What if solving a widespread medical condition didn't require surgery, expensive implants, or harsh medications—but could be done by simply putting on a sock?

In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, we sit down with Isaac Oppenheim, CEO and Founder of Zida, a company pioneering wearable neuromodulation at the intersection of aging, textiles, and healthcare. Inspired by his grandfather's struggle with overactive bladder (OAB), Isaac developed the Zida Control Sock—the first FDA-cleared, Medicare-covered, home-use neuromodulation device for OAB.

From his early career in textiles and wearable tech with brands like Nike and Lululemon, to navigating FDA clearance and CMS reimbursement without institutional capital, Isaac's journey shows what happens when design thinking, perseverance, and patient-centered innovation come together. Clinical trials show nearly 80% success rates, giving millions of patients renewed confidence, independence, and quality of life

Whether you're an entrepreneur building medtech from scratch, a clinician seeking better therapies for aging populations, or an innovator curious about the future of neuromodulation, this episode is packed with lessons on resilience, creativity, and making healthcare more human.

Restoring Dignity: Wearable Neuromodulation at Home

What happens when groundbreaking medtech isn't enough—when success depends on how well physicians and health plans actually adopt it?

In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, we sit down with Dr. Shannon Decker, PhD, MBA, M.Ed., Founder & CEO of VBC1. With over 25 years of experience in healthcare transformation—including 17 years in Medicare, Medicaid, quality improvement, and risk adjustment—Shannon has become a nationally recognized strategist on aligning medical devices with real-world provider workflows.

From helping health plans and physician groups improve outcomes, to showing medtech innovators why the best devices still fail without strong provider enablement, Shannon shares hard-earned lessons on education, incentives, and adoption. She explains how startups can avoid costly mistakes, when to engage with clinicians, and why intrinsic motivation often drives lasting change more than financial incentives.

Whether you're a startup CEO, a commercial leader, or a clinician navigating the shift to value-based care, this conversation delivers a playbook for turning innovation into impact

From Innovation to Impact: The Value-Based Playbook

What if the lines of code you wrote weren't just running a program—but keeping someone's heart beating?

In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, we sit down with Wade Demmer, Engineering Director and former Innovation Director at Medtronic, whose career journey began with his grandmother's pacemaker and led him to help pioneer some of the world's most impactful cardiac devices, including Micra, the world's smallest pacemaker.

Wade shares the lessons of two decades inside the world's largest medtech company—what it really takes to build a culture of innovation, engineer for reliability, and launch breakthrough devices at scale. From balancing patient safety with bold ideas, to recognizing when timing makes or breaks a technology, Wade brings a deeply personal and practical lens to the future of cardiac pacing and medtech innovation.

Whether you're an engineer, entrepreneur, or leader aiming to improve patients' lives, this conversation will expand how you think about risk, collaboration, and building technologies that truly matter

When Innovation Meets the Human Heart

What happens when decades-old surgical tools finally get a 21st-century upgrade?

In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, we sit down with Andy Chang, Chief Commercial Officer at BVI, to explore how innovation is reshaping ophthalmology. Andy takes us behind the launch of Leos, a next-generation glaucoma laser platform designed to be faster, smarter, and more intuitive—giving surgeons precision while saving valuable OR time.

Drawing on his global commercialization experience with leaders like Zeiss and Bausch & Lomb, Andy shares what it really takes to scale disruptive technologies: from designing surgeon-friendly tools that blend seamlessly into workflows, to balancing veteran expertise with fresh ideas on commercial teams, to building feedback loops that keep patients at the center of every decision.

Whether you're an innovator introducing new platforms, a commercial leader navigating global markets, or a clinician eager to see where eye care is headed, this episode delivers sharp insights on strategy, leadership, and the future of ophthalmic innovation.

#MedTech #Ophthalmology #Glaucoma #HealthcareInnovation #MedicalDevices #SurgicalInnovation #VisionCare

Sharper Vision, Smarter Tools

In an era where telehealth is often reduced to quick, one-off visits, Ovatient CEO Michael Dalton is charting a different course—one that blends digital access with the trust, continuity, and whole-person focus of traditional care.

With deep roots inside health systems like MetroHealth and MUSC, Michael shares how Ovatient was built "by health systems, for health systems" to move beyond transactional virtual care. He reveals the keys to building trust in digital health, integrating seamlessly with Epic, and creating true partnerships rather than vendor relationships.

From reducing barriers for patients to scaling integrated behavioral health, Ovatient's model is showing how virtual-first can still be personal, local, and outcome-driven. You'll hear real patient stories, lessons on co-developing with health systems, and strategies for delivering high-quality care at scale—without losing the human touch.

Whether you're a health system leader, digital health innovator, or investor, this conversation is packed with insights on designing virtual care models that last, scale, and truly serve

Local Care, Virtually Anywhere

What happens when a medtech founder starts college at 12, launches their first company at 9, and grows up to help clients secure over $1 billion in funding? You get Elizabeth Chabe, CEO of High Touch Group. In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, Elizabeth shares how she helps science-driven companies translate complex innovations into stories that resonate with investors, regulators, and clinicians.

She offers powerful insights on breaking past "no," avoiding costly early-stage mistakes, and navigating today's funding challenges with creative, non-dilutive strategies. If you're struggling to get your technology off the ground—or into the right hands—Elizabeth's wisdom and practical guidance will help you turn complexity into commercial clarity. Don't miss this one!

The Science Whisperer: How to Speak VC, Clinician & Regulator

Every minute counts in cardiology—but for too many patients, the wait to see a specialist is measured in weeks.

In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, Dr. Jeff Wessler, cardiologist and CEO of Heartbeat Health, shares how his team is transforming heart care with a virtual-first model. By combining telehealth, remote diagnostics, and evidence-based protocols, Heartbeat Health is tackling one of medicine's most urgent challenges: delivering timely, life-saving cardiac care to patients wherever they are.

Dr. Wessler takes us inside the evolution of Heartbeat Health—from its origins in New York to its nationwide impact. He explains how virtual-first cardiology is closing critical access gaps, how remote monitoring and cloud-based "clinics" can prevent emergencies, and why building a culture of innovation and rigorous outcomes tracking has been key to their success.

If you're passionate about digital health, virtual care, or improving patient outcomes, this episode is packed with insights on what it takes to scale a new standard of care.

Faster, Smarter, Virtual Heart Care

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.

Where AI Meets Early Detection—and Patients Win

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.

Heart Health, Anywhere - with CorVista

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.

The Silent Guardian: Scaling Innovation for Global IV Safety

Med Tech Gurus is a podcast dedicated to helping medical device executives stay on the leading edge of their industry. Whether you’re looking to grow your sales team, commercialize new devices, set up national accounts, or improve your clinical performances, this podcast is designed to help. Each episode features an interview with a thought leader or practitioner, discussing topics like: sales force, innovation, patient outcomes, emerging technologies, supply chain, group purchasing organizations, device launches, value analysis, biotech, and more.

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