From their work with in-house innovation hubs to their adventures in the VC world and government, members of the fifth class of Healthcare Transformers continue to redefine the industry’s relationship with technology. Meanwhile, MM&M’s 2019 Innovation Catalysts work their disruptive magic in media and amid the startup din.
Top 40 Healthcare Transformers
- Ardy ArianpourCEO and cofounder, SeqsterArdy ArianpourCEO and cofounder, Seqster
Seqster is a person-centric interoperability platform that draws from electronic health records, consumer genetic tests and wearables, and presents the data through an engaging user interface.
- Dawn BarryPresident and cofounder, LunaDNADawn BarryPresident and cofounder, LunaDNA
During a TEDx talk about the future of personal genomics, Dawn Barry posed a question to the assembled throng: “We react to disease, but rarely get ahead of it. What if we could look a little deeper, not just for the signs and symptoms after something has gone wrong, but at our foundation, our DNA, and get proactive about our health?” As president and cofounder of LunaDNA, a genomic and medical research database powered by blockchain, she works toward that goal.
- Lionel BasclesSVP, global head of clinical sciences and operations, SanofiLionel BasclesSVP, global head of clinical sciences and operations, Sanofi
Lionel Bascles began his career in academia and joined Sanofi in 1998. During his 20-year tenure, he has handled roles and responsibilities ranging from business development to international clinical trials to project management. Since 2010, Bascles has focused on building the pharma giant’s clinical sciences and operations platform.
- Priscilla BealGlobal head, digital health ecosystem and engagement, BayerPriscilla BealGlobal head, digital health ecosystem and engagement, Bayer
After many years of guarding their inner workings as if they were state secrets, pharma companies have slowly opened their doors — and their minds — to outside organizations.
The industry has done this most effectively via in-house startup incubators such as Bayer’s G4A program, which began in 2013 in Bayer’s Berlin headquarters and was launched in the U.S. in 2017. According to Priscilla Beal, who headed up marketing and communications for the unit, G4A had its roots in a “hallway conversation” about giving out grants and building apps.
- Lynda Brown-GanzertCEO and founder, CuratioLynda Brown-GanzertCEO and founder, Curatio
Lynda Brown-Ganzert founded Vancouver-based Curatio to bring patients together through personalized private networks that use social interaction to spark behavioral change and compliance. The company’s platform, which is licensed to payers, providers and pharma and research organizations in 80 countries, combines social network theory with daily disease management tools to aid in patient acquisition and retention.
- Ari CarolineChief analytics officer, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer CenterAri CarolineChief analytics officer, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Ari Caroline’s career at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center began in 2002, when he worked with operational data for a summer project. At the time, he was pursuing a doctorate in financial economics at Yale. Fast-forward 17 years, and Caroline has assumed a leadership role in the center’s use of analytics.
- Dr. Mandy CohenSecretary, North Carolina Department of Health and Human ServicesDr. Mandy CohenSecretary, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Dr. Mandy Cohen was tapped to lead the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services — which has 16,000 employees and an annual budget of $20 billion — in 2017. Since then, her top priorities have included combating the opioid crisis, building a stronger and more efficient Medicaid program and improving early childhood education and health.
- Cris De LucaGlobal director, digital innovation, J&J InnovationCris De LucaGlobal director, digital innovation, J&J Innovation
Cris De Luca cheerily admits he had little idea of what to expect when he accepted an invitation to serve as a panelist at Digital Health Pop-Up, an off-site get-together convened by Ogilvy and Humble Ventures at this year’s SXSW. He assumed he and his fellow presenters — innovation/investment execs from Pfizer and Merck — would banter easily with one another prior to fielding a handful of audience questions, much like every other klatch he’d attended during his time at the event.
- Dr. Tania ElliottAssociate attending, NYU Langone Health, co-chair, Telemedicine Clinical Task ForceDr. Tania ElliottAssociate attending, NYU Langone Health, co-chair, Telemedicine Clinical Task Force
Dr. Tania Elliot was previously the chief medical officer of EHE Health and was the former medical director at Doctor on Demand, where she saw thousands of patients through real-time video consultations.
