Digital Health Heavyweights

Welcome back to The Digital Health Heavyweights Podcast for episode 44. In today’s episode, Norm Volsky interviews Peter Bridges, the former Chief Commercial Officer at Ginger, a successful digital health company. Peter shares his experience at Ginger and discusses the challenges and successes he encountered during his time there. He emphasizes the importance of hiring great talent, having a clear focus, and building a strong sales culture. Peter also highlights the significance of mindset, listening skills, and intention in sales interactions. In this conversation, Norm and Peter discuss the importance of being congruent and present in sales interactions. They emphasize the need to listen actively and focus on the other person's best interest. They also highlight the significance of having discipline and consistency in sales, as well as setting clear goals and understanding the value proposition for the other party. Peter shares his insights on hiring introverts for sales roles and the importance of storytelling in capturing attention. They also discuss the key qualities of successful salespeople, such as optimism, resilience, and the ability to ask insightful questions. Peter provides practical tips for salespeople, including bringing up the topic of budget early in the conversation and asking evidence and impact questions to demonstrate value. They also touch on the importance of understanding the decision-making process and tailoring the conversation to the client's needs. Finally, they discuss their personal approaches to wellness, including exercise and rest. Takeaways🌟 Hiring great talent is crucial for success in the digital health industry.🎯 Having a clear focus and strategy is essential for scaling and growth.🏆 Building a strong sales culture requires investing in the development of salespeople and creating a shared mindset.💡 Mindset, listening skills, and intention play a significant role in sales interactions. Be congruent and present in sales interactions, actively listening and focusing on the other person's best interest.🔑 Have discipline and consistency in sales, doing what needs to be done every single time.🎯 Set clear goals and understand the value proposition for the other party.🤝 Hire introverts for sales roles, as they tend to be less self-centered and better listeners.📚 Use storytelling to captivate attention and leave a lasting impression.✨ Key qualities of successful salespeople include optimism, resilience, and the ability to ask insightful questions.💬 Bring up the topic of budget early in the conversation and ask evidence and impact questions to demonstrate value.🎯 Understand the decision-making process and tailor the conversation to the client's needs.🌱 Practice wellness through exercise and rest. Sound Bites"Hiring great talent is crucial for success in the digital health industry.""Having a clear focus and strategy is essential for scaling and growth.""Building a strong sales culture requires investing in the development of salespeople and creating a shared mindset.""How do I show up? How do I not just listen until I hear something that I can talk about?""Being a great salesman is not rocket science. It's having the discipline to do it every single time.""Go in, what am I trying to accomplish? Does it align with the other person's best interest?" Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background01:30 Success and Evolution of Ginger07:08 Challenges and Successes at Ginger09:21 Key Success Factors anFollow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

Welcome back to the Digital Health Heavyweights podcast for episode 43.In today’s sit-down, Norm Volsky interviews Bill Georges, a partner on AlleyCorp's healthcare team. Bill shares his career journey in healthcare and his role at AlleyCorp. He discusses the mission of AlleyCorp and its impact on the healthcare landscape. Bill also talks about his experience at Blue Cross Blue Shield in New Jersey and how it has shaped his perspective as an investor. He shares insights into strategic discussions that shape healthcare organizations and highlights the importance of being nimble and having founder-market fit. Bill also mentions some of the successful investments made by AlleyCorp. In this conversation, Bill Georges discusses two companies that AlleyCorp has incubated: Pearl Health and Lilac. He emphasizes the need for a supportive ecosystem to build successful value-based care companies and highlights the resistance to change in the payer ecosystem. Bill also shares the importance of followership and the traits he looks for in founders. He mentions that AlleyCorp sources deals through its network and emphasizes the need for founders to be ready to address the hot buttons of early-stage venture capitalists. Bill also talks about reducing stress through cycling and racing cars. Takeaways👨‍💼 Bill Georges leads investments and incubations related to the payer ecosystem at AlleyCorp.  🏢 AlleyCorp is an operating company that focuses on early-stage investing and company building.🏥 Bill's experience at Blue Cross Blue Shield in New Jersey has informed his role as an investor.🔄 Strategic discussions in healthcare organizations require nimbleness and the ability to fail fast.🎯 Founder-market fit is an important factor in successful investments.