Welcome back to the Halo Health Podcast! In this episode, host Rupen, an oncologist and Halo Health fellow, sits down with Dr. Norm Silver, a seasoned pediatrician turned entrepreneur and the CEO of QDoc.

Dr. Silver shares his inspiring journey from practicing physician to founding QDoc, a virtual healthcare platform designed to provide equal access to quality medical care for all, regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic status. He delves into the challenges of starting a healthcare startup, the importance of finding trustworthy partners, and the steps he took to validate and build QDoc from the ground up.

Learn how Dr. Silver balances multiple ventures—including establishing the first urgent care clinic outside a hospital in Manitoba and creating a penicillin allergy clinic—while maintaining his medical practice and family life. He also offers valuable advice for physicians with entrepreneurial ideas, emphasizing the importance of mission, values, and company culture.

Don't miss this insightful conversation packed with lessons on mission-driven entrepreneurship, building a successful startup, and making a real difference in healthcare access.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction to the Halo Health Podcast and Guest Dr. Norm Silver

[00:41] Introducing Dr. Silver, CEO of QDoc

[01:16] Dr. Silver's Background and Journey into Entrepreneurship

[02:21] The Birth of QDoc and Its Mission for Equal Healthcare Access

[03:28] What is QDoc? Overview of the Virtual Healthcare Platform

[06:07] Starting QDoc: Finding a Co-Founder and Identifying Gaps

[07:54] Engaging with Startup Incubators and Validating the Idea

[10:01] Building the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for QDoc

[11:42] The Importance of Trust and Complementary Skills in Partnerships

[13:21] Seeking Advice from Experienced Entrepreneurs

[14:49] Risk Tolerance and Working for Free in Startups

[17:15] Previous Ventures: Preparing for QDoc

[23:35] Balancing Entrepreneurship, Practice, and Family Life

[25:39] The Importance of Company Mission, Values, and Culture

[30:50] Investing with Mission: Involvement with Halo Health

[36:30] Advice for Physicians with Entrepreneurial Ideas

In this episode of the HaloHealth podcast, join Dr. Roupen Odabashian as he interviews Dr. Thanasi Tsiodras, a leading physician in both medtech and healthtech innovation. Discover how Dr. Tsiodras transitioned from a 13-year career in emergency medicine to becoming an angel investor in the medtech space.

We dive deep into his journey, investment strategies, and the unique advantages of Halo Health's physician-led investment group. Learn how startups like RetinaLogic are shaping the future of healthcare, and gain expert insights into building successful healthtech ventures.

Don't miss out on this masterclass in medtech and healthtech investing!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:24 - Introducing Dr. Thanasi Tsiodras

01:18 - Early Career: Why Emergency Medicine?

02:23 - Advice for Aspiring Emergency Medicine Physicians

05:00 - Transition from Emergency Medicine to Angel Investing

07:34 - Involvement with Dialog and Learning about Startups

09:58 - Most Rewarding Aspect of Angel Investing

10:53 - Key Factors to Consider When Investing in Startups

12:29 - Expanding Beyond HealthTech: Investment Successes and Failures

14:03 - Clarifying Investment Terminology: Exit and Angel Investing

15:24 - Recommended Reading for Aspiring Angel Investors

16:30 - Introduction to Halo Health

17:42 - The Importance of Case-Based Learning in Angel Investing

20:00 - Personal Investment Strategies: Stocks vs. Startups

22:19 - Passion for Startups: Betting on Founders and Markets

22:41 - Favorite Startups from Halo Health: RetinaLogic

24:00 - What Makes Halo Health Unique

26:12 - Halo Health's Impact on Angel Investing

28:36 - Final Thoughts and Advice for Aspiring Angel Investors

29:26 - Joining a Live Event: The First Step into Angel Investing

HaloHealth Website: https://www.halohealth.ca

HaloHealth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/halohealthmd/mycompany/?viewAsMember=true

HaloHealth X: https://x.com/halohealthangel

#MedTech #HealthTech #HaloHealth #HealthcareInnovation #AngelInvesting #MedTechStartups #VentureCapital #DrThanasiTsiodras #PhysicianEntrepreneurs #HealthTechStartups #HaloHealthPodcast

Welcome to our latest episode of the HaloHealth MedTech Podcast! In this episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Jessa, a distinguished medical professional with over three decades of experience in health technology and innovation. As the Chief Medical Information Officer at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and a member of HaloHealth, Dr. Jessa shares his insights on the evolution of HealthTech, the challenges and opportunities in medical informatics, and how innovation is shaping the future of healthcare. Whether you're a healthcare professional, an aspiring innovator, or simply interested in the latest advancements in MedTech, this episode is packed with valuable information and inspiring stories. Tune in to learn more about the intersection of technology and medicine, and discover how you can contribute to the ever-evolving field of HealthTech.

00:00 - Introduction

01:13 - Dr. Jessa's Career and Role

01:50 - Motivation to Pursue Medical Informatics

05:26 - Advice for New Clinicians Interested in IT

09:39 - Gaps in Digital Health Solutions

10:13 - Communication and Information Processing in Healthcare

15:17 - Engaging Patients in Digital Health

17:26 - Challenges for Startups in HealthTech

22:00 - Joining Halo Health

24:24 - Investing in Startups

27:02 - Advice for Physicians on Startup Investments

28:15 - Final Thoughts and Closing

HaloHealth Website: https://www.halohealth.ca

HaloHealth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/halohealthmd/mycompany/?viewAsMember=true

HaloHealth X: https://x.com/halohealthangel

#HealthTech #MedTech #Innovation #HaloHealth #HealthcareInnovation #MedicalInformatics #DigitalHealth #Startups #AIinHealthcare #HealthTechnology #HealthcareTransformation #FutureOfMedicine