Joel Theisen is not a fan of the word "care," but that's not because he doesn't have a lot of it. As an RN, he saw firsthand the shortcomings of the healthcare system in the United States, and that's why he's on a mission with his company, Lifespark, to reimagine it. Referring to Lifespark as the "anti-care" company, Joel instead chooses to laser f…

In this episode of The Medical Alley Podcast, we chat with Mitch Foley, VP of Stryker ENT. Mitch talks about Stryker's presence in the Twin Cities, its ongoing to mission to bring new products while reimagining how ENT care can be delivered, and advice for professionals looking to take their career to new levels. Send us a message! Follow Medical A…

In this episode of the Medical Alley Podcast, host Ben Wagner talks to Technical Manger Jason Longhorn of Element Materials Technology. The conversation runs the gamut from the role Element plays in the medical testing market, COVID-19 and the ongoing recovery of the industry, the use of Ethylene oxide (EtO) in sterilization (and potential alternat…

On this episode of the Medical Alley Podcast, we're coming to you live (at least at the time of recording) from the floor of MD&M Minneapolis, a premier medtech and medical manufacturing convention. In a series of short interviews, host Ben Wagner talks with guests about what conversations were happening between major companies, how each company is…

Navigating the complexities of groundbreaking treatments can create headwinds. With innovations like Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) at the forefront, challenges such as financial uncertainties, regulatory shifts, and global adoption become paramount. Join us for an insightful discussion on how global partners address these challenges, focusing on safe…

In this episode of the Medical Alley Podcast, host Ben Wagner looks into the future of 3D-printed healthcare with Amy Alexander, Unit Head, Mechanical Development & Applied Computational Engineering at Mayo Clinic. From custom prosthetics and implants to sharpening the accuracy of medical devices, 3D-printed technology is (literally) reshaping the …

In this episode of the Medical Alley Podcast, host Ben Wagner sits down with Jessica Sylvester, founder and CEO of Humla Health, to explore how her innovative platform is transforming nurse staffing in the healthcare industry. Jessica shares her deeply personal journey from working as a nurse to creating a tech-driven solution that empowers nurses …

Medical device companies often lag behind other industries in adopting advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), to digitally transform their organizations throughout the total product life cycle. In this episode of the Medical Alley Podcast, experts from MDIC, FDA, and more, share their insights on the current landscape of digit…

September is Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month. Patients living with Atrial Fibrillation, or AFib, are at greater risk for stoke, heart failure and dementia. Research suggests cases of AFib are likely to grow across the United States. In this episode of the Medical Alley Podcast, host Ben Wagner talks with Dr. Christopher Piorkowski, chief medica…

Joe Hofmeister lived with epileptic seizures for 50 years. Medication didn't work. A craniotomy didn't make a significant impact either. It was only through the use of Monteris Medical's NeuroBlate system that he finally found relief. In this week's episode of the Medical Alley Podcast, host Ben Wagner dives into Joe's inspiring story alongside ins…

In this episode of the Medical Alley Podcast, host Ben Wagner speaks with Dunston Almeida, the founder and CEO of triValence, a company dedicated to transforming healthcare operations by addressing supply chain and expense management inefficiencies. Almeida shares his journey, influenced by his physician parents, and how his background in technolog…

In this episode of the Medical Alley Podcast, host Ben Wagner sits down with Steve Bethke, vice president of the Solution Developer Market at Mayo Clinic Platform, to explore the groundbreaking work happening at Mayo Clinic Platform_Solutions Studio. Steve shares insights into how the Solutions Studio is driving the transformation of digital health…

Andrew Savitz joins the Medical Alley Podcast to share how his company, Spirituwell, is trying to bridge the gap between conventional medicine and spiritual well-being. He elaborates on the company's innovative practices, the challenges of navigating the evolving health landscape, and the importance of addressing spiritual health alongside physical…

Explore the dynamic world of regulatory affairs with Amra Racic, a seasoned expert with over 25 years of experience with Medical Alley partners, including Medtronic and Abbott. Now at Veeva Systems as Senior Director of Government Strategy, Amra brings her deep expertise to the Medical Alley Podcast, where she unpacks the complexities of navigating…

"Let's not treat compensation like rocket science." On this week's episode of the Medical Alley Podcast, David Gramer, Founder of Prism Compensation Consulting, joins us to demystify the complexities of employee compensation. With a clear and approachable style, David shares his extensive knowledge and practical advice on designing effective compen…

Mayo Clinic Ventures and Corporate Development, the two divisions within Mayo Clinic’s Department of Business Development, work in tandem with industry collaborators to transform healthcare by fostering innovative ideas, catalyzing bold initiatives, and advancing cutting-edge solutions to address unmet patient needs. Whether supporting a new compan…

