End-to-End Transformation: What’s it take to transform a consumer health arm into a full-fledged, pure-play medical device company?

In 2017 Avanos Medical was formed after completing its spinoff from consumer giant Kimberly Clark and divesting its Surgical & Infection Prevention business . After five plus years of acquisitions, responses to unmet industry needs and the needs to heighten focus on commercial execution and increase production in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Avanos is now an industry leading pure play medical device company.

 

What does a successful, seismic shift in healthcare business strategy and execution take? What can it mean for life science innovators and their investors? What made it possible?

 

For investors – How is Avanos delivering on its growth potential? 

 

For both early and later stage companies? How is Avanos leveraging Open Innovation and M+A to help drive our growth objectives?

 

Find out during Avanos CEO Joe Woody’s lunch conversation moderated by HealthQuest Capital’s Tom Callaway at Southeast Life Science’s AdvanSE 2022 on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.

 

Register today for our flagship event that connects innovative life sciences companies and trailblazing researchers in front of accomplished investors and corporations that want to do business with them.

 

“By attending AdvanSE, I get to meet some of the leading entrepreneurs and interesting companies in the Southeast.  AdvanSE offers exclusive opportunities to network with other investors and strategics and is the one-stop shop for innovation in the region.” – Kyp Sirinakis, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Epidarex Capital

 

Note: Host hotel group rates ($279/nt) end May 5. Secure your room now!

 

In just 48 hours at AdvanSE, investors, innovators, universities and solution providers can see the very best of what the southeast life sciences innovation ecosystem has to offer. The highly efficient “shopping” of the investors, corporate partners, and companies that attend our events helps the critical mass of innovators in the region further their ingenuity through partnerships and investment.

 

Joseph F. Woody, CEO, Avanos
As chief executive officer and member of the board of directors, Joe Woody brings 20 years of healthcare leadership experience and proven success driving revenue growth and expertise in spearheading portfolio transformations.

 

Prior to joining the company in 2017, Joe served as chief executive officer and president of Acelity, where he was responsible for overseeing the development and commercialization of their innovative wound care and regenerative medicine business.  He also served as global president, vascular therapies, for Covidien, creating their vascular division and leading the company’s acquisition and integration of ev3.

 

Before his time at Covidien, Joe served as Smith & Nephew’s global president, advanced wound management, and Alliance Imaging’s vice president, Pacific operations.  He previously served as board director for Acelity, the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) and Systagenix Wound Management.  He also served as Chair of AdvaMed’s Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration Sector.

 

He holds a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fullerton.

Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic and South-East Commit Pitch Opportunities to Southeast Life Sciences AdvanSE PitchRounds Winners

Atlanta, Georgia (April 7, 2022) – A newly minted sponsor of the Southeast Life Sciences AdvanSE 2022 conference, Keiretsu Forum’s Mid-Atlantic and South-East regions have committed to providing pitch opportunities to both regions for the winners of the PitchRounds competition.

 

Each of the four (4) finalist pitch companies will be eligible for a Keiretsu workshop covering due diligence, term sheets, and valuation. The top two (2) companies will have the opportunity to pitch to Keiretsu’s Mid-Atlantic and South-East Regions.

 

AdvanSE is the Southeast’s premier, must-attend event for the biopharma, medtech, diagnostic, digital health, and ag tech industries wishing to do business in the Southeast region. It attracts the best of the southeast’s innovation, research, and people. The 2022 edition is May 25 – 27 in Alpharetta, Georgia.

 

Keiretsu Forum’s Mid-Atlantic and South-East is part of Keiretsu Forum, a global investment community of over 3,000 accredited private equity angel investors, venture capitalists, and corporate/ institutional investor members with 55 chapters on 4 continents.  Since Keiretsu Forum’s founding in 2000, members have invested more than $1 billion in 950+ different companies. In 2021, Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic and South-East regional members invested over $13.1 M in 45 companies breaking the group’s investing level record for the second year in a row.

 

Howard Lubert

“The Life Science silo is of significant importance to Keiretsu,” says Howard Lubert, Area President for Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic and South-East. “As reported in Pitchbook 2021 Global Tables last month, Keiretsu Forum is #1 in the healthcare devices and supplies sector and #4 in the pharma and biotech sector.  We see our sponsorship of Southeast Life Sciences AdvanSE 2022 conference as important to maintaining the exponential growth of the life science ecosystem for Founders and our funders.”

 

 

In the past 20 years, 501 PitchRounds presenting companies have raised $7.2 billion dollars. 70 companies subsequently executed M&A and IPO events and counting.


