Inside the CMO Role at a Pediatric Telehealth Startup with Dr. Lyndsey Garbi

In this episode of the Startup Physicians Podcast, Dr. Alison Curfman talks with Dr. Lyndsey Garbi, neonatologist, pediatrician, and co-founder/CMO of Blueberry Pediatrics. Lyndsey shares how she went from new attending to startup founder, why she became the “professional naysayer” to protect pediatric safety, and how Blueberry built a scalable, high-quality virtual care model for kids.Alison and Lyndsey explore what children actually need from care, why telehealth can enhance safety when designed well, and how creativity becomes an antidote to burnout for physicians. They also break down what CMO roles look like inside startups and offer practical paths for doctors who want to get involved in digital health or leadership.Whether you’re a pediatrician, a parent, or a physician curious about the startup world, this conversation will open your eyes to what’s possible beyond traditional practice.00:00 — Welcome & Reconnecting01:48 — Lyndsey’s Path to Pediatrics & Startups03:37 — Staying Clinical While Founding05:05 — Founding Blueberry Pediatrics07:30 — Building Safe Pediatric Telehealth08:56 — Challenging Traditional Medical Dogma11:05 — What Families Really Need in Pediatric Care12:23 — Telehealth Safety & Continuity14:08 — “Attending… Now What?”15:34 — Blueberry’s Model & Quality Measures19:11 — What a CMO Does in a Startup22:57 — Pathways Into Startup Roles for Physicians26:01 — Academia vs. Industry Growth29:04 — Creativity as an Antidote to Burnout30:59 — Advice to Pediatricians: Ask for What You Need32:37 — Closing & Where to Find Lyndseywebsite: www.blueberrypediatrics.com@blueberrypediatrics on socials