SMCMA Physician

SoPE: Finding the Next Breakthrough

You have an idea for a medical device, biologic, or a software tool that will solve a major problem in healthcare. Great! How do you build on this idea? Where do you find people to help you materialize your vision? Where do you go to find resources? What’s the next step?

The long process from idea to innovation to commercialization is fraught with obstacles. The Society of Physician Entrepreneurs (SoPE) was established to fill the gap between medical professionals with great ideas and industrial partners with the resources and knowledge to make things happen. Physicians may have limited hands-on knowledge or bandwidth to start and run a profitable business focused on developing a new healthcare product or idea. SoPE is the best place to gain knowledge from experienced and professional healthcare entrepreneurs while establishing influential contacts for support at all stages of commercialization.

SoPE is a global biomedical and healthcare innovation network with membership open to all healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs and industry stakeholders. SoPE was founded in 2011 by three physicians who shared a common vision - to empower physicians and other professionals to innovate healthcare through entrepreneurship. SoPE continues to gain momentum across the United States and the rest of the world with 30+ chapters and with industry partners who directly support our members’ efforts. Members include doctors, nurses, dentists, healthcare entrepreneurs, investors, engineers, academics, IT professionals and industry representatives.

The San Francisco Bay Area chapter of SoPE has about 500 members and meets on the 3rd Thursdays of the month. We are supported and sponsored by San Mateo County Medical Association. We typically have 2 or 3 startups present plus a keynote speaker.  There will be plenty of time for networking and exchange of ideas. Here are the benefits of joining the SoPE community:

1. Connect with like-minded innovators
2. Learn about successful venturing
3. Help other entrepreneurs move their ideas forward
4. Identify early-stage investing and advising opportunities
5. Create positive change in healthcare

If improving healthcare is your passion and if you want to impact the way healthcare is delivered, come join the conversation and see all that SoPE has to offer.

Uli K. Chettipally, MD., MPH. is an emergency physician, researcher, and an innovator.