Startup Physicians

Alison Curfman, M.D.
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  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated weekly

StartUp Physicians is the podcast for doctors who dare to think beyond the clinic and hospital walls. Hosted by Dr. Alison Curfman, a practicing pediatric emergency physician and successful healthcare startup founder, this series empowers physicians to explore dynamic career opportunities in the healthcare startup world. Dr. Alison Curfman brings a wealth of experience to the mic, having founded and grown a healthcare company that served over 25,000 patients and achieved a nine-figure valuation in just two years. She has worked as a consultant, advisor, and chief medical officer, helping early-stage companies secure major funding and develop innovative clinical models. Now, she’s passionate about sharing the lessons she’s learned to help other physicians thrive in the startup space. Whether you’re looking to launch your own venture, become a consultant, or join a forward-thinking healthcare team, this podcast is your go-to guide. Each episode is packed with actionable advice on topics like personal branding, creating marketable services, and navigating the startup landscape. You’ll also hear from trailblazing physicians and industry leaders in private equity and venture capital, sharing their insights on why physician voices are essential in shaping the future of healthcare. If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact and build a career that excites and inspires you, StartUp Physicians will show you the way. New episodes drop every Wednesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen. Visit StartupPhysicians.com for resources, transcripts, and to connect with a community of like-minded doctors. It’s time to reimagine what’s possible for your career—and for healthcare.

  1. 1 day ago

    From Supply Closet Prototype to Medical Device Founder with Dr. Hilary Gallin

    Dr. Hilary Gallin is an obstetric anesthesiologist, medical device founder, and startup advisor who has built companies from problems she saw in clinical practice. In this episode of Startup Physicians, Dr. Gallin joins Dr. Alison Curfman to talk about the path from physician to founder, including how she started Fastline, a medical device company focused on making central line placement safer and easier. The first version was not polished. It was built from supply closet materials, a glue gun, and the willingness to test whether the idea could work. This conversation is for physicians who have seen a clinical problem and wondered whether they could build something to solve it. Dr. Gallin and Alison talk about design thinking, early feedback, ugly prototypes, medical device development, tech transfer offices, AI as a founder thought partner, and why doctors often underestimate how much they already know how to learn. You do not need a perfect product to begin. You need a real problem, early feedback, and the willingness to ask the next person who can help. Chapters: 00:00 Meet Dr. Hilary Gallin 01:16 From medicine, business, and engineering to startups 02:31 Finding startup ideas in clinical practice 03:33 Design thinking and problem validation 06:22 Why feedback feels different for doctors 10:00 Building the ugly first prototype 15:47 From supply closet materials to medical device 17:25 Navigating medical device development 22:25 Using AI as a founder thought partner 25:51 Why “I’m just a doctor” is the wrong frame 29:08 Outreach, advisors, and asking for help 30:13 Where to find Dr. Gallin   Resources: Connect with Dr. Hilary Gallin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilary-gallin-md-mba-1112b67/ Startup Physicians: https://www.startupphysicians.com/ Startup Physicians Incubator: https://www.startupphysicians.com/incubator Free resources for physician founders: https://www.startupphysicians.com/resources

    30 min

  2. 27 May

    Why Physician Founders Outperform in Healthcare Startups with Dr. David Lortscher

