Lori Rose Benson, PhD Candidate

Executive Director and CEO, Hip Hop Public Health

Lori Rose Benson is executive director and CEO of Hip Hop Public Health, an internationally recognized nonprofit harnessing the transformative power of music, art and science to deepen health literacy, inspire behavior change, and promote health equity. Benson, a public health professional changing the way third-party organizations communicate with their audiences, leads a transdisciplinary team of artists, creatives, educators, and healthcare experts to create culturally tailored, evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention resources and interventions.

Previously, Benson was the inaugural executive director of the New York City Department of Education Office of School Wellness Programs and vice president of healthy lifestyles for the YMCA of Greater New York, spearheading health innovation and chronic disease prevention programs. Benson is a doctor of public health candidate at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an adjunct professor at Adelphi University.

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Smita Bisen, MD

Founder, UniShakti

Parents who have heard of the bestseller “What to Expect When your Expecting” as a go-to text have a powerful friend in India. Dr. Smita Bisen is an engaging educator, coach, health and wellness speaker, and presenter based in Mumbai, India. She addresses expectant parents, new mothers, support staff, and birth professionals with captivating and inspiring approaches to creating thriving families and relationships.

Dr. Bisen has presented various research papers at national and international conferences. To extend her passion for teaching, she trains not-for-profit “Asha” clinics – run by government associations – staffed with doctors, nurses and volunteers on parenting skills to ensure that people in India’s most challenged neighborhoods have access to medical care for their newborns and toddlers.

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Julie Charlestein, MBA

President and CEO, Premier Dental

When Julie Charlestein took over as CEO of Plymouth Meeting, PA-based Premier Dental Products, in 2015, she became the first woman to lead the more than century-old dental innovation and manufacturing company. Charlestein is the company’s fourth-generation family leader, founded in 1913 by her great-grandfather Julius. Setting the stage for the next phase of Premier’s success, Charlestein led the company to launch 19 new products, guided the storied company through the COVID-19 storm that practically shut down in-office dental care visits, and championed efforts to engage the consumer-care market.

She has a bold leadership voice, hosts podcasts, shares edgy leadership ideas with colleagues in her blog posts, and is a keynote speaker and author. Beyond her executive position as Premier Dental CEO, Charlestein’s passion for dentistry, health innovation and patient care elevated her to the “unofficial” position as the sector’s chief innovation and inspiration officer.  Charlestein serves on several not-for-profit boards where she shares her passion for the importance of dental care in public health.

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Nicole Cottrill

Senior Partner, Health Provider Services Group Lead, FINN Partners

If the health provider sector needed an outstanding communication champion, they found one in Nicole Cottrill. Someone who never forgets that health centers are for the people. Cottrill is a thoughtful, seasoned reputation-management professional who clearly defines the great potential of hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities to express and deliver their great potential to help people heal. Cottrill began her career at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, moved her life to the center of health innovation in Boston, and then onto Nashville, the United States capital in health provider services.

She has guided US health provider leaders in addressing the needs of vulnerable patient communities, helped health systems weather economic challenges and crises, and enabled health executives to express thought leadership on access to care, health equity, innovation and policy. Beyond her expertise in health provider systems, Cottrill has a keen sense that provider efforts must align with payer economics. Her ability to help the sector navigate the complex health ecosystem leads to “healthy” institutions. Honoring her industry contributions the Nashville Medical News named Cottrill one of the city’s and sector’s “Women to Watch.”

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Ophelia Dahl

Co-founder, Partners in Health

Ophelia Dahl co-founded Partners In Health (PIH), which began in Haiti’s rural Central Plateau more than 30 years ago, and now serves millions of patients in 11 countries on four continents worldwide.  The PIH community-based model has helped redefine what is possible in health care delivery in settings of poverty, proving that HIV, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, and other diseases that stalk the poor can be treated effectively in communities from Peru to Rwanda to West Africa. Dahl led PIH as executive director for 16 years and now chairs its Board of Directors. She continues to write, teach, and speak about the health and rights of the poor, moral imagination, and accompaniment.

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Khrystal K. Davis, JD

Founder of Texas Rare Alliance

A courageous, inspiring role model, Ms. Davis’s memoir chronicles her efforts to overcome the odds of saving her terminally ill newborn son Hunter facing the challenges of spinal muscular atrophy Type 1, a leading genetic cause of infant death. Her dedication and transparency reinforce the power of patient and caregiver advocacy. Davis’ son Hunter is now nine years old. This harrowing personal experience led her to write Hunt for a Cure: An Unexpected Adventure to Save a Life and launch the Texas Rare Alliance, a not-for-profit improving access and health outcomes for some three million Texas rare disease patients through education and advocacy.

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Susie Ellis, MBA

Chair & CEO, Global Wellness Summit and Global Wellness Institute

Before “wellness” and preventive care became buzzwords and a movement that academic, government and industry sectors would eagerly rally toward, the idea had a champion and global ambassador – Susie Ellis! Today, Ellis is chairman and CEO of the Global Wellness Institute, a leading non-profit research and educational resource for the worldwide wellness industry, and guides the Global Wellness Summit, an international organization representing business executives and leaders on the best practices in addressing health needs – spiritual, emotional and physical.

Ellis also hosts the annual Global Wellness Summit, which draws top-level thinkers and business leaders worldwide. She is recognized among the top authorities in the worldwide wellness industry; she is a prominent writer and speaker and is frequently quoted in news outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and New York Times. Ellis holds an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is the recipient of the International Spa Association “Visionary Award.”                  

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Susan Fanning, MBA

Chief Health & Wellbeing Officer at Prudential Life Assurance Public Company Ltd. (Thailand)

Originally from Ireland, Susan Fanning has 20 years of experience commercial strategic leadership in Healthcare and Financial Services in Europe, Asia and Africa. She joined Prudential Thailand as Chief Health & Wellbeing Officer in August 2020 to drive its Pulse health proposition and build out the Enterprise-wide Health and Protection capabilities. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries and has an MBA from INSEAD.

Before joining Prudential Thailand, Susan led a startup company in the digital health ecosystem space and worked for Aon and BUPA. When she does find some downtime, it’s to dedicate her energies to helping others. During her two sabbaticals, Fanning focused on assisting NGOs to deliver better patient outcomes and elevate the understanding of business in helping people live their best lives.

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Patricia Farrell, PhD

Psychologist, Freelance Consultant and Writer

A licensed clinical psychologist and prolific author in the field of mental health. Dr. Farrell writes from her experience and heart as a practicing clinician, researcher, educator and disability consultant. She was the National Clinical Monitor for academic medical center Mt. Sinai Medical Center in NYC, where she was involved in the first national protocol for treating Alzheimer’s Disease.  An advocate for research-driven clinical care, in that role, she traveled to more than 17 major national sites where research on Alzheimer’s disease was underway and worked with many of the United States’ leading physicians and psychologists in the field.

She has served as a WebMD Psychologist Expert consultant on anxiety and panic disorders. She has appeared on national and local TV and radio programs and in leading magazines and newspapers. Dr. Farrell is among the founding editors of Medium’s BeingWell and a regular columnist for Medika.Life.

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Jennifer Goldsack MBA, MChem

CEO, Digital Medicine Society (DiMe)

Jen Goldsack is the Executive Director of the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe), a community of growing influence in digital health and medicine. Previously, Goldsack spent several years at the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI), where she led the development and implementation of projects within the CTTI Mobile Program and was the operational co-lead on the first randomized clinical trial using the FDA Sentinel System. Goldsack spent five years in research at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, first in Outcomes Research in the Department of Surgery and later in the Department of Medicine.

At the forefront of practical innovation, she helped launch the Value Institute, an innovation center within a large academic medical center in Delaware. She earned her master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Oxford, England, her master’s in the history and sociology of medicine from the University of Pennsylvania, and her MBA from George Washington University.

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Soojin (Soo) Jun, PharmD

Cofounder, Patients for Patient Safety US, Patient Safety Activist, Advocate, Pharmacist

Dr. Soojin (or “Soo”) Jun is a board-certified geriatric pharmacist in Illinois and Wisconsin.  She is also a certified professional in patient safety and certified professional in healthcare quality, committed to patient safety and quality improvement.  After losing her father to healthcare gaps, possibly from adverse medication events, she changed careers from a wedding videographer to a pharmacist. 

Today, she specializes in medication therapy management and believes empathy in healthcare can make healing possible in any healthcare relationship.  Dr. Jun is an ambassador for the Patient Safety Movement Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to patient safety worldwide. She is cofounder of Patients For Patient Safety US (PFPS US),which is an organization of patient safety activists and champions committed to implementing the WHO Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030 in the USA.  She speaks about patient safety, patient rights, minority health, and patient advocacy for voiceless patients.

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Wendy Lund, MS

Chief Communications Officer, Organon; Podcast Host, Here for Her Health

Women’s health priorities and issues have a champion and voice in Wendy Lund. As Chief Communications Officer at Organon, perhaps the world’s largest women’s healthcare company, Lund is responsible for global communications and advocacy supporting the company’s efforts to advance women’s health priorities and public health. She is a recognized pioneer in women’s health communication. Among her first positions, Lund served as vice president of marketing at Planned Parenthood, and vice president of marketing at the National League of Nursing.

As CEO of GCI Health, a leading healthcare communications agency, she worked tirelessly to elevate women’s health needs. These leadership experiences guided her professional direction and impact. Lund is also the host of “Here for Her Health,” a popular podcast series sponsored by Organon. The show embraces new ways of discussing women’s health, addressing health inequities, definitions of health, life transitions, and breaking down the stigma associated with women’s health topics. Lund earned a master’s in Women’s History from New York University.

