Impulse | Medical Technology & Science Leaders

Hosted by Mathieu Chaffard

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117

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Impulse is the medical technology and science podcast where we dive into the most exciting breakthroughs in healthcare of our time. In each episode, we sit down with the greatest leaders driving change and innovation to shape the future of medicine and rethink the way we care!

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60 recent

October 1, 202652 min

#59 - What’s next for obesity care in the GLP-1 era - Kim Boyd - Weight Watchers

What if we treated obesity not as a failure of willpower, but as the complex, chronic medical condition it truly is? With over half of the global adult population expected to be living with overweight or obesity by 2035, according to the World Obesity Federation, traditional "eat less, exercise more" advice has proven fundamentally insufficient. The widespread arrival of GLP-1 receptor agonists has marked a dramatic shift in metabolic care, offering unprecedented efficacy in weight management, diabetes treatment, and cardiovascular risk reduction. Yet, as these therapies gain global momentum, critical questions remain around their long-term management, side effect mitigation, and equitable access. Among those leading the charge toward comprehensive, patient-centered care is Dr. Kim Boyd, Chief Medical Officer at Weight Watchers. A primary care doctor trained in integrative medicine and an early leader at One Medical, Kim sits at the intersection of modern pharmacology, behavioral science, and digital health technology. In this episode of Impulse, Kim breaks down the pathophysiology of obesity as a chronic disease associated with over 200 health conditions across the cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic (CVRM) spectrum. We explore the rapidly expanding therapeutic landscape—from established injectables like Wegovy and Zepbound to oral formulations, amylin combinations, and muscle-sparing agents in the pipeline. Kim shares why medications alone are not a magic bullet and details how companion digital programs, strength training, and tailored nutrition are essential to preserving muscle functionality and achieving lasting health outcomes. We also discuss how digital health tools and AI can distill overwhelming physiological data into daily actionable habits, the challenges of global health coverage and pricing dynamics, and the future of sustainable obesity management. A timely and eye-opening conversation on the evolution of metabolic health and the future of comprehensive obesity care! Timeline: 00:00:00 - Kim's background and role as Chief Medical Officer at Weight Watchers 00:04:15 - Redefining obesity as a chronic medical condition 00:15:05 - Mapping the therapeutic landscape: GLP-1s, oral formulations, and pipeline agents 00:24:00 - Managing side effects, preserving muscle functionality, and the role of companion care 00:27:50 - Integrating AI, wearables, and digital health into Weight Watchers' companion programs 00:39:50 - Global access barriers, generic availability, and the future of sustainable obesity care What we also talked about with Kim: Saxenda Orforglipron CagriSema Retatrutide Amylin Body Mass Index (BMI) Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) Bariatric surgery This episode was made possible with the support of HLTH Europe! As mentioned by Kim during the episode, we invite you to read Ground Truths by Dr. Eric Topol and his recent book Super Agers, offering exhaustive and evidence-based insights on the science of longevity. Kim recommends following the work and upcoming book “Food Is Medicine” by Cardiologist and Nutrition Scientist Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian. You can also check out the research and publications by NIH Nutrition Scientist Dr. Kevin Hall on metabolic regulation and energy balance. You can get in touch with Kim via LinkedIn, and follow Weight Watchers’ activities on their website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. If you want to give me feedback on the episode or suggest potential guests, contact me on LinkedIn or via email! And if you liked the episode, please share it, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a 5-star review on streaming platforms! You can also support my work by making a PayPal donation @ImpulsePodcast! Lastly, don’t forget to follow our activities on LinkedIn and our website!

October 1, 20262 min

[SNIPPET] - Kim Boyd on the long term consequences of being overweight

To discover the whole episode, type "#59 - What’s next for obesity care in the GLP-1 era - Kim Boyd - Weight Watchers" on your preferred streaming platform

June 4, 202646 min

#58 - Leading at scale in the medical imaging business - Simon Rost - GE Healthcare

