The Healthtech Podcast

PODCAST · health

The Healthtech Podcast

The Healthtech Podcast covers the latest in health and technology through interviews with disruptive healthtech startups and leaders. Whether you’re a patient, founder, investor or simply interested in healthtech, The Healthtech Podcast has it covered.🌍 Listeners in over 150 countries. 🎙 New episode every week.🗣 Hosted by Dr James Somauroo.www.thehealthtechpodcast.com | www.somx.health | www.jamessomauroo.com

  1. 456

    #446: Is AI giving clinicians empathy back? Dr Kishan Rees, from Bayer

    This week, James is joined by Dr Kishan Rees, Senior Director for Global Video & Digital Content Strategy at Bayer, to unpack why healthcare's communication problem is now its biggest patient-safety problem. They get into medical misinformation, why patients are turning to AI chatbots over clinicians, and what pharma can learn from broadcast journalism.Connect with Kishan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkishanrees/Learn more about Bayer: https://www.bayer.comApply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.com Subscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.com Get in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comThis podcast was brought to you by SomX.

  2. 455

    #445: Why is your wearable shaming you?

    This week, James is joined by Dr Tiril Elstad, medical doctor, yoga teacher, and founder and CEO of Endor Global, to explore why chronic stress may be our generation's biggest health risk - and why most wearables are making the problem worse. They get into the science of heart rate variability, the gap between data and actual behaviour change, and why the real opportunity in preventive health lies in reaching the middle 75%, not the biohacking elite.Connect with Tiril: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiril-elstad-1a547736/Learn more about Endor Global: https://www.endor.global/ Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comThis podcast was brought to you by SomX.

  3. 454

    #444: What does safe, clinical AI for mental health look like?

    This week, James is joined by Dr Clare Palmer, Director of Evidence Generation at ieso, to explore what happens when AI is purpose-built for mental health care - and why that's worlds apart from people typing their problems into ChatGPT. They discuss ieso's safety-constrained AI architecture, the striking fact that only half of people with depression or anxiety recover, and how agentic AI systems could move us towards precision mental health care at scale.Connect with Clare: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-palmer-phd-b752795a/Learn more about ieso: https://www.ieso.ai/ Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comThis podcast was brought to you by SomX.

  4. 453

    #443: The NHS has trust. AI doesn't. Now what?

    This week, James is joined by Ahmed Binesmael, Senior Improvement Analyst at the Health Foundation, to dig into what the British public actually thinks about AI in healthcare - and why the people most likely to benefit from healthtech are often the most sceptical of it. They explore the Health Foundation's latest survey data on trust, the NHS app's "doctor in your pocket" function, and why meaningful public engagement is the missing piece in the UK's fragmented AI strategy.Connect with Ahmed: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmed-binesmael-025b07225Learn more about The Health Foundation: https://www.health.org.ukApply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comThis podcast was brought to you by SomX.

  5. 452

    #442: Can ultrasound + AI predict premature births?

    In this episode, James is joined by Robert Bunn, Founder and President of Ultrasound AI, who shares an extraordinary story - from multiple failed startups and personal tragedy to building an AI that can predict actual delivery dates from standard ultrasound images. With a De Novo FDA clearance now in hand, Robert explains how the technology works, what the AI discovered that clinicians couldn't see, and why he's committed to making it available to every woman on earth regardless of ability to pay.Connect with Robert: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertbunn/Learn more about Ultrasound AI: https://www.ultrasound.aiApply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon : www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comThis podcast was brought to you by SomX.

  6. 451

    #441: Why Are So Many NHS Doctors Leaving for Healthtech?

    This week, James is joined by Dr Yath Prem, Medical Advisor at Flo Health and clinical product specialist, to talk about the growing wave of NHS doctors moving into healthtech - what's driving it, whether content creators are encouraging too many to leave, and what clinical product actually means in practice. They also dig into wearables, AI health assistants, and whether healthtech is genuinely solving problems or just adding to middle-class anxiety.Connect with Yath: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yathprem/Learn more about Flo Health: https://flo.health/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon : www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comThis podcast was brought to you by SomX.

  7. 450

    #440: From the 16th Century to AI, with Dr David Neal

    This week, James is joined by Dr David Neal, Assistant Professor at Amsterdam UMC and co-lead of the eHealth Living & Learning Lab (ELLLA), for a wide-ranging chat about what happens when technology disrupts a healing ritual that hasn't fundamentally changed since the 16th century. They explore why medicine is roughly 150 years behind in understanding the role of humans in healthcare, what that means for AI-driven care, and why the most effective healthtech products still fail if nobody thinks about adoption from day one...Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-david-neal/Learn more about ELLLA: https://ellla.amsterdamumc.nl/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comThis podcast was brought to you by SomX.

