5 Most Empowering Women Leaders in MedTech Industry in 2022

1. November Issue 08 2022 Digital Health Telehealth and its Scope in the Post-Pandemic World Embracing Innovations Digital Transforma?ons in Healthcare to Look Out for in 2023 Maria Nyakern Founder AKRN Scientific Consulting S.L. Maria Nyakern Empowering the MedTech Sector with Efficient Clinical Research

2. Helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world for one person.

4. The Starlets and The Novelties O ver the past decade, the MedTech industry has been growing at an exponential rate. As a result of this high amount of growth, companies and startups within this industry are returning favorable profits to investors, which ensures that these investors continue providing funding to the industry. Many early-stage MedTech startups are being acquired by larger firms, which is leading to the creation of numerous innovations that are taking the healthcare industry by storm. The ever-growing nature of the MedTech industry means that advancements are being made on a continual basis. Because of these advancements, healthcare is becoming more effective, more affordable, and more accessible for people all around the world. From AI technology to needle- less diabetes care, the most recent innovations within the MedTech industry have already proven to be highly effective at delivering quantifiable results to people in need. Today's world is driven by technology, which is why the majority of people prefer digital services that can be conveniently accessed whenever necessary. The creation of digital healthcare services and telehealth has allowed the medical industry to provide much-needed medical care to patients through digital devices, which means that a patient can obtain medical care without waiting to book a face-to- face appointment. This technology is improving with each passing day and is already available through a variety of personalized mobile

5. applications. Patients can speak with their physicians to receive a quick diagnosis and helpful medical advice when needed, which is particularly beneficial for people who are managing long-term health conditions. This technology will only improve from here on out. Recent innovations in MedTech have not only helped accelerate the growth of the industry but have also helped create technology that will improve lives and medical care for generations to come. As technology grows and our capability to offer less expensive, safer, and more successful medical care -- the MedTech industry will prove to be fruitful for all parties involved and an exciting venture for both startups and industry leaders alike. In the modern healthcare industry, these innovations are being empowered by starlets who are shining bright with exemplary ideas that spark transformations in the sector. Insights Care, on its quest to embrace the odyssey of these staunch leaders, came across the 5 Most Empowering Women Leaders in MedTech Industry in 2022. Flip through the pages to indulge in the inspirational journey of these leaders, who are revolutionizing the ever- evolving healthcare industry. Have a Delightful Read! - Abhishek Joshi

6. 08 Maria Nyakern Empowering the MedTech Sector with Efficient Clinical Research Cover Story

7. C C C O O O N N N T T T E E E N N N T T T 22 Angie Conley Bridging Healthcare with Technology Leadership 26 CXO SONS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN DAUGHTERS Articles 32 18 Mabel Gimeno Transforming the Methods for Early Eyecare with Innova?ve Tech Solu?ons 30 Digital Health Telehealth and its Scope in the Post-Pandemic World Embracing Innovations Digital Transforma?ons in Healthcare to Look Out for in 2023

8. Pooja Bansal Editor-in-Chief Anish Miller Senior Editor Abhishek Joshi Saloni, Abhilasha Managing Editor Assisting Editors Visualiser David King Mrunalinee Deshmukh Art & Design Head Co-designer Paul Belin Sonia Raizada Art & Picture Editor Amy Jones John Smith Business Development Manager Marketing Manager Sarah Wilson, John Smith, Alex Vincent Kelli, Bill, Anna Business Development Executives Sales Executives Jacob Smile Amar Sawant Technical Head Assistant Technical Head David, Robert Technical Consultants Alina Sege Renuka Kulkarni Digital Marketing Manager Assistant Digital Marketing Manager SME-SMO Executives Gemson Eric Smith Research Analyst Tanaji Fartade Circulation Manager sales@insightscare.com November, 2022 Contact Us: Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - 302-319-9947 Email: info@insightscare.com For Subscription: www.insightscare.com Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. Office No. 22, Rainbow Plaza, Shivar Chowk, Pimple Saudagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411017 Phone - India: 7410033802, 74100058552 Email: info@insightscare.com For Subscription: www.insightscare.com https://twitter.com/Insightscare Follow us on : www.facebook.com/InsightsCare/ Copyright © 2022 Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd., All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Insights success. Reprint rights remain solely with Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. Insights Care is powered by Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd.

9. Featuring Person Company Brief Angie has developed a robo?c ortho?c to help people who live with muscle weakness or injury to use their arms so they may live more independently. Abilitech Medical Inc. abilitechmedical.com Angie Conley CEO Kelly Feist Managing Director Ascom Americas ascom.com Kelly brings a proven track record of delivering profitable growth and industry impact. Under Mabel's leadership, DIVE Medical's vision is to ensure that everyone lives at their full poten?al across a life?me through early vision diagnosis and treatment. DIVE Medical dive-medical.com Mabel Gimeno CEO and Co-founder AKRN Scien?fic Consul?ng S.L. akrnconsul?ng.com Maria is a clinical research scien?st and medical device execu?ve with a broad understanding of clinical development and commercializa?on. Maria Nyakern Founder Garwood Medical Devices LLC garwoodmedical.com Mary is an experienced scien?st in the medical device industry with exper?se in prosthe?c joint infec?ons and electrochemistry. Mary Canty Director of Research

10. Maria Nyakern Efficient Clinical Research Maria Empowering the MedTech Sector with I felt inspired to be part of setting up and coordinating clinical trials to answer critical scientific questions and get proof that the new treatment works and is safe.

