Dr. Uli Chettipalli

Dr. Uli Chettipalli is building a platform for physician innovators to exchange their ideas.

innovation project and tagline

problem this innovation solves

intended target audience/user of this innovation

interesting experience while developing your innovation

mistakes/hurdles along the way

title and specialty

Uli K. Chettipally, MD, MPH. – Founder & President, InnovatorMD – Emergency Medicine/Epidemiology/Technology-Enabled Care.

innovation project and tagline

I am working on several projects. My main project is InnovatorMD. It is a platform for Physician Innovators. Inform – Inspire – Ignite! I also invest in and mentor startups: a). www.HealthPals.ai – A machine learning engine that provides actionable insights from EHR data.b) www.Torque3.com – A device using robotics, virtual reality, and machine learning for neuro-rehab.c) www.VendRx.net – A vending machine for prescription drugs in a physician’s office, UC, or ED.

problem your innovation solves

In healthcare, physicians have the most education, understand the science, deal with problems first hand on the front line, and are able to come up with innovations that can solve the problems. InnovatorMD provides know-how, visibility, support, encouragement, mentorship, and community.

intended target audience/user of your innovation

For InnovatorMD it is the physicians/residents/students who want to become innovators.

interesting experience while developing your innovation

There was one physician who 4 years ago came to one of our meetings and brought in a couple of students and presented his project, a medical device that takes care of secretions in an intubated patient. He has been in our community since then and has developed his idea into a product. This year he came back to present. He wrote us a beautiful letter thanking us for the support and encouragement and how his device has become a success in saving lives during this COVID-19 pandemic. Seeing these small connections building into something significant that saves lives is very gratifying!

mistakes/hurdles along the way

Plenty of mistakes, some that you could have avoided, others that are not in your control. Luckily nothing fatal, except for one time when I did a startup during the dotcom boom and bust cycle! Doing a startup is like raising a child. You need to constantly watch and course correct. It can be a lot of work, but it also gives you great satisfaction to see it grow.

typical day in your life

Wake up at 6 AM. Do some writing. Check emails and LinkedIn. Eat breakfast. Start meetings at 8:00 with my team. Take an exercise break. Meet innovators and entrepreneurs from 11:00 to 3:00 PM while squeezing in a lunch break. Finish business calls by 5:00. Spend some time with family. Do some chores at home. Do some reading and social media at 9:00 PM. Go to bed at 11:00 PM.

someone who inspires you

I am inspired by physicians who against all odds succeed in innovation. I also like the ones who come up with a whole new ecosystem/business model and make it happen. My favorites are the usual tech entrepreneurs who built eBay, Uber, Airbnb, Tesla, etc.

parting words of wisdom

Find that balance where your work does not suck the fun out of living. Just because you can make more money or spend more money does not mean you have to. Think about the things that you enjoyed doing when you were in elementary school and do them now!

Season 2 is getting built:

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Innovator Bio

Dr. Uli K. Chettipally is an emergency physician, researcher, author, and an innovator. He is currently the President of InnovatorMD, a healthcare innovation company. As a physician-scientist he is interested in technology-enabled care. He received the Pioneer Award for Innovation from Kaiser Permanente and Morris F. Collen Research Award from The Permanente Medical Group. His other roles include President, San Mateo County Medical Association; Chairman, Society of Physician Entrepreneurs, San Francisco Bay Area chapter; Advisor, Mentor, and Investor at various healthcare start-ups. His book, “Punish the Machine! The Promise of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare” is available on Amazon.