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Sheri McCoy, MBA, MS

Board Member and Life Science Advisor; Industry-Wide Mentor

Sheri McCoy is known for many achievements, including scientist, a life science executive, the holder of multiple patents, and a recognized champion for health innovation and colleagues’ careers. Fortune Magazine and Forbes Magazine include her continuously as one of the 50 most powerful women in business. McCoy is celebrated for her 30-year career at Johnson & Johnson (J&J), where she joined as a scientist in research and development and subsequently managed businesses in every major product sector, including consumers, prescription medicines, and medical devices.

At J&J, she held roles including Worldwide Chairman, Pharmaceuticals Group and Worldwide Chairman, Surgical Care Group. She later served as CEO of storied personal care company Avon. She is a sought-out advisor, and her impact in the life science sector continues as a board member and mentor for companies such as AstraZeneca PLC; Stryker Corporation; Kimberly-Clark; Novocure; Certara, and Aldevron. McCoy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in textile chemistry from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, a Master’s degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University, and an MBA from Rutgers University.

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Amanda McClelland, MBA, MPH

Senior Vice President, Resolve To Save Lives

Amanda McClelland, RN, MPH, is the Senior Vice President of Prevent Epidemics and Resolve to Save Lives, where she leads a team to accelerate progress to make the world safer from epidemics. While much of her work has been global, McClelland is also focused on pressing health issues in the United States, where she draws on her experiences in the developing world and applies best practices to sustain and save lives.

McClelland previously served as Global Emergency Health Advisor for the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent (IFRC), where she dedicated her talents to emergency health, epidemic control, mass casualty in low resource settings, disease prevention and response operations. Her many historic public health achievements include coordinating frontline Ebola response during the 2014 Ebola epidemic, for which she received the 2015  Florence Nightingale Medal for exceptional courage.

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Michelle McCurry-Heath, MD, PhD

President and CEO, Biotech Innovation Organization (BIO)

Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath assumed the leadership of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) as President and CEO in 2020. By training, she is a medical doctor and molecular immunologist; she is the third chief executive to steward the world’s largest biotechnology advocacy group since its founding. She joined BIO from Johnson & Johnson, where she served as Global Head of Evidence Generation for Medical Device Companies and then Vice President of Global External Innovation and Global Leader for Regulatory Sciences. Dr, McMurry-Heath was part of the Obama-Biden transition team tasked with conducting an of the National Science Foundation’s policies, programs and personnel.

President Obama then named her associate science director of the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health under Commissioner Peggy Hamburg. In that role, she championed clinical trial evolution, the use of real-world evidence in product evaluation, and an embrace of the patient’s voice in health research so that new medical products deliver outcomes that matter to them. She received her MD and PhD from the Duke Medical Scientist Training Program, becoming the first African-American to graduate from the prestigious program. She spent 12 years working on the research bench before taking policy and leadership roles in government and industry.

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Jane Metcalfe

Founder and CEO, Neo.Life

Jane Metcalfe is an entrepreneur, corporate board member, advisor, executive and investor in media, tech, food, health, education, arts and real estate. When technological innovation was at its drawing-board stages at now giants such as Apple and Microsoft, Metcalfe, as a leading journalist, had a seat at the table. Her current passion is the impact of technology on our health and how technology is pushing the frontiers of biology forward, showing us more and more about how our bodies, brains and minds function, why we get sick, how we age, and how to intervene in all those processes.

Metcalfe launched NEO.LIFE, an online magazine to capture stories of the people, projects, companies and ideas driving this Neobiological Revolution. As the co-founder and former President of Wired Magazine, She cocreated Wired Ventures Inc., a diversified media company whose businesses included Wired Magazine (U.S., U.K., and Japanese editions), Wired Digital, and the search engine HotBot, and Wired Books. Metcalfe is part of the leadership council of the breakthrough life science community CNS Summit.

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Jennifer H. Mieres, MD

Cardiologist, Northwell Health Center for Equity of Care; Author, and Emmy Nominated Executive Producer

Jennifer H. Mieres, MD, is one of the nation’s leading experts and patient advocates in cardiovascular disease in women. A cardiologist for some 30 years, as well as a bestselling author, noted educator, clinical researcher, filmmaker and community and patient advocate, she is also a national organizer for the American Heart Association Go Red for Women, which works to increase awareness of women and heart disease. In her role as leader of Northwell Health Center for Equity of Care, Dr. Mieres has oversight of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health, as well as Northwell health, wellness, community health education and healthcare access programs.

She is also the health system’s chief diversity and inclusion officer and a member of its leadership team. The American Heart Association most recently named Dr. Mieres its “Physician of the Year.,” the organization’s highest honor awarded to a physician who has made outstanding accomplishments in the field of cardiovascular disease in multiple arenas and for making significant strides for supporting equitable health and well-being for all. Growing up in Trinidad, Dr. Mieres was fascinated with science at a young age, spending time with her aunt, who was a biologist. She is a tireless advocate for access to care for all.

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Aska Patel, PharmD

Founder of Acuvise Consultancy Inc., Podcast Host

Dr. Patel is a community pharmacist providing clinical services in a home care setting. She brings diverse insights and pharmacy experiences, including work experiences in community, hospital, home care, and government settings, with her commitment to making pharmacists an essential part of the integrated care system. Dr. Patel’s advocacy efforts focus on expanding the scope of practice, reimbursement and provider status and an inclusive workplace.

She is a member of the OPA Pharmacists Practice Committee and the Diversity Taskforce. She participates on committees at organizations such as the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and Ontario Health. Dr. Patel graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy and completed her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2016. Her efforts around collaboration in medicine have contributed to improve care and lives sustained.

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Myrtle Potter

Chief Executive Officer, Sumitovant Biopharma, Inc.

Life science industry trailblazer Myrtle Potter is now CEO of Sumitovant after serving as Vant Operating Chair of Roivant Sciences. During her tenure at Vant, she oversaw 35 investigational drug programs in 11 therapeutic areas and more than 50 clinical trials in the Roivant family of companies. She brings a proven track record of building and leading high-performance teams to bring successful drugs to market. Potter brings a unique perspective to the drug development effort through her years championing many breakthrough medications from regulatory review to market.

As President and Chief Operating Officer of biotech powerhouse Genentech, Potter oversaw its five-time revenue growth in five years to $5 billion and earnings growth for 19 of 20 consecutive quarters. Before Genentech, she served as president of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s $4 billion, 3,500-person US Cardiovascular/Metabolics unit. During her tenure at Merck, she helped start Astra-Merck, which evolved into Astra-Zeneca through a series of transactions. Potter is a graduate of the University of Chicago and serves on its board of trustees. She also serves on the board of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group and the boards of Amazon, Axsome Therapeutics, Express Scripts and Medco.

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Gina M. Raimondo, JD, PhD

United States Secretary of Commerce

Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo is the nation’s 40^th U.S. Secretary of Commerce and was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on March 3, 2021. As Secretary of Commerce, she is focused on a vital mission — to spur good-paying jobs, empower entrepreneurs to innovate and grow, and help American workers and businesses compete. There is little argument – poverty is a stepping stone to despair, disease and death. Secretary Raimondo is one of the nation’s leading thinkers on how the healthcare systems impact technology, finance and economic development.

The daughter of immigrants from Italy, her journey is the story found in movies. From riding a public bus to LaSalle Academy in Providence, Rhode Island, where she was class valedictorian, she later graduated with honors from Harvard. There, she was recognized as a top economics student. She won a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford University, earned a doctorate and later graduated from Yale Law School. From private equity with a focus on healthcare investment, she became Governor of Rhode Island. She combined her economic savvy with addressing her constituents’ priorities, creating a working statewide health information system that united hospitals around patient care and a bold Healthcare Innovation Initiative.

She saw Providence as a home for global digital health innovation making significant inroads. As Governor, Raimondo kick-started the state’s economy and made record investments in infrastructure, education, and job training. She focused on economic opportunities and jobs for all Rhode Islanders. Early in her administration, she launched an innovative workforce development program developing business-led partnerships to address unique workforce challenges. Secretary Raimondo doesn’t focus on problems; she looks to rally people to solutions.

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Megan Ranney, MD, MPH

Emergency physician and Academic Dean, Public Health, Brown University

Dr. Megan Ranney is the Academic Dean for the School of Public Health and founding Director of the Brown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health. Dr. Ranney is a dedicated emergency physician, researcher, and advocate for innovative approaches to public health who served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cote d’Ivoire prior to attending medical school at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York. Her work focuses on the connections among digital health, violence prevention, and population health.  

She is co-founder and Senior Strategic Advisor to the American Foundation for Firearm Injury Reduction in Medicine (AFFIRM) at the Aspen Institute, creating practical, scalable, and immediate health-based solutions to reduce firearm-related injuries in the United States. Dr. Ranney served as co-founder and president of the board for GetUsPPE.org, a startup dedicated to matching donated personal protective equipment. She is a Fellow of the 5th class of the Aspen Health Innovators Fellowship Program and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.  

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Liz O’Riordan, MD

Consultant Breast Surgeon, Patient Advocate, Author and Podcast Host

Dr. Liz O’Riordan is a retired consultant breast surgeon and a powerful voice for patient advocacy today.  She has a Ph.D. in molecular oncology and a PG Cert in oncoplastic surgery. At 40, she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and treated with chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and radiotherapy. She started an award-winning blog about her experiences that led to her lecturing internationally as a keynote speaker, sharing her experiences of being a patient in her surgical specialty.

