Behind the specs

What is your role at Atonarp?

I am involved in strategic, tactical, and corporate marketing, cross-functional product development teams, and business development. I work on assessing market needs and gaps in the diagnostics and life sciences industries for our ATON platform and creating those product roadmaps. I’m learning about semiconductor fabs and in-situ metrology in advanced manufacturing processes and help with tactical marketing execution for building awareness and sales for our ASTON products. 

‍

What led you to choose a career in the diagnostics industry?

I started in the chemical engineering program at Princeton and ultimately switched my major to molecular biology as the field was just starting to emerge. I was fascinated by genetics and biology. As a marketing and sales executive, I have one of the best seats in the house. I have the opportunity to work with passionate and caring physicians and scientists all over the world.  Inside the company, I enjoy working with scientists and engineers on product development programs, while also interacting with finance, operations and RA/QA, all with the goal of delivering innovative products to improve the lives of patients.

‍

What has been your most rewarding moment/accomplishment in the medical field? 

From a product perspective, I am most proud of helping to bring the CellSearch circulating tumor cell instruments and kits to the market in the mid-2000s as VP of Marketing and Sales at Immunicon. It was the first CTC test to be cleared by FDA and started the wave of development of liquid biopsy tests. These technologies are helping a lot of cancer patients.

A close second is my most recent assignment at LightDeck Diagnostics where I was Chief Marketing Officer. This innovative point-of-care platform is quantitative, fast, and enables multiplex testing. That platform will be deployed in acute care settings, clinics, and retail outlets with a broad menu of tests.

 In a sense, the ATON platform builds on all of my professional experiences, ranging from developing innovative technologies and point-of-care products through cross-functional teams and commercializing them.

 From a personal perspective, I am most proud of developing many marketing and sales professionals over the course of my career.

‍

What do you do for fun?

I have lived in Colorado since 2015. It’s all but a requirement to be an outdoor enthusiast to live here! I walk with my dog, Jamie, almost every day. I hike in the mountains regularly, bike, kayak on the lake, run rivers in rafts occasionally, camp… you name it. I love music and do concerts and festivals as often as I can. I play the guitar. My favorite app is Ultimate Guitar, which gives me the chords and lyrics with a “listen now” feature and lets me play with my favorite bands. So fun! I’m learning banjo and piano. I am an amateur photographer and am learning to paint. 

‍

What advice would you give to other people working in biomedical engineering and science? 

Listen, learn, and grow. Every day is an adventure when you approach your work with a learning mindset. Analyze and act, take intelligent risks, and learn from your mistakes. Take time to celebrate successes. Most of all, have fun.

‍

Other insights you would like to include? 

Working in the diagnostics industry, and healthcare generally, is important work. For me, as frustrating as the regulatory environment can sometimes be, creating innovative products to help doctors deliver better care is way better than selling sneakers.