    What happens when physicians bring clinical insight into the startup world? In this episode of the Startup Physicians Podcast, Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with dermatologist, founder, and author Dr. David Lortscher, co-founder of a teledermatology company that scaled to hundreds of employees, served 5 million patients, and reached a billion-dollar valuation. They discuss why physicians are uniquely positioned to identify real healthcare problems, what makes doctor-led startups so powerful, and why clinical expertise must be paired with humility, curiosity, and the right co-founder dynamic. Dr. Lortscher also shares insights from his book, Why Doctors Win, including the data behind physician-founded healthcare companies and the common patterns he found among successful physician entrepreneurs. This conversation is for physicians who see problems in healthcare and wonder whether they might be the right person to help solve them.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Dr. David Lortscher 00:59 From Dermatology to a Billion-Dollar Startup 03:33 How Physicians Spot Problems Others Miss 07:58 What Successful Physician Founders Have in Common 10:16 The Data Behind Why Doctors Win 13:42 Learning Business Without Losing Clinical Insight 19:19 Finding the Right Co-Founder 24:49 How to Test an Early Startup Idea 26:07 Building a Startup Plan That Creates Leverage 30:08 Where to Find David and Why Doctors Win   Resources Connect with Dr. David Lortscher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlortschermd/ Read Why Doctors Win: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Doctors-Win-Creating-High-Impact/dp/B0FXMQF3J6 Want to go deeper? Launchpad: https://www.startupphysicians.com/launchpad Free Resources: https://www.startupphysicians.com/resources Incubator: https://www.startupphysicians.com/incubator

    31 min

  3. 20 May

    Why Physicians Belong at the Strategy Table with Dr. Sarah Matt

    In this episode of the Startup Physicians Podcast, Dr. Alison Curfman talks with Dr. Sarah Matt about building a nonlinear physician career and why doctors make powerful startup strategists. Dr. Matt shares her journey from burn surgery to healthcare strategy, startups, Oracle, remote robotic surgery, consulting, and authoring The Borderless Healthcare Revolution. Together, they explore how physicians can bring clinical insight into product development, go-to-market strategy, commercialization, and early-stage innovation. This conversation is for doctors who have ever looked at a broken part of healthcare and thought, “There has to be a better way.” You do not need the perfect plan to begin. You need to write the idea down, talk to the right people, validate the problem, and start learning from real feedback. They also discuss why physicians belong at the strategy table, how AI is changing what solo founders can build, and why iteration matters more than perfection.   Chapters 00:00 – Meet Dr. Sarah Matt 01:12 – From burn surgery to business strategy 04:21 – Why physicians belong in startup strategy 07:31 – The nonlinear physician career path 11:41 – Doctors as connectors in healthcare innovation 15:09 – Impact, money, and sustainable business models 19:05 – Advice for physicians with early ideas 22:05 – AI and the solo physician founder 24:58 – Iteration, validation, and stakeholder feedback   Resources Connect with Dr. Sarah Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahmattmd/ Visit Dr. Sarah Matt’s website: drsarahmatt.com Learn more about Startup Physicians: startup-physicians.com Explore the Startup Physicians Incubator: https://www.startupphysicians.com/incubator

    31 min

  4. 13 May

    The Growth Strategy Most Physicians Miss with Venture Builder Tomasz Rudolf

    How do you know if your healthcare idea could become a scalable startup? In this episode, Dr. Alison Curfman talks with Tomasz Rudolf, entrepreneur, venture builder, digital health founder, and Startup Physicians advisor, about how physicians can validate ideas, identify who will pay, avoid building too soon, and choose between a lifestyle business and a venture-backed startup. They also discuss why physicians are uniquely positioned to build tech-enabled service models that subtract work from healthcare teams instead of adding another tool.   Learn more: startupphysicians.com Join the physician founder webinar on May 18 from 7:00–8:30 PM Central Time. Register here: https://startupphysicians.easywebinar.live/founders   CHAPTERS: 00:17 — Introductions 02:28 — From entrepreneurship to healthcare innovation 06:35 — How to validate a startup idea early 09:28 — Customer discovery and talking to buyers 16:12 — Testing assumptions before building 17:12 — Who will pay for your solution? 20:48 — AI, service models, and the future of healthcare work 23:28 — Why subtracting work matters 27:11 — Lifestyle business vs. venture-backed startup 29:30 — Why founders need structure and support 33:12 — Why physicians are uniquely positioned to build 36:00 — Startup Physicians webinar invitation 38:29 — Closing advice for physician founders\   RESOURCES: Startup Physicians startupphysicians.com For physicians exploring healthcare innovation, venture-backed startups, and the Startup Physicians Incubator. Physician Founder Webinar Date: May 18 Time: 7:00–8:30 PM Central Time Topic: How physicians can move from an idea to a venture-ready healthcare startup. Register Here: https://startupphysicians.easywebinar.live/founders   Startup Physicians Incubator A structured pathway for physicians who have startup ideas and want support validating, modeling, positioning, and building scalable healthcare ventures. Apply here: https://www.startupphysicians.com/incubator

