Fit Minded Inc

Everyone's jumping on the AI bandwagon, but we really need to keep in mind that you can't just build a model and call it a day. AI isn't a set-it-and-forget-it deal. It's going to be a constant process of iteration and refinement. You can’t just hand it over and expect it to run smoothly forever. I recently worked with a company where the AI seemed promising at first, but then it started glitching. It took forever to process questions, and often couldn’t provide any useful answers. After spending the day making a plan for the company, I went home and ended up chatting with a government-run AI “helpline” bot. It was a mess, too. Every query ended with, "I'm not sure how to answer your question."  I found it comforting, somehow, to know that even the government hasn’t solved the issues I’m working on out here in the healthcare industry. Here’s the thing: AI can be a powerful tool, but only if you’re willing to put in the work. You need a solid team: a data person, a tech person, and a behavior scientist to test and refine the product. You need to ask the right questions and be ready for a lot of trial and error. If you’re thinking about integrating AI, make sure you have product people on board and a CEO who understands the importance of constant iteration and human oversight. Without these elements, your AI project is likely to fall flat. AI is exciting, but it’s not a magic solution. It requires dedication, collaboration, and a willingness to keep refining. So, yes, I’m all in for AI, but only if we do it right. #AI #FractionalCSO #IndustryScience

“There is an evaluation crisis in mobile health.” That’s the first sentence of an abstract that caught my eye this week—and the review was so insightful that it kept me reading every word. “The majority of mHealth apps are released with little evidence base.” Preacher, meet choir. Here are a few of the topics from the scoping review (link in comments) that I think are the most spot-on: 1. Partnerships: When companies and academic institutions team up, BOTH sides need to get value. To make sure that happens, you need a scientist who has navigated things like IPs, MOUs, and understands the importance of research yielding evidence that makes sense for the business. 2. You don’t necessarily need a full-time scientist: Even early-stage startups can conduct research studies without full-time scientists. One of my clients, still working on getting investment, has been working with a commercial IRB to analyze and use their data for research and reporting. My team has developed and restructured their patient assessments, and we’ll run preliminary data to create reports for potential investors. 3. Research matters at all stages: No matter where companies are in their growth plan, they can make significant contributions to research. I've helped pre-seed startups design pilot studies and guided Series B companies through full-scale RCTs. Science can (and should) happen at every stage. The key is tuning into the necessary design and resources to make it happen. 4. RCTs are achievable (yes, I mean for you): The review found RCTs are feasible across all company stages. RCTs are doable, even if they’re not the first step. But you don’t need RCTs right away- there's a lot of science that can be done before it’s time for an RCT. Don’t let the big players with deep pockets make you think that science is just for them- it’s for every digital health startup that wants to matter. #DigitalHealth #FractionalCSO #IndustryScience

A major mental health company just got slammed by the FTC for playing fast and loose with client data. And it could have been avoided. Here's the secret: if your company is collecting, sharing, or analyzing data, you should get IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval. IRBs don't just deal with research that will be published. You can get their help to keep things above board for almost anything data-related. If you’re a healthcare company, you will be collecting data. Everyone does. And even if your privacy policy covers data usage, you should still get IRB approval to analyze this data. They'll point out any ethical conflicts to avoid and help you prevent a major PR crisis later on. Approval from an IRB means that the study has been reviewed and that the procedures for collecting and sharing the data meets high ethical standards for protecting the privacy and rights of those who use your services.       IRBs help ensure your practices are HIPAA compliant, that you're handling PHI correctly, and use aggregated de-identified data from customers for writing reports and publications (which means you don’t need explicit consent from each individual, but you’re still protecting their privacy). You can hire an independent IRB to help you make sure that your methods are ethical and your data handling is secure. The IRB process might seem tedious, but there are no shortcuts to maintaining trust and credibility. It protects both your company and your customers. And trust me, presenting everything to an IRB board is a lot better than presenting everything to the FTC. #DataPrivacy #IndustryScience #FractionalCSO

Ask me how I know the fractional model works. I’ve been a fractional CSO (for years), but as of recently, I’ve also hired fractional talent for my own business. It started when I realized that while I am an excellent CEO (and CSO), I needed the expertise of a seasoned COO. So I brought on a fractional COO to bring order to our chaotic operations. We lacked a CRM and needed a structured system for tracking contacts. Within weeks, my new fractional COO transformed our processes and organized templates and systems. Needless to say, my stress level plummeted. I thought the hardest part was going to be getting to know the new systems, but it was actually letting go of control. CEOs may sometimes resist change because the unknown is scary- and because our companies are our babies. I had to trust her expertise, even when she overhauled my entire email system. (I might have freaked out, but the time it saved me was worth it!) I could have hired a full-time VA, trained them, and guided them through every process. Instead, I hired a top-of-her-field expert who only needs a few hours a week to produce incredible results. Now, I can pick her brain and use her as a resource whenever I need help. Sometimes, you just need someone who knows more than you. When I’m working with my clients and telling them to trust me, I know exactly how hard it can be – but I also know that the benefits outweigh the risks. Trust the process. And hire fractional! #FractionalCSO #IndustryScience #FractionalModel

