Show notes
When a devastating clinical moment sparks a career in innovation, what happens next? In this powerful episode, Dr. Alison Curfman is joined by her longtime collaborator and friend, Dr. Dave McSwain — CMIO at UNC Health and co-founder of the national pediatric telehealth research network, Sprout. Together, they reflect on how a single missed opportunity to intervene became the catalyst for designing systems that now save lives.
Dr. McSwain shares the story of how telehealth helped save a child’s life, and how strategic research and collaboration transformed a fledgling idea into a national framework. They unpack the power of evidence in healthcare innovation, the difference between casual metrics and rigorous evaluation, and why startup founders must learn to speak both clinical and financial languages.
Whether you're a physician-turned-founder or a clinician curious about what’s possible, this episode is a masterclass in taking meaningful experiences and turning them into scalable, fundable, system-level change.
Episode Highlights
00:00Introduction to Innovation in Pediatric Telehealth
03:03The Evolution of Telehealth: A Decade of Change
05:59Personal Stories: The Impact of Telehealth on Patient Outcomes
08:54Building a Research Network: Overcoming Barriers in Telehealth
11:54The Importance of Evidence in Healthcare Innovation
15:09Navigating Financial Challenges in Healthcare Programs
18:06The Role of Data in Evaluating Healthcare Technologies
20:57Leveraging Academic Skills in the Startup World
23:45Collaboration: Finding Your People in Healthcare Innovation
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