Nile Harris, a seasoned leader with two decades of experience in the MedTech industry, is the founder and CEO of HVG Executive Solutions and currently serves as a director in the life sciences practice at Alvarez & Marsal. Nile shares her diverse career journey from financial services to MedTech, including roles at Medtronic and Abbott, and her cur…

Dr. Jay Anders, Chief Medical Officer of Medicomp Systems, shares his career transition from an internist to a leader in healthcare IT, emphasizing the importance of usable technology for clinicians. He discusses Medicomp's mission to enhance clinicians' efficiency and patient care through advanced tools. Dr. Anders also explores the challenges of …

Hannah Went, a pioneer in epigenetics, is the co-founder of TruDiagnostic and founder of Everything Epigentics. She shares her journey from the early days of TruDiagnostic to its burgeoning role in healthcare. She reflects on the rapid evolution of epigenetics, the challenges of making groundbreaking science accessible, and the gratifying shift tow…

Ruba Sarris Sawaya is a distinguished medtech executive with over 20 years of experience. Ruba discusses her journey from pre-med research to leading roles in market access strategy and consulting for medical device companies. She emphasizes the importance of curiosity, lifelong learning, and strategic thinking in her career. Ruba shares insights o…

Harout Markarian, founder and CEO of MARKBOTIX, shares his journey from Lebanon to the US, transitioning from a professional basketball player to a skilled roboticist. He discusses his educational background in mechanical engineering, robotics, and business, leading to the creation of MARKBOTIX. The company develops GRACE, an assistive robot for th…

Ashley Mooneyham and Jennie Lynch are the co-founders of Momease. Ashley, a PhD-trained scientist and melanoma survivor, shares her journey from cancer biology research to developing an innovative breast pump solution inspired by her own motherhood challenges. Jennie, a serial nonprofit entrepreneur, discusses her transition to the MedTech industry…

Dr. Shoreh Ershadi is the founder of ANITAGING Institute of California and a renowned expert in clinical biochemistry and pharmacology with over 40 years of experience. Dr. Ershadi shares her compelling journey from Iran to the United States, highlighting her unexpected entry into medical technology and the numerous challenges she faced as a woman …

Tom Salemi, editorial director of DeviceTalks shares his accidental yet fulfilling journey into the medtech industry. Tom reveals his passion for storytelling, building communities, and highlighting the human aspect of medical device innovation. He discusses the evolution of DeviceTalks, its focus on collaboration and education, and the importance …

Jennifer L. Horspool, a communication and public relations expert, global brand strategist, and founder of Engagement PR & Marketing, shares her journey from aspiring scientist to a leading figure in MedTech PR, emphasizing the importance of storytelling, branding, and patient persistence in the industry. She highlights how she helps startups and F…

Dasha Tyshlek, founder of StratCraft and strategic advisor to life science and healthcare tech companies, shares her inspiring journey from a dance teacher to a leading entrepreneur in MedTech. She discusses her passion for technology and problem-solving, and how she helps companies innovate and commercialize groundbreaking products. Dasha also hig…

Meet Holly Rockweiler, CEO of Madorra. This episode explores the transformative journey of Madorra from a Stanford Biodesign fellowship project to a pioneering force in women's health aiming to revolutionize the treatment of vaginal atrophy and dryness without hormones. Holly's story is not just about groundbreaking medical devices, but also about …

Mark Oreschnick, a MedTech industry leader and the founder of Evolve Engineering, shares his journey of nearly 30 years in engineering and leadership, starting in aerospace before landing in the medical device industry. With a passion for mentoring and helping startups, Mark discusses the importance of right-sizing staff and systems for success. Th…

Tim Balz, a former SpaceX engineer turned CEO of Kalogon, shares that his passion for MedTech began in high school when he founded a wheelchair refurbishment charity, Freedom Chairs. From creating the Intel connected wheelchair, endorsed by Stephen Hawking, to running a company developing innovative seating technologies, Tim's story is one of relen…

Roy Morgan, CEO of Eagle Medical, shares his unique journey in the MedTech industry, starting from a pivotal one-question interview in 1997 that set the trajectory of his career. He reflects on his experiences in leading groundbreaking projects, emphasizing his deep-seated desire to improve and save lives. Roy's approach to leadership is both inspi…

