Shows
First in HumanSeeing Without Cutting: The Bet to Reinvent Skin BiopsiesWhat if diagnosing skin lesions didn’t require a scalpel — or even a biopsy at all? In this episode of First in Human, I sit down with Gabriel Sanchez, MIT-trained engineer, Stanford PhD, and founder and CEO of Enspectra Health. Early in his engineering career at Stanford, Gabriel began to see the limits of powerful imaging technologies that never made it beyond the lab. Instead of letting that work remain siloed, he set out to bring it into real clinical care. Gabriel tells the story of shrinking a room-sized microscope into a deployable medical device, and why he...
2026-02-0351 minFirst in HumanThe Doctor Shaping a Menopause Startup Changing Care for MillionsMenopause isn’t gentle. For many women, it’s a physiological shockwave — flipping sleep, mood, metabolism, cognition, sexual health, and long-term disease risk all at once. And all too often, the healthcare system’s response has essentially been: “live with it.” In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Mindy Goldman, a UCSF gynecologist and nationally recognized leader in menopause and cancer survivorship care, whose career took an unexpected turn from academic medicine into the heart of a fast-scaling women’s health startup. What began as deeply personal loss and years of clinical frustration evolved into something much larger: helping shape M...
2026-01-2753 minFirst in HumanWhy This CEO Is Building an EKG for the Gut - LiterallyYou might be surprised to learn that a particle physicist — someone who knows how to work with massive particle accelerators slamming atoms together — is building a company focused on a sticker that sits on your abdomen. But once you dig a bit deeper, it makes perfect sense. In this episode of First in Human, I talk with Steve Axelrod, a longtime physicist turned CEO, whose entire career has been built on pulling meaningful signal out of noise. It's a skill set that's taken him from nuclear sensors at Yale all the way to Silicon Valley, ultimately as a...
2026-01-2043 minFirst in HumanHow this ICU Doctor Decides What Companies to BuildWhat does it really take to decide what’s worth building in healthcare? In this episode of First in Human, I sit down with Dr. Ryan Van Wert, ICU physician and serial health tech founder, to unpack how he’s built multiple companies by starting with the most vulnerable moments in medicine. From rethinking sedation for patients on ventilators, to ensuring people’s end-of-life wishes are honored, to helping adult children care for aging parents, Ryan shares how clinical pain points become startup decisions and how needs-first thinking guides what he builds. We talk about Stanford Biodesig...
2026-01-1348 minFirst in HumanNothing in the OR Was Built For His Patient.It’s one thing to talk about innovation. It’s another to realize, mid-surgery, that nothing in the room was designed for your patient.In this episode of First in Human, I sit down with Dr. James Wall, pediatric surgeon, serial health tech founder, and VP of Product Management and Associate Medical Officer at Intuitive, to trace his journey. It's a career that's been shaped by building where the market is small and the stakes are high. From completing advanced training in minimally invasive surgery in France to launching multiple startups, to leading pediatric innovation at Stanford, and now - mo...
2026-01-0643 minFirst in Human$150M Raised. A Blood Test Reshaping Sepsis Care.Sepsis is one of medicine’s most dangerous guessing games. Patients arrive with vague symptoms. Clinicians rely on instinct. And too often, the ones who look “okay” are the ones who crash. In this episode of First in Human, I sit down with Dr. Tim Sweeney, physician-scientist and founder of Inflammatix, to trace the unlikely path from a tense moment at a medical conference to a breakthrough FDA-cleared diagnostic now shaping real clinical decisions. Tim shares why leaving residency was the hardest choice he’s ever made, how years of rejected grants pushed him toward entrepreneurship, and what it took t...
2025-12-3046 minFirst in Human$150M Raised. A Blood Test Reshaping Sepsis Care.Sepsis is one of medicine’s most dangerous guessing games. Patients arrive with vague symptoms. Clinicians rely on instinct. And too often, the ones who look “okay” are the ones who crash. In this episode of First in Human, I sit down with Dr. Tim Sweeney, physician-scientist and founder of Inflammatix, to trace the unlikely path from a tense moment at a medical conference to a breakthrough FDA-cleared diagnostic now shaping real clinical decisions. Tim shares why leaving residency was the hardest choice he’s ever made, how years of rejected grants pushed him toward entrepreneurship, and what it took t...