Looking back, my journey from academic science to industry innovation seems inevitable. The first thing I ever did as a research scientist was implement a “physical activity” intervention for middle-aged women to increase their sense of self-worth. I started with 20 women, and it worked. And we continued to see positive results in other studies. We published a few papers showing that as women increased their physical activity, their self-worth improved, and their BMI decreased. Eventually, I started charging for it. I joined an incubator to learn about business planning and marketing. Mentors kept saying, “Jen, you have a business here,” or “Jen, you should write a small business grant to support this.” I knew that’s where my passion was, but I stayed on the track for promotion and tenure instead. Over time, I kept dabbling in business. I was helping nonprofits decide if the programs they were using were helping the children attending their programs (eating better, more exercise) or helping pregnant women be healthier during pregnancy. Before I knew it, I ended up at Calm. I was 3.5 years into writing an NIH grant with their app when I was more officially part of their team and was awarded a grant for 2.5 million—as a professor—mixing science and industry.  It’s just always been what I love and am passionate about. And now I get to do it full-time, with all kinds of world-changing companies, alongside some of the best people I know. If you're just getting started, keep going; you'll never know how your passions will become your bread and butter one day. #IndustryScience #Innovation #FractionalCSO

Someone told me their company’s science wasn’t showing effects. They brought the issue to their CEO who said they didn’t care. My jaw dropped a little. You run a company, you say you want to solve a problem, but it may not be working, and you don’t care? Clinicians who deal with health issues are held to incredibly high standards to make sure they’re providing the best care possible- care that actually works. They’ve got oaths, codes of ethics, review boards, licensures. But what kind of standards are there for startups that deal with health issues? The naked truth is this: for now, the only standards are the ones we are morally obliged to uphold. I believe it’s moral to make sure that your product does the thing you tell your customers it will do. This is where science steps in. As scientists, it’s our job to be honest and help solve problems. If the company does not see an impact in what it’s selling as a solution, it’s our job to identify the problem and help find a solution. But that requires a specific kind of scientist. Scientists who can solve these deeply embedded product issues are those who aren’t afraid to step out of their comfort zone and have difficult conversations with the Chief Product Officer or the CEO. They’ll have to be patient and know that with continued testing and iterations, they’ll see movement. They’ll also need to be passionate enough to keep going and keep trying. And if they’re stuck, they’ll need to be humble enough to ask other scientists in and outside their field for help solving the problem. No one wants to see results like from their product- but the answer isn’t to ignore it. It’s also not to panic. Call a scientist. It’s not just what’s best for your company, it’s the right thing to do. #IndustryScience #StandardsInHealthcare #FractionalCSO 

When does a company need to bring in a full-time CSO? Do they need one right away, or is there another way to integrate science into their strategy? My experience is that, rather than paying for a full-time CSO, growing companies can do better by hiring early career scientists and hiring me as the fractional CSO. The scientists work full-time for the company, and I provide oversight, strategy, and mentorship. In fact, this approach has worked wonders for four companies in the past year. Here’s why: 1. Reduced Stress for the CEO: I handle the science strategy and team leadership, meeting with leadership weekly to discuss progress and goals. This allows the CEO to focus on other major aspects of the business. 2. Mentorship and Training: Even the strongest scientists need guidance to balance their scientific perspective with industry needs. I mentor them to think more strategically about industry applications, helping them learn what they need to know to fuel company growth. 3. Strategic Use of Data: I work with companies' existing science teams to think about science more strategically. This involves leveraging existing data for cross-functional and marketing purposes and identifying new data collection opportunities. 4. Flexibility and Growth: The fractional CSO model allows companies to benefit from high-level scientific expertise without the immediate need for a full-time CSO. It’s a scalable solution that grows with the company. A recent real-world success: A client had grown to a complete science team, and I continued to collaborate with their Directors of Science, Marketing, Sales, and more. We explored new ways to use their data and identified gaps in their data collection processes. With an open team willing to work shoulder-to-shoulder, the results were incredible. For now, this fractional model works perfectly for many companies. It provides the strategic oversight they need without the overhead of a full-time CSO. Curious how this could work for your company? Let’s talk about how we can integrate science into your strategy. #FractionalCSO #IndustryScience #Leadership

No one will care about your findings unless you can convey them in a way that makes them care. That’s what makes science communication so tricky, especially when you’re trying to make your findings accessible to a broader audience. I worked with a scientist at a client company who was struggling with this. She was writing findings like she would for a university setting – brilliant, but overly complicated and full of jargon. The (critical) message was getting lost in the weeds I told her, “Instead of just writing the science, ask yourself: What’s the take-home message here? What’s the value?” For example, instead of saying, “Those who use our app more often are likely to have less anxiety than those who use our app less often,” simplify it to, “Use it more; feel less anxious.” Or, instead of saying, “We found that people who use it in the morning had a regular habit versus those who used it at night,” just say, “We recommend meditation in the morning.” The key is to strip away the extra words. Keep it clear and actionable. If your data shows that regular use improves sleep, say, “Use this regularly for better sleep.” You can always cite a recent report or study to back it up. Remember, in the business world, clarity is power. The goal is to make the information actionable and easy to understand. Your audience will thank you. #ScienceCommunication #DigitalHealth #FractionalCSO

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This week, we’re sending out our Q2 edition of our quarterly newsletter. This newsletter explores the ways that we are using science to intersect with the business world. In this issue, you’ll find segments on: 👉 Thought leadership key highlights 👉 Client spotlight 👉 New Publications 👉 The importance of laughter If you aren’t already a subscriber, you can sign up here https://lnkd.in/gE52Yvax to receive this edition straight to your inbox. I look forward to continuing to share our stories and insights about the fusion of science, business, and innovation! #Newsletter #ScienceInBusiness