Leap Together

Pulmonologist Dr. Tejaswini Kulkarni, Director of Interstitial Lung Disease at UAB, joins Leap Together to share how she approaches diagnosing and managing Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILDs), particularly Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), and why patient education must guide every step. She discusses improving access for rural communities, designing ethical, truly patient-centric trials, and capturing outcomes that matter through registries and patient-reported outcomes. Tune in for practical ways sponsors, sites, and advocates can collaborate without compromising care or research quality.

In this epsiode of Leap Together, Tris Pharma’s Head of Clinical Operations, Liza Micioni, distills 25+ years of end-to-end study leadership. She discusses how durable physician relationships speed decisions and drive site follow-through, and how steady cross-functional rhythms keep “your delay becomes my delay” from taking root. 

Liza unpacks the real trade-offs of the clin-ops triangle: time, budget, and quality. She explains that quality is non-negotiable, while timelines and budgets need to flex to meet reality. She shares practical stories of creative, “figure-it-out” logistics, when extending a timeline is the right call, and a grounded take on where AI tr...

In this episode of the Leap Together podcast, we’re honored to feature Dr. Todd Bertoch, principal investigator and pain management researcher. Drawing on decades in the OR and more than 160 clinical trials, Dr. Bertoch shares how the opioid-first era shaped his early career and why he now champions multimodal, mechanism-targeted approaches that prioritize function, safety, and real-world impact.

Join us as Dr. Bertoch breaks down why pain is so hard to measure, how sites and sponsors can reduce participant burden without sacrificing rigor, and the moments that pushed him to challenge entrenched norms in...

In this episode of Leap Together, Zachary Gobst talks with Dr. Michele Reynolds, a family medicine physician turned ACRP-certified principal investigator who has led more than 400 clinical trials over three decades. What began as a “lucky accident” became a career defined by precision, patient education, and strong sponsor partnerships.

Dr. Reynolds shares how mentorship shaped her approach, why building trust with monitors and recruitment teams leads to better outcomes. She discusses how she’s navigated changes in the industry, from recruiting “right-fit” participants to contributing to pivotal vaccine research during COVID-19.

From lessons learned in the field...

On this episode of Leap Together, Dr. Mark Gorovoy joins host Zach Gobst to reflect on a remarkable career at the cutting edge of ophthalmic surgery. As a pioneer of DSAEK, Dr. Gorovoy shares how embracing high-volume surgical practice, learning from complications, and staying patient-focused led to major breakthroughs in corneal care. This episode dives into the art of innovation in medicine, from early skepticism to system-wide adoption, and why some treatments can reshape care forever. An episode for anyone passionate about progress in clinical trials, ophthalmology, and patient-centered innovation. 

In this episode of Leap Together, host Zach Gobst sits down with Joel Stanley, founder and former CEO of Charlotte’s Web, and now CEO of AJNA Biosciences, to explore the pioneering path from supplement to FDA-approved botanical drug. Joel shares the powerful origin story of Charlotte’s Web, the lessons learned from navigating the unregulated CBD market, and how those insights now fuel his mission to bring safe, standardized plant-based therapeutics to patients through AJNA Biosciences.

Learn how Joel and his team are working to bridge the gap between natural medicine and clinical science, what it take...

In this episode of the Leap Together podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Raymond Douglas, a world-renowned oculoplastic surgeon and Chief Scientific Officer at Sling Therapeutics. Known for his pioneering work in thyroid eye disease (TED), Dr. Douglas was a lead developer of Tepezza, the first FDA-approved treatment for TED; ushering in a new era of patient-centered innovation.

Dr. Douglas shares how his early work in oncology and immunology laid the foundation for breakthroughs in ophthalmology, and how deeply personal patient experiences inspired him to challenge the limitations of traditional care. We explore his jo...

In this special episode of Leap Together, we flip the mic and put our very own CEO, Zach Gobst, in the guest seat. Interviewed by Chad Franzen of Rise25, Zach shares the personal story that led him to launch Leapcure and the values that continue to guide the company nearly a decade later.

Zach dives into:

In this episode of the Leap Together podcast, we’re honored to feature Taleena Koch, founder of the Breathe Support Network. Driven by personal experience caring for her mother diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), Taleena transformed her journey into a powerful advocacy network supporting thousands navigating respiratory diseases.

Join us as Taleena shares how personal caregiving challenges sparked her passion for advocacy, the critical gaps she discovered in patient support, and her remarkable effort in building a global community dedicated to education, empowerment, and connection. We also dive into the evolving landscape of clinical research, insights in...

In the first Leap Together episode, host Zach Gobst talks with Christine Gustafson, founder and CEO of the Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Community Organization. Christine shares her journey from isolated patient to global advocate, emphasizing the power of community in overcoming fear and isolation. They discuss parallels between entrepreneurship and advocacy, highlighting the importance of flexibility, curiosity, and authenticity. Christine’s insights underscore the vital role patient advocacy plays in clinical research and treatment advancements for TED. 

Welcome to the Leap Together podcast, where we highlight top leaders driving breakthroughs in clinical research and life sciences.