Ashley Hancock

“We are grateful to Keiretsu Forum for the high value support these opportunities for PitchRounds at AdvanSE 2022 present to the finalists and winners,” said Ashley Hancock, the 2022 AdvanSE Chair, Southeast Life Sciences board member, and Founder of Innovetica. “Attracting high potential early and later stage innovative life science companies is paramount to our mission and of top interest to our attending investors. Keiretsu’s commitment to PitchRounds at AdvanSE 2022 will contribute significantly to our accomplishment of that mission.”

# # #

 

About Southeast Life Sciences

Southeast Life Sciences cultivates, convenes, and connects the Southeast entrepreneurial ecosystem to foster life science innovation in promising companies throughout the region from investors across the country.  Investors count on the organization to present to them the highest potential life science investments the southeast United States has to offer. 

 

About Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic and South-East

Keiretsu Forum’s Mid-Atlantic and Southeast is part of Keiretsu Forum, a global investment community of accredited private equity angel investors, venture capitalists, and corporate/ institutional investors. Keiretsu Forum was founded in 2000 by Randy Williams in San Francisco. Today’s Keiretsu Forum is a worldwide network of capital, resources, and deal flow with 55 chapters on 4 continents. Keiretsu Forum members invest in high-quality, diverse investment opportunities. The community is strengthened through its involvement in social and charitable activities.  To be a guest at an upcoming meeting, register here.    

 

Leading with passion and empowering the doers: a spotlight on Women of Avanos Empowered

For the last decade or more, those who study and survey large employers and their employees report more highly engaged employees drive stronger business performance than non- or lesser engaged employees. These employees are also generally ‘happier’ about their work and lives. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are a proven method to increase engagement.

 

WAVE – Women of Avanos Empowered – launched as Avanos’ first ERG in August 2021. The group emerged from the company’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Council, which was established to ensure Avanos employees felt valued, respected and heard.

 

“We knew there was a need for WAVE when over 500 employees joined our kick-off call on August 17th , 2021,” Jennifer Barrett told us.

 

Ms. Barrett, Interventional Pain Account Consultant, serves as WAVE’s President – one of the eight leadership positions created for individuals seeking to show and grow their leadership skills. Six WAVE chairs manage their committees’ quarterly schedule and budget, and each lead 7-10 direct reports.


In addition to Ms. Barrett, the WAVE leadership team includes:

  • Corinne Baker, Digestive Health Account Consultant (WAVE Vice President),
  • Rebecca Brown, Senior Packaging Engineer (WAVE Communications Chair)
  • Amber Buchanan, Digestive Health Senior Product Manager (WAVE Networking and Events Chair)
  • Hayley Dolan, Digestive Health Account Consultant (WAVE Working Parents’ Chair) 
  • Shalini Patel, Senior Supplier Quality Engineer (WAVE Topics of the Tide Chair)
  • Nancy Vanderoost, HR Director – Europe (WAVE Mentorship Chair)
  • Jennifer Davidenko, Interventional Pain Inside Sales Account Manager & Karla Middleman, Interventional Pain Clinical Educator (WAVE Community Service Co-Chairs)

 

Michelle Scharfenberg, Avanos Senior Vice President and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, serves as the WAVE Executive Sponsor.

 

“WAVE’s creation was unique as we ‘let the data lead’ its formation,” Barrett said. “We surveyed all global Avanos employees and asked them what they wanted to see out of a women’s employee resource group. We received over 200 responses, the data from which helped us form our mission, vision, and committees to make sure that this group really is ‘for the people’ and ‘by the people.’ It even helped us select a name and create our brand.”

 

According to Ms. Barrett, WAVE’s mission is to globally connect, support, and develop women at all levels in their careers and lives at Avanos, by creating and sponsoring networking, mentoring, and career development opportunities.​

 

WAVE’s vision is to promote a culture that supports global Avanos strategic initiatives by:

  • Engaging employees through strengthening diversity and inclusion,
  • Fostering meaningful relationships to build supportive networks,
  • Driving talent management and retention, 
  • Supporting professional development, and
  • Creating opportunities for volunteering to support the community. 

 

“My personal favorite part is the ‘how’ we make this happen and that is through our six committees,” Ms. Barrett added.

 

Those committees include:

 

  • Topics of the Tide (TOTT): Panel discussions to delve into topics on the minds of employees. Since WAVE’s launch, TOTT has hosted seminars about Leading as a Female at Avanos, Personal Branding, and Breaking the Bias as a part of International Women’s Day. The impact has allowed leadership and professional development to be more personable and accessible, both in the office and remotely.