Annmarie Ison, Vice President and Head of Service at Elekta, share her remarkable career focusing on life-saving medical technology. Annmarie reflects on her initial aspiration to be a doctor, her pivot to physics, and the serendipitous turn that led her to a startup revolutionizing radiation oncology. With a personal touch, she shares insights fro…

Essa Abdool-Karim, an emerging companies lawyer specializing in medical technology, shares his intriguing journey from sports and entertainment law to finance law, before finding his passion in MedTech legal affairs. He discusses the vital role of contracts, liability considerations, and the complexities of navigating regulatory landscapes, especia…

Meet Alexander Ballatori and Shane Shahrestani, two innovative minds revolutionizing the medtech industry with their groundbreaking company, StrokeDX. Their story is not just about technological innovation; it's a tale of resilience, determination, and a deep-rooted desire to enhance stroke care. Amidst financial hurdles and skepticism, their commi…

Laura Yecies, CEO of Bone Health Technologies, shares her journey from a tech and marketing background to leading a company that's revolutionizing the treatment of osteoporosis with Osteoboost, a wearable device using NASA-proven vibration technology. Laura's diverse professional experiences highlights her personal motivation to improve people's li…

Richard "RJ" Kedziora, co-founder of Estenda Solutions, dives into the inspiring world of digital health solutions, where innovative minds are not just developing technology, but also saving and improving lives. RJ shares his journey from early software development days to creating impactful healthcare technologies, highlighting the importance of u…

Dr. Scott Bertrand, the inventor of the AllCore360 therapy optimization platform, shares his journey, beginning with two significant spinal injuries that led him to question conventional physical therapy methods and ultimately steer his career towards chiropractic care and MedTech innovation. He discusses his invention, which revolutionizes core tr…

Marina Daineko, a biocompatibility expert with a background in analytical chemistry, shares her journey from a research assistant in physical chemical problems to a prominent figure in the medtech industry. Marina discusses her passion for understanding the regulatory compliance and quality management systems in medical devices, reflecting on her c…

In this episode, Ken Hoyme, a semi-retired product security expert, talks in-depth about his 40-year career focusing on safety-critical systems, which spanned across commercial aviation, aerospace, and medical devices, with a particular focus on medical device security. Ken reflects on the personal impact of his work, and also talks about his conti…

Dr. Kenneth Brown is a private gastroenterologist with a clinical research division at Atrantil. Dr. Brown shares his journey from traditional medicine to a more holistic approach, blending natural therapeutics with traditional methods to treat gastrointestinal issues. He also discusses the advantages of being a generalist, how to care for your mic…

Allison London Brown is the CEO of LUMINELLE 360, a company focused on improving women's health through innovative medical technologies. In this episode, she discusses the challenges of fundraising, particularly for startups and women-led organizations, and the importance of personal mission and storytelling in leading a company and securing financ…

Joe Landolina is the co-founder and CEO of Cresilon, a biotech company that developed a plant-based gel technology to stop bleeding within seconds. Joe shares his unique journey from inventing this groundbreaking technology at the age of 17 to building a manufacturing facility in the heart of New York City. The gel, known as Vetigel, has saved nume…

Rebecca Whitney is the Spine Global President for ZimVie. The episode explores Rebecca's journey into MedTech, her leadership philosophy centered around trust and mutual respect, and the profound impact of innovative spinal solutions, such as the Tether device for pediatric scoliosis. Rebecca also shares personal insights, including her love for tr…

Dr. Kyle Flanigan is the co-founder and CEO of US Specialty Formulations. In this episode, Dr. Flanigan discusses the importance of providing specialized formulations that aren't typically addressed by larger pharmaceutical companies, shares about the company's focus on developing a unique oral vaccine platform called Kinder, and expresses his pass…

Dr. Ben Freedman and Dr. David Wu are the founder and advisor of Limax Biosciences, respectively. In this episode, they discuss their breakthrough innovation of novel biomaterials to transform healthcare, why collaboration and mentorship are so important, and how slugs inspired their work to the point of Ben being featured in a German TV show as th…