🚀 AlleyCorp has incubated companies like Pearl Health and Lilac, focusing on building a supportive ecosystem for successful value-based care companies.🛑 The payer ecosystem faces resistance to change, hindering the adoption of value-based care.👥 Followership is an important trait in founders, as they need to be able to attract talented individuals to join their startup despite the risks and sacrifices involved.🔍 AlleyCorp sources deals through its network and looks for founders who are ready to address the hot buttons of early-stage venture capitalists.🚴‍♂️ Reducing stress can be achieved through activities like cycling and racing cars.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Career Journey03:05 Alley Corp: Early-Stage Investing and Company Building06:19 Strategic Discussions and Founder Stories09:02 The Importance of Being Nimble and Failing Fast25:07 Exciting Investments in Alley Corp's Portfolio25:36 Challenges and Opportunities in the Healthcare Industry26:42 The Importance of Value-Based Care and Innovation32:08 The Resistance to Change in the Payer Ecosystem35:08 What AlleyCorp Looks for in Founders39:51 Deal Sourcing and Supporting Portfolio Companies42:27 The Significance of Pattern Recognition in Venture Capital44:25 Advice for Founders Raising Funds46:22 Strategies for Reducing Stress and Staying Active48:08 OutroFollow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

Welcome back for Episode 42 of the Digital Health Heavyweights PodcastToday, Norm is joined by Cody Fair, Chief Commercial Officer at Noom, who shares his sales career journey and the challenges and successes he experienced at Paychex and Springbuk. Cody discusses the differences between selling HR tech and health and benefits, emphasizing the focus on outcomes in the latter. Cody also highlights the importance of cultural fit when hiring and building a team. He then talks about his transition to Noom and the impact of the company's weight loss management platform on people's lives. Cody shares the challenges and accomplishments of building the B2B side of Noom and the inspiring customer stories that keep him motivated. Noom has changed the lives of many individuals battling obesity or pre-obesity. The program focuses on behavior change and has been successful in helping people lose weight and maintain it. Weight loss has a significant impact on various aspects of life, including life expectancy, quality of life, mental health, and musculoskeletal health. Noom differentiates itself from other weight management programs by its expertise in behavior change and its focus on supporting individuals taking GLP-1 medications. In the next five years, Noom aims to continue its growth and innovation, particularly in the employer, health plan, and health system spaces. One of Cody’s favorite customer stories is the partnership with Accolade, where a thoughtful program was developed to benefit Accolade's clients. Sales leaders in the healthcare industry face challenges such as vendor fatigue and the need to deliver clear value propositions in virtual meetings. To be successful in sales, continuous improvement is crucial, and dedicating 30 minutes a day to learning and getting better is recommended. Entrepreneurs in the healthcare industry should do thorough research, have mentors, and surround themselves with smart people. The crucial traits for founders to be successful include taking risks, believing in their ideas, and persevering through obstacles. Cody Fair, the guest speaker, practices what he preaches by prioritizing wellness, exercising, and eating healthy. He shares a quick and healthy recipe of ground turkey with peppers, onions, and various vegetables served over rice.Takeways🌐 Cultural fit is crucial when hiring and building a team.  📈 Selling health and benefits requires a focus on outcomes.  🔄 Building the B2B side of a B2C company comes with its challenges.  🏋️‍♂️ Noom's weight loss management platform has had a significant impact on people's lives.  👥 Customer stories and feedback can be a powerful motivator. Noom has been successful in helping individuals battling obesity or pre-obesity to lose weight and maintain it through behavior change.  🍏 Weight loss has a significant impact on various aspects of life, including life expectancy, quality of life, mental health, and musculoskeletal health.  🧠 Noom differentiates itself by its expertise in behavior change and its focus on supporting individuals taking GLP-1 medications.  🚀 In the next five years, Noom aims to continue its growth and innovation, particularly in the employer, health plan, and health system spaces.  💼 Sales leaders in the healthcare industry face challenges such as vendor fatigue and the need to deliver clear value propositions in virtual meetings.  📚 Continuous improvement is crucial for sales success and dedicating 30 minutes a day to learning and getting better is recommended.  🔍 Entrepreneurs in the healthcare industry should do thorough reFollow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

