Anser Innovation appoints Amanda Brinkman to Board of Directors, expanding list of influential leaders supporting the company’s move to Ōmcare commercialization
NEWS RELEASE
(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)
Anser Innovation appoints Amanda Brinkman to Board of Directors, expanding list of influential leaders supporting the company’s move to Ōmcare commercialization
Brinkman’s career includes leadership positions at the world’s top creative agencies and corporations, as well as a track record of business development successes
BURNSVILLE, MN (JANUARY 16, 2020) – Anser Innovation and Ōmcare announced today that Amanda Brinkman has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Brinkman is currently Chief Brand Officer at Deluxe Corporation and creator, producer, and host of the hit series on HULU “Small Business Revolution – Main Street.”
Ōmcare, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anser Innovation, is a Minnesota-based digital health company that aims to extend the reach of caregivers and improve medication adherence and outcomes through its Ōmcare Home Health Hub, which gives caregivers of all types – from physicians and pharmacists to home care providers or family members – the ability to see and speak to elderly or disabled dependents and confirm compliance with medication treatment plans from anywhere. The easy-to-use Ōmcare system is designed to facilitate remote monitoring and interaction via visual confirmation of a patient’s actions, which supports telehealth and virtual care services, and gives family members greater peace of mind.
“Amanda has amassed an extremely impressive marketing, public relations, and business development track record that will allow her to provide critical guidance to Anser Innovation as we move toward the commercialization of the Ōmcare Home Health Hub in 2020,” said Lisa Lavin, Founder and CEO of Anser Innovation and its family of companies. “In addition to her critical marketing acumen, boundless energy, and creative mindset, Amanda’s personal credo of ‘doing well by doing good’ is a perfect fit with our core values and brand aspirations.”
Brinkman’s accolades and achievements include a feature in Minnesota Business’ “The Next Generation of Minnesota Business Titans;” being named to the magazine’s “Power 50,” which recognizes the most influential leaders in the business community; and a cover feature in Twin Cities Business Magazine. She has held executive-level positions at Allianz and UnitedHealth Group. In addition to leading internal creative agencies and business strategy at these top corporations, Brinkman has demonstrated her creative expertise through her work at cutting-edge creative firms, Fallon and McCann Minneapolis.
Brinkman is also a board member for the Ordway Performing Arts Center, the Children’s Theatre Company, the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and the Women’s Business Development Center Chicago. She has also served on the boards for Children’s Cancer Research Fund, Make-A-Wish, and The Salvation Army. She passionately volunteers for an array of causes, including the Special Olympics, Feed My Starving Children, People Serving People, the Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota, the Jeremiah Program, and more. Brinkman is also a member of the Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable.
“I believe in brands that move beyond brand purpose and take real brand action, making a difference in the lives of their customers,” said Brinkman. “Ōmcare provides just that by extending the reach of caregivers and empowering independence. This is a life-changing technology and I am thrilled to help raise awareness for this revolutionary approach.”
Ōmcare earned its third patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (U.S. Patent No. 10,347,377) for the company’s web-enabled, audiovisual, medication-dispensing telemedicine system for the home in 2019. The device made its official debut at the Leading Age Annual Conference and Expo late last year, where it earned nods from industry media as an “emerging technology in the caregiving space.” Ōmcare was also recently named among the “20 Hottest Flyover Tech Companies” by The New York Observer, based on insights from a panel of healthcare and business experts at the 38th Annual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference. To learn more, visit www.omcare.com.
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For more information:
Barbara Tabor, APR / (651) 450-1342 / barbara@taborpr.com
About Ōmcare
Ōmcare is a digital health company aspiring to extend the reach of the caregiver, increase medication adherence, and to improve treatment outcomes by harnessing the power of remote care. We aim to achieve this through our proprietary interactive technologies - promising right pill, right time, right person. By partnering with pharmacies, payers, providers, and family caregivers, our vision is to help people live healthier, more vibrant, independent lives.
Ōmcare named one of nation’s hottest healthcare startups in “Flyover Tech”
NEWS RELEASE
(For Immediate release)
Panel of experts at JP Morgan Healthcare Conference selects Ōmcare as one of the hottest new healthcare tech companies in Middle America
Burnsville, MN (January 14, 2020) - Ōmcare, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anser Innovation, announced today that the company was included in The New York Observer’s snapshot of the “20 Hottest Flyover Tech Companies.” The list reflects insights from a panel of healthcare and business experts during the 38th Annual JP Morgan Healthcare Investment Conference in San Francisco this week, as they discussed the hottest new tech companies headquartered in the emerging healthcare innovation hub that is Middle America.
