David Newman spent about 15 years as an orthopedic surgeon running his own practice in Manhattan before shifting into digital health. On the Sunny Ray Show, he explains how physical constraints, such as injuries, aging, and chronic inflammation, pushed him from the operating room into entrepreneurship. Newman is the founder of PopDoc, a platform built with a doctor of physical therapy and a strength and conditioning exercise scientist to address musculoskeletal and neurological health from head to toe rather than treating isolated body parts. He describes noticing inconsistent outcomes across similar surgeries and realizing that engaging software, paired with intrinsic motivation, could improve recovery outside the clinic. Having undergone his own ACL, shoulder, and thumb surgeries, he understood firsthand how important a consistent recovery routine is. Newman introduces his PRE-ACTIVE framework, an updated take on RICE therapy that adds positivity, anti-inflammatory care, topicals, voluntary behavior changes, and exercise. He also discusses the challenge of monetizing prevention, since its payoff can take decades and the industries that profit from ongoing treatment have little incentive to support it. The conversation closes on what it truly means to age gracefully.
An orthopedic surgeon turned founder explains why chronic inflammation, not just injury, drives pain, and why prevention deserves the spotlight.
What are you building at PopDoc, and what problem are you solving?
PopDoc solves physical constraints and chronic inflammation that slow people down after injury or as they age. These constraints are widespread, often from lack of education, motivation, or resources for healthy aging. We combine knowledge and action across the musculoskeletal and neurological systems, stringing together the whole body from head to toe rather than treating one isolated area.
After 15 years of orthopedic surgery, what did you keep seeing arrive in your operating room too late?
Time and time again it was chronic inflammation disrupting normal joint function, plus a lack of knowledge and motivation. Joints that should be smooth and stable become irritated, unstable, and painful. People end up in surgery because of unrelenting joint pain, damaged menisci, tendons, and muscles that have been overused, injured, or simply aged. I saw that pattern constantly.
What was the first moment you realized the answer was software rather than another operation?
I noticed I could do ten identical knee surgeries and never get the same outcome, and I kept wondering why. So many variables affect recovery, therapy quality, patient motivation, education. I realized that engaging software delivering the right homework and tools could drive intrinsic motivation. Having had my own ACL, shoulder, and thumb surgeries, I knew how much a daily routine mattered.
What was the hardest thing to unlearn coming out of medicine and into building a company?
I ran my own practice in Manhattan for over 15 years doing everything myself: admin, billing, scheduling, operating. Stepping into entrepreneurship meant learning I couldn't do it all alone anymore. Building a bigger, more scalable company required trusting experts in software development, marketing, sales, and legal structure. Learning to lean on a team was the biggest shift for me.
What made you go all in on building this rather than advising someone else who was?
I'm an orthopedic surgeon, not a software creator, so I built a team with a doctor of physical therapy and a strength and conditioning exercise scientist to create our exercise database. I sought advice from people who had the courage to go out on their own, succeed, and fail. That kept me focused and optimistic, and my team believes in the value we bring.
Your word is pre-active. What does that actually mean for someone who feels fine today?
Pre-active is rice therapy updated for today: joint pain, before you're active, be pre-active. Each letter stands for a step: positivity, rest, elevation, anti-inflammatory, compression, topicals, ice, voluntary behavior modification, and exercise. Exercise is the most powerful piece. It doesn't need to be demanding, just enough controlled movement to increase blood flow and bring healing components to the injured area.
Prevention has no obvious payer since its benefit shows up in 20 years. How do you build a business on that?
Nobody likes paying for prevention, even though it saves money for companies and insurers. Only big pharma loses when people stay healthy, and their lobby is huge. But prevention is climbing toward the spotlight, whether it's pro teams protecting star players or protecting industrial athletes like plumbers and electricians. Sedentary desk jobs need preventive ergonomics too, since sitting causes real harm over time.
If aging gracefully becomes an infrastructure problem rather than a personal one, who ends up paying for it?
Aging gracefully depends on having financial means and access to the right tools. It means minimal chronic pain, mental peace, and being able to do what brings you joy, whether that's playing with grandkids or gardening. Environmental factors like pollution, diet, and past injuries all play a role. My past surgeries were treatments, not cures, so I still lean on mindset and movement.
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