She was nominated for a ‘woman of the year award in 2016 and gave a TEDx talk in Stuttgart. In May 2018, she had a local recurrence on her chest wall, which was treated with further surgery and radiotherapy. The side effects of this treatment required her to retire as a surgeon. She has co-authored ‘The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer: How to Feel Empowered and Take Control’ with Professor Trisha Greenhalgh, an effort that has led to multiple media conversations. Dr. O’Riordan has written several articles for national press and magazines and has been named one of Medscape’s Top 20 doctors.

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Joy Rios, MBA

Health IT Leader, Co-founder and CEO of Chirpy Bird Health IT Consulting

Joy Rios is Co-Host of the popular HIT Like a Girl and Broken Healthcare podcasts and Co-Founder of Chirpy Bird Health IT Consulting. During the past 10 years, Rios has been a passionate ambassador for value-based care and mentor to many women in the field of health information. She has written five books on navigating value-based health programs, encouraged women in the field of health IT to share their ideas and express commitment to improving patient care by tapping into the power of information to connect the dots of a fragmented health ecosystem. Rios builds community!

You can find Rios in the hallways of HIMSS and HITMC, always ready to encourage colleagues to press forward and contribute their talents to help patients. Her call-to-action is clear: “modernize healthcare through EHR and Health IT solutions, in the effort to build value, mitigate risk, improve operating efficiency while also improving outcomes and contributing to a national culture of wellness.”

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Behnaz Sarrami, MS, PharmD

Missouri Pharmacogenomics Consulting LLC, Mentor & Coach, Medical Science Liaison, Pharmacy Podcast Network Host, Author

Dr. Sarrami hosts the PGx for Pharmacist Podcast on the Pharmacy Podcast Network. She is an expert in PGx, Chronic Care Management, and a mentor to pharmacists establishing consulting businesses. She believes personalizing a patient’s medication is based on each individual’s genetic makeup and is helping overcome barriers for both pharmacists and providers who want to implement PGx in any clinical setting. Dr. Sarrami is also committed to public health, especially to underserved populations.

She is a consultant for a grant-funded research project to increase medication adherence in older adults and volunteers as a clinical pharmacist at Volunteers In Medicine. She received her Master’s degree in Biochemistry from Georgetown University, her Doctorate in Pharmacy from Creighton University, and is a contributor to the Washington University’s Public Health blog and content development on GoodRx around the topic of PGx.

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Monika Sonu, MD

CEO & Director New Product Development, Health Innovation Toolbox

Dr. Sonu is a physician and digital health entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience working with public and private healthcare systems. She has been at the forefront of advancing the possibilities of improved patient health through digitizing the operating models, functions and workflows within hospitals, creating digital patient experiences and solutions addressing pressing healthcare needs. A physician who feels that the system of care must tap the power of innovation, she has created IoT and artificial intelligence-based digital health products and platforms within health systems. Dr. Sonu was named a champion for patient care and innovation as HIMSS Future 50 Innovation Leader in 2021.

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Nina Shah, MD

Hematologist, Oncologist, Professor, UCSF

Dr. Nina Shah is a hematologist specializing in treating multiple myeloma, a cancer affecting the blood marrow. She treats patients at the Hematology and Blood Marrow and Transplant Clinic at UCSF. Dr. Shah received a bachelor’s degree in cognitive neuroscience from Harvard University, and her medical degree from New York University School of Medicine. She then completed a residency in internal medicine at Columbia University and a fellowship in hematology/oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Her areas of professional interest include the intersection of immunology and oncology and helping patients fight multiple myeloma by boosting their immune systems. A clinical professor at UCSF, Dr. Shah, belongs to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Hematology and the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. She speaks Bengali and Spanish and is a noted patient advocate.

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Christy Snodgrass, RN

Founder, Healthcare Reformed

Christy Snodgrass is a registered nurse turned activist and advocate. Horrified by how hospitals and insurers vie for profits at the expense of the patient, she founded Healthcare Reformed. With more than 800K followers on TikTok, she uses the platform to raise awareness, assisting patients and providers alike. Her goal? To bring transparency to a complicated and often exploitative healthcare system. She strives to give healthcare workers and patients the resources they need to protect their physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing.

Snodgrass provides a much-needed voice for the nursing industry, highlighting abusive grooming practices and inequalities that exist within the industry while at the same time campaigning on behalf of patients’ rights by educating them about common practices within healthcare. This is a shining example of how activism and advocacy can have a real and immediate impact on patients and caregivers.

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Kristin Speer, PharmD, BCPS

Founder of Luca Consult, Ltd.; Clinical Pharmacist; Pain & Mental Health Drug Therapy Consultant; Co-Founder of the Psychedelic Pharmacist Association

Dr. Kristin Speer exhibits a deep and driving passion for assisting patients that struggle with mental health and pain. She is a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist and in this role, she provides bridging care between patient and physician. Her pharmacological expertise allows her to tailor individual treatments to improve care and wellness in a field affecting millions of Americans.

Dr. Speer is a co-founder of the Psychedelic Pharmacists Association and has earned a BA in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Colorado Boulder and her PharmD from the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy. If you are a physician looking for a knowledgeable pharmacist to improve patient care or if you are a patient that struggles with mental health or the side effects of pain medication, look no further than Dr. Speer. She is the founder of Luca Consult, a company designed to assist patients experiencing difficulty with pain medications.

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Alicia C. Staley, MBA

Vice President, Patient Engagement, Medidata Solutions

Alicia Staley has more than 20 years of experience in software design and information systems management. She seeks to voice the patient perspective throughout the drug development lifecycle and engage patients in the process. Staley is also a three-time cancer survivor, first diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease as a sophomore during college. As a health professional, she draws on her engineering background to improve the patient experience for people confronting cancer.  With an extensive network of patient advocates and non-profit organizations, she collaborates with many stakeholders to improve processes and policies that affect patient care and clinical trials.

Before joining Medidata, Staley worked at Cure Forward and Science 37, leading their patient recruitment and engagement initiatives to help advance clinical research. As a champion of patient advocacy, as someone who has been a patient within the system, she understands the critical issues facing people looking to engage clinical research as a treatment possibility.  With a keen focus on improving access to clinical trials, Staley is a powerful advocate for patients searching for information about clinical trials.

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Nicoletta “Nicki” Tessler, PsyD, MBA

Clinical CEO, Co-founder, BeMe Health

Dr. Nicoletta Tessler is a clinical psychologist and senior executive with more than 20 years of effort in leading cutting-edge behavioral healthcare communities by drawing on her understanding of business strategy, operations and patient wellbeing. She began her journey at Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital, leading to the famed Hospital Corporation of America and later Universal Health Services (UHS).

At UHS, Dr. Tessler led the charge on innovation within the Behavioral Health Division by developing the “Innovation Hub” for promoting entrepreneurship. Dr. Tessler is a proven difference-maker with an unwavering sense of purpose and passion for reinventing the behavioral health sector. As a mother of teenage daughters, she saw her next career adventure as creating BeMe as the most trusted resource in emotional health for teens.

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John Nosta

Founder of NOSTALAB – Innovation Theorist

First and foremost, John is a thinker – never frightened to confront and exchange ideas. He is a thinker embracing the world of science, medicine, and innovation. John is the founder of NOSTALAB—a global digital health think tank recognized for its inspired vision of transformation. John is ranked as one of the leading voices in medical innovation and technology and well established as a top global strategic and creative thinker. He is also one of the most popular speakers around the globe, offering an insightful perspective on the future of innovation.

John’s focus is on guiding companies, NGOs, and governments through the dynamics of exponential change and the diffusion of innovation into complex systems. We appreciate his readiness to enter the fray and challenge the status quo. As important, he is a guide and mentor to many making him a given Medika Life Top 50 Influencer.

John is also a Medika author and you can follow his thoughts on healthcare via his dedicated column on this platform.

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Jamey Edwards, MBA

COO, StartUp Health – Entrepreneur who Advocates for Start-Ups

Jamey Edwards is long known as a visionary leader in the health information and technology start-up space. His background makes him ideally suited to his new role as chief operating officer at StartUp Health. Many remember him from his past position as CEO and Co-founder of Cloudbreak Health (which merged with UpHealth and went public via SPAC in 2021). Jamey has been an active member of the health transformation community, offering his wisdom and experience – always available to help others and support their journey.

In his new role at Start-Up Health, Jamey put his 25 years of experience in healthcare, investment banking, and private equity to great use by helping entrepreneurs leverage his real-world experience to support the needed work to heal an unhealthy system of care. Continuing that mission, Jamey is now also a member of the Galien Foundation “Incubator, Accelerator and Equity” Judging Committee, where standards of excellence for the category will be set. Jamey is an advocate for many – an influencer for innovation that can improve patient care.

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Michelle Longmire, MD

Physician and CEO at Medable Inc. – Making Drug Development Accessible

Dr. Longmire is mission-driven to accelerate the development of new therapies for disease. A Stanford-trained physician-scientist, Dr. Longmire has identified critical barriers to drug development and founded the pioneering company Medable to offer a new approach to drug development that harnesses clinical trial technologies to remove traditional roadblocks to participation and radically accelerate the research process. She is among the new leaders appearing in the evolving field of decentralized clinical trials.

