Podcast
Med Tech Gurus
Hosted by Tom Hickey · EN
Med Tech Gurus is a podcast dedicated to helping medical device executives stay on the leading edge of their industry. Whether you're looking to grow your sales team, commercialize new devices, set up national accounts, or improve your clinical performances, this podcast is designed to help. Each episode features an interview with a thought leader or practitioner, discussing topics like: sales force, innovation, patient outcomes, emerging technologies, supply chain, group purchasing organizations, device launches, value analysis, biotech, and more.
41episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Future of Stroke Care Starts Here
Mar 1800:24:03Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Med Tech Gurus, we sit down with Dr. Adam S. Arthur, Chief Medical Officer for Medtronic's Neurovascular business — and one of the most influential voices in modern stroke care. With more than 20 years as a practicing neurosurgeon, clinical researcher, and academic leader, Dr. Arthur has helped redefine standards of care for ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, carotid disease, and neurovascular innovation worldwide. Now at Medtronic, he's leading the charge to translate real-world clinical insight into breakthrough devices that scale — from next-generation thrombectomy tools to new applications for established technologies like Onyx, and a pipeline of neurostimulation, robotics, and endovascular therapies that promise to change what's possible for brain health. Dr. Arthur shares powerful lessons from decades of clinical trials, including why "the devil is in the details," how honest collaboration between physicians and industry accelerates innovation, and why failing fast is often the quickest path to breakthroughs. He also offers an exciting look at the future: remote robotics, closed-loop vagus nerve stimulation, and new ways to reach stroke patients with life-saving precision. If you care about the future of stroke care, neurovascular devices, or scaling innovation responsibly, this episode delivers a masterclass from one of the field's true thought leaders.
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Engineering the Future of Wearables
Mar 1100:51:31Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Med Tech Gurus, we're joined by John Dugas and Dr. Kevin Schwarz of Solventum Medical—two leaders pushing wearable innovation into its next era. With expertise spanning chemical engineering, materials science, synthetic biology, and global R&D, John and Kevin show how truly breakthrough wearables demand far more than clever sensors. They require world-class adhesives, smart overlays, skin-friendly materials, and device designs that survive real life—not just the lab. They explain why longer wear time is becoming one of the biggest drivers of clinical success, how thin-film overlays can quadruple device survivability, and why understanding patient behavior is just as important as engineering excellence. From global scale to skin biomechanics, this episode delivers a powerful look at what it really takes to build wearables that stay on, stay comfortable, and stay effective. If you're building the next generation of chronic disease tools, diagnostics, or connected care devices — this conversation is packed with insights you won't want to miss.
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Cracking the Code on Back Pain
Mar 400:40:44Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Med Tech Gurus, we welcome Neil Klompas, Chief Executive Officer of Augurex Life Sciences. With more than two decades of experience leading companies at the intersection of diagnostics, rheumatology, and translational medicine, Neil is pioneering a new era of autoimmune biomarker discovery. Under his leadership, Augurex developed SpineStat, the world's first blood test designed to identify axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA)—a chronic inflammatory spinal disease that affects millions yet often goes undiagnosed for nearly a decade. By leveraging the anti-14-3-3η autoantibody in combination with CRP, SpineStat is helping clinicians detect disease earlier, prevent irreversible spinal damage, and even reduce opioid dependence through faster, targeted treatment. Neil shares how engaging early with regulators helped Augurex earn FDA Breakthrough Device Designation, why he believes rheumatology is poised for its "oncology moment," and how keeping his team centered on the patient journey drives innovation every day. If you're passionate about precision diagnostics, regulatory navigation, and building mission-driven teams, this episode is a masterclass in turning unmet medical need into measurable clinical impact.
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The Human Side of MedTech Security
Feb 2500:30:14Tap to summarizeWhat if the next medical breakthrough could be undone—not by biology—but by a hacker? In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, we sit down with Christian Espinosa, CEO and Founder of Blue Goat Cyber, a leading medical device cybersecurity consultancy helping innovators protect patients by securing the technology behind modern healthcare. With over 30 years of experience spanning the U.S. Air Force, Department of Defense, and MedTech industry, Christian brings a rare perspective on precision, resilience, and empathy in cybersecurity After a personal health scare revealed vulnerabilities in his own implanted device, Christian turned mission into movement—founding Blue Goat Cyber to transform cybersecurity from a regulatory afterthought into a strategic advantage Christian shares how patient safety—not data protection—must be the heart of every cybersecurity strategy, why "bolting on" security late in development can derail innovation, and how emotional intelligence drives his leadership in high-stakes medtech environments. Whether you're a startup founder, RA/QA leader, or healthcare executive, this episode delivers powerful lessons on building trust, protecting patients, and creating a culture where security saves lives.
