COVID changed medicine... but not just because of the virus. Because of what it did to us. And most of us still haven’t said it out loud. 🎧 Go to the Life of Flow podcast channel and watch the full episode #62!
Isa Rizk, CEO and co-founder of Reflow Medical, joins Life of Flow to share how he and his team built one of the most talked-about vascular device companies, without following the usual playbook. In this episode, Isa walks us through the evolution of Reflow Medical, from its earliest days to the development of the Spur stent: a mechanical innovation designed for tibial disease. He breaks down what led them to shift from a single-product mindset to building a full-scale company, why reimbursement planning is just as important as engineering, and what it’s like to scale a team while staying independent. 🎧 Tune in for a transparent conversation about innovation, growth, and long-term thinking in the world of vascular technology. 00:00 – Meet Isa Rizk & how Reflow started 04:45 – From engineer to CEO: lessons learned early on 10:25 – How the Spur stent came to life 16:40 – Feedback from physicians and the impact on design 20:29 – What patency really means in clinical practice 26:15 – Why reimbursement strategy is essential in medtech 34:00 – Scaling beyond 100 employees, and staying the course 💡 Who Should Listen? This episode is for vascular surgeons, interventional cardiologists, cath lab teams, and professionals working in or alongside medtech. If you’re interested in device development, clinical translation, or building a company in healthcare, you’ll take away valuable insights from Isa’s experience. It’s also helpful for founders, engineers, and anyone involved in innovation who’s thinking long-term, not just about building a product, but building something that can grow and support real change in patient care. About Isa Rizk Isa Rizk is the CEO and co-founder of Reflow Medical, the company behind the Spur stent. A temporary, mechanical scaffold designed to support vessel healing in below-the-knee interventions. He began his career in mechanical engineering before moving into medtech at Baxter and Edwards Lifesciences, later co-founding Reflow to focus on collaborative device development with physicians. Today, Reflow has grown into a team of more than 100 people with a strong pipeline of innovations aimed at improving outcomes in complex vascular disease. Connect with Isa Rizk and Reflow Medical 🌐 Website: reflowmedical.com 💼 LinkedIn: Isa R Connect with Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast 🔔 Subscribe and leave a review to support thoughtful conversations in vascular innovation.
There’s a kind of pain in medicine that has nothing to do with outcomes. It’s when a patient walks away feeling used, and a physician walks away feeling nothing. When something as sacred as surgery starts to feel like a transaction, something’s been lost. This episode is a reminder: Technical success means nothing if emotional disconnection becomes the norm. And it’s that disconnection that quietly pulls many physicians away from the work they once loved. 🎧 Go to the Life of Flow podcast channel and watch the full episode #62!
Hospitals aren’t growing to care for more patients — they’re growing to manage more paperwork 📉 In the last decade, hospital administration has skyrocketed by 650%, while the number of doctors — the ones actually treating patients — has barely changed. And yet, somehow, physicians have lost more control over patient care than ever before. We sat down with @univision to talk about this shift, why doctors are feeling more disconnected from the system, and what happens when the people making the decisions aren’t the ones in the room with the patient. 👉 If you work in medicine, you’ve felt this. What’s one change you think needs to happen ASAP? Let’s talk in the comments.
The 3 rules that can reverse diabetes — no meds required. Most patients ignore them. The few who follow them? They drop their A1C from 12 to 5 in a MONTH — without medication. 1️⃣ If it’s sweet and liquid, don’t drink it. 2️⃣ If it comes in a box and has marketing all over it, don’t eat it. 3️⃣ Get a $20 stretch band and work a muscle group until it burns. It’s that simple — but almost no one does it. 🎧 Go to the Life of Flow podcast channel and watch the full episode #61!
A ticking time bomb inside your arteries? Medial artery calcification isn’t just another complication — it’s a silent killer hiding in plain sight. And the scariest part? It starts earlier than you think. 🔬 By age 30, calcification is already creeping in. 📈 By 70, it affects over 70-80% of people. ⚠️ Aging, diabetes, and kidney disease are fueling an epidemic doctors still don’t fully understand. So what’s causing this massive increase? And more importantly—what can we do about it? 🎧 Go to the Life of Flow podcast channel and watch the full episode #61!
