That was my first thought after hearing Nick speak about AI in healthcare. Most people talk about AI as a tool. He talks about it as governance, responsibility, and execution.
That’s why we’re proud to feature 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗬𝗮𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗸𝘆, Core Advisor Fellow inside Health Board Advisors. Nick serves on the HIMSS Americas Advisory Board and the TAG Digital Health Board. He’s the former Chief AI Officer at Wellstar Health System and Senior Vice President at Sharecare.
20+ years leading healthcare technology innovation. AI transformation. Digital health platforms. Enterprise governance. And here’s what hit me. AI without clinical alignment creates noise. AI with governance creates trust. At Health Board Advisors, we believe capital alone does not design health; aligned capital does .
Our model is simple. Seed to Scale | We Guide. Match. Build, Together. Guide founders with real operators. Match them with physician investors. Build with milestone accountability.
Together. In our upcoming episode, Nick breaks down: 💡 What most health systems get wrong about AI adoption 💡 Why enterprise governance must come before scale 💡 How founders can position AI solutions for real clinical trust 💡 What boards should demand before approving AI investments
If you care about the future of AI in healthcare, this is one you don’t want to miss. His interview is dropping soon.
Subscribe to our YouTube, follow us on LinkedIn, and tune in wherever you enjoy podcasts. 👍Subscribe to / @healthboardadvisors
In this conversation, we break down the real difference between being a peak performer and being a resilient leader And why most founders and investors burn out before they reach their true potential.
If you’ve ever felt: ❌ Stuck between the intensity of your calling and the chaos of execution ❌ Unsure how to move from short-term wins to a cumulative lifetime impact ❌ Frustrated by the “muscular commitment” required to stay in the game
This episode gives you a new framework for leadership that Lorca calls “regenerative.” Today, we’re joined by Lorca Smetana, a resilience expert and regenerative leadership strategist. A survivor of the 1986 Mt. Hood mountaineering tragedy, she has spent over 30 years developing tools to help people thrive through mortality and crisis. Lorca was an early founder of Angel Flight West and now guides healthcare leadership teams to create the “spaciousness” required to scale.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN: ✅ Why “cumulative impact” is the most important metric for your healthcare career. ✅ The difference between intensive short-run effort and a sustainable ecosystem of self. ✅ How tools designed for crisis and first responders can fuel powerful leadership growth. ✅ Why intentional design for “lightness and space” is the key to natural organizational scaling. ✅ How to avoid being a “hypocrite of health” by designing resilience into your own leadership. WHO
THIS EPISODE IS FOR 👥 Healthcare Founders fighting to keep their teams aligned during rapid growth. 👥 Clinicians & Operators looking for tools to lead without losing their well-being. 👥 Investors who want to de-risk their portfolios by supporting founder resilience.
TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – The metric of “Cumulative Impact” 01:54 – Lorca Smetana: From survival to resilience fellowships 03:15 – Lorca’s biggest win: Building a “Muscular Toolbox” for growth 05:30 – Why crisis tools lead to the best leadership growth 07:15 – Training the next generation of resilience masters 08:20 – Why HBA is a “vetted ecosystem” for aliveness 10:45 – Conclusion & next steps
RESOURCES FOR CLINICIANS, INVESTORS & OPERATORS Join the HBA ecosystem where clinicians build legacy, not just resumes. You’ll find rooms with vetted leaders, mission-aligned partners, and curated execution paths. → Apply to become an Advisor Fellow and start building influence: HealthBoardAdvisors.com/Apply
Participate in curated HBA experiences Our events are designed for strategic alignment where vetted experts, founders, and capital partners share frameworks, insights, and execution paths that matter. → Explore upcoming HBA events: luma.com/HealthBoardAdvisors
FOR FOUNDERS READY TO SCALE WITH IMPACT Sharpen your story before capital enters the room A great pitch lands results only when it’s clear, credible, and investor-ready. Pitch Practice helps founders refine that story so the right doors open fast. → Get pitch-ready: pulsepointpath.com/pitchtoyes
Prepare for capital with a system that aligns funders, milestones, and execution Capital readiness isn’t guesswork. It’s knowing who will fund you, why they’ll fund you, and how you’ll hit the milestones that matter. The Capital Engine gives you that clarity and alignment. → Build your capital strategy: CapitalEngine.vc
That sentence alone tells you something about resilience. In our upcoming Health Board Advisors episode, we sit down with 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗮 𝗦𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗮, resilience expert, regenerative leadership strategist, and Core Advisor Fellow inside our ecosystem. Her story starts with surviving the 1986 Mt. Hood mountaineering tragedy.
