ARPA-H focuses on high-risk, high-reward research. Tell us why you’re excited to be a part of this agency – and what you hope it accomplishes in the years to come.
I joined ARPA-H to push groundbreaking research enhancing the health of underserved populations across the United States. I’m dedicated to empowering communities to be more resilient to public health crises and enhancing the design of their health care systems.
How has your experience as an emergency physician influenced your approach to healthcare innovation and commercialization?
As an emergency physician, I witness firsthand the challenges my patients and their families encounter when dealing with acute medical issues or managing chronic conditions. Hearing their stories helps me truly understand the problems that need urgent solutions. Gaining this insight is the first step toward creating better solutions that address the needs of patients, caregivers, and their communities.
You’ve worked at the intersection of medicine and design through your work with the Health Design Lab and at Sidney Kimmel Medical College. How has this impacted your approach to problem-solving in healthcare?
Working in the Health Design Lab has shown me that tackling complex healthcare problems requires a creative approach. One technique I frequently use to come up with new ideas is prototyping. It helps me turn my ideas into tangible forms and quickly gather feedback from my colleagues.
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Photo credit Platon -
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What do you believe is the most crucial factor in successfully commercializing new healthcare technologies?
I believe the most crucial factor in successfully commercializing new healthcare technologies is having empathy for the people who will be using them. Empathy, or the ability to understand and share the experiences of others, leads to better-designed products and services in healthcare.
What’s your best advice for healthcare startups in the current market?
My advice for healthcare startups is to invest more time in understanding the problem thoroughly. Avoid rushing to technical solutions right away. Even when you believe you grasp the issues that patients, nurses, or physicians are facing, challenge your assumptions and question your understanding.
What does Philadelphia need more of? What are we doing right?
Philadelphia has all the ingredients to become a global leader in healthcare, but we need to improve our connections within our healthcare ecosystem and collaborate more on co-designing solutions for the communities in our city.
What is your superpower?
The ability to fall sleep on demand. I can literally doze off within minutes when traveling on planes, trains, and automobiles.
