Houston’s competitiveness in health care innovation is topic at Rice’s Baker Institute May 16

MEDIA ADVISORY

David Ruth
david@rice.edu
713-348-6327

Jeff Falk
jfalk@rice.edu
713-348-6775

Houston’s competitiveness in health care innovation is topic at Rice’s Baker Institute May 16

HOUSTON – (May 10, 2018) – Lisa Suennen, senior managing director at GE Ventures, which includes GE’s health care venture fund, will visit Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy May 16 to participate in a public conversation with Vivian Ho, director of the Baker Institute’s Center for Health and Biosciences, on the economic benefits that investing in health care can bring to cities.

GE Ventures invests in startups to help develop transformational technologies and applications to solve some of the world’s biggest problems.

Hosted by the Baker Institute’s Center for Health and Biosciences, the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce IGNITE and the TMC Innovation Institute, the event is free and open to the public but registration is required.

Who: Lisa Suennen, senior managing director at GE Ventures, and Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics and director of the Center for Health and Biosciences.

What: A discussion titled “Investing in Health Care Innovation: Can Houston Be Competitive?”

When: Wednesday, May 16, 6:15 p.m. A reception will be held at 5:30.

Where: Rice University, Baker Hall, Kelly International Conference Facility, 6100 Main St.

Houston’s wealth has contributed to the success of world-renowned health care systems and academic medical centers in the Texas Medical Center and throughout the metropolitan area, according to event organizers. Yet many other cities surpass Houston in fostering startup health information technology, biotech and other health technology companies that will drive future progress in both human health and financial growth, organizers said.

Suennen and Ho will discuss trends in health care venture capital and what lessons from Silicon Valley are transferable to other locations as well as what strategies Houston needs to employ to be successful in the rapidly growing sector.

The public must RSVP for the event at www.bakerinstitute.org/events/1940. A live webcast will be available at the event webpage.

Members of the news media who want to attend should RSVP to Jeff Falk, associate director of national media relations at Rice, at jfalk@rice.edu or 713-348-6775.

For a map of Rice University’s campus with parking information, go to www.rice.edu/maps. Media are advised to park in the Central Campus Garage.

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Founded in 1993, Rice University’s Baker Institute ranks among the top three university-affiliated think tanks in the world. As a premier nonpartisan think tank, the institute conducts research on domestic and foreign policy issues with the goal of bridging the gap between the theory and practice of public policy. The institute’s strong track record of achievement reflects the work of its endowed fellows, Rice University faculty scholars and staff, coupled with its outreach to the Rice student body through fellow-taught classes — including a public policy course — and student leadership and internship programs. Learn more about the institute at www.bakerinstitute.org or on the institute’s blog, http://blogs.chron.com/bakerblog.