2024 Fellowship

Catalyst collaborators
US Department of Veterans Affairs logoVHA Innovation Ecosystem logoHood Pediatric Hub at MIT logo

Fellows

Akshar Abbott
Ophthalmologist, Veterans Affairs VISN 23
Bio
Thomas Beachkofsky, MD
Director, Dermatology Laser Surgery, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital
Bio
Monize Caiado Decarli, PhD
Group leader, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)
Bio
Sarah Carbone
Research Health Science Specialist, Department of Veterans Affairs
Bio
Aditya Chandrasekhar, MD, MPH
Staff Physician, Fenway Health
Bio
Rinu Daniel
Clinical Rehabilitation Engineer, James A. Haley VA Hospital
Bio
Danielle Hallman, DNP, RN, NE-BC
Assistant Chief Nurse-Mental Health, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System
Bio
Xinming "Sherman" Huang, PhD
Professor, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Bio
Amit Kalia, MD
Chief of Imaging, Interventional Radiology, Bruce W. Carter VA
Bio
David Lawrence, MD, FASAM
Medical Director, Substance Use Disorder Clinic, VA Greater Los Angeles
Bio
Gha Young Lee
MD/PhD Candidate, Harvard Medical School and MIT
Bio
Marta López, MSc
PhD Candidate, University of Barcelona & Visiting researcher, Harvard Medical School
Bio
Hariharasudan Malaichamee
Principal Software Engineer, Symbotic
Bio
Javier Nazario-Larrieu, MD
Staff Interventional Radiologist, VA Caribbean Healthcare System
Bio
Adrián Noriega de la Colina, MD, PhD
CIHR-Institute of Aging Fellow, Montreal Neurological Institute
Bio
Michelle A. Petrovic, MD
Director & Chief of Medical Simulation, Orlando VA Healthcare System
Bio
Ravi Rasalingam, MBChB portrait
Ravi Rasalingam, MBChB
Staff Cardiologist, Boston VA Healthsystem
Bio
Spencer B. Shumway, MSE
Cofounder at SkyDance Vascular
Bio

Scholars

Nichole Arzumanyan, BSN, RN
VA Nursing Scholar 2024
Bio
Raymond Bahng, MIT '25
PKG Scholar 2024
Bio
Katie Bell, MIT '24
PKG Scholar 2024
Bio
Cheyenne Bolanos, MSN, RN
Nursing Scholar, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Bio
Madlyn Francis, BSN, RN
VA Nursing Scholar 2024
Bio
Amie Kitjasateanphun, MIT '27
PKG Scholar 2024
Bio
Justin Paalisbo, MSN, RN
VA Nursing Scholar 2024
Bio
Michelle Peng, MIT '27
PKG Scholar 2024
Bio
Daisy Wang portrait
Daisy Wang, MIT '27
PKG Scholar 2024
Bio

Faculty

Akshar Abbott
Ophthalmologist, Veterans Affairs VISN 23
Bio
Pamela Bellino, MA, OTR/L
Director of Patient Safety, VA Boston Healthcare System
Bio
Eric Bruns, MBA
Director, EES SimLEARN Division, VHA Employee Education System
Bio
Mike Catania, MBA
Principal Program Manager, Artificial Intelligence, Blue Shield of California
Bio
Leonardo DaSilva
Director, VA New England Center for Innovation Excellence (NECIE)
Bio
Michael K. Dempsey
Entrepreneur in Residence at CIMIT
Bio
Marra S. Francis, MD, FACOG
Chief Medical Officer, PinkDx
Bio
Stephan Gaehde, MD, MPH
Boston VA Medical Informatics Fellowship Program Director; Boston VA Chief of Emergency Services
Bio
Dimitra Georganopoulou, PhD
General Partner, Qral Ventures
Bio
Martha Gray, PhD
J. W. Kieckhefer Professor of Health Sciences and Technology; Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT; Director, MIT linQ
Bio
Anh Hoang
Chief Science Officer at Sofregen
Bio
Daniel Hurtado, PhD
Visiting Professor, MIT; Associate Professor, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Bio
Angela James, PhD
Vice President, Head of Clinical Pharmacology, MacroGenics Inc
Bio
Tim Padera, PhD
Associate Professor in Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School
Bio
Anne Quaadgras, PhD
Director of the MIT Sloan Health Systems Initiative, Senior Lecturer at MIT Sloan
Bio
Ravi Rasalingam, MBChB portrait
Ravi Rasalingam, MBChB
Staff Cardiologist, Boston VA Healthsystem
Bio
Indra Sandal, PhD, MBA
Chief of Innovation, Tampa VA Hospital, FL; Innovation Senior Advisor, VHA Innovation Ecosystem; National Lead, VHA Uber Health Connect Initiative
Bio
Hélder A. Santos
Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Groningen
Bio
Pranjul Shah, PhD
Head of the Incubator, University of Luxembourg
Bio
Andy Shin, JD, MPH, MBA
SVP, Strategy at Mass General Brigham
Bio
Suzanne Shirley, LCSW
Vice President, Ipsos
Bio
Nancy R. Steele, MA
Vice President, Strategy & Innovation at Pfizer, retired
Bio
Iván Uray, MD, PhD
Senior Research Scientist & Associate Professor, Dept of Oncology, University of Debrecen Hungary
Bio
Ben Vakoc, PhD
Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School; Massachusetts General Hospital Wellman Center for Photomedicine
Bio

Experience highlights

Fellows discussing ideas on a bulletin board
New project discovery with high potential to achieve health impact and without the constraints of a single lab or organization.
Process driven by you in a multi-disciplinary team based environment. Past teams have established new lines of research, launched start-ups, and embarked on new career trajectories.
Mentored by a unique network of leading experts in their field from academic research and industry that shortens the time to realize meaningful healthcare outcomes.
A proven MIT linQ Innovation Method that focuses on real-world medical innovation opportunities and accelerates impact.

The process

Proof of need

Identify and evaluate relevant unmet medical needs by visiting laboratories, talking with clinicians, and exploring the literature.

Proof of opportunity

Identify and evaluate a set of possible solutions. Meet with key stakeholders to assess their potential of solving the unmet need.

Project proposal

Develop a research project plan with milestones over a 12-18 month time frame.

Outcome

Portfolio of validated research projects for ongoing mentorship, with real opportunity to transition to the project execution phase, project execution—exploration of funding and commercialization opportunities. Learn more about the Catalyst process

As an engineer, you have honed your problem-solving skills and have a deep understanding of technology. The biomedical field is ripe with opportunities for individuals like yourself to apply your expertise and make a profound impact on the lives of patients and providers. The Catalyst Program offers an exceptional platform to harness your talents and channel them towards addressing the most pressing challenges in healthcare today.