Shows
Startup PhysiciansBeyond the White Coat: Building a Startup Career from Private Practice with Dr. Payal AdhikariIn this episode of Startup Physicians, I sit down with Dr. Payal Adhikari, a pediatrician who made the leap from private practice into the startup world. We talk about what it takes to step into non-clinical roles and how networking, self-belief, and clinical expertise all play a part. Dr. Payal Adhikari shares her personal journey, the skills she had to build, and how she found real opportunities in biotech and consulting. This conversation is all about action and showing physicians that they already have what startups need while also encouraging them to take the next step toward building something...2025-07-0931 minStartup PhysiciansDesign Is Deconstruction First: Why Your Life, Business, and Startup Idea Need a Blank PageIn this conversation, I explore the intersection of design, business, and personal fulfillment—especially through the lens of healthcare innovation. I believe the best solutions often come from deconstructing problems, not just reacting to them. That mindset has shaped how I approach both clinical challenges and startup opportunities.One of the core messages I share is around life design: identifying what brings you joy, then being intentional about shaping your life and career around it. I talk about how physicians—despite being trained in rigid systems—have immense capacity to innovate. We just need more spaces that invite...2025-07-0217 minStartup PhysiciansThink Like a Founder: A Venture Lens for Startup-Minded Physicians with Christopher PooleIn this episode on Startup Physicians, Chris Poole and I discuss the challenges and insights related to building startups in the healthcare sector. We emphasize the importance of starting with a clear problem, understanding unit economics, and evaluating market viability. Chris shares his journey from being an entrepreneur to a venture leader, highlighting the non-linear paths many take in their careers. The discussion also covers the significance of validating business ideas and the role of physicians in entrepreneurship.Episode Highlights:[00:00] - Introduction to Healthcare Ventures[02:42] - Chris Poole's Journey in Venture Capital2025-06-2531 minStartup PhysiciansRethinking Risk: What Startups Miss Without Physicians at the Table with Isaac EdrahWhat happens when clinical expertise meets data-driven financial modeling? In this episode, Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with Isaac Edrah, a healthcare actuary and founder of Paramean Solutions, to explore how physician insight can dramatically shape — and de-risk — value-based care models.Isaac shares stories from the field, including one orthopedic collaboration that uncovered billions in potential savings. Together, they unpack the hidden leverage physicians offer in startup and venture settings — especially when financial risk and clinical pathways collide.Physicians don’t need to become data experts to make a difference. They need to understand their own valu...2025-06-1830 minStartup PhysiciansFrom Tragedy to Traction: How Clinical Rigor Built a National Pediatric Innovation Movement with Dr. Dave McSwainWhen a devastating clinical moment sparks a career in innovation, what happens next? In this powerful episode, Dr. Alison Curfman is joined by her longtime collaborator and friend, Dr. Dave McSwain — CMIO at UNC Health and co-founder of the national pediatric telehealth research network, Sprout. Together, they reflect on how a single missed opportunity to intervene became the catalyst for designing systems that now save lives.Dr. McSwain shares the story of how telehealth helped save a child’s life, and how strategic research and collaboration transformed a fledgling idea into a national framework. They unpack the powe...2025-06-1129 minStartup PhysiciansFrom ER to Executive: Scaling Startups and Redefining Physician Leadership with Dr. Pam SullivanIn this episode of the Startup Physicians podcast, Dr. Pam Sullivan shares her unique journey from physical therapy to emergency medicine and ultimately to leadership roles in healthcare startups. She discusses the challenges and opportunities she faced as a woman in medicine, her transition into leadership, and her pivotal experiences in scaling operations at Landmark. Dr. Sullivan emphasizes the importance of mentorship, the need for adaptability in startups, and offers valuable advice for physicians considering career changes.Episode Highlights[00:00] - Introduction to Startup Dynamics[02:24] - Pam Sullivan's Unique Career