People First, Always
Why I joined Waterston Capital
I became a doctor to connect deeply with people as we embark on a journey of wellness together—to heal, to extend life, and to restore hope when it feels utterly lost. There is a sanctity and trust in every interaction that is hard to describe to those who’ve never had the honor, and responsibility, of caring for others’ lives. However, over my many years as a physician, I've also come to understand deeply that medicine is not only practiced at the bedside within hospitals and exam rooms; it is often born in laboratories, academic institutions, and research facilities, driven forward by dedicated scientists and visionaries quietly innovating beyond the spotlight.
Yet, too frequently, extraordinary medical breakthroughs remain hidden, trapped within the walls of universities, awaiting someone to guide them into the world where they can transform lives. These potentially life-changing innovations often become stranded due to insufficient funding, unclear commercialization pathways, or bureaucratic hurdles, leaving patients without access to breakthroughs that could significantly alter their outcomes. This isn’t just about devices and inventions, it’s about fundamentally transforming people’s lives.
Take for example one of my patients, Diana (name changed for privacy). Diana is a vibrant mother, grandmother, and beloved member of her community who was tragically robbed of her independence by Parkinson's Disease many years ago. The tremors, rigidity, and profound immobility slowly stole the small joys of her life—hugging her grandchildren, gardening, and even simple acts like buttoning her shirt became impossible. Witnessing Diana struggle over the course of several years broke my heart, as I knew her condition would only progress further. Then, about five years into her diagnosis, a transformative neuromodulation device, once confined to a research lab shelf, emerged into clinical use. Diana was one of the first patients to receive the commercially available implant. After a careful surgery and personalized adjustments, Diana experienced a miraculous rebirth. Today, she dances joyfully at family weddings, embraces her grandchildren tightly, and moves through life with newfound grace and independence. Her smile, radiant and full of life, reminds me why I became a doctor.
Yet, the journey of medical innovation is not always filled with such victories. I vividly recall another patient—a gentle, kind-hearted man who I saw for many years in and out of the hospital as he battled severe aortic stenosis. Despite our best efforts and compassionate care, his condition advanced relentlessly, and we lost him far too soon. Tragically, he passed away not because there was no solution, but because the breakthrough that could have saved him—a revolutionary heart valve replacement technology known today as TAVR—was still locked within early-stage academic exploration, struggling to find a path to commercialization. His loss remains a poignant reminder of the urgency and importance of our work.
Today, thankfully, patients diagnosed with the same condition have dramatically improved prognoses due to technologies like TAVR, innovations that have successfully bridged the gap from academia to clinical practice. This success underscores precisely why medtech innovation and swift commercialization are so important.
These powerful, contrasting experiences form the core of why I joined Waterston Capital. At Waterston, our mission is clear, purposeful, and urgent: we identify transformative early-stage medical technologies languishing in academic labs and accelerate their journey into the hands of clinicians and patients. Our structured, rigorous, and strategic approach employs a deliberate buy-build-sell model.
In our sourcing and licensing phase, we meticulously identify groundbreaking yet underutilized technologies by engaging closely with top-tier academic institutions and their tech-transfer offices. We focus on identifying innovations with clear potential for significant clinical impact. In the validation and build phase, we employ a rigorous, evidence-driven process that not only confirms clinical efficacy but strategically navigates the complexities of FDA regulatory pathways, ensuring an efficient route to market. Finally, in our exit phase, we thoughtfully align with strategic partners—leading healthcare corporations, innovative medical device companies, and forward-thinking investors—to ensure that these groundbreaking technologies achieve sustainable commercial success and widespread patient accessibility.
Each day, brilliant colleagues across our nation pour their hearts and souls into groundbreaking research. Sadly, many revolutionary discoveries remain unused—victims of bureaucratic inertia, funding gaps, or simply the complexity of bringing technology from lab bench to patient bedside. It is a tragedy—indeed, a moral injustice—that solutions capable of saving lives and reducing suffering often remain untouched, sitting quietly on lab shelves while patients suffer unnecessarily.
At Waterston Capital, we refuse to accept this. We proactively engage with visionary researchers, dedicated clinicians, and leading academic institutions to systematically dismantle barriers to commercialization. Through strategic collaboration, thoughtful validation, and meticulous execution, we ensure groundbreaking technologies fulfill their ultimate purpose: transforming lives, restoring health, and renewing hope.
I joined Waterston Capital because I deeply believe that the future of medicine demands more than incremental improvements—it demands revolutionary breakthroughs. It calls for courageous, committed action to harness innovation swiftly and responsibly. Above all, it demands that we never lose sight of our ultimate purpose: serving humanity, patient by patient, innovation by innovation.
For Diana, for those we have tragically lost, and for every patient still waiting in hope—this is why MedTech matters. This is why I became a doctor. This is why I am passionately committed to Waterston Capital.
In the months to come, I will be sharing insights and inspiration from Benchtop-To-Bedside. We’ll dive deep with our inventors, key opinion leaders, and other experts to give you front-line stories of innovation in the MedTech space. Looking forward to having you join me, here.