Harmeet Bedi at Stanford. Pulmera is developing a novel approach to enhance physicians’ ability to diagnose lung nodules accurately through innovative technology. Dr. Hartley shares insights into the challenges of existing diagnostic methods, the inspiration behind Pulmera, and the technology’s potential to combine the best of 3D imaging and endoscopy techniques. Dr. Hartley discusses the benefits for both patients and physicians, such as improved diagnostic yields and patient outcomes, and introduces an investment opportunity for the BackTable community to be part of this revolutionary project. The episode also explores the broader implications of this technology across various medical specialties beyond pulmonology. --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 - Introduction 02:18 - Personal Journey: From Vanderbilt to Stanford Biodesign 06:11 - Pulmera’s Mission: Enhancing Diagnostic Accuracy in Lung Biopsies 15:02 - Introducing a Game-Changing Technology for Bronchoscopic Procedures 22:09 - Challenges and Breakthroughs in Portable CT Imaging 27:44 - Economic Impact of Enhanced Diagnostic Procedures 29:48 - Building a Team and Securing Funding for Innovation 31:30 - Understanding Investment Opportunities and Equity Financing --- RESOURCES Dr. Bryan Hartley’s email: bryan.hartley@pulmera.com Dr. Bryan Hartley’s cell: 423-432-0612 Pulmera: http://www.pulmera.com/ Stanford Biodesign Fellowship: https://biodesign.stanford.edu/programs/fellowships/innovation-fellowships.html BackTable Innovation Episode #1 - Needs Driven Innovation with Dr. Todd Brinton (Stanford BioDesign): https://www.backtable.com/shows/innovation/podcasts/1/needs-driven-innovation BackTable Innovation Episode #30 - Host Stories with Dr. Bryan Hartley and Dr. Eric Gantwerker (Stanford BioDesign): https://www.backtable.com/shows/innovation/podcasts/30/host-stories BackTable VI Episode #422 - Pathology 101: Solid Advice for Percutaneous Biopsies with Dr. Andrew Sholl: https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/422/pathology-101-solid-advice-for-percutaneous-biopsies

In this episode, Dr. Matthew Lungren discusses the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, sharing insights into large language models, deep learning, and machine learning in improving patient care, enhancing clinical workflows, and optimizing medical research. Dr. Lungren is a pediatric diagnostic and interventional radiologist, and the Chief Data Science Officer at Microsoft Health and Life Sciences. He advocates for a future where AI acts as a tool for healthcare professionals, allowing them to devote more time to patient care rather than administrative tasks. Additionally, the discussion explores concerns such as AI’s impact on employment and interactions with insurance companies, while presenting resources for healthcare professionals to engage with and learn about AI technologies actively. --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 - Introduction 03:00 - The Journey to AI Expertise: Dr. Lungren’s Story 05:48 - Decoding AI: From Basics to Large Language Models 13:07 - AI’s Impact on Healthcare and Beyond 15:57 - Exploring AI’s Potential in Content Creation and Clinical Efficiency 20:22 - The Future of AI in Healthcare: Opportunities and Challenges 25:27 - Leveraging AI for Diagnostic Radiology and Beyond 27:42 - The Transformative Potential of Generative AI in Healthcare 33:40 - Addressing Concerns: AI’s Role in Insurance and Patient Advocacy 36:41 - Empowering Healthcare Professionals with AI: Practical Applications and Future Outlook --- RESOURCES Fundamentals of Machine Learning for Healthcare - Stanford University Coursera Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/fundamental-machine-learning-healthcare Dr. Matt Lungren’s LinkedIn Learning Course on Generative AI: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/an-introduction-to-how-generative-ai-will-transform-healthcare/introduction-to-generative-ai-in-healthcare DeepLearning.AI Website (Professor Andrew Ng): https://www.deeplearning.ai/ Fast.AI Website (Professor Jeremy Howard): https://www.fast.ai/ Professor Jeremy Howard YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@howardjeremyp/featured Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMMS) Meeting: https://www.himssconference.com/en/homepage.html

