In this week's episode of Life of Flow, Dutch Rojas joins us for a candid conversation about why independent physicians are being systematically pushed out of American healthcare. Drawing on decades spent building surgery centers, working inside insurance and policy structures, and watching consolidation unfold firsthand, Dutch explains why the system is not broken, but functioning exactly as designed. We talk through CMS priorities, hospital lobbying, and the growing gap between how medicine is practiced and how physicians are trained to work. 🎧 This episode continues our ongoing conversation about physician autonomy, institutional power, and what it feels like to practice medicine inside systems that control decision-making, reimbursement, and voice. 05:40 The moment consolidation became impossible to ignore 08:09 CMS priorities and why hospitals come first 11:58 How payment structures work against independent doctors 13:42 Why physicians lack political leverage 21:46 What it feels like to practice without autonomy 22:24 The fear of speaking out inside institutional medicine 22:41 Why autonomy is the number one complaint from physicians 31:12 Certificate of need laws and blocked physician ownership 40:12 Signs consolidation may be slowing and what comes next Who Should Listen This episode is for physicians navigating hospital employment, private practice, or consolidation pressures, as well as healthcare operators and investors trying to understand how policy, incentives, and institutional power shape modern medical practice. About Dutch Rojas Dutch Rojas is a healthcare entrepreneur who has spent over two decades building, operating, and exiting physician-focused businesses. He is the founder of MedMerge, co-founder of PhyCap Fund, and serves on the board of Physician Led Healthcare for America. Dutch invented surgery futures and options and built and sold ambulatory surgery centers and surgical practices. His exits include Sano Surgery and Everyone Health. Dutch is the creator of The Rojas Report, a reader-supported Substack publication focused on exposing the hidden power structures in American healthcare, and host of The Physicians Edge podcast. His forthcoming book, Too Big To Care: How Nonprofit Health Systems Hijacked Healthcare, launches in early 2026. He is a Marine veteran. Connect with Dutch 📰 Substack: dutchrojas.substack.com 💼 LinkedIn: Dutch Rojas 🐦 X: @DutchRojas Follow Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast If this episode clarified how consolidation, policy, and institutional incentives affect physician autonomy, consider sharing it with someone navigating the same pressures. A quick review also helps others find conversations like this.

In this episode of Life of Flow, Courtney Johnson returns for a wide-ranging conversation on why personal brand is not optional, regardless of role, title, or career path, and how visibility, influence, and professional identity are shaped both inside and outside medicine. The discussion explores how repetition builds trust, why people become top of mind through exposure rather than intention, and how professionals who allow institutions to define them relinquish long-term agency. For physicians in particular, the episode draws a clear distinction between expertise and influence, and why visibility determines who is remembered, referred to, and trusted over time. 🎧 This episode builds on the conversation around physician identity and visibility, examining how personal brand shapes trust, recognition, and long-term agency in medical careers. 01:40 Top-of-mind awareness and why repetition predicts behavior 02:44 Why propaganda and programming are neutral tools 07:43 Association as a shortcut to trust and credibility 11:02 Why 99% of long-term leverage comes from personal brand 11:45 Why humans connect faster with people than organizations 16:12 The lie of “put your head down and work hard” 16:47 Why no one will find you unless you put yourself out first 22:12 Finding purpose through what people ask you for Who Should Listen This episode is for physicians, surgeons, and healthcare professionals navigating hospital systems, private practice, or career transitions. It is especially relevant for doctors thinking about referrals, reputation, visibility, and long-term autonomy within medicine. About Courtney Johnson Courtney Johnson is a personal brand strategist, host of Slay The Gatekeeper Podcast, and content creator whose work centers on visibility, influence, and personal brand development. She helps professionals understand how perception is formed over time, how trust is built through repetition, and why personal brand is a long-term asset that extends beyond any single role, company, or institution. Through her work, Courtney focuses on helping individuals take ownership of their professional identity, particularly in environments where hierarchy and systems often define visibility by default. Her approach emphasizes intentional messaging, consistency, and human connection, with a strong belief that influence is shaped through presence and clarity rather than credentials alone. Courtney’s perspective is rooted in self-authorship, agency, and the idea that personal brand is not about promotion, but about being recognizable, trusted, and remembered for the value you provide. Connect with Courtney 📧 Contact: courtney@smoothmedia.co 👍 Instagram: @slaythegatekeeper 🎙️ Podcast: Slay The Gatekeeper 👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson 💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson 🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson Follow Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast If this episode sharpened how you think about personal brand and visibility in medicine, share it with someone who would benefit from the conversation. And if you’re enjoying Life of Flow, a quick review helps others find these discussions.

