Veteran journalist, investor, and Second Opinion Media founder Chrissy Farr talks with the CEOs and founders who've been in the trenches long enough to know that healthcare doesn't move at startup speed. These aren't the entrepreneurs chasing quick exits—they're the "lifers" who understand that building in healthcare requires endless pivots, regulatory navigation, and decade-long timelines.
No hype, just honest conversations about what it really takes.
Each episode explores healthcare innovation, startup strategy, medical technology and AI, health system transformation, and investment insights from operators who've navigated regulatory challenges, clinical trials, reimbursement complexities, and the unique dynamics of the healthcare industry.
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Veteran journalist, investor, and Second Opinion Media founder Chrissy Farr talks with the CEOs and founders who've been in the trenches long enough to know that healthcare doesn't move at startup speed. These aren't the entrepreneurs chasing quick exits—they're the "lifers" who understand that building in healthcare requires endless pivots, regulatory navigation, and decade-long timelines.
No hype, just honest conversations about what it really takes.
Each episode explores healthcare innovation, startup strategy, medical technology and AI, health system transformation, and investment insights from operators who've navigated regulatory challenges, clinical trials, reimbursement complexities, and the unique dynamics of the healthcare industry.
Are there better alternatives to Ozempic with Sami Inkinen, CEO of Virta Health
Lifers with Christina Farr
39 minutes
8 months ago
Are there better alternatives to Ozempic with Sami Inkinen, CEO of Virta Health
This week on Second Opinion, we're featuring Christina Farr, Ash Zenooz, and Luba Greenwood's conversation with Sami Inkinen, CEO of Virta Health. They discuss the company's mission to reverse type 2 diabetes and obesity through personalized nutrition and intensive telemedicine.
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LINKS:
Virta Health: https://www.virtahealth.com/
PHTI: https://phti.org/
Caroline Pearson on Second Opinion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbo3T654g6c
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FOLLOW:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samiinkinen/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubagreenwood/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashzenooz/
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:
Sami Inkinen is an "accidental healthcare entrepreneur" who founded Virta Health after discovering he was pre-diabetic despite being a world championship triathlete.
Sami's key insight was that "you cannot outrun a bad diet" – excessive processed carbohydrates lead to insulin resistance regardless of exercise level.
Virta Health's mission is to reverse type 2 diabetes and obesity in 1 billion people through nutrition, lifestyle changes, and telemedicine support.
Virta spent five years running clinical trials that demonstrated they could reverse type 2 diabetes and deliver sustained weight loss (13% at one and two years).
They highly individualize treatment plans based on each person's circumstances, whether they're eating from a casino, a 7-Eleven, or McDonald's.
Unlike traditional quarterly doctor visits, Virta provides 2-3 interactions daily, monitoring biomarkers and adjusting in near real-time.
Their approach doesn't rely on willpower – patients eat to satiety, which is key to long-term success.
Patients typically get free access to Virta, with employers or health plans paying because Virta saves them about $600/month per patient.
The Peterson Health Technology Institute found Virta was the only digital diabetes program that actually worked.
Sami believes the ideal obesity treatment combines nutrition (as first-line defense) with GLP-1 drugs when necessary, not an either/or approach.
Virta employs full-time doctors and coaches who form long-term relationships with patients, empowered by software and AI.
The company is focusing on scaling their current services, becoming profitable in 2025, and potentially becoming a public company.
Lifers with Christina Farr
Veteran journalist, investor, and Second Opinion Media founder Chrissy Farr talks with the CEOs and founders who've been in the trenches long enough to know that healthcare doesn't move at startup speed. These aren't the entrepreneurs chasing quick exits—they're the "lifers" who understand that building in healthcare requires endless pivots, regulatory navigation, and decade-long timelines.
No hype, just honest conversations about what it really takes.
Each episode explores healthcare innovation, startup strategy, medical technology and AI, health system transformation, and investment insights from operators who've navigated regulatory challenges, clinical trials, reimbursement complexities, and the unique dynamics of the healthcare industry.