In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, host Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews guest Dr. Ramsey Al-Hakim about the inception and journey of Auxetics, a med-tech company innovating in the vein stent market. Dr. Al-Hakim is the co-founder of Auxetics and the Section Chief of the Division of Interventional Radiology at Scripps Hospital in San Diego, CA. Dr. Al-Hakim covers the initial challenges of understanding the market and securing capital, the clinical significance of addressing stent-adjacent stenosis, and the process of developing a stent with a negative Poisson effect to counteract it. Dr. Al-Hakim highlights Auxetics' approach to combining cutting-edge interventional technologies with world-class imaging tools for enhanced procedural efficiency in venous interventions. The company’s progress through benchtop work, animal testing, and plans for first-in-human studies outside the U.S., aiming for commercialization within the next four to five years, is also outlined. Contributions from key figures in the vascular community and the role of mentorship and perseverance in navigating the complexities of medical device innovation are discussed as well. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/ Reflow Medical https://www.reflowmedical.com/ --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 - Introduction 03:11 - The Market and Problem Solving 12:13 - Journey of Creating a Stent 22:28 - Birth of Auxetics 26:53 - Learning Process and Support from the University 29:16 - Building the Dream Team 33:01 - Starting a Company 36:42 - Challenges and Triumphs of Fundraising 37:44 - Current Status and Future Plans 45:32 - Importance of Community and Mentorship --- RESOURCES Auxetics: https://www.auxeticsinc.com In-stent restenosis and stent compression following stenting for chronic iliofemoral venous obstruction: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34174500/ Venous Stenosis Animal Model Utilizing Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30717966/ The Messy Middle: Finding Your Way Through the Hardest and Most Crucial Part of Any Bold Venture: https://www.amazon.com/Messy-Middle-Finding-Through-Hardest/dp/0735218072

In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, host Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews guest Dr. John Qiao about exploration of physicians’ role in medical innovation, particularly among interventional radiologists. Dr. Qiao shares insightful information about the origin of RadioClash and details his journey as an entrepreneur. Through this discussion, Dr. Qiao covers the challenges encountered during the startup phase, the invention of a single-probe electroporation device, and the future applications of this novel medical technology. The episode concludes with broader advice on how to manage the demands of professional work, entrepreneurship, and personal life. --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 - Introduction 02:39 - Dr. Qiao’s Journey into Medicine and Entrepreneurship 11:40 - Birth of Radioclash: A Unique Solution for Cancer Treatment 17:58 - Future of RadioClash: Targeting Metastatic Cancer 25:20 - Future of Electroporation Therapy 35:21 - Challenges of Building a Company 44:37 - Path to Market and Future Plans 47:28 - Balancing Clinical Practice and Entrepreneurship --- RESOURCES RadioClash website: https://www.radioclash.co/ News Article on Dr. John Qiao: https://voyagehouston.com/interview/meet-john-qiao-m-d-of-radioclash-ltd-co/ Radiation Therapy as a Modality to Create Abscopal Effects: Current and Future Practices: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7086111/ The Abscopal Effect: A Reemerging Field of Interest: https://ascopost.com/issues/november-25-2018/the-abscopal-effect-a-reemerging-field-of-interest/ BackTable VI Episode #402 - Immunotherapy in HCC: Evolving Treatment Paradigms: https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/402/immunotherapy-in-hcc-evolving-treatment-paradigms Tavo and Pembrolizumab in Patients With Stage III/​IV Melanoma Progressing on Either Pembrolizumab or Nivolumab Treatment (Keynote-695): https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03132675 PANFIRE-3 Trial: Assessing Safety and Efficacy of Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) + Nivolumab + CpG for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04612530 Radiofrequency Ablation for the Palliative Treatment of Bone Metastases: Outcomes from the Multicenter OsteoCool Tumor Ablation Post-Market Study (OPuS One Study) in 100 Patients: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33129427/ The improvement of irreversible electroporation therapy using saline-irrigated electrodes: a theoretical study (Northwestern study): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21728392/ Irreversible electroporation reverses resistance to immune checkpoint blockade in pancreatic cancer: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-08782-1