Path[07:37...2025-06-0430 minStartup PhysiciansRedefining Success: From Burnout to Breakthrough with Dr. Hansa BhargavaIn this episode of Startup Physicians, I sit down with Dr. Hansa Bhargava—pediatrician, writer, and Chief Clinical Strategy and Innovation Officer at Helio—to unpack her journey from clinical burnout to a purpose-driven career in health media, technology, and innovation.We talk about what it really takes to step away from traditional medicine, why you don’t need another degree to move into industry, and how physicians can leverage their clinical background as a strategic asset in startups and AI development. We also dig into the mindset required to make bold transitions, how to navigate hybrid career...2025-05-2829 minStartup PhysiciansBridging Innovation and Clinical Insight: How Physicians Can Shape Healthcare Startups with Shelli PavoneIn this episode, I sit down with Shelli Pavone, co-founder of Inlightened, a platform built to bridge the gap between healthcare innovators and professionals. Shelli shares her journey through healthcare and startup leadership, and we dive into why startups often miss the mark when they don't meaningfully involve clinicians in the innovation process. We explore how clinician feedback can prevent costly mistakes, why healthcare professionals should be compensated for their input, and how engaging with innovation can reignite a physician’s passion for impacting healthcare. Shelli also highlights how Inlightened simplifies the administrative side of consulting, creating a low-risk, hi...2025-05-2128 minStartup PhysiciansHow Patient Care Prepares You to Work With StartupsIn this episode, I explore the powerful parallels between clinical care and startup innovation. As physicians, we are expert diagnosticians—trained to identify real problems, design strategic solutions, and build trust under pressure. Our ability to operate in uncertainty, assess risk, collaborate across disciplines, and drive continuous improvement positions us perfectly to thrive in the startup world. I walk through ten key analogies that show how our clinical mindset, from systems thinking to resilience and agility, translates directly into healthcare innovation. If you’ve ever wondered how to apply your skills beyond the bedside, this conversation is for you.2025-05-1423 minStartup PhysiciansThe Physician's Guide to De-Risking your Startup IdeaSummaryThis episode, I discuss the growing opportunities for physicians in the startup world and how to successfully transition from clinical roles to entrepreneurial ventures. I share why identifying real healthcare problems, designing thoughtful solutions, and building sustainable business models are critical steps—often without needing large amounts of initial capital. I also walk through some of the common challenges physicians face during this transition and introduce a new incubator program created specifically to support physician-founded startups.If you're a physician even thinking about what's possible beyond traditional clinical work, this conversation will help yo...2025-05-0722 minStartup PhysiciansEngineering Curiosity into Impact: Dr. Alyssa Abo on Translating Clinical Insight into InnovationWhen you think about startups and healthcare, it’s easy to feel like those worlds are galaxies apart — but Dr. Alyssa Abo shows us that they’re much more connected than you think. In this episode, Alyssa shares how her journey from engineering school to pediatric emergency medicine led her straight into the heart of healthcare innovation. We talk about embracing curiosity, building medical devices, translating clinical needs for tech companies, and why physicians have so much untapped potential to impact startups without ever needing an MBA or a business degree.Dr. Alyssa Abo is a pioneering physic...2025-04-3038 minStartup PhysiciansTranslating Clinical Skills Into Startup Strategy with Dr. Rebecca MiksadThis episode I’m joined by my friend and former co-consultant Dr. Rebecca Miksad. Rebecca is a powerhouse—Harvard-trained oncologist, health economist, startup executive, and now Chief Medical Officer at Color. We go deep into how she made the leap from academia to startups, how she navigated uncertainty and mentorship, and why your clinical skills are more transferable than you think.If you're a physician who's even thinking about what else is possible beyond traditional medicine—this one’s for you. Rebecca shares how to talk about your skills in business terms, what it's really like working at a sta...2025-04-2338 minStartup PhysiciansSo You Want to Advise Startups? Here’s Exactly