University Hospitals (UH), a leader in healthcare innovation and patient care, has announced a pivotal leadership change with the appointment of Kipum Lee, PhD, as the new President of UH Ventures, effective October 1. UH Ventures, the organization’s dedicated innovation and entrepreneurship arm, has played an essential role in propelling the health system’s transformation through cutting-edge approaches and strategic business initiatives. Dr. Lee’s elevation to this role marks a significant step in strengthening UH’s commitment to pioneering solutions in a complex and rapidly evolving healthcare environment.
Dr. Kipum Lee brings a rich background of innovation leadership, strategic foresight, and operational expertise to his new presidency at UH Ventures. His academic credentials span prestigious institutions including the University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, and Case Western Reserve University, where he is also a faculty member at both the School of Medicine and the Weatherhead School of Management. This unique blend of academic rigor and practical industry experience equips Dr. Lee with the vision and skill set necessary to accelerate UH’s strategic goals.
Under his previous role as Vice President of Enterprise Strategy & Innovation, Dr. Lee spearheaded several transformative initiatives across the health system. These efforts have included the deployment of human-centered design methodologies within key clinical programs, such as the emergency departments, the UH Neurological Institute, and the Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute. This approach emphasizes empathic engagement of patients and healthcare providers, capturing nuanced insights to reengineer processes and service delivery for enhanced outcomes and efficiency.
Significantly, Dr. Lee co-designed and led innovation programs that provide early-stage capital to promising digital health and medtech concepts, as well as care redesign initiatives. By fostering early investment in emerging technologies and creative health solutions, UH Ventures under his guidance has become a vital incubator for ideas that address critical healthcare challenges and improve patient experience.
The launch and incubation of specialized centers such as the UH Cutler Center for Men, RadiCLE, and the Veale Healthcare Transformation Institute further underscore the breadth of Dr. Lee’s impact. These entities serve as hubs for research, technology development, and clinical innovation, facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration that pushes the frontiers of medical science and healthcare delivery within and beyond the UH network.
Dr. Lee’s vision for UH Ventures aligns with building sustainable business opportunities that complement University Hospitals’ broader enterprise strategy. This entails driving revenue growth, enhancing operational margins, and systematically deploying resources into high-potential technologies with scalable impact. His leadership is focused on institutionalizing innovation practices, ensuring that entrepreneurial thinking permeates every level of the organization and is embedded into its core culture.
Beyond the confines of University Hospitals, Dr. Lee’s career reflects a strong dedication to advancing health innovation on a global scale. Notably, he contributed to a mobile health initiative in South Africa that garnered international recognition by The Economist, highlighting his capacity to create impactful, technology-driven healthcare solutions responsive to diverse settings. Moreover, his involvement in developing the Marriott Mobile platform exemplifies his proficiency in leveraging mobile technology to enhance user engagement and commercial success.
David Sylvan, MBA, who previously led UH Ventures and remains Chief Strategy, Innovation & Marketing Officer for University Hospitals, emphasized the significance of Dr. Lee’s leadership. Sylvan praised the “culture of innovation” cultivated under Dr. Lee’s stewardship and the team’s proficiency in design thinking that informs a wide array of healthcare innovations—from process redesign and product development to patient engagement frameworks. This institutional foundation positions UH Ventures as a vital accelerator of entrepreneurial success and systemic transformation.
Strategic collaboration also forms a cornerstone of Dr. Lee’s leadership philosophy. Among his notable partnerships are initiatives with the NASA Glenn Research Center and Eaton Corporation, as well as active participation in the Cleveland Innovation District. These alliances foster cross-sector innovation, enabling UH to integrate advanced technologies and business models from aerospace, manufacturing, and other industries into healthcare solutions.
In his new capacity as President of UH Ventures, Dr. Lee is poised to not only sustain but amplify the health system’s momentum in innovation. His approach emphasizes hands-on leadership to integrate strategic enterprise objectives with the tactical support required by innovators and entrepreneurs. This dual focus ensures that promising ideas can transition seamlessly from conception through development to scalable deployment.
Dr. Lee’s editorial role with MIT Press’s Design Issues highlights his engagement with scholarly discourse on design and innovation theory, which informs practical applications at UH. His contributions extend beyond UH through board memberships, including active participation in Northeast Ohio’s entrepreneurial ecosystem via organizations like JumpStart, Inc. This multifaceted involvement demonstrates his commitment to fostering innovation ecosystems both within the health system and the broader community.
The promotion of Dr. Lee as President signals a strengthened intent by University Hospitals to harness innovation as a strategic asset essential to sustaining clinical excellence, economic growth, and improved health outcomes. As healthcare continues to face unprecedented challenges amid technological advancement and demographic change, UH Ventures represents an engine for creative disruption and value creation under Dr. Lee’s visionary leadership.
Founded in 1866, University Hospitals has evolved into a comprehensive healthcare network encompassing more than 20 hospitals and numerous outpatient facilities across northern Ohio. Its flagship academic medical center, affiliated with Case Western Reserve University, stands at the forefront of clinical research and patient care innovation, consistently ranked among the nation’s best. The integration of advanced clinical programs, academic excellence, and a robust culture of innovation positions University Hospitals to continue setting new standards in healthcare delivery.
As UH Ventures charts its future trajectory, Dr. Kipum Lee’s appointment heralds an era where technological innovation, entrepreneurial funding, and strategic collaboration converge to revolutionize healthcare services. This leadership transition represents more than an administrative change—it reflects a deliberate and sustained commitment by University Hospitals to redefine how care is conceived, delivered, and evolved in a complex, interconnected world.
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News Publication Date: October 1, 2023
Web References: https://ventures.uhhospitals.org/team/kipum-lee/; https://www.uhhospitals.org/about-uh/leadership/uh-system-leadership/david-sylvan
Image Credits: University Hospitals
Keywords: Health care industry, Entrepreneurship, Corporations, Medical economics, Health care