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews Dr. Patrick Neville, a vascular surgeon and entrepreneur. Dr. Neville shares his journey of identifying a clinical problem and developing a solution, which culminated in the innovation of Wire Watch, a tool designed for efficient wire management during endovascular cases. Dr. Neville discusses the importance of believing in your solutions, the need for persistence, and the value of strategic partnerships in navigating the startup process. His partnership with the engineering firm BioTex led to the development of a simple product that is now used in cases by interventionalists across multiple specialties. --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 - Introduction 02:12 - Recognizing the Importance of Wire Management 06:42 - Partnership in Product Development 09:14 - Wire Watch in Action: User Experience 16:15 - Cost Savings and Clinical Adoption 22:44 - Mindset for Approaching Device Innovation --- RESOURCES Wire Watch: https://www.biotexmedical.com/wirewatch/ BioTex Medical: https://www.biotexmedical.com/

In this episode of the Back Table Innovation Podcast, host Dr. Diana Velazquez-Pimentel, a radiologist and biomedical engineer, chats with Dr. Alim Mitha about the novel idea of biodegradable flow diverters and the future of interventional neuroradiology. Dr. Mitha is a cerebrovascular, endovascular, and skull base neurosurgeon and biomedical engineer at the University of Calgary. During his neurosurgery residency, Dr. Mitha also completed a master’s degree in biomedical engineering. Afterwards, he pursued additional fellowships in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery, as well as endovascular neurosurgery. Since then, he has started a research lab focused on tissue engineering and biomedical device development. He explains the role of flow diverters and how they are used to guide blood flow away from the intracranial aneurysms. While flow diverters have been applied to treatment of many different types of aneurysms, Dr. Mitha notes that these devices carry thrombogenic risks. During his training, he saw that it was not preferable to deploy a flow diverter in a young patient who would have to remain on antiplatelet therapy for the rest of their life. As a result, Dr. Mitha began to develop a polymer-based biodegradable flow diverter that could be absorbed by the body after the aneurysm had been occluded, in addition to being visible on non-invasive imaging. He explains the process of building a prototype, incorporating a company, joining a start-up incubator, and now performing first in-human-clinical trials. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR RADPAD® Radiation Protection https://www.radpad.com/ --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 Introduction 03:05 Understanding the Role of Flow Diverters 08:17 The Conception of a Biodegradable Flow Diverter 11:35 The Challenges and Successes in Prototyping 13:53 A Path Towards Commercialization 16:10 Considerations for Clinical Adoption 24:00 Developing Skills for Engineering and Entrepreneurship 27:29 First-In-Human Trials and Early Feedback 30:36 Innovating Within the University of Calgary --- RESOURCES University of Calgary Creative Destruction Lab: https://creativedestructionlab.com/locations/calgary/ The Brain Conferences: https://www.fens.org/meetings/the-brain-conferences