Haven Tyler is a Senior Client Relations Executive in medical device development at Boston Engineering and an aspiring interior designer in her spare time. In this episode, she discusses her innate curiosity about the world, why she decided to focus primarily on the medtech industry, her passion for furthering women's health, the power of mentorshi…

Alex Condon is the COO and co-founder of Galen Data. In this episode, he discusses how his background working with small businesses prepared him to grow and scale Galen Data, why he occasionally looks outside of the medtech industry to gain inspiration and insight, and how showing up and being a good person will write your legacy for you. Guest lin…

Kevin Saem is a brand leader at Zapyrus, a lifelong learner, and a passionate problem solver. In this episode, he shares stories from his early childhood in Cambodia and how that inspired his interest in medtech and healthcare, why he's so passionate about creating impact wherever he goes, and why he places a high value on curiosity. Guest links: h…

Lindsey Jardine is a Senior Clinical Research Associate at FARAPULSE, Inc. In this episode, she discusses her love of designing and organizing clinical trials, her zest for life and continual learning, and the very human moment in her career when she realized she had to make a major change from academia to industry. Guest links: https://www.linkedi…

Miguel Adao is a passionate leader in the medical devices, internet of things and consumer wearable spaces, and serves as the Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Voler Systems. In this episode, he discusses how living in nine countries and traveling to over 65 has impacted his life, the difference between managing and leading people, and…

Zoe Lalji is a junior at UT Austin studying neuroscience with a minor in entrepreneurship on a pre-med track, and she is working to make virtual reality accessible to ALS patients. In this episode, she discusses what it was like when her dad was diagnosed with ALS and how that changed the trajectory of her career, her work with advancing virtual re…

Etienne Nichols is a mechanical engineer, PMP-certified project manager, the host of the Global Medical Device Podcast, and the builder of the Greenlight Guru MedTech Excellence Community. In this episode, he shares a plethora of advice and great stories, including why gratitude and curiosity matter so much, how writing helps you to identify what y…

Diane Bouis is a scientist-turned-startup leader and ecosystem connector with MedTech Innovator. In this episode, she shares how accelerator programs can make a big difference in the success of a medtech startup, her passion for mentoring scientists leaving academia, her unique ability to "switch" easily and effectively, and why she self-identifies…

Frank Jaskulke is the VP of Intelligence at Medical Alley, leading the company's startup and global business platforms. He discusses how he got involved ("serendipitously") in the medtech industry, how Minneapolis became known as the United States' "Medical Alley," why he's comfortable with discomfort, and why he advocates that everyone take public…

Shannon Clark is the founder and principal of UserWise, a consultancy that helps medical device manufacturers and startups to design safe and easy-to-use medical devices. In this episode, Shannon discusses her experience founding her company, the importance of human factors engineering, her love of history, and why she's so happy about her recent "…

Duane Mancini is the CEO managing partner and founder of Project Medtech. In this episode, he shares how Project Medtech quickly evolved from one industry podcast to two, then to consulting for medtech startups, and now to hosting events. He also discusses his passion for the industry, his background as a scientist, and how his family, friends, and…

Marissa Fayer is a 20-plus-year medtech executive, innovator, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. In this episode, Marissa discusses her deep passion for furthering women's healthcare, the trip to Costa Rica that changed the course of her career trajectory, and the fact that before she was recruited into healthcare, she was on track to beco…

Daniel Powell, a 20-year veteran in the medical device community, is the CEO and co-founder of Spark Biomedical and developer of the Sparrow Therapy System. In this episode, he shares about opioid addiction and how Spark's device helps alleviate withdrawal symptoms for those in recovery, his passion for deep brain stimulation, and how he almost gav…

Our very first guest, JoJo Platt, is a longtime consultant serving the neurotech community through the commercialization process. In this episode, JoJo discusses her eclectic background, views on leadership, the future of neurotech, and how good-natured "revenge" is one of her primary motivators. Guest links: http://theplattassociates.com/ | https:…

This debut episode introduces The Leading Difference podcast, sharing its mission and purpose, along with logistics for format, frequency, and who you'll be hearing as featured guests. Interested in being a guest on the show or have feedback to share? Email us at podcast@velentium.com. HOST: Lindsey Dinneen EDITOR: Tim Oliphant PRODUCER: Velentium …