*Dr. Christoff Heunis*is a biomedical and mechatronics engineer (PhD, University of Twente) and the founder & CEO of Flux Robotics, a magnetically guided robotic system that steers a guidewire through the body from outside the patient. It started with a single phone call while he was an engineering student in South Africa — a best friend's mother had a stroke, and there were only a handful of surgeons on an entire continent who could treat it. In this conversation, Dr. Christoff Heunis reveals: ⬛ Why one phone call — a friend's mother's stroke — set the course of his life ⬛ How an external robotic magnet can pull a guidewire around the tightest, most complex angles a surgeon's hands can't reach ⬛ Why surgeons say they don't want to be replaced — yet "do want to press a button and then leave, and when I come back, the surgery is over" ⬛ The first real-world use case: misaligned fenestrations, CTOs and the angles no combination of guide catheters can make ⬛ How Flux got the FDA to confirm a 510(k) pathway — and why the predicate they found changes everything ⬛ What Stereotaxis acquiring Robocath signals about the commercial future of magnetic surgery ⬛ How he raised €3.2M in non-dilutive funding before giving up a single point of equity Follow Dr. Christoff Heunis: LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/christoff-heunis/ Flux Robotics — https://fluxrobots.com Resources mentioned in this episode: 🏢 Flux Robotics — https://fluxrobots.com 🏢 Stereotaxis — https://www.stereotaxis.com 🏢 Robocath — https://www.robocath.com/ 🏢 Intuitive / da Vinci Surgical System — https://www.intuitive.com 🎓 University of Twente — https://www.utwente.nl/en/ 🎓 Stellenbosch University — https://www.sun.ac.za/english 🏛 RVO — Netherlands Enterprise Agency — https://www.rvo.nl 🏛 NWO — Dutch Research Council — https://www.nwo.nl/en 🏛 Interreg (EU cross-border funding) — https://www.interreg.eu 💸 NextGen Ventures — https://www.nextgenventures.nl 💸 Future Tech Ventures — https://futuretechventures.nl 🎵 Eminem — "Lose Yourself" — https://open.spotify.com/track/5Z01UMMf7V1o0MzF86s6WJ 🎵 "Soms" — Christoff's Afrikaans rap single, with his brother Daniel (name only)

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Shahla Moghbel, D.O., a board-certified neurologist based in California who works as an independent contractor, and Dr. Santoshi Billakota, M.D., a board-certified neurologist and epileptologist based in New York City who works full-time in locum tenens. They share why they stepped away from traditional physician employment, how they prepared financially for the change, and what doctors need to understand about credentialing, contracts, taxes, benefits, and retirement before going independent. They also speak candidly about the identity shift that can come with leaving academic medicine or another traditional institutional path, and learning to separate professional value from institutional affiliation. 04:54 The shame and identity shift that can come with leaving a traditional career path 11:34 The random Wednesday that changed Lucas’s definition of freedom 17:10 Santoshi’s one-year plan for researching and preparing to leave her job 21:26 Shahla’s strategy of reducing her hours and calculating her minimum financial needs 27:32 Using locums as a bridge and learning how to negotiate better opportunities 30:24 The difference between hospital privileges and insurance credentialing 37:08 Why medical training leaves out contracts and the business side of medicine 39:47 Moving from W2 employment to 1099 work with support from a lawyer and CPA 44:10 Solo 401(k) plans, health benefits, and outsourcing financial planning Who Should Listen This episode is for physicians considering locums, independent contract work, or a move away from academic or employed medicine. It is especially relevant for doctors who want more autonomy but need a practical view of the financial, administrative, and personal decisions involved. About Shahla Moghbel, D.O. Dr. Shahla Moghbel is a board-certified neurologist based in Walnut Creek, California. She completed her neurology residency at Georgetown University, an administrative and business fellowship at Vituity Stanford, and a clinical neurophysiology fellowship at Stanford Medicine. After working in a partnership, she moved into independent contract work across neurology and also does nonclinical work. She co-hosts the Be Empowered podcast, where she and Santoshi speak with physicians about burnout, career changes, and work outside the traditional path. Connect with Shahla Moghbel, D.O. 💼 LinkedIn: Shahla Moghbel D.O. About Santoshi Billakota, MD Dr. Santoshi Billakota is a board-certified neurologist and epileptologist based in Brooklyn. After completing residency at Duke, fellowship at Columbia, and an academic appointment at NYU, she left academic medicine and now works full-time as a locums physician while also taking on nonclinical work. She co-hosts the Be Empowered podcast, which focuses on healthcare issues, including topics concerning women. Connect with Santoshi Billakota, M.D. 💼 LinkedIn: Santoshi Billakota M.D. 🎙️Connect with Be Empowered: The Podcast Spotify: ⁠Be Empowered: The Podcast⁠ Apple: ⁠Be Empowered: The Podcast⁠ YouTube: ⁠Be Empowered: The Podcast⁠ Instagram: ⁠@Empowermedlife⁠ About Locumstory Locumstory is a free, unbiased educational resource about locum tenens to answer your questions about the how-tos of locums on their website, podcast, webinars, videos, and a locums 101 crash course. Visit locumstory.com to find out if locum tenens makes sense for you and your career goals. Follow Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast If this conversation changed how you think about physician independence, locums, and what it takes to step away from traditional employment without leaving the financial side to chance, share it with a colleague who’s considering a different path in medicine. And if you’re enjoying Life of Flow, a quick review helps more physicians and healthcare leaders find conversations like this.

