Medsider: Learn from Medtech and Healthtech Founders and CEOs

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Vijit Sabnis, co-founder and CEO of Adaptyx Biosciences.

Adaptyx is a Stanford spinout developing wearable technology for continuous molecular monitoring.

Over the past 20 years, Vijit has worked at the intersection of deep technology as an inventor, founder, and investor. Before Adaptyx, he was a Partner at Khosla Ventures and co-founded Solar Junction to commercialize high-efficiency solar cell technology. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford.

In this interview, Vijit discusses how to recognize when a scientific idea is worth building...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Bob Paulson, President and CEO of Sonex Health. 

Sonex’s UltraGuideCTR device is a minimally invasive technology that enables ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release procedures to be performed outside the surgical suite using local anesthesia, expanding patient access and reducing the cost of care.

Before joining Sonex, Bob led multiple venture-backed medical device companies through commercialization, including NxThera, acquired by Boston Scientific, Restore Medical, acquired by Medtronic, and VentureMed Group. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Medtronic, Advanced Bionics, and Endocardial Solutions, whi...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, founder, chairman, and CEO of SS Innovations (Nasdaq: SSII). 

The company’s SSi Mantra surgical robotic system supports a variety of surgical robotic procedures, including cardiac surgery. 

Sudhir brings more than three decades of experience in minimally invasive and robotic cardiac interventions, having served as Director of Robotic Cardiac Surgery at the University of Chicago and founder of the International College of Robotic Surgery. A pioneer in the field, Sudhir has performed more than 1,400 robotic procedures, including over 750 beating-heart totally endoscopic coronary arte...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Aditya Rajagopal, co-founder and CEO of Esperto Medical.

Esperto is a Caltech spin-out utilizing compressed sensing technology with ultrasound to continuously and non-invasively measure blood pressure.

Before Esperto, Aditya co-founded ChromaCode, a molecular diagnostics company, and was a researcher at Google[x], where he worked on novel medical imaging methods. Aditya also serves as part-time faculty at Caltech and USC, and holds BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering from Caltech. 

In this interview, Aditya discusses why great science doesn’t necessarily mak...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Eric Kau, co-founder and CEO of Climatic.

Climatic is commercializing L Max, a daily inhaled system that proactively supports lung function.

Before Climatic, Eric served as COO of Seed Health and was part of the foundational team at Chewy. Earlier in his career, Eric held growth and operational leadership roles across consumer, wellness, and e-commerce businesses, including Amazon, BoxyCharm, Target, and Best Buy. 

In this interview, Eric discusses what it takes to build a consumer category that doesn’t yet exist, how Climatic app...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Kara Egan, founder and CEO of Teal Health.

Teal Health is the company behind the first FDA-authorized at-home cervical cancer screening wand.

Before founding Teal, Kara worked in healthcare and software investing at .406 Ventures and Emergence Capital, and held product and marketing roles at Zendesk and Stitch Labs.  

In this interview, Kara discusses building support and follow-up into at-home screening, how Teal expanded its comparative clinical study to support broader market adoption, and how healthcare incentives, reimbursement, and institutional trust shape new care m...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Karthik Ganesh, CEO of OnMed.

OnMed is the healthcare technology company behind OnMed CareStation, a “Clinic-in-a-Box” designed to expand access to primary and urgent care. 

Before OnMed, Karthik served as CEO of EmpiRx Health, leading the company through rapid growth and a successful private equity transaction in 2021. Throughout his career, he’s held leadership roles at QualCare, CareAllies, and Aetna, and advised healthcare organizations through Deloitte and EY.

In this interview, Karthik discusses why hybrid care models still require a human touch, how enterpr...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Dr. Connie Lehman, founder and CEO of Clairity.

Clairity is the first FDA-authorized AI platform that predicts a woman's five-year risk of developing breast cancer using only a routine screening mammogram.

A physician scientist with over 300 peer-reviewed publications, Connie is a Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School and Breast Imaging Specialist at Massachusetts General Brigham (on leave). She holds an MD and PhD from Yale and was named to Forbes' 50 Over 50 Innovators and TIME 100 World’s Most Influential Leaders in Health.