2025-12-3046 minFirst in HumanNothing in the OR Was Built for His PatientIt’s one thing to talk about innovation. It’s another to realize, mid-surgery, that nothing in the room was designed for your patient. In this episode of First in Human, I sit down with Dr. James Wall, pediatric surgeon, serial health tech founder, and VP of Product Management and Associate Medical Officer at Intuitive, to trace his journey. It's a career that's been shaped by building where the market is small and the stakes are high. From completing advanced training in minimally invasive surgery in France to launching multiple startups, to leading pediatric innovation at Stanford, and now...
2025-12-2343 minFirst in HumanReinventing the Stethoscope: The Eko Health StoryWhat does it take to reinvent one of the most iconic tools in medicine? In this episode of First in Human, I sit down with Connor Landgraf, co-founder and CEO of Eko Health, to trace the unlikely journey from childhood tinkerer to building a digital-enabled stethoscope that’s quietly reshaping how clinicians listen, learn, and diagnose. Connor shares how a gradual realization in a Berkeley classroom led him to challenge a centuries-old design paradigm. Why do we still rely on a hollow tube and human hearing alone to evaluate heart and lung disease? From building early prot...
2025-12-1642 minFirst in HumanA Deadly Lung Disease, a Eureka Moment, and the Startup Ready to Change EverythingHow do you fight a disease that hides until it’s almost too late? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Maria Artunduaga, founder of Samay, whose work began with a moment she still remembers clearly: a conversation about air trapping, a flashback to high-school physics, and the realization that sound might reveal early changes inside the lungs before symptoms appear at all. That spark - in a problem inspired by the loss of her grandmother to a COPD exacerbation - sent her down a path to rethink how we detect danger in one of the world’s dead...
2025-12-0951 minFirst in HumanThe Startup That Tackled a Deadly Risk for the World's Tiniest BabiesAn innovator’s first step into the clinical environment - in this case, an ICU built for the world’s tiniest babies - can change everything. In this episode of First in Human, I sit down with Eric Chehab, a Stanford-trained biomechanical engineer and founder of Novonate. We explore how a deadly but unaddressed risk in premature newborns became the focus of his life’s work. Eric shares the moment he realized that fragile infants were being protected with tape, improvisation, and sheer nursing ingenuity, and how that small, almost ordinary detail revealed a problem no one had truly s...
2025-12-0241 minFirst in HumanHow Two Founders Turned an Unsolvable ICU Problem into a Medtech BreakthroughSome problems in medicine see so many failed attempts that they start to feel untouchable. Teams learn to move on, investors grow wary, and the problem becomes its own warning label. Kate Garrett and Dr. Dan Azagury chose a different path. Kate and Dan, cofounders of Ciel (later acquired by Vyaire Medical), found themelves confronted with one of those notoriously unsolved, high-stakes problems - the kind that had stopped other companies cold. What happened next changed everything for them, their patients, and for medtech. In this episode, Kate and Dan share how confronting that kind of pr...
2025-11-2543 minFirst in HumanWhy a Serial Medtech Founder Is Betting on BathroomsWhat happens when a serial medtech founder takes on one of the most overlooked problems in public health: the simple act of finding a clean, safe place to go to the bathroom? In this episode, I sit down with Fletcher Wilson, founder and CEO of Throne Labs. His company is reimagining public bathrooms with the same precision and empathy you would expect from a medical device team. Fletcher shares how a personal struggle with GI issues, a series of raw conversations with mobile workers and city leaders, and a belief in human dignity pushed him toward an unexpected f...
2025-11-1844 minFirst in HumanHow One Med Student’s Frustration Launched a Global CompanyWhat if medical education felt less like memorization, and more like discovery?In this episode of First in Human, we sit down with Shiv Gaglani, the founder of Osmosis, to unpack the story behind how a frustrated med student turned an idea into one of the most influential learning platforms in healthcare.Shiv shares the spark that started it all—the moment he realized medicine was being taught the way it had been for a century: dense lectures, endless flashcards, and little room for real understanding. That frustration became fuel for building Osmosis, a platform designed to...
2025-11-1153 minFirst in HumanThe Hidden Condition That Inspired a StartupWhat happens when two innovators take on a condition no one talks about - but that quietly shapes how people connect? In this episode of First in Human, I sit down with Véronique Peiffer, PhD engineer, former McKinsey consultant, Stanford Biodesign fellowship alum, and co-founder of Palm. Together with her co-founder, she set out to solve excessive hand sweating, or hyperhidrosis - a condition that can make everyday moments of connection feel heavy with self-consciousness. Véronique shares how late-night brainstorms turned into a real prototype, how they built a glove-based therapy that worked, and what...
