The Heart of Healthcare | A Digital Health Podcast
Lessons from an $11B Healthcare Exit | Oak Street Health Founder Mike Pykosz
Feb 24, 2025
Mike Pykosz, co-founder of Oak Street Health, shares his unconventional journey from aspiring doctor to healthcare entrepreneur. He discusses the challenges of scaling an 'unprofitable' care model and emphasizes focusing on patient outcomes over profits. Pykosz highlights the critical role of co-founders in creating a shared vision while reflecting on the complexities of taking a company public during COVID. He also addresses the current state of value-based care and the lessons learned in transforming healthcare delivery.
31:38
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Quick takeaways
- Mike Pykos highlights the importance of designing healthcare systems from the ground up to prioritize quality outcomes over traditional profit models.
- The challenges faced during Oak Street Health's transition to a public company illustrate the critical need to uphold foundational values amid market pressures.
Deep dives
Mike Picos' Unconventional Journey to Entrepreneurship
Mike Picos' path to becoming a successful healthcare entrepreneur was marked by unexpected turns, initially pursuing a career in medicine before shifting to law and eventually business consulting. After realizing he didn’t want to practice law, he joined Boston Consulting Group, where he worked on healthcare-related cases during the transition period of the Affordable Care Act. This pivotal time revealed significant gaps in primary care, sparking the idea for Oak Street Health and a better model to serve patients. He and his co-founders saw a unique opportunity to create a primary care model aimed at high-needs populations, leading to the establishment of a new healthcare venture.
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