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In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Antony Odell, co-founder and CEO of Echopoint Medical.

Echopoint is a London-based UCL spinout developing iKOr, an optical microcatheter for coronary diagnostics.

Antony brings over 30 years of medtech experience across Johnson & Johnson, Fresenius, and Stryker, before transitioning into startups as CEO of Tayside Flow Technologies and Tissue Regenix. He holds a BSc in Physiology and Biochemistry.

In this interview, Antony discusses translating academic IP into a commercial device, choosing early clinical sites to balance speed and learning, managing non-dilutive funding as a...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Kurt Jacobus, co-founder and CEO of restor3d.

restor3d provides patient-specific orthopedic implants using 3D printing and advanced software.

Kurt has over two decades of experience in medtech entrepreneurship, including successful exits to Enovis and NuVasive. Prior to his career in medical devices, Kurt was a consultant at McKinsey & Company. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and is an Adjunct Professor at Georgia Tech. 

In this interview, Kurt discusses how restor3d used the FDA's 520(b) pathway to generate revenue and r...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Alfred Griffin, co-founder and CEO of LightForce.

LightForce is the developer of the world's first fully customized 3D-printed bracket system directly personalized for each patient's digital treatment plan.

Alfred holds a DMD and PhD in Craniofacial Biology from the Medical University of South Carolina and completed his orthodontic residency at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, where he currently serves as faculty and the Board of Fellows. An ABO-certified practicing orthodontist, he continues to see patients every month while running the company.

In this...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Laura Yecies, CEO of Osteoboost.

Osteoboost is the first FDA-cleared drug-free prescription treatment for osteopenia in postmenopausal women.

Laura brings over 30 years of experience across technology, digital health, and medical innovation, with a focus on overlooked gaps in women's health. She previously served as CEO of SugarSync (acquired by J2 Global), Catchsold (sold to Apple), and Neurosync, a neurotechnology company. 

In this interview, Laura discusses why choosing a Class II prescription path creates a regulatory moat, how designing for daily comfort and a...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Stephen Belcher, co-founder and CEO of Secure Closure.

Secure Closure is developing Quattro-Close, a device designed for large-bore femoral access sites.

Trained as a veterinarian, Stephen has spent more than 25 years in the medical device industry, with deep experience in vascular access and closure technologies. He previously held commercial and marketing roles at Abbott Vascular, Edwards Lifesciences, and Teleflex, where he was involved in launching key closure devices, including ProGlide, StarClose, SAPIEN 3, and MANTA.

In this interview, Stephen discusses what actually drives physician...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Daniel Estay, founder and CEO of SonoVascular.

SonoVascular has developed a novel mechanical-pharmaco ultrasound facilitated thrombectomy system, SonoThrombectomy, that utilizes microbubble-mediated cavitation as a core enabling mechanism to remove blood clots more effectively.

Dan has over 35 years of global medtech experience, including business development roles at Johnson & Johnson, where he worked on deals that helped create the world's first drug-eluting stent, and six years leading Abbott's cardiovascular device business across Asia-Pacific and Japan. He also serves as a Mentor-in-Residence at Duke University's New Ventures group.<...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Matthias Hofmann, CEO of Eyebot.

Eyebot is commercializing retail kiosks that deliver quick, efficient vision testing.

Before Eyebot, Matthias led product development at Formlabs and served as an R&D lead at EyeNetra, where he helped bring the first smartphone-based vision test to market. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with graduate work in vision science and optics. 

In this interview, Matthias discusses how early missteps informed Eyebot's strategy, how he proved demand before raising capital, and how iterative clinical studies e...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Massimiliano (Max) Colella, CEO of CMR Surgical.

CMR Surgical is developing Versius, a surgical robot designed to make minimally invasive procedures more accessible across specialties.

Max brings more than three decades of healthcare leadership experience spanning medtech and hospital systems. He previously held leadership roles at Johnson & Johnson and Smith & Nephew across Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East, and later served as CEO of Evercare Group, a TPG portfolio company.

In this interview, Max discusses how to prioritize capital allocation between platform...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Rick Bente, co-founder and CEO of Indomo.