It doesn’t stop there. For more than 30 years, Lorca has built original tools that help healthcare innovators endure pressure, chaos, and uncertainty. She was an early founder of AngelFlight West, providing air lifts for thousands of patients needing non-emergency care for over 28 years. She trains 12 resilience fellows each year. She guides founders and leadership teams through entrepreneurial storms so they don’t burn out before they break through. At Health Board Advisors, we don’t just talk about capital.
• How Do You Stay Strong in Chaos? • Health Board Advisors How Do You Stay Strong in Chaos?
We build aligned execution. And resilience is not optional if you want to scale in healthcare. In this episode, we explore: 💡 What real resilience looks like under life-or-death pressure 💡 How founders can sustain through chaos without losing vision 💡 Why regenerative leadership creates space to scale 💡 The hidden cost of burnout in healthcare innovation
We can’t express enough how privileged we are to have Lorca as a Core Advisor Fellow in our ecosystem. If you’re building in healthcare, this conversation is for you.
Subscribe on YouTube, LinkedIn, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Stay tuned. Follow #HealthBoardAdvisors
Today’s episode is a must-listen if you care about how healthcare actually scales without losing its soul. In this conversation, we break down the “transition gap” That means the moment a clinician realizes that their hands can only help one patient at a time. But their expertise can help millions. If you’ve ever felt stuck between your clinical calling and your desire for a bigger impact This episode gives you the permission and the playbook to move into the boardroom.
Today, we’re joined by Shawna Smith, co-founder of Health Board Advisors. Shawna has built 56 companies alongside biotech leaders and visionary investors. Health Board Advisors Building Legacy Beyond the Bedside After seeing the system fail from the inside, she now architects the teams and deals that prove you don’t have to sacrifice your well-being to change the world.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN How to identify the “Internal Signs” of a perfect business alignment. The difference between being a service provider and a true business owner. Why clinical anatomy and business “anatomy” are more similar than you think. The secret to building high-performance teams that actually stick together. How to use tax-efficient strategies to reinvest in your team’s vitality.
WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR Clinicians looking to expand their impact from 1-on-1 care to 1-to-many innovation. Founders who need to understand the “People” side of scaling a healthcare startup. Investors seeking to understand the “Human Capital” that de-risks a deal.
TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – The advice for clinicians seeking legacy. 02:15 – Transitioning from service provider to business owner. 04:40 – Why clinicians are actually built for business leadership. 06:30 – Lessons from building 56 companies. 08:20 – The “People Expert” approach to high-performance teams. 12:10 – How to reinvest in wellness to drive revenue.
Today’s episode is a must-listen if you care about how healthcare actually scales. In this conversation, we break down the “human in the loop” problem and why most founders and investors are still treating technology like a magic wand instead of a tool.
If you’ve ever felt: • Stuck between clinical intuition and rigid hospital systems • Unsure how to move from “expert” to “advisor” or “investor” • Frustrated by the “slap AI on it” approach to innovation
This episode gives you a masterclass in behavioral science, ethical innovation, and the power of multidimensional growth. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Natanya Wachtel, a behavioral scientist featured by Forbes and HBR who helps Fortune 500 companies understand how humans actually decide and change.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN • Why “bedside manner” and connection are statistically more powerful than some surgical interventions. • The “Check yourself before you wreck yourself” rule for AI in healthcare. • Why not all investment money is “good money” for a growing startup. • How to build a “HBA puzzle piece” team where clinician, operator, and investor skills actually click. • The secret to “Harvard to Hood” innovation: why we need to listen to more than just the formally educated.
TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Creating legacy beyond the bedside 05:15 – What traumatic brain injury taught Natanya about identity 09:20 – The ethics of AI: Who is watching the store? 12:30 – Why “not all money is good money” for founders 16:40 – What makes the HBA Mastermind different? 21:30 – Announcing a new CEO: A lesson in “asking for help”
RESOURCES FOR CLINICIANS, INVESTORS & OPERATORS Join the HBA ecosystem where clinicians build legacy, not just resumes.
You’ll find rooms with vetted leaders, mission-aligned partners, and curated execution paths. → Apply to become an Advisor Fellow and start building influence: 👉 www.HealthBoardAdvisors.com/Apply
Participate in curated HBA experiences Our events are designed for strategic alignment where vetted experts, founders, and capital partners share frameworks, insights, and execution paths that matter. → Explore upcoming HBA events: 👉 luma.com/HealthBoardAdvisors
FOR FOUNDERS READY TO SCALE WITH IMPACT Sharpen your story before capital enters the room A great pitch lands results only when it’s clear, credible, and investor-ready. Pitch Practice helps founders refine that story so the right doors open fast. → Get pitch-ready: 👉 www.PulsePointPath.com/PitchToYes
Earn recognition that unlocks visibility and trust The HealthTech Impact Award highlights founders whose solutions are ready for real adoption and investment, not just buzz. → Apply for the Impact Award: 👉 www.HealthTechImpactAward.com
Prepare for capital with a system that aligns funders, milestones, and execution Capital readiness isn’t guesswork. It’s knowing who will fund you, why they’ll fund you, and how you’ll hit the milestones that matter. The Capital Engine gives you that clarity and alignment. → Build your capital strategy: 👉 www.CapitalEngine.vc
Today’s episode is a must-listen if you care about how healthcare actually scales. In this conversation, we break down the “human in the loop” problem and why most founders and investors are still treating technology like a magic wand instead of a tool.
If you’ve ever felt: ➤ Stuck between clinical intuition and rigid hospital systems ➤ Unsure how to move from “expert” to “advisor” or “investor” ➤ Frustrated by the “slap AI on it” approach to innovation
Health Board Advisors How can doctors do more than just see patients?
This episode gives you a masterclass in behavioral science, ethical innovation, and the power of multidimensional growth. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Natanya Wachtel, a behavioral scientist featured by Forbes and HBR who helps Fortune 500 companies understand how humans actually decide and change.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ➤ Why “bedside manner” and connection are statistically more powerful than some surgical interventions.
➤ The “Check yourself before you wreck yourself” rule for AI in healthcare. Why not all investment money is “good money” for a growing startup.
➤ How to build a “HBA puzzle piece” team where clinician, operator, and investor skills actually click.
➤ The secret to “Harvard to Hood” innovation: why we need to listen to more than just the formally educated.
TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Creating legacy beyond the bedside 05:15 – What traumatic brain injury taught Natanya about identity 09:20 – The ethics of AI: Who is watching the store? 12:30 – Why “not all money is good money” for founders 16:40 – What makes the HBA Mastermind different? 21:30 – Announcing a new CEO: A lesson in “asking for help”
RESOURCES FOR CLINICIANS, INVESTORS & OPERATORS Join the HBA ecosystem where clinicians build legacy, not just resumes. You’ll find rooms with vetted leaders, mission-aligned partners, and curated execution paths. → Apply to become an Advisor Fellow and start building influence: 👉 HealthBoardAdvisors.com/Apply
Participate in curated HBA experiences Our events are designed for strategic alignment where vetted experts, founders, and capital partners share frameworks, insights, and execution paths that matter. → Explore upcoming HBA events: 👉 luma.com/HealthBoardAdvisors FOR
FOUNDERS READY TO SCALE WITH IMPACT Sharpen your story before capital enters the room A great pitch lands results only when it’s clear, credible, and investor-ready. Pitch Practice helps founders refine that story so the right doors open fast. → Get pitch-ready: 👉 PulsePointPath.com/PitchToYes
Earn recognition that unlocks visibility and trust The HealthTech Impact Award highlights founders whose solutions are ready for real adoption and investment, not just buzz. → Apply for the Impact Award: 👉 HealthTechImpactAward.com
Prepare for capital with a system that aligns funders, milestones, and execution Capital readiness isn’t guesswork. It’s knowing who will fund you, why they’ll fund you, and how you’ll hit the milestones that matter. The Capital Engine gives you that clarity and alignment. → Build your capital strategy: 👉 CapitalEngine.vc
How Do People Decide Under Pressure? To make human behavior feel practical. That’s just one of the core skills of our next guest. In our upcoming episode, we sit down with 𝐃𝐫. 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐖𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐥, behavioral scientist working at the intersection of psychology, technology, and human performance under pressure. Proud to share that she is a Core Advisor Fellow inside the Health Board Advisors ecosystem.
And this conversation is one you don’t want to miss. She has been featured by Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Netflix. She advises Fortune 500 companies on how humans actually think, decide, and change. Not theory. Real decision science that moves people.
In this episode, we explore: 💡 How leaders make high-stakes decisions under pressure 💡 Why most change efforts fail, even with smart teams 💡 What behavioral science reveals about investor and founder psychology 💡 How to translate complex research into action that drives execution
This is exactly what we stand for. Inside Health Board Advisors, our Core Advisor Fellows are not figureheads. They guide. They sharpen thinking. They help founders, clinician-investors, and operators execute with clarity.
Dr. Natanya is also the founder of New Solutions Network and host of The Natanya Experience. And her lens on performance, resilience, and human behavior strengthens our Triple-Match model: Founder ⇄ Clinician-Investor ⇄ Operator. Capital alone does not design health. Aligned people do.
Her episode is coming soon. Health Board Advisors How Do People Decide Under Pressure? Subscribe to our YouTube, follow us on LinkedIn, and tune in wherever you enjoy podcasts so you don’t miss it. 👍Subscribe to / @healthboardadvisors
Today’s episode is a must-listen if you care about how healthcare actually scales beyond the operating room. In this conversation, we break down the “one patient at a time” bottleneck. And why even the most brilliant clinicians need a business mindset to create a lasting legacy.
If you’ve ever felt stuck between your clinical calling and the desire to make a global impact. Or if you’re unsure how to partner with industry without losing your professional soul. This episode gives you a real path forward.
Today, we’re joined by 𝐃𝐫. 𝐀𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐲, a leading functional neurosurgeon at Northwell Health. With over 900 deep-brain stimulation (DBS) procedures under his belt. An 80% success rate in treating treatment-resistant depression, He is a titan in the neuromodulation space.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN 💡 Why treating patients individually isn’t enough to change the healthcare system. 💡 The “Business of Research”: How to partner with hospitals and industry to scale your ideas. 💡 How Dr. Fenoy blends 20 years of surgical expertise with strategic advisory roles. 💡 The importance of an “ecosystem” over a standard professional network. 💡 How to identify valid investment and philanthropic opportunities in neuro-innovation.
WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR Clinicians ready to expand their impact through advisory or board roles. Investors looking for vetted insights into functional neurosurgery and clinical trials. Operators interested in how to successfully integrate research into hospital business models.
TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Advice for clinicians moving to the boardroom. 01:54 – Meet Dr. Al Fenoy: 900+ DBS procedures and counting. 03:00 – Why the clinical side isn’t enough for a global legacy. 04:30 – Lessons from 20 years in neuromodulation. 06:50 – Why Dr. Fenoy joined the HBA ecosystem. 08:45 – The next phase: Advisory and industry expansion.
𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗬 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗧: ➤ Sharpen your story before capital enters the room A great pitch lands results only when it’s clear, credible, and investor-ready. Pitch Practice helps founders refine that story so the right doors open fast. → Get pitch-ready: 👉 https://𝐏𝐮𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡.𝐜𝐨𝐦/𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐭𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐬
➤ Earn recognition that unlocks visibility and trust Health Board Advisors How Surgeons Scale Impact Through HealthTech Innovations The HealthTech Impact Award highlights founders whose solutions are ready for real adoption and investment, not just buzz. → Apply for the Impact Award: 👉 https://𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝.𝐜𝐨𝐦
➤ Prepare for capital with a system that aligns funders, milestones, and execution Capital readiness isn’t guesswork. It’s knowing who will fund you, why they’ll fund you, and how you’ll hit the milestones that matter. The Capital Engine gives you that clarity and alignment. → Build your capital strategy: 👉 https://𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞.𝐯𝐜
Can You Help More People by Leaving the Bedside? Today’s episode is a must-listen if you care about how healthcare actually scales without losing its soul. In this conversation, we break down the “transition gap” That means the moment a clinician realizes that their hands can only help one patient at a time. But their expertise can help millions.
If you’ve ever felt stuck between your clinical calling and your desire for a bigger impact. This episode gives you the permission and the playbook to move into the boardroom. Today, we’re joined by Shawna Smith, co-founder of Health Board Advisors. Shawna has built 56 companies alongside biotech leaders and visionary investors.
After seeing the system fail from the inside, she now architects the teams and deals that prove you don’t have to sacrifice your well-being to change the world.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ✅ How to identify the “Internal Signs” of a perfect business alignment. ✅ The difference between being a service provider and a true business owner. ✅ Why clinical anatomy and business “anatomy” are more similar than you think. ✅ The secret to building high-performance teams that actually stick together. ✅ How to use tax-efficient strategies to reinvest in your team’s vitality.
WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR ➨ Clinicians looking to expand their impact from 1-on-1 care to 1-to-many innovation. ➨ Founders who need to understand the “People” side of scaling a healthcare startup. ➨ Investors seeking to understand the “Human Capital” that de-risks a deal.
TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – The advice for clinicians seeking legacy. 02:15 – Transitioning from service provider to business owner. 04:40 – Why clinicians are actually built for business leadership. 06:30 – Lessons from building 56 companies. 08:20 – The “People Expert” approach to high-performance teams. 12:10 – How to reinvest in wellness to drive revenue.
𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗛𝗕𝗔? Health Board Advisors is the only clinical investment ecosystem that unites Ideas, Execution, and Funding. We don’t just advise; we guide, match, and build side-by-side from concept to scale.
How do you build aligned teams? “𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘺.”
Healthcare failed her. So she built something better. 56 companies alongside visionary leaders, from biotech executives to political donors. In our upcoming episode, we sit down with Shawna Smith, 𝗖𝗼-𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 of Health Board Advisors, and 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 behind our Seed-to-Scale execution ecosystem. But titles aren’t the story.
The story is what happens when you experience the system’s blind spots firsthand.
It changes you.
Health Board Advisors How do you build aligned teams?
❤️ She now architects founder ⇄ clinician-investor ⇄ operator matches that actually fit.
❤️ She builds high-performance teams that execute, not just advise.
❤️ She structures deals that scale health innovation without burning out the people behind it.
❤️ She proves you don’t have to sacrifice wellbeing to create real impact.
At Health Board Advisors, we’re not an accelerator; we execute. Shawna shares what most founders miss about alignment. Why capital without conscience breaks companies. And how the Triple-Match model changes outcomes from day one.
Seed to Scale | We Guide. Match. Build, Together. Her interview is dropping soon.
Subscribe to our YouTube, follow us on LinkedIn, and tune in wherever you enjoy podcasts. 👍Subscribe to / @healthboardadvisors