  8. 449

    #439: What 35 years inside the NHS taught Cisco's healthcare lead, Declan Hadley

    James welcomes Declan Hadley, the healthcare lead at Cisco, who shares his extensive experience in the NHS and health informatics. The conversation explores the evolution of healthcare technology, the importance of digitisation, and the role of AI in improving patient outcomes. Declan emphasizes the need for collaboration between startups and healthcare organizations, the significance of local ownership of AI, and the challenges of ensuring safety in rapidly changing technologies. He also reflects on his personal journey and the lessons learned from raising a successful son in the world of Fantasy Premier League (seriously).Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-somauroo/This podcast was brought to you by SomX.

  9. 448

    #438: Does design matter more than tech in healthcare?

    This week, James is joined by Ian Wharton, the co-founder and CEO of Aide Health, a design-led chronic disease management platform with retention rates 20x the sector average. In this episode, Ian makes the case that design - not technology - is the missing ingredient in digital health, explaining why only 3–4% of patients stick with health apps after 30 days and what Aide does differently to hit 70% retention at three months. We get into the role of conversational AI in behaviour change, why medication adherence remains one of healthcare's billion-pound unsolved problems, and how Aide's new patient-facing scribe Mirror was born from Ian's personal experience of his father's Alzheimer's diagnosis. We also discuss Aide's white paper on building trust in AI, why pursuing Class II regulation as a startup of six people is a statement of intent, and what the Meta glasses saga tells us about the trap of adopting technology just because it's within reach.Connect with Ian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianjwharton/Learn more about Aide Health: https://aide.health/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-somauroo/This podcast was brought to you by SomX.

  10. 447

    #437: The clinical trial system is broken and here’s why with Dr Elsa Zekeng from SökerData

    This week, James is joined by Dr. Elsa Zekeng, founder of SökerData who shares the story behind building a company tackling one of healthcare’s most persistent blind spots: biased and underrepresented clinical trial data. She discusses her journey from infectious disease research and frontline outbreak response during Ebola, to advising on COVID-19 vaccine uptake, and ultimately founding SökerData to aggregate more inclusive health datasets.Connect with Elsa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-elsa-zekeng-sokerdata/Learn more about SökerData: https://www.soker-data.com/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comThis podcast was brought to you by SomX.

  11. 446

    #436 Lessons from a healthcare investor with T.N. Giridhar from SSG capital

    In this episode of The Healthtech Podcast, Dr James Somauroo speaks with T.N. Giridhar, Managing Director and CEO of SSG Capital, an investment banker and venture capital investor with nearly 30 years of experience spanning public markets, Goldman Sachs-level M&A and early-stage VC. Giridhar draws on a career managing over $17 billion in transactions to argue that the quality of an investment outcome is determined almost entirely by the quality of the people behind the company, not the metrics, the market size or the business plan. The conversation covers the real reason most companies fail at the VC stage, the one question every founder should ask an investor before accepting their money, and why the NHS is repeating, at scale, the talent retention mistakes that investment banks identified and addressed decades ago.Learn more about T.N. Giridhar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/t-n-giridhar-9352602/Learn more about ssg capital: https://www.ssgcapital.uk/Learn more about SomX for your healthtech company:https://somx.health/Apply to be a guest on The Healthtech Podcast:https://www.thehealthtechpodcast.com/Subscribe to our newsletter, Healthtech Pigeon 🐦:https://www.healthtechpigeon.com/

  12. 445

    #435: Hidden barriers to healthtech adoption with Saira Ghafur from Prova Health

    This week, James is joined by Dr Saira Ghafur, respiratory consultant, health tech leader, and Co-Founder of Prova Health. She shares her journey from medical training in Scotland to NHS consultancy, policy fellowships at NHS England and in New York, and co-founding two health tech ventures. Saira discusses the realities of scaling digital health, generating credible evidence for innovation, and the challenges of regulating AI in healthcare.Connect with Saira: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-saira-g-943a1b1b/Learn more about Prova Health: https://www.provahealth.com/ Learn more about SomX for your healthtech company:https://somx.health/Apply to be a guest on The Healthtech Podcast: https://www.thehealthtechpodcast.com/Subscribe to our newsletter, Healthtech Pigeon 🐦:https://www.healthtechpigeon.com/