In this episode, interventional radiologist Dr. Bryan Hartley interviews Dr. Woojin Kim, a musculoskeletal radiologist and serial entrepreneur. Dr. Kim is a musculoskeletal (MSK) radiologist with a background in imaging informatics and a founder of three companies. He outlines his journey, from his early life as an immigrant in the US to his entrepreneurial successes in the field of radiology. Dr. Kim shares the processes, challenges, and lessons learned from founding and exiting three different startups. As an MSK fellow, he developed Yottalook, a search engine for radiology images, which eventually became his first company, iVirtual. After a brief time working in private practice, he returned to academia and co-founded his second company, Montage, a radiology search and data mining tool that offers clinical and operational analytics. Later on, he entered the artificial intelligence (AI) space and co-founded Equium, an application for radiology resource and staffing optimization. In recent years, Dr. Kim has shifted his focus to non-interpretive AI, a field that is centered around streamlining the radiologist’s workflow and improving work-life balance. Throughout the episode, Dr. Kim shares advice for other entrepreneurs. He highlights the importance of building companies with good co-founders whose skills and experiences complement each other. He also encourages listeners to look at other industries and network to gain ideas about how to improve their own fields. Finally, he emphasizes that companies that are looking to be acquired should demonstrate adequate knowledge over return on investment, total cost of ownership, and regulatory requirements. --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 - Introduction 01:35 - Dr. Woojin Kim’s Medical Training 05:11 - Developing an Interest in Informatics 11:04 - Creating Yottalook and iVirtuoso 17:00 - Building Montage Healthcare Solutions 24:45 - Acquisition of Montage and Working for Nuance 27:33 - Leveraging AI for Resource Optimization 32:58 - Rad AI and the Impact of Noninterpretive AI 41:24 - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs --- RESOURCES Rad AI: https://www.radai.com/ Equium: https://www.equium.io/ Nuance: https://www.nuance.com/index.html

In this episode of Back Table ENT, host Dr. Gopi Shah explores the entrepreneurial journey of Dr. Rohan Walvekar, an otolaryngologist at Louisiana State University-New Orleans and innovator/CEO of nDorse, a team engagement software application. Dr. Walvekar shares his experience in launching ‘nDorse’ — his novel team engagement software designed for healthcare providers. This idea was sparked from his realization that daily contributions and positivity within the healthcare space could be better recognized with real time feedback. He noticed that hospital nursing turnover was high, which could have been attributed to insufficient engagement and connection with coworkers. The nDorse software application can be used by anyone in an organization and allows users to post meaningful recognitions (via messages, emojis, pictures, GIFs) for their coworkers, with the ability to tag recognitions to the organization’s specific mission and values. Since its implementation, nDorse has been adopted even in various educational and financial institutional settings. Dr. Walvekar describes his journey to creating the application, including the software building process, initial sales, mentors, and the nDorse team. He also offers advice for physician entrepreneurs about being thoughtful with innovation and resilience in the startup sphere. --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 02:46 A Focus on Real Time Recognition for Coworkers 04:48 Introduction to nDorse: A Team Engagement Software 13:06 Market Research and a Minimum Viable Product 20:16 Product Launch and First Customers 23:04 Financing the Project 26:03 Pitching to New Clients 29:00 Team Members and Mentors 31:44 Balancing Innovation with Clinical Practice 36:20 Challenges During the Entrepreneurship Journey --- RESOURCES nDorse: https://www.ndorse.net/ BackTable ENT Ep. 115- Management of the Plunging Ranula: https://www.backtable.com/shows/ent/podcasts/115/management-of-the-plunging-ranula Healthcare Plus Solutions Group: https://healthcareplussg.com/

In this episode, Dr. Eric Gantwerker and Dr. Nilesh Vasan, Founder/CEO of Adroit Surgical and Head & Neck Surgeon at University of Oklahoma (OU Health), discuss the development of Adroit Surgical. --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn free AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/4Wi8D5 --- SHOW NOTES First, Dr. Vasan describes his surgical training and lifelong passion for invention. Originally from New Zealand, Dr. Vasan completed a head & neck fellowship at OU Health. His surgical experience includes private and academic practice. During his time in private practice, Dr. Vasan worked on interdisciplinary teams to manage difficult airways. He credits this experience with sparking his interest in developing better tools for intubation. Next, Dr. Gantwerker and Dr. Vasan review the development of Adroit Surgical’s first product, the Vie-Scope. The battery-powered Vie-Scope combines superior visualization with portability to facilitate intubation across settings. Hoping to improve visualization during hand-held laryngoscopy, Dr. Vasan sketched a modified anterior commissure laryngoscope that would become the Vie-Scope. He then worked with an experienced patent attorney who helped him develop and notarize his innovation. Then, the surgeons cover advice to building networks. A pitch competition in Oklahoma City connected Dr. Vasan with associates whose complementary expertise helped grow Adroit Surgical. Dr. Vasan then worked alongside a well-connected distributor who raised awareness of the Vie-Scope in his target markets. Today, the Vie-Scope enables successful first-pass intubation in emergent and operating room settings. --- RESOURCES Adroit Surgical: https://adroitsurgical.com/ “Crossing the Chasm” by Geoffrey Moore https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-3rd-Disruptive-Mainstream/dp/0062292986 “Creativity, Inc: Overcoming the Unseen Forces that Stand in the Way of True Innovation” Ed Catmull & Amy Wallace https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Overcoming-Unseen-Inspiration/dp/0812993012