- Dr. Yechiel EngelhardGlobal head of digital health, TevaDr. Yechiel EngelhardGlobal head of digital health, Teva
In the wake of numerous studies showing the majority of asthma patients do not use their inhalers correctly, Dr. Yechiel Engelhard went to work. Enter the GeckoCap — a bolt-on device designed to motivate children to properly use their inhalers — which Engelhard invented in 2012.
- Heather FernandezCEO and cofounder, SolvHeather FernandezCEO and cofounder, Solv
Solv wants to be the OpenTable for making same-day appointments at urgent care clinics. Since its launch about two years ago, customers have booked 1.5 million visits using the platform.
User-friendliness is the company’s secret sauce. Patients and caregivers can search for urgent care facilities located near them and view available appointment times. Users can also take a picture of their insurance card and find out details regarding pricing and copays.
- Lidia FonsecaChief digital officer, PfizerLidia FonsecaChief digital officer, Pfizer
You might say Lidia Fonseca has been solving problems since she was a little girl.
Born in Mexico, Fonseca moved to the U.S. when she was 10. “I learned to speak English by watching the news, soap operas and CHiPs,” she jokes. She called inner-city Los Angeles home, and credits her middle school English lit teacher for spotting her academic potential. “He encouraged me to apply to a magnet high school in the San Fernando Valley, so I had to take a bus 90 minutes each way.”
- Sam GlassenbergCEO and founder, Level ExSam GlassenbergCEO and founder, Level Ex
Should doctors really be spending time playing video games? Sam Glassenberg thinks so.
Glassenberg, a video game exec, had an idea to transform physician education that he brought to life with the formation of Level Ex, a medical video game company. The mobile games incorporate realistic anatomical depictions and present engaging challenges that can elevate a physician’s skills.
- Eddie Gonzalez-NovoaCofounder and chief program officer, Energizing HealthEddie Gonzalez-NovoaCofounder and chief program officer, Energizing Health
After accumulating 15 years of nonprofit management experience in New York City, Eddie Gonzalez-Novoa moved to Houston to co-launch a nonprofit video game company designed to support and connect teens with cancer.
It was a huge risk — and meant upending his professional and personal lives — but it was something Gonzalez-Novoa felt he had to do.
- Dr. Scott GottliebFormer commissioner, Food and Drug AdministrationDr. Scott GottliebFormer commissioner, Food and Drug Administration
Dr. Scott Gottlieb made headlines in March with his resignation from his role at the FDA. “This has been a wonderful journey and parting is very hard,” he tweeted at the time.
Appointed in 2017, Gottlieb was outspoken about the need to address the surge in vaping by young people.
- Kyle HolenHead, development design center, AbbVieKyle HolenHead, development design center, AbbVie
During his seven years at AbbVie, Kyle Holen has helped create the company’s development design center. The much-admired unit uses big data and predictive analytics to inform clinical research decisions and operationalize trials around the world.
Holen’s efforts have helped evolve the decision-making process in AbbVie’s clinical programs.
- Aubrey JenkinsCEO and cofounder, inHealth Medical ServicesAubrey JenkinsCEO and cofounder, inHealth Medical Services
Aubrey Jenkins founded inHealth Medical Services, a virtual health-coaching company, to help people use technology to achieve and maintain healthy lifestyles and combat chronic diseases. The company incorporates telemedicine to address weight loss, chronic care management, diabetes prevention and wellness, among other health-related issues.
- Deborah KilpatrickCEO, Evidation HealthDeborah KilpatrickCEO, Evidation Health
Under Deborah Kilpatrick’s leadership, Evidation Health has built a diverse virtual pool of research participants through its proprietary app, Achievement. Evidation’s research is powered by 2 million app users who generate data from their smartphones, wearables and medical devices.
- Daphne KollerCEO and founder, InsitroDaphne KollerCEO and founder, Insitro
At Insitro, Daphne Koller and her team are applying machine learning and related technologies to leverage biomolecular data toward a goal of developing new drugs faster. With more than $100 million in recently raised capital, and a new discovery deal with Gilead, she’s turning the corner.