Welcome back for episode 41 of the Digital Health Heavyweights Podcast! Today Norm sits down with Maria-Helen Maras, venture and growth investor at Kinnevik AB. Maria shares her insights on healthcare technology, venture capital, and her career journey. She discusses her experience in consultancy, her role as the chief of staff at Pelago, and the focus of Kinnevik in healthcare and biosciences. She also highlights the traits of successful founders and the future of healthcare startups. Maria shares her insights and experiences in the healthcare investment space, discussing the impact of public offerings, the importance of urgency and storytelling, and the key ingredients of a compelling investment pitch. She also delves into deal sourcing, evaluation criteria, and the challenges of the venture capital landscape. Additionally, she provides valuable advice for founders and offers bold predictions for the future of digital health. The conversation concludes with a discussion on personal wellness and healthy eating.Takeaways  🏥🔬 The intersection of technology and science in healthcare presents significant opportunities for disruption and transformation.  🚀💪 Successful founders in healthcare need to be fast learners, persevering, and deeply motivated to make a difference in the complex healthcare industry.  💼💉 Kinnevik's focus on healthcare and biosciences reflects a long-term view of investing and a commitment to supporting companies across their growth stages.  🤝💼 The role of a chief of staff at a startup involves cross-functional working, communication, and knowledge capture, providing valuable insights into the challenges and successes of building a business. 🤝💼 💸⏱️ The funding process for healthcare startups involves a tight and fast process, reflecting the competitive nature of the market and the importance of founder-friendly support from investors. The impact of public offerings on perspectives and urgency in healthcare investment.  🌟💡 The key ingredients of a compelling investment pitch: big vision, engaging founders, clear story, clear plan, and a mix of qualitative and quantitative information.  💼🔍 The importance of deal sourcing, evaluation criteria, and the challenges of the venture capital landscape.  🤖🏥 Bold predictions for the future of digital health, including personalized healthcare and the integration of AI in medical practice. 🤖🏥 🍎🧘‍♂️ The significance of personal wellness and healthy eating in maintaining a balanced lifestyle, especially in high-stress professions. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Healthcare Technology and Venture Capital03:03 Career Journey and Consulting Experience05:59 The Role of a Chief of Staff at a Startup09:00 Kinnevik's Focus on Healthcare and Biosciences21:05 The Future of Healthcare Startups45:16 Balancing Wellness and High-Stress Professions Follow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

Welcome back for episode 40 of the Digital Health Heavyweights Podcast.In today’s episode, Norm interviews Pam Pure, CEO of Posterity Health. Pam shares her background in healthcare and her inspiration to get into the industry. She discusses her experiences leading Channel Health within Allscripts and her time as President and EVP at McKesson Technologies. Pam also talks about her role as interim CEO of Nurse Grid and the sale of the company to HealthStream. Finally, she explains her excitement to join Posterity Health and the importance of addressing male fertility in healthcare. Posterity Health aims to unite couples in the fertility journey by providing comprehensive care for both partners. They offer a hybrid model of digital and in-person care, personalized treatment plans, and integration with OB-GYNs and fertility centers. They partner with women's fertility companies like Progyny, Maeve, Carrot, WINFertility, and Kindbody to provide consistent care for male reproductive health. Posterity Health has made male fertility care more accessible and affordable, and they are expanding into hormone management for men. The CEO emphasizes the importance of perseverance, building a team of champions, and understanding the customer in building a successful company culture. The company's goal is to be the male partner for reproductive health services and drive a sea change in how couples approach conception. Takeaways👩‍⚕️ Pam Pure has a strong background in digital healthcare and has held leadership positions at various companies in the industry.👩‍💼 She emphasizes the importance of focusing on the customer and hiring talented individuals to create successful teams.🚀 Pam played a key role in the development of Relay Health, a company focused on connectivity in healthcare.🏥 She is currently the CEO of Posterity Health, a company addressing male fertility in healthcare.👶 Pam believes that addressing male fertility is crucial and can lead to faster and more cost-effective treatments for couples trying to conceive. Posterity Health aims to unite couples in the fertility journey by providing comprehensive care for both partners.💻 They offer a hybrid model of digital and in-person care, personalized treatment plans, and integration with OB-GYNs and fertility centers.🤝 They partner with women's fertility companies to provide consistent care for male reproductive health.💰 Posterity Health has made male fertility care more accessible and affordable, and they are expanding into hormone management for men.🏆 The CEO emphasizes the importance of perseverance, building a team of champions, and understanding the customer in building a successful company culture.🎯 The company's goal is to be the male partner for reproductive health services and drive a sea change in how couples approach conception. Follow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

