15 Minutes With The Doctor: Learn from Healthcare Entrepreneurs and Innovators

On this episode, Caroline Allen joins the show, they discuss how Apricity is forging a new future for those seeking fertility treatments in the UK. She introduces her career in midwifery and how she made the move to Head of Growth at Apricity. Apricity is the UK’s first virtual fertility clinic using tech to improve fertility outcomes. They blend some of the valued aspects of remote care and technology to improve outcomes, collect valuable additional data, provide expert support with clinical advisors through the app and have improved transparency on pricing. With their patient-centric approach, they have improved success rates to 50%. The conversation bridges personal stories and professional insights in fertility innovation. Discover: How Caroline began working for the UK’s first virtual fertility clinic How her experience in birth reflections for the NHS led her to Apricity How her passion for making impact led her to the start-up world What kinds of challenges she dealt with working in the NHS How Apricity helps democratise the best fertility care How reducing life disruptions with online care can increase success rates How the Apricity app provides a comprehensive care plan with on-hand advisors How they offer unlimited counselling whether online or face-to-face How they partner with clinics to offer on and offline care How their virtual clinics give them the ability to offer 12-hour care from advisors across the world How their patented app was developed in-house to track treatment from start to finish Guest: Caroline Allen Website: www.apricityfertility.com Host: Dr Vinay Shankar Website: https://www.oncedaily.co Podcast: 15 Minutes With The Doctor

On this episode, Vinay is joined by founder of Limbic, Ross Harper, who has a PhD in computational neuroscience. Limbic enhances mental health care by assisting providers to manage and support demand for mental health services through AI-driven tools. It can prioritise need, from more routine aspects to serious issues, by applying machine learning to user inputs like questionnaires. Ultimately, the platform improves access to services and the patient journey. In a Series A funding round, they raised $14 million for product development and U.S expansion. The platform has been adopted by 40% of NHS talking therapies. Discover: How Ross started his career studying Natural Sciences at Cambridge How his PhD began his research in computational neuroscience How he started Limbic because of his fascination with finding out if machine learning can help understand how the brain works How his past connects him to a music career and advertising How he began and raised investment for Limbic.ai How he developed Limbic.ai to tackle a lack of clinicians in the mental health space How mental health support has become a global problem How they developed two main products – Limbic Access and Limbic Care How Limbic Access has been adopted by 40% of NHS Talking Therapies How Limbic is designed to save time without compromising the quality of care How they are first and only class two medical device for mental health How they are using the product to provide further research How they’re partners are helping them improve the mental health sector Guest: Ross Harper Website: https://www.limbic.ai/ Host: Dr Vinay Shankar Website: https://www.oncedaily.co Podcast: 15 Minutes With The Doctor

On this episode, Caitlin Baltzer, CEO and Co-founder of MYndspan helps us imagine a world where access to information on how our brain works is at our fingertips. MYndspan is a platform which uses a unique brain scanning technology called magnetoencephalography or more easily known as the MEG scanner. This non-invasive, millimetre-accurate scanning can offer a new perspective on brain function. The data can provide early detection for neurodegenerative illnesses and also provide new intelligence for personalised day-to-day brain health interventions. We start the journey with Caitlin with her banking career in Toronto. Discover: How working on due diligence of a new technology led her to MEG How she began learning about magnetoencephalography or MEG How joining the manufacturer of the brain scanner after their acquisition led to MYndspan How the MEG scanner is more effective than an MRI at diagnosing ‘invisible injuries’ such as neural trauma How MYndspan is being expanded for general use in the UK and Canada How MYndspan appointments can give you a comprehensive view of your brain functioning How MYndspan can visualise information for effective lifestyle changes How 40% of dementias could be preventable using MEG How people can use the information to make effective interventions How their goal is to partner with research institutions How they’re currently setting up a London site for 100% accessibility Guest: Caitlin Baltzer Website: https://myndspan.com/ Host: Dr Vinay Shankar Website: https://www.oncedaily.co Podcast: 15 Minutes With The Doctor

On this episode, Srinivas Arka joins the show. He is a philosopher, author and renowned speaker who focuses on achieving a state of well-being by addressing our mental, physical and spiritual health. Highly regarded for his talks, books, and workshops internationally, Srinivas Arka has also founded the Centre For Conscious Awareness charities worldwide. He has developed a unique form of intuitive meditation called Arka Dhyana, which helps us understand our true selves and reach our highest potential. In this special episode, Srinivas Arka shares his unique and holistic style to approaching health, he explains why a different system of meditation was developed and its benefits, we discuss his perspective on the role of technology in health, and how entrepreneurs can succeed while making a positive impact in the world. Discover: How he advocates a holistic approach to health and wellness How he emphasises the value of personal responsibility for good health How listening to the body and engaging the mind improves mental and physical health How he advocates for not only an engaged mind, but engagement in nature How technology should be balanced with human interaction His thoughts on the potential risks of an over-dependence on technology How focussing on the service and value that products offer is the key, which leads to profit and investment How enjoying the process and journey can lead to happiness for entrepreneurs How finding fulfilment can build lasting relationships in the working world How identifying gaps in the market and offering your unique insight can lead to impactful solutions How harnessing your potential and purpose are key to achieving happiness and success How his holistic techniques drawing on natural living, yoga and dhyana are integral to life and the business world Guest: Srinivas Arka Website: Centre For Conscious Awareness Host: Dr Vinay Shankar Website: https://www.oncedaily.co Podcast: 15 Minutes With The Doctor

