
The Heart of Healthcare | A Digital Health Podcast
The Real Reason the Teladoc-Livongo Merger Went Sideways | Scrub Capital Co-Founder Rebecca Mitchell, MD
Mar 17, 2025
Rebecca Mitchell, co-founder of Scrub Capital and former product leader at Livongo and Teladoc, shares insights on the turbulent $18.5 billion merger between the two companies and the lessons learned from its underwhelming performance. She emphasizes the vital role of physician innovators in healthcare and how incorporating clinical expertise leads to better products. Mitchell also discusses her journey from rural Wisconsin to venture capital, advocating for collaboration across the healthcare landscape to enhance patient care solutions.
45:48
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Quick takeaways
- The Teladoc-Livongo merger illustrates that cultural compatibility and realistic expectations are crucial for successful healthcare integrations.
- Rebecca Mitchell emphasizes the importance of clinician involvement in product development to create effective and user-friendly healthcare technologies.
Deep dives
Rebecca Mitchell's Journey and Motivation in Healthcare
Rebecca Mitchell's career journey is shaped by her experiences in rural Wisconsin, where she witnessed significant healthcare challenges, such as high teen pregnancy rates and inaccessible specialist care. Her early exposure to healthcare failures, including the tragic losses of two family members due to medical errors, motivated her drive for change in the system. Rebecca's experience at UCSF inspired her to advocate for a healthcare model that effectively integrates technology with clinical practice. This desire to improve healthcare delivery led her to shift from clinical product roles to a venture capital focus, where she aims to create better healthcare solutions by elevating the voices of clinicians.
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