We interview extraordinary medtech leaders to learn about who they are as people. What is their background? How did they get to where they are, and where do they plan to go from here? Most importantly, what attracted them to the medtech industry specifically? We love hearing a wide variety of stories, conventional and unconventional, from an assortment of diverse perspectives. These people are making a profound difference, and we’re excited to share why and how. You’ll hear from CEOs, engineers, scientists, researchers, and more. If you ever wanted to get to know some of your favorite medtech leaders on a more personal level, now’s your chance. Discover what makes The Leading Difference.
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We interview extraordinary medtech leaders to learn about who they are as people. What is their background? How did they get to where they are, and where do they plan to go from here? Most importantly, what attracted them to the medtech industry specifically? We love hearing a wide variety of stories, conventional and unconventional, from an assortment of diverse perspectives. These people are making a profound difference, and we’re excited to share why and how. You’ll hear from CEOs, engineers, scientists, researchers, and more. If you ever wanted to get to know some of your favorite medtech leaders on a more personal level, now’s your chance. Discover what makes The Leading Difference.
Sarah Ptach, President and CEO of Canyon Labs, discusses her journey from professional sports and advertising to leading Canyon Labs, a company specializing in medical device and pharmaceutical testing. Inspired by her father’s Parkinson’s diagnosis, Sarah transitioned to healthcare to make a meaningful impact. She delves into her leadership philosophy, emphasizing the importance of trust, transparency, and collaboration in building a strong company culture. Sarah also highlights Canyon Labs’ dedication to elevating industry standards and ensuring patient safety.
Tyler O’Malley is the Vice President of Clinical Affairs, Bioinformatics, and Market Access at Exagen, Inc. Tyler shares his journey in the MedTech industry and discusses Exagen’s innovative approaches to autoimmune testing solutions, including cutting-edge diagnostics for lupus and other diseases. With over a decade of experience, Tyler provides insights into the challenges and breakthroughs in the field, highlighting the significance of early diagnosis and personalized treatment, while also discussing the challenges and opportunities in effective leadership during different stages of company growth.
Sarah Aswegan, a seasoned biopharma leader and strategic advisor for global rare disease solutions, shares her journey from sales in pharma to her consulting work today. She discusses her experience in transitioning biopharma companies from clinical to commercial success, the evolution of medtech in diagnosing and managing rare diseases, and the collaborative efforts required to bring innovative treatments to market. She also shares insights on current trends in gene therapy, the dynamics of funding, and the importance of data in advancing care for rare disease patients.
Dr. Adam Power, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer at Front Line Medical Technologies, shares his fascinating journey from a background in vascular surgery to developing COBRA-OS, a groundbreaking device for hemorrhage control. He discusses the challenges and milestones in bringing this life-saving technology to market, the impact of the device in trauma and emergency care, and innovative future applications, including its unexpected use in non-traumatic cardiac arrest.
Morgan Evans is a biomechanical engineer, serial medtech entrepreneur, and angel investor. She shares her journey from aspirations of becoming a doctor, to working in mergers and acquisitions at Medtronic, to co-founding/founding six companies, including Agitated Solutions and Avio Medtech Consulting. Morgan discusses the importance of supporting startups in accelerating market entry, the challenges and opportunities with innovative medtech development, and the value of servant leadership.
Bethany Corbin, a nationally recognized healthcare innovation attorney and femtech entrepreneur, shares her inspiring journey into the medtech industry, driven by personal experiences and a passion for women’s health. As the founder of Women’s Health Innovation Consulting, Bethany discusses her new book, ’The Femtech Revolution,’ which aims to educate and empower women in navigating the women’s healthcare space. She offers practical advice for self-advocacy in healthcare settings, emphasizes the importance of privacy and equity in digital health tools, and highlights her role in shaping the future of femtech through leadership, mentorship, and legal guidance for startups.
Dhruv Agrawal is CEO and president of Aether Biomedical. Discover Dhruv’s unique journey from studying medicine in New Delhi to creating life-changing bionic limbs. Under his leadership, Aether Biomedical has achieved significant milestones, including CE certification and FDA registration for its Zeus V1 bionic limb. Dhruv shares his personal story of transitioning from medical school to MedTech innovation, the obstacles faced and lessons learned as a young entrepreneur, and the hope and inspiration of seeing Aether’s prosthetics transform lives, especially in war-torn regions.
Nidhi Oberoi is a dedicated medtech executive with over 17 years of experience. She discusses her journey from India to the heart of the medtech industry, her impactful work on innovative heart valve treatments at Medtronic, and her advocacy for women’s health. Nidhi shares her leadership philosophy centered on empowerment, the importance of mindfulness in business, and her vision for a future in cardiology and women’s health.
Jessica Richter is a medtech executive and a board member with MedtechWOMEN. Jessica shares her inspiring journey from B2B sales to becoming a leader in the medtech industry, including overseeing a wide range of vital functions such as clinical trial strategy, regulatory affairs, and market access. Jessica provides insightful advice on overcoming common industry challenges, and underscores the value of quality systems, expert team-building, and fostering a supportive network for women through MedtechWOMEN.
Ryan Phelan is a partner and patent attorney at Marshall Gerstein. He discusses his journey from a background in computer science and fintech to becoming a prominent IP attorney serving clients in the MedTech industry and beyond. He shares insights on the importance of protecting intellectual property, especially for startups, and the burgeoning role of AI in medical technology. This succinct yet fascinating conversation highlights the critical intersection of law, technology, and medical innovation.
