From Stethoscopes to AI: How Technology is Transforming Healthcare

In our latest podcast episode, we had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Michael Curren, a non-invasive cardiologist and medical informaticist, who shared his unique journey from a small town in Pennsylvania to becoming a pioneer in healthcare technology innovation.

A Legacy of Care

Growing up in Warren, Pennsylvania, Dr. Curren was inspired by his grandfather, a family physician whose impact on the community left an indelible mark. "I would walk around, and people would say 'your grandfather delivered me, he did this, he took off this mole.' I realized the impact that a person could have on other people in the community just by providing care to them," Dr. Curren recalls.

Bridging Medicine and Technology

While maintaining an active cardiology practice, Dr. Curren discovered a passion for medical informatics – the intersection of healthcare and technology. His motivation? Making a broader impact on patient care beyond the exam room. "There's more to delivering care on an individual level," he explains. "You can impact a lot more people through technology and healthcare IT."

The Power of Asking Questions

Dr. Curren's path to informatics began with curiosity. "I just asked questions," he says. What started as participation in EHR focus groups evolved into a career in medical informatics he "never anticipated" when starting as an intern in 2013. His advice for others interested in the field? "Never say no to an opportunity to ask a question or participate in a content review session."

Technology's Promise in Healthcare

When discussing the future of healthcare technology, Dr. Curren's excitement is palpable. He highlights several transformative developments:

• Patient portal scheduling breaking down access barriers

• Wearable devices enabling early diagnosis

• AI-powered tools helping manage and analyze patient data

• Virtual assistants supporting clinical decision-making

The Human Element Remains Central

Despite his enthusiasm for technology, Dr. Curren emphasizes that the human element of healthcare isn't going anywhere. "I'm not fearful of technology taking my job or really any clinical person's job," he states. Instead, he sees technology augmenting healthcare professionals, allowing them to focus on more complex cases and deliver better care.

A Timeless Mission

Dr. Curren closes with a powerful reminder about healthcare's fundamental purpose: "Focus on what we are trying to do, which is create better health for people, whether they are healthy and want to remain healthy, or if they are sick and want to get healthy again."

He draws a fascinating parallel between modern healthcare innovation and the invention of the stethoscope by a French physician-musician in the early 1800s. This historical example illustrates how combining different expertise – whether music and medicine then, or clinical practice and technology now – can lead to transformative healthcare innovations.

Looking Forward

While acknowledging challenges, particularly around data security, Dr. Curren remains optimistic about healthcare's future. His vision is one where technology enhances rather than replaces the human touch in medicine, enabling healthcare providers to deliver better, more accessible care to all.

Key Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction and welcome
00:22 - Mike's background and journey to medicine
02:14 - Decision to become a cardiologist
04:15 - Impact of medical informatics on healthcare
06:34 - How healthcare initiatives are developed
14:36 - Exciting developments in healthcare technology
16:36 - Discussion of wearable medical devices
20:08 - Future of AI assistance in healthcare
27:20 - Concerns about healthcare technology
29:34 - Closing thoughts on patient-focused care

From Professional Cyclist to Paleo Advocate: A Conversation with Trevor Connor

In a recent episode of the Bionic Health podcast, Dr. Jared Pelo sat down with Trevor Connor, a former professional cyclist turned nutrition expert, to discuss the transformative power of whole-food nutrition and the often-misunderstood principles of the Paleo diet.

An Unexpected Journey to Paleo

Trevor’s story begins with skepticism. As a professional cyclist trained in traditional sports nutrition—which emphasized consuming maximum simple sugars—he initially rejected the Paleo diet concepts taught by Dr. Loren Cordain at Colorado State University. "I sat there in the class, just angry because everything he was teaching me, I'm like, yeah, this is wrong," Trevor recalls.

However, after spending a summer trying to disprove Cordain's teachings through research, Trevor found himself gradually accepting the evidence. The real breakthrough came when he adopted the diet himself: at age 39, after previously retiring from professional cycling, he returned to racing and achieved a top-10 national ranking at age 40.

Debunking the "Simple Sugar" Myth

One of the most significant shifts in Trevor’s understanding came from challenging the conventional wisdom about carbohydrates and simple sugars. While traditional sports nutrition advocated for 65-70% carbohydrate diets, Trevor discovered that focusing on healthy fats and eliminating simple sugars improved both his performance and overall health.

"When I switched to the Paleo diet, [frequent illnesses] went away. I just stopped getting sick," Trevor explains, highlighting how his body responded to the dietary change.

Making Paleo Accessible

Trevor emphasizes that the Paleo diet isn't about rigid rules but rather about eating foods that align with our evolutionary history:

• Abundant fruits and vegetables

• High-quality meats and fish

• Nuts and seeds

• Minimal processed foods

• Limited or no grains and dairy

He stresses that the diet's success lies in its focus on nutrient density rather than just calorie counting. "When you are eating less processed foods, when you're eating fruits, vegetables, high-quality meats, fish, they're packed with nutrients," Trevor explains.

The Hunger-Nutrient Connection

One of the most fascinating insights Trevor shares is about the relationship between hunger and nutrient deficiency. He suggests that many people overeat because their bodies are seeking specific nutrients rather than just calories. "When we are hungry, our body's usually saying, I need this nutrient or I need that nutrient," he explains, noting how people often find themselves consuming fewer calories but feeling more satisfied when eating nutrient-dense foods.

