Episodes

In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Hugh Barragan, a technologist and CTO based out of Boston, Dr. Chris Page, an anesthesiologist and pain medicine physician, and Dr. Akash Soraya, an emergency medicine physician and angel investor, to tackle one of the most pressing questions in medicine today: has technology made healthcare better or worse? We dive deep into the promise and peril of AI, examining whether electronic medical records have been a net positive despite their frustrations, and what the future holds when AI can diagnose faster and more accurately than any physician. The conversation gets real as we discuss whether AI will replace doctors, who takes accountability when algorithms make mistakes, and whether patients will even care if they are talking to a human or a machine.We explore the uncomfortable truths about healthcare costs, the gamification of billing, and why technology has not moved the needle on life expectancy despite massive investments. Hugh, Chr…

In this episode, Dr. Rishad Usmani sits down with Preston Alexander, co-founder of Forward Slash Health, a consultancy helping clinicians reclaim autonomy in medicine. From building furniture and rock climbing in Colorado to launching a medical device startup during the pandemic, Preston’s unconventional path shows how curiosity, grit, and timing can shape a career in healthcare entrepreneurship.He opens up about his early days as a psychology and philosophy student, his accidental entrance into healthcare, and how witnessing the corporatization of medicine inspired his mission to empower doctors to lead the business side of care. Preston and Dr. Usmani discuss the broken incentives driving U.S. healthcare, why AI might make us forget how to think, and how to balance friction and optionality when building impactful products.With candor and humor, Preston explores the lessons behind his successes and failures — from cold-calling hospitals during COVID to building a startup that…

In this episode, Dr. Rishad sits down with Dr. Adam Carewe, a physician-turned-healthtech innovator who believes we are the “guinea pig generation” in modern medicine. From his beginnings as a college basketball player and math enthusiast to becoming Chief Medical Information Officer at Kaiser Permanente, Adam shares his journey into the world of healthcare technology and startups.Together, they explore the intersection of medicine, technology, and uncertainty — discussing the limits of what doctors know, the rise of AI-assisted diagnostics, and the ethical challenges of over-testing in modern healthcare. Adam also reflects on his leap from a secure medical leadership position into the startup world, and why he believes the future of medicine lies in automating the routine to preserve the human.With humility and candor, Adam opens up about mental vs. physical health, longevity hype, and what he’d tell his younger self about taking risks and following instinct.

In this episode, I sat down with Ben, an orthopedic surgeon who is making a significant career change after 17 years. He's moving away from his clinical practice to a leadership role at Commons Clinic, a company focused on value-based care. In our conversation, we explored his motivations for this major pivot, the frustrations of the traditional healthcare system, and his vision for a future that seamlessly blends technology with human-centric care.Ben opened up about the "death by a thousand cuts" that he believes leads to physician burnout, highlighting issues like the tedious nature of EMRs and the complexities of regulations. He explained how his personal journey into entrepreneurship gave him a renewed sense of purpose, shifting his focus from treating one patient at a time to impacting healthcare on a broader scale. Our discussion also delved into the roles of AI and robotics in orthopedics, the challenges of implementing value-based care without "cherry-picking" patients, a…

This podcast episode features a fascinating and philosophical conversation between Rishad Usmani and Ronjon Nag, delving into the nature of reality, consciousness, the impact of AI on humanity, and even the quest for an "aging vaccine."Defining Reality and Consciousness: The conversation kicks off with differing views on reality. Rishad posits it as a subjective, sense-limited interface, while Ronjon, from an engineering perspective, defines it pragmatically as what people perceive, including mental realities like sleep and daydreaming. They then explore the elusive concept of consciousness, referencing Stanislaus Dehaene's three types (autonomous, deliberate, environmental) and Roger Penrose's quantum-based theories. Ronjon suggests that true consciousness, beyond mere mimicry, might require a "living" and "embodied" connection, which current fixed silicon AI lacks.AI and the Human Qualities: Rishad challenges whether AI could possess elements of consciousness, given its auto…

In this insightful episode, Rishad Usmani sits down with Niki Santo, co-founder and CEO of Swaza, a Silicon Valley biotechnology startup. Niki shares her compelling personal journey, marked by profound loss and a head injury in 2020, which led her to redefine her life's purpose and pivot into biotech entrepreneurship. Niki Santo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikivsanto/ Swaza: https://www.swaza.life/ Rishad Usmani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishadusmani/ HealthTech Investors: https://www.health...

