Connected Devices: Providing the Right Level of Value to the Patient that Creates Value Back to the Company

Kevin Deane is the Vice President of Front End Innovation and Connected Health for Phillips-Medisize, a leading provider of medical devices and connected solutions. He is responsible for new technology concepts and platform technologies, including the Phillips-Medisize investments in Connected Health. In this role, he also drives our commercial and sales activities for these technologies. Originally from the US, Kevin started his career in the automotive industry after receiving his BSc in Electrical Engineering. He moved to Cambridge UK in 1994 and worked for PA Consulting as a Partner in the Technology Group. Kevin has led a number of Drug Delivery and Connected Health projects for pharmaceutical clients across Europe and the US. These technologies include injectors, infusion systems, wearable devices, inhalers, nasal delivery, transdermal, ocular, needle-free and a range of oral dosage forms. Kevin’s expertise ranges from strategic assessment through to concept, feasibility and full system development.

Mark DeStefano is the Director of Global Technology Innovation, Combination Products and Devices R&D for Teva Pharmaceuticals focusing on strategic planning for Teva’s future combination products including new device and drug delivery technology identification and development for Teva pipeline drugs and platform combination products. He is an experienced device development professional with a demonstrated 35 yr. history of product innovation, design, development, and launch in many areas of the medical device industry from surgical devices to drug delivery devices. Mr. DeStefano has spent the last 26 years in drug delivery device development, including 13 years in the development of implantable sensors, insulin pumps and infusion sets for Type 1 Diabetes and 13 years in the development of injection devices for parenteral drugs.

David Harrison sits on UCB’s external manufacturing leadership team and is responsible for partnering with device and technology companies. He builds high-level relationships with key external partners, provides strategic market insights and leads the team responsible for UCB’s long term device manufacturing network. Mr Harrison believes in partnerships, and these alliances have already brought several successful combination products to the market. 

Lilly Stairs is recognized as a leading voice in the rapidly growing patient engagement field, having built award winning patient ambassador programs and powerful awareness campaigns that united patients and industry. She has served as an advocate for over a decade, transitioning into patient advocacy after she was diagnosed with multiple autoimmune diseases.As the Founder and Principal at Patient Authentic, Ms Stairs leverages her marketing expertise and mastery of stakeholder relations to help healthcare organizations build meaningful campaigns, programs, and educational resources by authentically engaging with patients. Prior to founding Patient Authentic, Ms Stairs served as the Head of Client Relations at Savvy Cooperative and Head of Patient Advocacy at Clara Health where she conceived and executed patient engagement strategy and ensured the patient voice remained firmly at the center of the company. She has served in communications and advocacy roles across industry from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement to MassBio.Ms Stairs regularly shares her experience and expertise via speaking engagements from conferences to Capitol Hill and also serves as the Board chair for the Autoimmune Association, the global non-profit leading the fight against autoimmunity.

As the Senior Director of Strategic Planning and Mergers & Business Development for Jabil Healthcare, Brad Womble provides leadership in the area of strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, and business development for Jabil’s $5 billion healthcare division. With over twenty years of experience working in senior business development and finance roles in the industry, Mr Womble has exceptional insight and understanding of the technology, policy and macro-economic forces shaping today’s dynamic healthcare marketplace.Naturally personable, and engaging, Mr Womble has proven to be particularly adept at establishing strategic collaborations and partnerships with key healthcare industry players and developing exciting new ventures and growth opportunities for Jabil.Prior to joining the healthcare division’s executive team in 2012, Mr Womble held positions with Flextronics Medical (formerly Avail Medical Products), Roche Diagnostics, and Fresenius.When not crunching numbers, executing the plan or inspiring the various teams reporting to him, Mr Womble loves nothing more than an afternoon on the water paddle boarding or boating on the flats in the Tampa Bay area.Mr Womble graduated from the University of Texas in 1997 with degrees in biochemistry and microbiology. He earned his Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management in 2006.