Pivot Point: When Burnout Becomes Breakthrough

August 21, 2025 00:42:41
Pivot Point: When Burnout Becomes Breakthrough
PEMBA ON-DEMAND: Real Stories from Physician Leaders
Pivot Point: When Burnout Becomes Breakthrough

Aug 21 2025 | 00:42:41

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Hosted By

Norm Chapin, MD, MBA

Show Notes

In this episode of "PEMBA On Demand," Dr. Joseph Nounou, a 2020 PEMBA graduate, shares his transition from anesthesia to founding Auros Pharma, a biotech startup tackling the opioid crisis with a novel medication. He discusses his motivations for pursuing an MBA, the challenges of launching a pharmaceutical company during COVID-19, and the personal and financial sacrifices involved. Dr. Nounou emphasizes the importance of physician leadership in drug development and his commitment to affordable, life-saving treatments, highlighting how business education empowered him to drive innovation and broader impact in healthcare.

Show Highlights:

  • Transition from clinical practice in anesthesia to entrepreneurship in biotech.
  • Founding of Auros Pharma to address the opioid crisis with a novel medication.
  • Motivations for pursuing an MBA to gain business knowledge.
  • Challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on business management.
  • Personal transformation driven by burnout and a desire for a more fulfilling career.
  • The process of bootstrapping a pharmaceutical startup and financial realities involved.
  • Importance of physician involvement in the pharmaceutical industry and drug development.
  • Regulatory complexities and the FDA approval process for new medications.
  • The role of physicians in promoting effective and cost-efficient prescribing practices.
  • Future aspirations for Auros Pharma's medication and the impact of mentorship from the PEMBA program.

Links and Resources:

 

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