In this episode, host Dr. Dana Dunleavy interviews NFL player Taylor Rapp and neurointerventional radiologist Dr. Wayne Olan about the role of the Q collar in safeguarding the brain from impact. --- SHOW NOTES Taylor Rapp, a native of Washington state, pursued his college education at the University of Washington, where he also played football. He was later drafted by the LA Rams and played for them for a few years. Recently, Taylor made a move to Buffalo, NY, and now plays safety for the Buffalo Bills. He recounts his brain injury and severe concussion in 2021 while he was playing for the LA Rams. Later on, he heard about the Q collar from his agent and subsequently incorporated it into his gear in the following season. Dr. Olan discusses the origin of the Q collar, which was initially developed in the military to protect and minimize brain movement. He highlights a study from St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital where the role of the Q collar was examined utilizing Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), a type of MRI technique that specifically examines the white matter tract. Within a cohort of 500 athletes, 77% of athletes who wore the Q collage showed no evidence of shear injury whereas 73% of athletes who did not wear the collar showed gray-white matter shearing injury. He further discusses the mechanism by which the Q collar protects the brain from injury. It stabilizes the brain and minimizes movement by decreasing venous return to the brain by 30%, which he compares to wearing a necktie. He makes an important distinction that the Q collar does not occlude venous return, therefore, does not have significant clinical adverse effects. They end the episode by advocating for the significance of educating younger athletes about the risks of contact sports and enhancing safety across all sports. --- RESOURCES Neck Collar with Mild Jugular Vein Compression Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28437225/

In this episode, host Dr. Jose Silva speaks with Dr. Duke Herrell, CEO and CMO of Virtuoso Surgical, a robotic surgery tool known for its exceptional dexterity and precision. --- SHOW NOTES Dr. Duke Herrell is a minimally invasive urologic surgeon and professor at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Herrell came to Vanderbilt for his surgical fellowship, where he met Bob Webster, a mechanical engineer who had developed concentric tube robots made out of an elastic metal. Together, they worked to form the metal into curves that could create a tentacle-like motion for clinical applications. Over the next 15 years, Dr. Herrell and three co-founders started their company, Virtuoso Surgical, and received grant funding to move forward with their startup. The surgical device features two 1-millimeter dextrous tools inserted through a rigid scope that is capable of carrying a versatile array of instruments. The device is currently intended for the urologic procedures including removal and enucleation of prostate tissue, bladder lesion removal and sampling, and transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT). Notably, the device addresses a critical issue in tumor staging by improving the accuracy of margin determination, which is a game-changer for the 50% of TURBT procedures that yield specimens lacking muscle or clear margin information. Beyond urology, the device has the potential to improve other surgical procedures that utilize a rigid scope in a constrained environment including pulmonology, neurosurgery, and ENT interventions. Dr. Herrell and his team are also developing EndoTheia, a micromachine instrument that functions as a steerable catheter, specifically designed for flexible ureteroscopy. This device is currently in the verification and validation phase. --- RESOURCES Virtuoso Surgical: https://virtuososurgical.net/

