Academic Entrepreneurship Fundamentals: A Professional Development Course

The CHOP Innovation Ecosystem defines academic entrepreneurship as “the intentional focus on translating science and technology developed in academic settings into health impact via commercialization routes.” Academic entrepreneurs perform many activities from within an academic setting and often with others' ideas (i.e., most academic entrepreneurs are not hoping to become CEOs of new companies).

This course is designed for anyone interested in using entrepreneurship to make medical innovations accessible to patients. All CHOP or Penn faculty, staff, and personnel, including trainees, are welcome to apply! No previous entrepreneurship experience is required.

Seven weekly, 3-hour, in-person skill-building sessions, plus mentorship/coaching from current academic entrepreneurs (and snacks).

October 4th - November 15th, Wednesdays 1:00-4:00 pm.

All classes are in person on CHOP Main Campus (CTRB Rm 6040).

• Value to participants: Completion of this course will increase your knowledge and confidence with academic entrepreneurship, highlighting skills, processes, and resources that you need to be successful on this path. It will also provide a chance to network with academic entrepreneurs and those providing them with support both within and outside of CHOP. Certificate of completion will also be awarded.
• Value to research supervisors or clinical program directors: Completion of this course by a member of your staff may accelerate the translation of work underway in your program.
• Value to mentors: Completion of this course may provide your mentee with critical answers and direction that may lie outside your own expertise.

Applications are now closed for the Fall 2023 session. Stay Tuned for announcements regarding future course sessions!

During this course, students will learn essential elements of academic entrepreneurship. They will be exposed to the general process of academic entrepreneurship in the context of pediatric medical device development and will work with tools and skills that can be applied to other potential entrepreneurial uses and to general research in the future. Participants will engage in self-reflective exercises and be exposed to potential future collaborators and mentors in academic entrepreneurship, gaining insights about themselves and their own potential interest in being an academic entrepreneur. CHOP & Penn resources will be highlighted throughout the course to guide participants on their entrepreneurial journeys.

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize common pitfalls, costs, and business terminology associated with pediatric healthcare innovations.
• Describe at least one framework for evaluating perceived problems and potential solutions in pediatric healthcare.
• Explain a value proposition from the lens of multiple stakeholders.
• Define key elements of effective communication to gain support for proposed ideas at various stages of development (e.g., pitching).
• Identify key funding considerations and resources for financing pediatric healthcare projects, beyond traditional academic funding structures (e.g., federal research grants).
• List major technical and business milestones and risks related to pediatric healthcare solutions, specifically related to pediatric medical devices.
• Identify and evaluate skills necessary to be an academic entrepreneur (in themselves and others).
• Summarize resources available for future exploration of academic entrepreneurship pathways (e.g., networking/mentoring, accelerators/hubs, educational opportunities).

Here is a list of confirmed faculty members as of mid-July 2023. More to come.

Sherri Oberg, MBA; Co-Founder of Particles for Humanity – funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Dana M Hammill MS, MBA CEO RnR Biomedical Solutions; Director of Strategy and Business Development Center for Cellular Immunotherapies at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine

Evonne Sepsis, MBA; Founder ESC Advisors

Robert Masella, JD; Partner Goodwin Law, Life Sciences group

Charles-André Brouwers, MBA; Co-Founder Galileo Life Sciences

Mark Kessel, Founder Galileo Life Sciences; CEO Symphony Capital

Emily Blum, MD; Pediatric Urologist; Medical Affairs Liaison, Global Center for Medical Innovations

Daria Ferro, MD, Attending Physican General Pediatrics CHOP; Clinical Advisor to Phrase Health

Jason Van Batavia, MD, MSTR; Attending Pediatric Urologist CHOP; Co-creator UroGenie

Flaura Winston MD, PhD; Co-Founder, Diagnostic Driving, Inc.; National Medical and Science Advisor, Toyota Way Forward Fund

 Nalaka Gooneratne, MD; Director, UPenn Masters in Translational Research - Entrepreneurial Science Track; NIH STTR recipient

Katie Reuther, PhD, MBA; Executive Director, Penn Health Tech