Life Science Success

Don Davis PhD, MBA
  • 5.0 (10)
  • LIFE SCIENCES
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

On this podcast, you'll find interviews with high-performing successful individuals in Life Sciences. On a weekly basis, we cover their proven methods, principles, strategies, and mindsets to implement new technologies that scale to meet the needs of people in our world.

  1. APR 14

    Breaking Down Silos with Ian Crone: Regulatory Data, IDMP, and AI Readiness in Life Sciences

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Ian Crone. He is the VP Regulatory strategy and growth at ArisGlobal and a global life sciences leader known for RIM, UDI, IDMP, and data migration expertise, inspiring teams to deliver compliant, client-centric solutions. 00:00 Show Intro 00:30 Meet Ian Crone 01:12 From Lab Bench Up 03:07 Regulatory Deja Vu 05:15 IDMP Explained 07:39 Single Source Truth 10:38 Why Migrations Fail 14:40 Interpretive Drift Risk 15:56 Best of Breed Debate 21:27 Compliance Clock Ticking 23:59 AI Needs Humans 26:00 Why ArisGlobal 27:33 Sportify Overlay Approach 28:49 Data Cortex XDI 31:10 IDMP Data For AI 32:31 AI As Experimentation 33:54 Leading Under Pressure 36:20 Mentorship Lessons 37:05 Personal Motivation Story 39:23 AI Hype Versus Readiness 42:15 Human In The Loop 44:42 Breaking Silos Wins 47:02 Closing And Next Steps

    49 min

  2. APR 9

    Inspection Readiness and Quality Systems with Jennifer Vavala

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Jennifer Vavala, Founder & Principal at AlignPoint Partners. With more than 27 years in pharma, medical device, and diagnostics leading QA/QC in complex regulated organizations, she focuses on quality systems, inspection readiness, and operational delivery, and developed the Operational Stability Recalibration framework to help leaders rebalance escalating mandates with operating capacity before compliance or delivery risks surface. 00:00 Intro 00:30 Meet Jennifer Vavala 01:39 Microbiology Origins 04:13 Capacity Not Capability 08:43 Across Regulated Sectors 12:25 AlignPoint Partners Mission 13:15 Operational Stability Framework 18:02 Early Warning Signals 19:52 Inspection Readiness Reality 23:55 Executives And Regulators 32:37 Quality Leadership Future 36:15 Inspiration Concerns Excitement 39:39 Wrap Up And Where To Connect 40:19 Outro

    41 min

  3. APR 2

    Dean Erhardt: Pharma Strategy, Distribution & Commercial Growth

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Dean Erhardt, President and CEO at D2 Solutions. He brings more than 20 years of experience across pharmaceuticals and consumer products, with expertise in support program development, distribution, and specialty product management, and has worked with over 100 pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device manufacturers as well as many small and midsized organizations on commercial operations, strategy, and national accounts. 00:00 Intro 00:34 Dean's career: HMO, Cardinal Health, Express Scripts 03:00 Founding D2 Solutions in 2008 04:00 Pricing strategy and middlemen taking 50–70% of revenue 08:00 What separates successful commercialization from failure 10:00 D2's three pillars: distribution, reimbursement, patient services 15:00 Pharmaceutical support programs for specialty medications 16:00 D2's digital patient engagement platform in action 21:00 Resource challenges for small and mid-sized pharma 22:00 Retail deserts and the rise of direct-to-consumer models 24:00 National accounts strategy and long-term payer relationships 26:00 When to engage D2 and cleaning up commercialization missteps 28:00 The prior authorization crisis 31:00 Leadership advice: one vision, said a million times 32:00 AI, remote surgery, and the future of care 34:00 Looming shortage of 3.9 million healthcare workers 36:00 Concerns: aging population, lost patients, NIH funding 37:00 Technology accelerating drug approvals 38:00 Outro

    39 min

  4. JAN 29

    The Future of Pharma Pricing, Access, and Global Market Complexity

    Send us Fan Mail Jesse Mendelsohn and Michael Grosberg from Model N discuss why U.S. pricing complexity is spreading globally, the collapse of the PBM rebate model, what's really driving the pharmaceutical manufacturing boom, and why direct-to-consumer discount programs won't solve America's drug access problem. 00:00 Introduction to Life Science Success Podcast 00:34 Pressing Issues in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing 00:51 Introducing the Experts from Model N 03:08 Understanding International Reference Pricing 04:14 Impact of US Pricing on Global Drug Launches 09:26 Challenges with Pharmacy Benefit Managers 16:29 Domestic Manufacturing Boom in Pharmaceuticals 23:08 AI in Drug Discovery and Personalized Medicine 29:03 Access and Policy Discussion 30:01 Direct to Consumer Pricing 31:32 TrumpRx Overview 33:11 Compliance Challenges 38:30 Pharmaceutical Revenue Management 41:38 AI in Life Sciences 48:35 Future of Life Sciences 50:45 Concerns and Challenges 53:52 Excitement in Current Work 55:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    57 min