One third of all data generated globally comes from the healthcare sector, yet a staggering 97% of it remains unused, trapped in siloed systems. This "big crime" of wasted potential is exactly what Simon Rost and his team at GE Healthcare are determined to solve. As the Global Marketing Officer for Enterprise Imaging, Simon sits at the helm of a business that touches over a billion patients a year. In a world where medical imaging is the bedrock of diagnosis, the challenge isn't just about capturing the image anymore—it's about what we do with the intelligence hidden within it. In this episode of Impulse, Simon breaks down the transition from "Big Iron" hardware to the invisible power of enterprise medical imaging software. We dive into the rise of Agentic AI—AI that doesn't just analyze but takes action—and how GE Healthcare is moving toward a future of autonomous imaging to free up clinicians for what matters most: the patient. We also explore the critical shift in commercial models from CapEx (capital expenditure) to SaaS (software-as-a-service), the necessity of an open ecosystem over "walled gardens," and why interoperability must be the innovation of the decade. Simon even shares a personal anecdote about how GE's technology bookended the birth of his son, bringing the scale of MedTech down to the most human level. Whether you are a radiologist, a healthtech entrepreneur, or a data enthusiast, this conversation is a masterclass in how a global giant is retooling for the AI-first era of medicine! Timeline: 00:00:00 - Simon's journey in MedTech and enterprise imaging software at GE Healthcare 00:05:50 - The trends of AI in healthcare from Simon's perspective 00:12:04 - Where AI and hardware meet in medical devices 00:14:35 - Positioning GE Healthcare's portfolio along the end-to-end patient journey 00:20:27 - How GE Healthcare builds the value proposition and commercial models of its enterprise imaging software 00:28:15 - GE Healthcare's philosophy regarding partnerships and building ecosystems 00:33:37 - Simon's predictions for the future of medical imaging What we also talked about with Simon: Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) GE Healthcare's Hello AI Program We mentioned with Simon some of the past episodes of the series: #16 - Making ultrasound portable to transform medical imaging - Ohad Arazi - Clarius #32 - Accelerating radiology with AI - Amine Korchi - Radiologist #36 - Turning healthcare preventive with full-body MRI scans - Andrew Lacy - Prenuvo #47 - Pushing responsible AI in health - Dr. Ricardo Baptista Leite - HealthAI As mentioned by Simon during the episode, you can have a read at Ground Truths by Dr. Eric Topol and his recent book Super Agers, offering exhaustive and evidence-based insights on the science of longevity and the role of medical imaging in it. Simon also recommends checking out The Medical Futurist website by Dr. Bertalan Meskó, a bible for everything around medical technology and the latest innovations in the space. You can get in touch with Simon via LinkedIn, and follow GE Healthcare's activities on their website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. If you want to give me feedback on the episode or suggest potential guests, contact me over LinkedIn or via email! And if you liked the episode, please share it, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a 5-star review on streaming platforms! You can also support my work by doing a PayPal donation @ImpulsePodcast! Lastly, don't forget to follow our activities on LinkedIn and our website!

June 4, 20264 min

[SNIPPET] - Simon Rost on ways AI is changing the game in healthcare

To discover the whole episode, type "#58 - Leading at scale in the medical imaging business - Simon Rost - GE Healthcare" on your preferred streaming platform.

January 5, 202654 min

#57 - Reimagining care for metabolic disorders - Ihsan Almarzooqi - meta[bolic]

