From Bedside to Boardroom

Meet Laura Demuth

As I prepared for my interview with Laura Demuth, I couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated. After all, I'd never had the opportunity to sit down with an executive or vice president before. My mind raced with thoughts, convinced that her time was far more valuable than mine. 

But the moment we began talking, Laura's genuine warmth and friendly demeanour put me at ease, melting away my unfounded assumptions. She expressed sincere gratitude for my reaching out, setting the tone for a conversation filled with candid reflections and invaluable insights.

Current Role

With my nerves settled, I eagerly delved into Laura's journey to becoming the Senior Vice President (SVP) of Patient Care at Curology, a telehealth dermatology practice and consumer skincare brand based in the United States. 

First, however, I had to admit my limited understanding of what an SVP role entails. Laura graciously explained, "I oversee everything touching our providers and patients. So, I have a provider network of physicians and nurses who serve directly with our patients. I have a team of what I like to call my Swiss Army knives of clinicians who have taken on additional responsibilities and interests." 

Her focus encompassed management and strategy workstreams, reporting directly to the CEO and collaborating cross-functionally with Curology's operations, marketing, finance, commercial, people, and culture teams while shaping business strategy.

Laura confessed that she never envisioned this path for her career.

So, how did she end up here?

The Bedside Beginning

As a self-described 'feeler', Laura chose nursing over other healthcare entry points because it allowed her to learn the science of medicine while also caring emotionally for people. "I knew something related to healthcare was for me... Nursing always felt like that perfect mix I could sink my teeth into."

Unsure of which nursing area to focus on, Laura began her career at the bedside as a nurse's aide while completing her studies. This exposure helped narrow her choices, and she decided that inpatient and high-acuity care was where she wanted to be. 

Her first role after graduating was within a hematology and oncology inpatient unit, which she describes as formative for her next season of career development. 

Working in oncology also ignited Laura's desire for more decision-making autonomy in patient care, spurring her to undertake a Nurse Practitioner (NP) credential early on and complete it part-time during those inpatient years. With her broader scope of practice, Laura decided that outpatient primary care was where she needed to be. 

For a couple of years, she grew under the mentorship of what Laura describes as some great physicians and fellow advanced providers. She spoke fondly of this period from over a decade ago. "I think having those individual clinical experiences both as a nurse and nurse practitioner was a crucial foundation for me to be able to step into the world of a non-traditional role and be able to lean on that experience that I've had in the past and bring value to where I am."

At this point in her career, Laura was deeply entrenched in the traditional healthcare system as a nurse practitioner, valuing the direct, one-to-one patient care that came with it. She believed this was the most impactful way to contribute to healthcare, operating under the conventional wisdom that face-to-face interaction was essential for quality care.

A New Chapter, A New Challenge

But when Laura moved across the country, a new chapter of her life began, alongside a change of scenery. Driven by personal reasons, she sought fresh career prospects in a sprawling metropolitan area—a stark contrast to the small towns she was familiar with. 

Her journey into dermatology was deeply rooted in personal battles and professional curiosity. She shared how, as a teen, she suffered from acne, recalling the countless remedies she tried in vain, from harsh apricot scrubs that only damaged her skin to a myriad of over-the-counter solutions.

Laura's turning point as a teen came when her paediatrician handed her a medication sample, a combination of benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin, known as BenzaClin. "It was so expensive to get it filled that I would just use those samples," she said, highlighting the lengths she went to find relief. This experience was a watershed moment for clearer skin and fomented her professional path. "It was the only thing that worked for me," she emphasised, underscoring the struggle and the small victories along the way.

Jumping into Health Tech

Therefore, her discovery of an opportunity at Curology in Southern California felt serendipitous. "When I saw the opportunity, I thought, 'My goodness. This is me.'" Looking back, Laura wished for a service like that during her teen years, believing it could have transformed her experience.

Others around her expressed doubts about whether this was the best move for her career.

Laura's response was to confidently highlight her due diligence in the move, reminding herself and others of her exit strategy if it didn't work out. "Should I get into this new world, and it isn't for me? I still have my degree, my licenses, and hospitals aren't going anywhere." She encourages anyone considering innovative roles to do their due diligence on the potential scope of care models and the regulations that support them.

With a mix of excitement and apprehension, Laura joined Curology as employee number 12, offering virtual patient care as a nurse practitioner.

Soon enough, her preconceived notions about the scope of impact achievable through traditional healthcare roles were squashed, replaced by a newfound enthusiasm for innovative ways to care for those who suffered, just like she did when she was younger.

Having recruited many people since joining Curology, Laura highlights the importance of considering personal alignment with a company's mission. Employees who genuinely understand their customers shine bright and tend to follow up more persistently after the interview. These successful employees also remain more engaged in their work.

Early Challenges

But there were early challenges in joining a health tech startup, including adapting to a new sector with consumer caution about telehealth's effectiveness and navigating her role as a clinician in a tech-driven company.

"Frankly, this type of work was often met with scepticism within the medical community. Questions like, 'Are you practising good medicine?' or 'Is the standard of care ethical?' were common. At that time, the answer for Curology was a resounding yes. However, I remember worrying whether I was making a decision that could potentially harm my career. Would I regret this move?" Laura conveyed her subsequent career development, indicating no regrets.