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Predicting the Unseen: AI That Saves Lives
Feb 1800:41:19Tap to summarizeWhat if artificial intelligence could spot hospital-acquired infections days before symptoms appear? In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, we sit down with Benedikt von Thüngen, CEO and Co-Founder of Sanome, a company redefining hospital care through AI-powered clinical decision support. After enduring profound personal and professional loss, including the collapse of his seed round and the death of loved ones, Benedikt rebuilt his company around one mission—helping clinicians understand patients earlier and intervene faster Under his leadership, Sanome became the first UK-based AI company to earn Class IIb certification for HAI prediciton. Its Memory Platform predicting infections up to 72 hours sooner than conventional methods with the potential to save each NHS Trust over £1.1 million per year. Benedikt shares a powerful story of resilience, transparency, and innovation—proving that when data, determination, and purpose align, technology can truly save lives.
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Connected Care, Safer Births
Feb 1100:40:09Tap to summarizeWhat if the key to saving lives in maternal health wasn't more hospital visits—but smarter, connected care at home? In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, we sit down with Anish Sebastian, Co-Founder and CEO of BabyScripts, the leading virtual care platform transforming how mothers and providers navigate pregnancy. Built from both analytics and empathy, BabyScripts bridges one of healthcare's most critical gaps—access to consistent, quality prenatal and postpartum care Under Anish's leadership, BabyScripts has raised over $30 million in funding from partners like Philips and Cigna, now managing over 300,000 pregnancies across more than 70 health systems. From detecting preeclampsia early to supporting mental health and postpartum recovery, the platform delivers measurable results—proving that technology and teamwork can make pregnancy safer for every mother. Anish shares his insights on scaling digital health, building strategic partnerships, and leveraging AI to expand maternal care equity. Whether you're an entrepreneur, innovator, or clinician, this episode reveals how connected technology can deliver life-changing outcomes at scale.
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Beating Cancer with Precision
Feb 400:41:23Tap to summarizeWhat if we could take the guesswork out of cancer treatment—and move from try and hope to test and know? In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, we sit down with Jim Foote, CEO and Founder of First Ascent Biomedical, whose mission began after losing his son to cancer. That experience became the driving force behind Functional Precision Medicine (FPM)—a groundbreaking approach that combines tumor testing, genomics, and AI to rank the most effective drugs for each patient in just ten days Backed by a Nature Medicine study showing an 83% patient benefit rate, First Ascent is proving that personalization saves lives. With automation reducing lab times from hours to minutes and new CLIA-certified labs accelerating access, Jim and his team are reshaping how cancer care is delivered. From building trust with clinicians to leading through loss, Jim shares a powerful story of innovation, resilience, and purpose that every medtech leader can learn from.
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Saving Lives with Simpler Trauma Care
Jan 2800:37:19Tap to summarizeWhat if trauma care didn't require a full surgical team or a giant toolbox to save lives in critical moments? In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, Dr. Adam Power, vascular surgeon and co-founder of Frontline Medical Technologies, takes us inside the development of the COBRA-OS—an ultra-simplified REBOA device that's transforming trauma care. From war zones to rural communities, Dr. Power explains how miniaturization and smart design make this innovation faster, safer, and more accessible—without sacrificing patient outcomes. We discuss the challenges of commercialization, academic innovation, and the evolving role of physicians as entrepreneurs. Gurus, this episode is a masterclass in turning front-line insight into global impact. Don't miss it!
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Stress as the Sixth Vital Sign: Precision Medicine at Scale
Jan 2100:33:43Tap to summarizeWhat if the missing link in treating autoimmune disease wasn't a new drug—but a better way to measure stress? In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, we sit down with Dr. Andrew Holman, CEO of Inmedix and the innovator behind CloudHRV, the first FDA-cleared platform to measure stress biology with medical-grade precision .At a time when 75% of autoimmune treatments fail—costing billions and leaving patients without answers—CloudHRV delivers actionable insights in just five minutes reframing how clinicians think about chronic disease. Dr. Holman takes us inside his two-decade journey building Inmedix, from early IP strategy to securing partnerships with global pharma. Along the way, he shares lessons on leveraging licensing as a growth strategy, building a culture of innovation, and aligning science, business, and patient care in the pursuit of transformative healthcare solutions. Whether you're a founder, investor, or clinician, this conversation will reshape how you think about precision medicine and the future of patient-centered innovation.
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From Patents to Patients: Reinventing Arterial Treatment
Jan 1400:32:13Tap to summarizeWhat happens when one of the toughest challenges in vascular medicine—severe arterial calcification—meets breakthrough engineering? In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, we sit down with Dr. Robert Chisena, Co-Founder and CTO of Amplitude Vascular Systems (AVS). With a PhD in mechanical engineering and a portfolio of five patents, Robert has dedicated his career to tackling one of the most stubborn barriers in cardiovascular health: hardened arterial blockages that resist traditional interventions. From the labs at the University of Michigan to the founding of AVS, Robert shares how he and his team are developing a next-generation intravascular lithotripsy platform designed to fracture calcium safely and effectively—combining the familiarity of angioplasty with the power of shockwave technology. Along the way, he offers lessons on building IP-rich startups, fostering innovation cultures, securing clinical adoption, and navigating the high-stakes path from spinout to commercialization Whether you're an engineer, entrepreneur, or investor in medtech, this conversation shines a light on the strategies, setbacks, and breakthroughs required to transform a complex clinical challenge into a scalable, life-saving solution.
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