Chooki Arinze is interested in leveraging technology to enhance healthcare accessibility, inspired by his experience as a caregiver for his father, who was diagnosed with cancer. Chooki completed his PhD at the University of Chicago, where he was a member of the Murugan Lab studying soft matter physics with a focus on physical learning theory in metamaterials. His research demonstrated that mechanical metamaterials, without traditional processors, could perform cognitive tasks such as flower classification based on petal and sepal size.

During his doctoral studies, Chooki co-founded a fintech startup specializing in cross-border payments using Open Banking/Finance API technology. The startup developed frameworks enabling users to compare and switch between cross-border payment service providers, ensuring cost-effective transactions. This innovation was recognized with the Inclusive Fintech50 global award by the Center for Financial Inclusion.

As a part-time technology consultant, Chooki has worked with minority deposit institutions and international development banks to implement cutting-edge technologies for addressing operational challenges. One of his notable projects involved supervising the development of a proof-of-concept digital viewer dashboard. This tool allowed an international development bank to remotely monitor and audit road construction progress in Latin America using geospatial satellite images and machine learning algorithms.

Through the Catalyst fellowship, Chooki aims to leverage his diverse background in physics and entrepreneurship to immerse himself in the world of healthcare innovation. He hopes to gain insights into the unique challenges of the healthcare industry and develop solutions that can make a meaningful impact on patient care and accessibility.

Pranay Banerjee is a Senior Technical Specialist in the department of Advanced Engineering at Cummins Inc., where he combines engineering skills with a passion for problem-solving. He holds a Master’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Purdue University and is a Certified Six Sigma Green Belt. With over 10 years of experience in control systems and powertrain technologies, Pranay has led multiple R&D projects working closely with U.S. government agencies and academia. Pranay is well-versed in creating solutions that meet both technical and regulatory standards, that are not only effective but also streamlined for efficiency and quality control. He is also passionate about Artificial Intelligence and its potential to create innovative solutions across multiple sectors, including healthcare.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Pranay is committed to community service and continuous learning. He has mentored several engineers and students within Cummins and externally. He was recognized by SAE International for his contributions to the development of future STEM talent. As a Catalyst Fellow, he is eager to leverage his engineering and problem-solving skills to address unmet healthcare needs via interdisciplinary collaboration to create impactful solutions.

David Beck is a Quality Management Specialist at the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa, FL. David is a dedicated husband, and a proud father of two, who has built a career centered around service, healthcare, and innovation. He joined the U.S. Navy where he developed a commitment to excellence serving as a Boiler Technician on an Aircraft Carrier, stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. After his military service, David earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2013, graduating Cum Laude. After graduating, he honed his skills in a variety of nursing disciplines including critical care, medical-surgical, long-term care, and dialysis. David is a Certified Lean Six-Sigma Green Belt and is deeply involved with the VHA Innovation Network, contributing to the development of two patent-pending innovations. David’s approach to healthcare challenges is collaborative; he values building relationships with stakeholders to understand their perspectives and deliver meaningful solutions. Outside of his professional life, David is an avid tinkerer, often found in his garage workshop. He also enjoys the tranquility of fishing and the adventure of scuba diving.

Hao Cheng, MD is the Section Chief of Sleep Medicine at Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Miami, FL. He is board certified in neurology and sleep medicine, with interests in incorporating technology into medicine.

He obtained an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering at University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign, and subsequently worked at Microsoft for 3.5 years. He graduated from medical school at New York University, neurology residency at University at Buffalo, and sleep medicine fellowship at University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. Since completing fellowship, he has been working at the Miami VA Healthcare System for more than 6 years.

Jason DePhillips is a Research Engineer on the Scientific Affairs team at Globus Medical. With a background in both academic and translational research, spanning early- and late-stage product development, he has collaborated on diverse projects within the orthopedic industry and novel sensor technologies. At Globus Medical, Jason contributes to innovative product development and surgical advancements through cadaveric biomechanical studies.

Jason earned his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where his work in the Biomechanical Advances in Medicine Lab focused on developing sensors for medical applications through computational and experimental approaches. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University.

Jason is passionate about driving healthcare innovation through leadership and collaboration with medical professionals, scientists, and engineers.

Dr. Elizabeth Edmiston is the Chief Nurse Scientist at the Cleveland VA Medical Center and serves as adjunct faculty at Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University.

