A St. Louis chapter of The Society of Physician Entrepreneurs (SoPE) —a global organization that fosters healthcare, life science and biomedical innovation— was recently launched by Henry B. Randall, MD, FACS, world-renowned transplant surgeon and speaker.

“The St. Louis entrepreneurial environment is incredibly robust and inviting, but is missing a critical component for commercializing healthcare innovation,” says Dr. Randall. “In leading the St. Louis chapter of SoPE, my mandate will be to assemble the necessary components for encouraging investment and support for new therapies and approaches, including drugs, devices, diagnostic tools, vaccines, digital health products, and business process innovations in Missouri.”

According to Dr. Randall, a sizable gap exists between innovative medical professionals, entrepreneurs, developers and potential partners that has hampered commercialization of great ideas. With the St. Louis chapter of SoPE, he looks to connect the region’s founders, investors, startups and accelerators to come together.

Dr. Randall currently serves as the director of abdominal transplantation at Saint Louis University & Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, moving from Kansas City for the position. When he relocated, he discovered an untapped population of private practice, academic and community-based medical professionals with the potential for a lot of healthcare-related innovations.

The goal of the The Missouri chapter of SoPE is to provide a platform for biomedical and healthcare entrepreneurs to connect and collaborate with those that can champion healthcare innovations. Dr. Randall is currently developing a network of professionals that can provide education, connections, experience and funding opportunities necessary to commercialize its members’ ideas, inventions and discoveries.

In addition to meetings, the St. Louis chapter of SoPE is planning large-scale events for fostering idea exchanges, networking, uncovering funding alternatives, mentoring and avenues for launching new businesses focused on healthcare innovation throughout the State.

Those interested in SoPE are encouraged to visit https://www.sopenet.org or the St. Louis chapter https://www.sopenet.org/chapter/stlouis.