Indomo’s flagship device, ClearPen, is an investigational at-home corticosteroid injection designed to treat inflammatory acne.

Rick has over 20 years of experience as an engineer and operator across medtech and pharma, with leadership roles at Medtronic, Insulet, and YourBio, focused on drug delivery and combination products. He is an inventor on more than 50 patents and has generated over $150 million in investments.

In this conversation, Rick discusses how Indomo translated an in-office dermatology procedure into at-home care, wh...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Shaun Bagai, CEO of RenovoRx. 

The company is developing targeted oncology therapies and is currently commercializing RenovoCath, which is focused on pancreatic cancer. 

Before joining RenovoRx in 2014, Shaun spent over a decade in the cardiovascular space, including leading global market development at HeartFlow and helping establish the European renal denervation market at Ardian, which Medtronic acquired for approximately $1 billion. He began his career in clinical research and device sales at TransVascular and Medtronic. 

In this interview, Shaun discusses how testing markets with min...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Justin Zenanko, co-founder & CEO of SynerFuse.

SynerFuse is developing the e-TLIF procedure, which combines spinal fusion with neuromodulation by placing leads directly at exposed nerves during surgery.

A certified public accountant and serial entrepreneur, Justin previously served as CFO and senior vice president of corporate development at Recombinetics, where he led fundraising efforts totaling $68 million.

In this interview, Justin discusses approaching FDA interactions as negotiations, validating procedures with off-the-shelf components before investing in custom devices, and structuring private raises through investment banks to...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Marina Pavlovic Rivas, co-founder & CEO of Eli Health.

The company is focused on making hormone data accessible in real time through its saliva-based testing system that delivers results through a mobile app. 

A data scientist by training, Marina previously founded Gradiant AI, a machine learning company that was acquired in 2019. 

In this interview, Marina discusses how to evaluate form factor options without locking into a design too early, what beta testing reveals that years of lab work can't, and how existing consumer spending pa...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Greg Walters, co-founder & CEO of Excision Medical. Excision is developing a leaflet modification system to enable lifetime management of aortic stenosis.

Greg has almost 40 years of experience in cardiovascular devices, holding leadership roles at Kensey Nash Corporation where he led the development of Angio-Seal and several endovascular programs. He later co-founded Essential Medical, which was acquired by Teleflex in 2018, and is an inventor on more than 75 U.S. and European patents.

In this interview, Greg discusses why early-stage teams should build to learn rather than...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Jaeson Bang, Founder & CEO of Future Cardia. Future Cardia is developing a subcutaneous heart-failure monitoring platform designed to capture both electrical and mechanical cardiac signals through a simple office-based procedure.

Jaeson brings more than two decades of experience building implantable cardiac technologies across Medtronic, CVRx, EBR Systems, and Abiomed. Drawing on that background, he questioned industry assumptions around miniaturization and invasive workflows — and built a device that prioritizes performance, durability, and clinical practicality instead.

In this interview, Jaeson shares how challenging a core co...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down Dr. Adam Kadlec, practicing urologist and co-founder of Rivermark Medical.

Rivermark is a clinical-stage company developing FloStent, a first-line, reversible device therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Before launching Rivermark, Adam built a thriving urological practice in Milwaukee and consulted for several device companies — experiences that ultimately revealed how early true device development begins and why physicians rarely get the chance to influence innovation upstream. Partnering with medtech operator Andy Doraiswamy, Adam transitioned from clinician to CEO and is now leading Rivermark through its pivotal trial.

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Andrew Holman, MD, CEO of Inmedix.

Inmedix is commercializing CloudHRV, an FDA-cleared diagnostic that quantifies biological stress with clinical precision to guide treatment decisions in autoimmune disease and beyond.

Andrew is a practicing rheumatologist in Seattle with 25 years of clinical and research experience. His discoveries linking autonomic dysfunction to autoimmune disease outcomes led to a $10 million patent sale to Boehringer Ingelheim. After a decade in retirement, he returned to found Inmedix and pioneer the field of immuno-autonomics — preparing the market for his technology years before la...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Colby Holtshouse, President and CEO of May Health.

