Babson College Healthcare Forum Will Illustrate Entrepreneurial Opportunities

BABSON PARK, Mass., April 9  /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Babson College MBA Healthcare & Life Sciences Club will hold its 7th annual industry forum on April 15, 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., at Babson College.

The recently passed healthcare legislation is a watershed moment for the industry and delivery of care to patients. As a result, old institutions and inefficiencies are being done away with in favor of technological advances that encourage high-touch care and patient empowerment. As occurs during

industry turning points, opportunities for entrepreneurs are abundant. This year's conference seeks to identify these opportunities by examining various areas of growth, including healthcare IT, venture capital funding and the use of new social media technologies in marketing healthcare products.

The opening keynote speaker is Matthew Emmens, Chairman, President and CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Emmens has more than 33 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc and businesses operated by Merck KGaA, and Merck & Co. He became chairman, CEO and president of Vertex in 2009 and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2004.

The closing keynote speaker is Jonathan Bush, Co-founder, CEO, President,  and Chairman of athenahealth. Prior to joining athenahealth in 1997, Bush served as an EMT for the City of New Orleans, was trained as a medic in the U.S. Army, and worked as a management consultant with Booz Allen & Hamilton. He earned a B.A. from Wesleyan University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

The panelists represent diverse sectors of the healthcare industry, from suppliers (pharmaceuticals, biotech and medical devices) to healthcare delivery and services, as well as a broad range of functions, from marketing to business development to investors.

Topics of discussion:

• Can Healthcare Reform Live Up to the Hype?
• Is Healthcare IT Headed for a Tipping Point?
• Healthcare 2.0: The Impact of Social Media on Health Information
• Healthcare Entrepreneurs in Action
• Healthcare Funding - Show Me the Money!
• Reaching and Retaining Female Talent in the Healthcare and Life Sciences Industry

Panelists:

• Lisa Adler - Vice President Corporate Communications, Millennium Pharmaceuticals
• Alan Crane - General Partner, Polaris Ventures
• Dave deBronkart - Author on e-Patient Scholars Working Group blog
• Tom Dehner - Former Director, Massachusetts Medicaid, Director & Board Member, Health Connector
• Eric Elliott - President, CIGNA Pharmacy
• Bernadette Fendrock - President and CEO, Herpregen
• Pat Fortune - Partner, Boston Millennia Partners
• Barbara Gniewek - Principal Human Capital, Deloitte Consulting LLP
• Steven Gold, M.D. - Senior Partner for Entrepreneurship, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
• Shwen Gwee - Lead, Digital Strategy and Social Media, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
• John Halamka - CIO, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess & CEO MA-SHARE
• Laurie Halloran - CEO and Managing Partner, Halloran Consulting Group
• Rob Havasy - Business Analyst, Center for Connected Health
• Ben Heywood - Co-Founder and President, PatientsLikeMe
• Bryan Keaney - Consultant
• Amir Lewkowicz - Vice President for Partnerships, Inspire
• John McDonough - CEO, T2 Biosystems
• Imran Nasrullah - Chief Business Officer, MassBio
• Randel Richner - Founder and President, Neocure
• Charlie Schick - Senior Web Producer, Children's Hospital Boston
• Chris Steel - U.S. Country Head, PA Consulting
• Sharon Vitti - Vice President, Brigham & Women's Hospital
• Steve Wardell - Senior Director Business Development, PatientKeeper
• Larry Weber - Chairman, W2 Group
• Caleb Winder - Vice President, Excel Medical Ventures
• John Wlassich - Vice President of Product Development, Nomir Medical Technologies
• Nanditha Yelamanchi - Head of Human Resources for Quality, IT and Legal, Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics

For information, visit http://www.babsonhealth.com/.

Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., is recognized internationally as a leader in entrepreneurial management education. Babson grants BS degrees through its innovative undergraduate program, and grants MBA and custom MS and MBA degrees through the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College. Babson Executive Education offers executive development programs to experienced managers worldwide. For information, visit www.babson.edu.

This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM).  For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com.

SOURCE Babson College