  13. 444

    #434 Vocal biomarkers: Detecting the unspoken with Kang Hsu from Canary Speech

    In this episode of The Healthtech Podcast, we’re joined by Kang Hsu, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Canary Speech, to explore the emerging field of vocal biomarkers and what they could mean for earlier disease detection.Speech is more than language. It is airflow, vocal cord vibration, neuromuscular control and cognitive processing in motion. Subtle acoustic features such as pitch variation, jitter, shimmer and timing patterns can reflect underlying physiological and neurological change.Can those signals help detect depression, anxiety, mild cognitive impairment or even early neurodegenerative disease?Kang brings a rare perspective. As a practising physician and former Chief Medical Informatics Officer within a major US health system, he led large-scale EHR implementations and AI deployments across a 50+ hospital network. He understands both the science and the realities of adoption at system level.This conversation covers:• What vocal biomarkers are and how they are measured• How 40 seconds of natural speech can generate thousands of acoustic data points• Clinical applications across behavioural health and neurology• Sensitivity, specificity and the limits of current evidence• What makes clinicians trust and adopt new AI tools• Why seamless workflow integration is critical for scaleLearn more about SomX for your healthtech company:https://somx.health/Apply to be a guest on The Healthtech Podcast:https://www.thehealthtechpodcast.com/Subscribe to our newsletter, Healthtech Pigeon 🐦:https://www.healthtechpigeon.com/

  14. 443

    #433: Skin+Me Founder, James Mishreki on consumer healthtech & how to get to £37M revenue

    This week, James is joined by James Mishreki, founder of Skin + Me, who shares the story behind building one of the UK’s fastest-growing personalised healthcare brands. He discussed the challenges of scaling a regulated DTC business, and how Skin + Me is tackling the dermatology access gap with clinical-grade care delivered directly to consumers.Connect with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmishreki/ Learn more about Skin + Me: https://www.skinandme.com/ Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comThis podcast was brought to you by SomX.

  15. 442

    #432: What clinicians really want, and need, from Healthtech with Lawrie Kidd from DrDoctor

    This week, James is joined by Lawrie Kidd, Consultant Anaesthetist at Gloucestershire Hospitals and Clinical Product Lead at DrDoctor, who shares a candid look at the pressures facing frontline clinicians and how healthtech can help.Connect with Lawrie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrie-kidd/Learn more about DrDoctor: https://www.drdoctor.co.uk/ Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comThis podcast was brought to you by SomX.

  16. 441

    #431 Neko: The Future of Healthcare? With Hjalmar Nilsonne, CEO

    This week, James is joined by Hjalmar Nilsonne, CEO and Co-Founder of Neko Health. With Hjalmar yielding the power to shape the future of healthcare, James asks all the big questions. Can Neko pull off their ambition? What will it take? What lessons have they learned along the way? What challenges lie in their way?Learn more about Neko: https://www.nekohealth.com/gb/enApply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comThis podcast was brought to you by SomX.

  17. 440

    #430 How NICE finds startups, with Tharni, Horizon Scanning Lead

    In this episode, we're joined by Tharni Vasavan, Horizon Scanning Senior Health Technology Lead at NICE, about how emerging health technologies are identified, evaluated, and prepared for the NHS. From her journey through women’s health research and startup life at Hertility to shaping national foresight on healthtech disruption, Tharni offers an inside glimpse of how innovation meets evidence.If you're working with AI that you think will be applicable in healthcare within the next 10 years, you can partake in NICE's horizon scanning with this form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=FNtA1T7OGE2t-3WmXoj3178lLN5iep1Aj4hJbvJXiDRUREs0Q1dVRFJTTTZHSU1HUllSSjYwVllRQS4uConnect with Tharni: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tharnithavasavan/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comThis podcast was brought to you by SomX.

  18. 439

    #429 How Microsoft is Powering the AI Era in Healthcare: Jacob West from Microsoft UK

    This week James is joined by Jacob West, Managing Director for Healthcare and Life Sciences at Microsoft UK, who shares insights on how Microsoft is leveraging AI to enhance healthcare in the UK.Connect with Jacob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-west-a519404/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comThis podcast was brought to you by SomX.

  19. 438

    #428 How to fix Global Health without a quantum computer: Madeleine Ballard from CHIC

    This week, James is joined on the podcast by Dr Madeleine Ballard, CEO of the Community Health Impact Coalition (CHIC). CHIC is a global movement making professional community health workers the norm worldwide by changing guidelines, funding, and policy.Connect with Madeleine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeleineballard/Learn more about CHIC: https://joinchic.org/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comThis podcast was brought to you by SomX.