In this episode of Life of Flow, we sit down with Dr. Eric Smuclovisky, M.D., an interventional radiologist in Indianapolis, Indiana, affiliated with Elkhart General Hospital. Eric joins us for a direct conversation about physician independence, why the old private practice model became harder to sustain, what changed for OBLs, and how independent physicians can think about hospital service agreements without becoming hospital employees. 04:30 What changed when OBL revenue took a hit 07:56 How physician fees shaped the old private practice model 13:04 Why hospital privileges once gave physicians more control 15:40 The history behind physician lounges and hospital incentives 31:28 Why physicians need to understand how the money moves 40:17 Why OBLs may still matter, even as the model gets harder 43:39 Why RVUs keep physicians disconnected from real revenue 46:01 Charge lists, commercial payers, and understanding what hospitals bill 56:28 Selling a service line to a hospital and negotiating a fixed rate Who Should Listen This episode is for vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, cardiologists, independent physicians, and early career physicians who want to understand the business side of medicine. It is especially relevant for anyone thinking about OBLs, hospital relationships, service agreements, or how to maintain more autonomy without working fully outside the system. About Dr. Eric Smuclovisky, M.D. Dr. Eric Smuclovisky is an interventional radiology doctor in Indianapolis, Indiana and is affiliated with Elkhart General Hospital. He received his medical degree from Ponce Health Sciences University and has been in practice between 11 and 20 years. In the episode, Eric shares that he started out in academics, later left, opened an OBL and ASC with a partner, and now works through a professional service agreement with a hospital alongside his partner Brian. Connect with Dr. Smuclovisky 💼 LinkedIn: Eric Smuclovisky About Locumstory Locumstory is a free, unbiased educational resource about locum tenens to answer your questions about the how-tos of locums on their website, podcast, webinars, videos, and a locums 101 crash course. Visit locumstory.com to find out if locum tenens makes sense for you and your career goals. Follow Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast If this conversation changed how you think about physician independence, hospital service agreements, and what it takes to build leverage without becoming employed by the system, share it with a colleague who’s thinking about the business side of medicine. And if you’re enjoying Life of Flow, a quick review helps more physicians and healthcare leaders find conversations like this.

In this episode of Life of Flow, we sit down with Dr. Robert Pearl, M.D., former CEO of The Permanente Medical Group, author of ChatGPT, MD, and a leading voice on how generative AI could change American medicine. The conversation moves between physician-led systems, private practice, capitation, chronic disease control, and what happens when AI begins working inside the daily gaps between patient visits. Dr. Pearl makes the case that AI is not just an administrative tool, but a way to improve quality, lower costs, and give physicians more time for the patients who need them most. 05:35 Writing ChatGPT, MD, and the malpractice question around AI 08:47 Patient trust, human presence, and vulnerable moments in care 11:14 AI-assisted diagnosis, malpractice premiums, and physician autonomy 18:19 Administrative AI and the bigger shift inside care delivery 25:58 What AI means for physicians entering medicine now 33:42 Why generative AI has to be discussed in the context of capitation 38:33 The tools physicians have today that did not exist three years ago 45:17 Bringing the capitation conversation back to AI 48:10 AI agents and the future of patient follow-up 51:32 Where to find Dr. Pearl’s book and ongoing work Who Should Listen This episode is for physicians, private practice owners, healthcare operators, and anyone thinking seriously about how generative AI, capitation, and physician-led care could change the economics and delivery of medicine. It is especially relevant for clinicians trying to understand where independence, technology, and patient trust fit into the next phase of healthcare. About Dr. Robert Pearl, M.D. Dr. Robert Pearl, M.D., served as CEO of The Permanente Medical Group, where he was responsible for physicians across the East Coast and West Coast, and describes Permanente as the physician side of Kaiser Permanente. In the episode, he explains that Permanente was physician-owned and physician-run, with its own board of directors, and that the organization established standards of care across settings, including the OR, cath labs, and ERs. Dr. Pearl is also the author of ChatGPT, MD, a book focused on how AI empowered patients and physicians can take back control of American medicine. He writes for Forbes, posts articles on LinkedIn, hosts the Fixing Healthcare podcast, and continues to speak and write about generative AI, healthcare strategy, capitation, and the future of physician-led care. Connect with Dr. Pearl 💼 LinkedIn: Robert Pearl, M.D. 🗞️ Website: robertpearlmd.com About Locumstory Locumstory is a free, unbiased educational resource about locum tenens to answer your questions about the how-tos of locums on their website, podcast, webinars, videos, and a locums 101 crash course. Visit locumstory.com to find out if locum tenens makes sense for you and your career goals. Follow Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast If this conversation changed how you think about generative AI, physician-led care, and what it could take to improve outcomes without losing the human side of medicine, share it with a colleague who’s thinking about where healthcare is heading. And if you’re enjoying Life of Flow, a quick review helps more physicians and healthcare leaders find conversations like this.

