SoPE Houston is uniquely positioned in the home of the world’s largest medical center. Under the guidance of Dr. Sudhen Desai, the SoPE chapter organically assembles medical entrepreneurs in every stage startup, from idea conception to mature entrepreneurs with an eye towards exit. The SoPE Houston board is assembled with diversity in mind – leaders in medical entrepreneurship, seasoned medical inventors and entrepreneurs, a lawyer in the health IT space, and a materials scientist in additive manufacturing. Houston SoPE supports local entrepreneurs in many ways, including hosting talks, providing feedback on idea vetting and investment pitches, and providing access to a network of subject matter experts, both technical and financial.
Five Top Reasons You Should Attend Houston SoPE Chapter events
- 1. Learn by Example & perfect your own!
- 2. Understand what seasoned investors expect in real life terms
- 3. Networking with like-minded professionals
- 4. Create your own Due Diligence process
- 5. Be Part of It!
Dr. Sudhen Desai
Chairman
Dr. Desai earned his Doctorate of Medicine with Distinction in Research and Alpha Omega Alpha honors from Albany Medical College, after completing the six-year BS/MD program in conjunction with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. During his latter years of medical school, he was a scholar in the Clinical Research Training Program at the NCI/NIH, a clinical fellowship geared towards the development of translational researchers. He then went on to residency at Stanford University (General Surgery) and UCSF (view site), followed by fellowship in Vascular and Interventional Radiology at Northwestern University. He has practiced Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology for over eight years. He consults with multiple early-stage life sciences companies, venture capital firms and business schools. He has been appointed to multiple committees for the Society of Interventional Radiology and has lectured at the SIR annual meetings. As leader of the Houston chapter of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs (SoPE), Dr. Desai works to engage physicians interested in innovation and idea development, as well as to provide mechanisms and insights to assist ideas seeing the light of day.
LUKE BOYER
Chapter Leader
I am a Metallurgical Scientist specializing in Additive Manufacturing with Baker Hughes Incorporated. I use my analytical PhD background and apply structured problem solving techniques for root cause analysis for both material research and materials consultation in the oil and gas space. I work within a very strong team- we provide value not only in our work in sustaining engineering, but in the new projects we take on to maintain position at the forefront of technological innovation.
I am consistently challenging myself to further develop as a role-model for research engineers interested in leadership and new ventures. I have served as a member of the Executive Committee of the SoPE Houston Chapter for the past three years.
DR. ROBERT RICKETTS
Chapter Leader
Dr. Robert Ricketts attended Franklin and Marshall College for undergraduate and The Ohio State University for medical school. After graduating, he trained in Pediatric Global Health at Texas Children’s Hospital/ Baylor College of Medicine. At present he is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. In addition to his clinical and academic responsibilities, Dr. Ricketts serves as SOPE‘s Houston Chapter Co-President. Dr. Ricketts’s main area of entrepreneurship is in software development. He also advises local start-ups in addition to remaining active in Houston’s growing start-up community.