Welcome back for Episode 39 of the Digital Health Heavyweights Podcast. In today’s episode, Norm sits down with Russell Glass, CEO of Headspace, who shares his experience as an entrepreneur and leader in the healthcare and tech industries. He discusses the importance of culture, focus, and building a great team in driving success. Russell also emphasizes the need for founders to be optimistic, curious, and intentional about the culture they create. Russell highlights the challenges and complexities of building a digital health product, including navigating regulatory and payer landscapes. He also shares his insights on the explosive growth of Ginger and the importance of getting the core model right before scaling in healthcare. Russ and Norm discuss the importance of distribution and marketing in determining the success of a product. He explains that the best product doesn't always win, and that in healthcare, distribution is even more crucial. Russ also shares his experience of joining Ginger and leading it through a period of growth and transformation. He highlights the accomplishments he is most proud of, including rebuilding the team and growing the company's care team. He also discusses the merger between Ginger and Headspace and the benefits it brings to the member experience. Russ concludes by sharing his personal practices for wellness, including meditation, walking meetings, and intentional time management. Takeaways 🌟 Culture, focus, and building a great team are key to driving success in entrepreneurship.🔍 Founders should be optimistic, curious, and intentional about the culture they create.💻 Building a digital health product requires navigating complex regulatory and payer landscapes.🔑 Getting the core model right before scaling is crucial in healthcare.💡 The best product doesn't always win in the healthcare industry. The best product doesn't always win in the market. Distribution, marketing, and access play a crucial role in determining success.🏥 In healthcare, distribution is even more important than in other industries. Removing friction and making it easy for people to access a product or service is key.🔧 Rebuilding a team and creating a world-class executive team can contribute to the growth and success of a company.🤝 The merger between Ginger and Headspace has enhanced the member experience by combining two powerful brands and offering a comprehensive end-to-end platform for mental health support.🧘 Personal wellness practices include meditation, walking meetings, intentional time management, and prioritizing sleep and exercise.🚀 When considering a career in healthcare tech, focus on the mission, the CEO, the company culture, and the product's potential impact.Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background05:32 Creating the Right Team21:27 Building a Digital Health Product27:14 Differences in Building Tech and Healthcare Products33:19 Leading Growth and Transformation at Ginger41:26 Personal Wellness Practices51:30 OutroFollow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

Welcome back for episode 38 of the Digital Health Heavyweights Podcast.In this episode, Norm interviews Brook West, CCO of Carrum Health. They discuss Brook's background in digital health, her experiences at 98.6, and her decision to join Carrum. They also talk about the challenges and accomplishments at Carrum, as well as advice for commercial leaders trying to create a market category and generate buzz for their company. In this conversation, Norm and Brook discuss her experience in scaling sales organizations and creating high-performing teams. They discuss the importance of relentless improvement in hiring, removing bias from the hiring process, and the key traits of successful salespeople in the benefits market. They also explore the onboarding process for new employers using Carrum as well as future plans for the company. Brook shares her advice for those starting a career in sales and makes bold predictions for the future of digital health. Lastly, she talks about the importance of self-care and shares her quick and healthy recipe ideas.Takeaways 🏥 Brook West entered the healthcare market and discovered the purpose of selling products and services that impact human lives. 📈 At 98.6, Brook experienced rapid growth by implementing a playbook of direct sales, consulting partnerships, and health plan collaborations. 💼 When building a sales team, Brook looks for traits like passion, drive, coachability, and organization. 🌟 Brook’s greatest accomplishment at Carrum is building a team that is aligned with the mission and delivers impactful services to patients and employers. 🚀 To create a market category and generate buzz, it is important to have a differentiated product with a hard ROI, invest in product marketing and sales enablement, and have a brand and thought leadership strategy. 🔍 Quality is the foundation of everything at Carrum, from the product to how they behave and deliver services. Relentless improvement is key to creating a team of A players. Continuously adapt the hiring profile and learn from each interview to find the right fit. 🎯 Removing bias from the hiring process is crucial. Use a hiring matrix to ensure the right questions are asked and the appropriate weighting is given to each category. 🔄 The onboarding process for new employees using Carrum is simple and plug-and-play. 