BMJ Innovations Podcast

How to succeed in start-up competitions One way that start-ups can help accelerate their growth is by entering (and winning!) competitions – like the WISH 2022 Innovation Award. BMJ Innovations was in Doha and spoke to the organisers and some of the winners of this year’s award to get their insight on what makes for a successful entry. Joining us are –

• Mahmoud El Achi, Head of Innovation at the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH)
• Nicolas Vachicouras, CEO & Co-founder at Neurosoft Bioelectronics
• Yashar Faranjani, CEO & Co-founder at Smiletronix

Episode 5: Digital health – from innovative research to impact at scale Rajesh Aggarwal (@docaggarwal) Rajesh Agarwal is a surgeon and digital health advisor and investor. Based in the US now, he trained under Ara Darzi at Imperial (@Imperial_IGHI) with the first surgical robots and his PhD research built the case for simulation based training of surgeons. He’s had a career in universities and health systems as a surgeon, researcher, teacher and leader, addressing the thorniest problems in healthcare and always pushing for big change. Rajesh is also Chief Growth and Strategy Officer at Panda Health.

Episode 4: Innovating with others – and keep your career moving forward Louise Thwaites (@CLThwaites) Lousie Thwaites is a clinician researcher at OUCRU in Vietnam (@OUCRU_Vietnam) – looking at innovations in intensive care in low and middle income countries. In this interview she talks about the challenges and opportunities there are for doctors from working with engineers, the importance of mentors in a research career and why unconventional career paths can be really fulfilling. Read our Healthcare Innovation in Vietnam special collection and Prof Thwaites article on wearables #Vietnam #healthinnovation

Episode 3: From surgeon to CEO – how to get from idea to acquisition Jean Nehme (@Jean_Nehme) Jean Nehme sold his start up, Digital Surgery, to Medtronic in 2020 for multiple millions, achieving the dream of many medical entrepreneurs. From surgeon to CEO, Jean tells us about the lessons he learned from his journey. We talk Acquisitions, SPACs, regulation and equalities. Jean is Vice President of strategic partnerships at Medtronic (@MedtronicUK), a Plastic Surgeon Trainee, Academic and Entrepreneur. He is also Co-Founder CEO at Touch Surgery (@TouchSurgery) #robots and #ai

Episode 2: Health entrepreneurship for good – bundling innovations and changing lives Patricia Odero (@TrishOdero) Patricia Odero is an innovation facilitator extraordinaire – based in Nairobi Kenya, working for The Duke Global Health Institute (@dukeghic), Patricia is trained in Medicine, Business and Social innovation and uses her skills and experience to help entrepreneurs in West Africa and Beyond with funding and growth. She talks about the importance of networks, and particularly in health entrepreneurship – long term relationships and support programmes for organisations of different sizes and stages, including Penda Health, Narayana Health, Jacarabda Health, Flare and Damu Sasa. Patricia has great advice for entrepreneurs, and really interesting stories from the field.

Episode 1: Clinical entrepreneurs in the NHS – creating the right environment for great ideas to flourish Tony Young (@DrTonyYoung) Professor Tony Young OBE, National Clinical Lead for Innovation at NHS England and NHS Improvement, talks about what inspired him to get involved in innovation, and why his true passion for improving health is to keep the best entrepreneurs in the NHS. He’s a man with a lot of hats, a lot of ideas and a lot of inspiration. Here are some of the organisations, companies and people he mentions – NHS Clinical Entrepreneurs Scheme, Anglia Ruskin University, Southend Hospital, Jean Nehme (@Jean_Nehme), Touch Surgery, Nadine Hachach-Haram (@DrNadz), Proximie, Hinnah Rafique (@GenMedX), Generation Medics and Medishout.

Episode 0: Leaders in Innovation Podcast Series- teaser Hear BMJ Innovations’ editors, Dr Helen Surana (@hjsurana) and Dr Ashley Mckimm (@ashleymckimm), discuss the development of our new podcast series, Leaders in Innovation, which will feature stories and interviews from leaders in the field of Health Innovations. #healthinnovations #digitaltransformation #healthtech

Dr Helen Surana is Associate Editor at BMJ Innovations – assessing and managing manuscripts, peer review and commissioning articles for special editions. She trained as an anaesthetist in the NHS and as a science communicator. She’s worked at BMJ in a number of roles since 2007 and loves digital transformation, education ethics and evidence. She is passionate about bringing the patient’s lived experience into all aspects of healthcare and research. BMJ Innovations Podcasts are supported by WISH, a global healthcare community dedicated to capturing and disseminating the best evidence-based ideas and practices.