Jeff Weness: From Geek Squad to AI-Powered Cancer Breakthroughs

On this episode of #TheShot of #DigitalHealth Therapy, Jim Joyce and I had the pleasure of hosting Jeff Weness, VP of Growth & Strategy at RefinedScience. From small-town Minnesota roots to global ventures in digital health and now tackling cancer with AI, Jeff’s journey is as unexpected as it is inspiring. We joked about handstands, Russian accents, and Netflix DVDs (yes, mailed in red envelopes!), but his career lessons are pure gold: listen deeply, solve real problems, and don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself. 🚀 🔑 Top 5 Key Takeaways 🎓 Career pivots can fuel long-term impact 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Partnerships drive innovation in healthcare 🖥️ Geek Squad in hospitals = genius move 💊 Molecule + digital = future of pharma 🤖 AI is reshaping oncology discovery Fun mentions as always: Daniel Couchman Kendall Health Podcast Network John Brownlee Click Therapeutics, Inc. David Benshoof Klein Curio Digital Therapeutics Inc. HealthRHYTHMS Optum 📋 00:00–03:00 | Happy Wednesday banter & Jeff joins 📋 03:00–07:00 | Minnesota roots, 4-H, and Russia exchanges 📋 07:00–11:00 | Insurance career and pivot to MBA/venture 📋 11:00–14:00 | Best Buy innovation & Geek Squad in hospitals 📋 14:00–18:00 | Corporate partnerships at Children’s Minnesota 📋 18:00–23:00 | UnitedHealth & Optum Labs: data, R&D, and digital health 📋 23:00–28:00 | Otsuka: digital therapeutics, patience, and cultural insights 📋 28:00–33:00 | The molecule + digital debate in pharma 📋 33:00–38:00 | Refined Science: AI, oncology, and drug rescue 📋 38:00–46:00 | Cancer prevalence, longevity, and Jeff’s advice: listen deeply