Medsider Radio: Learn From Proven Medtech And Healthcare Experts

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had a fun conversation with Kevin Eisenfrats, CEO of Contraline. Kevin and his team are developing ADAM, a novel, long-lasting, reversible male contraceptive.Kevin is a first-time entrepreneur and nanomedical engineer from the University of Virginia (UVA) and has been working on contraceptive technologies since his undergrad years. He has amassed over 50 patents in contraceptive drugs, medical devices, and biomaterials. In 2017, he was honored with a place among the Forbes 30 Under 30 in Healthcare.In this interview, Kevin offers insights on how to move swiftly through clinical trials, community-building in medtech, creative fundraising efforts, and the importance of executing thorough scientific and market research.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning from medical device and health technology founders and CEOs, and want to know when new interviews are live, head over to Medsider.com and sign up for our free n

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had an insightful discussion with Dr. Eric Fain, CEO and President of Procyrion — a startup developing an advanced percutaneous mechanical circulatory support device for patients with chronic heart failure.  Eric began his career at Ventritex, a startup focused on implantable defibrillators. Over the next 30 years, and through the company’s acquisition by St. Jude Medical, he has held a number of leadership roles overseeing global sales, marketing, R&D, and clinical, eventually becoming the Group President via St. Jude’s exit to Abbott. In this interview, Eric shares his expertise in managing startup finances, attracting investors through strategic planning, drawing up clear clinical roadmaps, and engaging with payers to catalyze commercialization. Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning from medical device and health technology founders and CEOs, and want to know when new interviews are live, head over to Me

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had a fun chat with Trent Reutiman, CEO of Mercator MedSystems. Trent and his team have developed microinfusion devices with the unique ability to locally and directly deliver targeted therapeutics during catheter-based interventions where mechanical therapy isn’t sufficient.  Trent has 25 years of leadership experience in medtech including roles in sales, marketing, and business management with a focus on minimally invasive interventional products for companies like IDEV, ROX Medical, RITA Medical Systems, Guidant, and Cordis.In this interview, Trent talks about the importance of generating data, how to balance commercial efforts with clinical initiatives, and why meticulous management is critical for successful commercialization. Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning from medical device and health technology founders and CEOs, and want to know when new interviews are live, head over to Medsider.com and sign u

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had an engaging conversation with Marissa Fayer, CEO of DeepLook Medical. This startup is developing AI-powered diagnostic tools that help radiologists detect cancerous lesions in dense tissue.   Marissa has over two decades of experience as a medtech executive, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, spanning companies like Hologic and Olympus. She’s the founder of HERhealthEQ, a non-profit focused on advancing global women's health, and an entrepreneur-in-residence at Graybella Capital and Goddess Gaia Ventures. She’s a TEDx Speaker, a UCSC Miller Center Social Entrepreneur Fellow, and winner of the 2022 First in FemTech award. In this interview, Marissa talks about the basics of product development, how to build iteratively, tips on identifying ideal regulatory pathways, and how she picks her advisors and board members.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning from medical device and health technology founde

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had an enlightening discussion with Dan Rose, former CEO of LimFlow, which recently sold to Inari Medical. The minimally-invasive LimFlow System is designed to bypass blocked arteries in the leg and rush blood back into the foot, potentially avoiding major amputation, resolving pain, and promoting wound healing.A leader with 25 years of experience in the medical device space, Dan has worked in both multinational corporations and startup ventures throughout his career. He holds a BA and an MA from the University of Virginia, and an MBA from the Darden Business School. Most recently, he led LimFlow’s exit to Inari as the company’s CEO and has held pivotal positions at Direct Flow Medical, Sequana Medical, Medtronic, and other medtech companies. In this interview, Dan shares his extensive wisdom on M&A transactions, engaging with investors while maintaining business autonomy, the importance of developing with the ‘average user’ in mind, and the significance of early dial

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down for an engaging chat with Ahmed Zobi, founder and CEO of Syntr Health Technologies, which has developed an automated microfat processing system for use in aesthetics and plastic surgery. The FDA-cleared SyntrFuge device allows clinicians to harvest patients’ adipose tissue and then reinject it as processed microfat within minutes into the desired area, eliminating the use of fillers. Ahmed has a decade of experience in the medical device industry. He advises and mentors many startups, has been recognized as a Forbes Next 1000 Honoree, and is a guest lecturer at the USC Keck School of Medicine. Ahmed also serves as a board member at various organizations, including the Wound Healing Society and the UCI Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.In this interview, Ahmed shares his ideas on the risks and rewards of entrepreneurship, how to operate in a lean fashion, why he puts regulatory clearance above all, and how he managed to be the youngest candidate to receiv

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had an engaging conversation with Bill Snyder, CEO of Vivante Health, a startup commercializing an all-in-one digital platform for digestive health conditions. GIThrive is a platform that combines data-driven technology with a team of physicians, registered dietitians, and health coaches to deliver personalized care. With over 15 years of experience in healthcare technology, Bill's background includes building and leading national sales efforts at Virta Health and overseeing their health plan practice. Previously, he spent 11 years at Humana in various leadership roles, including Vice President of the company's greater Chicago region.In this interview, Bill talks about the importance of finding where your company stands in the overall healthcare ecosystem, why clinical outcomes and sorting out reimbursement are critical to survival, and his experiences raising capital for Vivante.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into le