How to Get Started as a Physician ConsultantIn this solo episode, let’s work on getting past the most common mindset hurdles that keep physicians from stepping into the startup space. If you’ve ever felt like you don’t have anything unique to offer, or that you’re “just a doctor” without a business background, this one’s for you. I unpack the top five limiting beliefs I hear again and again—and I walk you through how to reframe them so you can confidently explore advisory roles, consulting opportunities, or even launching your own venture.This episode is all about equipping you with clarity, co...2025-04-1625 minStartup PhysiciansYou’re Not Stuck: Mindset Shifts for Physician Innovators with Dr. Karen LeitnerHave you ever felt like the system just wasn’t built for you? Like you’re in a role that no longer fits—but you don’t know what else is out there, or if you’re even allowed to want more? In this episode, I sit down with my brilliant friend and colleague, Dr. Karen Leitner, a physician, coach, and out-of-the-box thinker who’s reimagined what a meaningful career in medicine can look like. Together, we explore how to recognize burnout, shift your mindset, and open yourself up to the world of startups, innovation, and—most importantly—possibility.Karen bring...2025-04-0939 minStartup PhysiciansTurning Physician Pain Points into Business Opportunities with Dr. David CanesIn this episode, I sit down with the brilliant and down-to-earth Dr. David Canes—a practicing urologist who found himself burned out, uninspired, and stuck in the repetitive rhythm of clinic visits. But instead of staying stuck, he did something a lot of us dream about—he turned a real-life clinical inefficiency into a business. And get this—he didn’t start with a formal pitch deck or MBA, just a Loom video and a whole lot of curiosity.We dive deep into David’s transition from full-time clinician to founder of WellPrept, a patient education platform built to e...2025-04-0243 minStartup PhysiciansBeyond Academia: Dr. David Lim on Building Healthcare StartupsWhat happens when an infectious disease specialist decides to step off the academic path and jump headfirst into the startup world? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. David Lim, a physician-scientist turned healthcare entrepreneur, who shares his inspiring journey from UCSF to the boardrooms of Boston Consulting Group, and ultimately, into founding and scaling impactful healthcare startups. His story is proof that physicians can thrive outside the traditional clinical box—and that our unique training gives us a powerful edge in the business of healthcare.We explore how David made the leap into consulting, the mi...2025-03-2632 minStartup PhysiciansDoctors as Innovators: How Physicians Can Shape Products, Policy, and Public Health with Dr. Tanya AltmannAs physicians, we're uniquely positioned to identify and solve real-world health problems—but how do we translate clinical insights into impactful industry partnerships?In today's episode, I talk with pediatrician Dr. Tanya Altmann, who shares how she turned her passion for child health and safety into a dynamic career consulting with companies across the healthcare spectrum. From improving booster seat legislation to addressing coin battery hazards and the infant formula shortage, Tanya reveals her approach to collaboration, innovation, and advocacy.Episode Highlights:[4:52] Balancing Medical Practice and Media Engagement [7:51] Innovative Solutions and...2025-03-1937 min
Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children's Health PodcastEp. 128: Health IT for EquityCan health IT be leveraged to promote equity and reduce bias? Dr. Alison Curfman believes it can, with humans playing a crucial role. In this exploration, we discuss the importance of clean data for building AI language models and how health IT can help reduce bias while advancing health equity.Guest: Alison Curfman, MD, pediatric emergency physician and co-founder, Imagine PediatricsHost/Producer: Carol VassarViews expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. Subscribe, review or let your...2025-03-1727 minStartup PhysiciansFinding Your Why: How Physicians Can Build Careers by Solving the Right Problem with Dr. David JohnsonIn this episode, I sit down with my friend and colleague, Dr. David Johnson, to talk about his unconventional career path from urologic oncology to health services research, payers, and now healthcare startups. David shares his journey of discovering the misalignment in healthcare incentives, particularly in value-based care, and how that