Conversations with MedTech Pioneers: Redesigning Healthcare Amidst a Pandemic
On August 24, 2020 Lisa Carmel, VP of Strategy at Ximedica talked with UCLA Biodesign Co-Executive Directors, Desert Horse-Grant and Dr. Jennifer McCaney about redesigning healthcare amidst a pandemic.
This female dynamic duo founded UCLA’s Biodesign program in 2019 and is forging ahead to expand it in Fall 2020 with the goal of re-imagining a healthcare ecosystem better equipped to support patients and other key stakeholders during a pandemic.
“We play a key role in training future leaders,” Horse-Grant shares. “With the explosion of technology, we can see the need for these cross-functional skill sets in our health system. As COVID hit, medical doctors trained in business, tech and medical affairs had the right skills to push forward needed innovations successfully. This gave us great insight; we clearly envision the need for this expertise and background for the next generation of healthcare leaders.”
Co-Executive Directors of UCLA Biodesign Program, Desert Horse-Grant (left) and Dr. Jennifer McCaney (right).
“We seek to bring about groundbreaking change; we intend to do this by making strong connections with the medtech and broader life science community” Dr. McCaney shares when asked about the goals for the UCLA Biodesign Program. “Too often early startups are in stealth mode and are told that it is too early to talk to strategics, yet there is much to learn. We want to bring in industry advisors earlier, at the point of technology discovery and translation. Additionally, with novel medical devices, the sooner you bring in human factors research, the faster you get to market with the right product. Forming collaborations with industry partners and strategics early-on addresses these historic barriers; UCLA Biodesign is positioned to do this.”
You can read the full interview here.
And be sure to check out these upcoming free events. For more info, and to register, please email: biodesign@mednet.ucla.edu
UCLA Biodesign Fellowship Informational Webinar – September 8th, 9:00a-10:00a PT
UCLA Biodesign Hub INNOVATOR INSIGHTS: Trends in Data Science Driving the Convergence of Tech and Healthcare, Featuring David Rhew, MD, CMO Microsoft – September 17th, 12p – 1p PT
UCLA Biodesign Hub INNOVATOR INSIGHTS: Technology Advances at the Frontlines of ICU Care – A Discussion with Founders Advancing Respiratory Medicine, Featuring Beth Seidenberg, MD, Founding Managing Partner, Westlake Village BioPartners – November 12th, 5:30p – 7p PT
UCLA Health Innovation Challenge MedTech Pitch Competition - December 15th, 1:00p-2:30p PT
