In this episode, we sit down with Carolina [Last Name], a senior biotech executive with over 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. Carolina is the Founder & Principal of Bio Strategy Advisors, serves on multiple biotech and nonprofit boards, and is the Co-Founder & Co-Chair of Latinos in Bio. 

She shares insights from her leadership journey at companies like Genzyme, Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, and Novelion Therapeutics, and discusses the future of biotech, the role of angel investing, and why diversity in innovation matters. 

Tune in to hear how Carolina is shaping the next generation of biotech leaders and building a more inclusive innovation ecosystem. 

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jason Hurt, a clinician-scientist and entrepreneur with extensive experience in radiopharmaceutical development, clinical trial strategy, and oncology drug development. 

In March 2025, Dr. Hurt founded Theragnostic Insights, a consulting and strategic advisory firm focused on advancing theranostic solutions and radioligand therapies—pioneering approaches that are shaping the future of cancer treatment. 

 In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Martin R. Schiller, Prabhu Endowed Professor at UNLV, Founding Director of the Nevada Institute of Personalized Medicine, and founder of Heligenics Inc. Dr. Schiller shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, the breakthroughs behind the GigaAssay technology, and how personalized medicine is shaping the future of healthcare. 

Tune in to learn how cutting-edge research in genomics and biotechnology is being translated into real-world therapies and diagnostics. 

Today’s guest is Ross O. Youngs, Founder and CEO, with over 35 years of experience inventing products, technologies, and processes across multiple industries. He holds more than 75 patents worldwide and is driven by a passion for creating innovations that are better, faster, and more cost-effective. 

His recent accomplishments include winning an R&D 100 Award for his work in biopolymer technologies. In 2009, his company Biosortia was awarded a $6 million ARPA-E grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for its algal harvesting technology—work that paved the way for Biosortia’s cutting-edge drug discovery platform. 

Throughout his career, Ross has been widely recognized for his entrepreneurial leadership, including being named Ernst & Young Ohio Entrepreneur of the Year and receiving the U.S. Small Business Administration’s “Business Person of the Year” award, presented to him by then-Vice President Al Gore. 

Today we’re joined by Gianluca Fontana, CEO and Co-Founder of Prova Health—the London-based advisory firm helping digital health and life sciences innovators prove their value with rock-solid clinical and economic evidence. With a background as a McKinsey consultant and Deputy Director at Imperial College London’s Institute of Global Health Innovation, Gianluca has led billion-pound research programs like the NHS Digital Academy and the REACT COVID-19 study. His published work on digital health evaluation has been cited hundreds of times, and through Prova Health he now works with global pharma and AI-medtech scale-ups to accelerate evidence generation and build lasting capabilities. Fluent in four languages and trained in both economics and marketing at Bocconi University, Gianluca brings a rare mix of scientific rigor and commercial insight—making him an invaluable voice in the race to deliver safer, smarter healthcare at scale. 

Could opioids be silently undermining cancer immunotherapy?

This week, Justin Chickles — CEO and co-founder of Glycyx Therapeutics — explains how his team is tackling this overlooked challenge with axelopran, a breakthrough therapy now advancing to Phase 2 trials.

From his early career at Johnson & Johnson to leading multiple startups, Justin offers a rare, insider’s perspective on driving biotech innovation from concept to clinic. If you’re interested in cutting-edge oncology, translational science, and biotech entrepreneurship, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Today’s guest is Dr. Sarfaraz K. Niazi, a globally recognized biopharmaceutical scientist, regulatory advisor, prolific author, and inventor. Dr. Niazi works closely with regulatory authorities to streamline guidelines and help companies comply in bringing biotherapeutic products to market—including biosimilars, gene therapies, mRNA vaccines, and advanced protein delivery systems. 

He has published hundreds of books and scientific papers, sharing both the science and the art of making life-saving treatments accessible to patients. With over 100 U.S. biotechnology patents—all offered royalty-free—Dr. Niazi is a true advocate for innovation and global health equity. 

 In this episode, we sit down with Steve Duddy, a powerhouse executive with over 20 years of experience leading high-impact transformations across startups and Fortune 500 companies like 3M and Johnson & Johnson. Steve shares his unique approach to uncovering hidden opportunities, turning ambiguity into actionable strategy, and executing bold roadmaps that drive outsized results. 

We dive into how he’s helped scale companies from near-zero to over $35M in ARR in under two years, his success accelerating growth through global distributor networks, and his role as an embedded executive and board director across early- to mid-stage ventures. 

With a fiercely competitive mindset, deep strategic insight, and hands-on operational expertise, Steve walks us through how he tackles complex challenges in global supply chains, commercialization in highly regulated markets, and successful exits via M&A and IPO. 

This episode is a must-listen for founders, operators, and investors in the HealthTech space who want to understand what it takes to turn overlooked opportunities into industry-defining success stories. 