She completed her PhD in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University in 2020 and then spent three years as a postdoctoral fellow at the Cleveland VA. Her efforts are focused in interprofessional quality improvement education, leading the VA Northeast Ohio nursing research program, and continuing her own research in the realm of sleep and implementation science. Dr. Edmiston also works with residents on quality improvement projects in the Center of Education at the Cleveland VA Medical Center and teaches nursing students at Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University.

She is currently the principal investigator of a study to test the effectiveness of a quality improvement mobile phone application in undergraduate and graduate nursing students, to gain understanding of how this type of simulation affects student’s knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about quality improvement. She has also launched a quality improvement education and mentorship program (QI-NURSE) for bedside nurses at VANEOHS, using education, coaching, and leadership training to improve project quality, confidence, and burnout for nurses. Given her experience as a Nurse Research Coordinator, she is well-versed in grant writing and Institutional Review Board study administration. Her clinical experience consists of critical care nursing, first in a medical intensive care unit, then in cardiac and advanced heart failure units.

Ariel Furer is a medical professional with extensive experience in internal medicine, cardiology, and military medicine. He holds an MD from Ben-Gurion University and an MBA from Reichmann University. Currently, he serves as a Senior Lecturer at Hebrew University and has authored nearly 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers, and is currently engaged in cardiovascular research at Tufts medical Center. Furer is at the forefront of digital initiatives in cardiology and has filed a patent for a novel device for heart failure patients. He is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Medical Corps and founder of the IDF medical innovation department. Furer has completed a national healthcare executive program and actively participates in emergency humanitarian missions. His dedication to advancing medical innovation is fueled by his belief in the interconnectedness of patient experience, biology, and technology.

Jeremy Goldberg is a Mental Health Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years of experience providing clinical care to those recovering from Mental Illness. Jeremy has served in leadership roles at the Department of Veteran Affairs in Orlando, Florida since 2015 when he was appointed as a Social Work Supervisor in the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program. He is currently serving as the Mental Health Social Work Section Manager. In his current position, Jeremy oversees several Mental Health programs that focus on providing services for Veterans and their families dealing with severe mental illness. Jeremy’s previous experience providing psychotherapy and training in Motivational Interviewing and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has informed the culture of leadership within the programs he managed. Jeremy has worked to foster an environment, with staff and supervisors alike, focusing on the importance of autonomy, affirmation, and commitment to values.

Jeremy is a Central Florida native who received both his Bachelor’s and his Master’s degrees in Social Work from the University of Central Florida. When not spending time with his wife and two children, Jeremy enjoys working with local youth not-for-profit organizations that provide music education in the marching arts.

Molly Hurley is an oncology professional with over a decade of experience in the diagnostic and biotech sectors, specializing in bringing innovative technologies to clinical practice. She currently consults for Predicta Biosciences, where she supports business development by fostering collaborations with academic medical centers and pharmaceutical partners, helping to drive product development and adoption. Previously, Molly was the Associate Director of Medical and Clinical Affairs at Droplet Biosciences, where she led strategic partnerships across multiple cancer indications, managing key projects that propelled clinical collaborations and product validation. During her seven-year tenure at Foundation Medicine, she co-created and managed the successful Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) program, which enhanced the integration of molecular diagnostics into clinical care through strategic partnerships and cross-functional teamwork.She holds an MBA in Health Sector Management from Boston University and a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Outside of her professional pursuits, Molly enjoys traveling and trying new restaurants with her son and husband. She resides in Somerville, MA.

María is an Assistant Professor at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), specializing in the intersection of natural language processing (NLP), data science, and neurological disease research. Her work bridges the gap between technology and health, with a focus on disease detection, language psychology, and large language models. She also explores diverse research interests outside her primary field, such as the analysis of Iberian language patterns.

María has brought her expertise to a wide range of fields — including law, education, and public procurement — where she has made significant contributions to numerous research projects. Her international academic footprint includes research stays at institutions like IRIT in Toulouse, WU Wien in Vienna, the National Institute of Informatics in Tokyo, and Kadir Has University in Istanbul. She has also worked at Safran’s Snecma Villaroche division in France and volunteered as an informatics teacher in Argentina. Recognized with awards such as the José Cuena Award and the Excellence Grant from the Region of Madrid, María is active in academic committees and teaches courses ranging from Machine Learning to Advanced Databases and Computer Fundamentals. She holds a PhD and MSc in Artificial Intelligence from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, along with Bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science from the Autonomous University of Madrid. Additionally, she earned a Master’s in Scientific Computing and Applied Mathematics from the Institut Sup Galilée at Paris XIII, part of Cité Sorbonne.

