To better your understanding of non-clinical career options and/or facilitate your physician career change, today we introduce you to Gary J. Kurtzman, MD. Dr. Kurtzman is Vice President and Managing Director in the Life Sciences Group of SafeGuard, a company providing expertise and resources to help technology companies focused on Software as a Service, Technology-Enabled Services, and Internet-based businesses achieve success.
The following biography is available at the SafeGuard website:
“Gary brings more than 17 years of experience in operations and investments, leveraging his medical expertise to enable businesses to enhance their products and grow their services, as well as to discover new partnering potential in developing entrepreneurial companies.
Gary is responsible for identifying and partnering with entrepreneurial life sciences companies focused on molecular diagnostics, medical devices, regenerative medicine and specialty pharmaceuticals. He provides his operational expertise and knowledge to assist Safeguard’s existing partner companies to successfully develop, launch and optimize their products and services.
Gary joined Safeguard from BioAdvance, a state initiative committed to funding early-stage life sciences companies, where he served as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer. Previously, he was Chief Executive Officer at Pluvita Corporation, a company developing biological and bioinformatic solutions for drug and diagnostic development. Gary also previously served as Chief Operating Officer at Genovo, Inc., a gene therapy start-up company. He was also employed as head of research & development by Avigen, Inc., an early-stage gene therapy company located in San Francisco.
Gary began his career with Gilead Sciences, Inc. – at the time, a pre-IPO biotechnology company – as virology group leader. A board-certified internist from BarnesHospital in St. Louis, MO, with a hematology sub-specialty, Gary has authored more than 40 research articles, book chapters and reviews, and is credited as inventor on twelve issued United States patents. Presently, Gary serves on various academic and biomedical committees and boards along with the editorial board of Biotechnology Healthcare. Presently, Gary is a lecturer in the Health Care Systems Department at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where he teaches entrepreneurship in life sciences.
EXPERIENCE
BioAdvance – Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer
Pluvita Corporation – Chief Executive Officer
Genovo, Inc. – Chief Operating Officer
Avigen, Inc. – Vice President, R&D
Gilead Sciences, Inc. – Virology Group Leader
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute – Research Fellow
BOARD MEMBER
Safeguard Partner Companies
Advanced BioHealing, Inc.
Alverix, Inc. – Chairman
Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Inc.
NuPathe, Inc.
Molecular Biometrics, Inc.
Tengion, Inc.
EDUCATION
BS, Stanford University
MD, Washington University and Stanford University”
For more information about Dr. Kurtzman and Safeguard, please visit the company website.