More than a CEO and courageous business visionary, she is an advocate for diversity in drug development. Dr. Longmire is a change agent for the future of innovation and her leadership approach enables Medable to tap into the talents of some of the best and brightest from different industries – consulting, consumer marketing, bench science, and digital technologies – to advance the company’s mission. Her influence is seen through her ability to forge partnerships across the health ecosystem, most recently with pharmacy chain giant CVS. Dr. Longmire is present and always eager to listen and help others connected to the mission of making clinical trials for new therapies easily accessible.

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Daniel Kraft, MD

Chair, XPRIZE Pandemic Alliance Task Force – Physician-Scientist and Inventor

A Stanford and Harvard-trained Physician-Scientist innovator and investor with more than 25 years of clinical, research, biotechnology, and entrepreneurial experience. Chair of Medicine at Singularity University and Founder and Chair of Exponential Medicine, Dr. Kraft brings needed expansive thinking to academic settings and medicine. Beyond creativity, he demonstrates the validity of his ideas in multiple publications and patents secured and shares ideas through his faculty positions at Stanford Medical School and UCSF (clinical faculty: Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation). He serves as chair of the XPRIZE Pandemic Alliance Task Force. Aspen Institute Health Innovation Fellow.

Singularity University and Exponential Medicine are unique cross-disciplinary programs that explore how rapidly advancing, convergent technologies can shape the future of healthcare and it fits Dr. Kraft’s expansive approach to health. Daniel is also an advisor to several leading biomedical and digital health startups. If academics and medicine were not enough, Dr. Kraft has put in his time in service to the nation as US Air Force National Guard Veteran having served as a unit Flight Surgeon. Inventor, teacher, advocate for patient care, and organizer, Dr. Daniel Kraft is certainly an influencer.

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Amir Kalali, MD

Physician-Scientist and Convener of Communities that Advance Life Science

Dr. Kalali is a physician-scientist, recognized globally as a leading innovator at the intersection of life sciences and technology, and a convener of collaborative high-impact forums. He is a board director of both private and publicly traded companies and advises companies in the life sciences and technology sectors, universities, and investment groups. If the life-science industry had a Yoda, it would be Dr. Amir Kalali!

Dr. Kalali is the Co-Chair of the Decentralized Trials and Research Alliance (DTRA), Chairman and Founder and Chief Curator of the CNS Summit, a forum dedicated to the future of life sciences, and was the Founding Chairman, and sits on the Executive Committee of the International Society for CNS Drug Development (ISCDD), one of the first independent non-profits to bring together leaders in drug development to collaborate, and on the Executive Committee of the International Society for CNS Clinical Trials and Methodology (ISCTM). Both a neurologist and psychiatrist, Dr. Kalali is also an author, mobilizer, board member, corporate advisor, and host to industry change agents. Consider most neurology medications today and it would not be a surprise to learn that Amir had a hand in their clinical development program. If you want to be at your best, attend one of his gatherings, your social and intellectual circle of amazing people will expand greatly. If you follow him (or will follow him) on Twitter, his short bio says it all: “I might be up to something.” Be assured Dr. Kalali is always exploring new territory.

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Michael Bidu, MBA

Co-Founder and CEO of INTERFACE Health Society, Innovation Advocate

Michael Bidu is the Co-Founder and CEO of INTERFACE Health Society, a not-for-profit virtual digital health technology accelerator based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Interface Health is a platform and community that cares about innovators, the future of health, and making a difference in the world. This is where you can find the right solutions, connections, and resources, anytime, anywhere – which means faster access, reduced costs, improved experiences, and better outcomes for everybody.

Michael is also the Co-Founder and CEO of MYND Therapeutics Inc. a Vancouver-based digital health company that is disrupting the global wellness and healthcare industry by focusing on physical, mental, and behavioral conditions. The company makes science-based, immersive, socially engaging digital therapies that work virtually anytime, anywhere. The 1st product is scheduled for the market in 2022. What is more evident about Michael is his extraordinary support for entrepreneurs and ensuring their voices are heard.

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Junaid Bajwa, MD

CMS at Microsoft, Patient Champion Harnessing Innovation to Improve Care

Dr. Bajwa is the Chief Medical Scientist at Microsoft Research and a practicing physician in the NHS (the UK’s National Health Service). He was previously the Global Lead for Strategic Alliances and Solutions for the Global Digital Centre of Excellence at Merck Sharp & Dohme, where he led a range of strategic initiatives to improve patient care, including the establishment of internal partnerships across the enterprise and external partnerships across the health care ecosystem.

Dr. Bajwa cofounded “VelocityHealth” as Europe’s first prevention-focused digital-health accelerator, in partnership with Telefonica, and led his team to deliver the “NHS Testbed” in partnership with Verily Life Sciences (part of Alphabet), which the Health Service Journal recognized as the “Best Pharmaceutical Partnership with the NHS” in 2018. Junaid is first and foremost a physician and dedicated to applying health innovation to ensure access to care.

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Yele Aluko, MD, MBA

Chief Medical officer at EY – Voice for Equity in Healthcare

Proven MD/ MBA physician executive and corporate leader. Multiyear experience in healthcare clinical and administrative strategic planning, program growth, and development. Seasoned health equity practitioner with a focus on solution development and deployment. Prior clinical practice in interventional cardiology specializing in complex coronary and structural heart interventions, known for his empathetic and disciplined manner and his equally strong focus on consensus, team building, accountability, mentorship, and innovation.

Dr. Aluko is trained as a structural heart cardiologist and served as senior vice president of heart and vascular services at a 15-hospital integrated regional health care system in the Southeast USA. There, his responsibilities included governance of an enterprise-wide clinical strategy overseeing cardiovascular service line vision, growth, clinical integration, physician alignment, and standardization of clinical, operational, and business processes. He is an expert on what works and what doesn’t in the US health system.

He is board certified by the Canadian Board of Internal Medicine and is triple-board certified in internal medicine, cardiology, and interventional cardiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Most important, Dr. Aluko is an expert in social determinants of health and addressing issues of health disparities that result in health inequities and care outcomes. Yele is one of those incredible minds that after spending a few hours talking with him, you hope he will influence the highest levels of the health ecosystem.

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Stacy Hurt, MBA, MHA

Patient Engagement Consultant, Patient Ambassador

Stacy Hurt, MHA, MBA, is a leading voice for patient voice and care. She is an award-winning 20-year healthcare executive, caregiver to her intellectually and developmentally disabled son, and she is a Stage IV colorectal cancer survivor. Stacy serves as an advocate for patients around the world for the inclusion of their voice in shared clinical decision-making. Now, as a Patient Consultant, she helps pharma/tech companies and health systems shift from fee-for-service to a value-based care model by connecting to consumers through first-hand lived experience and strategic expertise. 

Stacy has been a HIMSS Digital Changemaker and is on the #TelemedNow thought advisory panel for telehealth expansion. Her clients include Parexel, Red Hat, Promega, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Bayer. Ultimately, Stacy makes the business case for including a patient perspective with industry/clinicians and their customers. Stacy is a powerful voice for innovation that ensures patients are engaged in the process. In fact, she is pioneering the territory to make sure that every company involved in health innovation recognizes that patient advocates must be welcomed and respected members of the process. She’s courageous and persistent in so many ways, it’s likely Stacy Hurt will succeed!

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Cheryl Pegus, MD, MPH

Executive Vice President, Health and Wellness, Walmart

Cheryl Pegus, MD, MPH, is a board-certified physician with subspecialty training in cardiology and is the EVP of Health and Wellness at Walmart. Previously she was the President of Consumer Solutions and Chief Medical Officer at Cambia Health Solutions. She has held roles as Chief Medical Officer and Head of Product Development for other national health systems and pharmacy retailers. She has a demonstrated track record of launching innovative healthcare products that enable organizations to capture and maintain market share. Dr. Pegus has held leadership positions with Walgreens and other health giants.

She is on the board of the American Heart Association and is the past-Chair of the Association of Black Cardiologists. She has been recognized as a leader in pragmatically addressing gaps in care and cost across underserved populations utilizing data-driven, innovative solutions to improve health and care fragmentation. Dr. Pegus has an extensive background in health provider systems, public health, professional association, private equity, and more. Walmart made a wise decision tapping Dr. Pegus for this new role – a decision that may likely benefit every community near a Walmart.

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Hesham A. Hassaballa, MD, FCCP, FAASM

Associate Regional Medical Director – Critical Care – The Voice of Reason

Hesham Hassaballa, MD, FCCP, FAASM is a practicing intensivist with more than 17 years of clinical practice. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. Dr. Hassaballa is a Regional Medical Director for Sound Physicians’ Critical Care practice in the Midwest. He leads and oversees clinical operations in multiple ICUs in the Midwest, and he is Medical Director of Respiratory Therapy at Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, IL. At Rush-Copley, Dr. Hassaballa chairs hospital committees is part of the Medical Staff Leadership, and has delivered solid improvements in process and outcome metrics, including ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay of ICU patients, and mortality. Dr. Hassaballa is also a Regional Innovation Leader for Critical Care, and he is also a Physician Advisor and serves on the Education and Advisory Board for Advisory Services.

He’s an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Course Director for Rush University Medical Center and Assistant Professor of Medicine for the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center College of Medicine. He serves as a peer reviewer for the Society of Critical Care Medicine. He has presented research a number of times at national meetings, and he has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed medical journals. Moreover, Dr. Hassaballa is a prolific writer, with articles appearing in newspapers and websites globally, and has published a medical thriller, “Code Blue.” Dr. Hassaballa is among the founding editors of Medika.Life. More so, his writings are a must-read and come from the heart.

