In this episode of the Pharmacy View Podcast’s Rx to Riches stream, international host Michael Alexander, a Pharmacist, entrepreneur, digital health enthusiast, Co-Founder of Audrie, and the Regional Vice-President of Health Plans at Omada Health, interviews Nicole Cathcart and Sean Karbowicz from MedSavvy. 

Nicole, drawing from over two decades of experience in design, marketing, and product development, narrates their journey from design to marketing and eventually becoming the Chief Marketing Officer for emerging tech and blockchain companies. Sean, a Pharmacist and self-described professional skeptic, shares their dedication to evidence-based medicine and the challenges of navigating vast healthcare information. This episode, part one of a two-part series, explores the genesis of MedSavvy and its transformative journey.

The narrative unfolds with Sean recounting their pivotal encounter with a cancer patient who expressed the need for accessible healthcare information. This emotional moment became the catalyst for MedSavvy, a revolutionary platform aiming to empower patients with valuable insights. Nicole details the meticulous process of evaluating proposals during a leadership summit, highlighting Sean's unwavering dedication and the team's collaborative approach to cultivating selected ideas.

The duo then sheds light on the challenges of navigating a large corporate environment with innovative ideas, emphasizing the importance of executive champions. Sean underscores the need for individuals with an exceptional "bullshit detector" to identify valuable concepts. Nicole draws parallels between internal corporate innovation and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the common thread of resistance and the importance of executive sponsorship.

Nicole also provides a concise overview of MedSavvy as a medication choice management tool, uniquely incorporating scientific evidence, user reviews, and pricing. Sean details the core engine of MedSavvy, highlighting its evidence-based methodology and the tool's role in bringing clarity to healthcare decisions. The focus on democratizing healthcare information emerges as a central theme in their mission.

The discussion pivots to the underutilized trust and expertise of Pharmacists in healthcare decision-making. MedSavvy, recognizing Pharmacists as trusted healthcare providers, offers a platform to leverage their expertise privately. Sean emphasizes the collaborative nature of innovation, highlighting the value of opening up ideas to colleagues and enhancing the patient experience through a team-driven approach.

The narrative has expertly woven together the personal and professional journeys of Nicole and Sean, offering a glimpse into the world of innovative healthcare solutions and the transformative potential of collaborative, evidence-based decision-making.

Breaking Barriers with MedSavvy: A Blueprint for Accessible Healthcare

Welcome to Pharmacy View – Technology in Pharmacy Business Podcast Series where we provide regular interviews with Pharmacists and key industry people within the Australian Pharmacy and associated industry. In each podcast we look to discuss aspects of Pharmacy operation and how technology is improving or interacting with each guest’s current role or Pharmacy related business.