How Mentoring Programs Fuel Pipeline of Healthcare Entrepreneurs

Mentorship is a powerful force shaping future healthcare leaders. Such programs can open doors for students or early-stage founders to career paths and opportunities that provide access to the tools, networks, and support needed to thrive as successful leaders across the sector.  

The International Center for Professional Development (ICPD), a U.S.-based nonprofit, created two programs that support emerging leaders in healthcare: the Scholar Mentoring & Development Program (SMDP) and Enterprise Leaders and Innovators Summit for Africa (ELISA). Both initiatives provide high-achieving scholars from underserved communities with the resources to jumpstart and excel in their careers. They also help the industry cast a wider net to access top talent. 

"We cofounded ICPD in October of 2011 to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds and provide them with access to industry, mentorship, coaching from executives, training sessions, peer learning and much more,” said Elisabeth Valerio, founder and CEO of ICPD.   

How SMDP builds future healthcare leaders  

SMDP is a competitive, one-year career mentoring program designed to provide students from disadvantaged backgrounds with access to healthcare industry leaders that serve as mentors.   

By building meaningful relationships with professionals in powerful positions, students gain a solid understanding of the scope and scale of medtech, biotech and consumer health companies and the products and services they offer, as well as current and future trends that shape the sector.  

Students also gain firsthand experience working in the industry and learn career strategies from mentors and their colleagues, from expanding their social media presence to crafting an “elevator” pitch, said Valerio.  

Thousands of undergraduate juniors and seniors, graduate students pursuing their master’s or PhDs, and early career researchers have participated in SMDP. 

SMDP Biotech and MedTech tracks offer training and coaching 

SMDP offers two tracks, each with five-day training events for about 140 students in total to receive career development coaching and advice on how to successfully navigate the healthcare industry.  

Participants attend industry conferences with their mentors. More than 100 students in the biotech track attended the 2025 BIO International Convention in Boston. Another cohort of about 40 students in the MedTech track will attend AdvaMed's MedTech Conference in San Diego. Students continue to meet with their mentor monthly throughout the year.  

Valerio participated as a scholar in the mentoring program back in 2004. “I gained a much deeper understanding of what biotech was all about by being involved in this program,” she said. “I got my first job thanks to this program and was so impacted that I returned as a mentor.”   

SMDP is invaluable to those who are passionate about impacting human health across the globe, Valerio said. She still recalls what a mentor once told her that truly resonated and shaped her career: “If you think of yourself as a conduit, you can go much further, rather than doing everything yourself.”  

SMDP as a Pipeline for Talent 

The SMDP program has been instrumental in strengthening the R&D workforces with top talent from disadvantaged backgrounds, explained Scott May, ICPD Executive Director. SMDP provides the industry with a “fresh perspective” by integrating students right out of research or academic institutions.    

The program’s extensive industry participants include executives from Janssen, Amgen, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Merck, and Boston Scientific, among others. 

To learn more about the program, visit https://smdp.icpdprograms.org/. 

ELISA sets up entrepreneurs for success in Africa  

The success of ICPD’s second program has made ELISA’s network the largest entrepreneurship ecosystem in Africa.  

Modeled on SMDP, ELISA provides tools and resources to individuals starting business ventures in Africa, the next frontier for healthcare innovation, Valerio explained.  

“In Africa, entrepreneurs have risen out of necessity,” May said. “There are so many startups in Africa due to market failures or government issues or other reasons, and so entrepreneurs continue to innovate to solve problems.” 

To assist promising African healthcare entrepreneurs, ELISA provides resources and networking opportunities. The program is a highly competitive program and awarded scholarships to only 12 individuals out of a pool of 650 applicants in 2024.  

The program supports high-potential entrepreneurs across Africa by providing annual training through the ELISA Business Scholars program. Each ELISA Scholar is paired with a business leader as their mentor for the one-year program.  

ELISA also provides a platform for networking that reaches a larger cohort of entrepreneurs to help scholars build connections and further access opportunities.  

The ELISA Business Portal also hosts virtual events known as ConFabs.  Their training includes business financial education and the development of an investor presentation.  

The 2024 scholar cohort met for a three-day business summit conference in Zimbabwe, where they attended lectures, business coaching sessions, pitch sessions and networking events. The 2025 meeting will also be in Zimbabwe in November, and the application deadline is July 31. Selected scholars receive travel assistance. 

ELISA also provides a platform for networking and further education through the ELISA Business Portal and virtual events known as ConFabs.  Their training includes business financial education and the development of an investor presentation.  

Scholars interested in applying for ICPD’s programs can learn more about these opportunities here.