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Craig Lipset, MPH

Advisor, Educator, Mentor, Innovator – Decentralized Clinical Trials Pioneer

Craig Lipset leads at the forefront of innovation in clinical research and medicine development. He is an advisor to technology and biopharmaceutical companies, leading universities, and the venture community, bringing vision and driving action at the intersection of research, digital solutions, and patient engagement. Craig was the Head of Clinical Innovation and Venture Partner at Pfizer, on the founding Operations Committee for TransCelerate Biopharma, and on the founding management teams for two successful startup ventures (Perceptive Informatics and Adnexus Therapeutics). During that time, Craig designed and launched multiple industry firsts — from the first fully remote/virtual clinical trial for a new medicine to the first returning of results and data to research participants.

He now serves on the Board of Directors for the Decentralized Trials & Research Alliance where he is Founder and Co-Chair, Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, and the MedStar Health Research Institute, and, as well as on the Editorial Board for Therapeutic Innovation & Regulatory Science. In response to the statement, “Patients should have a seat at the drug development table,” Craig responds: “Have a seat at the table? It’s their table.” Craig influences the conversation every time.

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Rachel Hodgdon

President and CEO, International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) – Creating a Healthier Planet

Rachel Hodgdon is President and CEO of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), a public benefit corporation on a mission to improve human health and well-being through people-first places. Included in her IWBI leadership responsibilities, Rachel leads its Standard Development, Education, Research, and Credentialing divisions.

A widely sought-after expert and inspiring speaker, Rachel’s game-changing contributions to green building have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Parenting Magazine, FOX News, CNN, and in leading industry publications including Metropolis, Grist, and GreenBIZ. Rachel has also guest-edited Green Building & Design magazine. Rachel is at the forefront of raising awareness in environmental and planetary health tirelessly mobilizing leaders to create safe, welcoming healthy spaces. Uniting for-profit, not-for-profit, and academic leaders in the conversation for a healthier future makes her a must watch and follow.

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Levi Shapiro, MBA

Founder, mHealth Israel – Global Health Tech Ambassador

Levi Shapiro is Head of the Digital Health Program at the Hebrew University BioMED MBA program and teaches Digital Health in prominent programs like Stanford BioDesign. As the Founder of mHealth Israel (8,000+ members), he leads Israel’s largest community of health technology innovators. His articles appear in leading industry publications. He holds Board positions with health technology startups and acts as a strategic advisor to prominent global healthcare organizations. If you have not attended one of Levi’s “Meet-Ups,” you’re missing something big! Levi makes and shares connections!

Levi also maintains the mHealth Israel LinkedIn community (12,000+ members). In a career spanning Beijing, Tokyo, Milan and Tel Aviv, Levi launched new business units (IBM), new products and services (Toyota), and a variety of technology startups. He is an investor and Board Member in Israeli health tech startups and formerly a General Partner in the venture capital firm, Veritas. Mr. Shapiro holds degrees from Tulane (BA), Cornell (Asian Studies), and MIT (MBA). Speak to him in Japanese – he’ll surprise you!

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Artur Olesch

Digital Health Journalist, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of aboutDigitalHealth

Artur Olesch is a Berlin-based freelance journalist and correspondent for digital health-related topics. He is the founder of aboutDigitalHealth.com and editor-in-chief of ICT&Health International and OSOZ News. An author of 500+ articles and health-IT reports, content writer, an influential voice on social media. He mentors startups and guides healthcare organizations aiming to develop digital strategies. If anyone knows what is happening in the world of digital health, it’s Artur!

Artur is as gracious with his time as he is with his insights. If you are not following him on Twitter and reading his articles, you’re most certainly missing out!

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João Bocas

CEO at Digital Salutem, DigitalHealth and Wearable Expert

João is a wearables expert and a globally recognized Top 100 Global Digital Health Influencer. His passion lies in helping others, sharing experiences, transferring knowledge, working collaboratively, and passing on the latest innovation trends from the digital health world. He is a thought leader in wearables, digital health, IoT, and healthcare innovation, including AI (artificial intelligence), robotics, and ML (machine learning ).

João explores the intersection of technology in modeling business models and shaping consumer behavior. His YouTube channel is a big hit in the digital health category and he’s now moved to sharing content in a regular LinkedIn blogpost. He also analyses the impact of disruptive innovations and shares future trends in the marketplace. His passion lies in helping others succeed.

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Shazia Ahmad

Clinical Trial Engagement Expert, Rare Disease Advocacy Professional

A passionate leader with a desire to improve healthcare, clinical research practices, support strategy, and implementation on clinical programs with a special interest in rare and orphan indications, neuroscience, oncology, infectious diseases, respiratory and women’s health. A seasoned thought leader in the rare disease space and driven to ensure the patient journey and diagnostic experience is implemented in every program.

In her current role as Senior Director, Head of Patient & Physician Services at UBC, Shazia is driven to bring innovative solutions to clinical trial execution and outcome measurement. develop and support patient programs that address both disease-specific and cross-disease challenges, increase disease awareness, decrease time to diagnosis, increase access to therapy, and improve the clinical trial experience. Someone who knows the government research system, Shazia is a person to have on your side.

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Allyson Ocean, MD

Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, Patient Ally

Dr. Allyson J. Ocean is Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, medical oncologist and attending physician in gastrointestinal oncology, Solid Tumor Division, at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and practices medical oncology at The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health. Board-certified in internal medicine, hematology, and medical oncology, Dr. Ocean’s primary interest is in the biology and treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies. She has published numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts, book chapters, and abstracts and is an active member of several professional societies, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Association for Cancer Research, and the Pancreatic Cancer Research Team.

Dr. Ocean is now leading numerous clinical trials investigating radiolabeled antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, oncolytic viruses, and targeted therapies in pancreatic cancer. Dr. Ocean is the founding Medical Advisory Board Chair of Michael’s Mission, a nonprofit focused on improving the quality of life for colorectal cancer patients through research, education, and patient support. Her work with patient activist Anne Glauber, who dedicated the last years of her life to creating a “crowd-source” clinical trial community for patients with pancreatic cancer, called Let’s Win Pancreatic Cancer, reinforces that Dr. Ocean will not accept a deadly diagnosis as a given. Allyson is a champion for patient participation and someone to have on your side and follow.

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Jeremy Lim, MD

CEO AMILI, Southeast Asia’s First Precision Microbiome Company

A/Prof Jeremy Lim (Fulbright 2002/3) is CEO and co-founder of AMILI, the Southeast Asian region’s first gut microbiome company centered in Singapore. A medical doctor trained in surgery and public health, Jeremy was most recently a partner in the Oliver Wyman Health and Life Sciences practice in Asia, which he founded in 2013.

He contributes back to his alma mater as Director of LIGHT, the global health institute for the NUS School of Public Health, and teaches global health systems reforms and digital health. He also writes regularly for both the scientific and popular media and in 2013 authored “Myth or Magic: The Singapore Healthcare System,” a book on the Singapore health system and the lessons for health reform efforts in other countries.

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Rafael J. Grossmann, MD, FACS

Surgeon, DigitalHealth Innovator, Educator, Communicator – VR Pioneer

Throughout his career, Dr. Grossmann has focused on tapping the paradoxical power of technology to coexist with better, more humane medical care. He’s not just talking the talk, he’s certainly walking the walk!

Rafael is the world’s first doctor to use Google Glass technology during live surgery. This event catapulted him into the digital medicine ecosystem, as a disrupter of established medical paradigms and traditional ways of practicing and educating. He continues to be a powerful change agent in healthcare. He is a healthcare futurist, a full-time practicing surgeon, and a pioneer in adapting health technology to advance patient care. Dr. Grossmann is also an advisor and consultant to several companies, including Magic Leap, Animares, Nanox. Vision, Hippo Health, and other startup enterprises in the technology landscape. He’s lectured at MIT Media Lab, Stanford, Google, Deloitte, and many other pivotal digital-health industry players. When it comes to test driving tomorrow’s health tech, expect to see Rafael Grossman behind the wheel!

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Amy Abernethy, MD, PhD.

President, Clinical Studies Platforms at Verily Life Sciences

Dr. Amy Abernethy is the President of Verily’s Clinical Studies Platforms, where she oversees the company’s clinical evidence generation platform product vision and related clinical research portfolio. Dr. Abernethy was recently Principal Deputy Commissioner of Food and Drugs of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Agency’s acting Chief Information Officer. Prior to her role at the FDA, Dr. Abernethy was Chief Medical Officer, Chief Scientific Officer, and Senior Vice President of Oncology of Flatiron Health.

Before joining Flatiron, Dr. Abernethy was Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and directed the Center for Learning Health Care in the Duke Clinical Research Institute and Duke Cancer Care Research Program in the Duke Cancer Institute. Dr. Abernethy is a hematologist/oncologist and palliative medicine physician who has authored more than 500 publications. She holds a BA in Biochemistry from the University of Pennsylvania, an MD from Duke University School of Medicine, and a Ph.D. in Evidence-Based Medicine and Informatics from Flinders University in Australia. Amy is a physician, scientist, and advocate for innovation that can unite patients with a health system that is geared to meet their needs.