Andrés Herrero is a dynamic entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare and medical device industries. Andrés has founded his company “i 2 medi” ten years ago with the purpose to gain market access for innovative medical device companies in Latin America. Today the company has evolved from consultancy company to a full fledge medical device and health IT-distributor with its in house hard- and software service teams and regulatory services. i2medi is focused on cardiology as well as health IT solutions for hospitals and the group operates with affiliated companies in Brazil Colombia and Mexico, as well as in Germany to maintain close contact to its European clients. Andrés and i2medi
have a proven track record in achieving guideline acceptance with national clinical societies in LATAM for new technological innovations. By this means they are paving the way for  innovations to private and public health insurance reimbursements.
Andres has also proven track record as Senior Executive in Biotronik, Abbot and caresyntax (former St. Jude Medical) driving business growth, managing key accounts, and overseeing global operations. He is an expert in sales, market access, marketing, and strategic planning with deep knowledge of the European and Latin American markets. His analytical skills and business acumen are supported by a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and an MBA.

Javier Handal is a Medical Doctor with expertise in clinical research and pharmaceutical industry operations. As the leader of MRx Solution, a Site Management Organization (SMO), he is driving the development of a robust network of research sites across Central America. Javier excels in building strategic partnerships, optimizing operations, and ensuring adherence to international research standards. His proactive mindset, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence enable him to deliver impactful outcomes. Dedicated to advancing healthcare innovation in the region, he leverages leadership, expertise, and collaboration to make significant contributions to clinical research.

Today, we have the privilege of speaking with Andrew, a distinguished leader with over 15 years of international experience in marketing, commercial excellence, and business strategy. Throughout his career, he has led large teams at top pharmaceutical and medical device companies, including Novartis, Terumo, and Penumbra Inc. Andrew is a proud graduate of the IGNITE Program at Stanford Graduate School of Business and has also studied at several other prestigious international business schools. His expertise and journey in medical innovation make him a key voice in understanding the challenges and opportunities within the industry. 

 In this episode of LATAM Medtech Leaders, we sit down with Daniel Estay, a seasoned medical technology executive with a wealth of global experience. Daniel shares insights from his journey leading and developing fully integrated businesses across small, mid-sized, and large companies. With extensive expertise in general management, commercial operations, and business development, he offers a unique perspective on navigating the complexities of the medtech industry. 

We delve into his deep understanding of U.S. and international markets, including the opportunities and challenges of emerging markets in Asia Pacific and Latin America. Whether you're a medtech entrepreneur, investor, or enthusiast, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and strategies for driving success in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape. 

Tune in to explore the future of medtech through Daniel's expert lens!

Paulo Fernandes is a distinguished clinical research executive with extensive experience in international clinical trials across various phases and therapeutic areas. With a solid foundation in the CRO industry, he has successfully held roles in project management, start-up, operations management, and business development. Paulo has worked at renowned CROs such as PPD, Covance, and IQVIA. Recently, he structured a healthcare sector start-up for a group of investors, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to high-impact public health initiatives. Additionally, he has 10 years of experience at the Brazilian Association of Clinical Research Organizations, including 4 years as the President of the Board of Directors. Paulo holds a specialization in Clinical Pharmacology from USCS, a degree in Pharmacy and Biochemistry from FCF-USP, and training in Business and Project Management from FIA, along with an Executive MBA from INSPER. 

Miriam is a seasoned professional in Health and Law, specializing in Sanitary Regulation and Clinical Research. With over 20 years of experience, she has a track record in planning and executing global, regional, and local clinical development programs, including Bioequivalence studies and Phase I-IV clinical trials. Her expertise spans Clinical Monitoring, Quality Assurance, Budgeting, Contracts & Payments Control, Clinical Trial Supplies, Master File, Pharmacovigilance, and Regulatory Affairs within both pharmaceutical industries and CROs, at national and international levels. She is recognized in the sector as a key opinion leader and a local expert in regulatory matters. Her leadership and active participation in gremial improvement initiatives have been pivotal, building synergies with authorities, academic, and industrial colleagues to further the development and progress of Clinical Research. 

Luis is the CEO and Founder of Theradaptive and developed the concept for targeted therapeutic delivery during and following a combat tour in Iraq where several of his soldiers suffered severe extremity injuries. Previously, Luis was the co-founding Deputy Director of the Department of Defense Regenerative Medicine Program and led the department's largest recombinant biologics program through Phase II. Luis was a DARPA Service Chief Fellow and Academy Professor at the United States Military Academy, West Point. Luis received his PhD in Biological Engineering from MIT where he was a Hertz Foundation Fellow.

Etienne Nichols is a Medical Device Guru and Mechanical Engineer who loves learning and teaching how systems work together. He has manufacturing and product development experience, even aiding in developing combination drug-delivery devices, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, and holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Etienne has managed cross-functional teams for updating legacy products as well as developing new medical devices. His expansive knowledge, experience, and passion for medical devices are evenly matched with how much he enjoys helping customers work efficiently through the design and development process to bring safe, high-quality products to market.