In this episode of Life of Flow, we sit down with Preston Alexander, co-founder of Forward Slash Health, for a practical conversation about the business side of private practice. Preston shares how he went from medical device product management to healthcare startups, consulting, revenue cycle work, and building a financial management platform for independent practices. We talk through the financial blind spots many physicians face when they leave employed medicine, including revenue cycle, cash flow, accounts receivable, accounts payable, outsourcing, staffing, and why understanding the numbers matters if you want to build a sustainable practice. 07:30 Preston’s path from MBA to medical devices and healthcare business 09:01 Using LinkedIn to learn how healthcare really works 11:02 How Forward Slash Health started from private practice pain points 18:27 Why Miguel keeps his revenue cycle team close to the practice 24:04 Cash flow, seasonality, and why big checks can be misleading 35:00 Where private practices commonly leak money 42:40 Why “doctors are bad at business” misses the point 54:30 What to know before outsourcing revenue cycle management 57:35 How to connect with Preston and Forward Slash Health Who Should Listen This episode is for physicians, surgeons, private practice owners, and doctors thinking about leaving the hospital system to build something independent. It’s also useful for anyone in healthcare operations who wants a clearer understanding of how revenue cycle, staffing, vendor relationships, and cash flow affect a practice. About Preston Alexander Preston Alexander is the CEO and co-founder of Forward Slash Health and Chief Operating Officer at Underscore Law. His background spans healthcare business, medical device product management, digital health, revenue cycle work, and private practice financial management. In the episode, he shares how his path from earning an MBA to working inside healthcare companies, launching and selling a medical device company, and helping build independent practices led him to focus on the financial systems physicians need to understand when running a practice. Connect with Preston 💼 LinkedIn: Preston Alexander 🗞️ Substack: The Healthcare Breakdown About Locumstory Locumstory is a free, unbiased educational resource about locum tenens to answer your questions about the how-tos of locums on their website, podcast, webinars, videos, and a locums 101 crash course. Visit locumstory.com to find out if locum tenens makes sense for you and your career goals. Follow Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast If this conversation made you think differently about the business side of medicine, share it with a colleague who’s building, running, or considering an independent practice. And if you’re enjoying Life of Flow, a quick review helps more physicians and healthcare leaders find conversations like this.

Andrew Sponsler, founder of Axiom, joins us this week to talk about agentic AI, personal operating systems, and why physicians should start experimenting before the tools become fully packaged for everyone else. Andrew builds AI operating systems for businesses, and in this episode, he breaks down what agentic AI means, how founders are using it now, and where it could start removing real operational pain from medical practices, from case logging to revenue cycle management. 03:04 What agentic AI is and why it matters 04:10 Andrew’s four-layer framework for understanding AI tools 07:00 How agentic AI acts beyond a single prompt 08:41 Why most people still have not engaged with AI 10:37 Should people start building now or wait for easier tools? 14:32 Why surgeons are wired to spot problems worth solving 17:44 Lucas’ case logging and billing workflow idea 22:39 Where beginners can start with Claude Code 30:29 Hardware, security, model routing, and basic setup 34:34 How Andrew helps businesses map and automate workflows 43:35 Why revenue cycle management may be the highest ROI use case Who Should Listen This episode is for physicians, surgeons, founders, operators, and medical practice owners who are curious about using AI to reduce operational friction without losing control of the work. It will especially resonate with anyone thinking about case logs, billing workflows, dashboards, communication overload, or the practical first steps of building with AI. About Andrew Sponsler Andrew Sponsler is the founder of Axiom, where he builds AI operating systems for businesses. His background is in continuous improvement and process mapping, and in the episode, he describes working with small and midsize businesses to create AI native workflows, streamline operations, and automate processes that create bottlenecks for founders and teams. He also runs Builder Weekend in Austin, a hands-on event for people building with AI at different stages. Connect with Andrew 📲 Instagram: @andrewsponsler 💼 LinkedIn: @andrewsponsler Follow Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast If this conversation changed how you think about agentic AI, physician-built tools, and what it could look like to automate the parts of medical practice that slow people down, share it with a colleague who’s curious about where this is all heading. And if you’re enjoying Life of Flow, a quick review helps more physicians and builders find conversations like this.

