11 graduate trainees have been selected to participate in this year’s Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellows Program, a year-long educational experience designed to immerse them in the dynamic world of healthcare discovery and innovation.
“The Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellows sit on the cusp of future of healthcare innovation,” says Jon Darsee, Chief Innovation Officer at the University of Iowa. “This cohort embodies the University’s spirit of addressing unmet needs in healthcare through collaboration, curiosity and passion. The fellow’s exposure to industry experts, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs will broaden their understanding of how med-tech innovation occurs and position them to play a role in the next wave of advancements in medicine and technology.”
Meet the 2024-2025 Fellows:
- Lauren Lavin, PhD student, Health Policy
- George Barrera, PhD student, Chemical Engineering
- Ayushi Sood, PhD student, Biomedical Sciences (Molecular Medicine)
- Kaleb Bierstedt, PhD student, Biomedical Engineering
- Vishuka Pathirana, PhD student, Chemistry
- Garret Caltrider, PhD student, Biomedical Engineering
- Abby Morrison, PhD student, Cancer Biology
- Ashley Cooney, PhD in Microbiology and Immunology; Postdoctoral Scholar, Pediatric Pulmonology
- Siddhanth Hejmady, PhD student, Pharmaceutics
- Mikayla Kamon, PhD student, Biomedical Engineering
- Maleeha Naseem, PhD student, Epidemiology (Injuries and Trauma)
The Fellows, selected from a diverse and competitive applicant pool of trainees from across campus will spend the year developing entrepreneurial skills, gain exposure to a variety of industry experts and successful entrepreneurs while developing an understanding of the med-tech development process. The program is designed to complement their core responsibilities at the University of Iowa, providing valuable exposure to innovation without being time-intensive. The fellows act as ambassadors to help others understand the steps involved and the available resources on campus for those interested in translating inventions into patient impact.
Throughout the year, the Fellows will engage in workshops focusing on different aspects of commercialization, all while serving as ambassadors for innovation at the University of Iowa. For more information about the program and the Fellows, visit the Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellows page or learn more about the program: https://innovation.uiowa.edu/iowa-innovation-leadership-fellowship