Ruben is the CEO of Alandra Medical. He has dual qualifications in engineering and technology entrepreneurship combined with 16 years of experience in medical device development. Self-motivation, adaptability, trainability, and entrepreneurial drive are his key tools for achieving personal and business goals. Ruben started his career developing hardware and software for medical devices, spending countless hours reading scientific papers, twitching circuits, refining algorithms, and preparing technical reports to deliver products right on time. In a nutshell, his experience as an engineer revolves around developing Class I and II active and sterile medical devices (bio-instrumentation and software); this includes defining design inputs and producing design outputs following state-of-the-art industry standards such as ISO 13485, ISO 14971, IEC 62304 and the IEC 60601 series.

Ernesto has 27 years of experience leading healthcare strategies to drive access and expansion for new products, developing value propositions for public and private stakeholders, and assessing global market opportunities for healthcare companies. He has worked for both government agencies and global healthcare companies in roles ranging from strategic marketing and new product development to health economics and reimbursement. Also, Ernesto led several Market Access projects across the US, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East; Ernesto is the CEO and Founder of ValueConnected.

Ernesto also coordinates the ValueConnected team in applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science to address significant unmet needs in healthcare, accelerating the adoption rate of medical technologies that can generate value for patients, payers, and providers. He holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, US, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Fundação Armando Ávares Penteado(FAAP), in São Paulo, Brazil.

Dr. Antonio Trujillo is an Associate Professor in the Department of International Health with expertise in health economics, the economics of aging, and applied econometrics. Antonio is the co-director of the Master of Health Science (MHS) in Global Health Economics degree program. He teaches an advanced econometrics course on program impact evaluation using observational data and a course on behavioral economics and public health.

Carlos Medina is a Medical Doctor who works with health technology professionals to help them make the best technology for patient care available across Latin America. Carlos has witnessed the many benefits and risks that come with applying technology to solve health problems and is dedicated to helping others follow the best practices available and avoid the missteps that can derail their health technology problems. He has had the privilege to work with local and international companies across most countries in Latin America, helping them to achieve multi-million sales results and establish lasting and efficient global-local collaborations. He is a Licensed Medical Doctor in Mexico City. He is working on finishing his Master's degree in Information Technology for Healthcare while leading the Medical Devices workgroup of the Mexican HealthTech Association.

Yoku Sashida is the CEO & Co-Founder at Kenko Solutions, a company dedicated to managing and developing biomedical projects based on technology. He is responsible for opening economic relationships, capturing technology-based projects, forming work teams to carry out technological development, and administrative and financial accounting. The first product of its own is ecglove, the wearable able to determine the state of the heart in less than 60 seconds.

Luis Santiago is PEGASI's CEO and CTO. By training, he is a social communicator and marketing and public relations professor. By profession, he is a self-taught programmer, technology project manager, and Product Owner, with more than 14 years of experience in the area. He has ventured into banking, IT, and Digital Health. Luis was recognized in 2016 as one of the Young Leaders of the Americas by the American State Department, and in 2020 as one of the 35 Innovators under 35 in Latin America by the MIT Technology Review magazine. He has participated in dozens of international forums and events pointing out the importance of Healthcare digitalization in Latin America.

Dave is the Co-Founder & Executive Chairman at MultiFunctional Imaging, a University of Utah startup company that provides software solutions for improving the efficiency and accessibility of multi-tracer imaging with PET, PET/CT, and PET/MRI scanners. Dolan’s career has been built on successes centering around the commercialization and customer adoption of innovative MedTech products/services. Spanning from Fortune 500 corporations through startups, businesses have benefitted from his track record of success in turning medical device innovation into record growth, high market share, and attractive market valuations. He is a trusted business leader who draws upon an analytical and data-driven approach with KOLs, advising boards of directors, investors, C-level executives, and other stakeholders in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities to advance each organization’s strategic vision.

Josh Cohn has 15 years of experience in the medical device field, rising to National Sales Director of PENTAX Medical, a major endoscope provider. He has a strong history of leading successful sales organizations, building winning strategies, and launching disruptive programs aimed at changing marketplace conventions. As product champion and strategist for all EUS sales, he has attended hundreds of procedures and has established relationships with key opinion leaders, hospital and ASC administrators, and device distributors. In his current role as CCO, Josh will be responsible for the pre-and post-commercialization Sales and Marketing strategy designed to ensure the integrated commercial success of the organization.

Mr. Bigio is a professor in the biomedical engineering department, responsible for the Senior Capstone Design project. Currently, he is also serving as the department head. He comes to the university after having spent 30 years of professional experience working for large multinationals in different parts of the world, including the development of high technology start-ups in Silicon Valley, commercialization of technology used in large infrastructure projects, and coordinating strategic projects for a multinational consortium. Mr. Bigio clearly understands current challenges and opportunities in the biomedical engineering field. He is very focused on improving the education and skills of graduates in order to provide companies with better employees. He has been working with the Biomedical engineering students during their senior capstone design project to address two important aspects of their education; help them improve on the ‘soft’ skills that future employers expect from them, and also teach them about how to become entrepreneurs to give them employability alternatives and promote a much-needed activity in our country.