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. 4 days ago

    From Orthopedic Surgeon to VR Startup Founder with Dr. Danny Goel

    Orthopedic surgeon and physician founder Dr. Danny Goel went from identifying gaps in surgical training to co-founding PrecisionOS, a virtual reality and AI-powered platform designed to help surgeons practice skills and judgment in a risk-free environment. In this conversation, Danny joins Dr. Alison Curfman to talk about what that path looked like: starting with no intention of building a company, finding technical co-founders outside of medicine, validating the idea with other physicians, raising early capital, learning the business side of healthcare, and deciding to remain in clinical practice while building. They also discuss why staying close to clinical practice can strengthen a physician founder, how advisors can shape an early company, and why physicians should pressure-test their ideas instead of keeping them hidden until they feel perfect.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:58 The transition from surgical training to independent practice 03:20 Building a risk-free environment for surgical training 05:07 Why timing matters in medical simulation 07:48 Building from a problem inside clinical practice 09:17 Why physician founders can stay in medicine 11:31 How the company started 13:15 Finding technical co-founders outside of medicine 15:41 Raising early capital and validating the problem 18:27 Learning the business side of healthcare 20:17 Why physicians do not need an MBA to start 22:07 The value of advisors for early-stage founders 23:37 Pressure-testing a startup idea 25:42 Why physicians should not be afraid to share their ideas 29:06 Creating impact beyond individual patient care 30:16 A first step for physicians with startup ideas Resources Explore the Concept Pitch Builder and other free resources for physician founders: https://startupphysicians.com/resources Learn more about PrecisionOS: https://precisionostech.com Learn more about Startup Physicians: https://startupphysicians.com Connect with Startup Physicians on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-physicians/

  2. 2 Sept

    Starting, Scaling, and Selling a Healthcare Startup with Dr. Jose Barreau

    Oncologist and physician founder Dr. Jose Barreau went from identifying a communication problem inside the hospital to building Doc Halo, growing it into Halo Health, raising venture capital, and ultimately selling the company in 2021.   In this conversation, Jose joins Dr. Alison Curfman to talk about what that path actually looked like: starting with zero business or development experience, finding the right technical partners, deciding when to reduce clinical work, creating financial runway, navigating venture capital, and learning to become comfortable with feedback and sales.   They also discuss why clinical experience can be an advantage for physician founders, and why doctors do not need an MBA, a technical background, or every answer before they begin building.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:37 Solving a communication problem inside the hospital 03:22 Starting a company with zero business or development experience 05:02 Building Doc Halo while practicing medicine 06:40 Finding the right technical partner and avoiding technical debt 07:52 Deciding when to step away from full-time clinical practice 08:49 Creating financial runway before making the leap 10:37 The safety net physicians have when building a startup 12:06 Staying connected to clinical medicine as a founder 14:59 Learning venture capital and evaluating term sheets 17:21 Finding the right advisors, lawyers, and investors 18:20 Growing Halo Health and selling the company 19:10 The mindset shift from physician to founder 20:42 Why founders need to embrace feedback and sales 21:36 Discovery calls, validation, and learning before pitching   Resources 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/

  3. 19 Aug

    From Orthopedic Surgeon to AI Founder: Building Healthcare Software

    In this episode of the Startup Physicians Podcast, Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with orthopedic surgeon and physician founder Dr. Justin Smith to talk about his path from clinical medicine to entrepreneurship, private practice, and building an AI-powered platform designed to reduce the administrative burden of running a medical practice.   Justin shares how his entrepreneurial journey started with Morning Rounds Coffee and expanded into medical products, private practice, and ultimately healthcare software. He also breaks down what he has learned about working with developers, building for healthcare compliance, fundraising from physician investors, creating a strategic product roadmap, and using AI to build AI.   If you’re a physician with an idea for a startup, or you’re already building one, this conversation is packed with practical lessons on moving from subject matter expertise to an actual company.   CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction: Dr. Justin Smith 02:27 – Why AI is empowering physician founders 05:37 – Healthcare security, PHI, and SOC 2 compliance 07:22 – Why physicians still have an edge as subject matter experts 09:49 – Communicating your vision to developers and investors 13:23 – Turning physician investors into aligned beta testers 16:14 – The changing SaaS landscape 18:30 – Prompt engineering, context engineering, and AI agents 21:19 – Using AI internally to build a leaner company 23:28 – Making independent practice more accessible   Resources: Startup Physicians Resources: https://www.startupphysicians.com/resources Startup Physicians: https://www.startupphysicians.com/ Connect with Justin Smith, MD : Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/justin-smith-md-faaos-fa... - https://www.turnkeyaipractice.io @toddwalkermd - toddwalkermd.com  @sportssmithmd - sportssmithmd.com

