What does it take for a physician to move from consulting hours to lasting influence in MedTech? In this week’s episode, Dr. Jay Mathews MD, MS, FACC, FSCAI, shares his path from early startup work in software and design to interventional cardiology, and how that background shaped his approach to device development.
He discusses the trade-offs between consulting and equity, the risks physicians face with crowdfunding models, and why he now partners only with companies where he can directly shape outcomes.
🎧 If you’ve been curious about what it takes for a physician to go from industry consulting to building companies, you’ll want to hear this one.
02:03 Family pressure vs. personal resistance
04:06 Startup life before medicine
06:28 Medicine as a tool, not a goal
07:34 Mentorship at WashU
15:44 Early startup collaborations
18:24 Joining Penumbra
20:14 Consulting vs. equity.
25:34 Protecting value and trust
38:32 Personal lessons from burnout
49:26 Physician crowdfunding concerns
💡 Who Should Listen
This episode is for physicians interested in entrepreneurship, MedTech founders weighing equity and consulting models, and investors looking to understand the role of clinicians in early-stage innovation.
About Dr. Jay Mathews MD, MS, FACC, FSCAI
Dr. Jay Mathews is an interventional cardiologist and endovascular specialist based in Tampa Bay, Florida. He did his residency and fellowships in Cardiology, Advanced Cardiac Imaging, and Interventional (Coronary/Structural/Peripheral) at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis. He is actively involved in device development for multiple companies and endovascular research, serving as national/global PI of several trials.
Connect with Dr.Mathews
🐦 X: Jay Mathews MD, MS, FACC, FSCAI
💼 LinkedIn: S. Jay Mathews, MD, MS, FACC, FSCAI
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