The Healthtech Podcast

Madeleine Ballard, CEO of the Community Health Impact Coalition (CHIC), is a global health advocate dedicated to professionalizing community health workers. She recounts her journey from HIV activism to founding CHIC, highlighting how community networks improved HIV outcomes in Liberia. Madeleine discusses the need for political organizing to advance CHW policy, financing challenges, and the importance of integrating CHWs into national health systems. She emphasizes the role of trust in healthcare and warns against the risks of neglecting human connection in an increasingly tech-driven world.

James is joined by Rafaël Michali, co-founder and co-CEO of SAVA. SAVA is redefining the way people interact with their health by developing the most advanced biosensing technology science has to offer, capable of accessing bodily information in a painless, real-time and affordable way.Connect with Rafaël: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafa%C3%ABl-michali-656136101/Learn more: https://www.sava.health/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.com

Sam Winward, co-founder and CEO of Pastel Health, is revolutionizing chronic pain care in the NHS. With a rich background in medicine and healthtech, he explains how Pastel merges brick-and-mortar and remote services for better patient experiences. Delving into the challenges of unit economics with previous roles at Babylon, he shares insights on value-based care and the importance of clinician fulfillment. Sam highlights the urgent need for efficient care packages, driven by AI, to enhance service quality while ensuring quick access and empowerment for patients.

In the second episode of this two-part series, James is joined by Dr. Ross Harper, CEO and co-founder of Limbic. Limbic is developing clinical-grade AI tools for mental health care, designed to be deployed in clinical settings. Their goal is to enhance the capacity of trained professionals and help meet the overwhelming demand for mental health services.Listen to Part 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7wTwZ1SjfFsjy4IKkcOIzEConnect with Ross: https://www.linkedin.com/in/refharper/Learn more: https://www.limbic.ai/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comChapters00:00 Introduction to Limbic and AI in Healthcare04:01 The Role of AI in Treatment09:28 ChatGPT vs. Clinical AI: The Debate16:49 Human + AI: A Better Care Model19:43 Scaling Mental Health Services with AI26:09 Adapting Healthcare Models for AI36:57 Ensuring Clinical Rigor in AI Solutions

Oscar Ferguson, a former doctor and now the CEO of Deaku, shares his compelling journey from medicine to health content creation. He discusses how his medical background shapes his understanding of creator challenges. The conversation dives into the nuances of long-form versus short-form content, addressing audience trust and retention. Oscar highlights the importance of collaboration tools for creators and warns of AI's role in misinformation. Finally, he encourages clinicians to define their missions and supports networking during career transitions.

Hannah Madan joins us to share a rollercoaster journey of co-founding Prima Mente— an AI-driven neuroscience company building foundations models for the brain. This episode is packed with thought-provoking insights, including:— The biological hypothesis behind Prima Mente that "No one believed was true"— How Hannah made it by doing "just enough", not by being a top student— A baptism by fire— landing her first role as Chief of Staff and flying out for a YC launch party on her 25th birthday— Prima Mente's "Ecosystem plays" and atypical competitive strategies— Hannah's unique focus on the people she works with— deep personal understanding and fostering reflective behaviour — A decentralised vision for the future of healthcareConnect with Hannah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahmadan/Learn more: https://www.primamente.com/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comChapters:00:00:00 Welcome to the Health Tech Podcast00:01:23 Uncovering Novel Biology in the Neurodegenerative Space00:02:03 Primemente's Integrated Approach: Clinical Studies, Wet Lab, and Machine Learning00:03:22 Early Life 00:04:38 Undergraduate Studies00:08:58 PhD Research: The Link Between Diet, Diabetes, and Bowel Cancer00:12:23 Chief of Staff at Cambridge Cancer Genomics (CCG) and YC00:15:10 CCG's Mission: Liquid Biopsies for Cancer Treatment Monitoring00:19:05 The Road to Prima Mente00:22:19 Establishing Team Culture: Communication, Self-Reflection, and Growth00:27:13 Scientific Hypothesis: Cell-Free DNA and Epigenetics in Neurodegenerative Conditions00:30:03 Technical Approach: Using Transformer Architecture and Foundation Models00:33:47 The Pleiades Model and Diagnostic Accuracy00:34:56 The Sandbox Study: Pushing for Earlier Diagnosis00:37:47 Future Strategy: Focusing on Novel Clinically Actionable Targets

This week, James is joined by Dr. Declan Kelly, founder of Eolas Medical, a platform tackling one of healthcare’s most overlooked problems: knowledge management.Eolas Medical helps clinicians access the right information instantly at the point of care. Used by NHS Trusts, clinical teams, and individual practitioners, the platform consolidates essential medical knowledge from trusted sources—guidelines, protocols, and internal documents—into one simple, intuitive system.Connect with Declan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/declan-kelly-484bb7187/Learn more: https://www.eolasmedical.com/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.com

Daniel Månsson, Chief Clinical Officer and founder of Flow Neuroscience, shares insights into the world of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as an innovative therapy for major depressive disorder. He discusses the promising safety profile of tDCS, comparing its efficacy to traditional antidepressants. Månsson also highlights the rigorous trials that validated its effectiveness and the potential of Flow's treatment as a first-line option for mild to moderate depression. Additionally, he explores the future of personalized mental health interventions.

Dan Jamieson, Founder and CEO of Biorelate, shares insights on leveraging AI for drug discovery. He discusses how his PhD led to a partnership with Pfizer, boosting their target proposal success. Jamieson explains the significance of connecting disparate research to unveil new hypotheses and the evolution of Biorelate’s services into a scalable licensing model. He emphasizes the crucial role of domain expertise in tackling complex biomedical challenges, while highlighting AI's ability to complement, not replace, human scientists in this innovative field.

Mark Kendall, a leading biomedical engineer and founder of WearOptimo, shares his groundbreaking insights on microneedle technology. He discusses the evolution from rocket vaccine delivery to wearable microneedles that monitor hydration in real time. Mark explains the significance of skin as a major indicator of hydration and how his innovative sensors outperform traditional blood draws in clinical trials. He also highlights the potential applications in sports and chronic care, emphasizing the need for early detection in health management.