Late in 2023, Visura Technologies and YKK Corporation of America partnered to launch Evevo Manufacturing, which offers medical device manufacturing services in the Medical Alley ecosystem. So how did this partnership come about, and what have Visura and YKK learned throughout the process? To answer those questions and more, we're joined by leaders …

The innovative wearable technology developed by Cogwear allows for many insights on the human brain, including mental and behavioral health and Alzheimer's disease. By allowing for clinical-grade EEG readings in everyday settings, Cogwear's technology provides accurate measurements during a number of different activities To learn more about Cogwear…

Being a caregiver is a hard job — especially if it's not your only job. Those who have had to take care of family members or loved ones often take on an increased burden, and many caregivers have their physical or emotional health impacted as a result. That's where CaringBridge comes in as a way to ease that burden and provide a community of suppor…

With locations in 13 cities throughout the country and a large presence in healthcare, SEI has a good footprint throughout the United States. But there are some factors that make this consulting firm unique. Among them is that SEI is employee owned, meaning each consultant is personally invested in the success of the company — and the success of th…

Dan Cohen was a competitive athlete for a long time, playing hockey into college and eventually becoming a professional triathlete. He realized the importance of different data points as it related to his physical condition, but he struggled to find all of the important data in one place. That's the goal of Human Powered Health, a newer company in …

To make mental health care more accessible and impactful for patients and employees, mental health providers and insurance companies in Medical Alley have formed partnerships and had ongoing conversations as they work together to destigmatize mental health care and help people feel empowered to seek the care they need. On this week’s episode of the…

Rob Kress founded Waypost Advisors in March of 2020 with the goal of helping small and mid-size companies with their supply chain needs. The timing just so happened to coincide with the COVID-19 pandemic, which created substantial supply chain challenges for companies of all industries. That meant Waypost Advisors was busy from the get-go, and cont…

As a pediatric hospitalist, Dr. Michael Pitt is familiar with the importance of making the rounds at a hospital. But within that system, he saw inefficiencies that led to patients and their families being uncertain of when they'd see their doctor next. That meant having to wait potentially hours without knowing when the rounds would take place. Dr.…

On this special episode of the Medical Alley Podcast, we revisit conversations with three leaders from the community who are doing impactful work to make mental health care more accessible. First, we hear a highlight of our conversation with Jorie Kulseth of Children's Minnesota. Jorie joined our Ben Wagner at Mental Health Awareness Day at the 202…

Listen a replay of this webinar to hear the stories of two groundbreaking companies working to revolutionize their fields. Dr. Elise Jenkins from Opto Biosystems and Dr. Grayson Zulauf of Resonant Link discussed how they’ve partnered to advance implantable neurotechnology. They also shared actionable insights on what it takes to develop a new medic…

This episode of of the Medical Alley Podcast is a replay of a webinar hosted on January 31st titled: “Transforming Regulatory Compliance with Artificial Intelligence,” sponsored by RegDesk. The discussion focused on how artificial intelligence is impacting regulatory compliance, with a look at the growing complexity in the regulatory space and why …

Leadership can be hard, especially in healthcare. Those tasked with leading companies or managing teams working on potentially live-saving technology or services can face plenty of stress and uncertainty, especially with the changes in the work environment post-pandemic. Sometimes those leaders need executive coaches, which is where groups like The…

Artificial intelligence enabled devices are changing the landscape of medical devices and are subject to evolving regulation. Listen back to a replay of our webinar from late last year as team of lawyers from Covington & Burling LLP discuss key considerations for the AI-enabled medical device space, including current best practices for industry par…

Forty years ago, Earl Bakken helped establish Medical Alley to ensure that Minnesota's healthcare ecosystem remained strong. Prior to helping found Medical Alley, Bakken famously founded Medtronic. But his inspiration and love of science and technology started as a kid when he fell in love with the movie "Frankenstein." Many years later, Bakken's l…

Not all internships are created equally. Minnetronix Medical — a medical device contract manufacturer — has had its internship program in place for decades, but the pandemic shifted the way the company approaches its internships. Students who work for Minnetronix end up getting valuable hands-on experience, impactful mentorships, and the ability to…

Dr. Pearce McCarty has been an orthopedic surgeon for over 15 years, but he more recently he has scratched an entrepreneurial itch. In 2020, Pearce co-founded DOCSI, a platform that helps optimize preference card uses among physicians and surgeons. On this week's Medical Alley Podcast, Pearce joins our Frank Jaskulke in studio to share more about h…

Since it began in 2008, the University of Minnesota's Medical Valuation Laboratory has worked on nearly 500 projects. The lab conducts assessments of medical device innovations and draws in students from various schools at the U of M — including law students, MBA students, medical students and more. This approach helps professionals evaluate their …