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had a fun and insightful conversation with Benjamin Sexson, co-founder and CEO of Monogram Orthopedics. At Monogram, Ben and his team are developing a fully autonomous robotic system for knee replacement surgery.  Benjamin's tenure at Pro-Dex, one of the world's top manufacturers of orthopedic robotic components, eventually brought him to lead the development and launch of Monogram’s flagship product mBôs. Ben has authored multiple patents and previously founded Brides & Hairpins, a successful B2B retail brand. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with honors from Caltech and is a CFA charterholder.In this interview, Ben talks about the importance of a good team and a liberating company culture as well as the importance of believing in what you’re doing and openly reassessing its validity regularly. He also elaborates on Monogram’s daring strategies for validating its technology and walks us through the pros and cons of crowdfunding and going public.

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had an inspiring discussion with  Dr. Steven Mickelsen, CEO of Field Medical, which is developing the next generation of pulse field ablation (PFA) technology to address ventricular arrhythmias.Starting out his career as a professional musician, Steven made a pivotal shift in his late twenties and ventured into the world of medicine. As a practicing electrophysiology (EP) physician, he has combined his medical expertise with an entrepreneurial spirit to revolutionize cardiac care. Steven made significant strides in the development of pulse field ablation (PFA) treatment with one of his previous companies, Farapulse, which sold to Boston Scientific.In this episode, Dr. Mickelsen shares his hard-earned wisdom on how limited means can breed resourcefulness, how to build a modest yet effective prototype, why having real expertise in clinical and regulatory spheres is a necessity, and how to raise funds with a win-win mindset.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to men

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had a riveting conversation with Anish Kaushal, an ex-physician turned healthcare investor at Amplitude Ventures, one of Canada's leading healthcare VC firms. Anish's engagement with venture capital began at M Ventures in Amsterdam, a corporate VC fund of Merck KGaA, where he quickly developed a passion for the field. Outside of his professional pursuits, Anish is an avid reader and writer who has published over 900 articles and summarized 250 books across 50 categories. He has also authored two books, the latest of which is From Here To There: A Niche Guide to Navigating Career Transitions. In this interview, Anish reveals vital fundraising strategies from a VC’s perspective, offers practical tips for crafting pitch decks that capture attention, discusses why always being in the mode of seeking funds is so important, expands on the value of building extensive networks, and talks about the cumulative effect of small improvements. He also provides guidance on staying open

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Abhita Batra, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Neuro42. The company recently received 510(k) clearance for its portable head and brain MRI system, which integrates MRI, AI, and robotics in one platform.Abhita holds a B.E. in Biotechnology from Panjab University, an M.S. in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology from the University of Pennsylvania, and Executive MBAs from UCLA Anderson and the National University of Singapore. Before Neuro42, she started several companies and held a variety of roles in business development and strategic consulting with organizations such as Otomagnetics and Admac Oncology. Her expertise spans across oncology, biotech, and medical devices. In this interview, Abhita talks about her approach to building strategy at early-stage companies, the importance of a good team and thorough market analysis, and how to take a nuanced approach with regulatory bodies. Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, i

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had an engaging conversation with Ananth Ravi, CEO of MOLLI Surgical, a medtech startup that has developed an award-winning, wire-free soft tissue localization technology for breast cancer surgery.Growing up in Zambia, Ananth lost his best friend to treatable brain cancer, which ignited his passion for creating equitable and innovative cancer care solutions. Before founding MOLLI Surgical, he served as a medical physicist at Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Center and as clinical operations lead in brachytherapy. He held faculty appointments at Sunnybrook Research Institute, the University of Toronto, and Toronto Metropolitan University. He is also a co-inventor on numerous patents and holds several grants for medical devices. In this interview, Ananth unpacks his story, touching upon the benefits of being in close contact with a medical ecosystem, the importance of intuitive design, the ideal role of regulatory consultants, and the funding strategies he employs for MOLLI. Before

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Harlee Sorkin, CEO of InterShunt Technologies, a startup developing a minimally invasive catheter designed to treat heart failure. By improving blood flow and lessening the heart's workload via a shunt, the company's technology holds promise for easing heart failure symptoms.Harlee is a co-founder of Common Place Holdings, a venture studio that has spun out eight medtech startups, including InterShunt. Before Common Place, Harlee led Traco Labs, a health and nutrition ingredient manufacturer, to a successful exit. He also served as the Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he focused on translating research ideas into commercially viable applications. In this interview, Harlee delves into the nuances of leading an early-stage medtech company and covers essential topics such as development prioritization and capital fundraising. He also shares what it’s like to navigate clinical and regulatory challenges as a fi