  20. 437

    #427 Taking wearable biosensors to the next level: Rafaël Michali from Sava

    James is joined by Rafaël Michali, co-founder and co-CEO of SAVA. SAVA is redefining the way people interact with their health by developing the most advanced biosensing technology science has to offer, capable of accessing bodily information in a painless, real-time and affordable way.Connect with Rafaël: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafa%C3%ABl-michali-656136101/Learn more: https://www.sava.health/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.com

  21. 436

    #426 Outpatient care, reimagined from the ground up: Sam Winward from Pastel Health

    This week, James is joined on the podcast by Sam Winward, co-founder and CEO of Pastel Health. Pastel Health is an end-to-end outpatient clinic that supports Chronic pain sufferers referred from the NHS. The service aims to transform the experience for both patients and clinicians.Connect with Sam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelwinward/Learn more about Pastel: https://pastel-health.com/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comThis podcast was brought to you by SomX.

  22. 435

    #425 Is it unethical not to use AI in mental health care? (Part 2): Dr Ross Harper from Limbic

    In the second episode of this two-part series, James is joined by Dr. Ross Harper, CEO and co-founder of Limbic. Limbic is developing clinical-grade AI tools for mental health care, designed to be deployed in clinical settings. Their goal is to enhance the capacity of trained professionals and help meet the overwhelming demand for mental health services.Listen to Part 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7wTwZ1SjfFsjy4IKkcOIzEConnect with Ross: https://www.linkedin.com/in/refharper/Learn more: https://www.limbic.ai/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comChapters00:00 Introduction to Limbic and AI in Healthcare04:01 The Role of AI in Treatment09:28 ChatGPT vs. Clinical AI: The Debate16:49 Human + AI: A Better Care Model19:43 Scaling Mental Health Services with AI26:09 Adapting Healthcare Models for AI36:57 Ensuring Clinical Rigor in AI Solutions

  23. 434

    #424 Why content creation might be the next frontier for clinical impact: Oscar Ferguson from Deaku

    In this week’s episode, James is joined by Oscar Ferguson, co-founder of Deaku. Oscar is a doctor-turned-founder and award-winning creator and content strategist on a mission to make every creator’s life better. Deaku are building a connected workspace where creators, marketers, and production teams plan, collaborate, and grow - all in one place.Connect with Oscar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-oscar-ferguson/Learn more: https://www.deaku.app/homeApply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comChapters00:00 Introduction to Health Tech and Creator Economy05:59 The Value of Long-Form vs Short-Form Content11:53 The Emotional Toll of Medical Practice18:03 The Decision to Leave Medicine21:12 Building a New Career in Health Tech32:55 The Importance of Networking and Mentorship35:12 Learning from Failure in the Real World36:02 Creating Impactful Health Content41:12 Building a Community for Content Creators48:05 Innovating in the Creator Economy56:26 The Future of AI in Content Creation59:17 The Value of Human-Made Content01:00:03 AI in Video Generation: Gimmick or Utility?01:04:51 Misinformation and Responsibility in Health Content01:06:40 The Purpose of Content Creation01:17:11 The Dream of Content Creation01:19:08 Creative Fulfillment in Content Creation01:20:26 Building Community with Deaku01:27:36 Connecting with the Creator Community

  24. 433

    #423 Teaching AI to Predict the Future of Your Brain: Dr Hannah Madan from Prima Mente