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Renzo Guinto, MD

Co-Founder of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health

Renzo Guinto, MD DrPH is the Chief Planetary Health Scientist and Co-Founder of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Concurrently, he is Associate Professor of the Practice of Global Public Health and Inaugural Director of the Planetary and Global Health Program of the St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine in the Philippines. He also holds appointments at the Copenhagen School of Global Health and Ateneo School of Government.

An Obama Foundation Asia-Pacific Leader and Aspen Institute New Voices Fellow, Dr. Guinto is a member of the Lancet–Chatham House Commission on Improving Population Health post-COVID-19 (University of Cambridge); Lancet One Health Commission (University of Oslo); Advisory Council of Global Health 50/50 (University College London); and Editorial Advisory Board of The Lancet Planetary Health. He advises various organizations including the World Health Organization; World Bank; USAID; International Organization for Migration; Health Care Without Harm; and Philippine Department of Health.

He obtained his Doctor of Public Health from Harvard University and Doctor of Medicine from the University of the Philippines, Manila. In 2020, he was included by Tatler Magazine in its Gen.T List of 400 leaders of tomorrow who are shaping Asia’s future. His influence – albeit quiet – is powerful.

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Jen Horonjeff, Ph.D

CEO Savvy Cooperative, Ph.D., Patient Advocate for Human-Centered Design

Jen Horonjeff, PhD, is a patient advocate and Founder and CEO of Savvy Cooperative. Savvy is the first patient-owned public benefit co-op that helps companies build inclusive health innovations by gathering diverse patient insights. Dr. Horonjeff was named one of the 50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs of 2018 by Entrepreneur Magazine, alongside Elon Musk, Chance the Rapper, and Reese Witherspoon. Jen is committed to human-centered design in healthcare and has firsthand knowledge as both a patient and professional.

Always thinking about the voice of the patient, Dr. Horonjeff grew up with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and survived a brain tumor as an adult. She is also a patient-centered outcomes researcher, a human factors engineer, an FDA Consumer Representative, and serves on the Board of Directors of The Sequoia Project. She earned her Master’s in Ergonomics and Biomechanics and Ph.D. in Environmental Medicine, from New York University. Jen continues to give patients a platform to ensure their voices are heard and valued. At JP Morgan in 2019, she made sure to get the attention for her POV by appearing in a hospital gown to underscore the inequity of the physician/patient relationship. She is an advocate for a health system co-designed with patients.

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Michael Rosenblatt, MD

Senior Partner, Flagship Pioneering – Ambassador of the Patient in Life Science

Dr. Michael Rosenblatt joined Flagship as Chief Medical Officer from Merck, where he was executive vice president and the company’s first chief medical officer from 2009 to 2016. Drug development pioneer, hospital executive, and educator, he has held key appointments as Dean of Tufts University School of Medicine; the academic chairs as Robert H. Ebert Professor of Molecular Medicine and George R. Minot Professor of Medicine, at Harvard Medical School; senior vice president for academic programs of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and director of the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. Dr. Rosenblatt is the holder of 19 patents and is the author or co-author of more than 180 peer-reviewed papers and commentaries.

Born in a displaced person’s camp to Holocaust survivors, has given “Mike” a world-view that places the needs of the patient front and center. During his tenure at Merck as chief medical officer, he secured a direct connection to the Merck board to ensure patient concerns would have a voice. A leader in drug development, he is the recipient of the Fuller Albright Award for his work on parathyroid hormone, the Vincent du Vigneaud Award in peptide chemistry and biology, and the Chairman’s Award from Merck. He is a member of the Harvard Medical School Board of Fellows, and the research advisory committees of the Massachusetts General Hospital, the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Children’s Hospital of Boston. Mike is a medical Renaissance person.

Mike also serves as a Co-Chair of the Galien Foundation Prix Galien Awards Committee for his leadership work in public health and drug development. Those that know Mike can attest to his attention to the urgency of people’s needs.

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Sachin Jain, MD, MBA

President and CEO, SCAN Group and Health Plan – Patient Care Innovator

Dr. Sachin H. Jain, MD, MBA, is President and CEO of SCAN Group and Health Plan, where he is charged with leading the organization’s growth, diversification, and emerging efforts to reduce healthcare disparities. SCAN revenues top $3.4B and the organization serves 220,000 patients.

Dr. Jain is a respected thought leader in health care delivery. His interest in the system has led him to work in the White House, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and pharmaceutical giant Merck before going to the provider side of the industry at Caremore. He is recognized as a “Top 50 Most Influential Clinical Leader” and “100 Most Influential People in US Healthcare” by Modern Healthcare. In 2018, LinkedIn named him its top voice (#1) for healthcare. But there is more. Dr. Jain is a Forbes contributor and front-and-center advocate for putting the patient at the center of the health system. Most important, where and when change is needed to improve patient care, expect to see Dr. Sachin Jain as part of the conversation.

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John Whyte, MD, MPH

Chief Medical Officer at WebMD – Shifting America from Sick Care to Self Care

WebMD Chief Medical Officer. Visionary, results-driven senior executive, physician, writer, healthcare policy expert, and innovative communicator with more than 20 years of professional experience providing healthcare leadership and policy development, Dr. Whyte blends big issue public health with personal and compassionate care.

Dr. Whyte is a board-certified internist and completed an internal medicine residency at Duke University Medical Center. He earned a master of public health degree in health policy and management at Harvard University School of Public Health. Before arriving in Washington, DC, Whyte was a health services research fellow at Stanford and an attending physician in the department of medicine. He has a strong handle on the balance that must be found between public health, public education, and private enterprise as partners. Dr. Whyte continues to put patients first and takes care to work in the clinic along with his WebMD responsibilities.

At a time when people feel resigned to their genetic destiny, Dr. Whyte is using his knowledge and abilities to inspire people to self-care and wellness. He now has two consumer health bestsellers available titled Take Control of Your Cancer Risk and Take Control of Your Diabetes Risk.

Dr. Whyte is now a Medika.Life author and you can follow his ideas and counsel on healthcare via his dedicated column.

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Zubin Daruwalla, MD

PwC Singapore Health Industries Leader – Giving Life-Saving Ideas Structure

With the paradigm shift toward governments introducing telemedicine worldwide, Dr. Daruwalla has been involved in numerous studies looking at how telehealth can play a greater role in improving patient care and outcomes. He dedicates his talents to serving as an advisor to a number of Med and HealthTech start-ups so that patients will have easier access to care.

His extensive cross-cultural experiences from having lived in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Singapore exposed him to a wide variety of cultures and life experiences. Having obtained full registration with each country’s respective medical council, he continues his clinical work and research with current interests being in healthcare consulting and as a thought leader in the digital health and medical education spaces. With strong administrative and organizational skills, he is always looking at new and exciting opportunities to put his skill set to use so that entrepreneurs are able to blend their passions with sound processes.

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Jhonatan Bringas Dimitriades, MD

CEO and Co-Founder, Lapsi Health, Digital Health Executive and Educator

Dr. Jhonatan Bringas Dimitriades, MD is a Medical Doctor from the Netherlands and Peru, an expert in Digital Health he holds positions of Business Director, Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer for different Medtech and Digital Health companies in Europe and the USA. He is currently the Global Ambassador for Medical Education in Digital Health for Medscape. Dr. Jhonatan Bringas is also on the Board of Directors and sits on the Advisory Board of several companies.

Watch him in his new venture called Lapsi Health. Lapsi is a medical startup, developing novel technology that enhances the usage of data in medicine. The technology and its patient-centered application is a bold idea and can impact care for millions. Global citizen, health-tech entrepreneur, educator and patient-access advocate secured Jhonatan berth on this year’s list.

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Jeff Livingston, MD

CEO MacArthur Medical Center – Medical Journalist and Blogger

A nationally recognized thought leader, speaker, writer, blogger, and practicing physician who is considered an expert in the use of social media to educate patients, using new and innovative technology to improve care outcomes and the patient experience. Jeff is the founder of BeingWell on Medium and his efforts led to the creation of Medika.Life. Through his work, he created a platform for health professionals in medicine and allied health to share ideas from the trenches.

A partner at MacArthur Medical Center, since 2003 he serves as the company CEO. He has served previously as chairman of the ObGyn Department at Baylor Scott and White in Irving, Texas. Currently, he serves on the Board at THR Harris Methodist HEB and is the medical director at Texas Health Surgery Bedford. Livingston continues to speak, consult and provide leadership strategies to physicians, practice leaders, and health IT decision-makers throughout the United States. Jeff has been profiled in USA Today, Wired, Computer World, and Physicians Practice, among others, for his innovative use of Facebook, Twitter, and other social media channels to communicate with patients to better meet their health needs, educate and improve the patient experience.

Dr. Livingston serves as medical director for Silicon Valley HealthTap, Inc. an interactive health 2.0 network employing mobile health technology to connect doctors with patients. He also serves as medical director for the FQHC Collins Clinic in Fort Worth.

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Professor Sam Shah

Chief Medical Strategy Officer, Digital Advisor, Specialist, Public Health

Sam is Chief Medical Strategy Officer for Numan and is one of the most respected voices in the UK on the topic of digital health. He is Honorary Chair and Professor of Digital Health within the Faculty of Future Health, College of Medicine and Dentistry with Ulster University. Sam serves as Chief Clinical Digital Advisor for Orcha and board advisor within healthcare and technology. He is a clinician and previously Director of Digital Development for NHS England and has a background in primary healthcare, public health, and research.

