From Pandemic Pivots to Patient-First Innovation: Eric Doherty on Scaling Healthcare the Hard Way

What does it take to steer a healthcare company through crisis, pivot at lightning speed, and still keep patients at the center of every decision?

In this episode of Lightning RX, host Colette Nataf sits down with Eric Doherty, President & CEO of DPE International, to unpack the realities of building, pivoting, and scaling healthcare businesses across pharmaceuticals, medical technology, and digital health. With healthcare in his DNA, his father a pharmacist and his mother a microbiologist, Eric has spent two decades leading companies that prioritize patient outcomes over profit.

Eric shares how he turned a COVID testing startup into a digital health company in just two months, why partnering with SAS was a game-changing move for credibility and access, and how relentless outreach (hundreds of emails a day) opened doors to FDA, NIH, and even Fortune 500 CEOs. From bold moves that paid off to “failed” pivots like digital COVID passports, Eric reveals the scrappy, strategic decisions that shaped his journey through one of healthcare’s most volatile eras.

Whether you’re a founder, operator, or healthcare innovator, you’ll learn how resilience, foresight, and fearless hustle can turn setbacks into stepping stones.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why patient-first innovation drives lasting business success
• How to pivot fast without losing focus on core mission
• The role of strategic partnerships in accelerating growth
• Lessons from scaling through layoffs, rebrands, and new talent models
• Why credibility and access are startup currencies in healthcare
• How relentless outreach builds connections with top decision-makers
• Why some pivots fail—and why that’s still a win for long-term strategy
• The balance between rapid execution and thoughtful due diligence

💡 Golden Nugget:

“Never give up. The email you’re afraid to send could change your company’s future.”

Connect with Eric Doherty:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ericdohertygloballeader
• Company: SAS Partnership Press Release
• Company: PR Newswire – Dr. Robert Redfield Named Senior Medical Advisor
• Personal: Shoutout Atlanta – Meet Eric Doherty

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