What have you been doing (for work, for graduate/professional school, or otherwise) since you graduated from LSM? Are you working on anything outside of your current occupation?
Since graduating from LSM, my aim has been to pursue a career at the intersection of science and finance supporting the development of novel therapies at emerging biotech companies. After Penn, I started as an investment banking analyst in the Financial Institutions Group at Morgan Stanley, followed by the Healthcare Division at Barclays Capital. I then moved into life sciences venture capital investing at Apple Tree Partners in New York. There I worked on forming numerous biotech and medical device companies across therapeutic areas including oncology, autoimmune disease, fibrosis, and pulmonary and cardiovascular applications. After 4 years at Apple Tree, I obtained an MBA at Columbia Business School and then returned to biotech investing at Longitude Capital, another life science venture fund. I am interested in expanding the biotech ecosystem in New York City, and to that end, I am always seeking to strengthen relationships between investors and the scientific and academic research community in the area.
What is the most rewarding part of what you are doing currently?
Seeing the eventual translation of early scientific discoveries from the lab into the hands of physicians to enhance patient care and outcomes is a hugely rewarding feeling. Given the binary risk associated with the development of novel drugs, it is not often that therapies make their way to approval. When they do, it is gratifying to know that I played a small part in improving patient care. It is also very rewarding to encounter some of the smartest scientific, medical, entrepreneurial, and academic minds focused on improving healthcare in the US and globally.
Do you think LSM prepared you for life after college? What aspects were most helpful?
LSM clearly laid the groundwork for me in terms of raw skillsets in both science and finance. More importantly, it helped me quickly build off a strong network of highly successful individuals in the life sciences community.
Do you have future plans beyond your current role?
I look forward to continuing to support great biotech companies and management teams to drive new therapies from the bench to the clinic either from the investment side or on the operating front. It will be exciting to see the true potential of gene therapy and various RNAi therapies in certain disease areas where they may provide a curative benefit beyond just symptom relief.