Are we saving lives — or just buying time? In this Life of Flow podcast episode, Dr. Roberto Ferraresi pulls back the curtain on one of medicine’s toughest questions: 💰 How much money are we spending on procedures that don’t truly help? ⏳ Are we treating patients — or just prolonging suffering? ⚠️ Is industrial medicine making decisions for us? Surgeons love innovation. We push the limits of what’s possible. But at what cost? If we don’t make time to actually talk to patients, understand their needs, and rethink what quality of life really means… then who are we really helping? 🎧 Go to the Life of Flow podcast channel and watch the full episode #61!
In this Life of Flow podcast, we sit down with one of the most influential minds in vascular medicine — Dr. Roberto Ferraresi. For decades, he’s challenged conventional wisdom, pioneered techniques once deemed impossible, and reshaped the way we think about limb salvage. But even with innovations like DVA, the toughest question remains: when is intervention the right choice — and when does it do more harm than good? In this episode, we dive deep into the evolution of vascular disease, the complexities of CLI treatment, and what the future holds for patients on the edge of amputation. 🎧 Go to the Life of Flow podcast channel and watch the full episode #61!
Dr. Anthony Back, MD, a renowned oncologist, communication pioneer, and leader in psychedelic therapy research, joins the Life of Flow Podcast to discuss one of the most urgent issues in medicine today: physician burnout and the unconventional tools that may help heal it. As a co-founder of the Center for Psychedelic Medicine at UW and an internationally respected palliative care expert, Dr. Back brings a special and unique perspective to the conversation on psilocybin therapy. In this episode, he shares what he’s seeing in physicians suffering from emotional exhaustion, the limitations of traditional wellness models, and how psychedelics, when used safely and intentionally, are offering a radical new approach to healing in the profession. He also reflects on the personal toll of practicing medicine during COVID-19, the cultural resistance to psychedelic therapies in healthcare, and the importance of setting, guidance, and reintegration for physicians navigating these experiences. 🎧 Listen now for a powerful conversation that blends science, experience, and hope for a system in need of healing. 00:00 – Meet Dr. Anthony Back: Oncologist, researcher, and co-founder of the Center for Psychedelic Medicine 08:45 – What burnout really looks like in physicians, and why current tools aren't enough 17:30 – Why Dr. Back turned to psilocybin as a possible treatment for emotional exhaustion 24:12 – Can psychedelics help doctors reconnect with purpose? 31:05 – The role of guidance, setting, and integration in medical psychedelic therapy 39:40 – What the future of healing could look like for physicians and the patients they serve 💡 Who Should Listen? This episode is a must-listen for physicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals confronting the realities of burnout, emotional disconnection, and the limits of conventional wellness strategies. If you're a clinician, medical educator, or health system leader looking for real conversations about mental health in medicine, this is the one to hear. Medical students, residents, and early-career doctors will gain insight into the emotional side of clinical practice, while those exploring the intersection of psychedelics and healthcare will find a grounded, research-driven discussion on what’s possible and what’s next. About Dr. Anthony Back Dr. Anthony Back, MD, is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington, co-founder of VitalTalk, and a national leader in physician communication and palliative care. He co-directs the Center for Psychedelic Medicine, where he researches the use of psilocybin-assisted therapy to support clinician well-being. His work focuses on bridging clinical practice, emotional health, and the potential of psychedelic therapy in healing burnout and restoring connection in healthcare. Connect with Dr. Anthony Back 💼 LinkedIn: Anthony Back, MD 🔗 UW Faculty Profile: Center for Psychedelic Medicine – UW Connect with Life of Flow: 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review to support our mission of bringing transformative healthcare conversations to the forefront.
In the U.S. healthcare system, doctors don’t have a direct voice. Everything is filtered — by institutions, professional societies, and layers of politics. We’re expected to follow the script, avoid uncomfortable conversations, and keep quiet about the realities we see every day. That’s exactly why we built this platform. On @univision we shared why LOF exists: to ask the questions no one else is asking, to have real conversations without filters, and to bring in world-class guests who will actually say what they think. From training and technique to the biggest flaws in the system — nothing is off-limits. What’s one thing about the healthcare system you wish more people were talking about? Let’s get into it in the comments.