Medtech Talk

In this episode of Medtech Talk, host Geoff Pardo speaks with Dr. Liz Kwo, chief commercial officer at Everly Health, about how she got started in the medtech field, her experience at InfiniteMD, and the lessons learned along the way. They also discuss Dr. Kwo’s new book Digital MD: Revolutionizing the Future of Healthcare, which provides an in-depth look at ROI development, how organizations think, sell, and build partnerships, and more. Dr. Kwo also shares her thoughts on the difference between efficacy and effectiveness, customer profiles, the changing role of the consumer (especially when considering data and AI), and what she anticipates in the next 20 years. 

In this special episode of Medtech Talk, host Geoff Pardo interviews Raymond W. Cohen, CEO of Axonics and winner of the Medtech MVP 2024 Award. The MVP Award recognizes an individual for extraordinary contributions to a medtech company that has successfully advanced an important new product and delivered strong financial returns. This year's award honors Cohen for his visionary leadership and innovative solutions that have propelled Axonics to the forefront of the industry. The pair explore Axonic’s groundbreaking technology, the importance of neuromodulation, and Cohen’s storied career, including focusing on key decisions that led him to become an entrepreneur and ultimately the leader of one of the most successful venture-backed medtech companies of our time. 

In this episode of Medtech Talk, host Geoff Pardo speaks with Darshana Zaveri, founder & managing partner of Catalyst Health Ventures, about her entry and journey to medtech and venture capital. Zaveri discusses how she approached her first deal, why treating others with kindness and dignity is the key to good networking, and the qualities she looks for in entrepreneurs, particularly in the early stages of a company’s evolution. She also relays her time as CEO of Lantos Technologies, the hard but valuable lessons she learned, and how she applies those experiences to investing. 

In this episode of Medtech Talk, host Geoff Pardo and Conor Hanley, PhD, CEO of FIRE1, discuss various topics ranging from leadership to entrepreneurship to raising funds. Hanely also talks about lessons learned about raising capital at BiancaMed, how he keeps investors on the same page, how he utilizes his board and partnerships, and how he assimilates other people’s perspectives while taking on a position. He also delves into his viewpoint on patient compliance, what attracted him to healthcare in the first place, and how Ireland transformed from an economic low point to the Celtic Tiger.  Medtech Talk boiler: The Medtech Talk Podcast explores the lives and stories of the people behind some of the greatest advancements in healthcare. Gilde Healthcare General Partner and podcast host, Geoff Pardo invites listeners to see themselves in the journeys of the greatest entrepreneurs, investors, and executives changing the landscape of medtech to save patients and innovate healthcare for future generations.      

Serial medtech inventor Rodney Perkins shares his journey in entrepreneurship and the importance of innovation in medical device development. He discusses navigating challenges, understanding one's skillset, and the significance of social interaction and cognitive health in entrepreneurship. Perkins also highlights the impact of passion, self-care, and persistence for success in the healthcare industry.

Amr Salahieh, CEO of Shifamed, shares tips on successful entrepreneurship in the medtech sector. He discusses finding the right markets, handling investors, overcoming challenges, and Shifamed's sustainability. Salahieh offers insights on the biggest obstacle in medtech today and how his company differs from others.

Dr. Nolan Williams from Stanford University discusses electrical signaling abnormalities in the brain as a factor in mental illnesses and new treatments for depression. He explores the challenges of managing patients with suicidal thoughts and how personalized connectivity-based targeting metrics can revolutionize treatment for Major Depressive Disorder, leading to significant improvement in just a few days.

Justin Klein, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Vensana Capital, discusses his investment strategy and experiences in the medtech industry. He shares his journey into venture capital, his passion for new technologies, and the importance of simplicity in medtech business and investment. He also reflects on his time at NEA and provides insights on the challenges faced by entrepreneurs.

How does one navigate the difficult road of entrepreneurship? How do you find the right industry for you? In this episode of Medtech Talk, host Geoff Pardo speaks with serial founder and med device CEO Keegan Harper, about overcoming the challenges of being your own boss and finding what you’re good at. Harper discusses what inspired him to become an entrepreneur, how he became interested and involved in medtech, and his experiences managing several start-up companies. He also details how he found his knack for choosing technology to invest in and develop, meeting the right people, figuring out the build-to-buy system, and his experiences at multiple companies, including Ablation Frontiers, TheraCardia, Bird Flex, and, now, Bolt Medical.   

Ceribell’s rapid seizure triage product for critical care received FDA’s Breakthrough Designation with an exclusive New Technology Add-on Payment (NTAP) from CMS. Everything about the ClarityPro product—from the innovative EEG headband to the EEG recorder and physician portal has been engineered to enable quick detection and response to non-convulsive seizure in a critical care or ED setting. In this episode of the Medtech Talk podcast, host Geoff Pardo speaks with Jane Chao, CEO of Ceribell, about the path to develop an innovative new product and her personal journey as well.Chao’s own story started with a love of numbers, a highly exclusive spot earned in a prestigious chemistry program in Beijing, a Ph.D. in biophysics, and roles at McKinsey, Novartis, and Genentech. For Ceribell’s genesis, Chao took lessons from all of those experiences—business knowledge gained at McKinsey, and a rich, interdisciplinary scientific background—to launch a new medtech business and engineer a new device to meet a critical, unmet medical need. Medtech Talk Links:  Cambridge Healthtech Institute   Medtech Talk Gilde Healthcare