  • Mentorship: This committee has established two 12-month programs to help encourage collaboration, support, and personal growth. The Mentorship program pairs mentors and mentees together on a journey to support and elevate professional development. The Peer-to-Peer program connects employees with each other to act as accountability and support partners, while under the leadership of a professional coach.

  • Working Parents: This committee helped create “New Parent Kits” that are sent to Avanos parents in the US following the birth or adoption of a baby. They also hosted a session discussing the benefits of the company’s ON-Q* Pain Relief System following C-sections. ON-Q* is an opioid-sparing alternative that helps control pain while decreasing adverse effects such as over-sedation to both mother and baby.

  • Networking and Events: This committee came up with creative ways to connect employees across the globe, despite the challenges of the pandemic. One of their initiatives is a quarterly book club. They also hosted two large events in March, a welcome breakfast with a guest motivational speaker at the annual national sales meeting and an in-person networking session to celebrate International Women’s Day at the headquarters office.

  • Community Service: This is a newer team that is looking for ways to give back to communities around the globe. This committee so far has sponsored two donation drives, which allowed members to donate inspirational books for girls and gently used business-professional clothing to help women in need start their careers. They are also working to set up a sponsored fundraiser campaign through nonprofit “Project Hope” to aid the organization’s efforts in providing medical supplies and support for Ukrainian refugees.

  • Communications: This small but mighty team oversees WAVE’s brand and related  materials, communicates internally and via social media on WAVE events and activities, and keeps the group’s internal homepage up to date.

 

Since its launch, over 200 Avanos employees across the globe have joined as official WAVE members. The group has already hosted several seminars, in addition to introducing mentor and peer-to-peer coaching programs.

 

“We cannot wait to see what the future holds and what our WAVEs will do,” Barrett said. “While additional data on impact will take time to generate, people remember how you make them feel. We thrive on doing small things well and letting our passion lead.”

 

Surround yourself with the doers and let your passion lead

When asked what others can learn about the building of WAVE for their own, ‘like,’ initiatives, Ms. Barrett told Write2Market’s Paul Snyder, “Surround yourself with the doers, the people that will make it happen, and let their passion lead because seemingly small things need detailed time and attention. Get that passion into your life, into your work and focus on it. It will almost certainly make you and your colleagues happier and more excited about their team, their work and themselves.

 

“When it comes to resources, know that your boss is human, too. Ask for what you want and why you want it. Come with a plan and be open to feedback. If you come prepared and passionate, it’s hard for them to say no.

 

“WAVE has taken Avanos by storm, thanks in no small part to our leadership team including our CEO Joe Woody. Actions speak loudly. People are listening, learning and you never know just when, or in what amounts, you can inspire others.”

 

We thank Ms. Barrett for sharing this story with us, we thank Avanos for their support of WAVE’s powerful activities and mission, and for their support of Southeast Life Sciences.

 

About Southeast Life Sciences

SLS cultivates, convenes, and connects the Southeast entrepreneurial ecosystem to foster life science innovation & investment across the region. We’re the network that brings all southeastern life science innovation in one place, including our flagship event, AdvanSE. The 2022 edition of AdvanSE is May 25-27 at the Hotel Avalon in Alpharetta, Ga.

 

About Avanos

Avanos is a medical device company focused on delivering clinically superior breakthrough solutions that will help patients get back to the things that matter. We believe a difference in our products, combined with a difference in how we work, communicate and partner, can change the entire world.

Seeking high potential life science entrepreneurs – from startup through series B/C in the Southeast United States – for PitchRounds 2022 at AdvanSE

southeast life sciences pitchrounds

Southeast Life Sciences cultivates, convenes, and connects the Southeast entrepreneurial ecosystem to foster life science innovation in promising companies throughout the region from investors across the country. 

 

Our investor colleagues count on us to present to them the highest potential life science investments the southeast United States has to offer. 

 

For promising young companies from startups seeking six figures to more mature life science innovators seeking seven or eight figures, we introduce you to your next potential investors.

 

One of the key ways we do this is via PitchRounds at our annual flagship event AdvanSE. The 2022 edition is May 25-27 in Alpharetta, Georgia. AdvanSE is Southeast’s premier, must-attend event for the biopharma, medtech, diagnostic, digital health, and agriculture biotechnology industries wishing to do business in the Southeast region. AdvanSE attracts the best of the southeast’s innovation, research, and people.

 

PitchRounds 2022 at AdvanSE – APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO APRIL 8.

