What happens when you stop playing it safe and decide to bet on yourself?
In this episode of The Device Girls, Sarah and Haley sit down with Dan Payson, CEO and co-founder of All-Stars Surgical Assist, to talk about his journey from the clinical side of healthcare to med device sales, running a neurosurgery practice, and ultimately stepping into entrepreneurship.
Dan shares why leaving a successful, comfortable career became one of the best decisions he ever made—and what he learned about risk, networking, problem-solving, and building a business along the way.
They also dive into a career path many healthcare professionals don't even realize is available: independent surgical first assisting. Dan explains how providers can leverage their experience and licenses to create more flexibility, build their own book of business, and potentially develop an additional—or even primary—source of income.
Dan also breaks down the less glamorous side of going independent: insurance reimbursement, billing, credentialing, navigating different state regulations, and the infrastructure required to actually get paid. All-Stars Surgical Assist was built to handle much of that back-end work so providers can focus on what they do best in the OR. Their current model supports independent surgical first assists with billing, appeals, credentialing support, and predictable payment structures.
This conversation is about more than surgical assisting. It's about recognizing the value of your skill set, building relationships, solving problems, taking calculated risks, and realizing that the traditional career path may not be your only option.
If you've ever considered entrepreneurship, freelancing, stepping outside of a traditional W-2 role, or simply wondered what else you could do with the experience you already have—this episode is for you.
**Connect with Dan & All-Stars Surgical Assist:**
📧 Dan@allstarssurgical.com
🌐 https://allstarssurgical.com
#TheDeviceGirls #MedDevice #MedicalDeviceSales #HealthcareCareers #SurgicalFirstAssist #HealthcareEntrepreneur #MedicalSales #Entrepreneurship #OperatingRoom #HealthcareProfessionals
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