- Shameet LuharCEO, Vheda HealthShameet LuharCEO, Vheda Health
Shameet Luhar founded Vheda Health because, he notes, “Chronic conditions are fueling a cost strain on our system worldwide, which is being driven by hospitalizations, ER visits, and deaths, all of which are preventable.”
The company has turned its focus toward making it easier for chronically ill patients to monitor and improve their health.
- Carolyn MagillCEO, AetionCarolyn MagillCEO, Aetion
Carolyn Magill leads Aetion’s efforts to provide biopharma companies the analytics and evidence needed to optimize clinical development, advance strategies for regulatory approval and engage with payers in value-based care. By leveraging data sources — electronic health records, medical claims and disease registries among them — Aetion attempts to more accurately assess the safety and value of medical products.
- Dr. Maulik MajmudarChief medical officer, AmazonDr. Maulik MajmudarChief medical officer, Amazon
Dr. Maulik Majmudar begins his MM&M profile interview with a simple observation. Nevertheless, it’s one that puts his hiring last August as Amazon’s first chief medical officer into perspective — and hints at what kind of impact the internet giant may have on healthcare.
When asked why Silicon Valley is hiring so many cardiologists, he notes, “If you look at technological innovation over the years, cardiovascular medicine — above and beyond any other specialty — has probably seen the most, spanning all the way from new devices and diagnostics to clinical trials.”
- Ian MarksVP, R&D innovation, GSK Consumer HealthcareIan MarksVP, R&D innovation, GSK Consumer Healthcare
At GSK and over the course of his career, Ian Marks has been an advocate for enabling patients — the prime consumers of care — to harness the skills and expertise of doctors, drug manufacturers and technologists. He works to place the power of informed decision-making into patients’ hands through innovative tools such as digital apps that enable consumers to track biometrics and determine health needs.
- Jim MangioneDirector, emerging technologies, PfizerJim MangioneDirector, emerging technologies, Pfizer
Jim Mangione and his team focus on identifying new startups and product innovations that can positively impact patient health or have the potential to disrupt how things have conventionally been done in the healthcare industry.
To that end, they maintain a repository of thousands of startups and run live, interactive events throughout the year.
- Corey McCannCEO, president and founder, Pear TherapeuticsCorey McCannCEO, president and founder, Pear Therapeutics
Boston-based Pear Therapeutics, founded by Corey McCann, made headlines in September 2017 when it received FDA clearance for its app-based therapy designed for people addicted to alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and other recreational drugs.
- Konstantin MehlCEO and founder, Kaia HealthKonstantin MehlCEO and founder, Kaia Health
Konstantin Mehl, a serial entrepreneur with a background in chemistry and finance, started his first business when he was 22. One of his startups, food delivery company Foodora, grew to more than 500 employees in 15 countries. In 2015, the company went public under the Delivery Hero umbrella.
- Thomas MillerVP, medical device technology, Novo NordiskThomas MillerVP, medical device technology, Novo Nordisk
As leader of Novo Nordisk’s medical device research unit in Seattle, Thomas Dedenroth Miller champions the use of digital health solutions and novel drug/device combinations to improve disease management. Since joining the company in 2000, Miller has served as a key member of the teams that developed renowned diabetes devices such as the FlexTouch and FlexPro pens.
- Mahesh NaithaniFounder and chairman, PharmaspectraMahesh NaithaniFounder and chairman, Pharmaspectra
Mahesh Naithani’s dream of creating a comprehensive resource for scientific information began 16 years ago, when he started collecting all publicly available abstracts from global medical conferences. Today, Pharmaspectra’s online repository of medical science information includes 16 million meeting presentations, 28 million publication abstracts and 417,000 clinical trial results.
- Tara Parker-PopeFounding editor of Well, the NYT health and wellness vertical, The New York TimesTara Parker-PopeFounding editor of Well, the NYT health and wellness vertical, The New York Times
Tara Parker-Pope launched The New York Times’ health and wellness vertical Well 11 years ago. The site covers everything from fitness and nutrition to science-based information on mindfulness, sleep, family, love and friendships, but in a decidedly non-Times-like manner. Don’t buy it? Recent headlines include Never Text Your Girlfriend’s Mom in Secret and Why Do We Yawn.