 

We are ready for the most promising innovative life science companies – from startups seeking milestone-based funding at six figure levels from venture capital firms, corporate venture arms, family offices, and angel groups to more mature companies with institutional investors on board seeking future rounds at $1MM to $15MM plus – to apply for PitchRounds 2022 at AdvanSE.

 

Applicants should be planning to execute a funding round, supported by a strong commercialization plan and business strategy, within the next 12 months.

 

Why apply for PitchRounds 2022 at AdvanSE?

In the past 20 years, 501 PitchRounds presenting companies have raised $7.2 billion dollars. 70 companies subsequently executed M&A and IPO events and counting.

 

Kayla Rodriguez, MBA – Co-founder & COO, SweetBio

“Three weeks before the 2015 conference, SweetBio wasn’t even incorporated. Six months later, Innova and MB Venture Partners co-led a significant seed round to support FDA 510(k) clearance of our honey-incorporated advanced wound care product. From that first conference, gaining insights and feedback from Randy Scott, David Huizenga, Chris Hooper, and others helped shape our company. From investor insights to introductions to industry advisors and fellow peers, this event has us coming back year after year.” – Kayla Rodriguez Graff, Co-Founder and CEO, SweetBIo

 

“This conference provided us an incredible opportunity to connect with a large number of diverse life science professionals, which is not always easy to do for life science companies headquartered in the heartland. The exposure to investors and collaborators was instrumental to our early stage company.” – Vance Clement, CEO, Lineus Medical, Pitchrounds participant 2019 and 2021

 

“By attending AdvanSE, I get to meet some of the leading entrepreneurs and interesting companies in the Southeast.  AdvanSE offers exclusive opportunities to network with other investors and strategics and is the one-stop shop for innovation in the region.”  – Kyp Sirinakis, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Epidarex Capital

 

“HealthQuest partners are active participants in reviewing early stage businesses and investing across the healthcare spectrum – including medical devices, healthcare information technologies, diagnostics, novel delivery systems that improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. We find PitchRounds an early preview of companies that are rapidly growing and might become opportunities for investing as they seek growth capital.” – Tom Callaway, Venture Partner, HealthQuest Capital.


Who Will PitchRounds 2022 AdvanSE Presenting Companies Get to Meet?

  • Industry strategic partners (and acquirers) attending typically include AbbVie Ventures, AdvaMed, Amgen Ventures, Arbor Pharmaceuticals,, Avanos Medical, Braun Pharmaceuticals, Halyard / Owens and Minor, J&J, Lilly Venture , Medtronic, Merck, Moderna, Pfizer and Smith & Nephew.
  • Tom Callaway, Partner, HealthQuest Capital

    Recognized life science investors attending typically include Epidarex Capital, Foxboro Capital, Fulcrum Equity Partners, Hatch Medical, Hatteras Venture Partners, HealthQuest Capital, Kairos Ventures, Keiretsu Forum, Lumira Ventures, Mountain Group Partners, New Enterprise Associates, Osage University Partners, Pappas Capital, Solas Bioventures, Triangle Angel Partners, with top banks including Silicon Valley Bank, JP Morgan, Life Oak Bank, Pacific Western Bank, and large regional investors like CED (Center for Entrepreneurial Development), Georgia Research Alliance Venture Fund, NC Biotechnology Center, University Of Florida Innovate Venture, and UVA Licensing And Venture Group Seed Fund.

  • Top FDA consultants, intellectual property and business attorneys, the state BIOs of the Southeast, contract manufacturers, university tech transfer professionals from top southeastern universities, and more.

 

APPLY FOR PITCHROUNDS AT ADVANSE 2022 NOW – PRESENTING OPPORTUNITIES ARE LIMITED

 

For PitchRounds 2022 at AdvanSE we have 20 coveted spots available for young companies, 10 available for more mature innovators with at least one institutional investor on board.

Winners will pitch and compete against similar staged companies to an audience interested in your life science sector. No other programming, speakers, or panels will compete against the three pitch rooms running. Finalists in both early stage and late stage will compete in a “Shoot Out” before all AdvanSE 2022 patrons in attendance.