May Health is developing a minimally invasive ovarian ablation therapy designed to restore ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and PCOS-related infertility.

Before May Health, Colby served as Global Medtech Commercial Lead at Organon, overseeing the worldwide launch of the Jada System following Organon’s acquisition of Alydia Health, where she held roles including COO, Interim CEO, and VP of Marketing. She has also held leadership positions at Pelvalon, AccessClosure, Medtronic, and Guidant.

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Kaitlin Maier, co-founder and CEO of Reia. Reia has developed a self-managed pessary — a collapsible device that empowers women to treat pelvic organ prolapse comfortably and independently.

A mechanical engineering graduate of Dartmouth, Kaitlin previously worked at Sherpa Technology Group, developing patent strategies for leading life science and technology firms. 

In this conversation, Kaitlin shares how she and her co-founders turned a student project into an FDA-cleared product using resource constraints as a design advantage. She explains how to turn FDA feedback into forward momentum, why...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Somer Baburek, CEO and co-founder of Hera Biotech. Hera is developing AI-driven tissue diagnostics for conditions that disproportionately affect women, including endometriosis and cervical cancer.

Before launching Hera, Somer spent nearly a decade in venture capital, where she evaluated early-stage medtech startups and learned what separates the survivors from the rest.

In this conversation, Somer explains how Hera designed global clinical pathways that balance cost and credibility, why boutique CROs can outperform big names, and how a pre-commercial startup completed three strategic acquisitions using equity...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Tim Gleeson, CEO of BRIJ Medical, a company rethinking one of the oldest procedures in medicine — surgical wound closure.

BRIJ’s Brijjit Force Modulating Tissue Bridge is a small, non-invasive clip designed to redistribute tension across incisions, helping wounds heal with fewer complications and smaller scars.

An accomplished entrepreneur and investor, Tim also founded and led Novasyte Health through its acquisition by IQVIA and later launched VIDANT Capital. A former Medtronic executive, Tim brings global experience and a lifelong passion for building impactful medtech ventures.

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Kate Dilligan, CEO of Cooler Heads.

Cooler Heads is a commercial-stage company addressing a problem affecting many chemotherapy patients undergoing treatment for solid tumors: hair loss and the loss of privacy that comes with it. The company's FDA-cleared medical device, Amma, makes scalp cooling accessible by fitting into infusion center workflows rather than disrupting them.

Kate brings an unconventional background to medtech — from political fundraising to developing classified software for the U.S. government. As a solo female founder who had never worked in hardware, sh...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Young Juhn, CEO of Wellysis.

Wellysis is the Samsung spinout behind S-Patch, a lightweight wearable that enables long-term ECG monitoring without the discomfort of established cardiac monitoring devices.

Young has spent more than two decades bridging hospital and home-based care — from his early career at Johnson & Johnson, to more than a decade at Kaiser Permanente, to leading healthcare innovation at Samsung before spinning out Wellysis in 2019.

In this interview, Young shares why patient interviews should shape product design, how regulatory clearance is just th...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Josh Vose, CEO of Tulavi Therapeutics.

Tulavi is advancing hydrogel-based implants like the allay Hydrogel Cap, which is designed to optimize nerve injury recovery and reduce the risk of neuroma formation.

Josh is a physician, engineer, and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in medical devices. He has held leadership roles at Medtronic following its acquisition of PEAK Surgical and drove growth at startups including SIA Health, which he led through commercialization and acquisition by Integra LifeSciences.

In this interview, Josh...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Ahmed Elmouelhi, CEO of TRiCares.  

TRiCares is developing Topaz, the first purpose-built transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement system — a technology designed specifically for the right side of the heart, where complex anatomy has made durable solutions elusive.

Ahmed is a 20-year medtech veteran with leadership experience across electrophysiology, men’s health, neuromodulation, and structural heart. Before joining TRiCares, he helped build multiple businesses at AtriCure and held key roles at Medtronic during the early days of TAVR. He also serves as Chairman of the American Heart Assoc...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Marc Penna, CEO of Voyager Biomedical. 

