International Women's Day 2025 offers an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable contributions of women in the medtech and healthtech sectors. These leaders are driving innovation, improving patient outcomes, and shaping the future of healthcare. Here are some of the most influential women in this landscape:
1. Dr. Mary Lou Jepsen
Dr. Mary Lou Jepsen is a pioneering scientist and entrepreneur known for her work in display, imaging, and computer hardware. She co-founded One Laptop per Child and later founded Openwater in 2016, aiming to revolutionize medical imaging and therapeutics. Openwater's technologies have the potential to treat various cancers, mental diseases, and cardiovascular conditions. Notably, all 68 patents from Openwater are free to use, and the firm's software is open source, reflecting a commitment to accessible healthcare innovation.
2. Dr. Geetha Manjunath
Dr. Geetha Manjunath is the founder and CEO of NIRAMAI Health Analytix, a Bengaluru-based startup offering non-invasive, radiation-free breast cancer screening through AI. Her technology, Thermalytix, utilizes machine intelligence over thermography images to detect breast cancer, especially in women under 45, addressing limitations of traditional mammography. Dr. Manjunath holds 16 US patents and has been recognized in Forbes India's Top 20 Self-Made Women.
3. Dr. Katerina Spranger
Dr. Katerina Spranger is the founder and CEO of Oxford Heartbeat, a medical software company enhancing the safety and accuracy of brain implant surgeries. Their AI-powered software, PreSize Neurovascular, assists clinicians in planning neurovascular surgeries with implant devices. Under her leadership, Oxford Heartbeat was named the "Best UK Healthcare Startup" by WIRED magazine in 2018. Dr. Spranger's contributions have been recognized with the Princess Royal Silver Medal by the Royal Academy of Engineering.
4. Lucy O'Keeffe
Lucy O'Keeffe is the CEO of CroíValve, an Irish medtech company developing a device to treat tricuspid regurgitation, a severe heart condition affecting over 1.6 million Americans annually. Under her leadership, CroíValve has secured FDA approval and raised €14.5 million for a feasibility study in the US. The company's innovative valve technology aims to improve patients' quality of life by addressing blood flow inefficiencies.
5. Dr. Fei-Fei Li
Dr. Fei-Fei Li is the CEO of World Labs, where she has launched projects expanding AI applications, significantly impacting the medtech sector. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing AI technologies that enhance healthcare delivery and patient care.
6. Akanksha Malik
Akanksha Malik is a data scientist and AI expert based in Victoria, Australia. She is among the Indian-Australian women making remarkable contributions to STEM fields, acting as leaders, innovators, and role models. Her work spans various disciplines, from biomedical research to digital health, contributing vital advancements and inspiring future generations.
7. Dr. Nimmi Ramanujam
Dr. Nimmi Ramanujam is a distinguished biomedical engineer and professor at Duke University, recognized for her groundbreaking work in women's health technologies. She invented the Pocket Colposcope and Callascope, devices that revolutionize cervical cancer screening by making it more accessible and less invasive. Her initiatives, such as the Women Inspired Strategies for Health (WISH), aim to improve cervical cancer prevention in low-resource settings globally. Dr. Ramanujam's dedication to integrating technology with global health has earned her numerous accolades, including the 2023 IEEE Biomedical Engineering Award.
8. Dr. Iman Abuzeid
Dr. Iman Abuzeid co-founded Incredible Health in 2017 to address critical staffing challenges in healthcare. Utilizing artificial intelligence, the platform efficiently matches nurses with hospitals, streamlining the hiring process. As of 2024, about one million U.S. nurses and 1,500 hospitals use Incredible Health. Dr. Abuzeid's leadership has positioned her among the few female CEOs of color leading companies valued over $1 billion, reflecting her significant impact on the healthcare industry.
9. Flavia Tata Nardini
Flavia Tata Nardini, CEO and co-founder of Fleet Space Technologies, has been instrumental in advancing satellite technology for healthcare applications. Her work enables remote monitoring and data collection, which are crucial for telemedicine and health services in underserved regions. Recognized as the Top Innovator at the 2025 Woman of the Year Awards, Nardini's contributions are enhancing connectivity and access to healthcare globally.
10. Dr. Malini Olivo
Dr. Malini Olivo is a leading scientist in biophotonics, specializing in cancer diagnostics, dermatology, and women’s health. As a Distinguished A*STAR Fellow in Singapore, she has contributed to over 500 scientific papers and holds 75+ medical technology patents. Her research in photomedicine has revolutionized non-invasive diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. Dr. Olivo’s work exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary research in translating scientific advancements into real-world healthcare solutions, inspiring future generations in medtech and healthtech.
Lessons we Learnt from their hussle
The journeys of these trailblazing women in medtech and healthtech teach us invaluable lessons about resilience, innovation, and impact-driven leadership. Their success stories highlight the importance of perseverance in the face of skepticism,as seen in Dr. Geetha Manjunath’s commitment to AI-powered breast cancer screening. They remind us that true breakthroughs emerge from challenging traditional norms,
like Dr. Mary Lou Jepsen’s disruptive advancements in imaging technology. These leaders also emphasize the significance of social responsibility,
with Dr. Nimmi Ramanujam making cervical cancer screening more accessible to underserved populations.
Their journeys prove that diversity in leadership, as exemplified by Dr. Iman Abuzeid, can drive transformative change, and that interdisciplinary thinking,
like Flavia Tata Nardini’s application of satellite technology in healthcare, opens new frontiers. Moreover, their work demonstrates how artificial intelligence, when harnessed ethically, can enhance healthcare,
a vision championed by Dr. Fei-Fei Li. Whether it's through patient-centric innovation, pushing the boundaries of AI, or redefining industry standards,
these women prove that impact comes from persistence, purpose, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. Their stories serve as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, and leaders striving to create meaningful change in the medtech and healthtech landscape.
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How can we further support and empower the next generation of female innovators to drive even greater advancements in healthcare?
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