2025-11-0437 minFirst in HumanHow to Share Your Big Idea - Without Losing ItEver wondered how to talk about your invention without your idea being stolen? In this episode of First in Human, we sit down with Jessica Hudak - mechanical engineer turned patent attorney and now VP of Corporate Counsel at Edwards Lifesciences = to unpack how innovators can safely move from idea to impact.You’ll hear Jessica’s journey from Stanford Biodesign to the Federal Circuit, and learn practical, plain-English answers to the biggest questions in health tech and medical devices: when to file a provisional patent, how “first to file” really works, what counts as public disclosure, and what to...
2025-10-2845 minFirst in HumanTurning Noise Into Opportunity: The Treble Health StoryWhat happens when you combine clinical credibility, a patient problem that’s flown under the radar, and a founder mindset? In this episode of First in Human, I sit down with Ben Thompson (Au.D.), founder of health-tech enabled telehealth startup Treble Health - and a YouTube creator whose tinnitus-focused videos have been viewed over 10 million times. Ben shares how he noticed an accessibility gap for tinnitus care, leveraged content creation and community building, and made the leap from 100 % clinical practice into startup mode without an MBA or device-manufacturing background. We go deep into how he uses technology, tel...
2025-10-2134 minFirst in HumanAn App Store for Surgery? This Founder is Making AI Surgery RobotsWhat happens when you bring Silicon Valley thinking into the operating room? In this episode of First in Human, host Dr. David Hindin sits down with Nick Damiano, co-founder and CEO of Andromeda Surgical, to explore how his team is building the world’s first autonomous surgical robot—a platform designed to make surgery safer, faster, and more precise.Nick shares his journey from pre-med at Stanford to med-tech founder, how the Stanford Biodesign process shaped his path, and why he believes the next revolution in health tech will come from AI-powered surgical systems. Together, they dive into what...
2025-10-1434 minFirst in HumanFrom Cath Lab to Creativity: How a Cardiologist Became an Innovator#004 What does it take for a physician to cross the bridge from medicine into health tech innovation? In this episode of First in Human, I sit down with Dr. Farzad Azimpour - cardiologist, Stanford Biodesign alum, and global health innovator - whose career has spanned device development, design thinking at IDEO, and now Head of Innovation in Structural Heart at Edwards Lifesciences.Farzad shares his journey from a young cardiology fellow scribbling ideas on index cards to working at the front lines of medical device innovation. We explore the lessons he’s learned about creativity, collaboration, and unlearning so...
2025-10-0739 minFirst in HumanHow One Text Message Turned This Doctor into Medtronic's CMOWhat happens when a text from a stranger changes your career?In this episode of First in Human, I sit down with Dr. Austin Chiang, Chief Medical Officer at Medtronic and one of the most influential physician voices on social media. We unpack his remarkable journey—from practicing gastroenterologist to becoming the first CMO of Medtronic’s endoscopy business, a role created specifically for him.Austin shares:- How he built credibility on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok long before most doctors embraced digital platforms.- The rise of misinformation in healthcare and why physicians need to lead online....
2025-09-3039 minFirst in HumanUsing AI in the ER to Catch Heart Attacks FasterIn this episode, I sit down with Dr. Maya Yiadom and Dr. Gabrielle Bunney to unpack how real AI gets built, tested, and safely deployed in health care. We go inside the emergency department to tackle one of the most time-critical problems in medicine: early heart attack (MI) detection and door-to-ECG performance. Drs. Yiadom and Bunney share the origin story of SmartCare AI, why small delays lead to higher mortality and heart failure, and how “upskilling” front-door staff with an augmenting intelligence can improve equity and outcomes. We cover:- When to stay in academia vs when to spin...
2025-09-2947 minFirst in HumanWelcome to First in Human: Stories Transforming the Future of Medicine#001 Ever wonder how people actually break into health tech? Not the buzzwords or corporate decks - but the real stories. The moments of spark, uncertainty, and bold action. Here’s the thing: you don’t have to be a CEO or have an MBA to build something meaningful in health care. In this first episode, I’ll share why I started First in Human, what this show is really about, and how it’s designed to help people like you - doctors, designers, engineers, founders - get inspired, get smarter, and get started. You’ll hear my own story...
2025-09-2504 min
Life of Flow50. Stanford Surgeon EXPOSES Why Most Doctors’ Ideas FAIL & How To Finally Succeed OnlineIn this milestone episode of Life of Flow, vascular surgeons Miguel and Lucas sit down with Dr. David Hindin — surgeon, innovator, and assistant director of Stanford’s Biodesign program. With over 58,000 YouTube subscribers, Dr. Hindin is at the forefront of bridging creativity and medicine. He reveals the secret framework that’s transforming healthcare innovation.If you’ve ever had a breakthrough idea but felt stuck navigating the red tape of the healthcare system, this episode is your guide to taking action. From identifying the right problems to scaling life-changing solutions, Dr. Hindin walks us through...
