Med Tech Gurus

Tom Hickey
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Aug 27, 2025 • 43min

The Immune Decoder: Cracking the Code of Long COVID

What if we could finally put real answers behind the brain fog, fatigue, and lingering symptoms so many patients still face post-COVID? In this episode, Dr. Nigel McCracken, Chief Operating Officer at Virax Biolabs, returns to Med Tech Gurus to reveal how their groundbreaking ViraxImmune platform is decoding the hidden dysfunctions of the immune system. With major NHS-led trials underway and U.S. clinical sites ramping up, Nigel shares how their proprietary FluoroSpot T-cell assay brings unprecedented accuracy to diagnosing long COVID, chronic fatigue, and post-viral syndromes. We also dive into the operational challenges of global trials, lessons from diagnostics commercialization, and how to build innovation-ready teams that scale. Gurus, this is diagnostic disruption at its best.
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Aug 20, 2025 • 42min

Breaking the AI Bottleneck in Healthcare

Billions are being poured into healthcare AI, yet most innovations never make it past pilot projects. Why? And more importantly—how do we fix it? In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, we sit down with Marco Smit, serial entrepreneur, life sciences executive, and AI commercialization expert. With leadership experience at Roche, Genentech, Gesund.ai, CareSyntax, and now Domelabs.ai, Marco has seen the full spectrum of healthcare AI—from hype to hard-earned success. He shares why so many organizations fall victim to "pilotitis", the critical role of AI governance, and how startups and health systems can build scalable, evidence-driven solutions that actually deliver ROI. From navigating the complex regulatory landscape to choosing the right investors and partners, Marco offers a pragmatic playbook for moving AI from the lab to real clinical impact. Whether you're a startup founder, health system innovator, or medtech investor, this episode is packed with actionable insights on avoiding hype, accelerating adoption, and building AI solutions that last.
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Aug 13, 2025 • 31min

Breaking Barriers

What if we could finally crack the code on treating brain cancer by opening the door that's blocked 98% of therapies? In this episode, Dr. Michael Canney, Chief Scientific Officer of Carthera, reveals how SonoCloud—a revolutionary ultrasound implant—temporarily opens the blood-brain barrier to deliver chemotherapy directly to tumors like glioblastoma. With over 100 patients enrolled in a Phase III trial across 40 global sites, this isn't just a bold idea—it's happening now. Michael also shares real-world lessons in scaling trials, FDA navigation, and aligning science with commercial success. If you're passionate about disruptive innovation in neuro-oncology, you'll want to hear how Carthera is changing the game.
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Aug 6, 2025 • 33min

AI vs Burnout: How Affinion Health Is Reclaiming Time for Clinicians

What if the key to solving the provider burnout crisis wasn't adding more hours in the day—but using technology to give them back? In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, we meet David Norris, Co-Founder and CEO of Affinion Health. David shares how his company is building an AI-powered clinical inbox that helps clinicians manage the overwhelming flood of lab results, patient messages, and admin tasks. With measurable results like five hours of reclaimed time per week per provider, David explains how Affinion's solution is not just about efficiency—it's about restoring balance, improving care, and preventing burnout. From his work with the Coalition for Health AI to his lessons in entrepreneurship and team-building, David offers practical wisdom for every MedTech innovator in this episode.
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Jul 30, 2025 • 40min

The End of Guesswork: How AI and 3D Printing Are Reshaping Surgery

What if surgeons could eliminate the guesswork from complex procedures and walk into the OR with a personalized, pre-fitted solution ready to go? In this episode, we meet Vikram Ahuja, Co-Founder and CEO of OsseoLabs, who is transforming orthopedic and maxillofacial surgery using AI and 3D printing. Vikram reveals how his platform builds patient-specific implants using biomechanical data—dramatically reducing OR time, complications, and the need for revision surgeries. With over 170 successful cases and 40 hospital partners across Southeast Asia, Vikram shares what's next, what's needed for U.S. expansion, and how OsseoLabs is pushing the boundaries of surgical precision. If you're serious about MedTech innovation, this one's essential listening.
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Jul 23, 2025 • 38min

From Idea to Impact: A MedTech Masterclass

What turns a brilliant idea into a market-ready medical device? Jennifer Palinchik, CEO of SageMar Medical, has spent over two decades guiding innovators through that exact journey. In this episode, Jennifer shares the critical factors that determine whether your device gets adopted—or ends up on the shelf. From navigating regulatory hurdles and defining market value to aligning R&D with commercialization from day one, Jennifer reveals the strategic playbook that every MedTech founder should know. We also explore trends like AI, mixed reality, and the growing role of M&A in accelerating innovation. If you're building in healthtech, Jennifer's insights will help you avoid costly missteps and build a business that truly scales.
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Jul 16, 2025 • 44min

Engineering the End of Radical Prostatectomy

Gurus, what if treating prostate cancer no longer required surgery, blood loss, or hospital stays? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Arun Menawat, CEO of Profound Medical, who is leading a bold transformation in prostate cancer care. With Tulsa Pro—an AI-powered, MRI-guided, incision-free therapy—his team is challenging the surgical status quo head-on. Arun shares how his journey through imaging innovation shaped this breakthrough, and why he believes the future of interventional medicine will be bloodless, precise, and radically patient-centric. This one's not just disruptive—it's redefining what cancer treatment can be.
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Jul 9, 2025 • 30min

Smarter, Safer, Faster: How AI is Rewiring the OR

What if your hospital could see, hear, and understand everything happening in the OR—and actually use that data to drive real-time improvements? Dr. Andrew Gostine, CEO and co-founder of Artisight, is making that vision a reality. With AI-powered computer vision and ambient listening, Artisight enables hospitals to automate documentation, reduce delays, and even prevent wrong-site surgeries. Now partnered with industry giants like NVIDIA and Karl Storz, Artisight is helping over 400 hospitals transform their perioperative workflows—enhancing safety, equity, and efficiency at scale. In this episode, we explore how intelligent automation is reshaping surgical care, how Artisight ensures HIPAA compliance, and why clinician-centered innovation is the key to solving healthcare's most urgent operational challenges.
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Jul 2, 2025 • 37min

Why Smarter Systems Are Healthcare's New Lifeline

In a world where healthcare demands more from fewer resources, standing still isn't an option. Tim Tinnel, EVP and COO of IntelliGuard, reveals how automation, AI, and intelligent ecosystems are redefining medication management, boosting patient safety, and cutting through operational chaos. We dig into why innovation must be continuous, how true partnerships drive breakthrough solutions, and what it really takes to future-proof hospitals. If you're ready to learn how today's smartest leaders are reshaping healthcare from the inside out, this episode will change how you think about the future.
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Jun 25, 2025 • 39min

Reinventing Vein Health with A First-in-Class Innovation

What if one small valve could change the lives of millions suffering from chronic venous insufficiency? In this episode, we sit down with Rob Berman, CEO of EnVVeno Medical, to explore how his team is disrupting vascular care with the groundbreaking VenoValve—the first surgical solution for deep vein reflux. Rob shares how this innovation is restoring quality of life, slashing wound care costs, and opening doors for future transcatheter therapies like ENVE. You'll hear hard-earned lessons on leadership, FDA navigation, and raising $135 million to bring first-in-class technology to market. From the OR to investor boardrooms, Rob's journey is packed with grit, insight, and purpose. If you're innovating in medtech, this one's a masterclass.

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