This week's collaborative episode features a conversation between BackTable and us, exploring how no-option limb-threatening ischemia has pushed clinicians to rethink clinical decision-making and how they learn from one another in practice. We join Dr. Sabeen Dhand to discuss the origins of BackTable, the loss of physician voice within institutional medicine, and why peer-driven platforms have become essential for advancing complex peripheral and limb salvage care. The conversation then moves into a detailed, experience-driven discussion of deep venous arterialization, including how early failures, unintended outcomes, repetition, and long-term follow-up shaped modern DVA techniques. Throughout the episode, the focus remains on responsibility to no-option patients, international collaboration, and how practical advances in limb salvage have emerged through shared clinical experience. 04:20 Losing professional voice inside institutional medicine 09:43 How BackTable and Life of Flow were built around peer learning 13:05 Why deep venous arterialization became necessary 14:12 Hitting the limits of conventional revascularization 18:32 The unintended anastomosis that changed everything 20:11 Long-term patient outcomes that reshaped clinical direction 25:06 Community-driven innovation and shared problem solving 33:00 How repetition and follow-up refined technique and outcomes 51:36 Defining poor candidates and the limits of DVA Who Should Listen This episode is relevant for vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, and clinicians managing advanced limb-threatening ischemia, as well as physicians interested in how peer-led platforms, informal collaboration, and real-world iteration influence modern procedural innovation. About Dr. Sabeen Dhand .Dr. Sabeen Dhand is an interventional radiologist who completed his fellowship at Northwestern and currently practices at PIH Health in Los Angeles. His clinical work focuses on limb salvage, aortic aneurysms, and neurovascular disease, including stroke. In this episode, Dr. Dhand shares why he built BackTable, the challenges of maintaining professional autonomy within institutions, and how physician-led platforms support practical learning and collaboration across specialties. Connect with Sabeen 📲 Instagram: @thebeenx About BackTable BackTable is a physician-led podcast platform created to help practicing clinicians stay current as the medical repertoire continues to expand. The platform focuses on sharing practical insight on conditions, procedures, and practice-building topics through peer-to-peer discussion rather than institutional filters. BackTable provides a space where physicians learn directly from colleagues and experts actively working in the field, reflecting how clinical knowledge is often exchanged in real practice. Explore BackTable 🌐 Website: backtable.com 📲 Instagram: @backtableind 🐦 X: @backtable ▶️ YouTube: @_backtable Follow Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast If this episode helped clarify how no-option patients are reshaping limb salvage and procedural innovation, consider sharing it with a colleague. A review also helps others find conversations grounded in real-world clinical practice.