11. Maria Nyakern Founder AKRN Scientific Consulting S.L. Story

12. 5 Most Empowering Women Leaders in MedTech Industry in 2022 T he current tide of the digital revolution is directed by technology, guiding every sector and carving a world filled with better opportunities. Amongst many, the healthcare segment is also flourished with a cluster of advantages that are technology-mediated. She exclaims, “That was an exciting time in my life!” After finishing her doctoral studies in Stockholm in 2003, Dr Nyakern spent a few years pursuing academic research in Bologna, Italy. Later, in 2006 she moved to Brussels and started to work in clinical research at a global medical device company. In this list, the first beneficiary is the MedTech sector. This particular healthcare segment has been booming and is expected to rise with a CAGR of 5.5 percent by 2029. This development has provided multiple innovations with the resilient endeavors of visionary leaders. In contemporary times, healthcare visionary leaders are enhancing the fruits of research and facilitating the needed direction in order to strengthen the medical sector in a better way. Expressing her research interest, she says, “I was fascinated by the world of clinical research and realized how it is necessary to develop new treatments for different diseases and conditions that occur in humans. Applied clinical research is the foundation of evidence-based medical practice. I felt inspired to be part of setting up and coordinating clinical trials to answer critical scientific questions and get proof that the new treatment works and is safe.” Infusing expertise, creativity, and innovation in the MedTech segment is an inspiring healthcare leader—Maria Nyakern. She is the Founder of AKRN Scientific Consulting S.L. She has clubbed her childhood passion of becoming a doctor and her interest in clinical research to shower the medical community with a trustworthy platform. Along her journey, she has also been successful in providing clinical and regulatory services for Medical Device and diagnostic manufacturing companies. Over the following years, she was immersed in the world of clinical investigations and understood the scientific standards that are required to protect patients and produce reliable scientific results. Enlightening further, she informs, “The clinical investigation is one of the last steps of a long and often quite tedious research and development process. Understanding the connectivity of R&D and clinical research inspired me to pursue science, technology, and engineering.” Maria strongly believes that working in clinical research enables the Doctors and healthcare community to evaluate their practice objectively and be involved in advancing the medical discipline. Furthering ahead, she is found inspiring fellow women professionals of the field to rise above and gift the care sector with quality skills and expertise. Hence, she encourages everyone to think broadly about what research actually is. She puts, “Those who work in healthcare often feel that they are asked to help others in need. Some of the benefits come from knowing that you are contributing to the science and the art of medicine and that you have the tools to question and test different approaches objectively. Everyone has a role in supporting research—many will contribute to research, and some will be research leaders.” Let us dive further into her leadership tale and learn how it is transforming the MedTech industry! An Inspiring Tale As a child, Maria wanted to be a doctor, but in her late teens, she became more interested in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM). She loved reading biographies about great scientists and scientific discoveries and was inspired by female scientists like Rosalind Franklin, Emilie du Chatelet, and Lise Meitner. For her being in healthcare is not just a career – it’s a calling! Spearheading Dream into Reality Her interest in medical research awakened during her last year of undergraduate studies in molecular biology at Stockholm University in Sweden. She took a course in advanced cell biology led by Professor Uno Lindberg, who later became a very enlightening supervisor during her final degree project and motivated her to pursue a research career, followed by her doctoral studies. After working in academic research in Sweden and Italy, Dr Nyakern did spend about ten years at different global medical device companies and startups located in Europe. Later, she founded AKRN Scientific Consulting (AKRN).

13. I worked with all the hired staff and focused on setting up a milieu that promoted and facilitated the reasoning skills required to solve given problems successfully. Along the way, she got to know the work of several outstanding women pioneers, some running their own research labs or startups and some working with the corporate industry. She notes, “This was incredibly inspiring, and I knew that one day, I wanted to start a women-owned business that could promote the excellent work of like-minded women professionals of the MedTech industry.” more empathetic and nurturing perspective to AKRN. This helped her in the decision-making that drove diverse perceptions, contributing to opinions that made a well-rounded outcome. Maria made specific efforts to develop good female leaders as she feels that they are not only strong mentors but also often pillars of the community. She shares, “For women, the leadership journey is not linear, and we must deal with obstacles along the way, and I really believe in helping women who want to achieve more.” Therefore, in 2017, when Maria established herself as a clinical consultant in Madrid, she started facilitating opportunities for other talented scientists, especially female scientists, and initiated to establish a life-science consulting business based on the ethics and values she consistently applied in her own profession as a clinical research scientist. As her career and life progressed, she was motivated by an aspiration to provide problem-based learning opportunities to talented professionals of AKRN. She says, “I wanted to make learning approachable, engaging, and fun, and I think I have been successful in this. I established a training program that consciously worked on providing various opportunities to continue and develop the employee’s critical thinking skills that are so valuable for problem-solving and planning, and holistically executing clinical research.” Hence, AKRN Scientific Consulting was born. Apart from the extensive experience that Maria brought with her, she feels that being a female leader introduced a

14. Expressing further, she adds, “I worked with all the hired staff and focused on setting up a milieu that promoted and facilitated the reasoning skills required to solve given problems successfully.” leadership skills, has demonstrated to the AKRN’s potential clients that Maria’s company possesses the skills and insights that are useful at every stage of the project development cycle. Maria has also set up training programs that educate young scientists to enter the rewarding world of medical device clinical research. Her scientific training gave her the perfect terrain to develop resilience and not give up. Maria notes that she has seldom found a clear route in life. Instead, she had to forge her own way most of the time. She started in science, continued into clinical research, and developed enthusiastically into an entrepreneur and business leader. Under Dr Nyakern’s guidance and experience, AKRN was acquired by a US-based global medical device company—CRO NAMSA in the year 2022. It is interesting to note that the acquisition occurred even before the completion of five years of its foundation. Such has been the impact of Maria’s leadership. This acquisition will allow NAMSA to expand its expertise and ability to meet the growing demand for safe, efficient clinical development and commercialization services for medical devices. Maria’s inspiring story reflects a famous philosophy—When life offers you an opportunity, do not turn it down. Reminiscing about her journey, she says, “I always took any opportunity that came my way with both hands. It has been a very intense decade with long nights, missed holidays, and sacrifices along the way, but I believe you must do what grabs your interest.” About AKRN AKRN is a medical device CRO with specific expertise in European medical device law that develops and conducts clinical investigations and performance studies in compliance with the requirements outlined in the medical Maria is an inspiring leader, and she is steadily seeking to drive the field of clinical research consulting services forward. She says, “I am entirely convinced that the future lies with young talent. And I hope I can be part of shaping it in the way I believe is right.” The European Association of Economy and Competitiveness awarded Maria Nyakern with the Isaac Peral National Prize for Research, Science, and Innovation 2022 to recognize the research work carried out by AKRN. Dr Nyakern has put these values into her brainchild – AKRN, since its inception. The company has experienced fast and steady organic growth, both in employees, clients, and projects, and has been able to establish itself in the European market quickly. Maria, with her innovative The European Association and its jury recognized the success of AKRN as a medical device CRO and Dr Nyakern'scapacity for "entrepreneurial leadership within the European framework." As an entrepreneur, you also need courage and tenacity to provide arguments about why someone should invest in you and your business idea.