- JD PuentesCEO and founder, AMK HealthJD PuentesCEO and founder, AMK Health
Prior to launching AMK Health in Mexico City in 2007, serial entrepreneur JD Puentes founded and sold a number of companies, including specialty pharmacy Sanantia and e-health firm Medicina Interactiva. AMK Health focuses on the Hispanic healthcare market. Its services run the gamut from marketing communication strategies and advertising to sales support, packaging and market research.
- Nandini RamaniCOO, Outcome HealthNandini RamaniCOO, Outcome Health
Ramani joined point-of-care mainstay Outcome Health in 2017 and leads the company’s product and operations functions. During allegations that the company fraudulently misled clients about campaign performance in late 2017, she was tasked with leading the organization through the turmoil as interim CEO.
- Robin RobertsCofounder, Novartis Biome, head of strategy and innovation, NovartisRobin RobertsCofounder, Novartis Biome, head of strategy and innovation, Novartis
With the October 2018 launch of its Novartis Biome innovation lab, Novartis became the latest big-pharma player to double down on health-tech. “The vast majority of disruptive technologies are not going to come from big pharma companies,” Robin Roberts said in a Novartis blog post about the unit’s launch.
- Laurent SchockmelCEO, AntidoteLaurent SchockmelCEO, Antidote
While digital tactics have improved the cost-effectiveness of clinical trial recruitment, a persistent problem remains when a sponsor recruits for a single trial: namely, the possibility that a patient will fail his or her screening. If the patient doesn’t qualify for that trial, there is no next step.
- Punit SoniCEO and cofounder, SukiPunit SoniCEO and cofounder, Suki
Suki is an AI- and voice-enabled digital assistant for physicians that’s designed to decrease the amount of time they spend entering data into their computers. It employs a combination of voice commands to create a clinically accurate note that is pushed into an EHR.
- Marc SpeichertGlobal chief digital officer, GSK Consumer HealthcareMarc SpeichertGlobal chief digital officer, GSK Consumer Healthcare
Marc Speichert’s resume is practically a list of best-in-class Fortune 500 companies. At
Colgate-Palmolive, he built brands across a range of CPG categories and geographies. At L’Oréal, he created a CMO function at a company that never had one.
GSK was a client during his tenure at Google’s global client and agency solutions division.
- Lauren SteingoldHead of strategy, Uber HealthLauren SteingoldHead of strategy, Uber Health
Lauren Steingold spearheaded the launch of Uber Health, Uber’s HIPAA-compliant service that allows hospitals, doctor’s offices and other health facilities to request rides on behalf of their patients.
The company views the program as an overdue response to a costly problem.
- Yuri SudhakarCEO, Geneva Health SolutionsYuri SudhakarCEO, Geneva Health Solutions
Yuri Sudhakar drives the mission and strategy of Geneva Health Solutions, which markets a proprietary cloud-based platform that aggregates patients’ cardiac data from pacemakers and defibrillators and allows physicians to remotely monitor results through a single portal. The platform’s goal is to improve clinical efficiency, workflow, compliance and patient care for cardiology practices.
- Ajit VergheseGeneral partner and founder, Humble VenturesAjit VergheseGeneral partner and founder, Humble Ventures
The seeds for Ajit Verghese’s thoughts about healthcare were planted a decade ago when he founded GoodEatsFor.Me, which provided social media analytics for the hospitality industry. The company’s primary aim was to help establishments make sense
of the copious data generated by their customers across a range of social channels. Despite Verghese’s experience — “I saw an awful lot of things while working in the front and the back of the house at restaurants” — he encountered quite a few self-anointed experts along the way.
- Richard VincentCEO and cofounder, FundamentalVRRichard VincentCEO and cofounder, FundamentalVR
Richard Vincent has set his sights on addressing a troubling market void: the billions of people globally who do not have access to safe surgery because of a lack of trained surgeons. His company’s solution involves using technology to augment a training system long focused on classroom theory, operating room observation and cadaver-based teaching.
