Global Health Innovation & Challenges
In the last decade, the pipeline for global health innovation and advancement has increased the number of tools and technologies produced to decrease disease burdens and target lower resourced settings. The mechanisms for launch and pathways to scale for success vary greatly. We are engaging stakeholders from across global health, including individuals from the private, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, to facilitate a dialogue on innovative approaches to scaling solutions and the unique challenges that may arise across sectors.
Neil patel (Moderator)
Healthbox, president
healthcare information and management systems society (HIMSS), Executive vice president
Neil is the President of Healthbox, a a HIMSS Innovation Company and healthcare advisory firm, that drives innovation from the inside and out, helping organizations build internal innovation programs, assess the potential of employee-led projects, and look to the market to find solutions to implement or invest in.
He is responsible for leading the Healthbox mission to empower the reinvention of healthcare through innovation consulting and fund management services. Neil was named President of Healthbox in 2016 and led the company to an acquisition by HIMSS, the global leader in transforming health through information and technology, in 2018. Prior to joining Healthbox, Neil worked at The Chartis Group, where he developed long-range strategic plans for children’s hospitals, integrated delivery networks, and academic medical centers. Neil started his career at Sg2 in a technology evaluation and consulting role, focusing on surgical services, operations, and enterprise strategic planning. Neil holds a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA with concentrations in finance, healthcare, and entrepreneurship from The Kellogg School of Management.
Asha varghese
The caterpillar foundation, president
Asha Varghese is the President of the Caterpillar Foundation. In her role, she is responsible for leading the Foundation’s strategy, which focuses on building resilient communities in areas of workforce readiness, education and environmental stability, and aligns with Caterpillar’s vision to help make sustainable progress possible around the world.
Prior to joining Caterpillar, Asha was at GE for 15 years with her most recent role as the Director of Global Health at the GE Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the General Electric Company. Her background includes information systems, Six Sigma and strategic planning for business processes across multiple GE businesses. She is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and began her career through GE’s Information Digital Technology Leadership Program (DTLP), a two-year rotation-based program that focuses on project management and technical expertise.
Asha holds a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and computer science from the University of Louisville, Kentucky, and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She is a graduate of the 2018 Presidential Leadership Scholar program, which serves as a catalyst for a diverse network of leaders brought together to collaborate and make a difference in the world through the lens of the presidential experiences of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Lyndon B. Johnson. She also serves on the board of Covenant House in Chicago. Asha currently resides in Chicago, Illinois.
Andrea F. Wainer
Abbott rapid and molecular diagnostics, Executive vice president
Andrea Wainer is Abbott’s Executive Vice President, Rapid and Molecular Diagnostics. She was appointed to this role in June 2019.
Andrea joined Abbott in 1997 and served in a variety of roles within our pharmaceuticals business, including divisional vice president and general manager, renal care. She then led our Animal Health business, which was acquired by Zoetis in February 2015. Immediately prior to assuming her current responsibilities, Andrea served as Vice President, Molecular Diagnostics.
In her current role, Andrea leads four innovative businesses; one a leader in molecular diagnostics and the analysis of DNA and RNA at the molecular level; another the world’s leading provider of rapid point-of-care diagnostics; a third providing a leading hand-held point of care device; and finally, a world-class informatics solution provider. Each of these offers products that provide clinicians with actionable information that can contribute to better clinical, operational and economic outcomes.
Andrea earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the John M. Olin School of Business, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, and her Masters in Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
Varsay sirleaf, JR
snapper hill clinic limited, chief executive officer
Varsay Sirleaf, Jr. Is CEO of Snapper Hill Clinic, Limited, one of the largest private outpatient clinic networks in Liberia and Co-Founder of Uhai Haircare, a leading pan-African haircare brand. Prior to Snapper Hill and Uhai, he was an Investment Officer with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and one of the leaders of that firm’s East African investment practice. Prior to IFC, he served as a founding partner of SKS Rubber, LLC, a Liberian-based rubber farm management and trading company. Prior to SKS, he was an investment banker with Wachovia Securities (now Wells Fargo).
Varsay received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management (KSM) at Northwestern University where he was the president of the Emerging Markets Club, a NBMBAA-Marriott Scholar and an Austin Scholar. He received his B.A. from Manhattanville College where he was on the Dean’s List, was student body president, co-captain of the lacrosse team and was vice-president of the school’s Kappa Zeta Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Varsay is married to Susan Edwards (KSM ’10) and has two daughters, Blythe Amina and Paige Amira.