This week’s episode features Dr. John H. Rundback, Director of the Interventional Institute at Holy Name Medical Center and one of the most experienced voices in complex peripheral work. Dr. Rundback joins Miguel and Lucas for a grounded conversation on how below-the-knee disease has changed, why operators rely on different tools and access strategies today, and what the AMBITION BTK clinical trial aims to clarify about treating BTK patients. Along the way, he shares insights shaped by decades of clinical practice, research leadership, and his role in major multicenter studies. This episode follows Dr. John Rundback’s perspective on BTK disease and how new tools and techniques shape everyday decision-making. 03:09 How BTK and below-the-ankle disease differ from proximal disease 05:28 What pushed operators toward atherectomy in BTK care 06:56 Introducing AngioDynamics and the AMBITION BTK trial 10:49 How the Auryon laser works and what makes it different 14:44 Why early results led to launching the AMBITION BTK study 20:06 How high-volume operators identify meaningful patterns early 23:28 Tips and workflow for using the Auryon laser below the knee 29:12 Why Miguel now uses primary pedal access in many BTK cases 37:30 How the AMBITION BTK trial uses a hierarchical win-ratio endpoint Who Should Listen This episode is relevant for clinicians who treat below-the-knee disease, early-career physicians interested in real-world atherectomy decision making, and professionals involved in device evaluation, trial design, and BTK care pathways. About John H. Rundback, MD John H. Rundback, MD, is a renowned interventional radiologist in practice since 1993 and is the Director of the Interventional Institute at Holy Name Medical Center. He is board-certified in radiology and holds a Certificate of Added Qualification in Angiography and Interventional Radiology. He has been named as a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly. Dr. Rundback's research interests include peripheral arterial, carotid, and aortic aneurysmal disease, deep venous thrombosis and varicose veins, as well as state-of-the-art minimally invasive cancer therapies, and he is the principal investigator on a number of multi-center trials. He has presented at more than 200 conferences and is the program chairman for his own peripheral arterial disease symposium. He has served as an editor and reviewer for peer-reviewed medical journals and has published over 100 articles. Dr. Rundback is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation and Founding Chair for the Foundation's Cooperative Alliance for Interventional Research Clinical Trials Network. At Holy Name, he serves on the Patient Safety Committee, the Cancer Committee and the Credentialing Committee. Dr. Rundback earned his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center, after which he completed his internship at St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center, New York, N.Y. He completed his diagnostic radiology residency at Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, N.Y., where he also served as chief resident, and completed his fellowship in interventional radiology at Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. Connect with John 💼 LinkedIn: John H. Rundback, MD About AngioDynamics Established in 1988, as a division of E-Z-EM, AngioDynamics is a company with a rich history that’s defined by its innovation and growth as a committed medical community partner with a focus on developing high-quality medical devices that improve patient outcomes. The company’s commitment to advancing medical solutions has established a strong presence in key healthcare markets worldwide. Through strategic partnerships, distribution networks, and a diverse product portfolio, AngioDynamics continues to contribute to the improvement of patient outcomes on a global scale. AngioDynamics has a notable global presence, with worldwide operations. Learn more about Angiodynamics and the Auryon System 🌐 Websites: angiodynamics.com & auryon-system.com Follow Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast If this episode gave you a clearer view of BTK care, share it with someone who’d value it. And if you’re enjoying Life of Flow, a quick review helps others find conversations like this!

In this week's episode, we speak with Scott Nelson about the Medicare reimbursement changes that are rapidly reshaping the wound care landscape. Scott explains how cost-plus reimbursement models drove extreme pricing behavior, why CMS intervened, and what the new rules mean for mobile providers, wound care centers, distributors, and manufacturers. This episode focuses on how these changes affect real-world care delivery, market stability, and patient access, not in theory but as it is unfolding right now. 🎧 This episode follows the ongoing conversation around wound care and limb preservation, focusing on how Medicare reimbursement changes are reshaping clinical practice, business models, and decision-making across the industry. 04:43 Scott’s background and entry into medtech and wound care 07:03 Why the wound care market is fragmented and difficult to evaluate 10:02 How skin substitutes became financially distorted under cost-plus reimbursement 11:35 COVID, mobile wound care, and unintended reimbursement incentives 14:21 How pricing mechanics drove extreme markups 23:39 Fraud, abuse cases, and the consequences for the broader market 27:00 What the new reimbursement rules change starting January 35:36 Expected impacts on providers, distributors, manufacturers, and patients 💡 Who Should Listen This episode is for vascular surgeons, wound care clinicians, healthcare operators, MedTech founders, and investors who need a clear understanding of how reimbursement policy directly shapes care models, business viability, and patient outcomes in wound care. About Scott Nelson Scott Nelson currently serves as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Swift Medical and is a member of the Board of Directors at The Save A Leg, Save A Life Foundation. As the Founder of PrescribedGrowth, Scott advises and consults on emerging technologies on commercial strategy, marketing, sales, and branding. Prior to these roles, Scott worked at LifeNet Health in marketing for wound management and surgical reconstruction, focusing on developing commercial strategies and communications. Scott also held the position of Director of Marketing and Product Solutions at Integer Holdings Corp., where responsibilities included portfolio strategy and market development for the Advanced Surgical & Orthopedic business unit. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Information Systems from the University of Phoenix. Connect with Scott 💼 LinkedIn: Scott Nelson Follow Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast If this episode helped clarify what’s driving the current shifts in wound care reimbursement, consider sharing it with someone navigating these changes. And if you’re enjoying Life of Flow, leaving a quick review helps more people find these conversations.