    Hannah Madan joins us to share a rollercoaster journey of co-founding Prima Mente— an AI-driven neuroscience company building foundations models for the brain. This episode is packed with thought-provoking insights, including:— The biological hypothesis behind Prima Mente that "No one believed was true"— How Hannah made it by doing "just enough", not by being a top student— A baptism by fire— landing her first role as Chief of Staff and flying out for a YC launch party on her 25th birthday— Prima Mente's "Ecosystem plays" and atypical competitive strategies— Hannah's unique focus on the people she works with— deep personal understanding and fostering reflective behaviour — A decentralised vision for the future of healthcareConnect with Hannah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahmadan/Learn more: https://www.primamente.com/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.comChapters:00:00:00 Welcome to the Health Tech Podcast00:01:23 Uncovering Novel Biology in the Neurodegenerative Space00:02:03 Primemente's Integrated Approach: Clinical Studies, Wet Lab, and Machine Learning00:03:22 Early Life 00:04:38 Undergraduate Studies00:08:58 PhD Research: The Link Between Diet, Diabetes, and Bowel Cancer00:12:23 Chief of Staff at Cambridge Cancer Genomics (CCG) and YC00:15:10 CCG's Mission: Liquid Biopsies for Cancer Treatment Monitoring00:19:05 The Road to Prima Mente00:22:19 Establishing Team Culture: Communication, Self-Reflection, and Growth00:27:13 Scientific Hypothesis: Cell-Free DNA and Epigenetics in Neurodegenerative Conditions00:30:03 Technical Approach: Using Transformer Architecture and Foundation Models00:33:47 The Pleiades Model and Diagnostic Accuracy00:34:56 The Sandbox Study: Pushing for Earlier Diagnosis00:37:47 Future Strategy: Focusing on Novel Clinically Actionable Targets

  25. 432

    #422 Declan Kelly from Eolas Medical: The Untold Cost of Knowledge Gaps in Healthcare, and How to Fix Them

    This week, James is joined by Dr. Declan Kelly, founder of Eolas Medical, a platform tackling one of healthcare’s most overlooked problems: knowledge management.Eolas Medical helps clinicians access the right information instantly at the point of care. Used by NHS Trusts, clinical teams, and individual practitioners, the platform consolidates essential medical knowledge from trusted sources—guidelines, protocols, and internal documents—into one simple, intuitive system.Connect with Declan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/declan-kelly-484bb7187/Learn more: https://www.eolasmedical.com/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.com

  26. 431

    #421 Daniel Månsson from Flow Neuroscience: Is Electric Brain Stimulation as Effective as Antidepressants?

    In this week’s episode, James is joined by Daniel Mansson, Chief Clinical Officer and founder of Flow Neuroscience. Flow Neuroscience is Europe and UK's only medically approved brain stimulation headset and therapy app home treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).Connect with Daniel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielmanss/Learn more: https://www.flowneuroscience.com/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.com

  27. 430

    #420 Dan Jamieson from Biorelate: How AI is Discovering New Drugs Faster Than Ever

    In this week’s episode, James is joined by Dan Jamieson, CEO and founder of Biorelate. Biorelate helps scientists solve the most difficult biomedical challenges of today. They achieve this by providing the most comprehensive knowledge graph in biopharma, enabling better knowledge review, target and biomarker discovery.Connect with Mark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-jamieson-8498a33a/Learn more: https://biorelate.com/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.com

  28. 429

    #419 Mark Kendall from WearOptimo: How Micro-Needles Are Quietly Replacing Blood Draws

    In this week’s episode, James is joined by Professor Mark Kendall, biomedical engineer, inventor, scientist, entrepreneur and business-builder with more than 25 years of experience. Mark is now CEO and Founder of WearOptimo. With a vision to shift the focus of healthcare to early identification and intervention, WearOptimo’s sensors track real-time data from the body’s biomarkers to detect conditions ranging from dehydration to heart attacks.Connect with Mark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-af-kendall/Learn more: https://wearoptimo.com/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.com

  29. 428

    #418 Sonia Szamocki, CEO at 32Co: What if every GP had a specialist on speed dial?

    In this episode, James is joined by Dr. Sonia Szamocki - former A&E doctor, BCG consultant, and now founder & CEO of 32Co - to explore how healthcare can finally unlock the full potential of its clinical workforce. Sonia shares her journey from frontline medicine to building a platform that helps generalists deliver specialist-level care, starting with dentistry and now expanding into sleep medicine.Together, they dig into:Why modern treatments fail without the right flow of informationHow 32Co builds trust between generalists and specialistsThe hidden emotional and structural barriers to clinician adoptionWhy AI isn’t the whole answer - and where the human connection still mattersChapters00:00 Sonia's Journey: From Medicine to Entrepreneurship02:59 The Role of Technology in Healthcare05:56 Building a MedTech Solution for Patient Care08:56 Challenges in Healthcare Adoption12:03 Creating Access to Specialist Care14:56 The Importance of Human Connection in Healthcare18:08 Expanding into Sleep Health20:50 The Complexity of Healthcare Structures23:58 Trust and Information Flow in Healthcare32:47 Building Trust in Healthcare35:51 Innovations in Sleep Apnea Treatment41:10 Bridging Gaps in Healthcare46:01 The Role of AI in Healthcare01:00:40 Entrepreneurship Journey and Insights

  30. 427

    #417 Tomasz George from Freyr Health: What Does Real Longevity Science Look Like?

