Last week, Venture Atlanta welcomed a compelling discussion on healthcare innovation, featuring a panel hosted by Catalyst by Wellstar. Titled “Innovating Healthcare: Bridging Clinical Expertise with Entrepreneurial Vision”, the session drew a diverse audience of startup founders, investors, and industry leaders eager to explore the intersection of clinical expertise and venture investments in healthcare.
Moderated by Patric Rayburn, Communications Director and Head of Engagement at Catalyst by Wellstar, the panel included key healthcare leaders:
– Beth Kost, SVP Chief Compliance Officer at Wellstar Health System & Board Chair at Catalyst by Wellstar
– Dr. Daniel Fortes, Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Wellstar Health System
– Snehal Doshi, PharmD, SVP Ancillary and Support Services & Interim President at Wellstar Paulding
– Nicole Cook, Founder & CEO of Alvee, a healthcare startup dedicated to advancing health equity.
The discussion led with how to innovate in a traditionally risk-averse industry. Beth Kost highlighted Wellstar’s internal efforts to reshape this culture by exposing team members to external startups and innovators via Think Tanks. She emphasized the need to embrace risk within a “zero-risk” environment like healthcare.
Snehal Doshi added that collaboration, innovation and safety are deeply interconnected within Wellstar, tying innovation efforts to patient safety practices.
“That collaboration, that interdisciplinary team working together, just like we do in healthcare, is very similar to how we do in the community,” he said.
Representing the startup community, Nicole Cook shared insights on how Alvee is navigating these dynamics, particularly around pilot programs.
Catalyst’s latest direct investment, Alvee is a healthcare startup focused on advancing health equity through technology and data-driven solutions. The company aims to address social determinants of health, providing tools that empower healthcare organizations to improve patient outcomes by identifying and addressing factors such as income, education, housing, and access to care.
“The impact that we can have on enabling providers to be able to do more to care for their patients better is really, really exciting. And the payoff I think, is exponential,” Cook said.
For startups, Cook emphasized the importance of securing strategic partners in healthcare systems to showcase themselves and attract further venture capital investments.
“If you don’t find that first health system partner, it’s incredibly challenging to break into this market,” she said. “The fact that Catalyst is providing this opportunity for founders is really special,” she said.
On the clinical front, Dr. Fortes delved into a real-world example from Wellstar’s thoracic surgery department, sharing the impact of telethoracic surgery consultations. This innovation has dramatically improved access to specialized care.
Fortes’ message was clear: those who are closer to patients can provide invaluable insights that shape better solutions—something investors should leverage more in the healthcare space.
Catalyst stands out as an innovation and venture capital company by offering both funding and the opportunity to pilot solutions in real-world settings within Wellstar.
As the panel demonstrated, this approach holds the potential to shape the future of healthcare by integrating clinical insights with entrepreneurial vision, creating a healthier, more accessible and equitable tomorrow for all.
