MedTech Business Academy

Our 100th episode is a look back and a look ahead. Skender Daerti is joined by Barbara Strain, Colleen Patterson, Scott Alexander, and Mike Spurduti to reflect on how the show began during the Great Isolation and what four years of industry change have taught us.

In this episode you will hear:

• How inside sales, digital marketing, and virtual education reshaped commercial models in medtech
• Why listening to the real world through vo...

Host Scott Alexander sits down with Barbara Strain and Mike Sperduti to cut through the AI noise and focus on where it truly delivers value in the medical device world. Rather than debating models, the panel shares real use cases that speed decisions, strengthen commercial execution, and reduce costs.

What you’ll learn:

How AI shifts us from data rich and information poor to faster, better decisions for providers and suppliers

Practic...

In this episode of the Women in Medtech series from the Medtech Business Academy podcast, host Colleen Patterson sits down with Tiffany Wilson, President and CEO of the Science Center in Philadelphia.

With over 20 years of experience bringing healthcare technology from bench to bedside, Tiffany shares what it really takes to transform innovation into impact. She breaks down the key risks every startup must overcome, why leadership d...

In this episode of the Medtech Business Academy, Skender Daerti, Scott Alexander, Mike Sperduti, and Barbara Strain explore the evolution of medtech buying decisions and the growing influence of centralized purchasing. The discussion covers how value analysis committees and supply chain teams are reshaping the decision-making process, the critical role of marketing in driving strategy, and how sales teams can adapt to this new real...

Medtech is heating up in the second half of 2025—is your company ready?

In this episode of the Medtech Business Academy podcast, Skender Daerti is joined by Tom Hickey, Barbara Strain, and Scott Alexander to explore how smart medical device companies are navigating renewed momentum, shifting provider dynamics, and emerging investment opportunities.

You’ll learn:

✅ What’s driving renewed activity in the medtech and healthcare markets

✅ ...

In this episode of the Women in Medtech series, host Colleen Patterson is joined by Abby Norfleet, Barbara Strain, and special guest Jennifer O’Reilly, Vice President of National Accounts at B. Braun’s Outpatient Division and Board Chair for Corporate Partners at Professional Women in Healthcare (PWH).

Together, they unpack the myths of leadership, the invisible labor holding professionals back, and the real steps to building a fulf...

In Episode 94 of the Medtech Business Academy, Skender Daerti and Barbara Strain tackle the uncertainty gripping today’s healthcare ecosystem. With macroeconomic signals sending mixed messages and the passage of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” creating new Medicaid challenges, both providers and suppliers are frozen in indecision.

This episode breaks through the paralysis.

Skender and Barbara explore the current “deer in headlight...

Why do so many promising medical technologies stall in the value analysis process?

In this episode of the Value Analysis Expert Series, Skender Daerti is joined by three of the most respected leaders in the field: Terri Nelson, Jenell Robinson, and Barbara Strain. Together, they explore the real-world barriers medtech suppliers face when navigating hospital Value Analysis Committees (VACs)—and what it takes to overcome them.

✅ What h...

Market Pressures, Medtech Strategy, and Provider Perspectives

In this special two-person episode, Scott Alexander and value analysis leader Barbara Strain discuss the state of medtech commercialization in 2025—from shifting provider priorities to evolving supplier expectations.

You’ll hear insight on:

• Mid-year pressures on provider systems and medtech companies
• Why traditional goals no longer apply—and how to “skate to where the p...

In this episode of the Women in Medtech podcast, we welcome back Emily Levy, CEO and co-founder of Mighty Well, for an inspiring update on her entrepreneurial journey. Emily shares how Mighty Well secured an Innovation Voucher from the state of Rhode Island, expanded its partnership with Prism Medical, and is leading a new conversation about recovery, wellness, and patient-centered design in medtech.

Emily also opens up about her ow...

In this episode of the Value Analysis Expert Series, Skender Daerti is joined by Barbara Strain, Jenell Robinson, and Terri Nelson to explore how suppliers and value analysis professionals can move beyond transactional interactions and build true partnerships.

They discuss common missteps in supplier engagement—like rigid volume commitments and outdated messaging—and share how to approach contracting conversations with strategy, fle...

In this episode of the Women in Medtech Podcast, nurse entrepreneur Tamara Al-Yassin, CEO of The Nursing Beat, shares how she went from trauma nurse to founder of a fast-growing digital media company built by nurses, for nurses.

With insights into burnout, nurse-led startups, and the power of clinical voices in medtech, Tamara discusses how The Nursing Beat is reshaping how nurses access news, resources, and mentorship. We explore t...

In Episode 88 of the Medtech Business Academy Podcast, hosts Skender Daerti, Barbara Strain, and Scott Alexander dive into the exciting future of medical technology. Inspired by the growing enthusiasm among healthcare providers for transformative tech innovations, the conversation highlights how medtech companies are uniquely positioned to revolutionize healthcare delivery. The trio discusses how emerging technologies, particularly...