2025-01-1557 min
Unconventional LeadersContent Strategy & Storytelling for Professionals | The Storytelling Surgeon, David HindinDr. David Hindin is a trauma and critical care surgeon at Stanford University who is... obsessed with storytelling.You heard me right—a surgeon who tells stories. In addition to serving as the Associate Chair of Innovation and Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, and the Assistant Director of Stanford’s Biodesign Faculty Fellowship, he also developed a storytelling course at Stanford to help physicians and engineers enhance their communication skills, blending his passion for medicine with creativity. What?I found him on Instagram, where I was intrigued by his storytelling skills, methods of communication, and advo...
2024-09-0347 min
Seaberry TalksBiodesign with Dr. David Hindin🎉 Join us on Seaberry Talks for a fascinating episode with Dr. David Hindin. Dive into a world where creativity meets medicine and innovation. 🌟
In Episode 06, we explore how creativity isn't just for artistic expression; it's a vital part of every industry, including medicine. We're thrilled to have Dr. Hindin, all the way from Stanford University, sharing his incredible journey of integrating creativity into the medical field. 🧠💡 Dr. Hindin talks about his role in biodesign, the importance of daydreaming in medicine, and how he seamlessly blends his passion for innovation with being a surgeon.
Whether you're a creative at...
2024-01-2341 min
The Robbie Bourke PodcastEpisode 267: Rua Gilna - life, professional development, pain, movement, and PRIThis episode's guest is my long time friend Rua Gilna from Bua Fitness.
Rua Gilna has over 14 years of experience in the Fitness Industry in roles ranging from training elite level athletes, training the average Joe, managing prestigious gyms, consulting in difficult injury rehab cases and leading education for teams of 30+ trainers to designing and lecturing on Europe's highest level training certification courses.
Rua is constantly studying cutting edge training and rehabilitation techniques as well as consulting with and for other rehab professionals in the New York City Area. He regularly teaches seminars for fitness pr...
2023-03-301h 38
The Videocraft Show Presented by Video HuskySurgeon By Day, YouTuber By Night (With David Hindin, M.D.) [The Videocraft Show Episode #48]“There is this kind of tension between what you are on the inside and what you are on the outside professionally, and whether you have to make a choice between two different things or (if) you can blend it together. And I think that leads to a lot of satisfaction when people get it right. And I think it leads to a sort of lifelong (feeling of) ‘I wish I had done this’ or ‘I wish I could go back and do that’ if you ignore the other part of yourself.” — David Hindin By trade, David...
2022-02-221h 07
Doctors in Business#27 COVID CreativityIn this episode, Dr. David Hindin shares his experience as a Biodesign Innovation Fellow at Stanford and teaches us how to apply the principles of design thinking to solve problems in the time of COVID-19.
You can find more from Dr. Hindin on Twitter (@DavidHindin), Instagram (@thesurgeonlife), or his YouTube channel!
At Doctors Who Create, our podcasts are brought to you by Darlina Liu and Shiv Nadkarni. Music for this episode is credited to the band, Nightfloat. As always, please tweet us (@doctorscreate) with any questions, comments, or feedback!
2020-05-0121 min
The Limitless Life: Create Your Compelling and Vibrant Future#76 How a Physician Became a Top Rated Fiverr Seller and Kickstarted a Tech MagazineIn this episode, I’m joined by David Hindin, he’s a doctor by day, by night a freelance writer who picks up gigs via Fiverr, and a closet tech enthusiast. He’s also created a digital magazine called “Invented Magazine,” which is designed for new entrepreneurs seeking to become tech founders, which he’s successfully crowdfunded on Kickstarter, raising more […]
2016-03-2300 min
The OpenWorld Podcast: Live Without Limits#76 How a Physician Became a Top Rated Fiverr Seller and Kickstarted a Tech MagazineIn this episode, I’m joined by David Hindin, he’s a doctor by day, by night a freelance writer who picks up gigs via Fiverr, and a closet tech enthusiast.
He’s also created a digital magazine called “Invented Magazine," which is designed for new entrepreneurs seeking to become tech founders, which he’s successfully crowdfunded on Kickstarter, raising more than $7,000. He’s also been invited to speak at a forthcoming TEDx talk.
He's an individual who wears many hats and is extremely passionate about entrepreneurship.
David has a stable job as a practicing physician, but felt as though as he wasn't b...
2016-03-2300 min