    40 min

  5. 6 May

    Startup vs. Small Business for Physician Founders

    What’s the difference between a healthcare startup and a physician-owned small business? In this solo episode, Alison Curfman breaks down how physician founders can choose the right path before they build. She explains why startups and small businesses differ from day one in their growth strategy, funding needs, ownership structure, scalability, and long-term outcomes. Alison shares lessons from her own founder journey, including how a healthcare concept can move from a small clinical practice idea to a venture-backed startup built for enterprise partnerships, rapid scale, and a multi-nine-figure valuation. This episode also covers why AI, tech-enabled services, financial modeling, product roadmaps, and human-centered care are becoming essential for the next generation of physician-led healthcare companies. For physician entrepreneurs, clinician founders, and healthcare innovators, this episode offers a practical framework for deciding whether you’re building a small business, a scalable startup, or something in between. RESOURCES Additional Resources for Physician Founders: https://www.startupphysicians.com/resources Startup Physicians Incubator Program for Scaling Healthcare Startups: https://www.startupphysicians.com/incubator    CHAPTERS 00:00 — Introduction 00:15 — Startup vs. small business: the core difference 03:05 — Why startups are built for scale from day one 05:39 — The four things startups do before launch 08:55 — Ownership, funding, and capital decisions 10:35 — Why AI and tech-enabled services matter now 15:15 — Frameworks for building in either lane 19:10 — Choosing the path that matches your goals 22:00 — Startup Physicians resources and incubator invite

    14 min

  6. 29 Apr

    The Startup Playbook Physicians Don’t Learn in Medical School with Venture Advisor Kim Sharp

    Physicians are trained to solve complex problems, but most are never taught how to turn a clinical insight into a scalable company. In this episode of the Startup Physicians Podcast, Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with Startup & Venture Advisor Kim Sharp to talk about the startup playbook physicians don’t learn in medical school. They discuss what physician founders need before they pitch, build, raise capital, or launch — including financial models, MVPs, data rooms, cap tables, product strategy, advisor networks, and venture readiness. If you have a healthcare idea but feel overwhelmed by the startup world, this episode will help you understand what it takes to move from idea to launch with more structure, confidence, and support. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Why Physician Founders Matter 01:59 — Meet Kim Sharp 05:33 — Why Physicians Have a Startup Advantage 06:35 — What Doctors Need to Learn Before Building 09:33 — De-Risking Your Idea Before You Launch 13:08 — Why Investors Bet on the Founder 14:24 — Financial Models, MVPs, and Pitch Decks 22:35 — Data Rooms, Cap Tables, and Venture Readiness 26:00 — Building Advisors, Community, and Support 28:35 — Building for Scale vs. Starting Small 32:43 — Strategic Networks and Warm Introductions 35:16 — Preparing for HLTH and Investor Meetings 39:03 — Who the Startup Physicians Incubator Is For 42:14 — How to Apply to the Incubator 43:53 — Why the Incubator Does Not Take Equity 45:32 — Closing Thoughts Resources Apply to the Startup Physicians Incubator: https://startupphysicians.com/incubator Explore free resources for physician founders: https://startupphysicians.com/resources Learn more about Startup Physicians: https://startupphysicians.com Connect with Startup Physicians on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-physicians/

