Building Community and Momentum: Georgetown Alumni at JPMorgan Healthcare Conference

It was a night animated by stories of healthcare innovation, policy, and entrepreneurship — but equally by warmth, reconnection, and a shared sense of purpose.

During the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference, members of the Georgetown community gathered for a reception that felt both intimate and expansive — a reflection of the growing reach and ambition of the Georgetown healthcare alumni network. It was the second time Georgetown alumni, students, faculty, and friends came together in this setting, building on the inaugural 2025 gathering and expanding the depth of relationships across biotech, medtech, digital health, venture capital, academic medicine, and beyond.

Sandeep Dahiya, Crnkovich Family Business of Health Chair and director of the Business of Health Initiative at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business, joined Georgetown alumni from across business, nursing, and entrepreneurship industries.

“You can feel the momentum,” said Dahiya. “This isn’t just an alumni network — it’s an ecosystem that spans research, entrepreneurship, investment, and care delivery, all connected by a shared commitment to improving health outcomes.”

Throughout the evening, conversations traced the contours of healthcare’s most pressing questions, from how to scale technology in home care to the challenges of commercializing orphan drugs to the promise of AI in early dementia detection. Connections were made between alumni and current students, between first-time founders and seasoned executives, between those new to the Georgetown network and those who helped build it.

“It was especially meaningful to see alumni now leading ambitious ventures,” said Dahiya. “The spirit of mentorship and continuity was palpable.”

A conversation with Peter Crnkovich (B’78, P’11, P’13) touched on the Business of Health Initiative’s upcoming March 25 conference, Financing BioTech Innovation: Challenges and Opportunities, with plans to further engage alumni.

The reception also offered a moment of gratitude and reflection. Michelle Stephens (NHS’06), who hosted the first Georgetown JPMorgan gathering just a year ago, was recognized for helping spark what is now a powerful annual tradition. Familiar faces returned — Jim Feeney (P’20), Jacob Hamburger (B’23), Walter David (MBA’05), Martin Doyle (MBA’02) — and new relationships were formed that will carry forward the Initiative’s mission. In the flow of conversation, people like Michael Li (SFS’17) offered deep insights into venture trends and future partnership possibilities. Daniel Liu (MBA’21) shared updates on his startup addressing opioid addiction, while Addie Fleron (C’16) reflected on his transition from consulting into health tech at Honor Care.

What stood out most was the atmosphere, not only of professional exchange, but of shared values. The reception didn’t just convene leaders across sectors; it reaffirmed Georgetown’s distinct role in bringing together people who care deeply about improving health systems and outcomes.

There was a shared sense that this gathering marked a beginning rather than a culmination.

“The Georgetown health and life sciences community is evolving and becoming one that blends academic rigor, business acumen, and a deep commitment to social good,” Dahiya reflected. “Events like this are about more than networking; they are about belonging, momentum, and mission. Our role at Georgetown is to convene these conversations and help turn them into lasting impact.”

This reception was graciously hosted by Kerin Torpey Bashaw (NHS’87), who opened their doors to more than 50 Hoyas from across the country. Thanks to the support of Hoyas in Health and the Georgetown Alumni Club of Northern California, with indispensable help from Freda Kong (B’95) and her family.