16. device regulations EU MDR 2017/745 and EU IVDR 2017/746. implementing a medical device quality management system as per to ISO 13485:2016. Optimizing Regulatory Services for Clients She informs, “We have an excellent track record of meeting short turnaround times, which is extremely important for medical device startups during the development phase.” AKRN's services are grounded in medicine and science and assist its MedTech clients and partners in moving from medical discovery into clinical development, commercialization, and post-market follow-up. This helps AKRN to facilitate its services when one needs to reach critical clinical milestones that can demonstrate a new technology’s value and guarantee the subsequent financing round. The AKRN team has specific competence in devices in the cardiovascular therapeutic space and aims to be the most experienced and knowledgeable European CRO in this field today. Its multidisciplinary team comprises research specialists and clinical professionals having higher scientific knowledge obtained from Ph.D., Pharm.D., and Masters in Clinical Research programs. Such strength of its high level of scientific and clinical expertise helps the company to optimize and offer services in a cost-conscious and diligent manner that are highly valued by AKRN's clients. Diverse Offerings The core of AKRN's business has been to set up and manage medical device clinical investigations according to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) for medical devices and the ISO standard 14155:2020. Maria's medical and clinical research background has ensured that clinical trials are set up and executed according to good clinical practice and has always been the cornerstone of her leadership. AKRN experience covers a wide range of medical device therapeutic areas, including neuroscience and cardiovascular devices. Additionally, the organization is highly fluent in more than ten European languages, which is very important to master when working in a European setting and with competent national authorities and ethics committees. As a parcel of their basket of service offerings, her team also supports manufacturers with several important regulatory and technical documents, including Clinical Evaluation Reports (CER), Performance Evaluation Reports (PER), Summary of Safety and Clinical Performance (SSCP), and more. This multidisciplinary team is also able to offer a single point of contact, with the benefit of strong senior management support, which facilitates working with SMEs and MedTech partners that need both “boots on the ground” and executive strategy and support. She proudly says, “Our team has proven to have solid knowledge in the clinical research industry, with specific insights and expertise in the European MedTech setting that can help our clients meet their goals. “That, combined with a genuine passion for medical device technology and supporting small and emerging MedTech manufacturers and startups!” Along with its top offerings, AKRN consultants help companies transition their device development from the medical device and IVD directives (MDD and IVDD) to the recent European regulations EU MDR 2017/745 and EU IVDR 2017/746. Also, they provide guidance on

17. For women, the leadership journey is not linear, and we must deal with obstacles along the way, and I really believe in helping women who want to achieve more. She feels that her clients and partners view her organization as trusted and valued advisors in clinical investigations, regulatory development, and CE-mark strategic consulting. allies is critical, and the industry must highlight how ‘female’ leadership can complement the traditional, more male leadership. Women and the Medtech Industry Maria shares, “As a business owner and entrepreneur, I’ve had the opportunity to support women’s growth and persuade them to take chances and try new roles. I feel humbled to see how well my audience has responded and its impact, ushering more women into the medical device industry. Because as important as it is to have a pipeline and role models, we also need allies that encourage you to strive for more and say, Of course, it should be Me!” On a broader spectrum, gender inequality is not a MedTech- specific challenge. The female ratio of CEOs and founders in startup verticals in medicine and technology is less than 20%, which is in line with most other startup sectors. In contrast, as per the World Health Organization, women account for 70% of the global health and social care workforce. She is personally inspired by the capacity and leadership shown by the talented women in her organization. AKRN has many young female role models within the company. All across AKRN and NAMSA, women in leadership positions are a living testament to the many ways women are lighting the way. She opines that gender inequality leads to a severe lack of focus on women’s health issues in medical research. So, it is clear that the industry needs to innovate for women and needs more innovation by women in healthcare. Maria mentions that supporting emerging female leaders is the key, particularly while the world still has few role models. Education, Coaching and Mentoring, and having