In this episode, we sit down with Tanasi, a physician who has successfully transitioned into the world of venture capital, currently serving as a Venture Partner for Genesis Ventures, focusing on health tech, and as Chair of the board for Halo Health, Canada's physician angel group. We explore his unique journey, the fascinating differences between the Canadian and Greek venture ecosystems, and the crucial mindset shift required to move from the risk-averse world of medicine to the high-upside landscape of startup investing. Tanasi shares invaluable insights on identifying promising teams, the future of AI in healthcare, the evolving field of longevity medicine, and practical advice for physicians looking to enter the startup space.

Today, I'm joined by Artem Trotsyuk, an AI Fellow at Stanford, for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, especially within healthcare. Our conversation explores the fascinating intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and personal development, highlighting Artem's unique journey from aspiring doctor to a leader in AI ethics and innovation.We discuss how AI learns and adapts, drawing parallels to human "nature vs. nurture," and delve into the critical ethical considerations surrounding AI deployment in healthcare, from mitigating bias to ensuring patient safety. Artem also shares invaluable insights on the entrepreneurial path, particularly for academics transitioning into deep tech, emphasizing the often-underestimated importance of commercialization alongside groundbreaking technical solutions.Artem Trotsyuk : / artemtrotsyuk Learning with Rishad: https://www.learningwithrishad.com/Rishad Usmani: / rishadusmani

In this episode, I sit down with Sumitra, who offers a compelling dual perspective as a practicing physician and a venture capitalist at MedMountain Ventures. We explore his distinctive background, from his early fascination with neuroscience to his experiences in medical school and a notable period involved in political initiatives during his MBA studies. Sumitra provides candid insights into his criteria for evaluating founders, his views on the utility of psychological assessments in venture capital, and how his background in political dynamics informs his investment strategy within the complex healthcare sector. We also discuss the potential ramifications of artificial intelligence on both healthcare delivery and venture capital, the significance of empirical data in assessing opportunities, and Sumitra's personal reflections on ambition, resilience following burnout, and the value of focused, in-depth work. I conclude by sharing valuable advice from Sumitra for physicians conside…

In this episode, I have a fascinating and in-depth conversation with my friend and fellow innovator, Dr. Neil. We dive into the complex world of AI in healthcare, exploring everything from our personal quests for contentment in this digital age to the very real possibilities and ethical questions surrounding AI-powered diagnosis and prescription. Neil shares his firsthand experiences integrating AI tools into his busy family practice, his candid thoughts on the evolving role of physicians, and crucial advice for those daring to build the future of medicine within the regulatory landscape of AI.

In this episode, we sit down with Josh Lee, Co-founder and CEO of SeamlessMD, a leading platform helping hospitals guide patients through episodes of care. Josh shares his unique journey from medical school to founding a successful healthtech company selling into the complex hospital market. He pulls back the curtain on the realities of healthcare entrepreneurship, from securing those challenging first customers to building a high-performing team and navigating product strategy for scale. If you're interested in healthtech, B2B sales in healthcare, or the founder's path, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

In this episode, I interview Ed about his diverse career path. Ed shares insights from his childhood as the son of immigrants in San Francisco, his journey through medicine from primary care to developing health technology, and his recent focus on lifestyle medicine. We discuss how early career experiences, like the introduction of EHRs, shaped his interests, the reasons physicians seek non-clinical roles, and his approach to balancing career ambitions with family and personal well-being. Ed also offers his perspective on the evidence behind lifestyle medicine, the potential of GLP-1 drugs, and the evolving role of physicians in the age of AI.

I spoke with Miriam from Pender Ventures about her journey from building a healthcare tech startup to venture capital. We covered the tough lessons learned as an entrepreneur, especially in deep tech, and her transition to investing. Miriam shared her framework for evaluating founders and companies, highlighting the team's importance. We also analyzed the Canadian healthcare VC landscape, discussed its differences from the US, and explored future opportunities, particularly in AI.

In this episode, I share a deeply personal account of attending a 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat. Before diving into the experience itself, I explore the concept of subjective versus objective reality and discuss how our limited senses shape our perception. I then detail the rigorous schedule and strict rules of the retreat, the specific meditation techniques I was taught (focusing on breath and body sensations), and the intense emotional and psychological experiences I went through, including vivid dreams and confronting my insecurities. I describe perceiving a powerful sense of interconnectedness but ultimately chose to leave the retreat on day 5 because the atmosphere felt "cult-like." Despite leaving early, I explain my intention to attend another Vipassana course in the future and complete the full 10 days.

