Transforming Pediatric Care Through Innovation with Dr. Janene Fuerch

In this episode of the Startup Physicians Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Janene Fuerch, neonatologist, entrepreneur, and Director of the Stanford Biodesign Innovation Fellowship. Janene shares how her path in academic medicine unexpectedly led her to become a leader in healthcare innovation, and how she’s helping other physicians make a broader impact beyond the bedside.

We talk about how physicians can bring incredible value to startups, even without business or engineering backgrounds. Janene explains what it’s really like to go through the Stanford Biodesign Fellowship, how to identify unmet clinical needs, and why humility and collaboration are essential for success in the startup world.

We also dive into her work with Impact One, an organization focused on pediatric and maternal health innovation, and explore how physicians can help shape the future of healthcare technology, instead of just reacting to it.

If you’ve ever wondered how to combine your medical expertise with innovation, entrepreneurship, or leadership, this episode will show you what’s possible.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] – Welcome & Introduction

[02:00] – How Janene Found Her Way into Innovation

[06:00] – What Physicians Bring to Startups

[09:00] – The Importance of Humility and Teamwork

[11:30] – Creating Impact Beyond the Bedside

[15:00] – Driving Pediatric and Maternal Health Innovation

[18:30] – Why Physicians Need to Lead in Tech

[22:00] – Building Skills for Startup Success

[24:00] – Advice for Physicians Exploring New Career Paths

[25:30] – Closing Thoughts & How to Connect

Transcript

Alison Curfman (00:01.303)
Hi everyone, welcome back to the Startup Physicians podcast. This is your host, Dr. Alison Curfman, and I'm excited to have Dr. Janine Fuerch with me today. Hi Janine, thanks for joining me.

Janene Fuerch (00:13.677)
Hi, Alison, thrilled to be here. It's always a good opportunity when two physicians can sit down and chat, right?

Alison Curfman (00:21.708)
Yes, and I know the first time I met you, we realized we had so many connections. We had done so many similar things. And I don't remember what the topic of our conversation was supposed to be, but we ended up going off on all these different tangents. So it's great to be able to talk to you.

Janene Fuerch (00:41.155)
I think it might have been pediatric digital health, but I'm not sure we spent a lot of time talking about that.

Alison Curfman (00:47.138)
Yes, I agree. I was particularly interested in your journey because of how many things it has led to for you. And I know you are by background a neonatologist. Can you talk to us a little bit about your training background and when you started taking opportunities in the startup world and creating these new opportunities for yourself?

Janene Fuerch (01:15.777)
This was not my intended path, which surprises people because now I'm seen as the poster child for Biodesign and Impact One, which I run in pediatric and maternal health innovation out of Stanford University. I was originally interested in global health and human factors research. I was in the Bay Area, surrounded by innovation, but I was blind to it — I was focused on becoming the best pediatrician and neonatologist I could be. It wasn’t until my fellowship when my mentor suggested I apply for the Biodesign Fellowship. At first I refused — I said, “I’m not an engineer!” But eventually I realized I was already developing a medical device without knowing it.

I had designed something that worked and could help patients, and when I presented my data, people told me to just publish the paper and move on. That felt deeply unsatisfying. No one was going to build the device from a journal article — so I figured I had to do it myself.

Alison Curfman (02:30.818)
And that was at the Stanford Design School?

Janene Fuerch (02:33.913)
There’s the Stanford Design School, or the D.School, and then there’s Stanford Biodesign — they’re connected but distinct. Biodesign was started about 25 years ago by Dr. Paul Yock and Dr. Josh Makower, both physicians and entrepreneurs. It focuses on health tech innovation using a repeatable process that’s been replicated worldwide, now with over 10,000 graduates.

We take 12 fellows each year, and they go through the entire innovation process. At first, it’s not about solutions — it’s about identifying real, unmet clinical needs from multiple perspectives: physicians, nurses, insurers, patients, everyone. Then fellows design solutions, learn about business models, intellectual property, regulatory pathways, reimbursement, and more. I did that fellowship, and now I co-run the program.

Alison Curfman (04:18.978)
That’s awesome. And so you applied for the fellowship.

Janene Fuerch (04:23.141)
I did, and somehow they let me in! It’s a highly competitive program, with incredible applicants from all over the world. I’m very grateful.

Alison Curfman (04:43.224)
So what was that experience like? I think you said it’s a full-time year-long program.

Janene Fuerch (04:49.997)
Yes. Biodesign has been extended worldwide, but the Stanford program remains the flagship. The Innovation Fellowship is a 10½-month full-time program where fellows identify over 100 unmet needs, narrow them down, and develop viable solutions. We emphasize understanding the need before proposing a fix — truly grasping every stakeholder’s perspective. From there, fellows move into technical, clinical, regulatory, and business feasibility, ultimately producing innovations that reach patients. I completed the fellowship in 2016–2017, and now I get to help run it.

Alison Curfman (02:03.79)
That’s awesome. Where were you in your training? Had you finished neonatology yet?

Janene Fuerch (02:08.208)
Yes, I waited until after completing my fellowship because leaving during training would have caused a staffing issue. I took a year afterward to learn the innovation process, started a company through it, and I’ve never looked back.

