Healthtech 4 the Greater Good in SoCal
What are the most investible Healthtech opportunities right now?
What health problem would you solve with tech if you could? Is there a new model needed for funding healthtech innovators? When is the collection of health data exploitive rather than helpful?
These are just a few of the topics of conversation at our recent gathering of Healthtech founders, funders, and strategic partners hosted by the Columbia Venture Community (CVC), Columbia’s Global Health and Wellness Network, and Columbia’s Southern California Alumni Association.
A huge thank you to my co-host Jessica Pan, MPH! I would also like to thank my super panelists, Manju Dawkins, MD (founder of Thimble), Lyndsey Burton, MD (Healthtech executive), Laura Lucas (L’Attitude Ventures GP), and special guest in attendance, Lisa Smith (Tech entrepreneur). Lisa served as the first director of CVC’s Project 2.8 women’s startup accelerator for five years. So excited to see our Columbia founders flourish in the various programming we put together for students, faculty, researchers, and alumni to enable talented people solving problems that matter.
AI, NIH grants, and innovative modes of care were among the additional topics discussed.
Join us again for community inclusive events hosted by CVC and our other wonderful Columbia alumni groups.
You are always welcome! 💙🦁💙
Columbians and guests engaged in topics that matter for the greater good.
About our Panelists
Dr. Lyndsey Burton is a physician and HealthTech executive, leading healthcare innovation and digital transformation. Most recently, she was Chief Medical Information Officer and Head of Commercial Healthcare at Flywheel, a series D imaging AI startup.
Previously she was the Worldwide Physician Executive at Amazon Web Services where she led business development for Healthcare and Life Sciences and shaped strategy for the global HCLS business.
Prior to AWS, she directed the data analytics practice for Havas Health in NYC, including GTM strategy for 70+ pharmaceutical drug launches.
Dr. Burton has advised digital health and radiology AI startups, leading to FDA approval and acquisition. She is an international keynote speaker on AI, cloud, and healthcare. She is also a board certified radiologist and serves on faculty at the University of Washington.
Laura Moreno Lucas is a General Partner at L’ATTITUDE Ventures, a $100M purpose-led venture fund that invests in early-stage U.S. Latino-led and owned businesses. Previously, Laura was the Managing Director of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange and the founder of Pandocap, a strategic financial advisory services firm, and Ladada, a fashion subscription company. She also mentors at accelerators like Black Ambition and 500 Startups and is on the board of multiple non-profits.
In her role at L’ATTITUDE Ventures, she focuses on changing the investment landscape for Latino entrepreneurs. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, she immigrated to the U.S. when she was seven years old and understands the challenges confronting Latino entrepreneurs scaling their startups into proper product-market fit and gaining access to capital markets.
She recently launched a women’s initiative called Libra Leaders, an effort that is tipping the scales of capital towards women. This initiative, centered around a network of visible leaders, is promoting women's entrepreneurship to expand wealth creation, inspiring a new generation of female business leaders.
Dr. Manju Dawkins is a board certified dermatologist who received her B.A. from Columbia University and her M.D. from the University of Maryland.
Dr. Dawkins completed her dermatology residency and served as Chief Resident at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY. She was Assistant Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine where she was twice named Teacher of the Year. Dr. Dawkins has practiced in academic, private, hospital based, and group practice settings in New York and Los Angeles.
Dr. Dawkins is also the creator and co-founder of Thimble, the first easy, safe, and comprehensive solution for alleviating needle pain and stress. www.thimblehealth.com
Fun fact: She is 5'2" (on a good day. )
Even more fun fact: She played Division I basketball at Columbia University and served as captain her senior year. She is a founding and current member of the Columbia Women’s Basketball Advisory Board and a member of the Columbia Athletics Women’s Leadership Council.
Power Women L to R: Dr. Manju Dawkins, Dr. Lyndsey Burton, Laura Lucas, Joy Fairbanks