Companies selected to present during PitchRounds at AdvanSE 2022 further enjoy:

  • An assigned SLS board member or industry partner “guide” who will make critical introductions to investors, peers or solution providers based on need: think IP attorneys, design and development experts, industry leading preclinical service providers, business attorneys, FDA consultants, accountants and other aligned professionals in the ecosystem.
  • Focused attention – PitchRounds presentations will be the sole focus of morning sessions on May 25th and 26th. Presentations will not compete with any other conference programming. Finalists will compete in a “shootout” to determine the PitchRounds 2022 winners on the afternoon of May 26th. (Note: early stage companies will not compete directly with later stage companies.)
  • Investor access — In addition to the PitchRounds panel of judges, including a variety of qualified investors, we expect representatives from a variety of investor types including angels, VCs, institutional investors and a strong presence of strategics including J&J Innovations, Medtronic, Moderna, Pfizer and others.
  • A “Reality check” – Get feedback on your pitch content from neutral outside resources, especially for early stage companies – from a panel of experienced industry experts.
  • All access conference registration discount — you don’t have to pitch and run. Selected companies can extend their fundraising, networking and learning opportunities to the entirety of AdvanSE 2022 programming and events with all-access, 2 for 1, registration at the early bird rate of $549.
  • Awareness distribution of PitchRounds selection to more than 3,000 industry professionals in Southeast Life Science’s email CRM

Apply for PitchRounds 2022 at AdvanSE today.

 

We’re looking for the best the southeast life sciences’ innovation ecosystem has to offer. Apply for PitchRounds 2022 and your chance to accelerate your innovation’s pathway to commercialization today.

Header: Are race, social determinants or insurance types predictors of COVID mortality among hospitalized patients?

Jayne Morgan, MD, Executive Director, COVID Taskforce for Piedmont Healthcare and Southeast Life Sciences Board Member, along with Piedmont colleagues Jessica McCain, Xinyue Wang and Kate Connell sought empirical answers to these questions in a recently published paper in the Journal of the National Medical Association, “Assessing the impact of insurance type on COVID-19 mortality in Black and white patients in the largest healthcare system in the State of Georgia.”

 

From the paper’s key points:


Question: Does the relationship between race and COVID-19 mortality still exist when Black and White patients are equally insured?


Findings: In a retrospective analysis of hospital data for an equitably insured population, White and Black patients did not differ in odds of mortality from COVID-19. White patients were more likely to be older and on Medicare. Insurance type was a significant predictor in a logistic regression analysis, even when controlling for risk factors and laboratory results.


Meaning: Racial disparities in COVID-19 mortality in the US population may be partially explained by disparities in insurance.

 

Read the paper in its entirety here.

 

Jayne shared the following takeaway and action item for the Southeast Life Sciences community with Write2Market’s Paul Snyder.


What’s the one thing you hope readers will commit to memory? 


“That Social Determinants of Health also determine downstream effects such as what type and quality of insurance you have.  This can serve to dissuade participation in the medical system and in the advocacy of one’s own health because of out of pocket expenses, caps, limitations, and bureaucracy. With regard to Covid diagnoses, when insurance was equitable, the inequity in health outcomes was no longer significant and equalized.


What’s the top opportunity for the SLS community to influence positive change in response to the paper’s findings?


“Where you live and what you earn should not impact whether you have access to health insurance and accurate health information. One of the ways in which we can influence positive change is by ensuring that people realize that medical care can also be accessed via clinical trials, regardless of one’s  economic and/or insurance status. Clinical trials can serve as a gateway toward removing barriers and providing access to healthcare for many.”

Southeast Life Sciences would like to thank Jayne for her continuing support and leadership. 

Readers can keep up with the latest from Southeast Life Sciences by following us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Southeast Life Sciences Vision 2022: An Interview with Co-Chair and Silicon Valley Bank Director Scott McCarty and Co-Chair and Avanos Medical Senior Vice President of R&D, Lee Burnes

Amidst all of the challenges the recent past and present have brought to our personal and professional lives, life science innovation marches on. The healthcare system has survived (for now) the epic stress test presented by Covid-19, thanks in no small part to the miracle of new, swiftly developed vaccines and the heroic efforts of providers across the globe. 

 

Given the volume and quality of institutions and assets for healthcare and life science innovation that the southeastern United states possesses, what will our contribution to the future be? 

 

Southeast Life Science’s Co-Chairs Scott McCarty, Director, Silicon Valley Bank and Lee Burnes, SVP of R&D for Avanos Medical, shared their vision for the organization in 2022 and beyond with Write2Market’s Paul Snyder in the following Q&A.  

 

What is your vision for the near and long term future of Southeast Life Sciences?


Lee Burnes: 

“Having moved here to the Southeast from New England to lead R&D at Avanos several years ago, I have been extremely encouraged by the talent and innovative culture that exists in the region.  As Scott noted, in the near term we will continue to leverage our flagship AdvanSE event to foster life science innovation and investment in the region.”  

 

“Longer term I see Southeast Life Sciences as not only having the premier conference in the Southeast for investor partnering but also well known for a cadence of events supporting diversity and inclusion focused on future leaders in life sciences including SE Color, Women@SLS and young innovators just getting started in their careers as well”.  

Scott McCarty


Scott McCarty: 

“In the seven years I’ve served on the board, the organization has morphed to include the best in breed bioscience and medtech leadership on our board of directors. In the near-term, we will continue to reinforce our flagship event, AdvanSE, as the go-to event in the region for the healthcare innovation economy, bar none. We will continue to connect the ecosystem, fostering innovation and encouraging early-stage companies to give the southeast a very close examination when the time comes for them to establish their physical headquarters no matter how disparate, flexible or virtual their teams may be.

 

“In the mid to long-term, we will be the connector for the innovation economy that connects those with great ideas and technologies, ready for their first or next funding opportunity not only to good capital, but to every other resource needed to grow.”

 

What more is needed and from whom to realize that vision?


Scott:

“In the simplest terms, we need more wet lab space, more local innovation clusters like the newly announced Global Health Innovation District and Raleigh’s Research Triangle Park, and we need more executive talent for recruitment that generates meaningful interest from investors across the country like our team at Silicon Valley Bank.”

 

Lee:

“Agree with Scott, we need more build out of the innovation ecosystems and the continued increasing involvement of all the stakeholders in the region.”

 

Where do you feel are the greatest opportunities for life sciences in the southeast, particularly for investors?

Lee Burnes


Lee:

“The highly educated workforces throughout the region will continue to be a big draw. A great example is the Triangle area of NC, where Apple and Google have recently declared plans to establish major engineering hubs. The Medtech and Healthcare Information capabilities that continue to be developed through strengthened ecosystems and incubators are a great opportunity.  In addition, the strong emphasis on bio labs and bio-manufacturing has the ability to establish the southeast to be one of the key bio-manufacturing hubs for the nation.”

 

Scott:

“There are fantastic opportunities in genetic editing and therapy solutions in North Carolina including companies growing out of the NC BioLabs incubator in Durham. There are also fantastic opportunities in HIT and medtech companies in Nashville and Atlanta due to the high concentration of talent and ecosystem assets that steadily breed promising new companies. 


“The perception that there isn’t sufficient venture capital in the southeast for life science innovation persists. We want that to change. We know good capital finds good technologies wherever they exist. We want to foster those connections, especially through AdvanSE, which always delivers outstanding content as well.”

 

What about opportunities for the innovators?


Scott:

“Regardless of their therapeutic area or ‘sector’ within the life sciences, innovators and young life science companies should connect with us early and often. We are here to help them. They have the opportunity to use our expertise and networks for introductions, support, talent, evaluations and potentially their next funding round. Get with us for your intro, evaluation, next round. If they need people, support or talent, come to us! Investment is going more places on an increasing basis than many innovators might know.”

 

What would you like readers to do in support of that vision?


Scott:

“Get active and get in touch. Activity. Join the next Women@SLS event, follow Southeast Life Sciences on LinkedIn and Twitter. Tell us your story. Tell us your goals and needs. Put AdvanSE 2022, May 25 – 27 in Atlanta on your calendar and assign a small amount of time and treasure to it.”

 

Lee:

“I look forward to connecting with everyone on social media and at our conference in May.”

 

Parting shot: If readers took just one thing away from this, what should it be?


Scott:

“The southeast life science ecosystem has everything innovators need to succeed with lower costs of living and doing business than the legacy hubs of the northeast and California. Southeast Life Sciences is your connector. Get in touch and stay in touch.”

 

Lee:

“The Southeast is also where a large portion of the patients are in the USA. What better place to do life sciences Innovation?”


We thank Scott and Lee for taking the time to share his thoughts with us. To get connected, follow Southeast Life Sciences on LinkedIn and Twitter today.

It’s a Big House and There’s Room for Everyone

Alexandria Henry-Smith, Morehouse School of Medicine researcher and PhD candidate on the southeast life sciences and Women@SLS community means to her, and can mean to others.

 

Alexandria Henry-Smith’s mother made a highly intentional effort to expose her daughter to science, including in her homeschooling through the third grade. Her pediatric dentist also went out of his way to demonstrate new tools, technologies and techniques during her visits.

 

While initial ambitions toward dentistry didn’t fully manifest, the intentional exposure to science, including new fields opened to her through a high school medical program, forged a foundation of knowledge and curiosity that made a career in the life sciences likely, if not inevitable. It’s a bit of a family affair as well. Her uncle is a biologist and currently the head of the environmental science department for a leading engineering company. 

 

Ms. Henry-Smith is now a PhD candidate in biomedical science with a focus on neurology at the Morehouse School of Medicine. Her research into ways of decreasing neural injuries covers zinc and its effects on ASIC during ischemic stroke.

 

In 2019, Ms. Henry-Smith discovered Southeast Lifesciences and Women@SLS (previously Medtech Women @ SEMDA) on LinkedIn, which she followed for awareness, networking and potential opportunities for operational roles in life science and biotech startups. When her research hit a ‘hard hold’ in early 2020, she found herself desperate for interaction with the southeast life science ecosystem. She found a piece of that in the 2020 Women @ SLS Annual Conference.

 


Discovering more of what’s possible

 

“I met women performing roles and doing work I had not yet realized was actually attainable or possible,” she told Write2Market’s Paul Snyder. “As the only graduate student in that virtual event, it turned into an incredibly valuable personal advice session.

 

“An undergraduate professor once said pretty women can’t be surgeons or leaders. While I was solid in my self confidence, for many women that was completely discouraging. But when we see women in leadership roles like so many in the Women @ SLS group, it shows an executive level career in life sciences is an actionable, attainable goal. It’s something you can really do. 

 

“It does take dedication, a competitive spirit and strong backbone to the rigors of scientists, researchers, but these women are proof that there are more roles and more routes to careers in the life sciences than legacy pathways to them.

 

“It’s also immensely valuable to pick the brains of women in life science leadership roles that have transitioned from academia to industry,” she said. “Their advice on specific activities like boards to join and introductions to others whose pathways look a bit like mine or those whose needs might align with my skills, research, knowledge and experience is invaluable as well.”

 

An environment and community of encouragement

 

She said the 2021 edition of AdvanSE reinforced the highly collegial spirit of the southeast life science community.

 

“In every conversation I had at the event in South Carolina, each person was happy to advise and encourage,” she said. “Everyone was very, very kind. This is not always expected coming from the highly competitive academic research side of the life sciences.”

 

She told Paul she aspires to be a chief innovation or operations manager officer for a startup or early growth stage life science entity.

 

“I would love it if that entity had a strong focus on neurologic disorders, but I have learned flexibility is key when things present themselves. It’s important to be ready to jump. Before getting more closely engaged and active within the Southeast Life Sciences and Women @ SLS communities, I would not have aspired so high.”

 

When asked why one should get actively involved with SLS and Women @ SLS, she said, “Whether you are focused on marketing, communications, research or development, there are connections to be made that are highly beneficial for the future. You may well speak to your next employer. If you are a young regulatory professional, for example, you will meet people doing that work, many in leadership or influential roles that can help you get where you want to go. You can find champions, those who advocate for you when you’re not in the room, and mentors, your advocates there for you when you are in the room. 

 

A big house with a place for everyone

 

“Young life science professionals, including startup founders, have so much to gain by engaging closely with the Southeast Life Sciences community. You can speak directly to those with the ability to advance or jump start your career in ways or places you might not have anticipated, especially because the pathway into these careers is not always clear.

 

“Engineering, marketing, operations, biomedical research, manufacturing… they’re all critical elements to the life science industry. It’s a very large house, and there’s so much to do in it, anyone can find their place.” 

 

We thank Ms. Henry-Smith for taking the time to share part of her story with us.

 

The 2022 edition of Southeast Life Sciences’ flagship event, AdvanSE, is May 25 – 27 at the Avalon Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta. Follow Southeast Life Sciences on LinkedIn and Twitter for all of the latest including 2022 dates for the Women@SLS Conference.

Verily’s Dr. Vivian Lee Dissects the U.S. Healthcare Crisis and Possible Solutions in 2021 AdvanSE Conference Closing Keynote

The 2021 AdvanSE Conference by Southeast Life Sciences brought together key players in the Southeast entrepreneurial ecosystem and beyond to help further our mission of fostering life science innovation and investment across the region for the greater good.

The closing keynote for this year’s conference was presented by Dr. Vivian S. Lee, MD, PhD, MBA, President of Health Platforms at Verily Life Sciences, an Alphabet company. In addition to being a physician and healthcare executive, Dr. Lee also serves as a senior lecturer at Harvard Medical School. Her closing keynote presentation, The Long Fix: Leading Change Post-COVID, explored what moving to a better healthcare system might look like and the lessons that the industry has learned from the “epic stress” on the system caused by the Covid-19 global pandemic.

Verily asked Dr. Lee to join their team and “Do what’s in your book,” and leverage Alphabet’s proficiency in scaling solutions to affect powerful change where change is badly needed. This includes activating alternative business models of care including full financial risk models underpinned by Medicare and driven by value where value equals quality plus service divided by cost.

“The healthcare system is so broken, but it’s no one entity’s fault,” Dr. Lee shared in the Q&A session following her keynote. “I think we’re all responsible – that’s my view. So we all have a role to play. [And] if there is any silver lining [to the pandemic] at all, it is that everyone is a lot more engaged with their health.”

We invite you to watch Dr. Lee’s full keynote presentation on our YouTube channel. We believe it is well worth 30 to 45 minutes of your time.

Dr. Lee’s book, The Long Fix: Solving America’s Health Care Crisis with Strategies that Work for Everyone, explores this topic in much greater detail and can be purchased through Amazon and Audible.

Thank you to everyone who participated, both virtually and in person, in the 2021 AdvanSE Life Sciences Conference. We invite you to join us for the 2022 edition of AdvanSE that will take place on May 25-27, 2022 at the Avalon in Atlanta.

In the meantime, we encourage all members of the southeast life science ecosystem to explore and engage with Women@SLS, a group dedicated to enhancing opportunities for women in the medtech and life science industries. You can also help build our community by staying connected with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Opening the Door for Women Founders: AdvanSE 2021 Keynote by Kim Mackrill

Southeast Life Sciences was thrilled to return to an in-person hybrid event for the 2021 edition of our AdvanSE Conference, once again bringing together innovators, investors, corporate partners, and companies advancing our mission of cultivating, convening, and connecting the Southeast entrepreneurial ecosystem to foster life science innovation & investment across the region.

Kim Mackrill, COO at Mammoth Scientific, delivered the keynote – Stepping Up & Stepping Out: Moving Beyond the Hustle to Create the Innovation, Company and Future You Want – focused on the need for greater numbers of women founders and CEOs in the industry, exploring topics like the confidence gap and imposter syndrome as potential causes.

“Women-led startups, when they do get funded, are more likely to be successful,” Kim said. “They ultimately deliver higher revenue – more than twice as much per dollar invested. If you didn’t care because you don’t care about equality, you should care about the bottom line.”

View her presentation by visiting our YouTube channel.

You can learn more about Mammoth Scientific’s mission and Kim’s journey from nonprofit to venture capital in our recent Q&A with her on our blog.

And we encourage our entire community to explore and engage with Women@SLS, a group dedicated to enhancing opportunities for women in the medtech and life science industries.  https://southeastlifesciences.org/medtech-women-at-sls/

Southeast Life Sciences would like to thank everyone who attended this year’s conference, both virtually and in-person. As we start to return to our regular conference schedule, be sure to mark your calendars for the 2022 edition of AdvanSE that will take place on May 27-29, 2022 at the Avalon in Atlanta.

With an enthusiastic AdvanSE 2021 in the books, a letter of thanks from the executive director.

With the 2021 edition of AdvanSE in the books, I would like to extend my gratitude to all who made it possible. From the board, to the onsite staff and program committee, to our sponsors, keynote speakers, presenters, panelists and collaborators, we could not have done it without every one of you. 

 

I’d like to particularly thank Kathryn Becker, the conference Chair ever since we first decided on Charleston in 2019. Kathryn was the inspiration for many of the new things that we did this year and a huge debt of gratitude is owed to her for her perseverance and ingenuity. 

 

Among the attendees, the high level of enthusiasm that permeated interactions throughout the three day event made clear the community was eager to reconnect in person. In more than a few cases, we know AdvanSE created new relationships and high potential new business opportunities.

 

We hope you were able to create those opportunities yourselves and learn something that you can put into practice immediately from our slate of keynote speakers and breakout session panelists. 

 

Stay tuned for some select session recordings. We are happy for you to share them with your colleagues as soon as they become available.

 

We also intend to continue developing and sharing fresh content from a robust cross-section of our stakeholders unabated with our colleagues at Write2Market. We hope you will continue to find it educational, informative and especially shareable!

 

In the meantime, please mark your calendars for the 2022 edition of AdvanSE May 27-29, 2022 at the Avalon in Atlanta as we get back on our regular calendar track. 

 

If you would like to make any recommendations regarding session topics, young companies we should consider for PitchRounds 2022, things you really liked from 2021 or things you would like us to consider tweaking, I welcome your emails to jrupp@southeastlifesciences.org 

 

Sincerely,

Jason

Follow Southeast Life Sciences on LinkedIn and Twitter.