    46 min

  7. 22 Apr

    Becoming a Founder Without Putting Your Finances at Risk

    If you’ve ever felt called to build something beyond clinical medicine—but stopped yourself because of financial fear—this episode reframes everything. In this episode, Dr. Alison Curfman breaks down one of the biggest misconceptions holding physicians back: the idea that a W-2 job is the only “safe” path. This conversation walks through a practical, structured approach to transitioning into entrepreneurship without putting your finances at risk. From income diversification to personal financial modeling to pre-selling your startup idea, this is a roadmap for physicians who want to build—responsibly. You don’t have to take a huge leap to become a founder. You can engineer the transition. Resources Startup Physicians Incubator https://www.startupphysicians.com/incubatorFounder Resource Guide https://www.startupphysicians.com/resources  Chapters: 00:00 The Illusion of Job Security 04:58 Understanding Personal Finances 10:30 Building a Business Financial Model 15:52 Pre-Selling and Funding Strategies 21:26 Creating a Pathway to Entrepreneurship 24:22 Overcoming Fear in Entrepreneurship

    25 min

  8. 15 Apr

    [Re-Release] The 7 Startup Functions Physicians Can Support

    In this episode, I talk about how physicians can add real value to startups without leaving clinical practice. I break down seven core functions where we already have a competitive edge: product design, marketing, business development, clinical research, user insight, policy advocacy, and strategic advisory. Each of these roles taps into what we already know and do as physicians. You don’t need a new degree. You need a framework to translate your clinical expertise into startup value. This episode is about helping you see the breadth of opportunity in front of you and getting clear on where you fit. If you’ve ever wondered how to contribute meaningfully to innovation while staying grounded in medicine, this is where to begin.   Episode Highlights: [00:00] - Introduction to Startup Functions for Physicians [02:17] - Product Design and Development [05:23] - Marketing and Brand Credibility [08:53] - Business Development and Strategic Growth [13:25] - Clinical Research and Validation [17:41] - Customer and User Insight [21:25] - Policy and Advocacy [24:52] - Strategic Advisory and Innovation Leadership   Resources  🔗 Website: StartupphysiciansStartUp Physicians | Physician Entrepreneurship, Consulting & Leadership 🔗 LinkedIn: Dr. Alison Curfman   Want to Go Deeper? If you're ready to start translating your clinical expertise into real startup opportunities: Launchpad – A structured path to help you turn your skills into clear, actionable offerings Free Resources – Tools, frameworks, and guidance to help you get started Incubator – For physicians ready to build, grow, and scale within the startup ecosystem

    30 min
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About

StartUp Physicians is the podcast for doctors who dare to think beyond the clinic and hospital walls. Hosted by Dr. Alison Curfman, a practicing pediatric emergency physician and successful healthcare startup founder, this series empowers physicians to explore dynamic career opportunities in the healthcare startup world. Dr. Alison Curfman brings a wealth of experience to the mic, having founded and grown a healthcare company that served over 25,000 patients and achieved a nine-figure valuation in just two years. She has worked as a consultant, advisor, and chief medical officer, helping early-stage companies secure major funding and develop innovative clinical models. Now, she’s passionate about sharing the lessons she’s learned to help other physicians thrive in the startup space. Whether you’re looking to launch your own venture, become a consultant, or join a forward-thinking healthcare team, this podcast is your go-to guide. Each episode is packed with actionable advice on topics like personal branding, creating marketable services, and navigating the startup landscape. You’ll also hear from trailblazing physicians and industry leaders in private equity and venture capital, sharing their insights on why physician voices are essential in shaping the future of healthcare. If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact and build a career that excites and inspires you, StartUp Physicians will show you the way. New episodes drop every Wednesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen. Visit StartupPhysicians.com for resources, transcripts, and to connect with a community of like-minded doctors. It’s time to reimagine what’s possible for your career—and for healthcare.

Information

  • Creator
    Alison Curfman, M.D.
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Startup Physicians
  • Show Website
    Startup Physicians

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