Which care models will handle the scourge of metabolic disorders? Here are a few figures to understand the extent of the problem: Close to 1 in 4 people live with some form of metabolic disorder (according to the NIH). It accounts for more than 13 million deaths annually (according to the Global Burden of Disease). The economic burden it represents is expected to go beyond $4 Trillion USD by 2035 (according to the World Obesity Federation). Beyond the societal questions raised by this public health phenomenon, the real concern is whether traditional care models are capable of managing this group of conditions effectively and sustainably. This largely because traditional care models are episodic and put little focus on behaviour change that is dearly needed to reverse the trend. Among those who have realized it and are striving for alternatives, Ihsan Almarzooqi and his team at [meta[bolic]](https://glucare.health/) stand out. Based in Dubai, they have developed and deployed a unique care model, which they aim to replicate in Europe, starting with the UK. Their approach blends cutting-edge diagnostic technology, remote monitoring, and a care pathway involving frequent interactions with medical staff—enough to drive long-term behavioural change. And its efficacy has been demonstrated through numerous studies published since its inception. Beyond this hybrid care model, what is striking about Ihsan and the meta[bolic] philosophy is their relentless focus on improving outcomes for patients and incorporating the latest care innovations to raise the bar. Up to the point of reducing their operational margin to extend their knowledge of each patient, as long as it improves the level of care. In this episode of Impulse, we discuss what makes this care pathway unique, its implementation, the results, and how we can leverage traditional reimbursement schemes while still delivering a continuous and outcome-oriented care experience. An inspiring and thought-provoking conversation on what care models for metabolic disorders can be, despite the constraints posed by most health systems! Timeline: 00:00:00 - What led Ihsan to pioneer new care delivery models 00:06:03 - The extent of the metabolic diseases pandemic 00:10:39 - Why traditional care models fail to address metabolic diseases 00:16:49 - The components that make up the meta[bolic] care model 00:23:37 - How the meta[bolic] care model is funded in the UAE 00:30:57 - Ihsan's philosophy about evidence generation and how it is lived at meta[bolic] 00:33:28 - Scaling the meta[bolic] model to other geographies beyond the UAE 00:38:45 - How to keep patients engaged throughout their care journey 00:41:55 - Ihsan's wishes for the democratization of value-based care What we also talked about with Ihsan: Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) GLP-1 agonists Labcorp p-Tau217 VO2 max test PromarkerD test As mentioned by Ihsan during the episode, you can have a read at Ground Truths by Dr. Eric Topol and his recent book Super Agers, an encyclopedia of the latest medical knowledge around longevity. Ihsan also recommends listening to Dr. Peter Attia's podcast The Drive, which investigates everything from exercise and nutritional biochemistry to cardiovascular health, cancer, cognitive health, mental and emotional well-being, and beyond. You may also read Ihsan's publication in NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery alongside Hala Zakaria, and Ali Hashemi, on their hybrid care model to manage diabetes in the UAE. You can get in touch with Ihsan via LinkedIn, and follow meta[bolic]'s activities on their website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. If you want to give me feedback on the episode or suggest potential guests, contact me over LinkedIn or via email! And if you liked the episode, please share it, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a 5-star review on streaming platforms! You can also support my work by doing a PayPal donation @ImpulsePodcast! Lastly, don't forget to follow our activities on LinkedIn and our website!

January 5, 20266 min

[SNIPPET] - Ihsan Almarzooqi on creating a new experience for metabolic health care

To discover the whole episode, type "#57 - Reimagining care for metabolic disorders - Ihsan Almarzooqi - meta[bolic]" on your preferred streaming platform.

December 10, 202554 min

#56 - Building the one clinical AI assistant - Ali Parsa - Quadrivia

What will our interactions with our healthcare system look like in the age of AI? Whether you are a patient, a doctor, or any other stakeholder in that system, the question is worth asking. In a world where healthcare costs continue to skyrocket, it is clear we need a radical solution to reverse the trend. The broader challenge is to restore the balance between demand and supply of care, limited by our capacity to train new doctors. Among those relentlessly working on this task are Ali Parsa and his team at Quadrivia. A true veteran of healthcare entrepreneurship, Ali founded Circle Health Group, now the largest chain of private hospitals in the UK, and Babylon Health, the fallen European digital health technology unicorn that once pioneered the use of AI for remote medicine, symptom checking, and patient triage. Despite all the highs and lows and whatever may have been said about his journey, Ali remains driven by the same mission: making healthcare more accessible and affordable at scale. Today, his efforts are focused on building Qu, which he aims to establish as the gold standard for clinical AI assistants, serving patients, doctors, and the broader ecosystem of actors in the space. In this episode of Impulse, Ali reveals the inner workings of this formidable tool, showcasing its ability to automate repetitive tasks that healthcare professionals face daily, and the opportunity it offers patients by being available around the clock to advise, educate, and ensure continuous medical supervision. We also discuss the key role of healthcare professionals in the validation of Qu, how to approach the risks and European regulations to make it widely available, and finally, the time and caution required to confidently integrate AI into patients' lives and routine clinical practice. A fascinating conversation that outlines the future of our interactions with the healthcare world! Timeline: 00:00:00 - Ali's journey as an entrepreneur building healthcare institutions and digital health solutions 00:11:52 - Why healthcare is not affordable nor accessible in the current system 00:16:17 - The interactions where AI will play a crucial role in healthcare (including a demo of Qu!) 00:25:06 - An approach to validate clinically the behaviour of AI in healthcare 00:29:54 - Ali's observations on the current struggles around AI regulation in healthcare 00:37:22 - Making AI customisable to accommodate different clinical care practices for similar use cases 00:40:01 - Judging a clinical AI's performance relative to the real performance of healthcare professionals 00:45:10 - Ali's ambition and Quadrivia's plans for the next few years What we also talked about with Ali: Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) Bakul Patel FDA Lovable Modality Partnership We cited with Ali some of the past episodes of the series: #47 - Pushing responsible AI in health - Dr. Ricardo Baptista Leite - HealthAI As mentioned by Ali during the episode, you can have a read at Thinking Machines Lab's publication "Defeating Nondeterminism in LLM Inference" from September 2025, to dive deep into the nondeterminism problem around the use of LLMs. You can get in touch with Ali via LinkedIn, and follow Quadrivia's activities on their website and on LinkedIn. If you want to give me feedback on the episode or suggest potential guests, contact me over LinkedIn or via email! And if you liked the episode, please share it, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a 5-star review on streaming platforms! You can also support my work by doing a PayPal donation @ImpulsePodcast! Lastly, don't forget to follow our activities on LinkedIn and our website!

December 9, 20256 min

[SNIPPET] - Ali Parsa on ways to validate AI models in clinical practice

To discover the whole episode, type "#56 - Building the one clinical AI assistant - Ali Parsa - Quadrivia" on your preferred streaming platform.

November 30, 202547 min

#55 - Reinventing organ transportation - Lisa Anderson - Paragonix Technologies

Do you know how organs are traditionally transported for transplantation purposes? In a cooler filled with ice. When I learned that this approach was the most widespread method, I admit I was quite shocked... We talk here about "living" organs whose preservation is crucial for the success of their transplant! And as you can imagine, these transplants are often vital. The good news is: some people have racked their brains and rolled up their sleeves to change all that! And one of them is none other than Lisa Anderson, Co-Founder and President of Paragonix Technologies. With her team, she has literally redefined how organs could be transported, wiping the slate clean of an archaic, despite standard method. Last year, their technology was named one of TIME's 200 Best Inventions in the Medical Care category. A technology that allows organs to be preserved and monitored under ideal conditions of temperature, pressure, and perfusion. Since its creation in 2010, the company has enabled the transport of over 10,000 hearts, lungs, kidneys, livers, and pancreases combined to date. A paradigm shift, which not only allows for better preservation of these tissues during transport, but is also accompanied by a surprising improvement in transplant outcomes, and helps democratise access to them. In this episode of Impulse, we talk about all of this with Lisa, from the complexity of developing such a system to the change management required to lead to its acceptance in the medical field. And everything that this changes for the patients who benefit from it every day. A conversation that dusts off a long-established medical practice and lifts the veil on a unique MedTech success story! Timeline: 00:00:00 - How Lisa got into the transplantation and organ transportation space 00:05:54 - The criticality of organ preservation before a graft 00:08:27 - The parameters to control when transporting organs 00:11:38 - The benefits of improved organ preservation on graft success 00:19:01 - Paragonix Technologies' clients and commercial models 00:21:20 - Sustainability considerations in the organ transportation business 00:25:29 - Paragonix Technologies' plans for geographic expansion 00:28:00 - The journey from A to Z of an organ between its donor and recipient 00:30:56 - Changing practices and mindsets around organ transportation 00:33:20 - The engineering challenges around the creation of Paragonix Technologies' first products 00:40:07 - Matching better the demand and supply of organ transplants What we also talked about with Lisa: Getinge As mentioned by Lisa during the episode, you can have a read at Paragonix Technologies' latest publications here and find out more about their products and technology on their website. You can get in touch with Lisa via LinkedIn, and follow Paragonix Technologies' activities on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and YouTube. If you want to give me feedback on the episode or suggest potential guests, contact me over LinkedIn or via email! And if you liked the episode, please share it, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a 5-star review on streaming platforms! You can also support my work by doing a PayPal donation @ImpulsePodcast! Lastly, don't forget to follow our activities on LinkedIn and our website!

November 30, 20254 min

[SNIPPET] - Lisa Anderson on the critical parameters for organ preservation

To discover the whole episode, type "#55 - Reinventing organ transportation - Lisa Anderson - Paragonix Technologies" on your preferred streaming platform.

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