Best and Brightest Forum on Medical Innovation

Franklin Institute
Philadelphia, PA
December 15, 2008

On December 15, PhRMA sponsored and co-hosted the“Best and Brightest Forum on Medical Innovation” to focus attention on the serious challenges facing the United States in maintaining its global leadership position in medical innovation. The event was co-hosted by Pennsylvania Bio, BioAdvance, and Select Greater Philadelphia. Also during the event, survey research by APCO Insight was released, which found that the medical community is concerned about the future of medical innovation in the United States and believes government policy is key to continued success in medical innovation.

Former Congressman Richard Gephardt served as the Master of Ceremonies and facilitated two panel discussions.  The panels featured economic leaders, academic scholars, researchers, biopharmaceutical company representatives, education experts, and other stakeholders, including:

• Dennis M. "Mickey" Flynn, President of Pennsylvania Bio
• Glen N. Gaulton, Ph.D., Executive Vice Dean, Chief Scientific Officer at The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
• Brenda Gavin, D.V.M., M.B.A., Founding Partner of Quaker BioVentures
• Paul Howard, Ph.D., Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Medical Progress at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research
• Russel Kaufman, M.D., President and CEO of the Wistar Institute
• Alan Leshner, Ph.D., CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Joseph M. Mahady, President of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Senior Vice President at Wyeth
• Thomas Morr, President and CEO of Select Greater Philadelphia
• David B. Nash, M.D., M.B.A., Dean of the Jefferson School of Health Policy and Population Health at Thomas Jefferson University
• Barbara S. Schilberg, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BioAdvance
• The Honorable Joe Sestak (D-PA), U.S. House of Representatives
• George Wohlreich, M.D., Director and CEO of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell delivered the keynote address, which focused on innovative ideas currently under implementation in Pennsylvania, and the urgent need to invest in science and math education at every level – particularly in early childhood education.

The event attracted an audience of over 100 attendees from business, health care, academia, public policy, and the media. 

Following the event, the Philadelphia Inquirer ran a piece by Miriam Hill, entitled, “Speakers: Give health-care industry some help.”  The article emphasized the importance of investing in innovation and included photos of panelists Joe Sestak and Joseph Mahady. Forbes.com also ran an article, entitled “Governor Rendell Says Life Science Industry Will Fuel New Breakthroughs, Generate Jobs.” The piece quotes Governor Rendell saying, “In Pennsylvania, we recognize the economic potential of an innovation economy, and we are working hard to take advantage of our wealth of academic and research institutions and medical start-ups as an engine of job creation and economic development.”

Event Photos:

The Honorable Edward Rendell, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania	Former Congressman Richard Gephardt

“Challenges and Threats to the Future of Medical Innovation in the United States” Panel (Left to Right: Panelists: Dennis “Mickey” Flynn – President, Pennsylvania Bio; George Wohlreich, M.D. – Director & CEO, College of Physicians of Philadelphia; Russel Kaufman – President & CEO, Wistar Institute; Paul Howard, Ph.D. – Senior Fellow & Director, Center for Medical Progress at the Manhatten Institute for Policy Research; Brenda Gavin – Founding Partner, Quaker BioVentures; Moderator: Former Congressman Richard Gephardt)

Russel Kaufman, M.D. – President & CEO, Wistar Institute	Representative Joe Sestak (D-PA), U.S. House of Representatives	Joseph M. Mahady – President, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals

Read more about the Best and Brightest Forum:

Click here to read the “Best and Brightest Forum on Medical Innovation” press release.

Click here to read the Milken Institute Report - “The Greater Philadelphia Life Sciences Cluster: An Economic and Comparative Assessment.”   

Forum Sponsors: