What do you do when the standard medical tools just don’t work? If you're Dr. Cephus E. Simmons, Sr., you invent something better.

In this episode of Lightning RX, host Colette Nataf talks with the Founder & CEO of SealCath, President at Simmons Medical Devices, and Professor Emeritus of Radiology at MUSC, Dr. Cephus Simmons, about his journey from frustrated clinician to successful medical device entrepreneur.

After struggling through a difficult pediatric intussusception reduction procedure, Dr. Simmons sketched a better catheter on a piece of paper. That drawing became SealCath, a novel multi-balloon catheter that’s now FDA-approved, in use across six applications, and scaling across hospitals nationwide.

• The case that inspired Dr. Simmons to invent a better catheter
• How he navigated the patent and FDA clearance process
• Lessons from pivoting post-COVID to a latex-free solution
• How SealCath went from idea to 20+ hospitals, with just two people
• Why LinkedIn is surprisingly powerful in B2B medical device marketing
• How email campaigns and short videos drive strong engagement (40% open rate!)
• What it takes to scale a medtech business through partnerships and distributors

💡 Quote of the Episode:

"You don’t need an MBA to build a business—you just need thick skin, real feedback, and the drive to learn every step of the way."— Dr. Cephus E. Simmons, Sr.

Connect with Dr. Cephus E. Simmons:

• LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/dr-cephus-simmons
• Company: sealcath.com
• Company: simmonsmedicaldevices.com

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What if the most effective mental health treatment didn't happen in an office—but in the metaverse?

In this episode of Lightning RX, host Colette Nataf, founder of Lightning GTM, sits down with Peter Oykhman, Founder of PsyTechVR and CorePartners, to explore how virtual reality is revolutionizing the way clinicians treat anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and more.

PsyTechVR is not just another VR meditation app; it's a clinician-first tool for immersive exposure therapy and guided mental wellness. Peter walks us through how the platform allows psychologists and psychiatrists to control highly customized therapy environments, everything from turbulence on a plane to the sound of a barking dog, empowering patients to safely confront their fears in deeply engaging, AI-generated simulations.

They discuss the startup's go-to-market journey, including bootstrapping with minimal marketing spend, overcoming institutional resistance, and why even insurance companies are now recognizing VR as a billable therapy tool.

• What PsyTechVR is and how it supports CBT, EMDR, and exposure therapy
• How clinicians use AI to create personalized VR scenarios for anxiety, phobias, and PTSD
• Why virtual reality therapy is more immersivem, and safer than traditional treatments
• How PsyTechVR keeps users engaged while eliminating distractions
• What’s holding back VR adoption in mental health (hint: not the tech)
• Why insurance companies are faster adopters than clinical associations
• The hidden costs of chasing VC funding, and how PsyTechVR focused on profitability instead
• How VR therapy is already backed by decades of peer-reviewed research

💡 Golden Nugget:

“VR therapy isn’t science fiction; it’s peer-reviewed, clinically proven, and already has CPT codes. The APA just hasn’t caught up yet.”

• 🔗 LinkedIn
• 🌐 PsyTechVR.com
• 🌐 CorePartners.com
• 🌐 CoreIMS.com

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What if the next wave of healthcare innovation wasn’t about treating chronic illness, but reaching healthy people, faster?

In this episode of Lightning RX, host Colette Nataf, founder of Lightning GTM, sits down with Brandon J. Robertson, MBA, founder and president of UCP Merchant Medicine and Intellivisit Solutions, to explore how urgent care is being redefined through hospitality-inspired design, psychographic data, and AI-enhanced clinical technology.

Brandon shares the blueprint behind launching over 225 urgent care centers across 44 states, without patients ever knowing his company’s name. From geospatial mapping to EMR-integrated software that slashes documentation time from minutes to seconds, UCP’s model is built to deliver not just care, but delight.

They explore what it takes to build high-performing, modern urgent care systems inside traditional health systems, and how creating a premium patient experience can drive organic growth, sky-high Net Promoter Scores, and operational scale.

• Why urgent care serves healthy people, and what that means for marketing
• How psychographics help identify high-value patient segments
• The role of consumer data in choosing clinic locations
• How UCP clinics achieve <1 minute door-to-care times and 94 NPS
• How AI reduces charting time to 30 seconds and improves visit consistency
• What modern urgent care centers borrow from Target and Starbucks
• UCP’s stealth growth strategy: let patients know the health system, not the vendor
• Advice for consultants building in a competitive, health-regulated space

💡 Golden Nugget:

“We don’t want patients to know who we are; we want the experience to speak for itself.”

• linkedin.com/in/brandon-j-robertson-mba
• urgentcarepartners.com/ (Company)
• healthsystemadvisors.com (Company)
• levelbrand.com/sample-work/urgent-care-partners-main/ (Portfolio)

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• LinkedIn
• Website
• Spotify
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What if the best way to fix healthcare wasn’t through policy, but through personal experience and persistence?

In this episode of Lightning RX, host Colette Nataf sits down with Kyle Sandler, Founder and CEO of DocuMed, to explore how one founder’s journey through injury, recovery, and frustration with the medical system led him to build a platform designed to simplify and humanize patient communication.

Kyle shares his transformation from athlete to entrepreneur, revealing how his years as a patient across nine surgeries and sixteen broken bones exposed the deep inefficiencies in healthcare communication. From confusing medical instructions to missed follow-ups, Kyle saw how a lack of clarity can lead to poor outcomes and burnout for both patients and providers. That’s where DocuMed was born, a mission-driven startup that empowers patients with personalized tools for preparing, tracking, and understanding their care, while helping providers close communication gaps that impact outcomes.

Even before launching its first product, DocuMed has drawn nearly $1 million in soft commitments and recruited leading physicians, including Dr. Ian Kaminsky, to its medical board, proof that the industry is ready for change.

What You’ll Learn:

• How personal experience can fuel innovation in healthcare tech
• The role of communication and education in improving patient outcomes
• Why empathy and user understanding matter more than technical skills in early-stage startups
• How DocuMed bridges the gap between patients, providers, and insurers
• Strategies for building credibility and partnerships before a product launch
• Fundraising lessons for founders in pre-revenue stages
• The importance of building mission-driven teams and advisors
• How startups like DocuMed are shaping the future of patient-centered healthcare

💡 Golden Nugget:

“You don’t have to wait for the system to change; sometimes, you just have to start building the solution yourself.”

Connect with Kyle Sandler

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kyle-sandler-7520562a3
• Website: mydocumed.com
• Email: Kyle@MyDocumed.com

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What if the next revolution in clinical research wasn’t a new therapy, but artificial intelligence itself?

In this episode of Lightning RX, host Colette Nataf, founder of Lightning GTM, sits down with Dr. Keleni Tukia, MD, MBA, MPH, Founder and CEO of Sammari Health, to discuss how AI is transforming the way clinical trials are designed, managed, and delivered.

Dr. Tukia shares her journey from medicine to entrepreneurship, how years of seeing inefficiencies in research and regulatory processes led her to build a platform that uses AI to streamline clinical trial protocol development and accelerate medical innovation. From leaving the hospital system to founding a startup, she opens up about the challenges of pioneering a new category in digital health and what it takes to bring AI solutions into one of the world’s most regulated industries.

The conversation dives deep into the intersection of data science, medicine, and business leadership, exploring how AI-driven tools can shorten trial timelines, reduce human error, and empower researchers to focus on what matters most: improving patient outcomes.

What You’ll Learn:

• How clinical trial bottlenecks inspired the creation of Sammari Health
• Why AI can make trial design more accurate, adaptive, and efficient
• The challenges of integrating technology into regulated healthcare systems
• How Dr. Tukia’s medical and business background shaped her startup journey
• Lessons learned from building an AI company in the post-COVID health tech landscape
• Why timing, resilience, and team alignment are crucial in early-stage innovation
• How AI can help democratize access to clinical research opportunities
• The future of data-driven healthcare innovation

💡 Golden Nugget:

“AI won’t replace clinicians; it will free them to focus on patients, not paperwork.”

Connect with Dr. Keleni Tukia

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kelenitukia
• Company: sammarihealth.com

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• LinkedIn
• Website
• Spotify
• Amazon Music
• iHeart

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What if breaking the stigma around mental health started not in hospitals or classrooms, but in community walks, art, and open dialogue?

In this episode of Lightning RX, host Colette Nataf sits down with Kyle Carter, M.Ed., LBS, Chief Executive Officer, Board Executive, and Health Equity Leader at the National Alliance on Mental Illness – Philadelphia (NAMI Philly), to explore how innovative community engagement, creative leadership, and grassroots advocacy are transforming the conversation around mental health.

Kyle shares his journey as an educator and behavioral health specialist turned nonprofit leader, and how he’s leveraging both strategy and empathy to expand NAMI Philly’s reach. Under his guidance, the organization is pioneering new programs for youth and families, fostering partnerships across healthcare and education, and using marketing and storytelling to humanize mental health awareness.

From NAMIWalks Philly to neighborhood outreach initiatives, Kyle reveals how collaboration, representation, and intentional leadership are driving measurable impact, and why health equity starts with listening to the voices of those directly affected.