    In this week’s episode, James is joined by Tomasz George, co-founder and CEO of Freyr Health. Freyr Health believe everyone should own, control, and benefit from their medical data. Their platform unlocks the value of fragmented health records, enabling individuals and organisations to securely manage, share, and monetise health data on their own terms. By bridging the gap between global health systems and personal data ownership, they are building a new health economy that rewards patients, accelerates research, and drives better outcomes for all.Connect with Tomasz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomaszgeorge/Learn more:https://www.freyrhealth.com/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.com

  31. 426

    #416 Steve Roest from PocDoc: Is Point-of-Care Testing the Future of Preventative Health?

    In this week’s episode, James is joined by Steve Roest, co-founder and CEO of PocDoc. PocDocis is on a mission to transform how we detect and prevent chronic diseases—bringing diagnostics out of the lab and into the hands of the public. By combining proprietary smartphone-based blood testing with their digital health platform, PocDoc enables anyone to screen for conditions like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease—all with just a fingerprick of blood.Connect with Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveroest/Learn more: https://pocdoc.co/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.com

  32. 425

    #415 Rachel Murphy from The Grafter: How Founders Can Grow, Raise, and Exit The Smart Way

    In this week’s episode, James is joined by Rachel Murphy, founder of The Grafter, a consultancy that helps entrepreneurs maximise the value of their businesses ahead of an exit. Rachel shares her extensive experience in building and successfully exiting healthcare companies, offering practical insights on what founders should focus on. Connect with Rachel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachthegrafter/Learn more: https://thegrafter.com/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.com

  33. 424

    #414 Olivia Burns from Hypoplas: What Startups Get So Wrong About ‘Patient-Centric’ Design

    In this week’s episode, James is joined by Olivia Burns, Founder of Hypoplas, a company on a mission to redesign the hospital gown to be more sustainable, dignified, and cost-effective for patients. Her mission is to drive sustainable innovation in healthcare by improving both patient care and system integration. Connect with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doctorodonovan/Contact Olivia: [email protected] more: https://www.hypoplas.com/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.com

  34. 423

    #413 James O’ Donovan from CHIC: Why the Future of Healthcare Starts with Community Health Workers

    In this week’s episode, James is joined by Dr. James O’Donovan, Head of Research at the Community Health Impact Coalition (CHIC). CHIC is a global movement working to ensure community health workers are recognised as essential, salaried professionals. Their mission is to transform healthcare systems by scaling high-impact, community-led models and driving policy change through evidence, advocacy, and grassroots leadership.Connect with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doctorodonovan/Learn more: https://joinchic.org/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.com

  35. 422

    #412 Aashima Gupta from Google Cloud: Can AI fix healthcare? Unpacking tech change at scale

    This week, James is joined by Aashima Gupta, global director of healthcare strategy and solutions at Google Cloud. With 26 years of experience growing, differentiating, and improving businesses through technology transformation, Aashima is passionate about collaborating with and empowering companies to elevate the strategic value delivered to their ecosystem - ranging from new models for care, revenue generation, and improved patient experiences. Aashima also leads the GenAI strategy for Healthcare industry at Google Cloud by navigating the dynamic intersection of industry needs and new technologies to make healthcare more accessible. Connect with Aashima: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aashimagupta/Apply to be a guest: https://www.thehealthtechpodcast.com/Subscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: https://www.healthtechpigeon.com/Get in touch with James: https://www.jamessomauroo.com/

  36. 421

    #411 Dr Ross Harper from Limbic: Is It Unethical Not to Use AI in Mental Health Care? (Part 1)

    In the first episode of this two-part series, James is joined by Dr. Ross Harper, CEO and co-founder of Limbic. Limbic is developing clinical-grade AI tools for mental health care, designed to be deployed in clinical settings. Their goal is to enhance the capacity of trained professionals and help meet the overwhelming demand for mental health services.Connect with Ross: https://www.linkedin.com/in/refharper/Learn more: https://www.limbic.ai/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.com

  37. 420

    #410 Lara Lewington from the BBC: How is AI Shaping the Future of Medicine?