Kassidy Warren joins the podcast to share the real estate strategies that helped him move from corporate burnout to financial independence. He explains how high-earning professionals can use leverage, forced appreciation, short-term rentals, cost segregation, and bonus depreciation to reduce taxes and build long-term equity. Kassidy also reflects on the experiences that shaped his path, from van life to rebuilding his career through consulting, and the inner work that led him toward community, mentorship, and purpose. 🎧 This episode goes inside the hard decisions, tax strategies, and mindset shifts that helped Kassidy Warren go from corporate burnout to financial independence, and how high-earning professionals can use real estate, the right tax tools, and a clearer sense of purpose to change their relationship with work and time. 01:04 Kassidy’s corporate path, burnout, and the moment he realized he needed out 02:35 Why he and his wife saved aggressively and left everything to live in a van 04:51 How consulting tripled their income and gave them a path forward 06:06 Buying real estate with a purpose: taxes, equity, and long-term freedom 09:30 The velocity of money explained 10:12 How leverage and forced appreciation multiply wealth 12:34 Depreciation, the short-term rental rules, and why they matter 13:21 How one property can offset years of taxes 19:38 The 1031 exchange and why trading up changes everything 30:33 Breathwork, healing, and the inner work behind Kassidy’s transformation 💡 Who Should Listen This episode is for physicians, high-earning professionals, and anyone interested in real estate, tax strategy, personal growth, or creating more autonomy in their life and work. About Kassidy Kassidy Warren is a real estate investor and coach who helps people buy properties that reduce their tax burden, build equity, and create long-term freedom. He previously worked in engineering and IT before leaving corporate life due to burnout. After living in a van with his wife and rebuilding their careers through consulting, they built a portfolio of short-term rentals. Kassidy now leads a mastermind called Escape Velocity, where he supports members through real estate education, community, and mindset work. Connect with Kassidy 📲 Instagram: @kassidy.warren 💼 LinkedIn: Kassidy Warren 🌐 kassidywarren.com Follow Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast If this conversation gave you a new perspective on real estate, taxes, freedom, or the choices high-earning professionals actually have, share it with someone who would value it. And if you’ve been enjoying Life of Flow, a short review helps more listeners discover episodes like this one.