The melting point of an early startup offered Laura ample opportunities to hone new skills. 

Over the last nine years, Laura took on a manager role where she led her peers and eventually a director role where she managed multiple teams. Then came a Vice President opportunity that added medical licensing and, more recently, the Senior Vice President role.

The Cocktail for Success

It must have been more challenging than it sounds, I thought to myself. That is a significant rise through the company ranks.

Preempting my questions, Laura humbly attributed timing as an influence on her career development within the company. She entered at a time of opportunity and financial investment. The company grew fast and changed every few months, so she was there, looking and ready for personal and professional growth opportunities. "I think I rode that wave a little bit by being able to sit at that table and be instrumental in our growth". 

But she quickly credited the company's Founding CEO and Dermatologist for seeing capabilities within her that she was unaware of.

With slight embarrassment, she suggested that her perfectionism and deep desire to learn may have contributed to her ascension.

It made me think of the ideal cocktail of personal proactiveness, timing, personal motivations, and culture needed for career-aligned development. Despite what many gurus might say, it's never just one thing. However, I wanted to highlight Laura's micro-decisions to divert energy, talents, and attention to a different path or detour. She didn't. She met her workplace halfway, giving what she had at the time, and leadership nurtured it. 

Laura confirmed the importance of culture for both her own development and how she tries to support others. "Curology's culture is one of its greatest strengths and one of the biggest reasons that has kept me coming back all nine years I've been here". The warmth with which she spoke about her company's leaders and values for inclusivity, flexibility, and innovation was evident on her face, enough to make me somewhat envious of such a place.

I wondered what we could all achieve and what place we wouldn't want to leave if the culture was better.

The strategy and management workstreams are clearly Laura's focus now. I was curious as to why she decided to pursue this path.

She made strategic decisions to reduce direct patient care in favour of focusing on leadership and strategy, marking her transition from clinical roles to the C-suite. 

As it turns out, Laura still has a small number of patients. She says, "It's important to stay connected with what our patients and providers experience in our room so that I can help inform other teams in my role. But to be honest, I love seeing patients." Her experience illustrates that we often learn so much by just doing it.

Laura acknowledged how transferable many of the skills she used in traditional clinical roles were for her roles in a telehealth startup.

For example, a nurse in a busy unit constantly adapts to changing situations. These skills translate well to other fields, like digital health. Building rapport with colleagues, just like with patients, is also crucial. Taking time to understand their perspectives and motivations makes collaboration much smoother.

Surely, there are some skills and knowledge that one has to learn formally to get to the executive level of a business. Laura admitted, "I noticed my gaps very early as I was sitting in rooms of people with MBAs and decades of experience". She is currently being supported to take an executive course, but any other formal business degree simply doesn't fit into her life.

She upskilled herself by asking experienced colleagues within her organisation to mentor her. For example, senior financial team members coached her on financial statements and concepts. Other low-cost resources she suggested are Alexander Preston's Healthcare Breakdown or Digital Health Strategy by Well Women and Nikhil Krishnan’s resources. 

Personal & Professional Evolvution

I knew I was speaking with a professional who loves to learn, so I was curious as to how Laura, the person, may have changed through her career journey. She indicates that what she wanted from her career and her beliefs about what's possible have shifted. She's gone from following the path acceptable by society to shaking those limiting self-beliefs and staying open to new paths. 

Like many of us, parenthood has also been a catalyst for the evolution of her professional and personal identity;

Laura explores this evolution in a podcast called Mighty as A Mother, inviting conversations about the intersection of parenting and work. She also finds further belonging in the Humans in Healthcare community where she’s able to bring all of her identities in one place.

Becoming a parent is a significant life change that can profoundly impact one's perspective and priorities. It's not just about less sleep or juggling schedules; it fundamentally changes who you are and what you crave in life, including your career.

I remember wrestling with this new reality, feeling like it clashed with my image of the 'modern woman.' I eventually surrendered to the evolution, embracing the woman I was becoming - a woman who fiercely prioritised motherhood and professional fulfilment. 

We all have unique desires, resources, and constraints; we can choose the path that honours both the parent and the professional within us.

Laura's journey reminds us that career paths can be linear but in directions beyond our initial expectations. By embracing curiosity, seeking out supportive cultures, and remaining open to unexpected opportunities, we can discover the leader within and create a career that aligns with our evolving values and aspirations.

Laura's Wisdom:

1. Consider the Lifestyle Shift: Transitioning from a fast-paced, hands-on clinical environment to a remote, computer-based role can be challenging if you need tactile experiences for fulfilling work. Work out whether virtual work that is often relatively sedentary is for you.

2. Embrace Collaboration and Advocacy: Be prepared to advocate for patients and providers when working with non-clinical teams who may not fully understand the nuances of healthcare. Building collaborative relationships is critical to navigating resistance and ensuring ethical, effective systems.

3. Develop Adaptability and Flexibility: The digital health and startup world is dynamic and fast-paced, with frequent changes and a bias for action. To thrive in this environment, cultivate your ability to adapt and be comfortable with ambiguity.

You can connect with Laura via LinkedIn.

Are you curious about what direction you can move towards in healthcare? If so,