18. An Advice to Excel expanded expertise of the combined organizations, they believe that the organization will serve as the world's leading CRO for cardiovascular research services. In the interview interaction, Maria opinionated on the significance of providing entrepreneurs with funding, coaching, mentoring, and business support to develop their ideas. Maria proceeds to inform that the acquisition of AKRN by NAMSA will increase their global scale and will help them serve MedTech clients across 19 locations throughout APAC, Europe, North America, and South America. She says, “As an entrepreneur, you also need courage and tenacity to provide arguments about why someone should invest in you and your business idea.” As the worldwide leader in the medical device testing industry since 1967, NAMSA's complete continuum development services help clients overcome development hurdles, mitigate concerns and streamline commercialization efforts. Maria is also a defender of being “Humbitious,” a term coined by the executive coach and distinguished Trinity University professor Dr. Amer Kaissi that speaks about finding the right match between being humble and ambitious. She brings to notice the way in which Dr. Kaissi shatters the common myths about leadership being an ego- driven game and talks about the power of low-ego and high-drive leadership. Highlighting the importance of changing dynamics of healthcare worldwide, Dr Nyakern explains, “As we prepare for future health challenges, we know there will be no single solution or answer. That’s why we must keep building our team today, with people from all backgrounds and experiences — including, but not limited to, brilliant women — so that the innovation reflects all of us and a healthier future with more robust health systems and a renewed and refocused cross-sector collective of new leaders.” Her advice to people is to reach out to others for help and not be afraid or ashamed to connect with those business leaders who inspire them. She says, “Send them an email, connect with them on LinkedIn, or ask a mutual contact for an introduction. Good leaders are always willing to give you their time and guide you to succeed.” “At AKRN, now a part of NAMSA, we will continue working to be the first and most trusted MedTech CRO in Spain, Europe, and beyond,” concludes Dr Maria Nyakern. Dr Nyakern is passionate about supporting budding entrepreneurs and making the path easier for others. She delivers a powerful message that says, “My leadership story started as a young girl without industry connections, mentors, or allies. All I had was a powerful desire to achieve and prove myself. My tenacity and courage helped me get to where I am today.” Path for the Future By partnering with NAMSA, AKRN aspires to continue increasing its presence globally and in Europe. With the

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20. Digital Health 18 November | 2022 www.insightscare.com

21. Telehealth and its Scope in the Post-Pandemic WORLD C OVID-19 is a big term in today’s world. Since the pandemic, if people have experienced something good, it is the delivery of healthcare, and health information services via remote technologies. Before the pandemic started visiting a doctor, a hospital or a clinic was a hectic task to do which involved longer waiting time and delayed appointments. The efficiency, effectiveness and cost associated with telehealth were rewarded with disbelief by providers and patients alike. However, the pandemic and the lockdown have pointed out telehealth as an essential and good innovation to have, especially in the crisis. Post-pandemic, we can experience telehealth resulting in virtual check-ups and remote diagnosis with effective measures to treat the patients with the best methods possible. During the pandemic, many people started to use these services to fulfil their medical needs. In the process, people discovered that telehealth is providing far more amenities compared to video visits between patients and healthcare providers. We can assume the numerous advantages of telehealth for both patients and healthcare providers post-pandemic. 19 November | 2022 www.insightscare.com

22. As per the experts’ prediction, neurologists and physical therapists will find it easier to observe the patient’s ability to navigate their home environment while undergoing treatment. Convenience and comfort Ÿ One obvious advantage of telehealth is the comfort and convenience of having a medical visit without physically travelling to the doctor’s office or clinic. Telehealth visits will easily fit into patients’ busy schedules. Telehealth will be responsible for family connections Ÿ It will be helpful for the patient to have a family member with them when they will be undergoing treatment or a consultation with their doctor. A family member will be able to help the patients to answer the questions or additional information. In addition, a family member will be able to keep and maintain a record of valuable information from the visits. As the patients will have an option to meet their health experts or physician using any electronic gadget such as phone, tablet, laptop, or computer, patients can access or schedule an appointment whenever they will have free time. In addition, those patients who are injured or in the stage of recovery will not have to travel to the clinic or hospital for their check-up as telemedicine will allow these patients to stay in a safe and comfortable environment. Efficient cost-saving and management Ÿ Telehealth visits will not require patients to travel, and it will help in lowering the secondary expenses. Telemedicine will offer time and cost-saving by decreasing transportation costs, reducing the need for childcare, and reducing time away from work. Suitability of care Ÿ With telehealth, the patients will easily receive the care when they will need it and they will not have to wait for an appointment. In emergency cases, telehealth will allow the patients to receive care immediately, and help them until they will reach the hospital. One of the advantages of telehealth we will experience soon that is: telemedicine will be accessible on weekends and holidays, especially when healthcare and clinics are closed. Telehealth will offer us an alternative source of immediate care. Analysis from the research indicates that patients who will use telehealth will spend less time in the hospital and that is going to reduce the associated cost of the additional hospital bills and other expenses related to hospital medication. Eventually, telehealth will contribute towards reducing the overhead medical costs, as healthcare providers will pay less amount of money towards their facility’s additional expenses. Controlling the spread of infections Ÿ Telehealth is currently an excellent way to help and control the diseases that cause infections and illness, recent example is COVID-19. Telehealth protects both healthcare professionals and patients by holding patient-clinical meetings at a distance, making it the most effective way to control the spread of infections. By using telehealth in medical practices, even doctors can make medical appointments easier, more convenient, and less expensive for many of their patients. The bottom line Experts already assume that telehealth will soon come up with enhanced methods to control the spread of infections and treat the patients with additional precise medication required with advanced technology. Telehealth has been an invaluable tool, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has offered numerous advantages, both in treating the patients suffering from COVID-19 and treating patients with unrelated conditions from a distance, contributing its services to prevent the spread of the disease. Telehealth will provide a better assessment Ÿ However, looking at the advantages of telehealth we can experience now, it can be assumed that these services will contribute more efficiently and will continue to apply in the post-pandemic world. It will be an advantage for some specialists to treat the patients in their home environment when they will be assessing their condition. Observing the surroundings will provide the doctors with the data that will help to understand the patient’s condition. - Anish Miller 20 November | 2022 www.insightscare.com