En este episodio de Life of Flow Podcast, conversamos con el Dr. Luis Corrales-Rodríguez, oncólogo médico en Costa Rica y uno de los impulsores más importantes del desarrollo de investigación clínica en el país. A través de su experiencia personal construyendo Simca, un centro dedicado exclusivamente a estudios clínicos en oncología, el Dr. Corrales explica cómo se reconstruyó un ecosistema de investigación después de años de prohibición, qué retos encontraron y por qué Latinoamérica necesita estudiar a sus propias poblaciones. Este episodio aborda oportunidades reales para crear valor científico en la región, los vacíos estructurales que aún persisten y la visión de futuro para fortalecer la investigación académica y multinacional en Costa Rica. English Version of the Episode 👉 youtube.com/watch?v=v0mJF1-OKGM 05:48 Falta de infraestructura y personal tras años sin investigación 09:40 Regreso de Luis al país y su decisión de dedicarse a investigación clínica 13:20 Primer estudio abierto tras la nueva ley y el reto de una mutación poco frecuente 17:54 Diferencias genéticas en Latinoamérica y su impacto en cáncer de pulmón 22:47 Por qué Costa Rica solo realiza fases II–IV y la estructura ética involucrada 26:55 Construcción de Simca y crecimiento del centro como sitio de investigación 35:58 Obstáculos iniciales: permisos, educación del público y desconocimiento médico 48:54 Futuro de Simca y la importancia de impulsar investigación académica local 💡¿Quién debería escuchar este episodio? Profesionales de la salud interesados en investigación clínica, líderes de centros médicos, médicos jóvenes que evalúan participar en estudios, y cualquier persona que estudie cómo se construyen ecosistemas de investigación en Latinoamérica. Sobre Dr. Luis Corrales-Rodríguez Luis Corrales-Rodríguez es médico oncólogo en el Hospital San Juan de Dios y en el Centro para la Investigación y Manejo del Cáncer (Simca) en Costa Rica. Realizó su formación en la Universidad de Costa Rica, completó su residencia en Oncología Médica en 2009 y posteriormente un fellowship en oncología torácica en el Hospital Notre-Dame del CHUM en Montreal, Canadá. A su regreso al país, se integró como profesor en la Universidad de Costa Rica y se convirtió en investigador principal de varios estudios internacionales. Es miembro de ACOMED, CLICaP, ASCO, ESMO y IASLC. Sigue a Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast ¿Conoces a alguien que debería escuchar esta conversación? 🎧 Envíale este episodio y ayúdanos a que más personas accedan a estas historias y aprendizajes.

This week, Neal K. Shah joins the show to talk about the years-long caregiving journey that reshaped his life, his career, and ultimately the creation of CareYaya Health Technologies. He shares how managing a billion-dollar hedge fund became incompatible with the reality of his grandfather’s dementia care and his wife’s life-threatening illness, and how those experiences exposed the true weight carried by family caregivers. 🎧 This episode traces Neal Shah’s shift from hedge fund leader to full-time caregiver and founder of CareYaya. He shares what the home-care system really looks like for families and how a tech-enabled student workforce is changing access to reliable support. 04:52 Early hedge fund career and the shift triggered by family illness 07:50 The cost, quality gaps, and hidden burdens families face 10:49 Recognizing the scale of unmet needs for aging and chronic illness 18:54 The idea that became CareYaya: a structured way to connect families with healthcare-bound students 21:35 Building the MVP with local universities and early explosive demand 25:04 How finding the right technical co-founder shaped the company’s trajectory 28:36 How new ideas emerged, including AI tools for claims management 32:20 Why younger engineers outperform in an AI-first world 40:35 Could Medicare eventually reimburse companion-level care? 41:20 How this could scale into a multibillion-dollar platform 44:49 The political torque keeping insurance reform stagnant 💡 Who Should Listen Healthcare innovators, MedTech founders, clinicians who support aging or chronically ill populations, caregivers, and anyone building technology to solve real structural problems in the healthcare system. About Neal Neal K. Shah is the CEO of CareYaya Health Technologies, a social enterprise and research lab advancing health equity for aging populations, and recognized by LinkedIn as one of America’s Top 50 Startups in 2024. He also serves as Chairman of Counterforce Health, an AI platform for navigating health insurance claim denials, and Principal Investigator on multiple federal innovation grants. Shah is also the author of “Insured to Death: How Health Insurance Screws Over Americans - And How We Take It Back”, a #1 bestseller in Health Policy. Shah holds degrees in economics and philosophy from University of Pennsylvania. Prior to CareYaya, Shah managed a $250 million hedge fund. His pivot to healthcare came after deeply personal experiences as a caregiver, which inspired a mission-driven focus on transforming care delivery through tech. Today, Shah is building CareYaya into a national leader in care innovation. Shah’s work has been supported by the NIH, Johns Hopkins AITC, AARP, and Harvard Innovation Labs. He also regularly contributes to CNBC, US News & World Report, Barron’s, STAT, Neurology Live, and Medical Economics. Connect with Neal 💼 LinkedIn: Neal K. Shah 📲 Instagram: @nealkshah 🎶 TikTok: @nealkshah 📘Substack: nealkshah.substack.com 💼 LinkedIn: Counterforce Health 📲 Instagram: @counterforcehealth 🎶 TikTok: @counterforcehealth About CareYaya Health Technologies CareYaya is a mission-driven social enterprise supported by dozens of interns and volunteers nationwide. This provides affordable care for thousands of families, introduces tens of thousands of energetic individuals into the care workforce, and impacts millions by investing in the healthcare professionals of tomorrow. Together, they’re changing elder care by connecting families with compassionate, motivated college students from top universities. Learn more about CareYaya 🌐 Website: careyaya.org 💼 LinkedIn: @Careyaya 📲 Instagram: @wearecareyaya 🎶 TikTok: @wearecareyaya Follow Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast If this episode gave you a new take on caregiving or the gaps in home care, share it with someone who’d value it. And if you’re enjoying Life of Flow, a quick review helps others find conversations like this!

