Translating Clinical Skills Into Startup Strategy with Dr. Rebecca Miksad

This episode I’m joined by my friend and former co-consultant Dr. Rebecca Miksad. Rebecca is a powerhouse—Harvard-trained oncologist, health economist, startup executive, and now Chief Medical Officer at Color. We go deep into how she made the leap from academia to startups, how she navigated uncertainty and mentorship, and why your clinical skills are more transferable than you think.

If you're a physician who's even thinking about what else is possible beyond traditional medicine—this one’s for you. Rebecca shares how to talk about your skills in business terms, what it's really like working at a startup, and how to find your footing in a world that feels totally new. I promise you’ll walk away with a fresh dose of courage, clarity, and a few laugh-out-loud moments, too.

Dr. Rebecca Miksad is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized leader in oncology, healthtech, and data science. As Chief Medical Officer at Color Health, she leads clinical strategy for innovative cancer care solutions, including screening, diagnostics, and survivorship programs. Previously, she built the Strategic Affairs and Research teams at Flatiron Health, helping shape real-world data standards and FDA guidance. With over 100 scientific publications, Dr. Miksad continues to care for patients at Boston Medical Center, where she is an Associate Professor. She holds an MD from Cornell and an MPH from Harvard.

Episode Highlights:

[1:50] Rebecca shares her background in oncology, economics, and her “aha” moment discovering medical decision-making.
[4:26] We nerd out over early academic research and how her MPH training shaped her next career steps.
[6:00] Why her ideas were “too big for an R01”—and how that pushed her to explore other options.
[8:45] Her first leap into startups: Flatiron Health, cold networking, and convincing mentors it wasn’t a terrible idea.
[10:58] We dive into the reality of startup uncertainty, equity, and redefining mentorship.
[12:45] How to use LinkedIn (yes, even if you haven’t touched yours since residency) and why cold outreach really works.
[16:36] Breaking down “transferable skills” for physicians—what you actually bring to the table.
[19:50] Learning to speak tech: scrums, sprints, and agile product teams for docs new to startups.
[23:45] What’s a must-have vs. a nice-to-have in healthtech product design—and how to be that trusted clinical voice.
[27:32] Rebecca’s consulting phase: working with tiny startups and helping them decode the healthcare ecosystem.
[30:58] Our own mini-community of consulting docs and how peer support changed the game.
[33:22] Her current role as CMO at Color—and building a 50-state virtual cancer clinic to fight healthcare deserts.
[35:32] Virtual care, prevention, and the future of cancer treatment for working adults across the U.S.
[36:55] Final thoughts on building a meaningful career outside the traditional path—and doing it your own way.

Resources:

• Connect with Dr. Rebecca Miksad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-miksad  
• Learn more about Color Health: https://www.color.com 
• Explore our services for physicians at: StartupPhysicians.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast, rate, and leave a review. Don’t forget to share this episode with fellow physicians who might be interested in startups. Together, we can shape the future of healthcare! See you next time.

In the free Physician Founder Roadmap webinar, we’ll share how physicians can begin evaluating their ideas and understand what it takes to bring them to market.

Mark your calendar for October 22 at 12 PM CT / 1 PM ET and join us for the webinar!

Create a venture-ready concept pitch in just 45 minutes! Join our free AI session designed for practicing physicians, where we guide you through the concept-assessment process used in the Startup Physicians Incubator.
 
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A six-month program that takes a practicing physician’s idea to an investor-ready company. Cohort 2 starts January 2027.