Dr Lucy Marples has had one of the most unconventional career journeys in medicine — starting in philosophy and health policy, before training as a doctor in her 30s, and then working at some of the UK’s biggest health tech companies.
In this episode we explore:
📚 Why she left health policy to retrain as a doctor
🏥 What it was like starting medical school a decade later than her peers
🚀 Lessons from scaling Babylon and Accurx at times of extreme growth
💡 Insights from her time at Google Health and Zoe
🔑 How she balances clinical work, startup roles, and advisory positions
Lucy also shares her advice for clinicians looking to explore portfolio careers and how to decide which opportunities are worth pursuing.
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🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ZbQCk6B9ongfOvKFCxIdx?si=1d5babf9bbca4e7a
🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/out-of-programme/id1791647812
What does it take to leave anaesthetics behind and reimagine your career in the world of finance?
In this episode, we speak with Dr Ash Patel – an anaesthetist turned Managing Director at Houlihan Lokey. Ash shares his extraordinary journey from the wards of the NHS to the early founding days of Babylon Health, through venture capital at Mercia and Optum Ventures, and finally to investment banking.
We dive into:
💡 The serendipitous introduction that led him to join Babylon in its infancy
🚀 What it was like to help shape one of the UK’s most high-profile digital health startups
📈 How he broke into venture capital at a time when almost no doctors were in the field
💼 Why he pivoted again, this time into investment banking, and what he’s learned along the way
Ash’s story shows how curiosity, courage, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty can open doors to unexpected and rewarding career paths.
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🎧 Spotify: Listen here
🍎 Apple Podcasts: Listen here
What happens when a torn ligament becomes the turning point in your clinical career?
In this episode, we speak with Dr Alice McGee – a former obstetrics trainee who left traditional training behind to found Mara Health, advise global FemTech companies like Flow, and lead one of the fastest-growing communities for emerging health tech leaders, GXGN.
Alice opens up about the identity crisis that came with leaving medicine, how she cold-DM’d her way into consulting from her sofa in Aberdeen, and why tenacity, not connections, was her biggest asset.
We dive into:
💡 Rebuilding confidence after burnout and injury
🚺 Breaking into FemTech without a network
🏢 Starting Mara Health and finding your niche
🧠 Imposter syndrome, rejection therapy, and LinkedIn visibility
🌱 Launching the Your Next Move newsletter and chairing GXGN
If you're questioning the status quo or looking for your next move, Alice’s story is a blueprint in courage, community, and career reinvention.
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What happens when you turn military medicine into a launchpad for tech innovation?
In this episode, we speak with Dr James Kuht – an RAF doctor whose career has taken him from flying with the Royal Air Force to advising the Prime Minister in No.10, teaching thousands of British military personnel how to code, and founding Pear, an AI skills platform now used worldwide.
We dive into:
✈️ Training as an RAF doctor and navigating an unconventional medical career
💻 Creating a viral AI upskilling programme that reached 5,000+ service members
🏛️ Founding the Downing Street data science team and shaping policy with data
📡 Leading innovation on the frontline as the first regiment Chief Technology Officer
🚀 The highs, lows, and pivots of building a successful AI startup
James’s story is a masterclass in spotting opportunities, taking calculated risks, and shaping a career at the cutting edge of medicine, military, and technology.
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What do you do when the surgical dream no longer fits - and the music industry calls?
In this episode, we speak with Dr Azeem Alam, clinical radiology registrar and co-founder of BiteWorld - the company behind the highly acclaimed BiteLabs Fellowship, which helps clinicians transition into health tech careers.
From writing heartbreak ballads in his teens to working with Top 40 artists in LA, Azeem shares how his creative roots shaped an unconventional career path that now spans clinical training, entrepreneurship, and impact at scale.
We dive into:
🎸 The early music hustle - from cold emailing labels to LA studios
💻 Founding ByteWorld and training 1,000+ clinicians for roles in health tech
⚖️ Balancing radiology training with building a fast-growing startup
🏥 Why he walked away from academic surgical training (weeks before starting)
🧠 Navigating career guilt, community, and identity as a multi-hyphenate clinician
Azeem’s story is an honest and inspiring look at what happens when you step off the medical treadmill and start building something of your own.
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What does it take to walk away from anaesthetics and lead one of the world’s top healthcare communication networks?
In this episode, we speak with Dr Vernon Bainton—Chief Medical Officer at HavasLynx—about his unconventional journey from hospital medicine to global medical communications. Vernon shares how personal upheaval, health challenges, and an unexpected meeting with three entrepreneurial clinicians changed the trajectory of his career.