Voyager is a clinical-stage company tackling one of the most persistent challenges in dialysis care: reliable vascular access. 

Marc has more than 20 years of experience leading clinical research and regulatory programs across cardiology, vascular disease, and oncology. Since 2014, he has focused on early-stage ventures, with leadership roles at Intact Vascular and Vesper Medical — both acquired by Philips — as well as senior positions at Edwards Lifesciences, Boston Scientific, and AngioDynamics.

In this interview, Marc shares how to pressure-test new me...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Christopher Haig, co-founder and CEO of Efemoral Medical. 

Efemoral is developing bioresorbable scaffold technology for peripheral arterial disease.
 
Chris has over 25 years of experience in cardiovascular devices, holding leadership roles at strategics including Guidant Corporation and Abbott Vascular, and driving growth at startups such as Calypso Medical and QT Vascular, where he built commercial infrastructure and launched multiple products ahead of its $55 million IPO.

In this interview, Chris shares how bioresorbable scaffold technology found new life for peripheral arterial disease — and the lessons on m...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Howard Rosen, co-Founder and CEO of Evident Vascular, a company developing an AI-powered intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) platform to improve vascular imaging and intervention.

Before co-founding Evident, Howard held senior leadership roles at Intact Vascular and Vesper Medical, guiding both companies through successful acquisitions by Philips. He also served in executive roles at Haemonetics and BG Medicine, and spent over two decades at Boston Scientific, where he held a range of leadership positions across the peripheral and cardiovascular franchises.

In this interview, Howard shares why launching...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down withTracy MacNeal, President and CEO of Materna Medical.

Materna is developing two devices addressing different aspects of pelvic health: Ellora, aimed at preventing childbirth injuries during delivery, and Milli, designed to treat vaginismus, a pelvic floor condition that makes intercourse painful or impossible.

Tracy is a healthcare executive and engineer with over 25 years of experience in medical devices, digital health, and women’s health, including six successful transactions. In addition to heading Materna, Tracy serves on the AdvaMed Board and leads its Women’s Health Equity Init...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Joanna Nathan, CEO and co-founder of Prana Surgical — a startup developing image-guided surgical platforms for precision oncology. 

Joanna's career spans translational research at Texas Heart Institute, product development at Saranas, and portfolio management at Mercury Fund and Johnson & Johnson's Center for Device Innovation. She mentors founders through her not-for-profit organization Enventure and teaches entrepreneurship at Rice University's Jones School of Business.

In this interview, Joanna shares her framework for evaluating which medtech ideas merit pursuit, revealing three critical signals every founder should look for: clinical urg...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Greg Lipschitz, CEO of Firefly Neuroscience.
 
Firefly’s FDA-510(k) cleared Brain Network Analytics (BNA™) technology objectively measures brain function through EEG analysis. With a proprietary database spanning twelve cognitive disorders, the company serves both clinical practitioners and pharmaceutical partners.

Greg brings extensive experience in private equity, investment banking, capital markets, and finance to his leadership role. As Managing Director of Old Stone Advisors and former Vice President of Lazer Capital, Greg has advised on over $1 billion in transactions. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

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In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Maulik Nanavaty, CEO of Anumana.
 
Anumana, an AI-driven health technology company focused on cardiovascular care, is taking a pragmatic approach to scaling AI in medicine.

Maulik is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 30 years of global experience in the medical device industry. He spent 18 years at Boston Scientific, where he led its $1B+ Neuromodulation division and served as President of Boston Scientific Japan. Prior to that, he held leadership positions at Baxter. Known for driving innovation in implantable and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered technologies, Maulik a...

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had a fascinating chat with Mary Lou Jepsen, founder and Chairman of Openwater, a medtech company developing breakthrough diagnostic and therapeutic wearables for cancer, stroke, mental illness, and beyond.

Openwater is rethinking how medical devices are built — not as single-purpose machines, but as flexible platforms that function more like smartphones.

A physicist and prolific inventor, Mary Lou holds nearly 300 patents and has launched over 50 products across VR, AR, holography, and consumer electronics. Previously, she led engineering at Intel, Facebook, and Google, taught at MIT, and now serves on th...