Dr. Cristhiaan Ochoa is a pulmonary and critical care medicine physician with dual appointments at the University of California, Davis, and the Sacramento VA Medical Center. He is currently spearheading efforts to revolutionize lung cancer screening for over 4,000 veterans in Northern California, aiming to deliver cutting-edge solutions to this high-risk population. In parallel, his work in addressing unmet medical needs has led to two patents and the creation of two start-ups: Cellia Science and Enhanced Diagnostics.

Dr. Ochoa holds an M.D. from Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana and a Ph.D. in Lung Biology from the University of South Alabama. He completed postgraduate training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School as well as Parkland Memorial Hospital and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. His research has been supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Cancer Institute, the American Heart Association, and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

In addition to his academic and clinical work, Dr. Ochoa serves as a medical officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, leading one of their Critical Care Air Transport Teams at Travis Air Force Base, CA. Driven by a deep commitment to improving veteran care, he is focused on solving the VA’s most pressing challenges through innovative, impactful solutions that enhance the health and well-being of those who have served.

Erica B. Peters, Ph.D., is a biomedical engineer and scientist who is passionate about fostering the development of enabling technologies to address unmet medical needs. She is currently a Senior Scientist at Kymanox where she provides consulting to life science companies seeking regulatory approval for novel combination drug products.

Prior to joining Kymanox, Dr. Peters was an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery, where she developed injectable, niche-responsive nanocarriers to treat cardiovascular disease. Her postdoctoral research was selected for presentation at the 2018 Gordon Conference on Drug Carriers in Medicine Biology and she was featured among the 2018 Rising Women Stars in Biomedical Engineering by MIT and Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Peters earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma where she graduated summa cum laude, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University where she was named a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow.

Dr. Peters has published 17 peer-reviewed journal articles and is listed as an inventor on a patent. She served as an inaugural early career editorial board member of the ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering Journal. Her research has been supported by grants from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, North Carolina Translational & Clinical Sciences Institute, American Heart Association, National Institute of Health, and National Science Foundation.

Sam Phillips is a health scientist at the James A. Haley VA Hospital. The rehabilitation and engineering laboratory has projects on prosthetic devices, exoskeletons, and using technology for improving mobility and daily function. Prior to joining the VA, Sam was the Dean of the College of Orthotics and Prosthetics at St. Petersburg College, building the program from inception into one of the largest training programs in the profession.

Sam earned his BS is physics with a minor in chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned is clinical prosthetics training and PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Rutgers University. He trained at the Kessler Institute for rehabilitation, Moss Rehabilitation Institute, worked at Union Memorial Hospital. Sam’s current work focuses on improving the process of matching new prosthetic technology to the individual patient, developing solutions for underserved members of the Veteran population, and improving the ability to capture and evaluate clinical outcomes. Sam is thrilled to join the other Catalyst Fellows using technology to improve peoples everyday lives.

Lindsay Pristou is a passionate Biomedical Engineer at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, where she leads the integration of cutting-edge medical technologies into clinical environments. She holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Tulane University, where her work in the Translational Biophotonics Laboratory focused on innovative cancer research.

Lindsay joined the VA through its competitive two-year Clinical Engineering training program, gaining expertise in the practical application of engineering principles in healthcare. Now transitioned to a permanent role as a Staff Biomedical Engineer, she currently manages large-scale construction projects for major equipment replacements, including CT, MRI, and Linear Accelerators, ensuring that new systems meet both technical and clinical needs. She collaborates closely with end users, conducting market research and optimizing clinical workflows to deliver solutions that best serve physicians and patients. She also serves as the Biomedical Engineering liaison for Cardiology, Electrophysiology, Catheterization, Sterile Processing Services, and Chief of Staff offices.

Motivated by a deep commitment to improving patient care, Lindsay is dedicated to advancing healthcare through innovative design and accessible technology.

Outside of her professional life, Lindsay enjoys painting, horseback riding, and listening to podcasts about biochemistry and health.

Dr. Sharma is a board-certified interventional and structural cardiologist focused on advancing cardiovascular care through treatment, innovation and research. He earned his medical degree from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University in India, followed by an internal medicine residency and cardiovascular disease fellowship at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He pursued advanced fellowships in interventional cardiology, structural heart disease, and peripheral vascular disease at Scripps Clinic in California, where he also served on the faculty.

