From Clinical Practice to Founding VirtuCare with Dr. Joe Pazona

In this episode of the Startup Physicians Podcast, host Dr. Alison Curfman sits down with Dr. Joe Pazona, board-certified urologist and founder and CEO of VirtuCare, to explore his unconventional journey from traditional clinical practice to healthcare entrepreneurship.

After experiencing burnout, frustrating healthcare systems, and significant gaps in specialty care, Joe decided to take a different path. He founded VirtuCare to rethink how urology services are delivered through telemedicine, team-based care, and hospital partnerships.

Joe shares the challenges of building a healthcare company without a business background, why physicians need a seat at the table when designing new care models, and how technology can expand patient access without compromising clinical standards.

If you're considering launching a startup, exploring advisory opportunities, or simply looking for ways to make a bigger impact in medicine, this conversation will provide valuable insight into what's possible beyond traditional clinical practice.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction

00:33 Joe Pazona's journey into medicine and urology

02:50 Recognizing opportunities to improve healthcare

03:50 The reality of physician employment and burnout

06:11 When speaking up leads to difficult career decisions

07:33 Finding a new path in Nashville

09:22 How COVID exposed weaknesses in traditional healthcare models

10:42 The idea behind VirtuCare

12:50 From direct-to-consumer telemedicine to a new business model

13:50 Addressing the rural urology access problem

16:20 Rethinking what quality healthcare delivery looks like

18:37 The role of physician leadership in team-based care

22:08 Why doctors need a seat at the table

24:17 Balancing patient continuity with access and scalability

25:16 Exploring different paths into healthcare innovation

26:34 The realities of entrepreneurship and finding your purpose

28:37 Final advice for physicians who want to make a difference 

Resources:

Learn more about Startup Physicians:
https://startupphysicians.com

Connect with Startup Physicians on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-physicians/

Learn more about Virtucare: https://myvirtucare.com/ 

Connect with Virtucare on LinkedIn: ​​https://www.linkedin.com/company/myvirtucare 

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