realization led him to pivot into healthcare innovation.We dive into the challenges and opportunities for physicians looking to create a larger impact beyond individual patient care, and David offers some powerful insights on how to transition into startups, healthcare policy, and business. If you've ever...2025-03-1237 minStartup PhysiciansStartups, Strategy, and Serendipity: Navigating Healthcare Innovation with Dr. Paige BhansaliWhat 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, Dr. Paige Bhansali, a pediatrician with an incredible journey through consulting, healthcare startups, and value-based care. Paige has carved out her own unique path in medicine—balancing residency, an MBA, and a startup career—all while maintaining her passion for improving pediatric healthcare.Dr. Paige Bhansali is the Head of Clinical Strategy and Operations at Playground Pediatrics, a fast-growing value-based pediatric practice focu...2025-03-0534 minStartup PhysiciansBridging Gaps in Pediatric Readiness with Dr. Alana ArnoldIn this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Alana Arnold, a pediatric emergency physician, innovator, and startup founder, to the show. Alana shares her journey from working in community hospitals to launching two groundbreaking companies aimed at addressing gaps in pediatric healthcare. We dive into her passion for improving pediatric readiness in emergency care, her focus on empowering parents through health literacy, and how she’s leveraging her clinical expertise to make a broader impact.Alana’s story is full of inspiration for any physician looking to innovate, build something new, or find fresh ways to tackle...2025-02-1936 minStartup PhysiciansFrom Pediatric Cardiologist to Health Tech Innovator with Dr. Bronwyn HarrisEver 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 biomedical engineering to pioneering a digital health startup that was later acquired by Apple, Bronwyn shares her incredible journey navigating the intersection of medicine, technology, and entrepreneurship.We talk about the lessons she learned in Stanford Biodesign, the challenges of building a healthcare startup from scratch, and how she leveraged her clinical expertise to create a...2025-02-1239 minStartup PhysiciansBuilding Your Personal Brand in the Startup Ecosystem with Sarah JohnstonAre you a physician considering a career pivot or wanting to explore opportunities outside traditional medicine? In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Johnston, a career branding expert and founder of The Briefcase Coach, who has helped hundreds of executives, including myself, navigate career transitions. We explore practical strategies to optimize your LinkedIn profile, craft a compelling executive resume, and build a personal narrative that opens doors. Sarah and I also dive into the mindset shifts necessary to step into new roles, from overcoming self-doubt to embracing your transferable skills. Sarah Johnston, a former healthcare recruiter a...2025-02-0531 minStartup PhysiciansRethinking Healthcare: Adapting to the Startup MindsetIn this episode, 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 their mindset can empower us to challenge assumptions and drive meaningful change.I’ll break down the key principles of design thinking, share real-world examples from my experience building care models, and explain how MVPs can save time and reso...2025-01-2917 minStartup PhysiciansHow Physicians Can Bring Clinical Expertise to the Startup WorldToday, we’re exploring the many ways physicians can break into the startup world and make an impact. Whether you’ve considered founding a company, consulting for innovative health-tech startups, or joining an advisory board, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you get started.I’ll share why startups are hungry for our clinical expertise, how our perspective is essential for designing smarter and safer healthcare solutions, and why now is the perfect time for physicians to get involved. From understanding the role of AI in healthcare to leveraging our skills to build better care m...2025-01-2231 minStartup PhysiciansBreaking the Mold: How Physicians Can Thrive in StartupsWelcome to the very first episode of Startup Physicians! I’m Alison Curfman, and I’m so thrilled you’re here. This podcast is for physicians who are curious about diving into the dynamic world of startups—whether you’re considering launching your own company, consulting for innovative health-tech initiatives, or just exploring new opportunities. In this episode, I share my personal journey, from practicing