After successfully building a high-volume coronary and structural heart program in Scottsdale, Arizona, Dr. Sharma was recruited to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He currently serves as the Co-Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Structural Heart and Valve Program, as well as Director of Interventional and Structural Heart Research Program. Dr. Sharma further advanced his expertise in research by earning a certificate in Clinical Research from the University of Minnesota and an MSc degree from the University of Oxford. He is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Site Program Director for the Interventional Cardiology Fellowship and Structural Heart Disease Fellowship programs at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and American College of Physicians.

Dr. Sharma has served as an investigator in numerous clinical trials. He is an internationally recognized expert, serving as a course-director for interventional and structural cardiology conferences, frequently lecturing as an invited speaker, and performing live demonstrations of coronary and structural heart procedures. He has contributed extensively to medical literature, including journal articles and book chapters.

Khashayar Vakili, MD is currently a scientist at Boston Children’s Hospital and Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Vakili is a board certified general and transplant surgeon and previously served as the Surgical Director of the Abdominal Transplant Programs at Boston Children’s Hospital. His basic science research focuses on liver cancer biology and the development of novel therapies. The radiopharmaceutical agents developed in his lab have been the basis for the founding of a biotech startup, ZEeST Bio.

Dr. Vakili obtained his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine before completing a residency in general surgery and fellowship in liver transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery at Lahey Clinic Medical Center.

Dr. Vakili is passionate about developing novel solutions for improving human health.

Lucy Cai is a senior majoring in computer science at MIT from Lexington, MA. Her academic interests include robotics, LLMs, and medical devices. She is currently working on a research project on using LLMs to summarize clinical notes. In the past, she has worked in software engineering roles at SpaceX and Amazon, and done research in pure math. In her free time, she likes reading, creative writing, and woodworking.

Cindy is currently a freshman studying Computation & Cognition at MIT. She is interested in clinical applications of engineering, especially in medical devices. She hopes to learn more about real-world healthcare problems through Catalyst and work towards creating innovative solutions. Cindy also really values mentorship, both as a mentee and mentor! She enjoys learning new and interesting information and teaching others about engaging topics. In her free time, Cindy likes to draw, do wet lab, and learn more about how she can impact others in a meaningful way.

Lizzie is a sophomore in course 6-4 (Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence), also minoring in economics. She has a strong interest in entrepreneurship and the applications of software to address unmet needs in medicine. Currently, she is conducting tissue regeneration research at the MIT Zhao Lab, combining her passion for medicine with hands-on problem solving and innovative thinking. Apart from her coursework, she’s an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and the MIT Consulting Group.

Jake Weiss is currently a freshman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, studying computer science and neuroscience. He is currently an undergraduate researcher at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, where he investigates the biophysical properties of lipid droplets in Alzheimer’s disease mouse models. He is passionate about exploring the intersection between machine learning and healthcare, and he hopes to use computational tools to innovate better diagnostic and treatment options for neurological disorders.

I’m Linda Xue, a first-year student at MIT, originally from North Carolina. I’m passionate about exploring the intersection of neuroscience, behavior, and technology to promote mental wellness, and I am fascinated by how effective design influences product reception and success. My background is primarily in behavioral work, where I’ve focused on quantitatively analyzing behavior and promoting pediatric mental wellness in North Carolina. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing music and skateboarding, and on campus, I’m involved with MIT Consulting Group, Design +, MIT Live, and WNBR.

Emily Zhang is a second-year student at MIT studying computer science and finance. She is interested in the intersection of healthcare and other industries, and at Catalyst, she wants to address inequity in healthcare through innovation. She has experience in data science research and business analytics, which she is excited to apply to healthcare. On campus, she is involved in the MIT Consulting Group, Camp Kesem, and Alpha Chi Omega, and she has other interests in gender equity in education and entrepreneurship.

Chandra M. Arend, RN, BSN, is a committed Registered Nurse who holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is currently engaged in the PBRNR program at the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. This comprehensive program provides her with diverse rotations across various medical departments, including long-term care, medical-surgical units, emergency medicine, surgical care, and mental health services. She is particularly focused on delivering specialized care to oncology and medical-surgical veterans, underscoring her dedication to this population.

