Show notes
In this episode of the Startup Physicians Podcast, Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with Dr. Nerissa Kreher, MD, MBA—a pediatric endocrinologist who transitioned into biotech and pharma and went on to serve as a four-time Chief Medical Officer with multiple IPOs.
Nerissa shares how an unexpected career setback opened the door to the pharma industry, what medical affairs and clinical development roles actually look like, and how physicians can build the business and regulatory skill sets needed to thrive in biotech. She explains how to communicate across cross-functional teams, design clinical trials, and navigate both the highs (like successful IPOs) and the lows (like program shutdowns).
Alison and Nerissa also dig into imposter syndrome, confidence, humility, and why physicians must embrace learning and ask for help—just like they do in clinical practice. Nerissa also highlights her work developing first-in-human transfer RNA therapies and discusses her coaching program, Pharma Industry MD Coach, which supports physicians exploring industry roles.
This episode is packed with tactical insights and mindset shifts for any physician curious about biotech, pharma, or leadership roles beyond clinical medicine.
00:00Introduction to Dr. Nerissa Kreher
01:08A Career Pivot That Changed Everything
04:01Entering Pharma + Early Mindset Shifts
07:14Building New Skills Beyond Medicine
11:23Clinical Development & Designing Trials
13:59Moving Through Companies & Becoming a CMO
16:18Handling Setbacks in Drug Development
18:27Mindset, Imposter Syndrome & Asking for Help
23:05Inside the IPO Experience
29:35Supporting Physicians Through Coaching
Pharma Industry MD Coach Website: www.industryMDCoach.com
IG: PharmaindustryMDCoach
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-industrymdcoach-b501301ba/
Create a venture-ready concept pitch in just 45 minutes! Join our free AI session designed for practicing physicians, where we guide you through the concept-assessment process used in the Startup Physicians Incubator.
Download the guide, open it with Claude, and you'll end up with a one-page pitch ready to share with an advisor, investor, or selection committee. Get the Concept Pitch Builder →
A self-paced course that gets you ready to start advising startups, with an AI guide that assists you along the way.