  4. 5 Aug

    3 Things Physician Founders Must Know Before Launching a Product

    In this episode, Dr. Alison Curfman shares one of the most common mistakes she sees physician entrepreneurs make: spending months (and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars) building a product before identifying who will actually buy it. Drawing from conversations with dozens of physician founders, Alison explains why building an MVP is still the right instinct, but why customer discovery and stakeholder validation must happen before you invest heavily in development. She breaks down the difference between building a product and building a successful business, and shares practical questions every founder should ask before launching. Whether you're creating a digital health startup, AI tool, medical device, or healthcare service, this episode will help you avoid expensive mistakes and build with confidence. In this episode, you'll learn: Why building your idea is still the right first stepWhy a product without a buyer is only a hypothesisHow to identify the real decision-makerThe stakeholder conversations every founder needs to haveWhy customer discovery saves time, money, and frustrationThe difference between building a product and building a ventureChapters 00:00 The hidden trend among physician founders  00:43 Three things to know before you fall in love with your product  01:19 Build it 02:20 A product without a buyer is a hypothesis  03:43 Identify the buyer, not just the user  04:43 Have stakeholder conversations that sting  05:46 Discovery before validation before pitching  06:27 How feedback shapes a better product  07:04 A product is only one part of a successful venture  08:29 The three biggest takeaways  09:16 The Concept Pitch Builder framework  10:01 Final thoughts Resources: Concept Pitch Builder:https://www.startupphysicians.com/resources Startup Physicians:https://www.startupphysicians.com/

  5. 29 Jul

    5 Truths Every Visionary Founder Needs to Know

    Do you constantly see better ways to solve problems? Do new ideas come naturally, but execution sometimes feels overwhelming? In this episode, Alison Curfman explores what it really means to be a visionary entrepreneur. She shares the five biggest lessons she's learned about visionary thinking from recognizing opportunities others miss to understanding why traditional environments can feel limiting. Drawing from her experience building a healthcare startup that reached a nine-figure valuation, Alison explains why vision alone isn't enough, how to avoid the common traps that hold visionaries back, and why storytelling may be your greatest competitive advantage. You'll learn: Why visionaries see solutions while others see problemsHow rigid systems can stifle creative thinkersThe two risk tolerance traps that derail entrepreneursWhy storytelling is one of the most valuable founder skillsHow to build the right team instead of trying to change your natural strengthsWhether you're an entrepreneur, founder, physician, or someone who's always felt like they think differently, this episode will help you recognize your unique wiring. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the superpowers and setbacks of visionaries 00:26 What is a visionary and why they see solutions 01:23 The importance of seeing problems as opportunities 02:16 How environments can starve or support visionaries 03:38 Risks and traps related to a visionary's risk tolerance 04:34 The value of disruptive thinking in industries 07:56 Storytelling as a superpower for early-stage entrepreneurs 09:24 The process of selling a vision before product exists 10:44 The importance of building a team around your vision 13:33 Summary of key insights and encouragement for visionaries Resources: Startup Physicians Resources: https://www.startupphysicians.com/resources  Startup Physicians: https://www.startupphysicians.com/  Who Not How by Dan Sullivan: https://a.co/d/053zCOAJ

  6. 15 Jul

    Could Your Healthcare Idea Become a $100 Million Startup?