Alison Curfman (02:50.072)
What sorts of things have you done since then?

Janene Fuerch (03:00.676)
A lot! I follow where the energy and problems are. After Biodesign, I co-founded a startup called EMI with Amanda French — a birth control adherence solution combining hardware and software to help women use pills correctly and reduce unplanned pregnancies. We were motivated by reproductive choice and effectiveness rates.

Since then, I’ve worked on neonatal device innovations, run the Impact One program at Stanford — which incubates, accelerates, and advocates for pediatric and maternal health technologies — and consulted with numerous startups. Through Impact One, we support innovators with funding and resources through grants and philanthropy. I also still practice medicine and run Stanford’s neonatal ECMO program.

Alison Curfman (05:19.704)
When you consult with startups, how do you think your medical background adds value?

Janene Fuerch (05:30.938)
Initially, I underestimated it. I thought once Biodesign was over, my value was done — but my teammates reminded me how crucial a physician’s perspective is. Physicians bring problem-solving, grit, team experience, and real-world insight. In consulting, I bridge the gap between “business speak” and “clinical speak.” I can translate between startup founders, engineers, and medical professionals. It’s invaluable.

Alison Curfman (07:40.024)
Many physicians doubt themselves because they’re experts in medicine but beginners in startups. You need humility to say, “I don’t know this, teach me,” without undervaluing your clinical expertise.

Janene Fuerch (08:33.006)
Exactly. Physicians must accept that innovation is a team sport. It’s not “my lab” or “my project” — it’s “we.” You can’t innovate alone. It takes collaboration and a mindset shift.

Alison Curfman (09:59.01)
Many doctors think they need another degree before getting involved. I encourage them to craft their story — who they are, what drives them, and how their medical background adds value. That narrative opens doors.

Janene Fuerch (10:37.1)
 That’s true. Physicians aren’t used to articulating who we are beyond our specialty. We need to learn that skill — and many are eager to do so.

Alison Curfman (11:25.07)
 You’ve created impact on many levels — patient care, startups, teaching, leading Biodesign, Impact One. How do you think about your overall impact on healthcare compared to an academic-only path?

Janene Fuerch (11:53.646)
I still practice neonatology and love caring for patients and families. That one-on-one human connection is powerful. But through innovation, I can impact far more people. Teaching others to innovate wasn’t enough; I wanted to create lasting change. Biodesign allows me to help multiple companies and technologies reach patients, advancing healthcare fields globally. It’s deeply fulfilling.

Alison Curfman (13:55.406)
I share your love for clinical work but agree that startups create a one-to-many impact — scaling your ability to improve lives.

Janene Fuerch (14:53.198)
Exactly. I want to build something that outlives me — a legacy that moves the field forward and inspires others. Pediatrics lags behind in innovation, and that’s what drives me every day — because kids deserve better.

Alison Curfman (15:44.93)
I agree. I tell physicians that the pace of technological change will be overwhelming in the next five years — perhaps equivalent to the past century. It’ll be hard to keep up clinically, but even riskier if doctors don’t participate in shaping the change.

Janene Fuerch (17:11.472)
 Absolutely. Technology is advancing faster than regulatory systems or clinical trials can adapt. If physicians don’t engage, others will build healthcare without us — and kids will be left behind. We must be part of the solution.

Alison Curfman (19:44.686)
 What do you say to doctors who fear innovation — worried tech will replace them or harm quality?

Janene Fuerch (20:11.866)
 I say: get involved, or you’ll be on the receiving end of someone else’s design. For years, academia warned us to avoid “conflicts of interest.” I reject that — I embrace being “conflicted,” because my presence ensures these companies do what’s right for patients. Physicians bring safety, context, and integrity.

Alison Curfman (21:19.988)
Exactly. Many don’t realize that non-clinicians are building healthcare solutions — coders or parents of patients trying to fix a problem. Good founders eventually seek clinicians, but many don’t start with them.

Janene Fuerch (21:58.5)
Yes — and well-meaning people often waste time and money by not partnering with clinicians early. My advice: bring a physician into the process from the start. It will save you years of misdirection.

Alison Curfman (22:23.116)
That’s why I teach physicians how to function effectively in startups — understanding design thinking, MVPs, and how early development works. Those aren’t skills we learn in medicine, but they can be learned.

Janene Fuerch (22:53.616)
Exactly. We’re not trained in business or product development — we’re trained to care for patients. But those skills translate. You don’t need an MBA to make an impact — just curiosity, experience, and a willingness to learn.

Alison Curfman (24:08.582)
 Do you have any last thoughts for physicians in traditional practice who feel hesitant about exploring startups?

Janene Fuerch (24:20.4)
Yes — your voice is needed. You can find the time if you carve it out intentionally. Physicians can do anything, but not everything at once. Start small. Reflect on where you want to go, what problems you care about, and begin. You’ll make mistakes, but that’s part of innovation. Don’t wait for the “perfect” opportunity — build your path as you go.

Alison Curfman (25:25.026)
Thank you so much for joining me and sharing your insights, Janine. For anyone who wants to connect, we’ll include her LinkedIn in the show notes. Thank you all for listening — and please follow and share the Startup Physicians podcast with someone who’d enjoy it too. Until next time, thanks for joining us.