What You’ll Learn:

• How NAMI Philadelphia builds trust and advocacy through community-first programs
• Why creative storytelling is vital in mental health awareness campaigns
• The importance of inclusive leadership in addressing mental health disparities
• How data, empathy, and strategy intersect in nonprofit innovation
• Lessons learned from scaling NAMIWalks Philly into a movement
• The power of cross-sector partnerships to strengthen local impact
• How leaders can balance operational strategy with genuine compassion
• Why mental health equity must be embedded in every organizational decision

💡 Golden Nugget:

“True equity in mental health begins when leadership steps back, and the community steps forward.”

Connect with Kyle Carter

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kyle-carter-m-ed-lbs-195968288
• Organization: National Alliance on Mental Illness – Philadelphia (NAMI Philly)
• Website: https://namiphilly.org/

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• LinkedIn
• Website
• Spotify
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What if the future of healthcare innovation wasn’t defined by technology, but by global collaboration, data sharing, and integrity-driven science?

In this episode of Lightning RX, host Colette Nataf sits down with Dr. Ravi Mehrotra, Physician-Scientist at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and Founder of the Open Health Systems Laboratory (OHSL), to explore how open collaboration and informatics are transforming cancer prevention and public health worldwide.

Dr. Mehrotra shares his journey from the Armed Forces Medical College in India to leading a global network of scientists, clinicians, and technologists dedicated to advancing cancer research and care across borders. Through OHSL, he has pioneered initiatives such as virtual tumor boards, connecting oncologists from Africa to the U.S., and championed a team science model that accelerates discovery through open data and collective problem-solving.

From collaborating with the National Cancer Institute to advocating for the single-dose HPV vaccine now endorsed by the World Health Organization, Dr. Mehrotra offers an inside look at how global insights are reshaping prevention and access to care. Along the way, he and Colette unpack the ethical challenges of innovation—how to balance public good, profit, and purpose in a world increasingly driven by AI and data.

What You’ll Learn:

• How open collaboration and informatics are transforming cancer research
• The story behind the Open Health Systems Laboratory and its global mission
• How virtual tumor boards are connecting oncologists worldwide
• Why the single-dose HPV vaccine is a breakthrough in cancer prevention
• How AI and data-driven learning are shaping the next generation of global health research
• The ethical balance between innovation, access, and profit
• Lessons for founders on patience, perseverance, and integrity in healthcare innovation

💡 Golden Nugget:

“Never pursue profit at the cost of causing harm. Do good—and success will follow.”

Connect with Dr. Ravi Mehrotra

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drravimehrotra
• Emory Profile: sph.emory.edu/faculty/profile/index.php?FID=ravi-mehrotra-10910
• Open Health Systems Laboratory: ohsl.us
• ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-9453-1408
• Email: ravi.mehrotra@ohsl.us

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• LinkedIn
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What if your passion project unexpectedly became the next big thing in sports gear?

In this episode of Lightning RX, host Colette Nataf sits down with Brayal Valdez, Founder of Hevini Sporting, to explore how a teenager’s curiosity turned into a tennis gear brand that’s making waves across the sport.

Brayal shares how growing up as a tennis player and later rediscovering the game after watching Roger Federer sparked his obsession with racket design. Without formal training, he dove deep into materials, balance, and feel, eventually building his first prototype entirely on his own.

A viral TikTok video of his custom racket became the inflection point that transformed a hobby into a business. The unexpected attention led to testing opportunities with serious players, including Division 1 athletes, whose feedback helped refine Hevini’s early designs and validate his approach.

Brayal opens up about running every part of the business himself from product design and manufacturing to content creation and marketing, drawing on lessons learned from his earlier venture, IDK Warehouse, a vintage fashion brand he founded to fund his creative pursuits.

Hevini’s growth was fueled by authenticity and storytelling rather than big ad budgets. Instead of pushing polished campaigns, Brayal shared real footage of athletes using his gear, fostering trust through transparency. Strategic ambassador and affiliate programs expanded Hevini’s reach, while accessible pricing set the brand apart from major incumbents like Wilson and Babolat.

But scaling came with challenges. As more players joined, some questioned the fairness of the ambassador system, prompting Brayal to develop a more structured sponsorship model. He also discussed the immense financial and physical demands of pursuing tennis professionally and how Hevini aims to make the sport more inclusive.

What You’ll Learn:

• How a teenage experiment evolved into a fast-growing tennis brand
• The power of viral content in proving product-market fit
• Why authentic storytelling builds community and trust
• How to design a grassroots ambassador program that drives real traction
• The pricing strategy that made Hevini accessible to everyday players
• Lessons from transitioning a side project into a scalable DTC business
• How to respond to feedback while staying true to your vision
• The discipline of simplifying product, marketing, and focus

💡 Golden Nugget:

“Simplify relentlessly. Focus on what matters. Trust your vision more than every opinion.”

Connect with Brayal Valdez & Hevini Sporting

• 🔗 LinkedIn: Brayal Valdez
• 🌐 Website: hevini.com — “Founded by players, for players, we design gear with purpose.”

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