Recognizing that evaluating and steering AI models requires a unique skillset, Notion created a non-traditional technical role. These engineers, often from non-CS backgrounds, focus on qualitative analysis, defining evaluation journeys, and understanding model taste, bridging the gap between product and pure software engineering.

A key skill in building a deep tech team is identifying individuals who can bridge the gap between complex science and business reality. These "translators" can articulate highly technical concepts in plain English, clarifying clinical relevance and commercial viability for decision-makers.

A former medic explains that hands-on patient care provides an irreplaceable perspective for executives. It grounds strategic decisions in the reality of the patient experience, which is crucial for communicating value to teams and investors and maintaining a patient-first culture.

A successful research program requires deep integration with the clinical environment. By spending time with oncologists and nurses and joining tumor boards, scientists gain the necessary context to ask the most meaningful questions, bridging the gap between theoretical lab work and the reality of patient care.

The most critical role for a physician co-founder extends beyond the initial idea. They must act as the primary evangelist and validator, sharing the engineering progress with their peers to ensure the device's design and function align with the broader clinical community's needs and vision.

Abridge's secret weapon for building clinically relevant products is the "clinician scientist" role. These are team members with clinical backgrounds (e.g., MDs) who are also deeply technical. By embedding them in product teams, the company ensures that clinical usefulness and safety are baked into development and evaluation from day one.

The most impactful medical advances come from 'clinical scientists' who both see patients and work in the lab. This dual perspective provides a deep understanding of disease mechanisms and how to translate research into treatments, a model that Dr. Abelson believes is now under threat due to economic pressures.

Contrary to the "master of none" critique, biomedical engineers provide unique value by integrating engineering disciplines with an understanding of physiology and patient context. This interdisciplinary perspective is something a pure software or mechanical engineer often lacks when developing biotechnology.

Songyee Yoon applied her Ph.D. in computational neuroscience not to study the brain with computers, but to use principles of human perception to build better technology, such as more effective signal processing algorithms and user interfaces.