PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Penn Center for Health, Devices, and Technology (Penn Health-Tech) and Venture Lab are excited to announce the launch of the Emerging Leaders in Health Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn ELITE Fellowship). This new initiative will prepare the next generation of health-tech innovators and support the commercialization of university-developed technologies, bridging academia and the healthcare industry.
Program Overview
Designed as a full-time, immersive, one-year program, the ELITE Fellowship offers competitive compensation and unparalleled exposure to the intersection of health, technology, and business. The Fellowship will equip recent MD, PhD, and MBA graduates from Penn—or those with equivalent experience—with the skills and mentorship needed to lead cutting-edge technology development and bring transformative solutions to the healthcare market. With a particular focus on taking technology from proof of principle to commercialization, Fellows will serve as the entrepreneurial lead for vetted, funded projects under development and will work alongside key partners at Penn.
"Philadelphia needs a dedicated platform to train the next generation of leaders in health technology," said Trang Pham, Executive Director of Venture Lab. "The ELITE Fellowship will serve as a springboard for the future CEOs, CTOs, and CMOs who will lead the next wave of healthcare innovation."
Unique Cross-School Collaboration
This initiative brings together faculty and resources from three of Penn’s premier schools: The Wharton School, the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM), and the School of Engineering and Applied Science (Penn Engineering). Fellows will engage in a dynamic educational experience that covers healthcare and devices (PSOM), entrepreneurship and innovation (Wharton), and cutting-edge engineering technologies for health (Penn Engineering). The program also includes seminars led by leaders in the health-tech ecosystem, offering firsthand insight into academia, venture capital, industry, and regulatory environments.
"We are proud to collaborate across Penn’s world-class schools to provide novel, interdisciplinary education to the next generation of health-tech leaders," said Katie Reuther, Executive Director of Penn Health-Tech. "The ELITE Fellowship will play a critical role in preparing innovators to address the challenges and opportunities in healthcare today."
Lori Rosenkopf, Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship at the Wharton School, also expressed her enthusiasm: “The collaboration between Wharton, PSOM, and Penn Engineering is creating a dynamic opportunity for entrepreneurial minds to thrive. This Fellowship will not only enable participants to refine their leadership skills but also foster the innovation that will shape the future of healthcare.”
Fellowship Benefits
The Fellowship is a highly competitive, full-time position that provides:
- An annual salary of over $60,000, plus benefits.
- A comprehensive educational curriculum spanning entrepreneurship, medical technologies, and new engineering innovations for health.
- Mentorship from leading investors, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals.
- Preferred access to programs within Penn Health-Tech, Wharton, Penn Engineering, and PSOM.
- Career placement opportunities post-Fellowship, whether advancing their projects or joining partner organizations.
- Certificate of completion from Wharton, PSOM, and Penn Engineering, recognizing their leadership in health innovation.
"The ELITE Fellowship is an exceptional opportunity for individuals looking to fast-track their careers in health technology," said Dr. Brian Litt, Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Bioengineering at Penn. "With access to Penn’s robust ecosystem and the guidance of our industry partners, Fellows will be positioned to make a tangible impact in the health-tech space."
Partnerships and Support
The ELITE Fellowship has been made possible by the generous $10 million gift from Robin S. Wolpow, PAR’14, and Marc B. Wolpow, W’80, PAR’14, facilitated through the Arbour Way Foundation. Their visionary donation, which established the Robin S. Wolpow, PAR’14 and Marc B. Wolpow, W’80, PAR’14 Fund for Healthcare Entrepreneurship at Venture Lab, is transforming how Penn nurtures healthcare innovation. Additional funding contributed by Matteo Scolari, WG'98, has also helped to launch and support the program through its pilot year. Matteo’s meaningful gift to Penn Health-Tech enables innovators to find creative, multi-disciplinary solutions to medical problems that impact human health. Philanthropic gifts ensure the success and future of the Fellowship. We invite interested partners to be a part of this future-focused initiative, advancing the collaborative and industrious spirit that is central to Penn. Penn Health-Tech is supported by funding from the Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Engineering, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Looking to the Future
The Fellowship program will officially begin on August 18, 2025, with applications opening on December 13, 2024. Prospective applicants can attend informational sessions hosted by Penn Health-Tech and Venture Lab on January 14, 2025.
For more information on the Emerging Leaders in Health Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Fellowship and application details, please visit https://venturelab.upenn.edu/programs/penn-elite-fellowship
About Penn Health-Tech
As Penn’s hub for health technology innovation, Penn Health-Tech facilitates the development of novel medical devices and healthcare technologies across the University system and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and plays a critical role in connecting and training innovators. Penn Health-Tech’s vision is that the innovations and innovators developed here will advance healthcare, improve lives, and benefit society everywhere.
About Venture Lab
Venture Lab is the University of Pennsylvania's central resource for student entrepreneurship, incubating startups that leverage Penn’s interdisciplinary expertise. Through Venture Lab’s dynamic programming, students, faculty, and alumni receive the support they need to turn their innovative ideas into market-ready businesses.
Questions?
Contact Trang Pham (trangp@wharton.upenn.edu), Executive Director of Venture Lab, or Katie Reuther (kreuther@seas.upenn.edu), Executive Director of Penn Health-Tech, for more information.