Why Healthcare Startups Need Physicians Who Understand the System with Dr. Jennifer Miles-Thomas

Physicians are trained to follow clear pathways—but innovation, advisory work, and startup leadership rarely come with a playbook.In this episode of Startup Physicians, Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with Dr. Jennifer Miles-Thomas, urologic surgeon, former private practice CEO, MIT MBA, and healthcare innovation leader at Northwestern Medicine.Jennifer shares how she navigated the transition from academic medicine to private practice, led a large surgical group through the COVID-19 crisis, and ultimately moved into system-level innovation, incubators, and startup advising.This conversation is a grounded look at how physicians create value outside of patient care—without burning out, giving work away for free, or abandoning medicine altogether.In this episode, we discuss:Why physicians underestimate their value in startups and innovationWhat becoming a CEO during COVID taught Jennifer about leadership and pivotingHow private practice prepares doctors for entrepreneurshipWhy AI and data literacy matter for physicians—without needing a tech backgroundHow to start advisory work without getting taken advantage ofThe role of incubators and health system innovation programsPractical ways physicians can explore non-clinical impact while staying groundedThis episode is especially relevant for physicians who feel ready for more impact, creativity, or system-level influence—but want to move intentionally. Chapters:00:00 – Why Physicians Belong in Innovation00:53 – Academic Medicine vs Private Practice Reality02:59 – Becoming CEO in January 202003:43 – Pivoting During COVID04:55 – Why an MBA (and Why MIT)06:05 – AI Isn’t Magic—It’s Math08:25 – Moving Into Health System Innovation10:45 – The Hidden Value of Physicians in Startups13:00 – How to Start Advisory Work17:59 – Avoiding Exploitation in Business21:56 – Defining and Pricing Your Value25:23 – Incubators, Accelerators & Health System Opportunities29:13 – Final Advice for Physicians Exploring What’s Next 🔗 Connect with Dr. Jennifer Miles-Thomas: www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermiles-thomas