    Many physicians recognize problems in healthcare that deserve better solutions. But how do you know if an idea has the potential to become a real company? In this solo episode, Dr. Alison Curfman walks through the framework Startup Physicians uses to help physician founders evaluate and expand their ideas into venture-backable businesses. She introduces the free Concept Pitch Builder, an AI-powered resource designed to guide physicians through the key questions investors ask before funding a startup. Alison explains how to assess market size, identify the right buyer, analyze competitors, define an MVP, create a scalable business model, and determine whether your idea has the potential to become a $100 million company. Whether you're exploring your first startup idea or preparing to apply for an incubator program, this episode provides a practical roadmap for moving from clinical insight to entrepreneurial action.   Chapters:  00:00 Why great healthcare ideas need more than clinical insight  02:12 Introducing the Concept Pitch Builder  04:14 Defining the problem and why now  05:18 Evaluating market size and venture potential  06:41 Identifying the buyer and go-to-market strategy  08:05 Understanding competitors and market gaps  08:59 Building your minimum viable product (MVP)  10:12 Creating a scalable business model  12:14 Defining your role as a founder  13:53 Turning your idea into a concept pitch  15:20 How to use the Concept Pitch Builder and apply to the incubator   Resources: Concept Pitch Builder:https://www.startupphysicians.com/resources Startup Physicians:https://www.startupphysicians.com/

  7. 8 Jul

    Physician Side Hustles in Startup Advisory and Health Tech Consulting with Dr. Mary Parman

    Dr. Mary Parman spent more than 20 years practicing OB/GYN before building a second path in health tech consulting and startup advisory work. In this episode, she joins Dr. Alison Curfman to talk about how physicians can use their clinical expertise with startups without necessarily leaving medicine or starting a company themselves. They discuss how Mary began meeting health tech founders, how she built a pipeline of advisory opportunities, how physicians can think about compensation, and why the first step is often not selling yourself. It is learning where your experience creates value. This conversation is for physicians who are curious about consulting, advisory work, startup strategy, or building additional income streams while staying connected to clinical practice.   Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:27 Dr. Mary Parman’s path into health tech consulting 04:29 How physicians can start meeting startups 08:55 Building an advisory pipeline 12:42 Defining your consulting offer 14:41 Compensation, retainers, equity, and project work 21:27 Knowing your value and your buyer 27:16 Practical first steps for physicians   Resources: Startup Physicians Resources: https://www.startupphysicians.com/resources Startup Physicians: https://www.startupphysicians.com/ Connect with Dr. Mary Parman: www.linkedin.com/in/maryparman

  8. 24 Jun

    Re-release: So You Want to Advise Startups? Here’s Exactly How to Get Started as a Physician Consultant

    Many physicians know they have valuable clinical insight, but they struggle to name where that value fits outside traditional clinical practice. In this re-release episode, Dr. Alison Curfman walks through five common barriers physicians face when exploring startup advising, consulting, and industry work — from “I don’t have anything unique to offer” to “I’m just a doctor. I don’t know business.” Your clinical experience already opens more doors than you may realize. This episode helps you start seeing where those doors are.   Chapters 00:00 Overcoming Mental Barriers in Medicine 02:26 Identifying Unique Offerings and Skills 05:04 Building a Network and Strategic Connections 07:45 Communicating Value Without Being Salesy 10:39 Time Management and Flexibility in Consulting 13:15 Understanding Business Fundamentals for Physicians 16:20 Crafting Your Narrative and Value Proposition 18:50 Design Thinking and Innovation in Healthcare 21:35 The Path Forward: Joining the Startup Ecosystem   Resources Startup Physicians: https://startupphysicians.com Free guide: 50 Things Physicians Can Do With Startups https://startupphysicians.com/resources Join the waitlist for Launchpad Cohort: www.startupphysicians.com/launchpad Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-physicians/

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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
    80
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Startup Physicians
  • Show Website
    Startup Physicians

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