Dr. Jacqueline Majors, MD has built her practice around one central idea: surgeons should have more control over how they care for patients, structure their lives, and build sustainable careers. In this week's episode, she talks openly about leaving high-volume practice models, building an independent multidisciplinary center in Memphis, and why she believes outpatient vascular care is changing the future of the specialty. The conversation moves far beyond business strategy into surgeon burnout, team culture, limb salvage, physician autonomy, and the realities of trying to create a practice that supports both high-level performance and a real life outside the hospital. The episode also dives into what it takes to create a physician centered system from the ground up. 04:43 Why physicians should understand the business side of medicine 09:25 Leaving high-volume practice models and protecting long-term health 11:02 How Dr. Majors met her business partner and built Zenith Vascular & Fibroid Center 21:42 Why multidisciplinary outpatient models are becoming more important 27:05 Narrowing procedural focus and building community-based vascular centers 31:08 Why hyper-specialized limb salvage centers are needed 35:02 Surgeon burnout, grind culture, and changing the future of surgical practice 41:48 Female surgeons, leadership dynamics, and evaluating practice culture 47:40 Peptides, wound healing, and innovation in independent practice Who Should Listen This episode is for vascular surgeons, interventional specialists, physicians considering independent practice, and early-career surgeons thinking about how they want to structure their careers long term. It’s also highly relevant for physicians interested in outpatient care models, limb salvage programs, team culture, and practice ownership. About Dr. Jacqueline Majors, MD Dr. Jacqueline Majors is a board-certified vascular surgeon and the owner and director of the Limb Salvage Program at Zenith Vascular & Fibroid Center in Memphis, Tennessee. She specializes in advanced limb salvage and endovascular interventions focused on restoring blood flow, wound healing, and preventing amputations. Dr. Majors co-founded a multidisciplinary outpatient vascular practice alongside an interventional radiologist partner and remains actively involved in physician advocacy, education, and private practice development. She is also the creator of Anatomy Pad, a patient education platform designed for vascular surgeons. Her background includes Division I athletics, competitive soccer coaching, and more than 25 years of surgical experience. Connect with Dr. Jacqueline Majors, MD 💼 LinkedIn: Jacqueline Majors, MD Follow Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast If this conversation changed how you think about independent practice, surgeon burnout, limb salvage, and what it actually takes to build a sustainable career in medicine, share it with a colleague who’s navigating those same questions. And if you’re enjoying Life of Flow, a quick review helps more physicians find conversations like this.

Big hospital systems say “patient first,” but this episode questions what happens when incentives, bureaucracy, and corporate pressure start running medicine. Dr. Kristofer M. Charlton-Ouw, MD talks openly about the reality of building a vascular program inside a smaller hospital system, why large organizations become almost impossible to change, and how physicians end up trapped between patient care and administrative metrics. Miguel and Lucas also share their own experiences inside academic medicine, including the politics, burnout, and frustration that pushed them to rethink what kind of careers and systems they actually wanted to build. The episode also dives into what it takes to create a physician centered system from the ground up. 02:38 Building a physician centered vascular program 08:17 Creating specialized vascular OR teams 14:36 Why every patient deserves the A team 19:46 The vision behind building a new system 24:46 The hidden incentive problem inside hospitals 30:33 The billing code story that changed staffing 34:54 Speaking up against hospital leadership 42:16 When hospital systems stop being patient first 49:58 What medicine can learn from aviation safety Who Should Listen This episode is for vascular surgeons, physicians working inside large health systems, healthcare administrators, and anyone trying to build better systems of care without losing autonomy or quality of life. It is especially relevant for early and mid career physicians questioning what kind of practice environment they actually want long term. About Kristofer M. Charlton-Ouw, MD Kristofer Charlton-Ouw graduated from Vassar College with a B.A. in History before earning his M.D. from Harvard Medical School. He completed his general surgery residency at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and later completed his vascular surgery fellowship at Memorial Hermann Hospital and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Dr. Charlton Ouw served as Program Director for the UT Vascular Surgery Fellowship and Integrated Residency and was Director of the Memorial Hermann Heart and Vascular Institute’s Vascular Ultrasound Laboratory. His clinical and research interests include aortic aneurysm and dissection, prosthetic graft infection, hemodialysis access, peripheral arterial disease, and postoperative pain control. In 2020, he joined HCA Houston Healthcare and helped found Gulf Coast Vascular. Connect with Kristofer M. Charlton-Ouw, MD 💼 LinkedIn: Kristofer Charlton-Ouw Follow Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast If this episode changed how you think about hospital systems, physician autonomy, and the incentives shaping modern medicine, share it with a colleague who’s navigating the same realities. And if you’re enjoying Life of Flow, a quick review helps more physicians and healthcare professionals find conversations like this.

