From Patient to Pioneer: Mariya Filipova on Investing, Convergent Care, and the Oral-Systemic Health Revolution
HIT Like a Girl Pod: Empowering Women in Health ITShow Notes
When a routine physical uncovered a giant kidney tumor, Mariya Filipova’s life and career trajectory were irrevocably changed. Faced with the daunting "standard" medical path of a nephrectomy, she chose to take a weekend to think differently. That single decision sparked an 18-month journey as her own healthcare quarterback, coordinating care across oncology, nephrology, genetics, and computational science—and ultimately preserving both her kidneys and her quality of life.
Today, as the founding partner of Marram Ventures and CEO of Proclaim Health, Mariya is on a mission to fix the systemic fragmentation she experienced firsthand. Her powerful investment thesis—"Convergent Care"—seeks to break down the professional and financial silos that have separated oral health from overall health for nearly 100 years. In this compelling episode, she discusses the startling lack of women in venture capital decision-making roles, the connection between gum disease and chronic conditions like diabetes and preterm labor, and why the solution lies in understanding healthcare's complex incentive structures.
Join host Rebecca Love for a conversation that exposes the absurdity of a fractured system and offers a clear, actionable blueprint for how patients, employers, and investors can drive the change toward a truly integrated healthcare future.
Why Women Investors Matter: The absence of women in venture capital decision-making roles isn't just a diversity issue—it's a market failure. By investing in what matters to the 51% of the population that makes the majority of healthcare decisions, we can build a smarter, more effective system.
The Power of a Frustrated Patient: Mariya’s personal health scare taught her that a successful outcome isn't just surviving surgery; it's returning to a full, vibrant life. This patient-centered definition of success is the north star for her investment and leadership philosophy.
The Healthcare "Black Box": As an executive at a major health plan, Mariya discovered the system's shocking inability to aggregate simple data, like total employer spending across medical, dental, and vision benefits. The same silos that frustrate patients are embedded in the business of healthcare.
A 100-Year Divide: The separation of medicine and dentistry is a historical accident, not a biological reality. The scientific consensus is clear: inflammation in the mouth directly impacts the heart, brain, and pregnancy outcomes, yet the system refuses to connect the dots.
Speaking the Language of Incentives: True change won’t come from disruption alone. It requires speaking the language of employers, health plans, and benefit administrators—showing how convergent care can reduce costs and improve quality by lowering high-cost claims (like NICU stays) through better oral health.
Key TakeawaysKey Points with Timestamps
00:00 | Welcome & Guest Intro Host Rebecca Love introduces Mariya Filipova, a woman she describes as one of the most incredible people in her decade-long career.
01:30 | The Thesis & The Disconnect Mariya defines "Convergent Care" and explains the investment thesis behind Marram Ventures. She discusses the shocking statistic that only 10-17% of VC decision-making roles are held by women.
05:47 | A Life-Changing Diagnosis Mariya shares the pivotal story of her "accidental find" of a giant kidney tumor, revealing how a routine physical turned her from a jet-setting executive into a scared patient in 72 hours.
08:19 | The 18-Month Journey She details her decision to reject a "convenient" nephrectomy and coordinate her own care. This section reveals her inspiring fight to preserve her kidney and her life, and how she defines success as "full recovery."
15:39 | Fragmentation from the Inside Mariya exposes the "shocking" reality of the business side of healthcare. A simple request to an employer's total spend across medical and dental took a six-week project to complete.
18:09 | The Oral-Systemic Link Mariya conne
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