pediatric emergency medicine to co-founding Imagine Pediatrics, a company that’s revolutionizing care for high-risk children on Medicaid. We’ll also discuss why physicians are uniquely equipped to lead healthcare innovation and how you can get starte...2025-01-1521 minStartup PhysiciansWelcome to Startup PhysiciansAre you a physician wondering if there’s more to your career than the hospital or clinic walls? Welcome to StartUp Physicians! I’m Dr. Alison Curfman, your host, and I’m here to help you explore how doctors like us can break into the exciting world of healthcare startups. In this trailer episode, I’m sharing my journey—how I built a healthcare company that grew to serve over 25,000 patients, reached a nine-figure valuation, and completely transformed my career.This podcast is your roadmap to navigating the startup space as a physician. Whether you’re thinking...2025-01-0602 min
Wealthy Mom MD Podcast224: From Medicine to Startups: Dr. Alison Curfman’s Leap Into InnovationDr. Alison Curfman’s story is about recognizing problems in the system and deciding to solve them. From co-founding Imagine Pediatrics, a company built to improve care for children with chronic conditions, to working with developers on tech-driven solutions, she’s learned what it takes to bring ideas to life in ways most physicians haven’t imagined. But it hasn’t been a straight path. Alison shares the risks, mindset shifts, and moments of growth that come with stepping into unfamiliar territory, like uprooting her family for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and scaling a team from a handful to hundreds. 2024-12-1953 min
Life After Medicine: How To Make a Career Change, Beat Burnout & Find Your Purpose For DoctorsHow Doctors Can Create Limitless Opportunities Outside of Their Medical CareerEver wondered if it’s possible to create a career that allows you to use your medical expertise in innovative ways?In this episode, Dr. Alison Curfman explains how to successfully step away from clinical medicine while still leveraging your expertise to make a difference.You'll learn:Discover how Dr. Curfman transitioned from full-time clinical work to co-founding a company that impacts thousands of children with complex medical needs.Learn the strategies she used to move beyond learned helplessness and create innovative solutions in healthcare.Hear firsthand how you can break free from feeling tr...2024-10-1725 min
The Pursuit of Health PodcastEp55: Pediatric Care: An Investment in Our Future-Dr.Alison CurfmanInvestment in pediatric care is an investment in our future. So why is our system slow to change?Enter Alison Curfman, MD - co-founder of Imagine Pediatrics, a value-based pediatric medical group pioneering tech-enabled care for chronically ill children.Alison is passionate about improving outcomes, reducing costs, supporting parents, and enabling young people, through an innovative blend of pediatric telehealth and virtual care.——We spoke about Imagine Pediatrics, the meaning of fee-for-service versus value-based care, encountering systemic resistance to change, unfounded concerns about telehealth, the success Imagine Pediatrics are overseeing, and a lo...2024-10-0348 min
The Doctor’s Crossing Carpe Diem PodcastEpisode #192: Refusing to Take No For an Answer: A Pedi ER Doctor's Journey to Help Kids With Complex Medical Needs Today you're in for a wild ride. My guest, pediatric emergency medicine physician Dr. Alison Curfman, shares her incredible story of how her desire to improve care for kids with complex medical conditions led her on a roller coaster journey in pursuit of her goal. Dr. Curfman's path to fulfilling her vision was not easy and had its share of setbacks. However, her refusal to give up led to the co-founding of Imagine Pediatrics, a market-disrupting healthcare group pioneering value-based care for chronically ill children. As we delve into her story, we'll focus on the importance of...2024-07-2438 min
In the Arena with the Eyre Sisters43. Worry in MotheringIt's natural for moms to worry about their kids! And, if you're like most moms, you tend to worry a lot! In today's conversation, we discuss the nuances and complexities of worry, some detrimental things that happen when we worry, as well as some actionable steps to take to help move through worry and find more peace. Come join us on Instagram and share with us your thoughts about worry! @eyresisters Show Notes: Arthur Somers Roche quote Sister Runia's talk Randy Armstrong quote Courtney Carver quote Alison Curfman 10 Reasons Not To Worry About Your Ch...2024-03-1943 min