The Future of Pharma

My guests in this episode are Sarah D'Alessio, Dorrian Fragola, and Brooke Cote- three accomplished professionals whose careers span engineering, business development, and market growth, and who aare each helping shape the future of our industry in our own way.
Sarah D'Alession is Process Engineering Group Manager for Hart Design Group. Sarah is a process engineering leader specializing in capital projects within the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. With a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island, her experience spans bioprocessing systems, solvent distribution systems, GMP facilities, and critical utilities. She leads multidisciplinary teams from concept through startup while remaining closely involved in technical execution.
Dorrian Fragola is Senior Director of Business Development at Genesis AEC. With nearly two decades of experience supporting the life sciences industry, Dorrian has become a recognized leader in strategic growth, business development, and industry engagement throughout New England. She is also a longtime contributor to several professional organizations, including ISPE Boston.
Brooke Cote is the Director of Market Development at Surplus Solutions, where she leads strategic growth initiatives. A passionate advocate for women in the pharmaceutical industry, she is an active board member for LabOps Unite. Outside of her professional commitments, Brooke enjoys golfing, cherishing time with her family, and doting on her two dogs.  
Together, Dorrian and Brooke serve as Co-Chairs of ISPE Boston's Women in Pharma Committee, a group dedicated to fostering connections, creating opportunities, and supporting the next generation of leaders in our industry.
In this engaging and candid interview, these industry experts share their career journeys, insights into biotech and pharma, and discuss the importance of networking, diversity, and safety in the industry. Discover practical advice for women aspiring to leadership roles and learn how to navigate the fast-paced world of life sciences.
Key topics
Career transitions in biotech and pharma
Women in leadership and empowerment
Industry safety standards and challenges
Quatable quotes:
"Stop doubting yourself and take the first step"
"Ask for what you want and believe in yourself"
"Networking and audacity take you farther than talent"
I had a lot of fun recording this interview. Hope you enjoy it.
Here are Sarah D'Alessio, Dorrian Fragola, and Brooke Cote.

My guest in this episode is Michelle Davey.
Michelle is currently serving as the CEO of Wheel Health. Under her guidance, Wheel has become the leading platform to connect qualified healthcare professionals with virtual care opportunities. Wheel's groundbreaking Horizon platform is Michelle's latest initiative, a cutting-edge solution that integrates artificial intelligence into healthcare delivery.  
She frequently speaks at industry conferences and contributes to discussions on the future of healthcare delivery, virtual care adoption, and the importance of leveraging technology to address healthcare disparities. Michelle was listed on the Fierce15 of leading healthcare innovators for 2025.
In this conversation, Michelle and I discuss the evolution of telehealth and the challenges faced by the healthcare industry, particularly in terms of access and economics. She highlights the importance of innovative business models in making virtual care sustainable and the changing landscape of pharma's relationship with patients. Our discussion also delves into the growing consumer demand for healthcare services and the role of AI in enhancing healthcare delivery. Michelle shares her insights on the future of healthcare and the need for a balance between technology and human oversight.
Takeaways:
- Wheel was founded in 2018, before telehealth became mainstream.
- Telehealth can bridge gaps in healthcare access, especially in rural areas.
- The economics of healthcare need to be rebalanced for sustainability.
- Pharma companies are exploring direct-to-patient channels more than ever.
- Self-diagnosis poses significant challenges in the healthcare system.
- AI can assist clinicians by summarizing patient data efficiently.
- Consumer demand for healthcare is shifting towards virtual and direct access.
- The rise of GLP-1 medications reflects changing consumer expectations.
- AI will not replace doctors but will enhance their capabilities.
- Building a strong company culture is essential in the age of AI.
I found my chat with Michelle very enlightening. Hope you do too.
Here's Michelle Davey.

My guest in this episode is Sanjeev Luther. Sanjeev is President & CEO of Ernexa Therapeutics.
He is a seasoned life sciences leader with decades of experience in oncology, biotechnology innovation, and corporate leadership across global markets. He has guided clinical-stage biopharmaceutical companies through corporate strategy, R&D, licensing, regulatory affairs, and operations, overseeing global Phase 3 trials, major partnerships, and portfolio expansions in multiple therapeutic areas. His career includes senior roles at Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals, BMS, Novartis, Bausch and Lomb, and GE Healthcare, along with contributions to health policy initiatives such as Cures 2.0 and U.S. manufacturing efforts. 
Sanjeev also serves on the board of the South Asian Pharmaceutical Council and supports programs aiding adults with dementia. As CEO of Ernexa Therapeutics, he is advancing cell therapy innovations for cancer and autoimmune disease.
In this chat, Sanjeev and I talk about:
* the importance of extending life and enhancing the quality of life for patients
* Curing diseases is not the only goal
* Quality of life matters more than just survival
* The importance of patient-centric perspectives in healthcare and
* The need for a shift in how we view healthcare outcomes.
I enjoyed my discussion with Sanjeev. I hope you do too.
Here's Sanjeev Luther.

My Guest in this episode is Dr. Dave Miller.
Dave is CSO of AustinPx and leads the pharmaceutics and analytical development teams and oversees the application of the KinetiSol™ Technology. Prior to his current position, Dr. Miller served as Vice President of Research and Development at DisperSol Technologies and Senior Principal Scientist at Hoffmann-La Roche. Dr. Miller is a co-inventor of the pharmaceutical applications of the KinetiSol technology. He has published over 40 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, authored 8 book chapters, and is co-editor of the First, Second, and Third Editions of the textbook, Formulating Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs. He is a co-inventor on numerous granted and pending patents worldwide. Dr. Miller holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics from the University of Texas at Austin.
In this conversation, Dave shares his extensive journey in pharmaceutical research and development, highlighting the evolution of drug delivery technologies, particularly Kinetisol. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from R&D to commercialization, the importance of precision medicine, and the complexities of manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry. Dave emphasizes the need for innovative approaches to drug formulation and the role of emotional intelligence in professional success.
I enjoyed my chat with Dr. Dave Miller. Hope you do too.
Here's Dr. Dave Miller.

My guest in this episode is Brandon Rice.
Brandon is the CEO and co-founder at Weave Bio, a software company focused on automating regulatory submissions in the pharmaceutical industry using AI where he oversees product development, specifically leading the creation of AutoIND, their AI-powered platform for IND preparation.  
In this conversation, Brandon discusses his journey to co-founding Weave Bio. He highlights the challenges of regulatory compliance, the potential of AI to streamline processes, and the importance of human oversight in AI-generated content. The discussion also touches on the cultural differences in AI adoption among pharmaceutical companies, global regulatory trends, and the need for open-mindedness towards new technologies.
I thoroughly enjoyed my chat with Brandon and learned a lot about the current AI in pharma landscape. I hope you do too.
Here's Brandon Rice.