Chandra earned her Bachelor’s degree from West Coast University in March 2024, followed by her registered nursing licensure in May 2024. Prior to this, she achieved a degree in Vocational Nursing at the Professional Medical Career Institute in Westlake Village in 2019. Since entering the healthcare field in 2019, she has accumulated extensive experience working in senior living centers and skilled nursing facilities. Her clinical exposure equips her with a strong foundation in patient care, enhancing her ability to meet the complex needs of diverse patient populations effectively.

Jannet Escobedo, a UCLA Master of Science in Nursing graduate has a robust background in both clinical and community health. She previously earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from California State University, Northridge. She worked at a non-profit called MEND as a Community Equity Fund System Navigator, where she connected clients to essential resources like healthcare, childcare, and social services. In addition, she served as a Community Ambassador for the We Vax+ Public Health Initiative, where she conducted COVID-19 outreach in underserved neighborhoods, assisting with vaccination appointments and presenting information on vaccine safety. Currently training as a Health Professions Trainee in the nurse residency program at the VA Medical Center, Jannet is gaining comprehensive experience across acute, ambulatory, and mental health settings. When she is not working, she enjoys spending her time at the weight lifting, dancing, and going on hikes.

Valaya Johnson is a recent graduate of the UCLA Master’s Entry Clinical Nursing (MECN) program. Her health background includes roles as a senior health promotion consultant for Elevance Health and a Health Educator at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s Division of HIV and STD Programs. She served as Director of Health & Wellness for a nonprofit promoting mindfulness and wellness for youth in South Central Los Angeles and worked in the California Department of Public Health’s Nutrition Education & Obesity Prevention Branch, where she conducted healthy cooking workshops.

Valaya’s experience spans all ages, from caring for infants to facilitating rehabilitation for adults and leading classes for elderly patients with Parkinson’s disease. In addition to her Master of Science in Nursing from UCLA, Valaya holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from California State University, Long Beach and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Valaya is involved with Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the American Public Health Association.

Her volunteer work includes Healthcare in Action and Floating Doctors, where she completed two international mission trips to Panama. Valaya is passionate about critical care, women’s health, fitness, and reducing health disparities in underserved communities.

Keri graduated with honors from Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles with her BSN. She volunteered at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and completed a year-long nurse internship in the VA-STEP Program at the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs. Currently, Keri is in the Veterans Affairs PBRNR New Grad Program and is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society. Outside of work, she enjoys working out, reading, and spending time with friends.

Dr. Henrike Besche serves a Senior Lecturer and Director of Education for the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences & Technology (HST) Program. HST is a joint Program between Harvard Medical School and the Institute for Medical Engineering & Science at MIT. Founded in 1970, HST is one of the world’s oldest interdisciplinary educational programs focused on translational medical science and engineering and serves over 300 PhD, MD, and MD PhD students.

Dr. Besche received her doctoral degree in Biochemistry from the Max-Plank Institute for Biochemistry in association with the Technical University Munich, Germany. She pursued her post-doctoral studies with Dr. Alfred Goldberg in the Department of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School, Boston. She then joined the Department of Cell Biology as Lecturer and Curriculum Fellow to support curriculum development and teaching of both medical and graduate students. In 2015 Dr. Besche joined the Program of Medical Education at Harvard Medical School as Associate Director for Curriculum Integration. In this role Dr. Besche has worked on major curriculum projects in the Pathways MD program. In 2023, Dr. Besche was promoted to Director of Medical Education and Quality Improvement before joining HST at MIT in 2024.

Dr. Besche has been recognized with the Excellence in Classroom Instruction Award by the Class of 2022, and the Donald O’Hara Faculty Prize for Excellence in Preclerkship Teaching in 2024.

A physical applied mathematician by training, Prof. Lydia Bourouiba’s research has long encompassed her dual interests in fundamental questions in the quantitative sciences and real-life applications in health and epidemiology. Having conducted her doctoral research on theoretical and numerical studies of rotating homogeneous turbulence, she moved into mathematical modeling of infectious diseases and epidemiology for her early postdoctoral training. When joining the Massachusetts Institute of Technology faculty in 2014, Prof. Bourouiba synthesized her various research interests by founding and directing The Fluid Dynamics of Disease Transmission Laboratory whose goal it is to solve fundamental and open questions at the interface of fluid dynamics and disease transmission and to uncover the fundamental physical mechanisms that shape the epidemiology and disease transmission dynamics in human, animal and plant populations in addition to other fundamental open question in fluid dynamics as applied to environmental health and other areas at the interface of fluids and health.