🛡️ Successful salespeople in the benefits market need traits like resilience, drive, thick skin, and belief in what they do. Empathy and understanding the challenges of benefits leaders are also important. 📊 Carrum's plans for the future include doubling down on cancer care and expanding in the behavioral health and women's health categories. The focus is on delivering quality care and addressing top spend and concern areas. 💻 In the digital health space, virtual care and in-person care will blend seamlessly, and digital health will become the status quo. Digital health will tackle inefficiencies and reduce waste in healthcare. 😌 In a stressful job, it's important to participate in wellness and reduce stress. Taking mini vacations and finding moments to escape and relax can help. 🥗 Quick and healthy recipe ideas include pan sheet meals with vegetables, chicken, or salmon cooked in advance for the week. 📞 Advice for those starting a career in sales: be aggressive, confident, and find a mentor. Preparation and excitement are key to successful sales calls. 🔮 Bold predictions for the future of digital health include the blending of virtual and in-person care, the fading out of the term 'digital heaFollow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

Welcome back for Episode 37 of the Digital Health Heavyweights Podcast. Today Norm is joined by Dave Kerrigan, founder, and CEO of BenefitPitch. Dave shares his journey in the healthcare industry and the changes he has witnessed over the years. He discusses his experience working at Optum, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, and Willis Towers Watson, as well as his role at the Massachusetts Health Connector. Dave also talks about the challenges and successes of negotiating contracts with insurance carriers and managing vendor strategies. He highlights the shift towards self-funding and the proliferation of startups in the healthcare benefits space. Dave’s personal experiences, including the loss of his mother-in-law and father, led him to found Sante Nasc and BenefitPitch. Dave Kerrigan shares his journey from being forced into entrepreneurship to founding BenefitPitch, a vendor management system for brokerage firms. He discusses the impact and focus of BenefitPitch, as well as the importance of collaboration between vendors and brokers. Dave also talks about the 'Masked Broker' series, which provides insights and tips for vendors on how to work with brokerage firms. He shares his thoughts on the future of the benefits industry and highlights the importance of transparency and engagement. Kerrigan also discusses his personal wellness practices, including running and portion control.Watch the Masked Broker and sign up for BenefitPitch here with this link: https://www.benefitpitch.com/?utm_term=digital-health-heavyweights&utm_campaign=Podcast%20Appearances%202024&utm_medium=dri&utm_source=podcastTakeaways🏥 Dave Kerrigan has had a long career in the healthcare industry, working at various companies such as Optum, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, and Willis Towers Watson.💼 He played a key role in negotiating contracts with insurance carriers and managing vendor strategies.🔄🚀 Kerrigan has witnessed the shift towards self-funding and the emergence of numerous startups in the healthcare benefits space.💔💼 Personal experiences, including the loss of loved ones, led Kerrigan to found Sante Nasc and BenefitPitch. Dave Kerrigan founded BenefitPitch, a vendor management system for brokerage firms, after being forced into entrepreneurship.🤝 Collaboration between vendors and brokers is crucial for success in the benefits industry.🎭💡 The 'Masked Broker' series provides insights and tips for vendors on how to work with brokerage firms.🔍💬 Transparency and engagement are key factors in the future of the benefits industry.🏃‍♂️🥗 Dave Kerrigan practices personal wellness through running and portion control.Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background06:55 Role at Buck Consultants and Vendor Strategies14:41 Heading Vendor Strategy at Buck Consultants27:03 From Forced Entrepreneurship to Founding BenefitPitch39:18 Transparency and Engagement in the Future of Benefits47:40 Personal Wellness Practices: Running and Portion ControlFollow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

Welcome back to the Digital Health Heavyweights Podcast for Episode 36. In today’s session, Norm sits down with Branden Fini, partner at Providence Ventures, who shares his journey at the intersection of healthcare and finance. Branden explains how healthcare inspired him because it combines technical challenges with the opportunity to impact patients' lives. Branden discusses the various ways to improve healthcare, including through venture capital and digital innovation. He also highlights the importance of understanding the pain points in healthcare and the need for a comprehensive set of expertise in the management team. Additionally, he emphasizes the value of trust, pattern recognition, and being coachable in evaluating founders and management teams. Branden also discusses the unique value proposition of Providence Ventures and the future of the firm. In this conversation, Branden Fini, Partner at Providence Ventures, shares insights on what sets a venture capitalist apart and how to win deals at a good price. He emphasizes the importance of having a track record of adding value to portfolio companies and being able to showcase successful partnerships. Branden also highlights the significance of building trust and rapport with founders, as well as the importance of understanding the pain points of the healthcare industry. He advises founders to focus on solving a specific problem and to have a clear go-to-market strategy. Additionally, Branden discusses the red flags he looks for in founding teams, such as being overcapitalized, and shares his personal approach to maintaining a healthy work-life balance.Takeaways • 🏥 Healthcare combines technical challenges with the opportunity to impact patients' lives.