En este episodio de Life of Flow Podcast, conversamos con el Dr. Pedro G. R. Teixeira, M.D., cirujano vascular y de trauma en UT Health Austin y Ascension Seton. Juntos exploramos su recorrido desde Belo Horizonte hasta liderar una división académica en Austin, y cómo esa trayectoria marcó su visión sobre formación, adaptabilidad, trabajo en equipo y liderazgo quirúrgico. ❗️Este episodio, grabado originalmente en inglés y ahora doblado al español, captura una conversación honesta sobre liderazgo médico, trabajo interdisciplinario y el futuro de la atención basada en valor. English Version of the Episode 👉youtube.com/watch?v=x5Jl0FEmnqQ 01:05 Nacer y formarse en Belo Horizonte: primeros pasos en trauma 04:00 Llegar a EE. UU. como adjunto y descubrir un sistema quirúrgico completamente distinto 07:10 Repetir la residencia desde cero: humildad, ego y aprendizaje 10:15 Barreras culturales: acrónimos, lenguaje quirúrgico y reinvención diaria 13:40 El valor real del cirujano más allá del título y la jerarquía 18:00 Descubrir la cirugía vascular y la emoción de volver a ser principiante 21:05 Por qué mantiene guardias de trauma: compromiso social y responsabilidad 24:00 El cirujano vascular como soporte esencial en casos complejos 33:05 El proceso inesperado de convertirse en jefe de división 37:00 Su visión para transformar la atención vascular en Austin y construir una cultura colaborativa 💡¿Quién debería escuchar este episodio? Médicos en formación, cirujanos vasculares y de trauma, líderes clínicos, profesionales internacionales interesados en entrenar en EE. UU. y cualquier persona que trabaje en estructuras académicas o equipos quirúrgicos de alto rendimiento. Sobre Dr. Pedro G. R. Teixeira, MD Pedro G. R. Teixeira, MD, es un cirujano vascular certificado que ejerce en el Institute for Cardiovascular Health, una colaboración entre Ascension y UT Health Austin. Está especializado en el manejo integral de enfermedades arteriales y venosas, y colabora con múltiples especialidades quirúrgicas en procedimientos complejos que requieren exposición y reconstrucción vascular. Es profesor en el Departamento de Cirugía Cardiovascular y Torácica de Dell Medical School en la Universidad de Texas en Austin. Se formó inicialmente en Brasil y completó residencia en cirugía general, una beca en cirugía vascular y otra en cuidados críticos quirúrgicos en la Universidad del Sur de California. Su investigación se centra en el cruce entre trauma y cirugía vascular, con más de 150 publicaciones revisadas por pares, y ha contribuido de manera decisiva a la educación quirúrgica y al desarrollo de principios modernos de control de hemorragias y técnicas mínimamente invasivas. Es coeditor de Vascular Injury: Endovascular and Open Surgical Management, presidente de la Texas Society for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery y miembro activo de múltiples organizaciones quirúrgicas nacionales e internacionales. 🌐 UT Health Austin: Pedro G. R. Teixeira, MD Sigue a Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast ¿Conoces a alguien que debería escuchar esta conversación? 🎧 Envíale este episodio y ayúdanos a que más personas accedan a estas historias y aprendizajes.

