The Doctor's Crossing Carpe Diem Podcast

Episode #240 - How to Get Paid Consulting for Startups and Venture Firms.

Feb 11, 2026

Dr. Alison Curfman, pediatric emergency physician and founder of Startup Physicians who co-founded Imagine Pediatrics, discusses how clinicians translate frontline insight into paid advisory roles for startups and venture firms. She outlines the types of consulting work available. She explains who qualifies and how to find and approach companies. She shares practical onboarding, pricing tips, and why this work feels rewarding.

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INSIGHT

Clinical Insight Identifies Real Product Needs

Physicians see system failures and uniquely know what patients need from frontline experience.
Alison Curfman turned clinical insight into scalable solutions by building programs and companies addressing those gaps.

ADVICE

Offer Practical Clinical Services Startups Need

Help startups with marketing, payer conversations, product design, and clinical workflows based on your specialty knowledge.
Offer study design and rapid validation methods to prove a product or model actually reduces outcomes like ER visits.

ANECDOTE

From Equity Beginnings To Paid Retainers

Some physicians began with equity-only roles and parlayed that first engagement into paid advisory work and references.
One advisor earns about $5,000/month retainer helping companies with messaging and network development.

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If you've ever looked around your workplace and thought, "There has to be a better way to do this," you're not alone. Many physicians see inefficiencies, gaps in care, and systems that don't truly serve patients—but feel powerless to change them from the inside.

In today's episode, I'm thrilled to welcome back Dr. Alison Curfman, pediatric emergency medicine physician, co-founder of Imagine Pediatrics, and founder of Startup Physicians. Alison previously shared her remarkable journey from frontline medicine into the startup and venture capital world, and today she's back to help demystify how any physician can use their expertise to consult with startups—without giving up clinical work.

We talk about what these roles actually look like, who qualifies (spoiler: almost everyone), and how physicians can begin building meaningful, paid advisory work that creates real impact. Whether you're early in training, mid-career, clinically inactive, or nearing retirement, this conversation will expand your sense of what's possible.

And if this topic resonates, be sure to listen through to the end. We're hosting a free live webinar together on Wednesday, February 25th, 2026, where we'll go much deeper into the step-by-step process of breaking into startup consulting.

In this episode we're talking about:

Why physicians are uniquely valuable to startups and venture firms
The different ways doctors can consult (advisory, product design, research, policy, and more)
Whether you need to be clinically active, board-certified, or mid-career to qualify
How residents, fellows, and retirees can all find opportunities in this space
Why early roles may involve equity or lower pay—and why that's often worth it
How physicians actually find and connect with startup opportunities
Why this work feels so energizing and meaningful for many doctors

Links for this episode:

Alison Curfman MD

Startup Physicians Startup Physicians Launchpad – A 12-week physician-only program with self-paced modules, live coaching, and a private community that teaches you how to turn your clinical expertise into paid advisory work. *Disclaimer: I am an affiliate of this program which means if you sign up through my link, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend programs I truly believe in, and this one is a great fit for physicians exploring non-clinical opportunities.

Episode 192: Refusing to Take No for an Answer: A PediER Doctor's Journey to Help Kids with Complex Medical Needs with Dr. Alison Curfman

Join us for here for a Webinar with Heather Fork and Dr. Alison Curfman! 📅 February 25th | 🕗 5 PM PST / 7 PM CST / 8 PM EST 💡 Topic: How to Get Paid Consulting for Startups and Venture Firms

Curious about leveraging your medical expertise beyond clinical practice? Don't miss this engaging session with Dr. Alison Curfman as she shares how physicians can break into paid consulting roles with startups and venture firms. You'll gain insider insights, practical steps, and inspiration to start your consulting journey.

Thank you for listening!