In this episode, I share my deeply personal story of experiencing burnout in the summer of 2022. I open up about the journey that led me to that moment, exploring the impact of my childhood in India, my relentless pursuit of success and validation through work, and the challenges I faced along the way in my medical career. Discover how I am now striving for a more balanced life, navigating the pressures of being a high achiever, and the lessons I've learned about the importance of rest and mindfulness.

In this episode, I interview Michael Page about his fascinating and unconventional career path. Michael shares his story, from growing up in a working-class family and pursuing a degree in the arts, to transitioning into technology and AI, and now teaching at IV Business School and working in healthcare AI at Unity Health. We discuss the challenges and lessons learned along his journey, his insights on team building, the complexities of innovation in Canadian healthcare, his vision for advanced AI in medicine, and much more.

In this episode, I talk with Chris about his remarkable journey from practicing Urology for nearly two decades to building a second career at the intersection of medicine and business, including working with AI startups. Chris shares candidly about his childhood shaped by his family's refugee experience, his decision to pursue medicine over pure science, his profound experience with physician burnout, and the practical and personal reasons behind his recent return to clinical locum work. We also delve into the challenges facing medicine today, the role of guidelines, patient gratitude, the complex economics of healthcare, and advice for physicians looking to transition into the startup world.

In my conversation with Dr. Neil Naik, a family physician from Waterloo with a strong interest in tech, we explored the exciting future of healthcare. He shared his journey and his belief in AI's power to personalize medicine in ways we haven't seen before. We discussed AI's potential in surgery and mental health, and also tackled the complex ethics of AI consciousness and rights. Dr. Naik highlighted the real-world hurdles of regulations and payment models for AI in healthcare. What was particularly fascinating was his perspective on how AI might see medical patterns we can't, potentially leading to new ways of diagnosing illnesses. Overall, our chat painted a picture of a future where technology and human doctors work together to create a more tailored and effective healthcare experience.

It was a pleasure speaking with Dr. Sohaib Siddiqui, he was very forthcoming with sharing several great insights from his experiences as an entrepreneur and investor. We talk about - His journey to running a family office fund - What he looks for in GPs - What he looks for in founders - Upcoming tailwinds in healthcare investing - Charm vs aptitude in predicting founder success - Can outsiders innovate in healthcare - His contrarian opinion in healthcare Sohaib Siddiqui: https://www.linkedin.com...

Spencer is the Vice Chair of Medicine and the Lead Informatics Physician at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I and very thankful to him for sharing his insights and thoughts on healthcare with me. We talk about: - The future of electronic health records - Opportunities for AI in healthcare - How to fix physician burnout - His thoughts on purpose - Explainability in AI - Value based care Spencer Dorn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerdorn/ Rishad Usmani: https://www.linkedin.co...

Karim is a deep thinker and I have been lucky to have several insightful conversations with him about all things healthcare. I am excited to share some of these with you. He previously was the CEO and co-founder of Mednow, raising $44 million and taking it public at a $150 million market cap. Correction: Karim meant to say Mckesson acquired Rexall and not RemedyRx Mednow: https://mednow.ca/ Karim: https://x.com/KarimsRealm Rishad: / rishadusmani HealthTech Investors: https://www.healthtechinvest...

Sahir Ali is a the founding general partner of Modi Ventures, an early stage venture fund investing in tech-bio startups. He is also an LP in multiple funds including Draper Associates and Khosla Ventures. He is an accomplished entrepreneur and investor. We discuss his path to launching a venture fund, founder selection, decision making and more! Rishad Usmani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishadusmani/ Healthtech Investors: https://www.healthtechinvestors.com/ Sahir Alir: https://www.linkedin.co...

Key takeaways: Selling a product or interviewing for a job isn’t about you, its about the customer, the user and the company respectively. Identify the world as it is, recognize the incentives and levers in place. After doing this, the path you should follow will be easier to pick. The easiest way to build a product is to build something for your past self. Books mentioned: Good to great by Jim Collins: https://a.co/d/8JGAoUx Naval Ravikants Almanac: https://a.co/d/ijoCcEv Rishad Usmani: https:/...

I am grateful for Akhilesh Pathipati, MD, MBA to share his journey, experience and knowledge! We talk about: 1. His journey in venture capital 2. AI in Healthcare 3. Profitability in Healthcare 4. Health system design 5. Future of medical education 6. His investment criteria 7. And more! Akhilesh Pathipati: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akhileshpathipati/ MVM: https://mvm.com/ Rishad Usmani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishadusmani/ HealthTech Investors: https://www.healthtechinvestors.com/