    This week, James is joined by Lara Lewington, technology broadcaster, journalist, and AI commentator. Lara has presented a variety of programmes across ITV and BBC, including fifteen years on the BBC's flagship technology show, Click. Her book 'Hacking Humanity', published in July 2025, is the ultimate guide to the tech-driven health revolution we are approaching. Learn more: https://www.laralewington.com/Apply to be a guest: https://www.thehealthtechpodcast.com/ Subscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: https://www.healthtechpigeon.com/Get in touch with James: https://www.jamessomauroo.com/

  38. 419

    #409 Charles Nduka from Emteq: How Can Health Wearables Reconnect Us With Ourselves?

    This week, James is joined by Charles Nduka, founder and CSO of Emteq, a leader in the development of wearable technology that monitors and translates human facial expressions in real-world settings. Charles is a leading facial musculature expert with over 20 years of surgical experience, including 10 years as a Consultant Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon. He has an extensive background in research and development, including clinical trials, over 100 scientific publications, and is the Medical Advisory Board chair for the charity Facial Palsy UK. Connect with Charles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-nduka-53055218/Learn more: https://www.emteqlabs.com/Apply to be a guest: https://www.thehealthtechpodcast.com/Subscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: https://www.healthtechpigeon.com/Get in touch with James: https://www.jamessomauroo.com/

  39. 418

    #408 First Look: Open AI cuts diagnostic errors by 16%. Or does it?

    When OpenAI and Penda Health dropped a preprint claiming their “AI Consult” tool cut diagnostic errors by 16% in Kenyan clinics, headlines lit up across healthtech. But veteran digital‑health researcher Dr Paul Wicks spotted the cracks.00:00 Introduction to OpenAI's Preprint and Its Significance05:55 Understanding Preprints and Their Impact on Research11:58 Evaluating the Methodology and Results of the Study18:01 The Importance of Trust and Transparency in AI Research23:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts on AI's Role in Medicine29:50 Randomized Control Trials and Their Importance36:47 Building Trust in AI Systems43:05 The Need for Transparency in AI Development

  40. 417

    #407 Christoph Lippuner from Semble: What does it Really Take to Build Healthcare Software That Works?

    This week, James is joined by Christoph Lippuner, CEO and co-founder of Semble, a clinically robust EHR and practice management system for private healthcare providers. Semble is on a mission to enable health professionals to amplify their impact by simplifying daily operations across scheduling, billing and reporting. Connect with Christoph: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christoph-lippuner-9a0b6951/Learn more: https://www.semble.io/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.com

  41. 416

    #7 How to Get Into Healthtech: Dr James Somauroo - CEO, Podcaster, Healthcare Communications

    On the final episode of the "How to Get Into Healthtech" mini-series, Dr James Somauroo and Dr Keith Grimes sit down to reflect on the series conversations and share where they would begin if starting their careers today. Connect with Keith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkeithgrimes/Connect with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-somauroo/ Apply to be a guest: https://www.thehealthtechpodcast.com/ Subscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: https://www.healthtechpigeon.com/Learn more about SomX for your healthtech company at somx.health

  42. 415

    #6 How to Get Into Healthtech: Dr Dave Triska - GP Partner, Digital Care Expert, Clinical Consultant

    In the sixth episode of the "How to Get Into Healthtech" mini-series, Curistica's Dr Keith Grimes is joined by Dr Dave Triska, GP Partner and digital health leader. As Digital Lead for Surrey Heartlands, Dave has driven region-wide transformation projects to modernise care and improve outcomes. Dave has mentored over 100 practices through their digital journeys, bringing a rare blend of clinical insight and tech expertise to healthtech at scale.Connect with Dave: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-triska-b807239b/  Get in touch with Keith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkeithgrimes/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comLearn more about SomX for your healthtech company at somx.health

  43. 414

    #5 How to Get Into Healthtech: Dr Josh Au Yeung - Neurology Registrar, Clinical Lead, Dev&Doc Podcast Host

    On the fifth episode of our "How to Get Into Healthtech" mini-series, Curistica's Dr Keith Grimes is joined by Dr Josh Au Yeung. Passionate about both biological and artificial neurons, Josh is a neurology registrar at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and a clinical lead at TORTUS AI. He also hosts the Dev&Doc podcast, where he brings together doctors and developers to unlock the potential of AI in healthcare.Connect with Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-joshua-auyeung/Get in touch with Keith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkeithgrimes/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comLearn more about SomX for your healthtech company at somx.health

  44. 413

    #406 First Look: Voyagers launches UK healthtech festival 'THE FIX'

