Healthcare Changes and Challenges: Opportunities for Biotech Entrepreneurs
9:45 - 11:00am
Sponsored by: Abbott
There has been much discussion in recent years about Pharma’s approach to innovation in drug development in light of regulatory hurdles, the patent cliff and shrinking drug pipelines. We can now add to this the unknowns associated with healthcare reform including the challenges faced by payers in managing their risk, and changes in healthcare reimbursements. At the same time, positive developments around advancements in personalized medicine and companion diagnostics, as well as improvements in drug discovery technologies are creating new opportunities. Our panelists will discuss these changes and present Pharma and provider perspectives, highlighting how their organizations are being impacted and are adapting. These insights will catalyze a lively discussion on new opportunities and what life science entrepreneurs might do to capitalize on healthcare changes and challenges.
Speakers include:
- Gayle Kirkpatrick, Ph.D.; Divisional Vice President, Global Licensing & Business Development; Abbott
- Michael Ostrov, M.D.; Medical Director; Group Health Cooperative
- Mike Wokasch; Owner; Wokasch Consulting, LLC
- Steven Xanthoudakis Ph.D.; Director of Worldwide Licensing and External Research; Merck
Speaker Bios
Gayle Kirkpatrick, Ph.D.; Divisional Vice President, Global Licensing & Business Development; Abbott
Dr. Kirkpatrick is a Divisional Vice President and head of the Scientific Assessment and Licensing group within the Global Pharmaceutical Licensing and Acquisitions organization at Abbott. During her 21 years at Abbott, Gayle has held a variety of management roles in R&D, marketing, licensing and business development.
Prior to joining Abbott, Gayle was a clinical pharmacist. In addition, she was a Licensing Associate at WARF and played a key role in the initial establishment of the WiCell Research Institute for stem cell research and licensing.
Gayle received her B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Wisconsin, MBA from the Kellogg - Northwestern University and Pharm.D. from the University of Florida and she is a Certified Licensing Professional through the Licensing Executives Society.
Michael Ostrov, M.D.; Medical Director; Group Health Cooperative
Dr. Michael Ostrov is the Medical Director of Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin (GHC-SCW). He has oversight of the physician and practitioner staff including mental health therapists, optometrists, physical and occupational therapist, chiropractors, complementary medicine therapists and health educators. Dr. Ostrov directs all medically related insurance functions including Quality Management, Provider Relations and Care Management programs. Dr. Ostrov has been with GHC-SCW since 1985 initially practicing full time as a family physician including performing obstetrics. His positions have included serving as the Medical Affairs Advisor to senior management, Physician Representative to the Board, Director of Clinical Quality, Associate Medical Director and, since 1998, Medical Director.
Under his leadership, GHC-SCW was the first area health plan to implement an electronic medical record and the first to offer members electronic access to their personal medical records. The member web portal service was launched as a pilot program in May 2002, consisting of two practitioners and 17 members. By February 2003, the pilot expanded to eight practitioners and 1,000 members. Today, over 40% of GHC-SCW members have a GHCMyChartSM account.
Mike Wokasch; Owner; Wokasch Consulting, LLC
Mike Wokasch, a pharmacist by training, is a 30 year pharmaceutical industry veteran, having held a number management and executive positions at several large pharmaceutical companies including Merck, Abbott, Chiron, and Bayer. He has an impressive track record of commercial success including the US launch of the blockbuster antibiotic Cipro. His industry experience also includes holding several senior management positions with companies in the Madison area including Promega, PanVera Gala Design, and he was Corporate Sr. Vice President of the global early development division of Covance, headquartered in Madison.
Mr. Wokasch has spent the last year researching and writing about the pharmaceutical industry in anticipation of changes that would be needed to adapt to the market and the implications of healthcare reform.
Steven Xanthoudakis Ph.D.; Director of Worldwide Licensing and External Research; Merck
Dr. Steven Xanthoudakis earned his doctoral degree from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at McGill University in 1990. Following his post-doctoral training at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology in New Jersey, he assumed a faculty position as a Research Investigator in the Department of Neurogenetics at Hoffman La Roche. He was recruited back to Montreal in 1996 to join Merck Frosst Canada as a Senior Research Scientist where he focused on advancing several early stage drug discovery programs in the Neuroscience, Respiratory and Cardiovascular disease areas. Since early 2007 he has been involved in coordinating Merck and Co’s Canadian, South East/North Central US R & D out-reach program. In his current position as Director, World Wide Licensing and External Research for Merck Research Laboratories, his primary role is to build lasting relationships with both the biotechnology and academic research communities and to help foster partnering opportunities which fit with Merck’s strategic research and development goals across all therapeutic and technology areas. Dr. Steven Xanthoudakis is based out of the Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research in Montreal, Canada.
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