The Ōmcare Home Health Hub™ is designed to facilitate remote monitoring via visual confirmation of a patient’s actions, which supports telehealth and virtual care services and gives family members greater peace of mind. The system gives caregivers of all types – from physicians, pharmacists, and home care providers to family members – the ability to see and speak to patients to confirm compliance with medication treatment plans from anywhere.
“Based on my experience as a nurse and working for a major national health plan, I have seen firsthand the impact that medication non-adherence has on individual health outcomes and quality of life, as well as cost and quality outcomes on a population level,” said Jeannine Rivet, Ōmcare board member and former executive vice president of UnitedHealth Group. “The Ōmcare Home Health Hub has the potential to revolutionize medication adherence and the way we manage care for older Americans and people with chronic conditions.”
The Ōmcare Home Health Hub can be used by individual caregivers at home or by senior living facilities to ensure proper medication adherence, which can significantly impact quality of life and clinical outcomes. The company recently announced a pilot program to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Ōmcare Home Health Hub with partners Ecumen and Thrifty White Pharmacy. To learn more, visit www.Omcare.com.
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For more information:
Barbara Tabor, APR / (651) 230-9192 / barbara@taborpr.com
About Ōmcare
Ōmcare is a health technology company focused on extending the reach of caregivers, increasing medication adherence, and improving treatment outcomes by harnessing the power of remote care and two-way video technology. By partnering with pharmacies, payers, providers, and family caregivers, Ōmcare strives to help people live healthier, more vibrant, independent lives. Learn more at www.omcare.com. Follow on Twitter (@Omcare_Health), Facebook, Instagram, and on LinkedIn.
For Burnsville startup, finding the right board members key to launching product
Chief Executive Lisa Lavin is the only officer listed on the website of Anser Innovation, a startup company based in Burnsville, although a half-dozen additional members of its board are listed right with her.
It's not rare for a young company to recruit a board, in part because board members do not need to be paid in cash. What is not that common, though, is to have directors of the stature of former UnitedHealth Group executive Jeannine Rivet, a well-known figure in her industry.
As to why Rivet might want to join a tiny company just launching a product to help seniors take their medications, the most interesting take comes from Lavin: "Good leadership is compounding."
It's an interesting idea well worth considering — and for big companies, too. It means candidates find good leaders involved already, making it easier for someone like Rivet to decide to come aboard. Her involvement, in turn, can attract others.
Read the full article from the Star Tribune here.
Five new health and caregiving technologies November 2019
LeadingAge in San Diego and more. Entrepreneurs clearly see the opportunity for providing tech-enabled services to help care for older adults. Large events like Leading Age, Argentum, and sub-events within CES and HIMSS all point to the business potential that draws startups as well as new offerings from existing players – in what may become an increasingly crowded market. Here five recent announcements, two from the Startup Garage at Leading Age in San Diego -- adding three others from recent press releases. All information is drawn from the websites of the companies themselves.
Ōmcare (LeadingAge) "Ōmcare is far more than a pill sorting system with self-reported validation. With three issued patents and more pending, Ōmcare’s in-home remote dispensing and integrated care monitoring will drive a new way to measure adherence and set a new standard for care coordination that is simple, safe and easy to use. Ōmcare links remote dispensing with video confirmation such that every dispensing event is directly observed and confirmed. Caregivers know immediately if a dose is missed or incorrectly administered. Other smart pill dispensers and mobile compliance apps depend on self-reporting rather than direct observation. Ōmcare’s approach will change how the industry measures medication adherence." Learn more at Ōmcare.
Read the full article from Aging In Place Technology Watch here.
A test of pills: Ecumen, Thrifty White to join unique telemedicine pilot project
What could be handier? A new machine will dispense prepackaged prescription meds at home, while at the same time allowing the elderly patient to video chat with family and medical staff.
A Burnsville company is partnering with Ecumen and Thrifty White Drug on a pilot project to do just that. Ōmcare has designed its Telemed System to help make sure older adults are taking their medications as prescribed -- at the right time, in the right way.
The Telemed device can hold 15 to 30 days worth of medication, which for the pilot project will be provided by Thrifty White Drug -- individually packaged and pre-slit for easy opening.
The three-way video system allows family or medical staff to call when it’s medication time, and to check in, chat a bit, and make sure the patient is taking the medicine as prescribed.
“It’s the first of its kind, it’s really innovative,” said Brett Anderson, Ecumen vice president of health and clinical services.
Read the full article from the Detroit Lakes Tribune here.
Ōmcare partners with Ecumen & Thrifty White Pharmacy
BURNSVILLE, Minn. (November 13, 2019)—Ōmcare, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anser Innovation, announced today that it will partner with Ecumen, a leading provider of housing and care resources for older adults, and Thrifty White Pharmacy, a Midwest-based pharmacy chain of retail, long-term care and telepharmacy locations, to evaluate the ability of the Ōmcare Telemed System to improve medication adherence, reduce costs and assist caregivers.