- David WeingardCEO and founder, Cecelia HealthDavid WeingardCEO and founder, Cecelia Health
After being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 36, Weingard left Microsoft to establish Fit4D, a diabetes and chronic condition management company.
Initially overwhelmed, Weingard received so much personalized support from a certified diabetes educator named Cecelia that, in January 2019, he rebranded Fit4D as Cecelia Health.
Top 10 Innovation Catalysts
- Michel BallardGM, pharma/health, Condé NastMichel BallardGM, pharma/health, Condé Nast
With so much of the content across Condé Nast’s 20-plus brands relating to health and wellness, Michel Ballard saw an opportunity to launch new vehicles for advertising and create data-related products to move health storytelling forward. She led her team in building out the company’s biggest data product, Spire.
- Olivier ChateauCEO and cofounder, Health UnionOlivier ChateauCEO and cofounder, Health Union
Health Union’s 20 online, condition-specific communities have become a resource for millions of people. They offer the biopharma industry opportunities to understand and engage the right patients for their treatments and build more effective direct-to-consumer marketing programs.
- Adam CossmanChief digital officer, W2OAdam CossmanChief digital officer, W2O
It’s never been more critical for agencies to make a clear case for how their work benefits a client’s bottom line. In response to that need, Adam Cossman developed W2O’s return-on-marketing-investment model (ROMI). ROMI identifies the channels that are performing best for a brand, shows impact on script lift and provides benchmarks to measure campaign success year over year.
- Jeff ErbPresident, HealixJeff ErbPresident, Healix
During a recent conversation with MM&M, Jeffrey Erb said he sees the healthcare industry, long considered change-averse, as innovating thanks to “younger decision-makers more used to technology who are really interested in being first to market with opportunities. It’s a really exciting time for the industry.”
- Brendan GallagherEVP, health experience transformation, Digitas HealthBrendan GallagherEVP, health experience transformation, Digitas Health
Brendan Gallagher has devoted his almost 30-year career to using technology as the catalyst to help people live healthier lives. He has overseen product and service design, social content, technology and partnerships on a global scale alongside brand marketing leaders from AbbVie, Novartis and Merck, among others.
- Jennifer GreufeManaging partner, Element 119Jennifer GreufeManaging partner, Element 119
Jennifer Greufe has used her expertise to combat some of the most common health conditions facing patients around the world. Among other projects, she has spearheaded pharma sponsorships of programs for the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association.
- Keith LiuSVP, products and innovation, Klick HealthKeith LiuSVP, products and innovation, Klick Health
Keith Liu was part of the Klick team that launched Circulation, the first customizable digital transportation platform that integrated with healthcare systems and Uber. Within a year of launch, approximately 1,000 healthcare facilities nationwide were using the platform and, in turn, generating an average patient satisfaction rating of 4.9 out of 5, with 95% of patients arriving to appointments on time.
- Destry SulkesChief experience officer, Wunderman HealthDestry SulkesChief experience officer, Wunderman Health
Destry Sulkes’ passion for healthcare began early in his career. At the Tufts University School of Medicine, his research in optical coherence tomography helped doctors assess retina pathology and disease severity more accurately for conditions such as diabetic macular edema and age-related macular degeneration. He went on to commercialize the product globally with Zeiss.
- Lili Gil VallettaCEO and cofounder, Cien+Lili Gil VallettaCEO and cofounder, Cien+
As founder of CIEN+ and later CulturIntel, Liliana Gil Valletta has merged her passion for and insight into the huge economic opportunity represented by multicultural populations with AI, machine learning and big data tools. She’s done so on behalf of A-list clients, including Aetna, BCBS, Merck, Novartis and Eli Lilly.
- David WindhausenEVP, development services, Intouch SolutionsDavid WindhausenEVP, development services, Intouch Solutions
David Windhausen’s efforts at Intouch Solutions center around one of the healthcare industry’s buzziest sectors: artificial intelligence. He leads more than 100 global technology colleagues as head of development services and played a pivotal role in the launch of Intouch B2D, a technology and production services hub.