We dive into:
💡 Finding career clarity through serendipity, not a five-year plan
🚪 Leaving medicine and shedding the guilt that comes with it
🌍 Launching global health campaigns that reach millions
🎯 Building a vocation in communication, creativity, and strategic influence
🧠 Why transferable skills matter more than you think—and how to spot yours
This is a must-listen for any clinician contemplating a leap into the unknown.
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🎧 Spotify: Listen here
🍎 Apple Podcasts: Listen here
What happens when you choose not to pursue residency after medical school?
In this episode, we speak with Elsa Varghese—a medical doctor who walked away from the traditional path to build a career at the cutting edge of digital health. From family pressure and financial worries to launching clinical games at Level X and leading teams at Snake Inc., Elsa shares how she transformed uncertainty into opportunity.
We dive into:
💡 Finding purpose beyond the ward
🎮 Building medical education games with Hollywood-style teams
🧠 Leading diverse teams as a medical director
🏥 Redefining success in a system that doesn’t make space for change
Elsa’s story is a must-listen for anyone questioning the status quo in clinical careers.
What does it take to be a paediatric surgeon and the driving force behind one of the NHS’s most groundbreaking innovation hubs?
In this episode, we sit down with Mr. Iain Hennessey, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon and Clinical Director of Innovation at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. From a childhood spent in the mine rescue medical centre to founding the iconic Alder Hey Innovation Hub (aka the Batcave), Iain shares how he fused medicine, creativity, and technology to forge a truly unconventional clinical career.
Tune in to hear:
How Iain’s engineering instincts and love of theatre shaped his surgical journey
The origin story of the Alder Hey Innovation Hub and why 2014 was a tipping point for NHS innovation
Honest reflections on risk, failure, and redefining clinical success
Practical advice for doctors who want to explore innovation without leaving medicine behind
Whether you're a med student, clinician, or creative thinker at a crossroads, this episode is your invitation to imagine a different kind of future in healthcare.
From Imperial dropout to Cambridge medic to digital health leader — Dr. Anushka Patchava’s career has been anything but traditional.
In this candid and energising conversation, Anushka reflects on:
The cultural and internal pressures that pushed her into medicine
Why she left radiology (and what a night shift at King’s Hospital had to do with it)
Her difficult but necessary leap into consulting and health insurance
Building WellEx and why she walked away from it
Her brutally honest journey with mental health — and how it led her to join a mental health startup
Anushka brings radical honesty, vulnerability, and wisdom to a conversation about identity, ambition, and the courage to start again — again and again. Whether you're contemplating a transition or simply curious about what life outside of clinical work looks like, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
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Professor Sam Shah has worn more hats than most clinicians ever dream of — dentist, public health leader, NHS digital director, startup founder, and now lawyer. But none of it has been linear.
In this energising, no-holds-barred conversation, Sam reflects on:
🎧 A must-listen for anyone questioning the "right" way to build a career in healthcare.
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🚀 NEW PODCAST ALERT 🚀In this episode of the Out Of Programme podcast, Muhammad and Jing speak to Ms Liz Ashall-Payne, a former speech and language therapist (SALT) who is now the Chief Executive Officer of ORCHA! During this episode, Liz shares her journey from being a speech and language therapist to becoming the CEO of ORCHA, a leader in digital health. She discusses her early motivations, frustrations in clinical practice, and the emergence of digital health technologies. Liz reflects on her transition from clinician to entrepreneur, the challenges of identity in her career, and the importance of mentorship in navigating her professional growth. We go on to discuss the need for clarity in career goals and the value of learning from others. Finally, we chat to Liz as she reflects on her aspirations for ORCHA to make a global impact in healthcare and stresses the importance of aligning personal goals with professional ambitions.00:00Introduction to Ms. Liz Ashall-Payne01:09Journey into Speech and Language Therapy03:35Frustrations in Clinical Practice06:50The Emergence of Digital Health08:55Transitioning from Clinician to Entrepreneur12:54Navigating Identity and Career Changes15:41Taking the Leap into Consultancy19:38The Importance of Mentorship23:52Finding Clarity in Career Goals26:31Lessons from the Journey28:50The Role of Mentors in Professional Growth31:24The Importance of Learning and Mentorship33:19Transitioning from Consultancy to Entrepreneurship34:53Identifying Gaps in Digital Health39:23The Serendipitous Start of Orca41:54Navigating Challenges as a CEO45:08Leveraging Communication Skills in Leadership48:02Lessons Learned in Business55:54Future Aspirations and Global Impact01:01:13Defining Success and Life GoalsIf you want to see more content like this, make sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell to be informed of when we release every episode! Plus, make sure to sign up to our website to gain access to the episode transcript and exclusive access to resources shared by our guests!Till next time,Muhammad & Jing#OutOfProgramme #NewPodcast #HealthcareInnovation #medicalcareers Follow us on:➡️ Youtube: @outofprogramme 🐦 Twitter: @ooppodcast👨💻 LinkedIn: @outofprogramme🦋 BlueSky: @outofprogramme.bsky.social