• 🚀 Improving healthcare requires more than just caregivers and clinical technologies.• 👩‍💼 Evaluating founders and management teams involves assessing their expertise, trustworthiness, and coachability.• 💼 Providence Ventures offers a unique value proposition with its strategic platform and connections to stakeholders.• 🔮 The future of Providence Ventures involves scaling its strategy and continuing to attract top talent. To stand apart and win deals at a good price, venture capitalists need to have a track record of adding value to portfolio companies and showcasing successful partnerships.• 🤝 Building trust and rapport with founders is crucial in the venture capital industry, as founders want to work with people they like and trust.• 💡 Founders should focus on solving a specific problem and have a clear go-to-market strategy, including understanding the pain points of the healthcare industry and integrating their product into existing workflows.• 🚩 Red flags in founding teams include being overcapitalized, as it can lead to excessive spending and compressed investor returns.• ⚖️ Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is important in a high-stakes job, and having a clear understanding of priorities can help reduce stress and improve performance.Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Branden Fini and Providence Ventures06:52 Joining Strathspey Crown and Shaping Career in Digital Health14:09 Qualities of a Good Board Advisor or Observer29:14 Differentiating Factors for VCs without a Strategic Backer38:17 Solving Specific Problems: The Importance of Go-to-Market Strategy52:17 Red Flags in Founding Teams: Overcapitalization and Excessive SpendingFollow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast

Welcome back for Episode 35 of the Digital Health Heavyweights Podcast! 🎙️ Today, Norm sits down with Senan Ebrahim, MD, PhD,  Founder and CEO of Delfina. Dr. Ebrahim discusses his journey in using technology to improve global health, particularly in the field of maternal health. He shares his inspiration for getting into healthcare, the challenges he witnessed in prenatal care, and the importance of data-driven clarity and certainty in healthcare. Dr. Ebrahim also talks about his previous venture, Hikma Health, and the accomplishments he is proud of. He highlights the inequities in maternal care and how Delfina is working to solve them by partnering with Medicaid plans and community-based organizations. Delphina is focused on solving the maternal health crisis by using data and AI to provide intelligent pregnancy care. One major challenge in the healthcare industry is the data infrastructure, which is often outdated and not interoperable. Delphina aims to provide a maximally interoperable platform that can pull in and deliver data to health plans and providers. The company is committed to using AI and machine learning to improve outcomes in obstetrics and pregnancy care. The typical experience for a Delphina member includes onboarding through the app, tracking symptoms and vital signs, and engaging with human doulas. The goal is to empower pregnant patients and provide personalized care. Delphina's future plans include deepening its impact, rigorously measuring outcomes, and scaling to reach every pregnant patient in the United States. Takeaways🌍 Using technology to improve global health, particularly in maternal health, is a passion for Sanan Ibrahim.💡 Data-driven clarity and certainty are crucial in healthcare to provide better care for patients.🏥 Hikma Health, Sanan's previous venture, aimed to provide digital health solutions for refugees and vulnerable populations.⚠️ Inequities in maternal care, particularly among Medicaid patients, are a public health crisis that needs to be addressed.🤝 Delfina is working to solve these inequities by partnering with Medicaid plans and  community-based organizations. The data infrastructure in healthcare is a major challenge, and Delphina aims to provide a maximally interoperable platform to address this issue.🤖 Delphina uses AI and machine learning to improve outcomes in obstetrics and pregnancy care.📱 The typical experience for a Delphina member includes onboarding through the app, tracking symptoms and vital signs, and engaging with human doulas.🌟 Delphina's future plans include deepening its impact, rigorously measuring outcomes, and scaling to reach every pregnant patient in the United States.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background08:24 Founding Hikma Health and Accomplishments14:36 Early Years of Delfina29:34 The Delphina Member Experience38:39 Traits of Successful Founders46:53 Future Plans for DelphinaFollow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast