The University of Iowa's Office of Innovation is proud to announce the 2026–2027 Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellows. Twelve graduate trainees have been selected from a competitive pool of applicants to participate in the Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellows Program, a year-long educational experience designed to immerse emerging leaders in the dynamic world of healthcare innovation.

Since launching in 2022, the program has supported 46 Fellows representing the Carver College of Medicine, Colleges of Engineering, Pharmacy, Public Health, Business, Dentistry, and Liberal Arts and Sciences. The 2026–2027 cohort also welcomes the program's first Fellow from the College of Law, further expanding the interdisciplinary community dedicated to supporting the advancement of healthcare innovation at the University of Iowa.

"As we welcome our fifth cohort of Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellows, it's exciting to reflect on how the program has grown into a truly interdisciplinary community” says Jon Darsee, Chief Innovation Officer at the University of Iowa. "I  find it inspiring to watch these young leaders  support and encourage each others dreams as well as our larger community of inventors and budding entrepreneurs. The fellowship is building a reputation for challenging conventional thinking to discover new pathways for translating ideas into patient impact.” 

Meet the 2026–2027 Fellows: 

Selected for their curiosity, resourcefulness and commitment to advancing healthcare innovation, the Fellows will spend the next year developing entrepreneurial skills while engaging with faculty innovators, as well as successful medtech entrepreneurs, industry leaders and venture capitalists visiting campus. 

Throughout the year, Fellows will participate in bootcamps and workshops enabling them to understand principles of biodesign including how to uncover unmet needs, explore the basics of intellectual property, medical device and digital health development, regulatory strategy, reimbursement, startup formation, and technology commercialization. They will also serve as ambassadors for the Office of Innovation, helping connect both their peers and faculty with the resources and opportunities available to translate ideas into patient impact. 

For more information about the program and the 2026–2027 Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellows, visit the Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellows webpage.