Imagine a platform where technology and compassionate care converge. This episode is a deep dive into that very space. We're joined by Ani, the visionary founder of Vann, a cancer support app created from her own personal experience. Incubated at Oxford University Innovation, Vann combines support for patients during and after diagnosis. The platform provides not only support and information for patients, but for any individual or group looking to signpost anyone who wants to understand how to manage their relationship with someone who has cancer. The app gathers data that is also used to track the impact of treatments with the possibility of giving researchers what they need know to engineer new treatments. Discover: Ani’s background in forestry, international relations and business How she was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer after been accepted to Said Business School, Oxford University How she started Vann after a second diagnosis of cancer in 2019 How she began Vann to contribute to cancer research and create a community for sufferers How much she has learnt about herself and her community with the advent of the illness How she established the Ani Haykuni Cancer Treatment Support Foundation in her home country of Armenia How Vann is designed to be a bridge between patients, previous sufferers, and stakeholders such as research organisations, biotech, pharma and hospitals How the app provides motivational material based on diagnosis and treatment How their user surveys provide insights for future cancer research How the platform encourages small acts of kindness for sufferers and supporters How the future of Vann is collaborations with research teams and organisations that involve their users How they plan to use the data to align users with similar experience to further their research How they’re working to increase visibility of cancer clinical trials How she applied and was successful with an incubator program at Oxford University Innovation How they have and continue to receive funding to expand Vann Guest: Ani Haykuni Website: www.thevann.com Host: Dr Vinay Shankar Website: https://www.oncedaily.co Podcast: 15 Minutes With The Doctor

On this episode, practising orthopaedic surgeon and founder of Touch Surgery, Ad Gandhe joins the show to discuss Amodisc, his latest venture. This conversation cuts deep into healthcare transformation through technology, as we uncover the story behind a platform designed to educate various grades of surgeons on complex surgeries. Born out of necessity, the platform tackles the post-pandemic hurdles surgical trainees face and supports professionals in lower income countries. It leverages easy accessible tech, new frontiers like holographic images and AI, to progress learning. But ultimately, it seeks to improve surgical outcomes worldwide. Discover: How Ad Gandhe, an orthopaedic surgeon started his first app, Touch Surgery in 2010 How the difficulty in accessing education as a surgical trainee prompted the idea for Touch Surgery How as a consultant he found himself looking into technology like Photoshop and animation to help trainees learn anatomy How a prompt from his wife, showed him the potential in developing an app How the release of the iPhone 3 started his learning curve in app development How Touch Surgery gained 100K downloads after its release How he exited Touch Surgery, to discover new ways to innovate in the sector How democratising surgical knowledge is one of his main passions How a low-tech smartphone solution became the centre of Amodisc How Amodisc builds on products like HoloLens and MetaQuest to create realistic simulators How they’re putting together tissue simulators, that are so realistic, dogs can’t resist them! How these types of simulations can and will improve psychomotor skills How simulations are essential for mental rehearsal that builds neural networks for surgeons and trainees How even as a surgeon, creativity and innovation are preferable to sleep! Guest: Ad Gandhe Website: http://www.amodisc.com/ Host: Dr Vinay Shankar Website: https://www.oncedaily.co Podcast: 15 Minutes With The Doctor

On this episode, Ravi Janapureddy joins the show to discuss his latest venture, Resony Health. It’s a response to his own experience of burnout working as a financial consultant. Vinay navigates through the creation of Resony, a software as medical device platform that promises to improve accessibility to mental health services. The app, backed by some of the best elements of cognitive behavioural therapy, offers users a 6-week programme to manage anxiety, reduce stress and build resilience. Ravi is no stranger to entrepreneurship, with his disruptive mindset, he has begun several ventures including a farm to fork agribusiness and a perinatal mental health company. Discover: How Ravi began Resony Health after a career in financial consulting How his own burnout led to his committing his career to tackling mental health How Resony Health provides a simple evidence-based 6-week mental health programme to reduce anxiety Why out of around 25K mental health apps, Resony is one of the few undergone regulatory scrutiny as a medical device How his passion for accessibility drives his work How the core of accessibility is to support a digital approach so clinicians can more easily priortise moderate to severe cases How CBT and body-based work have become its core How users can measure and monitor their program using validated clinical questionnaires How Ravi chose clinical outcomes over business models that encouraged long-term subscriptions How Resony Health is the first digital therapeutic company to be issued with a research recommendation from the NHS How Resony Health has secured clinical outcomes at a tenth of the cost of mainstream therapy Guest: Ravi Janapureddy Website: https://www.resony.health/ Host: Dr Vinay Shankar Website: https://www.oncedaily.co Podcast: 15 Minutes With The Doctor