    On the third episode of our 'First Look' series, James is joined by Joe Rowan, Chief of Staff at the Voyagers, a community based organisation that brings together people from across climate tech and healthtech to drive impact. The Voyagers have launched the UK's healthtech festival 'THE FIX' coming to Harwell Science Campus, Oxford in September 2025. Learn more: https://thefix.io/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comLearn more about SomX for your healthtech company at somx.health

  45. 412

    #405: First Look: 'NHS 10 Year Plan' goes big on AI

    James and Liam discuss the NHS 10-Year Plan, focusing on its core shifts towards community care, digital transformation, and preventative health. They explore the integration of AI and technology in healthcare, the challenges and critiques of the plan, and its implications for healthtech startups.Connect with Liam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-d-cahill/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comLearn more about SomX for your healthtech company at somx.health

  46. 411

    #404 David Buller from KELES: How to Achieve Successful NHS Procurement

    This week, James is joined by David Buller, Managing Partner at KELES, a VC firm investing in European growth-stage digital health companies. David's career spans from being a healthtech entrepreneur to leading a venture capitalist firm in digital health. With a proven track record in business building, strong investment returns, and an extensive international network, David has a unique ability to identify world-class innovations to deliver robust returns in the global market. Learn more: https://keles.care/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.com

  47. 410

    #403 First Look: NHS Cracks Down on Ambient Scribes, Curistica Launches New Tech

    On the first episode of our "First Look" series, James is joined by Digital Health Consultant and Founder of Curistica, Dr Keith Grimes. Keith shares the latest on Curistica's recent partnership with X-on Health and TORTUS to deploy AI clinical tools across 3,500+ UK GP practices. Connect with Keith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkeithgrimes/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comLearn more about SomX for your healthtech company at somx.health

  48. 409

    #402 Dr Mustafa Sultan from Anterior: Why The Future of Healthtech Depends on Taking Risks

    This week, James is joined by Dr Mustafa Sultan, Clinical AI and Growth Lead at Anterior and host of the Big Picture Medicine podcast. From working as an Emergency Department doctor in the NHS, Mustafa uses his clinical and technological expertise to support Anterior on their mission to build an AI platform that reduces the administrative burden on clinicians. Learn more: https://www.anterior.com/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comGet in touch with James: www.jamessomauroo.com

  49. 408

    #4 How to Get Into Healthtech: Dr Lucinda Scharff, Doctor, Teaching Fellow, Digital Transformation

    In the fourth episode of the "How to Get Into Healthtech" mini-series, Curistica's Dr Keith Grimes is joined by Dr Lucinda Scharff, Senior Clinical Specialist at Google. Starting her career as a doctor at London North West University Healthcare Trust and having held product management roles at Pando and Google Deepmind, Lucinda has extensive US and UK healthcare and product experience. She now provides clinical leadership to product and engineering teams building pioneering products to improve health at scale.Connect with Lucinda: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucindascharff/Get in touch with Keith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkeithgrimes/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comLearn more about SomX for your healthtech company at somx.health

  50. 407

    #3 How to Get Into Healthtech: Dr Arrash Yassaee – Doctor, Academic, Healthtech Transformation

    In the third episode of the "How to Get Into Healthtech" mini-series, Curistica’s Dr. Keith Grimes is joined by Dr. Arrash Yassaee, Deputy Director of MedTech Innovation at NHS England. A passionate advocate for transforming healthcare through evidence-based innovation, Arrash has led clinical safety and R&D for multiple Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) products, supporting millions of patients worldwide. His extensive experience spans national roles in policy development, workforce optimisation, and large-scale transformation projects, and he has overseen digital health research across three continents.Get in touch with Arrash: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-arrash/Get in touch with Keith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkeithgrimes/Apply to be a guest: www.thehealthtechpodcast.comSubscribe to Healthtech Pigeon 🐦: www.healthtechpigeon.comLearn more about SomX for your healthtech company at somx.health

Type above to search every episode's transcript for a word or phrase. Matches are scoped to this podcast.

Searching…

We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.

No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.

Showing of matches

No topics indexed yet for this podcast.

Loading reviews...

ABOUT THIS SHOW

The Healthtech Podcast covers the latest in health and technology through interviews with disruptive healthtech startups and leaders. Whether you’re a patient, founder, investor or simply interested in healthtech, The Healthtech Podcast has it covered.🌍 Listeners in over 150 countries. 🎙 New episode every week.🗣 Hosted by Dr James Somauroo.www.thehealthtechpodcast.com | www.somx.health | www.jamessomauroo.com

HOSTED BY

Dr. James Somauroo

CATEGORIES

URL copied to clipboard!