Why Healthcare Startups Need Physicians Who Understand the System with Dr. Jennifer Miles-Thomas
Wed Feb 04 2026
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 Innovation
00:53 – Academic Medicine vs Private Practice Reality
02:59 – Becoming CEO in January 2020
03:43 – Pivoting During COVID
04:55 – Why an MBA (and Why MIT)
06:05 – AI Isn’t Magic—It’s Math
08:25 – Moving Into Health System Innovation
10:45 – The Hidden Value of Physicians in Startups
13:00 – How to Start Advisory Work
17:59 – Avoiding Exploitation in Business
21:56 – Defining and Pricing Your Value
25:23 – Incubators, Accelerators & Health System Opportunities
29:13 – Final Advice for Physicians Exploring What’s Next
🔗 Connect with Dr. Jennifer Miles-Thomas: www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermiles-thomas
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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 Innovation 00:53 – Academic Medicine vs Private Practice Reality 02:59 – Becoming CEO in January 2020 03:43 – Pivoting During COVID 04:55 – Why an MBA (and Why MIT) 06:05 – AI Isn’t Magic—It’s Math 08:25 – Moving Into Health System Innovation 10:45 – The Hidden Value of Physicians in Startups 13:00 – How to Start Advisory Work 17:59 – Avoiding Exploitation in Business 21:56 – Defining and Pricing Your Value 25:23 – Incubators, Accelerators & Health System Opportunities 29:13 – Final Advice for Physicians Exploring What’s Next 🔗 Connect with Dr. Jennifer Miles-Thomas: www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermiles-thomas