#27 - From Pharmacist to Health Tech Leader: Lauren Curtis on Bridging Clinicians and Tech

How can clinicians break into health tech and shape the future of healthcare? In this episode, Dr. Leo Damasco and Phoebe Gutierrez are joined by Lauren Curtis, who shares her bold move to join PillPack in its early days, cold-emailing her way into a role that kickstarted her health tech career. She discusses how she carved out non-clinical roles by solving operational inefficiencies, eventually leading to her passion project, Hey Health Tech, a platform with a newsletter and job board to help clinicians navigate health tech opportunities. Dr. Curtis emphasizes the value of clinicians’ soft skills—like communication and empathy—in tech roles and offers practical advice on reframing clinical experience for resumes (not CVs!) to land product or program management jobs. She also previews her upcoming community for clinicians to collaborate and learn about health tech, AI, and patient outcomes. This episode is packed with insights for clinicians feeling stuck or eager to bridge clinical expertise with healthcare innovation.Three Actionable Takeaways:Reframe Your Skills for Tech Roles – Translate clinical skills like patient management into project management by highlighting teamwork, communication, and problem-solving on a concise resume, not a lengthy CV.Seize Opportunities Proactively – Don’t wait for job postings; reach out to health tech companies with a compelling case for how your clinical background can add value, as Dr. Curtis did with PillPack.Join the Health Tech Conversation – Explore platforms like Hey Health Tech to learn about health tech roles, network with other clinicians, and stay informed about digital health’s impact on your practice.About the Show:Telemedicine Talks explores the evolving world of digital health, helping physicians navigate new opportunities, regulatory challenges, and career transitions in telemedicine.About the Guest:Lauren Curtis is a pharmacist-turned-health-tech-leader and senior product manager at Parachute Health. With a decade of experience in digital health, starting at PillPack (now part of Amazon), she founded Hey Health Tech, a platform featuring a newsletter and job board to empower clinicians to explore health tech careers. A passionate speaker, Lauren is launching a community to connect clinicians across specialties to learn about health tech, AI, and improving patient outcomes.Website: https://www.heyhealthtech.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyhealthtechAbout the Hosts:Dr. Leo Damasco – Pediatrician and emergency medicine doctor turned telemedicine advocate, helping physicians transition to digital health.Phoebe Gutierrez – Former state regulator turned telehealth executive, specializing in compliance and sustainable virtual care models.Connect with Phoebe Gutierrez:https://www.linkedIn.com/in/pkgutierrez/[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) The information provided in Telemedicine Talks is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, legal, or financial advice. While we discuss best practices, industry trends, and real-world experiences, every situation is unique. Listeners should consult with qualified professionals before making decisions related to telemedicine practice, compliance, contracts, or business operations. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations they may be affiliated with. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.