Sam uses his leadership voice to connect technology with access to health services; optimize the consumer experience and improve system efficiency. Sam has overseen the development of NHS 111 Online in England. He always has his vision for a better health system centered around improving people’s lives and remains one of healthcare’s most affable and approachable influencers.

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Mark Chataway

CEO Hyderus / Leader Baird’s Communication Consultants – Public Health Champion

Mark always works to ensure that private enterprise considers public health urgencies. Expert in communications on health and medicines, Mark is known for his fearless counsel to mega biopharmaceutical companies on topics of global public health around preventing non-communicable diseases and ensuring prompt planning and response to infectious disease.

His many years of experience in communications on developing international health issues and managing international development programs, around AIDS and reproductive health have earned him world acclaim. Through the years, he has worked with noted clients such as International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Hewlett Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, WHO, and Worldvision. Mark is dedicated to tackling issues for a more equitable world. What is most impressive is that Mark makes collaboration to improve people’s well-being his priority and platform. That is a heartfelt skill more and more leaders must embrace.

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Aman Gupta, MBA

Managing Partner: Asia-Pacific, SPAG – Bringing Health Innovation to the World

Aman Gupta, is co-founder of PR Agency SPAG, and has been recognized for his global work in the PR and communications industry. He was the first Asian leader to be named to the TED Fellow 2003 list and has been listed as one of the ‘Top 25 Innovators’ by PRovoke Media, Asia-Pacific, for shaping influence and engagement in an era of dramatic marketing and communications disruption. He was also listed in the PR Week Global Powerbook (2016-17) as one of the most influential PR professionals around the world. Aman has been honored as ‘Communicator of the Year’, by the Industry Association at the Fulcrum Awards 2017.

Based in Mumbai, Aman extends his reach to others around the world and is dedicated to building a voice for Asian-based healthcare companies outside the region. His efforts have also led to SPAG serving as the representative for major North American health companies headquartered in Asia. Aman Gupta gives voice to global health innovation and is committed to public health. As Asia becomes more and more important to the conversation of global health, expert Aman to be part of those discussions.

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Christine Von Raesfeld

CEO, People with Empathy; Online Community Leader, HIMSS Future50

Few people with a cause walk the talk as boldly and graciously as Christine Von Raesfeld, founder and CEO of People with Empathy. Christine is a pillar of patient advocacy and allyship in the rare and chronic disease community. Through the lens of her lived experiences in healthcare, she has become a champion for patient voices, diversity and inclusion in clinical research, and equitable patient-sponsor partnerships.

Christine brings her unique perspective and honed expertise to countless roles as a featured speaker for numerous conferences dedicated to the rare disease community and disease awareness initiatives. Christine is a dedicated voice for progress with her patient advocacy interests and stimulates dialog on a range of topics important to patients, clinicians, and industry as moderator and host of Health.Reconsidered on Clubhouse. Christine is there for others always and unites people and ideas to improve access to care.

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Rasu Shrestha MD MBA

Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Executive VP at Atrium Health

Rasu B. Shrestha, MD, MBA, leads the Atrium Health enterprise strategy, including planning and tactical direction for strategic roadmap and beyond. In addition, he spearheads a renewed focus on innovation, launching new healthcare inventions, discoveries, and ideas to benefit our patients and the communities Atrium Health serves. He also provides executive leadership for corporate communications and marketing, as well as enterprise analytics, showcasing Atrium Health as a meaningful, national brand that leverages the power of data and insights.

Dr. Shrestha is a respected thought leader and visionary in the field of healthcare information technology and was recently recognized as “Executive of the Year” by Healthcare Dive and was acknowledged as one of the “Top 20 Health IT Leaders Driving Change” and as a “Top Healthcare Innovator” by InformationWeek. In addition, he is on the Board of Directors of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and is the Chairman of the HIMSS Innovation Committee, and Co-chair of Health Datapalooza. While he has numerous clinical and corporate credentials, he exhibits an interest in others’ efforts to improve patient care and sees himself as a constant ally in their efforts.

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Lori Rose Benson

Executive Director, Hip Hop Public Health – Public Health Change Agent

With more than 25 years of experience in public health and education, Lori joined Hip Hop Public Health (HHPH) in 2017 as the organization’s inaugural Executive Director.  Her experience in developing and scaling innovative health, fitness, and wellness programs is aligned with HHPH’s vision to empower youth around the globe with the knowledge and skills to make healthier choices, reducing preventable health conditions and the rising tide of childhood obesity.

Executive leader in the public health, education, wellness, and sports sectors with strong community and organizational ties within New York City, New York State, and across the country. Lori has mobilized a diverse community of educators, entertainers, and health professionals empowering youth with the transformative power of hip-hop. Together with outstanding partners and popular musicians, Lori is changing the beat on how to reach communities with life-saving messages. Watch Lori and Hip Hop Public Health continue to reach people on their terms and to their beat.

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Ritesh Patel

Senior Partner, Global Digital Health, FINN Partners – Digital-Health Evangelist

When it comes to uniting people around ideas, expect to see Ritesh Patel in the center of the circle. After seven years at Ogilvy, Ritesh joined FINN Partners in July 2021 as its first global leader for digital health and continues his healthcare digital evangelism uniting academic settings, healthcare companies and industry communities. He consults with clients on digital transformation and connects their ideas and solutions to customers and consumers. Ritesh is a courageously bold spokesperson and shares ideas on numerous forums. A natural collaborator, he is passionate about sharing knowledge with peers and clients on the future of digital in healthcare. Born in Keyna, raised in the United Kingdom, and having relocated to the United States, he takes his ideas on the road speaking at a wide variety of digital and healthcare-centered events across the world.

At heart, he is always a Digital and Social Evangelist. With more than 20 years of Digital Experience, his background includes Online Marketing, Advertising, Sales, CRM, and E-Business. His focus is primarily on digital strategy, tools, platforms, and ecosystems in Healthcare. When he’s not talking digital, expect to find him at his restaurant in New Jersey that specializes in British Indian cuisine. Ritesh is the health sector’s Renaissance person.

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Eugene Borukhovich, MBA

Co-Founder and COO YourCoach Health – Global Champion for Self-Care

Eugene is a serial intra- and entrepreneur, executive, venture builder, speaker, and board advisor with a focus on digital health. Eugene is Chairman & COO YourCoach. Along with being co-founder of YourCoach Health, he is the founder of Initium Impact Ventures. Prior to YourCoach, Eugene served as a Global Head of Digital Health at Bayer, and he has also co-founded and sold a doctor rating startup and a consulting company. His work is urgent and important!

By the year 2030, there is estimated that facing a myriad of illnesses resulting from poor self-care, people will look outside the traditional health system to address their needs. Perhaps as many as nine billion people in the world will seek access to global squads of health coaches to heal holistically, mind, body, and soul rather than succumb to non-communicable disease. Eugene sees self-care instead of sick-care as the needed path to sustain lives. He’s ready to engage. Watch what he says and does – it may save your life.

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Jeff Ruby, JD, MBA

Co-Founder/CEO, Newtopia, Mobilizing Companies to Employee Wellness

Jeff Ruby is a health innovator and entrepreneur who is passionate about shifting the focus of health care from sick care to keeping healthy people healthy. As a health innovator and global thought leader, he is championing hyper-personalized and engaging strategies to deliver proven, scalable, and sustainable habit change and disease prevention by engaging companies to secure more benefits and outcomes for their employee community.

Prior to founding Newtopia in 2008, Jeff was co-founder and chief operating officer of Cleveland Clinic Canada, a collaboration between the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Canyon Ranch, Canada’s leading destination for preventive health and lifestyle management; co-founder and chief operating officer of Life Screening Centers Inc., a cancer screening and prevention company; and co-founder and head of operations of Genetic Diagnostics Inc., an early-stage biotechnology company commercializing a new genetic diagnostic testing platform. 

Jeff is seeking to sustain and save people’s lives by getting their workplace communities to play a larger role in employee healthcare. He’s right! With companies and employees footing more and more of the health insurance burden, perhaps it’s time that employers took a more active role in their staff’s wellbeing.

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Joanne Yoong, PhD

Senior Economist and Director, CESR-East

An experienced economist and interdisciplinary researcher with a past history in the finance, health, and think tank industry underwritten by a Stanford Ph.D. in economics. Joanne is a behavioral economist that has established a world-class reputation as both an outstanding academic and a practitioner.  She is a Senior Economist at the University of Southern California, where she directs the Center for Economic and Social Research in Singapore. She also holds a concurrent appointment at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.

She is a recognized expert in program evaluation across sectors, bringing creative, data-driven solutions to community organizations, governments, and the private sector. Joanne is considered by many leading figures in healthcare to be integral to the wave of changes sweeping through the industry and Medika Life will explore her tireless and innovative efforts in an upcoming Voices of Healthcare feature article.

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Ogan Gurel, MD

Innovation Leader, Author, Keynote Speaker, Bioelectromagnetics – Educator

Dr. Gurel is the Chief Science Officer for FLITE Material Sciences and holds academic appointments at the Solbridge International School of Business and DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology). He also serves as a Venture Partner at The Yozma Group and as Chief Marketing Officer for Eidware / SoundMind (Seoul), with previous roles at NovumWaves (Seoul), Nessa Hearing (Singapore); holds additional appointments as Honorary Fellow (University of Melbourne) and Visiting Professor (Libera Accademia Belle Arti–Italy).

