MEDICAL INNOVATION IN A WORLD OF RAPIDLY CHANGING MARKETS

Dr. Seema Kumbhat, Medical Director, Medical Devices, Hospira, and Emerging Leader, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs

The market for medical technology is driven by both political and demographic trends. As global markets continue to open and expand and as developing countries continue to see rapid growth of their middle class and aging populations, there is potential for massive market growth in the medical devices sector. How will these new markets impact innovation and cost? What other factors of globalization will impact the industry? What are the ethical and regulatory issues that face this area of medicine? What role can the medical technology industry play for growth of the American economy?

Dr. Seema Kumbhat is a member of the The Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ Emerging Leaders class of 2011. She directs medical device innovation for Hospira, in addition to performing due diligence for strategic alliances and risk management activities. She has extensive experience in leading healthcare technology companies, including McKesson Provider Technologies, GE Healthcare Integrated IT Solutions, and Epic Systems Corporation, and has traveled the world to examine healthcare disparities in other countries. Dr. Kumbhat interned in surgery at the Northwestern Medical Center, was a surgery resident at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, and is licensed to practice medicine and surgery in the state of Illinois. She earned a B.S. from the University of Miami, Florida, and an M.D. from its School of Medicine, where she was national student president of the American Medical Women’s Association.