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had an insightful discussion with Patrick Anquetil, CEO of Portal Instruments, a company developing a novel needle-free drug delivery system. This cutting-edge technology promises to revolutionize how medications are administered, making the process less invasive, more precise, and more comfortable for patients. Patrick brings over 20 years of experience leading bioengineering companies from concept to commercial success. Before Portal, he co-founded two medtech startups, SynapDx and Aretais. Patrick holds a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, and advanced degrees from Harvard Business School, ETH Zurich, and the University of Tokyo. His scientific achievements have been featured in top journals and media outlets such as MIT Technology Review, Wired Magazine, PBS, and CNBC.In this interview, Patrick talks about how he landed on Portal’s business model, how their team condenses timelines across key company functions, and why their diverse set of partners is a gol

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Tess Cosad, a femtech enthusiast and CEO of Béa Fertility. Béa offers effective, hormone-free, affordable, at-home fertility treatments and ovulation tracking as an alternative to traditional clinic-based offerings. Before Béa, Tess founded Emberson Ventures, a B2B marketing agency, and Hers By Design, a femtech company. She was also the first woman to lead a digital marketing-focused accelerator program in Saudi Arabia.In this interview, Tess delves into the challenges and triumphs of launching a consumer-facing product, the importance of a solid design team, how to be comfortable making decisions with imperfect information, and the lessons she learned about being a CEO while raising funds.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning from medical device and health technology founders and CEOs, and want to know when new interviews are live, head over to Medsider.com and sign up for our free newsletter.Se

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had an awesome chat with  Carla Spina, the pioneering force behind Noa Therapeutics. Carla and her team are developing treatments for inflammatory skin diseases with their innovative multimodal small-molecule therapies.Carla began her academic journey at the University of Calgary in the fields of inorganic and analytical chemistry, and continued with a Ph.D. in Bioinorganic Chemistry at McGill University. After going to BASF in Germany to develop pharmaceutical formulations, Carla returned to Canada and led the development and global commercialization of antimicrobial wound care devices. Later, she also pioneered first-in-class pharmaceuticals for inflammatory and infectious skin diseases. Currently, she spearheads Noa Therapeutics, a Canadian biotech firm that is transforming how immune diseases are treated.In this episode, Carla shares her invaluable experiences on the importance of engaging actively with the startup ecosystem and staying connected with those who are sh

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had a fascinating discussion with Daniel Powel, CEO of Spark Biomedical, the company behind Sparrow Ascent, a drug-free wearable device to combat opioid withdrawal symptoms. It is also advancing neurostimulation technology to address Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome. Daniel found his true passion in medical devices, specifically neurostimulation, in 2006 and has since launched multiple products in the space for companies like St. Jude Medical, LivaNova, and Getinge. He co-founded Spark Biomedical in 2018, which now has two FDA-cleared devices to treat opioid addiction.In this interview, Daniel shares key insights from his journey: the importance of testing ideas and creating a MVP, diversifying funding sources, and how to make informed regulatory decisions.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning from medical device and health technology founders and CEOs, and want to know when new interviews are live, head ove

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had an enlightening conversation with Ken Mariash, a leading figure in the neuromodulation space and the CEO of Sinaptica Therapeutics, where his team is developing groundbreaking treatments for Alzheimer's disease. Their device delivers non-invasive neuromodulation therapy to key networks of the brain and has shown unprecedented improvement in treating this debilitating disease. Ken's two decades of experience leading sophisticated organizations has taken him from management consulting at Charles River Associates to significant roles at CSL, Baxter, and Boston Scientific. During his time at Boston, Ken was instrumental in commercialization and strategy development in the company’s $1B neuromodulation division. In this interview, Ken shares his time-tested wisdom, covering a range of topics from kick-starting a venture and how to approach M&A transactions, to mastering commercialization and best practices for engaging with investors.Before we dive into the discussion,

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had an insightful conversation with Dave Rosa, President and CEO of NeuroOne, a company developing high-definition, minimally invasive neurology devices utilizing unique thin-film electrode technology. Dave brings over three decades of experience in the medical device industry. His career spans several key roles at major firms like C.R. Bard, Boston Scientific, and St. Jude Medical, focusing on marketing, product development, strategy, and commercialization. Dave has several medical device patents to his name, has served on numerous corporate boards, and raised over $200 million in the capital markets. He holds an MBA from Duquesne University and a BS in Commerce and Engineering from Drexel University.In this interview, Dave discusses critical strategies to secure initial capital even before early development and regulatory milestones are achieved, how to leverage networks to connect with potential investors; and the importance of assembling a supportive and experienced t

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with John Bertrand, the CEO of Digital Diagnostics, a company that is pioneering AI healthcare systems. Its flagship product, LumineticsCore, is an algorithm that autonomously diagnoses patients with diabetic retinopathy. John's career started at Epic Systems, where he rapidly advanced through various roles, focusing on product and business development. His expertise in digital healthcare, honed at Epic, led to his role at 8VC, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm, where he concentrated on artificial intelligence in medical imaging. Eventually joining Digital Diagnostics as CEO, John combined his extensive industry experience with a passion for innovative healthcare technology solutions.In this interview, John shares his insights on aligning products with real-world needs, the importance of stakeholder engagement for adoption and long-term success, and strategies for navigating the extended sales cycles in healthcare technology. Before we dive into the discussio