356.US Surgical: Lee Cohen Sr Director of Laparoscopy on Launching Endoclip, Trocars, and the Laparoscopic Gold Rush

In this episode, host Omar Khateeb kicks off the new US Surgical Series with Lee Cohen, the former Senior Director of Laparoscopy. Lee was the catalyst inside US Surgical who identified a bootleg gallbladder procedure and transformed it into the minimally invasive surgery market. She explains how she navigated a male-dominated industry, managed a constant stream of engineers at her door, and learned product management directly from the legendary CEO Leon Hirsch. Lee walks through the thrilling global rollout of products like the Endo Clip and disposable trocars, the intense pig lab trainings, and the sales conferences with marching bands and fireworks. She also delivers a crucial case study on competitive strategy, detailing how Ethicon's aggressive contracts and US Surgical's own short-term sales tactic led to a catastrophic loss of market share. For anyone in medtech, sales, or product management, this is a masterclass in innovation, market creation, and the perils of complacency.Episode Breakdown:00:00 – Intro: Why this MedTech conversation matters02:03 – Lee Cohen’s background & career path05:12 – Entering healthcare & early lessons learned08:26 – What outsiders misunderstand about MedTech21:36 – Product-market fit in healthcare vs tech31:48 – Innovating within large incumbents34:22 – Build vs acquire: Strategic decisions49:42 – AI in devices: Practical vs hype52:14 – Leadership vs operational excellence54:48 – Scaling high-performance teams57:20 – Common mistakes healthcare founders make59:52 – Timing cycles in MedTech01:02:24 – The future of surgical innovation01:05:02 – Industry consolidation & capital flows01:07:35 – Advice for young operators01:10:06 – What separates great CEOs01:12:38 – Long-term outlook for healthcare innovation01:15:14 – Personal reflections & career insights01:17:46 – Final lessons on building durable companies01:20:18 – Closing thoughts & key takeaways01:22:00 – OutroAre you a medtech CEO in need of some marketing help attracting investors, growing sales pipeline, and more? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowMyMedtech.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book time for a free analysis.Subscribe to our Youtube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@thestateofmedtechSubscribe to our LinkedIn Newsletterhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/state-of-medtech-pod-7328860752952352770/Follow The State of MedTech onLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestateofmedtech/Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stateofmedtech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@stateofmedtechpodX https://x.com/stateofmedtechFacebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/stateofmedtechFollow Omar M. Khateeb onLinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/okhateeb/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/omar.m.khateeb/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@omar.m.khateebX ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https: https://x.com/OmarMKhateebFacebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/OmarMKhateebThis podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or medical advice. The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of State of MedTech LLC. Nothing discussed on this podcast should be interpreted as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any investment or security. Listeners should conduct their own due diligence and consult with a qualified financial advisor, attorney, or other professional before making any financial or investment decisions#medtech #healthcareinnovation #surgicalrobotics #medicaldevices #healthcareleadership