Ep. 118 - Building the Shopify of Digital Health - Farnaz Behroozi, Ph.D.
Building the Shopify of Digital Health - Farnaz Behroozi, Ph.D.
In this episode, Farnaz Behroozi, Head of Pharma at Huma, shares her journey from scientist to startup co-founder, global consultant, and digital health leader. Farnaz discusses how Huma’s AI-first health platform is transforming patient care through real-time monitoring, configurable apps, and regulatory-approved tools that accelerate go-to-market for healthcare and pharma solutions.
She reveals lessons learned from McKinsey, Deloitte, and BCG, why building trust is more powerful than selling, and how champions inside pharma drive adoption. Farnaz also shares her vision for AI in healthcare, balancing optimism with regulatory realities, and gives a sneak peek into Huma’s upcoming work with national governments.
Guest Bio
Farnaz Behroozi is Head of Pharma at Huma Health, a leading digital health company providing remote patient monitoring, companion apps, and AI-powered solutions to healthcare providers, pharma, and now national governments.
One of Huma’s earliest team members (back when it was Medopad), Farnaz landed the company’s first ever hospital contract before pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering. She later worked with McKinsey, Deloitte, and Boston Consulting Group, advising top pharma and biotech companies on strategy, operations, and go-to-market planning.
Returning “home” to Huma, she now leads global partnerships with major pharma, navigates complex stakeholder networks, and ensures long-term value creation for patients and clients alike.
Takeaways
- AI in healthcare will enhance—not replace—human care when implemented responsibly.
- Trust and relationship-building outweigh aggressive selling in long-term partnerships.
- Champions inside pharma can be the most effective marketing asset.
- Regulatory approvals slow innovation, but platforms like Huma can drastically cut time-to-market.
- Real-world data and continuous monitoring can lead to faster, more accurate diagnoses.
Consultancy skills like problem-solving, stakeholder mapping, and champion building translate powerfully into startup leadership.
Chapters
00:00 Welcome and Farnaz’s Unique Title – “Head of Pharma”
02:08 Navigating Stakeholders Across Pharma & Healthcare
03:34 From Scientist to Startup Co-Founder
04:28 Landing Huma’s First Ever Contract
05:44 Lessons from McKinsey, Deloitte & BCG
08:51 The Pressure and Rewards of Startup Life
09:54 “The Palantir of Healthcare” – Huma’s Mission Explained
11:22 Patient Disease Management & Remote Monitoring
13:10 AI’s Potential to Transform Healthcare
14:48 Real-World Case: Asthma Misdiagnosis & Monitoring Impact
17:29 Speed of Change in Healthcare & Regulatory Challenges
21:39 Marketing Through Success Stories & Advocates
23:29 Building Champions Inside Pharma
25:40 Trust Over Transactions – The Human Element
28:16 What’s Next: The “Shopify” of Digital Health & Government Partnerships
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