In this episode of Clinical Research Coach, host Leanne Woehlke sits down with Dr. Rohan Lall for a candid, thought-provoking conversation on what it truly takes to modernize clinical research—without losing sight of patients, providers, or purpose.

Dr. Lall brings a rare dual perspective as a practicing physician and clinical research leader, offering firsthand insight into the structural, cultural, and operational challenges that slow progress across trials today.

Together, Leanne and Dr. Lall explore how clinical research must evolve to better reflect real-world care, rebuild trust with patients, and support sites and investigators who are stretched thin.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why many clinical trials still feel disconnected from everyday clinical care—and how to close that gap

• The growing tension between protocol complexity and patient participation

• What physicians actually need to stay engaged in research long-term

• How trust, communication, and operational empathy impact enrollment and retention

• Where technology helps—and where human connection remains irreplaceable

• Dr. Lall’s vision for a more sustainable, clinician-friendly, patient-ready research ecosystem

This conversation is a must-listen for sponsors, CROs, sites, and innovators who believe the future of clinical research depends not just on better technology, but on better alignment between medicine, operations, and the lived experience of patients.

Rohan Lall, MD M Health FarviewUniversity of Minnesota Medical Center

Spine Surgery / Neurosurgery/

Chief Medical Officer SynerFuse BIO:Dr Rohan R. Lall is a neurosurgeon in Edina, Minnesota and is affiliated withmultiple hospitals in the area, including M Health FairviewUniversity of Minnesota Medical Center and M Health FairviewSouthdale Hospital. He received his medical degree from University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences The Pritzker School of Medicine. He has expertise in treating spinalfusion, spinal stenosis and spondylosis, among other conditions

Dr Lall is a former investigator of the SynerFuse Proof of Concept trial and pioneered the e-TLIF procedure He performed the world’s firstsolo SynerFuse e-TLIF procedure as well as the first 2-level procedure. SynerFuse®e-TLIF™ procedure, a ULE™ Therapy (Ultra Low Energy), is used to addresschronic low back and leg pain for spinal fusion patients.

Dr Lall specializes in robotic and minimally invasive surgery, complex spinal surgery, brain for brain and spinal tumors and skullbase surgery/ pituitary tumor surgery. He has been a leader in robotic spinal surgery and actively involved in the development of new technologies in spine surgery. The Innovative procedure integrates conventional spinal surgery techniques with targeted nerve stimulation to address chronic back pain at its source. These nerve stimulators fundamentallyalter the nerve’s ability to transmit pain signals to the brain. The innovative implant allows patients to control nerve stimulation via smartphone, with early trial participants reporting significant pain reduction and improved quality of life without opioid dependence.

In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, Leanne Woehlke sits down with Dr. Ruchir Gupta, a double board-certified pain specialist and founder of Mountain View Headache and Spine Institute, to explore the evolving world of chronic pain treatment and clinical research.

Dr. Gupta shares his journey from anesthesiology into chronic pain medicine and research, highlighting why traditional approaches often fail and how emerging therapies like ketamine infusions and stem cell treatments offer new hope. Together, they discuss the importance of changing the language around "experimental" medicine, improving access to clinical trials, and educating patients and physicians about cutting-edge but underutilized treatments.

They also tackle:

• The broken incentives in insurance-driven medicine

• How to ethically introduce new treatments to patients

• The power of AI and EMRs in revolutionizing clinical trial recruitment

• Rebuilding trust in the medical system through transparency and education

This episode is a must-listen for healthcare professionals, clinical researchers, and patients seeking alternatives to outdated treatments and a deeper understanding of how clinical research can drive real change in patient care.

Dr Ruchir Gupta:

Dr. Ruchir Gupta is a board-certified pain specialist and anesthesiologist with advanced training in chronic pain management from the Mayo Clinic’s Alix School of Medicine in Arizona. A New York native, he completed medical school at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse and his anesthesiology residency at New York Medical College – St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan.

With over 20 peer-reviewed publications and two medical textbooks to his name, Dr. Gupta blends cutting-edge Western medicine with holistic, nature-based therapies. His areas of expertise include interventional pain management, IV infusion therapy, bone marrow concentrate procedures, and regenerative orthopedics.

Dr. Gupta is a member of several leading professional societies, including the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience and the American Headache Society. He currently practices in Mesa and Phoenix, Arizona, where he is also part of the elite Regenexx network of interventional orthopedic physicians.

To connect with Dr Gupta:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruchir-gupta-3187326b/

https://mountainviewheadacheandspine.com/

In this episode of The Clinical Research Coach, host Leanne Woehlke sits down with Dr. Sarah Matt, MD, MBA, a surgeon, health technologist, and author who is redefining what it means to deliver care without borders.

From the operating room to advising health tech startups, Dr. Matt brings a rare dual perspective, grounded in both clinical compassion and digital innovation. Together, Leanne and Sarah explore how technology can expand access, reduce friction, and humanize care across communities, from urban hospitals to rural nursing homes.

Dr. Matt also shares insights from her upcoming book, The Borderless Healthcare Revolution: The Definitive Guide to Breaking Geographic Barriers Through Technology, launching December 11, 2025. The book offers real-world playbooks, “next-shift wins,” and frameworks for healthcare leaders, clinicians, and researchers to design systems that truly work for everyone.

In this conversation, they discuss:

• Why technology must serve real people, not just innovation for its own sake

• How to align incentives across hospitals, CROs, and trial sponsors to improve access and retention

• The five pillars of healthcare access: geographic, digital, financial, cultural, and trust

• How empathy, design thinking, and AI can restore the human side of medicine

• Why solving burnout requires fixing systems, not just supporting individuals

• The future of robotics, decentralized trials, and telemedicine as tools for equity

Through real stories and practical insights, Dr. Matt reminds us that the next wave of healthcare transformation will not be about new tools, but about how we use them to rebuild trust, equity, and connection.

Tune in to discover how Dr. Sarah Matt is leading a movement where care travels at the speed of need and healthcare knows no borders.

To learn more about Dr. Sarah Matt:

https://www.drsarahmatt.com/

To pre-order The Borderless Healthcare Revolution: https://www.drsarahmatt.com/book#OrderBook