Maria Artunduaga is the founder & CEO of Samay, the winner of the 2024 MedTech Innovator accelerator, as well as a groundbreaking physician, scientist, and inventor. Maria discusses her inspiring journey from a small town in Columbia to leading a top MedTech company in the US. After pivoting away from plastic surgery training, she channeled her efforts into creating Sylvee, an AI wearable sensor for COPD patients. Maria shares her relentless determination, innovative problem-solving strategies, and the creation of a company culture that emphasizes learning and diversity.
Dr. Shalabh Gupta, founder and CEO of Unicycive Therapeutics, shares his inspiring journey from practicing medicine to leading groundbreaking innovations in kidney disease treatment. Dr. Gupta discusses his comprehensive framework for identifying and developing medical solutions, his vision for Unicycive’s future, and the importance of focus and execution in medical startups. He reveals the challenges and triumphs of bringing life-changing products to market and offers profound advice for new entrepreneurs in the industry.
Zed Williamson is the founder and CEO of TrackableMed. He explores his transition from the advertising world to the medtech industry, where he applies neuroscience and behavior change principles to optimize medical systems. Zed discusses the importance of bridging the gap between clinical information and human connections in healthcare, and shares insights from his two podcasts aimed at medical sales and private practice growth. This discussion is packed full of practical advice for leaders in all industries.
Mildred Zayas, a global supply chain executive with over 25 years of experience in the medical technology industry, shares her transformative journey from her early career in Puerto Rico to leading strategic initiatives at Johnson & Johnson. She emphasizes operational excellence, supply chain optimization, and mentoring emerging leaders. She discusses the importance of continuous learning, servant leadership, and the exciting future of MedTech with advancements in robotics and AI. Mildred also highlights her passion for empowering underserved communities and her involvement in nonprofit organizations like America Needs You.
Rick Sherak, CEO of Exokinetics, shares his incredible journey from serving as an Air Force officer to leading a company that develops transformative mobility devices. He discusses the importance of leadership, sales psychology, and creating compassionate company culture. Rick’s passion shines through as he recounts heartwarming stories of how Exokinetics’ Zeen device has profoundly improved the lives of people with mobility challenges, including children with cerebral palsy.
Mike Knox is a standup comedian and the author of ”Vivien’s Rain.” In this unique episode that reveals the perspective of a device end-user, Mike shares his personal journey into the MedTech field through the lens of his daughter’s epilepsy and the life-saving (and life-giving!) impact of a vagus nerve stimulator. He discusses the challenges faced before discovering the device, the transformation in his daughter’s life post-surgery, and his advocacy work. Mike also touches on the stigma surrounding epilepsy, the importance of compassion, and his career shift from law enforcement to comedy, using humor to inform and inspire others.
Kelley Satoski is the co-founder and CEO of Pelva Health, a pelvic health startup dedicated to making intimacy pain-free for women suffering from chronic vaginal and vulvar pain. Kelley shares her personal journey with vaginismus, which led her and her husband to seek innovative solutions where none existed. They discuss the staggering statistics of women affected by this pain, Pelva Health’s progress, and the significance of addressing women’s health issues head-on. Listen as Kelley talks about the challenges and triumphs of starting a medtech company, the importance of curiosity and bravery in leadership, and the profound impact Pelva Health aims to make.
Aaron Burnett, founder and CEO of Wheelhouse Digital Marketing Group, delves into the unique marketing challenges faced by the MedTech industry. He discusses the critical importance of continuous messaging and creative iteration in data-constrained environments, highlighting how accurate first-party and zero-party data strategies can drive performance in highly regulated markets like healthcare. He emphasizes the need for proprietary data solutions to stay compliant and effective amidst evolving privacy regulations. Reflecting on his personal and professional journey, Aaron shares practical insights on optimizing marketing strategies for better business outcomes while maintaining a culture of generosity and helpfulness.
Scott Burwell, PhD, is the founder and CEO of Neurotype Inc. Scott shares his journey from a background in experimental psychology to establishing Neurotype, a company developing brain therapeutics to address cravings in substance use disorders. He discusses the innovative use of EEG technology to measure brain responses to stimuli, providing an objective biological assessment and treatment of cravings. Scott emphasizes the importance of integrating science-led approaches in creating medical devices and reflects on the challenges and rewards of leading a MedTech startup.
Isabella Schmitt is a prominent life science, AI, and regulatory affairs leader, and was recently named one of the top 100 MedTech Leading Voices Worth Following on LinkedIn in 2025. Isabella shares her diverse career journey—from aspirations of neurosurgery to becoming a regulatory expert in MedTech and biotech. She emphasizes the importance of early regulatory involvement, strategic use of pre-submissions, and understanding the voice of the customer in product development. Isabella also discusses the critical role of communication skills in regulatory affairs and offers invaluable advice for aspiring professionals.
We interview extraordinary medtech leaders to learn about who they are as people. What is their background? How did they get to where they are, and where do they plan to go from here? Most importantly, what attracted them to the medtech industry specifically? We love hearing a wide variety of stories, conventional and unconventional, from an assortment of diverse perspectives. These people are making a profound difference, and we’re excited to share why and how. You’ll hear from CEOs, engineers, scientists, researchers, and more. If you ever wanted to get to know some of your favorite medtech leaders on a more personal level, now’s your chance. Discover what makes The Leading Difference.
