Manage episode 512679193 series 3669814
What does it take to build a modern allergy and immunology clinic that actually moves the needle for patients? We sit down with Dr Loren Isakson, founder of North Star Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, to unpack the choices behind a lean telemedicine launch, a thoughtful pivot to in-person care, and a day-to-day practice that treats sneezes and immune deficiencies with the same precision. From the first spark of curiosity in research labs to leading services at an Air Force base, her path reveals how a puzzle-loving clinician becomes a resilient entrepreneur without losing the human touch.
We dig into the clinical playbook: comprehensive skin testing and immunotherapy, an immunologist’s lens on recurrent infections, and the targeted use of biologics that turned double-digit ER visits into stability. Along the way, we examine the tech that helps—and where it falls short. AI scribes lighten documentation but still miss nuance; claims automation fights denials, while clunky digital intake traps rich histories in PDFs instead of structured data. Patient expectations now mirror consumer tech: instant access, clear messaging, and continuity. Meeting those expectations doesn’t mean becoming impersonal; it means designing systems that give clinicians time to listen, observe body language, and make decisions that last.
On the business side, Dr Loren shares lessons from a master’s in entrepreneurship: learn differently to keep pace, take calculated risks, and hire sooner to protect energy. We talk candidly about burnout, the power of schedule autonomy, and how a solo practice can stay agile while building programmes like penicillin allergy delabelling. Looking forward, we touch on clinical trials, wearable data turning symptoms into signals, and the horizon of immune‑modulating therapies—from practical outpatient advances to the promise of cell engineering. If you care about patient-first allergy care, healthcare entrepreneurship, and the smart use of technology, this conversation offers a clear, grounded roadmap.
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Guest Biography
Dr. Loren Isakson is the founder and medical director of North Star Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, PA, based in Florida. With a background in pediatrics and a fellowship in allergy and immunology, Dr. Isakson combines clinical rigor with a tech-forward, patient-centric approach to care. His practice is known for leveraging telemedicine, personalized treatment plans, and advanced diagnostics, especially in immunodeficiency and biologic therapies. A former medical director at MacDill Air Force Base and a graduate of a Master’s program in Entrepreneurship, he brings a unique blend of medical insight and business savvy to modern healthcare.
- 🔗 Website: www.northstarallergy.com
- 📞 Phone: +1 (727) 222-1879
- Contact Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northstarallergy/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northstarallergy/
- Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenisakson/
Chapters
1. Meet Dr Lauren and North Star (00:00:00)
2. Training, research, and choosing immunology (00:00:42)
3. From academia to Air Force leadership (00:03:41)
4. Launching lean with telemedicine (00:05:16)
5. Day-to-day care and immune focus (00:07:15)
6. Passion for immediate patient impact (00:09:14)
7. Patient expectations and access (00:11:12)
8. Burnout, resilience, and reframing (00:12:34)
9. AI tools, limits, and nuance (00:14:20)
10. Lessons from entrepreneurship (00:16:05)
11. Biologics changing asthma outcomes (00:18:00)
12. Insurance friction and tech relief (00:19:40)
13. Autonomy and guarding energy (00:21:10)
14. Building penicillin delabelling (00:22:20)
15. Short and long-term growth plans (00:23:22)
49 episodes