Practical Tips for Transition

Trevor advocates for a gradual approach to dietary changes, comparing it to athletic training: "If you have a new athlete that's coming off the couch, the thing you would never do with them is say, okay, I'm going to give you a Tour de France athlete's training plan."

His recommendations for getting started include:

1. Begin by adding healthy foods rather than focusing on elimination

2. Start with fruits and vegetables

3. Incorporate higher quality meats

4. Allow time for taste preferences to adjust

5. Make gradual changes rather than dramatic overhauls

The 90/10 Rule

Importantly, Trevor dismisses the need for absolute perfectionism in following the diet. "When anybody tries to be 100%, they inevitably fail," he notes. Instead, he encourages people to enjoy occasional treats without guilt, emphasizing that it's better to have real cake occasionally than to constantly seek out "Paleo-approved" versions of processed foods.

Making It Sustainable

Trevor’s personal approach to maintaining this lifestyle is refreshingly practical. He dedicates Sunday nights to meal prep, grilling various proteins for the week ahead and combining them with different vegetables for quick, nutrient-dense meals. This strategy makes healthy eating sustainable even with a busy schedule.

Looking to Learn More?

For those interested in exploring the Paleo diet further, Trevor recommends visiting thepaleodiet.com, where you can find recipes, meal plans, grocery lists, and evidence-based information about the diet's principles. The website focuses on making the diet accessible and practical for everyday life.

Through this conversation, Trevor demonstrates that the path to better nutrition isn't about strict rules or dramatic restrictions—it's about making sustainable changes that align with our body's natural needs while acknowledging the realities of modern life.

Key Timestamps:

• [00:17] Trevor Connor's background as a professional cyclist

• [01:06] Initial skepticism of the Paleo diet in Dr. Cordain's class

• [02:06] Return to professional cycling at age 39-40

• [03:15] Challenging traditional sports nutrition beliefs

• [07:06] Definition of the Paleo diet and evolutionary eating

• [12:47] Practical tips for transitioning to healthier eating

• [14:04] Discussion of hunger signals and nutrient needs

• [21:04] Approach to occasional treats and diet flexibility

• [25:28] Personal meal prep strategies and implementation

The Birth of Ambient Documentation: How an ER Doctor and College Student Built a Healthcare Tech Revolution

In 2014, an emergency room doctor and a college pre-med student took a leap of faith that would transform healthcare documentation. Their startup, iScribes, eventually became Dragon Ambient eXperience (DAX), now a cornerstone product for Microsoft and Nuance. Here's their remarkable journey.

An Unlikely Partnership

It began in a Virginia emergency department, where pre-med student Christopher worked as a scribe for Dr. Jared Pelo. Christopher's endless curiosity about medicine caught Jared's attention – he kept asking questions about X-ray interpretations and clinical decisions instead of just taking notes.

When Jared approached Christopher with a business proposition, Christopher was deep into medical school applications. The choice was stark: continue on the safe path to medical school or join a risky startup venture. After a surprising conversation with his father, who told him "You can go to school anytime...the experience you'll get is invaluable," Christopher joined the iScribes mission.

Building from Nothing

The early days were characterized by bootstrap ingenuity:

• Working from an unheated house with Bitcoin miners providing warmth

• Hand-ironed company sweatshirts

• Minimum wage pay for dedicated employees

• Personal loans and retirement savings keeping the company afloat

Two pivotal moments shaped their success:

1. A cold email to info@triangleortho.com led to their first customer and investor

2. Meeting David Meisner, who brought crucial business and financial expertise

Culture as Foundation

Despite financial constraints, the founders prioritized building strong company culture:

• Weekly updates and celebrations

• Company sweatshirts after one year

• A mission-driven community

• Three core values consistently reinforced

The result? A loyal workforce of 250 employees who often felt guilty about leaving even for double the pay.

The Technology Bet

The team made a prescient decision to record and store all their documentation data, believing that someday AI could transform it into automated documentation. While their initial competitive moat was this massive dataset, the emergence of large language models changed the landscape. Nevertheless, DAX became a cornerstone product mentioned in Microsoft earnings calls.

Key Lessons

1. Bias toward action: "Be wrong by trying, don't be wrong by hypothesizing and not going for it."

2. Deep conviction matters: The level of commitment required means you need to truly believe in solving the problem.

3. People first: Success came from improving life for doctors, patients, and employees alike.

4. Build community: Strong culture creates resilience through hard times.

The iScribes story demonstrates how vision, persistence, and the right team can transform an industry. From a college student's curiosity to a product used by healthcare systems nationwide, it's a testament to the power of taking risks and believing in possibility.

Ten years later, both founders reflect on this journey with gratitude – for the lessons learned, the friendships forged, and the impact they've had on healthcare. As Christopher notes, "What a blessing to carry these lessons forward at 34." Their story continues to inspire entrepreneurs and innovators in healthcare technology.

Key Timestamps:

• 00:10 - Introduction and background

• 02:06 - Earliest days of iScribes conception

• 08:09 - The pivotal dinner meeting

• 14:22 - Early company milestones and strategy

• 15:34 - Key turning points: Triangle Ortho email and David Meisner

• 22:17 - Office space evolution and growth

• 27:43 - Building company culture

• 33:05 - Challenging moments and near-failures

• 36:27 - Personal sacrifices and financial risks

• 40:52 - Key lessons learned

• 43:51 - Impact on personal growth and relationships

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