What was your path/journey after you graduated from Cornell?
After graduating from Cornell, I received a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences.
I am currently the Founder and CEO of nen - bringing evidence-based pain solutions to kids with cancer. nen offers a novel mission-driven approach to address pain management through play, leveraging gamification approaches and behavioral techniques to modulate pain and improve kids’ wellbeing. nen is a mission driven profit-for-purpose company with a view to democratize pain management at scale to all kids who are in pain, wherever they are.
I have broad drug development and healthcare expertise in both the US and Europe, and nearly 30 years of clinical, commercial, strategic and transactional experience. I have worked with diverse organizations including start-ups, consulting, large and specialty pharma as well as academia.
Prior to nen, I was the Chief Digital Officer of Almirall where I created the Almirall Digital Garden to accelerate and incubate digital health startups. I also led European investments as Managing Director for the MSD Global Health Innovation Fund, LLC. Prior to that, I led Almirall’s Corporate Development Strategy team to transact on both medical device and pharmaceutical M&A opportunities with a new and targeted focus for the company. I also previously worked at Novartis, where I was responsible for bringing cell and gene therapy opportunities into the organization as well as managing the strategy and commercialization for the existing portfolio of cell therapy assets.
What is your favorite Class at Cornell? In retrospect, what has proven to be your most useful class from Cornell?
In my freshman year, I took a senior seminar called AIDS and Society. It really inspired me. I have always been very mission driven, and that continues to drive my work to date. Cornell helped me instill those values starting with community HIV outreach, to drug discovery research to building a digital health solution that can help kids manage chronic pain (nen.health). By gamifying cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for pediatric pain management, we have the potential to help children dealing with chronic pain, especially those battling cancer.
What is your favorite memory from your time at Cornell?
My time at Cornell was unforgettable. Sledding down Libe Slope in winter, with the iconic clock tower in view, felt like a rite of passage. On warm days, swimming in the gorges was the perfect escape, surrounded by stunning natural beauty. Collegetown Bagels became a daily ritual, with its perfect bagels fueling countless study sessions. And nights at Rulloff’s—filled with laughter, friends, and endless stories—were the heart of my social life. Cornell wasn’t just about academics; it was about experiences that shaped me, in a place I’ll always call home.
What advice would you give to a student starting at Cornell in Fall 2025?
Find your tribe! The friends that I made at Cornell have stuck by me through every hill and valley I have gone through in my life. They are truly my tribe and every time we get together or even speak, it is as if no time has passed (though nearly 35 years have).