24. 5 Most Empowering Women Leaders in MedTech Industry in 2022 Bridging Healthcare with Technology Leadership S houlder pain. Arm weakness. Elbow joint deficiency. Upper extremity disabilities are not only major afflictions for patients but can physically burden therapists and challenge the productivity of clinics. Through the interview highlights below, let us delve deeper into her journey of shaping the MedTech device industry with Abilitech! Angie, could you brief us about your inspiration behind venturing into the MedTech industry? As a result, technological inventions have come to the forefront, including assistive technology. The use of assistive technology for upper limbs is a rapidly growing area, and has led to improvements in chronically impaired patients’ ability to function. I have always been attracted to helping other people. My father was a physician, and my mother was an educator who set good examples of loving their work and serving their community. They always told me to find what I love, to do that well, and the rest will fall into place. It also has the potential to reduce long-term costs. One study co-funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Rehabilitation Research and Development Service demonstrated clinical benefits for robotics-assisted therapy and showed lower total costs of care when factoring in therapy and downstream healthcare costs. In 2015, I saw a video of a 3D-printed exoskeleton that helped children move their arms for the first time. The social impact of that device was captivating. I looked further into the technology and learned of the enormous unmet need. With the demand for such innovations estimated to reach $3.5 billion in 2026, leaders like Angie Conley are mesmerizing the world with their share of inventions in the field to fulfill this rising demand. When people lose the use of their legs, the basic standard of care is to get a wheelchair. And when people lose an arm, they get a prosthetic arm. Until Abilitech, there were no good commercial solutions to help people who have weak or injured arms. Her thoughtful efforts to provide relief for shoulder and arm injuries in the comfort of one’s home led to the creation of Abilitech. The company facilitates the rehabilitation needs of people with the Abilitech Assist Device, which is an at- home device that regularly aids activities of daily living. My medical device background at Medtronic provided the business acumen and relationships to build a first-class team and a product that I am passionate about! Please tell us about your journey in the industry, highlighting your contribution to Abilitech’s success. Under Angie’s leadership, Abilitech Medical has won numerous awards, and she is also named as an inventor on two patents. As the CEO of the company, she believes in the discipline established by inculcating mission, vision, and core values. She places the organization’s mission to restore independence to people who live with neuromuscular weakness and its core values of people, impact, innovation, and results at the heart of Abilitech. This has enabled them to be renowned as what their customers call – AWheelchair for the Arms. When I founded Abilitech, I was guided by strong input from clinical experts interested in seeing a portable assistive technology become commercially available for patients who had lost the function of their arms due to stroke and other neuromuscular conditions. They believed that moving with intention and repetition would help these individuals gain strength. 22 November | 2022 www.insightscare.com

25. Angie Conley Chief Executive O?cer Abilitech Medical, Inc.

26. It is important to create a culture where employees feel safe to try new things. Experienced leadership can help to translate the learning from failures into future success. understand different populations with our Abilitech Assist device and refine who we can help, and determine how our technology needs to evolve to help more people and new indications. Could you elaborate upon the core values on which the company is built, and what is the mission of the organization? I cannot overstate the importance of emphasizing the mission, vision, and values to drive the company. I saw this work very effectively at Medtronic, and it always brought great meaning to my work. At Abilitech, we also use our mission, vision, and values as our north star. They maintained that an at-home device, regularly aiding activities of daily living, could help with rehabilitation. Reimbursement considerations and the need for large clinical studies shaped our commercial product strategy to focus on the activities of daily living because we could demonstrate patient-specific outcomes within minutes. It also allowed us to focus the resources on a small market, learn about our device, and expand from there. We have worked with key centers of excellence to better Startups are hard. They require long hours, can have limited resources, and the job market is extremely competitive. Our mission (to restore independence to people who live with neuromuscular weakness) and our values (people, impact, innovation, results) are worn proudly and are not just some corporate speak. A highlight of my work is our weekly team meeting, where 24 November | 2022 www.insightscare.com

27. I get to hear employees share how they are realizing our mission and values in their individual job duties. These guideposts help us stay motivated and focus on what’s important. They have become a tangible way through which we have recruited and retained the top industrial talent. there is a shift from fee-for-service to models considering the overall cost of care, such as Medicare Advantage. Ultimately, this should be a good thing for Abilitech when considering the potential to reduce other medical costs, help people live longer and more independently in their homes, delay or avoid the expense of skilled nursing homes, and in some cases, return to work. Tell us more about the services and the immersive benefits that make your company stand out from the competition. Being an experienced leader, what is your intuitive advice for the budding youngsters venturing into the MedTech industry? We target patients with a manual muscle test of two or greater in the shoulder and elbow, and it’s thrilling to see our Abilitech Assist device help many of these individuals in performing daily tasks that they couldn’t otherwise have accomplished. Many patients call us the “Wheelchair for the arms” and say that they feel like their arms are floating in the water. To make the technology available in their home environments is the icing on the cake. Embrace your organization’s mission, vision and values early on to help guide you through important decisions. Seek teams with delicate balances of complementary skills, experience, potential and personalities. You need some leaders who know how to get things done, and in medical device, it is essential that you do things right the first time. But lateral thinking is important, too. Experience from one field with a new application can lead to great creativity. There are no other commercial devices used in the home that can support both the shoulder and elbow and adjust for different weighted objects, whether that’s a spoon, cell phone, or 12-oz. glass of water. Assistance at the shoulder helps people lift their arms with controlled movement repeatedly, to accomplish activities of daily living. Make sure you understand reimbursement and how your organization gets paid best. This drives so many decisions, impacting product design, clinical studies, sales channels and strategy, and more. Please elaborate on the technological developments and the patented technologies that the company incorporates when catering to the dynamic needs of the MedTech Industry. The learning mindset is important. Developing a new technology is not easy and you are bound to make mistakes. Failure can also be a way of learning, especially when it happens at an early stage of the development process. We have a robust intellectual property portfolio with the freedom to operate analysis. Central to our IP is the ability to dynamically adjust for different weights and to have both a shoulder and elbow assist. It is important to create a culture where employees feel safe to try new things. Experienced leadership can help to translate the learning from failures into future success. What are the biggest challenges that you have faced, and the most important lessons that you have learned in your professional journey so far? Lastly, spend time in customer discovery. Look at all your stakeholders and understand the value proposition to them. Study the competitive landscape and learn what has historically worked and where the pitfalls have occurred. The two major headwinds we have faced in recent years are COVID and the very complex reimbursement terrain in the U.S. It’s more efficient to be a fast follower! Physician and clinician fatigue is very real in this pandemic-affected environment, and the people we work with are immunocompromised. In a very short amount of time, we flipped our sales model to market direct to patients and built out a tele-evaluation assessment program. Additionally, the U.S. reimbursement is ever-changing, and 25 November | 2022 www.insightscare.com

