Med Tech Gurus

When it comes to serious illness, early detection can be the difference between a difficult battle and a manageable path forward. But what if advanced diagnostics didn't require a referral, radiation, or even a reason to feel sick? In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, we sit down with Mike Wernli, Chief Operating Officer at Craft Health, to explore how they're flipping the script on traditional healthcare. With AI-enhanced full-body MRI scans, Craft Health is delivering hospital-grade insights in under 30 minutes—without contrast or complexity. But the technology is only part of the story. Mike opens up about the mindset shift required to empower patients to take control of their health before symptoms appear. He shares how Craft is combining clinical excellence with retail-like access, building a culture that thrives on purpose, and engaging communities in ways that truly matter. Whether you're an innovator in preventive care, a startup leader navigating consumer health, or someone passionate about shifting care upstream—this conversation offers both inspiration and a playbook.

What if diagnosing coronary artery disease, pulmonary hypertension, and heart failure didn't require a hospital, a specialist, or even invasive testing? In this episode, Adrian Lam, CEO of Corvista Health, shares how their FDA-cleared, AI-powered platform is transforming frontline cardiac care—delivering accurate, non-invasive diagnostics in under 30 minutes. Adrian discusses the delicate balance of explainable AI, clinical trust, and business strategy. He also dives into lessons on IP protection, clinical validation, and why understanding unmet needs—both clinical and operational—is key to commercial success. From rural health access to drug monitoring and phenotypic insights, this episode is packed with lessons for medtech entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators alike.

What if a discreet sensor could quietly prevent one of healthcare's most common—and dangerous—IV injuries? In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, Jaclyn Lautz Ph.D., COO of IV Watch, takes us inside the journey of building a global standard of care. Jaclyn shares how her team navigated the EU MDR maze, achieved regulatory approvals across 16 countries, and proved their technology's impact through powerful clinical studies. From mentoring moments that shaped her career to the operational discipline driving IV Watch's innovation, this conversation delivers invaluable insights for MedTech leaders aiming to scale globally while keeping patient safety at the core.

What if a simple design shift could save lives in the most chaotic environments? In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, Dr. Irena King, neuroscientist, engineer, and CEO of Surgicure Technologies, shares how she's transforming emergency airway management with the Horseshoe—a novel device born out of battlefield necessity and refined through deep clinical collaboration. Irena reveals the hard lessons of product design, the power of listening to frontline providers, and the importance of adapting for both civilian and military use. From trauma bays to transport units, this episode is a masterclass in building devices that work when seconds—and lives—are on the line.

What if the key to fixing pharma's toughest challenges wasn't more complexity—but more clarity? In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, Shetal Vyas, SVP of Commercial Strategy & Development at Ardelyx, joins us to explore how digital-first strategies are reshaping how we bring therapies to patients. Shetal unpacks how to overcome the $200 billion patent cliff, reframe customer engagement, and build scalable, data-driven commercial models that don't just add tech—but center patients. With practical insights into digital ecosystems, commercialization frameworks, and change management, this episode is packed with takeaways for MedTech innovators navigating the intersection of healthcare, pharma, and digital transformation.

What if we could detect Alzheimer's disease before the first memory fades? In this powerful episode of Med Tech Gurus, Dr. Maria-Magdalena Patru, MD, PhD—who leads the neurology medical team at Roche Diagnostics US—explains how early diagnosis is being radically transformed through CSF and blood-based biomarker innovations. With Alzheimer's affecting over 7 million Americans, Dr. Patru outlines how new guidelines, improved reimbursement, and diagnostic advances are helping clinicians identify the disease earlier—when treatments can still preserve cognition. She also shares how her personal connection to Alzheimer's drives her mission and offers advice to innovators navigating regulatory and clinical pathways. If you're building diagnostics or working on access-to-care challenges, this is a must-listen. https://www.medtechgurus.com https://diagnostics.roche.com/us/en/products/product-category/neurology/alzheimers-disease.html

What if the future of clinical trials wasn't just faster—but dramatically more human-centered, efficient, and aligned with real-world outcomes? In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, Meri Beckwith, co-founder of Lindus Health, shares how a broken experience during a COVID trial sparked a revolution in trial design. Lindus is reimagining the traditional CRO with fixed-cost models, milestone-based payments, and tech-driven platforms that cut enrollment timelines by 74%. Meri reveals how their innovative culture, AI-enhanced monitoring, and focus on patient experience is building a new infrastructure for smarter trials. If you're a medtech founder tired of bloated protocols, poor enrollment, and outdated systems, this episode will help you rethink what's possible in clinical research.

What if you could cut your product development time in half—and avoid the regulatory landmines that derail most startups? In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, Marcel Botha, CEO and Founder of 10XBeta, reveals how his Brooklyn-based venture studio helps innovators turn bold ideas into compliant, fundable, and scalable medical technologies. With deep expertise in design, engineering, and regulatory strategy, Marcel shares how 10XBeta supports founders in navigating the critical—and capital-intensive—first mile of MedTech development. From pandemic-driven ventilator designs to launching 50+ products, Marcel delivers powerful lessons on speed, structure, and investor alignment. Gurus, if you're building in the deep end of innovation, this episode is your blueprint.

What happens when clinical strategy, bioinformatics, and market access all live under one roof? Meet Tyler O'Malley, VP at Exagen, who shares how this rare triad is driving innovation in autoimmune diagnostics. In this episode, Tyler reveals how real-world data fuels product strategy, why storytelling is key to market access, and how diagnostic innovators can scale in a payer-driven world. We explore the evolution of evidence, the importance of physician advocacy, and how to align science with unmet clinical need—without chasing shiny objects. Gurus, if you're launching diagnostics or navigating commercialization in today's complex environment, this episode is full of insight you can't afford to miss.

Behavioral health is in crisis—not just from rising demand, but from the chaos of inconsistent care models, fragmented data, and outdated systems. In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, Jim Szyperski, CEO of Acuity Behavioral Health, shares how his team is bringing much-needed structure and accountability to inpatient psychiatric care. Backed by a $1.5 million seed round and in collaboration with health systems, Acuity is creating data-driven standards that empower nurses, improve patient outcomes, and deliver operational clarity. Jim brings lessons from decades of entrepreneurship and dives into the real-world challenges of scaling innovation in healthcare's slowest-moving sector. Gurus, if you care about solving systemic gaps in mental health care, this conversation is a must.