In this episode, hosts Dr. Aaron Fritts and Dr. Bryan Hartley interview Scott Becker, founder and publisher of Becker’s Healthcare, a media company dedicated to serving the specialized interests of healthcare leaders. --- SHOW NOTES Scott's background consists of a blend between healthcare law and media. He attended Harvard Law School, where he served as a teaching assistant for many students, including young President Obama, a third year law student at the time. In his twenties, Scott worked at a large firm and specialized in healthcare law, representing surgeons and surgical centers. While working within a large law firm, he realized that he wanted to take control of his own career and subsequently transitioned to a healthcare media focus in his 30s. He brought on Jessica Cole, a college student at the time, to handle team organization and commercialization for his small newsletter. Together, they expanded into websites, newsletters, and organized conferences in Chicago. Recognizing the growing interest in these conferences, Scott expanded his team to cater to a wider customer base. Due to higher demand and larger hospital budgets, hospitals and health systems ultimately became their primary focus. After talking to target customers, they developed separate media service lines including reading and audio content. Scott talks about the transition from brand advertising to lead generation advertising, a strategy focused on reaching the target customer and generating profits from those leads. The journalists at Becker's Healthcare generate these leads by consistently staying updated on healthcare leadership trends, evolving perspectives, and audience engagement to create personalized content and maintain their connection with the audience. Scott and the hosts explore the challenges of artificial intelligence and Chat GPT in engaging with audiences, strategies for distinguishing a business in a media landscape inundated with information, and methods for creating highly engaging and interactive conferences. This year marks the 29th Annual ASC Conference, with hundreds of participants and notable speakers including Rob Gronkowski and Mia Hamm. --- RESOURCES ASC Annual Conference https://conferences.beckershospitalreview.com/beckers-october-asc-annual-conference-2023 Becker’s Hospital Review https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/ Good to Great by Jim Collins https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996 Peter Attia https://peterattiamd.com/

In this episode, Dr. Gopi Shah interviews Dr. Krishan Ramdoo, CEO and founder of TympaHealth, a London-based startup that has developed an all-in-one device for hearing health assessment which incorporates otoscopy and microsuction functionalities. --- SHOW NOTES Krishan is an ENT surgeon with a Ph.D. in global hearing health. In the early years of his career, while serving as a junior resident on the geriatric service, Krishan encountered a significant number of patients with undiagnosed hearing loss. He realized that this issue extended beyond just geriatric patients. Recognizing the scarcity of specialists and their lengthy waitlists, Krishan conceived the idea of developing a device to assess prevalent ear conditions such as hearing loss, cerumen impaction, and infections through a more accessible approach for primary care clinicians. The TympaHealth device is a specialized otoscope that connects to a mobile viewing device, enabling high-definition imaging of the tympanic membrane. It also incorporates a spacing mechanism to facilitate cerumen removal with use of a standard suction probe, eliminating the need for a microscope. Additionally, the device is accompanied by headphones for accurate hearing screening assessments. TympaHealth offers a training program for healthcare clinicians to administer the service. In case of uncertainty regarding a finding, clinicians can alert a specialist for remote review and guidance with just one click. TympaHealth recently launched in the US and is currently conducting pilot studies. Then, the hosts discuss the challenges of establishing a startup, including attracting investigators and building a diverse team. For physicians interested in entrepreneurship, Krishan highlights networking events as a way to gain insight into the commercial world and master the art of giving compelling pitches to potential investors. --- RESOURCES AI in Clinical Medicine: Section III Ch. 24 https://www.wiley.com/en-gb/AI+in+Clinical+Medicine:+A+Practical+Guide+for+Healthcare+Professionals-p-9781119790648 Tympa Health https://tympahealth.com/