Scott Nelson has spent a good portion of his career in the medtech space. As a serial entrepreneur, he has helped start a number of different medtech companies. His latest venture, FastWave Medical, is developing intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) systems for treatment of arterial calcification. On this week's Medical Alley Podcast, Scott joins more t…

Mental health concerns have been on the rise for kids and teens, and Bend Health was founded with the goal of addressing those concerns. Monika Roots, MD, FAPA, built on her experience as a child and adolescent psychiatrist to co-found Bend Health with her husband Kurt. Bend Health offers a family-based digital mental health platform to help childr…

Envoy Medical is a pioneer in the world of hearing health. The Medical Alley-based company has been around for 30 years and is doing truly innovative work with its fully-implantable devices used to treat hearing loss. Brent Lucas fell in love with Envoy Medical as an intern years ago and is now the company's CEO. He joined us in studio this week to…

As one of the founders of Minute Clinic, Steve Pontius knows a thing or two about successfully starting and running an innovative healthcare company. After CVS purchased Minute Clinic in 2006, Steve has gone on to work for a few different companies. His latest, HealtheMed, is helping break down barriers to healthcare access for the Medicaid waivere…

Poor sleep has plenty of side effects — especially if it's a result of sleep apnea. It can range from more minor consequences such as feeling tired all the time to more major long-term implications like heart attacks. That's why treating sleep issues early is so important, and it's why ADVENT has continued to grow from a single clinic in Milwaukee …

Mental health continues to be a focus for many healthcare providers throughout Medical Alley, and Allina Health is no different. It's something that Allina President and CEO Lisa Shannon cares deeply about, and is helping lead the organization's efforts to create more access to mental healthcare for its patients. On this week's episode of the Medic…

Benjamin Zander is the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, and is the co-author of "The Art of Possibility." He has also a gifted speaker who had spoken to audiences around the world about leadership and awakening possibility in others. Benjamin will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming Medical Alley Summit on Feb. 8 at the Four Seaso…

When PRO-TECH Design says it's a family business, it means it. Pamela McMaster founded the company back in 1980 in California, and now her two sons — Aaron Swanson and Jeff Swanson — are helping run the company. Aaron serves as president, while Jeff is the company's VP of sales. The duo became the first set of brothers to join us on the Medical All…

We had so many great guests on the podcast in 2023 and enjoyed all the conversations with leaders from Medical Alley who are all working to help make this region the epicenter of health innovation and care. Thank you to all of our guests on the podcast this year, and to all of you who tuned in to listen. As we look ahead to the new year, we first l…

CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) is a Medical Alley Starts sponsor and provides financial and tax consulting, as well as fractional CFO and outsourcing services. CLA offers a 25% discount to qualifying startups for the first year of working together. On this week's Medical Alley Podcast, startup principal Filip Kostal is joined by five experienced prac…

The medical device industry is in a new era—the consumerization era. Historically, we focused on meeting rigorous requirements of safety and efficacy. Today, we must meet a new set of standards. Safety and efficacy, of course. But also, intuitiveness and sophistication. This has big implications not just for the devices you design but also for how …

In countries with significantly aging populations like Japan and parts of Western Europe, wound care is the third biggest expense to their national healthcare systems. As the population in the United States continues to age, wound care will be a very important aspect of the healthcare system. That's why Nima Ahmadi co-founded The Wound Company, a M…

Keeping patients out of the hospital is the major goal of many policy and innovation experts. But sometimes it can't be avoided. Before a patient arrives, our Emergency Medical Services community intervenes. Challenges of policy and payment, as well as advances in innovation are transforming the pre-hospital space. This webinar from July of 2023 hi…

Integrating biodesign principles can drive innovative breakthroughs in medical device technology. But what exactly is biodesign, and how can medtech companies utilize it to drive innovation? On this week's Medical Alley Podcast, Greg Johnson of Veranex and Todd Brinton of Edwards Lifesciences join to share more about biodesign and how they've utili…

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, so we're joined by Dr. Andrew Mayo of St. Croix Hospice to learn more about how hospice care fits into the healthcare continuum. As the Chief Medical Officer at St. Croix Hospice, Dr. Mayo — great grandson of one of the Mayo brothers — knows how important hospice can be to patients at the end …

Healthcare companies are continuing to explore ways in which artificial intelligence can be used to deliver better care to patients and to ease workflow. But bringing AI from the bench to the bedside can be a challenge. That's where Lucem Health comes in. Born as a spinout of Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Platform, Lucem Health is helping accelerate …

Throughout the course of this year, the Medical Alley Podcast has shared different stories of member companies who are doing innovative work in pain management. This week’s episode continues that conversation, as we’re joined by Maria Bennett, President, CEO and Founder of SPR Therapeutics. Maria first had the idea for SPR Therapeutics’ proprietary…