The Cawley Career Education Center at Georgetown University held a panel called “Hoyas in Health: Bridging Business and Health” on January 30. This event explored how Georgetown students blend technology with business and healthcare during their studies and beyond.
Five alumni joined as panelists to share their journeys at the intersection of business and healthcare. The focus was on how technology drives innovation and new ideas in these fields.
Stefanie Kurgatt (NHS ’17, GRD ’20), a product manager at CVS Health, emphasized the need for students to develop their tech skills. “Knowing how to code is a huge advantage,” she said. “It’s about continuously improving those skills to meet industry needs and adapting to change.”
Rahul Lakhanpal (NHS ’16), chief of staff at SpectraMedix, highlighted the importance of new tech like artificial intelligence (AI). “AI is becoming a big part of administrative tasks in healthcare,” he mentioned. “With advancements in technology, we can expect reduced healthcare costs and improved patient outcomes.”
He noted that technology is reshaping all industries, from healthcare to finance. “Success means using technology to make better choices in government, healthcare, and business,” Lakhanpal added.
Lucy Olander (CAS ’26), chief technology officer at Georgetown Ventures, explained that new technologies, especially AI, are crucial for today’s entrepreneurs. “AI is key to many advancements and must be considered in entrepreneurship,” she said. “Many startups are tech-driven, creating apps that serve new needs.”
Olander shared that Georgetown Ventures helps startups like Enna Health, which developed a symptom tracking app for cancer patients. “It’s been inspiring to see how such impactful solutions emerge and contribute to healthcare,” she said.
For Lakhanpal, healthcare technology is essential for improving efficiency. “We use tech to help insurers and healthcare providers better serve their members,” he explained. “This means identifying those who need preventative care most.”
He also pointed out how tech can ease provider burnout. “Technology can provide doctors with better insights and simplify their tasks, reducing the need for them to juggle multiple systems,” Lakhanpal said.
Olander believes that all startups should embrace new tools, regardless of their focus. “Even those not centered on tech should use resources like web development and social media to enhance their business,” she noted.
Kurgatt concluded that technology will continually reshape industries. “It’s always changing. Balancing business goals with consumer needs is vital, especially in healthcare where we deal with real people,” she said.
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