Never resting on his laurels, Dr. Gurel was Chief Innovation Officer at Campus D, a Seoul-based startup incubator/Fab Lab, and served more than four years as a Director in the CTO office at the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT). His business experience spans executive, marketing, clinical, and R&D domains, with expertise in medical devices, digital health, medical imaging, and biopharma while his academic research focuses on protein electrodynamics and terahertz medicine.

He doesn’t just hold onto his knowledge, he shares. Ogan is known for his amazing course called “Mini-Medical School (Mini-MD) a comprehensive, intensive overview of all of medicine, presented for marketing and sales business leaders where he covers the field of medicine – from the perspective of a physician in a few short weeks. It offers the “business side” of life science a glimpse of medicine from the healer’s perspective. Teacher and influencer, we welcome Dr. Gurel to this year’s Medika Life Top 50.

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Kellie Lease Stecher, MD

OBGYN, Author, President and Co-Founder Patient Care Heroes

Physician, M.D., OBGYN, Author, Educator, Policy Consultant, Passionate, Determined, Persistent. Dr. Stecher is an advocate for justice, and a leader in the fight against institutional sexism. Her memoir, titled “Delivering” was released in October 2021. Patient Care Heroes was started as a simple social media post to tell the story of a physician hero who ultimately died as a result of caring for her patients with COVID-19, ultimately launching a national conversation about all those in healthcare who risk their lives going to work and providing care for their neighbors.

Kellie is its co-founder and president. Dr. Stecher is an advocate for reproductive rights, healthcare access, mental healthcare access, and gender and racial equity. She continues to work as an OBGYN.

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Sedric Degbo, MD

CEO at REMA Medical Technologies, Collaboration that Saves Lives

Based in Benin, Dr. Degbo is engaged in building Africa’s largest medical community on REMA. The intent is to connect African healthcare professionals for better medical decisions. Its approach is to improve the quality of medical decisions by interconnecting all healthcare professionals practicing in Africa through a mobile application enabling them to share knowledge, experiences, and collaborate in real-time about patient cases, to make better decisions and save more lives. Thousands of medical cases are resolved each year via the “REMA” platform, which is used daily by doctors, midwives, and nurses from all over Africa.

Dr. Degbo has won several international awards in Africa, Europe, and America. His expertise is recognized by international health organizations and pharmaceutical groups, which he advises in their development strategies on African markets. In terms of social commitment, he devotes part of his time to promoting youth entrepreneurship and the 3rd sustainable development goal, in particular through conferences or by volunteering on the board of directors of non-profit organizations such as Bluemind Foundation for mental health.

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Matthew Herper

Senior Writer, Medicine, Editorial Director Of Events at STAT – Words that Matter

It’s likely not a worthy STAT conversation unless Matt Herper is one of the event moderators. Since he came on the life science scene more than two decades ago he has reported on medical innovation — both its potential and pitfalls — writing about the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of medicine, from Avandia to Vioxx to Zytorin. Some stories left experts pondering about the science, and there are plenty of reasons to consider questions that raise the collective drug safety bar. We have seen his evolution through the years and applaud his efforts to consider all sides. Matt’s dedication to the field of biopharma reporting is exceptional.

Matthew was with Forbes for 18 years before taking the plunge and being one of the earlier top-tier health reporters to join the then-fledgling STAT staff. His decision and its impact accelerated the shift of science journalism from print to digital. We expect more great things will come from the keyboard of Matthew Herper.

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Gregg Masters, MPH

Executive Producer at Healthcare Now Radio and Champion for Edgy Ideas

Recognized as a thought leader in healthcare social media and public health, known on social media by his Twitter handle @GreggMastersMPH, Gregg is a champion of voices seeking to improve the health system. He was there as a supporter during the nascent ramp-up of major social media platforms including Fierce Health, Health Information Technology by Health Data Management, and more. Gregg models best practices in digital content development, curation, distribution, and brand amplification. He mentors colleagues in both the strategic and the purposeful day-to-day application of interactive digital media tools from ‘lean’ to turnkey private-label branding.

Gregg is best known through his support for others as producers of numerous HealthcareNow Radio shows including PopUpStudio.productions, PopHealth Week, The AMCP Podcast series Powered by PopHealth Week, ACO Watch, Health Unabashed, HealthInnovationMedia.com fka HIBC.tv, JustOncology.com. He hosts (or co-hosts) several Internet radio programs including ‘This Week in Oncology’, ‘This Week in Accountable Care’ and ‘This Week in Health Innovation.” When there are people who need to be heard be assured Gregg is elevating their voices to the sector.

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Todd Eury

Founder/CEO, Pharmacy Podcast Network – Giving Pharmacy Voice

Pharmacy could not have a stronger advocate for the discipline that touches almost every chapter of life – community care, hospitals, senior care and drug development. Todd is their ambassador. He has tapped podcast, digital publication, and professional development to unite the community among America’s most trusted profession – pharmacy.

As founder and executive producer of the Pharmacy Podcast Network (PPN), he has built a community of more than 100,000 monthly listeners across more than 30 podcast channels. Todd has transformed the use of audio to improve education, patient care, and professional development. Setting new quality standards in content development with the provider in mind to support evidence-based information in audio form. Building community and elevating the voice of this critical care professional isn’t just a job for Todd – it’s his passion.

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Brian Wallach, JD

ALS Patient Advocate, Activist, Inventor, Lawyer

Brian is an attorney and ALS patient who conveys his humanity and as a result, calls upon us to exhibit our empathy and engage. In the aftermath of his ALS diagnosis in November 2017, he and his wife founded “I AM ALS,” a patient-led, patient-centric movement to lead the fight for a cure to the disease and Synapticure to remake the broken, disconnected care system. He is also an associate at the leading law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. From 2014 to 2018, he served as an assistant United States attorney in the Northern District of Illinois.

From 2011 to 2013, he was senior vetting counsel in the Obama White House, responsible for overseeing the vetting process for nearly all Senate-confirmed executive branch appointees and all presidential appointments as well as working on congressional oversight investigations. Brian shares his thoughts about parenting with ALS and his desire to keep pushing himself and our entire health community to press forward and imagine a cure.

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Mike Rea

CEO, IDEA Pharma – Challenger of the Drug Development Status Quo

Mike Rea heads Idea Pharma and was voted one of the Top 10 Innovators in the pharmaceutical industry. He is the creator of the annual “Pharmaceutical Innovation Index” and an industry expert in drug development positioning. His thinking and approach have supported more than 25% of the 50 fastest-growing drugs during the past five years and positioned four of the 10 blockbuster launches of 2017. Mike sees the blank space between the notes – in drug development and music. Perhaps it’s his varied interests that help Mike see things differently. He owns an independent record label called Medical Records, his citation on Wikipedia is for establishing the UK college American Football league, and he loves to find some mud and watch his three (or is it four) dogs have fun.

Mike urges biopharma developers to reflect early on how their medicines might reach more people earlier. He suggests that pharma leaders should not make regulatory approval their singular goal – rather, recognize that a successful approach – smart thinking – can lead to more people being helped by medical miracles. Mike is all about making drug development more productive – for patients.

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John Lynn

HITMC Founder – Ambassador for Health Information Marketing

John Lynn is the founder of the Healthcare IT Marketing and PR Conference community better known as HITMC.  His energies and focus are centered around enabling wonderful people to connect and plan for a better future and the fragmented health ecosystem is easier for its stakeholders to navigate. John is the founding editor of the blog network HealthcareScene.com, which encompasses five blogs containing almost 11,000 articles that have been viewed more than 18 million times.

He is also co-founder of two companies: InfluentialNetworks.com and Physia.com and serves as an advisor to multiple healthcare IT companies. John is an ambassador for the growing health information marketing community and in a growing sector of health, expect to see his influence expand. He influences through kindness and concern for others.

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Erica (Olenski) Johansen

The Healthcare Futurist and Storyteller of the Patient Journey

Erica is a powerful storyteller, and she has much to share and we must listen. She is part of a new wave of caregiver and patient health influencers whose voices have become more sought so that the health ecosystem – the patchwork and fragmented networks that serve as economic and information gatekeepers – begins to bend to their needs. Erica’s words on “A Vignette of Life as a Pediatric Cancer Mom” or “Where Did My Hair Go,” remind us that we are all vulnerable and rely on each other for support – emotionally and as fellow patient-care advocates.

Her words and her support of the arts as part of therapy help us all image healthcare delivery as more caring and personal. Erica recognizes that people, culture, and technology must find common ground for the sake of our soul and survival. Erica is a must connect and follow – to follow her words and vision for a kinder health system.

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Matthew Zachary

CEO and Co-Founder OffScrip Health

Matthew Zachary is a 25+ year cancer survivor and the CEO and Co-Founder of OffScrip Health. He also founded Stupid Cancer and created the first health podcast called The Stupid Cancer Show, which amassed a global listenership with more than four million listens and counting. People Magazine calls him “the people’s voice” in healthcare. As the Founder of the award-winning nonprofit Stupid Cancer, he is recognized as the driving force behind creating the Young Adult Cancer Movement and impacting the lives of millions of people in their teens, 20s, and 30s.

Called “The Howard Stern” and “The People’s Voice” of healthcare, Matthew is now focused on creating the first patient engagement company focused on audio as a transformational medium to improve patient outcomes. His platform hosts wonderful people sharing their ideas with millions of listeners. People like oncologists and cancer survivor Mark Lewis, MD, are part of his growing network of podcast programs that cover rare diseases, health disparities, and more. Matthew’s energy knows no boundaries and his influence is felt through his words, actions, and edgy platforms.

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