Prof. Bourouiba’s curiosity-driven research interests and activities span a broad range of applied mathematics approaches in physics and biology, including developing first-of-its-kind fluid dynamic experiments at various scales to study fundamental physical mechanisms shaping microorganism and pathogen transport and persistence. She has worked on various fluid dynamics problems, from fundamentals in turbulence to interfacial flows, to recent work elucidated multi-scale dynamics of unsteady fluid fragmentation, droplet and bubble dynamics, and complex and multiphase flows with particular interest in the physics and biology that drive mixing, transport, persistence, and adaptation of pathogens relevant to contamination and health. Her work creatively leverages the synergistic interplay between theory development and mathematical modeling on the one hand and careful experimentation on the other. While her primary research interests are pursued in her Biosafety Level 2 and 2+ laboratories at MIT, Prof. Bourouiba collaborates extensively across MIT and with colleagues at major U.S. and European research centers, such as Boston University’s National Emergent Infectious Diseases Laboratory and Weill Cornell Medical Center, on questions of disease transmission of highly-pathogenic agents, within the Fluids and Health Network.

Prof. Bourouiba is the recipient of many awards and recognitions, including the Tse Cheuk Ng Tai’s Prize for Innovative Research in Health Sciences, the Ole Madsen Mentoring Award, and the Smith Family Foundation Odyssey Award for high-risk/high-reward basic science research. In 2021, she was named Senior Fellow of the Collegium Helveticum Institute for Advanced Studies, Zürich and was elected Fellow of the American Physical Society for her “fundamental work in quantitatively elucidating the mechanisms of droplet impact and fragmentation, and for pioneering a new field at the intersection of fluid dynamics and transmission of respiratory and foodborne pathogens, with clear and tangible contributions to public health.” In 2022, she was elected Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering “for groundbreaking contributions to our fundamental understanding of unsteady fluid fragmentation and its application to the spread of contagious diseases.”

At MIT, Prof. Bourouiba founded The Fluid Dynamics of Disease Transmission Laboratory in 2014, when she was appointed as Assistant Professor, before being promoted to Associate Professor Without Tenure in 2019, to Associate Professor With Tenure in 2020, and to Core Faculty of the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science in 2022.

Stephan Gaehde, MD, MPH is the Principal Program Manager, Artificial Intelligence, Blue Shield of California. Previously, he was the Boston VA Medical Informatics Fellowship Program Director and Chief of Emergency Services. His research interests are in emergency department prediction models, development of data visualization tools to improve patient flow and patient centered interventions that support guideline adherence for patients with chronic diseases. He has  mentored faculty on prior innovation projects and has expertise on the integration of interventions into organizational workflow. 

Mike Dempsey has been working in the field of medical devices for more than 30 years; during this time, he has invented or led products that have treated over twelve million people. Mike holds over a dozen patents on various medical devices. Mike has founded and led three successful medical device companies. Mike is the Entrepreneur in Residence at the Center for the Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology (CIMIT), the Director of the CIMIT Accelerator Program, the Co-Executive Director of the Center for Biomedical and Interventional Technology (CBIT) at Yale University, and a lecturer at MIT. Mike’s primary responsibilities in these academic settings are to lead academic innovators through the commercialization journey and to teach students the fundamentals of building medical companies. At CIMIT and Yale, Mike leads a team of highly experienced med-tech executives who join the academic team with up to a full-time commitment and for as long as two years, effectively acting as an interim CEO. This intensive, practical, and focused approach to facilitating the academic-to-commercial transition has led to a commercialization success rate of 42% and an average time to commercialize of 18 months. Mike was also the PI on several NIH SBIR grants, a frequent grant reviewer, and has received a special citation from the Commissioner of the FDA for “exceptional initiative and leadership to protect the public health.” In addition to his health-tech experience, Mike is also the Founder and CEO of a non-profit called Clyde & Rose that provides “pay what you can” home maintenance services for people of limited physical or economic means.

Marra Francis, Chief Medical Officer at PinkDx, is a women’s health expert who has nearly twenty years of experience working primarily with diagnostic and biotech start-up companies on strategies for bringing their technology to clinical practice. She was the Chief Medical Officer at Vermillion (now Aspira Women’s Health), the Executive Medical Director at EverlyWell (now EverlyHealth), and the Head of Medical Affairs for Women’s Health at Sema4 (now GeneDx). As a consultant, she has worked with novel cancer diagnostic and precision oncology companies designing clinical studies to facilitate provider adoption and payer coverage. She practiced medicine for over eighteen years with a clinical focus on identifying and managing women at high risk for developing cancer.

Marra is a strong advocate for the health and education of women of all ages and serves as a volunteer on the Board of Trustees of her former school and as a medical expert on her local school district’s Health Advisory Committee. She has an AB in Biology and Spanish, a Post-Bac in Human Biology, an MD, and is a board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist. When she is not working, she is learning Italian, cooking, traveling to visit her children, or wakesurfing at the lake. She currently resides in San Antonio, TX with her husband, dogs, and youngest daughter.

Stephan Gaehde, MD, MPH is the Boston VA Medical Informatics Fellowship Program Director and Chief of Emergency Services.  His research interests are in emergency department prediction models,  development of data visualization tools to improve patient flow and patient centered interventions that support guideline adherence for patients with chronic diseases.  He has  mentored faculty on prior innovation projects and has expertise on the integration of interventions into organizational workflow. 

Martha Gray, PhD, has a multifaceted career in which she has built programs to drive biomedical technology innovation, conducted research to better understand and prevent osteoarthritis, led a preeminent academic unit, and served the profession through work with organizations and institutions. Trained in computer science and electrical and biomedical engineering, and serving as an MIT faculty for nearly three decades, she has held numerous leadership positions. For 13+ years, she directed the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (HST), an academic unit with multiple research and training programs for careers in medicine, business, and research. Dr. Gray currently directs MIT linQ which operates several multi-institutional ventures focus on accelerating and deepening early-career researchers’ potential for impact. Over the course of these efforts, she and her team developed a principled methodology for needs identification and opportunity development.

Daniel Hurtado is currently a visiting professor at MIT, and an associate professor at PUC Chile, where he co-founded the Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering. He leads the Computational Medicine Group, an interdisciplinary team of computational engineers, applied mathematicians, and medical doctors that focus on creating patient-informed digital replicas of human lungs and the respiratory system. These computational models find translational applications in understanding mechanical ventilation therapy and creating novel tools for the early diagnosis of pulmonary diseases. His work also involves the creation of innovative wearable systems for the democratization of respiratory monitoring and pulmonary assessment, a technology currently developed and commercialized by the startup company IC Innovations, for which he is a co-founder and chief scientific officer.

Dr. Hurtado received his MS and PhD degrees from the California Institute of Technology as a Fulbright fellow. His thesis work made him the recipient of the Robert J. Melosh Medal, presented by Duke University. In 2018, the World Economic Forum selected him as one of the 50 most influential young scientists worldwide under 40 years old for his contributions to research and innovation in biomedical engineering. He is also an elected member (first Chilean) of the World Council of Biomechanics and a young scientist of the World Laureate Forum.

Dr. Angela Joubert James is the Vice President heading Clinical Pharmacology at MacroGenics Inc. in Rockville, MD. Leadership in Oncology at Astellas Pharma. Dr. James earned a B.A. in Biology from Rice University, an M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from University of Houston and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Pharmacometrics and Pharmaceutical Sciences, respectively, from University of Maryland, Baltimore. Her expertise in Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics led to roles of increasing responsibility in Clinical Pharmacology at Alcon Laboratories (formerly a subsidiary of Novartis), Celgene and Astellas Pharma. Her accomplishments include the design and implementation of the Clinical Pharmacology strategy to support successful development and approval of XOSPATA® (gilteritinib) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory AML with a FLT3 mutation. Dr. James transitioned to the role of Director of Global Development Project and led cross-functional project teams to successfully execute on global strategies for the development of novel immuno-oncology agents. In her current role, Dr. James drives strategies based on Model-Informed Drug Development to inform decision making for innovative therapeutics including antibody drug conjugates (ADC) and bispecific antibodies.

Dr. James lives by the African proverb “Each one, teach one” and is passionate about mentorship of students and early career scientists. She has moderated and participated in several panel discussions focused on career journeys and challenges in STEM careers stemming from gender and racial bias. Dr. James is the current President of Chicago chapter of Women In Bio (WIB-Chicago), Past Chair and current member of the Joint Steering Committee for the Oncology Community of the American Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ASCPT). She sits on the Board of Directors for Youth Technology Corps, a Chicago-based non-profit organization that teaches real-world STEM skills to middle and high school students while nurturing their civic responsibilities through donations of refurbished computers to their community members.