28. I I am Nancy Udenka, founder of Teenage Mom Initiative A Physiologist, Medical doctor (in view) at Shenyang and an adent Mental Health advocate on a mission to responses, and first-hand experience in research and n most parts of the world, parents love their sons more than daughters, they seem to have the perception that more investments should be put into the males because of course, they would carry on the family name and legacy. Even in marriages, where the woman has no respect nor value unless she gives birth to a son. The preference of the male child over the females has also contributed largely to menace of gender inequality, decline in girl child education, and socioeconomic disparities. and I celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child. Medical College, MPH (one of my goals) Health scholar acquire prominent leadership skills in emergency operations. I hold Bachelor's Degree in Physiology, General from Health at Nigerian Red Cross Society. Certified by Customer Service: Managing Customer Expectations, Troubleshooting. And Customer Service Representative Anambra State University. Community Volunteer on LinkedIn in Customer Experience Leadership, and and Customer Service: Problem Solving and Certificate by Alison. A philanthropist and exponent towards mental health Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ This ideology is propagated by certain cultural beliefs, illiteracy, societal restrictions, religion and emotional desires, male dominance as only ones in charge of family income, perceived weakness that females can't attain certain positions, amongst many others. I grew up in a family of seven (Parents, three sisters, and a brother). I’m the last child with my twin sister, and was told mum wanted a second son, but oh well, she had two more girls and twins at that, how funny. My parents actually didn't obviously make a preference over my only brother, maybe to protect “our feelings” or not. However, we got equal education, resources, and support. This may have worked for me, but not for others. I once had a friend whose case was the reverse, it affected her upbringing, damaged her self-esteem, and created a barrier to discovering her true self and abilities. It hindered her ability to explore, to crown it all; she got married early- this is a story of a million among teenage mothers. Content creator @Youtube Co-founder NANPAT MD Limited You will find Nancy where they are talking about; The initiatives, Venereal Health, Public Speaking, Teen Founder, TEM Initiative Public speaker United Nations Sustainable Development Group Mental Health, and Reproductive Health. 26 November | 2022 www.insightscare.com

29. Nancy (Chinelo) Udenka Founder Teenage Moms Initiate (TMI)

30. others. In Africa, especially in the western part, research has proven records of a high prevalence of child marriage prior to her physical and/or emotional growth. Not ignoring the fact, they get pregnant and have to experience child labor, and risk of complications during delivery, overall negative impact on their mental wellness, and sexual and reproductive health. I’m excited as to the adverse change going on in the lives of girls, campaigns bursting out to promote girl child education to let her dream big and fly without limitations. There is great need for a strategic alliance among individuals, educational bodies, private entities, as well as national and international bodies, to properly tackle this issue. Social media platforms can serve as aid for promotions, campaigns to create awareness and raise a call of action. The future of the girl child as an endangered species amongst her male counterparts and sadly, even her fellow counterparts, must be protected at all costs. It’s high time we stopped distributing sweets only when a baby boy is born and frowning when a girl is born. Time to put a halt to uttering coated sarcasm “this is a rare thing for a girl to achieve” when a change in a chain of cycles is encountered. It shouldn’t be considered a deviance that a daughter can do the job of a son. “With adversity, however, comes resourcefulness, creativity, tenacity, and resilience. The world’s 600 million adolescent girls have shown time and time again that given the skills and the opportunities, they can be the changemakers driving progress in their communities, building back stronger for all, including women, boys and men. Girls are ready for a decade of acceleration forward. It is time for us all to stand accountable – with and for girls – and to invest in a future that believes in their agency, leadership and potential.” (UNITED NATIONS) The Girl Child Time To Rule Her World Is Now or Never Now the narrative is changing, no longer shall our voices go unheard. Every girl has the right to attain greatness and harness her full potential, there should be no limitations as to what level she should stop. I’m very passionate about teen girls, with focus on their mental health, sexual and reproductive health. Both of these areas are de-emphasized and not well addressed. Parents shy away from proper conversation about sex, educative institutions doesn't promote abstinence and the environment doesn't preach about preventive measures as it should. This has led to increase in teenage pregnancies, school drop out of teen girls, socioeconomic inequalities, increased poverty amongst other negative impacts. Gone are…. Days when the girl child isn't recognized: Days when the girl child shouldn't be educated: Days when the girl child shouldn't be in power: Days when the girl child is voiceless: Days when the girl child's roles were only limited to marriage and childbearing: Days when the girl child future ends in the kitchen: Days when the girl child isn't allowed to dream big: I am an advocate of the United Nations SDG 3.7 target plan with more focus on the indicator 3.7.2 Adolescent birth rate (aged 10–14 years; aged 15–19 years) per 1,000 women in that age group, as well as SDG 5.3 target plan, emphasis on the Indicator 5.3.1 Proportion of women aged 20–24 years who were married or in a union before age 15 and before age 18. We must instead look on the bright side and embrace this beautiful astonishment, that is, the power of a girl child. Ÿ We, the daughters are stronger than the world thinks. Ÿ Stronger than our parents think. Ÿ Even much stronger than we think of ourselves. Ÿ We shouldn't let criticism stop us from reaching the top, and allow nobody to make us feel inferior without our own consent. Through my organization TEMI, we’ll keep striving to encourage workshops, campaigns, outreaches and open discussions to tackle this menace. You too can be part of this movement by engaging in community development programs, empowering young girls, volunteering, and donations. 28 November | 2022 www.insightscare.com