In this episode, Dr. Jacob Fleming interviews Dr. William Morrison, the medical director of Trace Orthopedics. Trace Orthopedics is developing a minimally invasive implantable device for tendon repairs. --- SHOW NOTES William's passion for radiology traces back to his early love for art. In the initial stages of his career, he conceived the idea of a curved, steerable needle to navigate this L5-S1 space for discographies. After bringing the needle to market, its adoption was hampered by cost factors and the challenge clinicians faced in transitioning from traditional straight needles to the new design. Despite the initial challenges and disappointment with the needle's limited uptake, the product found a valuable application in celiac plexus blocks for pancreatic cancer and has shown to reduce surgical risks and complications compared to the traditional approach. After taking several years off from his innovation journey, William’s personal experience with a partial rotator cuff tear drove him back into action. At that time, the available treatment options were strictly rehabilitation-focused, severely limiting his activity. He crafted a device in his garage using materials from Home Depot to percutaneously anchor tendons. Taking his prototype to Jefferson, where the idea gained endorsement, he proceeded to obtain a patent and established the Trace Orthopedics company. The implanted device has the ability to withstand greater force compared to commonly used suture anchors and is a minimally invasive procedure that is both efficient and single-step. William's invention has garnered interest from various medical specialties. With FDA approval in sight, the device is expected to hit the market within the next year. During their last remarks, William addresses the persistent challenge of public awareness regarding the full scope of minimally invasive interventional practices within radiology when discussing potential investments. According to William, radiology currently stands at a critical juncture where the significance of imaging and research in driving product development has never been more crucial. --- RESOURCES Trace Orthopedics: https://www.traceorthopedics.com/

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews Dr. Mehdi Razavi about his journey to entrepreneurship and in developing Saranas Early Bird, a vascular device that allows for early detection of perioperative bleeding. --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn free AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/8OyLFJ --- SHOW NOTES Before venturing into entrepreneurship, Mehdi was a dedicated EP cardiologist with limited exposure to entrepreneurship. After his fellowship, Mehdi took part in a Medtronic project. This experience energized him and ignited a desire to explore more opportunities for entrepreneurship. Mehdi conceived the idea for Early Bird when he suspected a hematoma in one of his patients following an atrial ablation procedure. Recognizing the risk of postoperative bleeding in such procedures, he envisioned a solution for early hematoma detection. The device that he developed is a specialized venous axis sheath equipped with ringed electrodes. These electrodes continuously emit sub-physiologic electrical signals both throughout and after a medical procedure, enabling real-time monitoring of the sheath's impedance or resistance. This technology can detect a drop in impedance, indicating potential bleeding, as blood exhibits the lowest impedance in the body. Because their technology works as a warning system, Mehdi and his co-founder Alex Arevalos decided to name their company after the early bird genus, Serenus. Despite working for 5-6 years to secure a patent for the idea, Mehdi remained persistent in his preclinical studies, understanding the significant impact his innovation could have on his medical specialty and the potential benefit for patients. For physicians transitioning into entrepreneurship, Mehdi suggests initiating the process of establishing a company early on to introduce more organization and delegate specific roles effectively, which allows for more time to continue working as a clinician. --- RESOURCES Saranas Early Bird: https://saranas.com/

In this episode, Dr. Diana Velazquez-Pimental and Dr. Eric Keller interview Dr. Dafydd Loughran, CEO and founder of Concentric Health, a digital health solution that's revolutionizing the process of consent and facilitating informed decisions through digital tools. --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn free AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/B39384 --- SHOW NOTES Dafydd’s idea for Concentric originated from his experiences at an orthopedic clinic in his second postgraduate year. At that time, he found himself faced with the challenge of obtaining patient consent, all while still developing his knowledge and skills as a recent medical school graduate. He developed an aid memoir of the risks and benefits of different procedures to add value to the conversations with his patients. Dafydd continued to add to his resource, digitalize it, and before long, his colleagues began requesting access and utilization of it. Dafydd built a team and applied for a grant which was accepted. Concentric is a platform that supports conversations on shared decision making between clinicians and patients. It allows patients to better understand procedures by providing clear and detailed information from written information to videos and animations. Clinicians can select a procedure and personalize the content to their patient to make a template that includes indications for the procedure, alternatives therapies, and risk profiles. Patients can view this information before their scheduled consultations with their provider, allowing a more meaningful conversation and for the patient to have more time with the information given. As shown in Dafydd’s research studies, 28% of patients reported gold standard shared decision-making using the old paper process compared to 72% with the Concentric digitalized form, highlighting the impact of collaboration used in this technology. Concentric services have been utilized across many medical specialties, with a central focus on actively engaging patients in the decision-making process by delivering relevant and well-informed information. --- RESOURCES Concentric Health: https://concentric.health/ Imperial article on shared decision making using Concentric: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35697552/