  5. 10/20/2025

    Align, Apply, Adapt: Building Lasting Compliance with Troy Fugate

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Troy Fugate. The CCO of Compliance Insight, Inc., Troy brings 30+ years of FDA readiness, GMP, and quality leadership—turning complex requirements into practical, culture-shaping solutions and championing the Align–Apply–Adapt framework used across pharma, cell and gene therapy, and medical devices. 00:00 Introduction to Life Science Success Podcast 00:37 Meet Troy Fugate: CCO of Compliance Insight 01:09 Troy's Career Journey and FDA Focus 04:10 The Align, Apply, Adapt Framework 04:47 Differentiating Compliance Insight 08:03 The Importance of Clarity in Compliance 17:10 Challenges and Solutions in Compliance 25:38 Human Behavior and Continuous Improvement 34:39 Troy's Inspirations and Concerns 39:07 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

    42 min

  6. 10/11/2025

    RNA Secrets Unveiled: Byron Purse's Biotech Breakthrough Journey

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Byron Purse, co-founder of AlidaBio and professor of chemistry at San Diego State University who is pioneering innovative approaches to studying RNA modifications. Byron brings a wealth of expertise in synthetic and natural nucleic acid modifications, with a passion for advancing biotechnology and human health through his groundbreaking research and entrepreneurial endeavors. 00:00 Introduction to Life Science Success Podcast 00:29 Meet Byron Purse: Professor and Co-Founder of AlidaBio 01:05 Byron's Journey into Life Sciences 03:10 From Academia to Entrepreneurship 06:49 Founding AlidaBio: Vision and Mission 08:59 Innovations in RNA Modifications 23:09 Challenges and Successes in Developing the EpiPlex™ Platform 28:44 Leadership and Inspiration 35:00 Concerns and Future Outlook in Life Sciences 43:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    44 min

  7. 09/27/2025

    Revolutionizing Addiction Risk: Genetics, Tech, and Hope Unveiled

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is James Piacentino, CEO of Thrive Genetics, Inc., a pioneering digital health startup focused on transforming addiction risk assessment through genetic and behavioral science. James brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial experience, technical expertise, and personal mission to develop innovative solutions that help healthcare providers manage dependency risk with unprecedented precision. 00:00 Introduction to Life Science Success Podcast 00:46 Upcoming Podcast Announcement 01:08 Introducing James Piacentino 01:49 James Piacentino's Background in Digital Health 03:29 Corporate Experience and Startup Journey 06:53 Founding Thrive Genetics 08:35 The Impact of Addiction on Families 09:19 Thrive Genetics' Approach to Addiction Risk 18:43 Partnerships and Technological Advancements 21:29 Combining Genetics, Behavior, and AI 25:06 The Conservative Approach to AI in Customer Journeys 26:12 Balancing Scientific Rigor with Business Models 27:09 Adoption and Value Creation in Technology 30:54 The Importance of Customer Feedback 40:05 Leadership Lessons and Values-Based Leadership 43:18 Inspiration and Overcoming Limiting Beliefs 45:29 Concerns and Complexities in Today's World 46:47 Excitement for the Future 47:35 Conclusion and Farewell

    48 min

  8. 09/18/2025

    Financial Strategies for Life Science Startups: Insider Secrets Revealed!

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Josh Yelen, a CPA, MBA, and the Founder & CEO of Function, a strategic financial leadership and bookkeeping services company that supports businesses across various industries, including life sciences. With over two decades of experience in operations, accounting, finance, and sales, Josh is also a co-founder of Venture Forward Capital, where he supports early-stage entrepreneurs in building disruptive companies. 00:00 Introduction to Life Science Success Podcast 00:40 Join Our Free School Community 01:41 Introducing Our Guest: Josh Yelen 02:10 Josh Yelen's Professional Journey 04:30 The Birth of Venture Forward Capital and Function 09:05 Function's Unique Approach to Financial Services 14:55 Challenges in Biotech and Pharma 20:40 Trends Shaping the Future of Biotech 29:19 Firing the Biggest Client and Growing the Business 29:46 Innovative Use of AI in Business 30:53 Aligning Company Goals with OKRs 32:45 The Importance of Focus and Avoiding Distractions 36:46 Leadership Advice and Entrepreneurial Challenges 39:31 Motivational Videos and Personal Drive 45:37 Concerns About AI and the Future of Work 50:48 Excitement for the Future and Final Thoughts

    55 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

On this podcast, you'll find interviews with high-performing successful individuals in Life Sciences. On a weekly basis, we cover their proven methods, principles, strategies, and mindsets to implement new technologies that scale to meet the needs of people in our world.

Information

  • Creator
    Don Davis PhD, MBA
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    315
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Life Science Success
  • Show Website
    Life Science Success

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