32. Digital Transformations in HEALTHCARE Look OUT for in to D igital technology has transformed almost every industry sector, including Education, Retail, Banking, Manufacturing, IT, Communications, logistics, healthcare, hospitality, etc. The Healthcare industry, which was traditionally operating, got a big boost from digital transformation. This sector needed the most modern and superfast systems at all levels due to the gravity of importance at any given stage. Primarily as we consider the basic points of operations, mainly R&D, consultation, diagnostic and pathological procedures, medication, treatments, hospitalization, monitoring, and 30 November | 2022 www.insightscare.com

33. Embracing Innovations analysis; digital technology has been created as a multi- disciplinary concept integrating all the vital work procedures in a single line to be easily connected, reviewed, and enhanced in the main objective of the process. easily connected under one system without the need to move the patient. Round-the-clock assistance: 24X7 and 365 days dedicated functions have boosted in saving the lives of patients in accidents or other medical emergencies. Quick, timely medical support has steadily controlled the death rate. Technology has penetrated all functional sections of the healthcare industry in many ways. Dynamic Resource gateway: Having opened the vast internet resource and accessibility to multiple global research laboratories, doctors and clinical scientists are better equipped with searching for necessary medical knowledge resources. It has helped in recruiting the medical staff, sourcing visiting consultants, and connecting with numerous diagnostic centres and blood banks. Remote consultation: Modern integrated software platforms connect the patients easily to the doctors through audio or video calls facilitating the data sharing for clear communication and patient experience. Smart projection: Modern tools in software systems that read, identify, and analyse in their built-in frameworks; help in the creation of smart, accurate, and logical projections. Close monitoring in various stages of pregnancy in the foetal development and response to the expected growth parameters and also in the sectors of fertility solutions, oncology, and cosmetic surgeries. Strengthening the Research and development. The scientists in various domains of medical research use modern technologies of AI, Augmented reality, data assimilation, and processing. Facilitating clinical research and support. This involves designing and developing epidemiological service trials, developing and customization in the process of collection and management of clinical data, and further analysis. Real-time consultation: Virtual meeting platforms have helped in Audio-visual interactions for real-time consultation. Data Science: Data management and analytics in important complex case studies have strengthened the decision-making process helping in various stages. Monitoring the quality of healthcare. The entire process, right from patient enrolment to the quick data collection, periodical diagnosis and related treatments, monitoring of changes in the results, creating an analysis of the treatment with the doctor's opinion, have all improved the quality of the treatment. Precise diagnosis coupled with the right and timely medication or treatment results in recovery in the minimum time period. Real-time tracking: Inventory tracking, storage, and management are crucial functions for any medical facility. All the essential drugs, medicines, vaccines, consumables, accessories, medical aids, blood units, plasma, etc., need to be stored in sufficient quantity. This includes the availability of Doctors and ambulance services. Streamlining the entire process. The entire process is unified in a central system that helps in easy tracking, coordination, updates, reports, analysis, surveys, and analytical study. Wearable technology: Modern devices like heart monitors, pacemakers, hearing aids, automated wheelchairs have made the treatment and the life after treatment easier. Robotic applications: A better control, accuracy, speed, and reliability has been established in certain niche areas of healthcare which are active assistance in complex surgeries, disinfection, and sanitization, supply-analysis-delivery operations, patient care with symptom analysis, assistance, etc. The Journey Ahead The role of digital technology has miraculously elevated the quality, accuracy, and speed of the procedures resulting in faster recovery and well-being of the patients. We can gladly look up to the phenomenal advancements and the magnitude of its efficacy that has transformed human lives into a blessed lifestyle. Global Connect: Enabling the role, opinion, and consultation of multiple Doctors, researchers, and joint consultation on critical procedures. Quick and easy communication. Digital technology has made entire communication easy, smooth, and seamless. Regardless of the location of the consulting physicians, diagnostic centres, and other facilities, all things can be 31 November | 2022 www.insightscare.com

34. Transforming the Methods for Early Eyecare with Innovative Tech Solutions W companies that belonged to P&G or Danone, I have spent 20+ years in management positions in SMEs, reaching the General Management of Araven, a B2B company selling in more than 40 countries. hat if questions were not asked? What if the existing challenges were not solved? And what if the world still believed in the facts bestowed through the loops of hierarchical levels? Can’t imagine a world like that right? After taking the leap into entrepreneurship by creating my own innovation food consultancy, I made a big jump to the MedTech sector in 2020 and co-founded DIVE Medical together with a group of researchers from the University of Zaragoza and the Health Research Institute of Aragon, in Spain. That’s more of a reason to thank the leaders, who stepped up, questioned the problems, and solved them innovatively to present an easy-going path for all in the future. In this list of such exemplary leaders, we at InsightsCare crossed paths with Mabel Gimeno who is transforming the lives of many patients who are diagnosed with vision- related challenges. Though she comes from an educational background in the Arts field, she has effectively utilized her innovative leadership skills to intricately design solutions for early vision care. She presented these solutions to the healthcare world when she cofounded DIVE Medical with Victoria Pueyo and made a big jump in the MedTech sector in 2020. As the CEO of this startup, a pioneer in early vision care with eye-tracking and artificial intelligence technologies, I am currently immersed in its commercial launch. What has been your source of motivation and inspiration in your in achieving your career milestones and becoming a successful leader in the MedTech industry, especially as a woman leader? My curiosity and love for big challenges determined my interest in a career related to marketing and innovation, where I achieved relevant milestones in building new strong brand positionings and launching successful new products. As the CEO and Co-founder of this startup, a pioneer in early vision care with eye-tracking and artificial intelligence technologies, she is currently immersed in its commercial launch. Through the interview highlights below, let us indulge in her contributions in changing the MedTech sector with her innovative and visionary leadership! WHAT WORKS BEST FOR ME IS TO WALK EVERY MORNING FOR AT LEAST HALF AN HOUR. IT HELPS ME ORGANIZE MY BUSY MIND AND WHEN I START MY DAY EVERYTHING FLOWS BETTER. Mabel, kindly brief us about yourself and motivate us with the inspiring tale of your professional journey so far. I have a degree in BA and an MBA from IESE. After starting my career in marketing departments in FMCG 32 November | 2022 www.insightscare.com