🚀 NEW PODCAST ALERT 🚀 In this episode of the Out Of Programme podcast, Dr. Muhammad Khan interviews his co-host Dr. Jing Ouyang, ex-doctor and Co-Founder of Patchwork. During this episode, Jing shares his motivations for pursuing medicine, the challenges he faced during his studies, and how he transitioned into the world of business and innovation. He reflects on the importance of side projects, the impact of his fellowship experience in California, and the evolution of his role within Patchwork. The conversation also touches on the identity crisis many medical professionals face when leaving clinical practice and the trade-offs involved in pursuing a startup career. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Journey 03:11 Motivations and Pressures in Choosing Medicine 06:04 Transitioning to Medical School 09:00 Struggles and Identity Crisis in Medical Training 12:00 The Hustle Culture at Imperial 15:12 Exploring Digital Health and Entrepreneurship 17:54 The Role of Electives in Medical Education 21:02 Navigating Career Aspirations and Side Projects 31:59 Navigating the Academic Foundation Program 36:10 Balancing Clinical Duties and Research 39:21 Exploring Innovation in the Northwest 44:43 Taking a Leap: The Fellowship Experience 51:33 Building Patchwork: The Early Days 55:49 The Crossroads: F2 Year Decisions 58:26 Navigating Clinical Commitments with a Startup 01:00:30 Energizing Side Projects 01:02:10 The Leap to Full-Time Entrepreneurship 01:05:21 Parental Influence and Career Choices 01:08:45 Commitment to Patchwork 01:12:13 Transitioning from Medicine to Business 01:17:04 Trade-offs and Regrets 01:20:50 Future Aspirations and Role Changes 01:24:14 Book Recommendations and Closing Thoughts If you want to see more content like this, make sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell to be informed of when we release every episode! Plus, make sure to sign up to our website to gain access to the episode transcript and exclusive access to resources shared by our guests! Till next time, Muhammad & Jing #OutOfProgramme #NewPodcast #HealthcareInnovation #medicalcareers Follow us on: ➡️ Youtube: @outofprogramme 🐦 Twitter: @ooppodcast 👨💻 LinkedIn: @outofprogramme 🦋 BlueSky: @outofprogramme.bsky.social
In this episode of the Out Of Programme podcast, Dr. Jing Ouyang interviews his co-host, Dr. Muhammad Khan, a clinical radiology registrar based in the UK and co-founder of RadCast, a radiology educational platform and podcast that he bootstrapped whilst in radiology training. They discuss their long-standing friendship, the challenges faced during medical school, and his exploration of alternatives to traditional medical careers. During the episode, Muhammad discusses the significance of having a niche in business, the distinction between being an entrepreneur and a successful business person, and the difficulties in trying to balance clinical training with entrepreneurial ventures. If you want to see more content like this, make sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell to be informed of when we release every episode! Plus, make sure to sign up to our website to gain access to the episode transcript and exclusive access to resources shared by our guests! Till next time, Muhammad & Jing 🌍 Visit our website: www.outofprogramme.com #OutOfProgramme #NewPodcast #HealthcareInnovation #medicalcareers Follow us on: ➡️ Youtube: @outofprogramme 🐦 Twitter: @ooppodcast 👨💻 LinkedIn: @outofprogramme 🦋 BlueSky: @outofprogramme.bsky.social
🚀 NEW PODCAST ALERT 🚀 Ever wondered what lies beyond the traditional clinical path? Always thought of what else you could with your healthcare degree? Is the grass always greener? If you've ever had these type of questions, then you've come to the right place! Welcome to the Out Of Programme Podcast, hosted by Dr Jing Ouyang and Dr Muhammad Khan. As part of the Out Of Programme Podcast, we focus on the journeys of doctors and healthcare professionals who’ve ventured off the traditional, beaten path that is clinical medicine. In every episode, we aim to shine a spotlight on what else you can do with a healthcare degree. By doing so, we want to give you the tools and insight to help guide the decisions you make in your own clinical careers. So what are you waiting for? Subscribe and hit the notification bell to be informed of when we release every episode! Make sure to sign up to our website to gain access to the episode transcript and exclusive access to resources shared by our guests! Till next time, Muhammad & Jing 🌍 Visit our website: www.outofprogramme.com #OutOfProgramme #NewPodcast #HealthcareInnovation #medicalcareers Follow us on: ➡️ Youtube: @outofprogramme 🐦 Twitter: @ooppodcast 👨💻 LinkedIn: @outofprogramme 🦋 BlueSky: @outofprogramme.bsky.social
