From Pediatric ER Doc to FemTech Founder with Dr. Lara Zibners

In this episode of the Startup Physicians Podcast, host Dr. Alison Curfman talks with Dr. Lara Zibners, a pediatric emergency physician whose winding career path led her from the chaos of the PEDs ER to the world of women’s health innovation. What starts as light-hearted humor between two ER docs quickly evolves into a powerful conversation about identity, reinvention, and the unexpected paths physicians can take beyond clinical practice.

Lara shares her journey from insisting she’d never be a doctor, to practicing in the U.S. and U.K., to ultimately leaving the bedside after a mix of personal, professional, and global circumstances made clinical practice unsustainable. She opens up about her seven failed rounds of IVF, adoption, surrogacy, and the lived experiences that inspired her to co-found a vaginal drug-delivery medtech company—reshaping how women receive progesterone and other therapies.

Alison and Lara dive into:

• The surprising origins of Lara’s medical career
• Practicing medicine across two countries and navigating identity as a physician
• How infertility and motherhood shaped her mission in women’s health
• The reality of transitioning out of clinical medicine
• How physicians can translate clinical expertise into startup leadership
• The importance of storytelling when raising capital or influencing change
• Why learning, networking, and experimentation matter more than having a perfect plan
• Practical advice for doctors exploring entrepreneurship or seeking a more aligned career path

This conversation blends humor, vulnerability, and startup strategy—making it essential listening for any physician who’s curious about new career possibilities or the future of women’s health innovation.

Connect with Dr. Lara Zibners:

• Lara's Website: https://www.larazibners.com/
• Calla Lilly Clinical Care: https://www.callali.ly/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlarazibners/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laraz/
• Podcast: Unstable Vitals - https://www.unstablevitals.com/ 

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