An Innovative Medical Device Tackling Back Pain and Combating the Opioid Crisis with Justin Zenanko
Transforming Pain Management with Innovation
I’m thrilled to share some incredible insights from our latest podcast episode featuring Justin Zenanko, the co-founder, president, and CEO of SynerFuse. This conversation is packed with valuable lessons and innovative ideas that are sure to resonate with investment groups and growth-stage business owners like you.
Here are the key takeaways:
🌱 Justin’s Origin Story
Farm Life Lessons**: Growing up on a family farm taught Justin the importance of responsibility, community, and hard work—values that have shaped his leadership style.
Educational Journey**: From majoring in economics, accounting, and marketing at Simpson College to becoming a CPA, Justin’s diverse background laid a strong foundation for his entrepreneurial ventures.
💡 SynerFuse’s Mission
Innovative Pain Management**: SynerFuse aims to improve outcomes for spinal fusion surgeries by integrating nerve stimulation directly at the surgical site, reducing the need for opioids.
Addressing a Critical Issue**: With up to 40% of spinal fusion procedures resulting in ongoing pain, SynerFuse’s approach could significantly reduce the $20 billion annual cost of failed back surgeries and the $1.5 trillion impact of opioid misuse.
🚀 Overcoming Challenges
Navigating Skepticism**: Initially, spine surgeons were skeptical of SynerFuse’s innovative methods. However, early promising data and persistence have started to change minds.
Regulatory Hurdles**: The journey to FDA approval and securing funding for national trials is ongoing, but Justin’s commitment to improving patient outcomes keeps the team motivated.
📱 Empowering Patients
Smartphone Integration**: SynerFuse allows patients to adjust their stimulation settings via a smartphone app, giving them more control over their pain management.
🏆 Leadership and Culture
Leading by Example**: Justin invests his own money into SynerFuse, fostering a culture of accountability and commitment.
Core Values**: Integrity, open communication, and loyalty are at the heart of CenterFuse’s culture. Justin believes in addressing cultural misfits head-on to maintain a strong, mission-driven team.
🌟 Attracting Top Talent
Equity and Investment**: Offering equity and investing in team members’ development are key strategies for attracting and retaining high-performance leaders.
Mutual Respect**: Building a team with a shared vision and respect for each other’s contributions is crucial for tackling significant challenges.
🌍 Vision for the Future
Impact on Society**: Justin envisions a future where patients can manage pain effectively without relying on opioids, creating a ripple effect that benefits families and communities.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in innovative solutions to chronic pain and opioid dependency. Justin’s journey and insights offer valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and business leaders alike.
Thank you for being a part of our community. I hope you find this episode as inspiring and enlightening as I did.
Justin Zenanko
CEO, Founder
Justin is a Certified Public Accountant with extensive experience in corporate finance and startup development. Justin is also president, CEO, and co-founder of the Minnesota-based medical device company, SynerFuse™. SynerFuse™ developed a unique procedure, Electric Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (e-TLIF™), which combines fusion with direct nerve stimulation to address chronic low back and leg pain that is typically missed in traditional spinal fusion surgery. In addition to post-surgery pain, Justin and SynerFuse™ aim to address the opioid crisis and the drug abuse that can develop following serious medical procedures.