Show notes
Physicians are trained to follow clear pathways—but innovation, advisory work, and startup leadership rarely come with a playbook.
In this episode of Startup Physicians, Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with Dr. Jennifer Miles-Thomas, urologic surgeon, former private practice CEO, MIT MBA, and healthcare innovation leader at Northwestern Medicine.
Jennifer shares how she navigated the transition from academic medicine to private practice, led a large surgical group through the COVID-19 crisis, and ultimately moved into system-level innovation, incubators, and startup advising.
This conversation is a grounded look at how physicians create value outside of patient care—without burning out, giving work away for free, or abandoning medicine altogether.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why physicians underestimate their value in startups and innovation
- What becoming a CEO during COVID taught Jennifer about leadership and pivoting
- How private practice prepares doctors for entrepreneurship
- Why AI and data literacy matter for physicians—without needing a tech background
- How to start advisory work without getting taken advantage of
- The role of incubators and health system innovation programs
- Practical ways physicians can explore non-clinical impact while staying grounded
This episode is especially relevant for physicians who feel ready for more impact, creativity, or system-level influence—but want to move intentionally.
Chapters:
00:00Why Physicians Belong in Innovation
00:53Academic Medicine vs Private Practice Reality
02:59Becoming CEO in January 2020
08:25Moving Into Health System Innovation
10:45The Hidden Value of Physicians in Startups
13:00How to Start Advisory Work
17:59Avoiding Exploitation in Business
21:56Defining and Pricing Your Value
25:23Incubators, Accelerators & Health System Opportunities
29:13Final Advice for Physicians Exploring What’s Next
🔗 Connect with Dr. Jennifer Miles-Thomas: www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermiles-thomas