On this episode, Kaleigh Hartigan, CEO and founder who has created fertility mapper joins the show. It’s powered by user reviews and provides clarity to those seeking fertility treatments. Kaleigh also reveals their newest tool to help those pursuing NHS support for fertility. The NHS IVF tool, breaks down complex criteria, to offer any person who needs it a comprehensive understanding of their eligibility for NHS treatment. Having worked extensively in the NHS and also the WHO before developing Fertility Mapper, she advised private equity firms on health investments. Going on to adult social care, her experience, seeing those struggling to find support, prompted her entrepreneurial streak. Hear about her previous roles and learnings, how their platform empowers people looking for fertility support, how they built and plan to grow in the future. Discover: How Kayleigh began a 20-year stint in health, including roles at WHO and with NHS England How she began Fertility Mapper to empower people on their fertility journey Why she developed an NHS IVF eligibility calculator & the fertility clinic review system How her work in private equity revealed the different players in the delivery of healthcare Why she decided not to move into chronic conditions despite her experience in digital health What the process of finding and receiving fertility treatment looks like for most patients How the Fertility Mapper website provides people with a cadre of support and information How Fertility Mapper seeks personalised feedback from patients on their fertility journey How they structure their patient feedback through a review and metric system How Fertility Mapper reviews are raising standards at Fertility Clinics How they’re creating a system of financial transparency in clinics How they’re deciphering policy documents for universal access to fertility treatment Her thoughts on digital and the women’s health arena What the future of her product and its uses in other areas of health Guest: Kaleigh Hartigan Website: www.fertilitymapper.com Host: Dr Vinay Shankar Website: https://www.oncedaily.co Podcast: 15 Minutes With The Doctor

On this episode, we have CEO Bruce Elliot from Memory Lane games. It all started as a chat in a humble pub with his co-founder, where they began to discuss their own mothers and how much joy they gained from reminiscing over old photos. Recognising the value of conversation for those with dementia and cognitive decline, they have utilised a gamification model with photos and images in an app. Learn about the journey to over 50k downloads and users in 100 countries, how they can utilise digital biomarkers in neurological conditions, how working with the Mayo clinic in the USA is helping to scale the platform and the story behind their popular game about the iconic London underground. Discover: How Bruce’s wisdom was developed during the dot.com boom How visual, cognitive, and emotional stimuli is connected to fine motor skills How stimulating memories on Vancouver and Sheffield, led to over 3000 games for those with dementia How users can search for recognisable cities from across the world to use the app How their premium service uses family photos and data How collaborating with the Alzheimer Association helped them test and modify the app How the games are designed to encourage conversation, not high scores How an elderly patient was able to overcome a traumatic experience using the app How the app can maintain or reduce the severity of symptoms in patients How collaborations with Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University is scaling their product How the app can track deteriorations in users with 7 clinical data points How their game play data has the potential to serve as healthcare data for early interventions How hyper-personalisation is what keeps the app competitive Guest: Bruce Elliot LinkedIn: Memory Lane Games Website: https://memorylanegamesdirect.com/ Host: Dr Vinay Shankar Website: https://www.oncedaily.co Podcast: 15 Minutes With The Doctor

On this episode, CEO and co-founder Kelly Klifa joins the show to discuss Ally Health. It’s a company that uses digital scheduling with a track and trace type system to bring clinical care to the home. No stranger to entrepreneurship, she is the founder of Testing for All, a company with an annual turnover of £29 million, which became the leading Covid-19 platform for connecting laboratories and home testing. They started with just one partner, and ended with eight labs processing between 8K and 10K tests a day. Ally Health utilises a similar tech to ensure that community nursing workflow is optimised replacing traditional systems that meet demand with less efficiently. It also brings the ability for patients to have real-time updates about their nursing visits. Discover: How Kelly developed her first successful venture, Testing for All through the pandemic How her mission to make Testing for All accessible and affordable succeeded How they built real-time integrations across the logistical journey for transparency How the development of Testing for All and the experience of Covid-19 led to the creation of Ally Health How the limits of remote healthcare and the importance of nursing led them to Ally Health How Ally Health can replace an inefficient paper-based system for mobile and community nursing How they created a platform to aggregate nurses and create an on-demand scheduling system How their solution can help support nurses with their workload by helping to get nurses in the right places which suit their competences How homebound patients are now able to track their nurse visits with up-to-date visibility How for agency nurses the platform creates a ‘gig economy’ to improve their access to work How the platform is reducing admin work in the NHS How their current pathways include preventative medicine and preoperative care How they’re moving towards offering a supply-based resource search for nursing Guest: Kelly Klifa LinkedIn: Ally Health Website: Ally Health Host: Dr Vinay Shankar Website: https://www.oncedaily.co Podcast: 15 Minutes With The Doctor