In this week’s episode of the Life of Flow podcast, a conversation about vascular surgery and entrepreneurship quickly turns into something far heavier: combat trauma, operating on wounded Marines in Iraq, life-or-death decisions made in minutes, and the emotional weight that follows surgeons long after the operating room goes quiet. Dr. Erin M. Moore, MD, shares the defining moments that shaped his career, from discovering surgery at Parkland Hospital to performing damage control operations during the surge in Al Anbar under conditions most physicians will never experience firsthand. The episode also explores military culture, mentorship, surgical training before endovascular therapy, life aboard aircraft carriers, and the moments that pushed him toward vascular surgery and eventually entrepreneurship. 04:05 Growing up in Dallas, early interest in science, and working through college 10:53 Miguel reflects on his own path into medicine and surgery 16:46 Navy training, officer indoctrination school, and early lessons in discipline 18:18 Life aboard the USS Kitty Hawk and seeing the world through military service 21:00 9/11, the USS Constellation, and returning to San Diego under completely different circumstances 37:55 Trauma surgery stories and the PTSD that can follow surgeons home 45:59 The emotional reality of treating wounded Marines in Iraq 58:10 Dr. Moore’s final reflection on conflict, culture, and understanding the long game Who Should Listen This episode is especially relevant for vascular surgeons, trauma surgeons, military physicians, surgical trainees, and anyone interested in the realities of combat medicine and leadership under pressure. It will also resonate with physicians exploring nontraditional career paths and the psychological side of practicing medicine in extreme environments. About Dr. Erin M. Moore, MD Erin Moore is a vascular surgeon in Jacksonville, Florida, affiliated with Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside Hospital and Ascension St. Vincent’s Southside Hospital. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and has been in practice for more than 20 years. During the episode, he reflects on his path through military medicine, service in the United States Navy, deployments aboard aircraft carriers, trauma surgery during the Iraq War, and the experiences that shaped his career in vascular surgery. Connect with Erin 💼 LinkedIn: Erin Moore Follow Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast If this episode changed how you think about military medicine, trauma surgery, and the emotional realities that come with caring for patients in combat, share it with a colleague who would value the conversation. And if you’re enjoying Life of Flow, a quick review helps more physicians find conversations like this.

In this week's solo episode, we step away from interviews to talk candidly about what’s happening behind the scenes in our own careers. Lucas shares how his plan to move to Puerto Rico fell through, how he handled leaving his job without a clear next step, and why he chose to pivot into locums while also starting a company through an accelerator. Miguel walks through how he’s structured his practice differently, building relationships with hospital teams, expanding into multiple sites, and figuring out how to grow without losing control of quality or culture. 03:15 Why the Puerto Rico plan fell through and what changed 05:54 Transition into locums and securing short-term opportunities 09:42 Breaking down new compensation models and earning potential 17:44 Miguel explains building a hybrid model with hospital integration 27:14 Expanding into multiple sites and new service models 37:41 The long-term vision for growth, partnerships, and eventual exit 54:24 Closing thoughts on building, risk, and reaching out Who Should Listen Physicians exploring different ways to structure their careers, and anyone thinking about combining clinical work with building something on the side. Follow Life of Flow 📲 Instagram: @LifeofFlowPodcast 👍 Facebook: Life of Flow Podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Life of Flow Podcast 🐦 X: @VascularPodcast If this episode made you rethink how to navigate career pivots, uncertainty, and the trade-offs between stability and building something of your own, share it with a colleague who’s figuring out their next move. And if you’re enjoying Life of Flow, a quick review helps more physicians find conversations like this.