35. Mabel Gimeno CEO and Co-founder Devices for an Integral Visual Examination

36. I gradually moved to smaller companies and different sectors where building things from scratch, working in multidisciplinary teams, and finding ways to develop successful business models in international environments became my motto. I am now applying all my business knowledge to the MedTech sector with the support of partners with extensive experience in accessing private and public health customers. vulnerable patients, babies, or those who present cooperation problems in visual examinations due to neurocognitive causes. And she knew that technology can be of great help to them. Her meeting with computer engineers was critical to start a project and after 6 years of research, DIVE Medical was founded as a spin-off of the University of Zaragoza in February 2020, and that is when I joined the project for its commercial launch. In this case, the impact we can have on millions of patients with low vision adds extra motivation, since I have experienced what a late detection of a vision problem can have on a child with my youngest child. Currently I lead a multidisciplinary team of 13 people, made up of healthcare professionals, engineers and business and marketing profiles. Please tell us about DIVE Medical and what were the ideas and developments that led to its inception. What are the products and services that your company offers and how is it impacting the demographic concerned? DIVE Medical S.L, is a MedTech company that offers a proprietary technology based on eye tracking and artificial intelligence for screening and complete examination of visual function in a fast and accurate objective manner. It caters even to patients with cooperation problems such as preverbal children and people with cognitive problems or elderly people. Our technology has two main fields of application with two different software modules in a unique device: Ÿ In examinations of visual function by vision specialists, ophthalmologists and optometrists, providing objective metrics not dependent on the examiner for diagnosis and monitoring the effectiveness of treatments. Ÿ In visual screening performed in primary care providing an immediate indication of the need or not for referral to a specialist. By applying AI to the metrics obtained, the screening can be performed by personnel with minimal training. We live in a world where more than 1 billion people live with low vision worldwide, one third of the 810 million children with vision problems are not detected early and 25 percent of children have vision-related learning disabilities. In this world, Victoria Pueyo, a pediatric ophthalmologist in a tertiary care hospital in Spain and co-founder of DIVE, was faced every day with patients with whom it was very difficult to get objective data on how their vision was in the past and to make good decisions. These are the most We are able to explore children from six months of age and people with neurocognitive diseases with a greater accuracy. 34 November | 2022 www.insightscare.com

37. 5 Most Empowering Women Leaders in MedTech Industry in 2022 How does your company ensure maximum care for nonverbal patients too? How is it revolutionizing the sector? besides having fun with friends, I try to do as much as I can of my two passions: going to concerts and hiking in nature. What would be your advice to aspiring entrepreneurs wishing to enter this industry? The team has been really obsessed from the beginning of the project to make our technology capable of reliably testing the most vulnerable groups, the patients that cannot provide feedback on what they see. Coming from other sectors I have to say that the healthcare sector is particularly challenging due to regulations, the need for strong clinical evidence, reluctance to change...so “be patient” is my first advice. It has been essential to make clinical trials in five countries, Spain, Mexico, China, Vietnam, Russia and Hong Kong, with patients from six months of age, affected by a large number of visual pathologies, and also with disabled patients. I would recommend to start contacting the healthcare ecosystem (accelerators, start-ups, advisors) as early as possible to avoid any mistakes that cost time and money. We have recently submitted a patent covering the methods and processes to validate the eye tracking data for performing different tests. And last, but most important, don’t dare to start selling from day one, even if you only have a first concept. What are the future goals of DIVE Medical? How do you envision upscaling its operations and reach in 2022 and beyond? In what ways are you adopting emerging technologies to upgrade your deliveries? What has been the success and impact of eye tracking and Artificial intelligence technologies that you are currently using in your operations? In November 2022 we will reach a major milestone, with the MDR CE marking of our first product. Our goals are to position our brand among ophthalmologists in Europe and then expand to other geographies such as America and Asia with the best distributors in each country. Since our software relies on these technologies their contribution has been the key, but in order to reliably screen such difficult patients we have developed very deep methods and processes. In terms of R&D, we will gradually incorporate new tests to become a more comprehensive solution that will appeal the vast majority of eye care professionals. These allow us to really have reliable data for patients who are uncooperative or have limited visual function. Please share any clientele, awards, and recognitions. Moreover, as AI experts we have been able to elevate the potential of eye tracking technology and respond to the needs of a collapsed and under-resourced healthcare sector. We already have some devices booked and will close our first sales in Spain by the end of 2022. Being a leader comes with greater responsibilities. How do you manage the stress behind them and what do you do to practice a healthy work-life balanced lifestyle? We were selected in 2020 as one of three healthcare companies to invest in by Banco Sabadell. We have also received different grants from the Spanish Ministry of Innovation and recently received the Seal of Excellence from the European Union. What works best for me is to walk every morning for at least half an hour. It helps me organize my busy mind and when I start my day everything flows better. I also walk throughout the day as much as I can and take Pilates classes. We have been recognized with the Emprendedores XXI and GooDs awards among others. And, we have been selected to participate in entrepreneurship programs of first level institutions, EIT Health, Ship2B, Rafael del Pino Foundation and MIT Sloan School of Management and ESADE with experts from Silicon Valley. I eat healthy and try to have lunch or dinner with my husband and my three teenager children. Sharing with them is also very important for my balance. On weekends, 35 November | 2022 www.insightscare.com