In this episode, we sit down with Shane Gleason, Chief Commercial Officer at InspireMD, to talk about what it means to bring a new carotid stent to market at a time when treatment options are evolving. Shane shares how his two decades in the vascular space shaped the way he evaluates timing, team, and technology, and why those factors mattered when he decided to join InspireMD. He also walks through the details of their flexible open-celled nitinol stent with a finely woven PET mesh, explaining what it does, how it behaves, and why physicians have responded so strongly to it. The conversation moves from device design to clinical trials, commercial planning, and the changing landscape following CMS’s expanded coverage for carotid stenting. 🎧 This episode goes inside the work behind developing and launching a new carotid stent, and how the right timing, the right team, and a device designed for lasting protection can shift practice. 04:50 Why carotid procedures still make him sweat after hundreds of cases 06:14 What lasting protection means and why post-procedure events matter 07:01 Dual antiplatelet therapy and how the PET mesh behaves in the vessel 07:33 Showing the stent on camera and explaining the woven PET mesh 08:36 TCAR, transfemoral approaches, and what current trials are studying 11:12 How Shane’s team is approaching commercialization in the U.S. 12:22 Why the procedure attracts experienced reps and how they support cases 14:17 Why physicians say they’ve “been waiting for this for 20 years” 16:02 What it means to be the only company singularly focused on carotid disease 💡 Who Should Listen This episode is for vascular surgeons, neurointerventionalists, industry professionals supporting carotid interventions, and anyone following the current shift in carotid disease treatment and device innovation. About Shane Mr. Gleason has over 20 years of experience in the medical device industry leading clinical and commercial operations in both public and privately held companies. Prior to joining InspireMD, he served as Vice President of Sales, Vascular Interventions at Surmodics, a medical device company focused on addressing unmet clinical needs in intravascular medicine. Prior to Surmodics, Mr. Gleason served in a variety of leadership roles in the interventional medical device space, to include Senior Director, US Transcatheter Heart Valves Marketing for Edwards Lifesciences, a developer of artificial heart valve technologies; Chief Commercial Officer of Nuvaira, a privately held developer of therapies that preserve patient lung health; and Vice President of Sales roles with both Cordis, a Cardinal Health company, and TriVascular Technologies, now part of Endologix. He began his medical device career with a variety of progressive leadership roles at Abbott Vascular, where he launched the second FDA approved carotid stent system. Mr. Gleason received his B.S. in Engineering Science and Mechanics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and his M.B.A. from the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business. Connect with Shane 💼 LinkedIn: Shane Gleason 🌐 InspireMD: inspiremd.com/team/shane-gleason/ About InspireMD InspireMD is a global carotid-focused company dedicated to helping prevent stroke, save lives, and give physicians and patients the confidence to choose carotid stenting without compromise. Based in Miami, the company is leading an international effort to advance carotid artery intervention through thoughtful engineering and a commitment to innovation. Their mission centers on one idea: stroke prevention is the blueprint, not an afterthought. With a focus on smarter design and strong clinical data, InspireMD aims to protect against carotid plaque prolapse and support physicians with a solution built for safety and clarity. CGuard® Prime, the company’s flagship product, is a next-generation carotid stent featuring a dual-layer design with a finely woven MicroNet™ mesh. It is the only FDA-approved mesh-covered carotid stent and was designed to offer a new layer of defense against the risk of plaque prolapse and embolization. In pivotal studies, CGuard Prime demonstrated the lowest independently adjudicated 30-day and 1-year major adverse event rates reported to date. Learn more about InspireMD 🌐 Website: inspiremd.com/ Follow Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast If this episode gave you a new perspective on carotid disease treatment, device innovation, or the future of carotid stenting, share it with a colleague who would value the conversation. And if you’ve been enjoying Life of Flow, leaving a short review helps more listeners find stories like this one.