Doctorpreneurship: What does it take to make it big in business?

It takes dedication, grit, relationship skills, and a sharp problem-solving mind to be a successful physician. It takes the same traits to be a great business leader. Yet some people seem to think that doctors generally can’t hack it in the corporate world, especially when trying to translate promising ideas for reforming the system into a profit-generating enterprise. 

Those people are increasingly being proven wrong as the number of MD/founders continues to rise, spurred on by deep frustration with the administrative and clinical inefficiencies they have faced during their years in practice. 

“What kind of pushed me over the edge is that we had 5,000 people waiting for appointments at a large health system, and they told me I had to cut the budget by 9% and I couldn’t hire anyone,” recalls Angela Fitch, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of knownwell, which offers primary care and obesity medicine virtually and in-person. “That just doesn’t make any sense. That was the moment I really thought to myself that there’s got to be a better way to do this in some other space. And that’s when I jumped ship.” 

For Shiv Rao, CEO of Abridge, a generative AI platform to capture clinical conversations, the moment came from realizing that technology offered a way to dramatically magnify the impact of his skills and training beyond what he could achieve by treating patients alone. 

“It is wonderful and valuable and necessary to make a profound impact on patients one at time as a clinician,” he said during a panel session at ViVE 2025. “But the impact of a technology company at scale can be just as profound, if not more so, when you start reaching millions of patients and making their experiences better in a defined and tangible way.”   

“There has to be a better way to make a bigger impact” is a common refrain among “doctorpreneurs,” the new class of clinical executives leaning into technology-based solutions – often while still keeping their hand in the clinical environment as practicing physicians. 

Many physicians who make the jump find that their clinical training enhances their ability to assess and solve problems, said David Stark, CMO at Morgan Stanley, although it can be a bit of a shock to the system when physicians encounter the need to make business decisions without the evidence-based processes they’re used to. 

“There’s some truth to the stereotypes because physicians are used to a very scientific, deliberate process of obtaining certainty before we propose a solution. We want to be 80% or 90% certain, at least, before we proceed with something.  In business, you only have to be 51% certain in some situations, and you have to move fast.  That’s a very different way of doing things.” 

“On the other hand, good physician entrepreneurs have a healthy sense that they’re not always going to be the smartest person in the room, because good physicians recognize that it’s the team that gets the job done, not the individual. They understand that they can’t solve problems alone, especially when those problems are rooted in regulatory challenges, technical issues, or business model challenges. They have to be creative, collaborative, and adaptable, which are major assets in the business landscape.” 

Dr. Fitch agreed that the ability to see the big picture, and to work with a variety of partners, is a unique skill that physicians can translate into their entrepreneurial careers. 

“There’s a lot to be said for learning how to work on a clinical team and the value of that care team for achieving shared goals,” she observed. “A lot of times, the problem we’re trying to solve isn’t just about making a diagnosis or delivering a medication. It’s about scaling access to the right resources, and doing it in a way that really works for the majority of people experiencing the problem.”   

“The startup world is that exciting place where a physician with a good idea and with strong knowledge of what they’re up against can actually develop the power to get things done in a way they so often can’t within the traditional healthcare environment.” 

The panel agreed that the most successful “doctorpreneurs” never lose sight of their clinical mindset, and treat their experiences in practice, both positive and negative, as a strong motivator to push the boundaries of what is possible. 

“Medical training builds a lot of grit and resilience, which is incredibly valuable when getting into the business world,” concluded Rao. “If you have an idea that you just can’t stop thinking about, you might want to look into how to bring it to fruition. Make sure you are really passionate about your mission, find the right people to help fill in the gaps in your knowledge or skills, and create something that’s fulfilling for you and the people you want to serve.”  

Jennifer Bresnick is a journalist and freelance content creator with a decade of experience in the health IT industry.  Her work has focused on leveraging innovative technology tools to create value, improve health equity, and achieve the promises of the learning health system.  She can be reached at [email protected].