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews Dr. David Grew, the creator of PRIMR. PRIMR is an online video library that serves the dual purpose of aiding patients in comprehending their cancer diagnosis and treatment choices while also assisting clinical research teams in enhancing their trials with IRB-approved digital content. --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn free AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/wNStIo --- SHOW NOTES David is a radiation oncologist at St. Francis Hospital, a Yale-affiliated cancer center in Hartford, Connecticut. Five years into his practice, he noticed that due to the COVID pandemic, patients were attending their initial consultations alone. To enhance patient understanding, he started drawing illustrations to simplify complex cases. Patients appreciated these drawings and wanted to share them with their families. David seized this opportunity to create a library of narrated whiteboard videos, which he shared with patients to facilitate communication with their loved ones. David initially shared this platform with fellow clinicians, but they struggled to find the time to create content or share links with their patients, leading to underutilization. However, during a conversation with a researcher friend, he recognized the platform's potential to convert a lengthy 40-page informed consent form into a concise two-minute video for patients participating in clinical trials. As he leveraged this model, his business grew significantly and expanded to become a multidisciplinary international team. With his team, he curated a platform aimed at helping interested patients to learn more about treatment options through a library of IRB-approved content for clinical trials. Towards the end of their discussion, the hosts delve into the advantages and drawbacks of being a clinician-entrepreneur. They explore topics such as facing the fear of failure, enjoying a creative outlet, achieving a better work-life balance, and fostering a stronger connection with their medical specialty. --- RESOURCES PRIMR: https://www.primrmed.com/ Dr. Grew’s Twitter: @DoctorGrew PRIMR Twitter: @PRIMR_MED

In this episode, host Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews Dr. Anthony Chang, delving into the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to enhance the efficiency of clinicians’ workflow and diagnostic processes. --- SHOW NOTES Dr. Chang is the founder of AI Medicine and chair of the American Board of AI in Medicine. Driven by his fascination with mathematics and computer science, he took the leap to join Stanford's AI and data science program after dedicating 25 years to the practice of pediatric cardiology. Following four years of intensive education, he conceived AI Medicine—an innovative interface bridging the realms of clinicians and artificial intelligence. Dr. Chang envisions AI making a significant impact on clinicians through various avenues, such as revolutionizing medical imaging and devices, harnessing the power of deep learning, and integrating robotic process automation to alleviate the administrative load on clinicians and to enhance their efficiency. Within his own clinical practice, Dr. Chang employs ChatGPT as a checklist and a safety measure, especially when navigating complex decisions and intricate diagnoses. Dr. Chang advises clinicians who wish to integrate AI into their practices to begin by becoming proficient in "AI conversation," which involves familiarizing themselves with the vocabulary and principles of artificial intelligence. As a medical school professor, Dr. Chang integrates AI education into the curricula of his medical students and endorses the use of ChatGPT, allowing students to formulate advanced queries and assessing ChatGPT’s responses by critiquing the generated answers. Along with writing the second edition to his book, Dr. Chang is currently planning the next AI Med Global Summit. This global gathering attracts clinicians spanning various subspecialties and is slated to take place in Florida in 2024. He also invites any interested clinicians to join the Alliance of Centers of AI Medicine (ACAM), a growing group of 77 healthcare centers that virtually meet monthly to discuss their uses of AI. --- RESOURCES Intelligence-Based Medicine Book: https://ai-med.io/resources/intelligence-based-medicine-by-anthony-c-chang/ AI Med Global Summit: https://gs24.ai-med.io/