According to Lisa Lavin, founder and CEO of Ōmcare, the pilot will launch in early 2020 at select Ecumen assisted living communities in Minnesota. As part of the pilot, residents who currently receive door-delivered medication assistance will instead receive medication assistance from their caregivers via the Ōmcare Telemed System. The two-way, interactive Ōmcare video and medication dispensing system will be preloaded with pouched multi-dose medications from Thrifty White Pharmacy, per each individual’s prescription drug regimen.
The Ōmcare Telemed System gives caregivers of all types—physicians, pharmacists, care providers, or family members—the ability to see and speak to those who need assistance with medication adherence and to confirm it's the right pill, right time, right person. The easy-to-use Ōmcare system is designed to facilitate remote monitoring via visual confirmation of a patient’s actions, which supports telehealth and virtual care services and gives family members greater peace of mind.
Read the full article from HomeCare here.
Ōmcare partners with Ecumen and Thrifty White Pharmacy
NEWS RELEASE
(For immediate release)
Ōmcare partners with Ecumen and Thrifty White Pharmacy to launch pilot program using Ōmcare® Telemed System to improve medication adherence for older adults
Ōmcare’s web-enabled, audiovisual medication dispensing telemedicine system ensures right medication, right person, right time
BURNSVILLE, MN (October 31, 2019) – Ōmcare, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anser Innovation, announced today that it will partner with Ecumen, a leading provider of housing and care resources for older adults, and Thrifty White Pharmacy, a Midwest-based pharmacy chain of retail, long-term care, and telepharmacy locations, to evaluate the ability of the Ōmcare® Telemed System to improve medication adherence, reduce costs, and assist caregivers.
According to Lisa Lavin, founder and CEO of Ōmcare, the pilot will launch in early 2020 at select Ecumen assisted living communities in Minnesota. As part of the pilot, residents who currently receive door-delivered medication assistance will instead receive medication assistance from their caregivers via the Ōmcare Telemed System. The two-way, interactive Ōmcare video and medication dispensing system will be preloaded with pouched multi-dose medications from Thrifty White Pharmacy, per each individual’s prescription drug regimen.
The Ōmcare Telemed System gives caregivers of all types – physicians, pharmacists, care providers or family members – the ability to see and speak to those who need assistance with medication adherence and to confirm right pill, right time, right person. The easy-to-use Ōmcare system is designed to facilitate remote monitoring via visual confirmation of a patient’s actions, which supports telehealth and virtual care services and gives family members greater peace of mind.
“Ecumen and Thrifty White are ideal partners for this pilot because they share our passion for innovation and they have the infrastructure and expertise to test and validate the ability of the Ōmcare system to deliver on our promise of right pill, right time, right person,” said Lisa Lavin, founder and CEO of Ōmcare. “By combining remote care via video technology with the convenience of multi-dose packaging, we hope to demonstrate that this approach can save money while improving patient outcomes and the caregiving experience.”
Multi-dose packaging for pharmaceuticals is expected to grow at a rate of 5.9% between now and 2023. This growth is due in large part to the connection between the use of multi-dose packaging and improved medication adherence, which ultimately influences clinical outcomes and health care costs.
"We've been actively working to identify the best innovations in technology to support the independence and individual needs of those we serve," said Brett Anderson, vice president of health and clinical services, Ecumen. "Specific to medication administration, multi-dose packaging is both efficient and secure. We're excited to move towards a pilot in partnership with Thrifty White Pharmacy and Ōmcare to test this interactive technology."
Like Ōmcare and Ecumen, Thrifty White Pharmacy is also well-known for its innovation and commitment to integrating telemedicine capabilities into pharmacy delivery. In 2003, the company opened its first telepharmacy site. This concept allows a trained, certified and experienced pharmacy technician to fill and dispense prescription medications that have been verified by a pharmacist over an audio-video link. The success of this solution allowed Thrifty White Pharmacy to provide pharmacy services into communities that otherwise would have no prescription services.
“Our partnership with Ōmcare and Ecumen will allow us to help patients maintain independence as long as possible, while supporting the concept of aging in place in a way that has never been done,” said Tim Weippert, chief operating officer, Thrifty White. “Because medication adherence is one of the primary needs of our aging population, technology like the Ōmcare system can promote healthy outcomes and quality of life for patients and caregivers.”
To learn more about the pilot or the commercial availability of the Ōmcare Telemed System, visit. www.omcare.com.
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For more information:
Barbara Tabor, APR
(651) 450-1342
About Ōmcare
Ōmcare is a health technology company focused on extending the reach of caregivers, increasing medication adherence, and improving treatment outcomes by harnessing the power of remote care and two-way video technology. By partnering with pharmacies, payers, providers, and family caregivers, Ōmcare strives to help people live healthier, more vibrant, independent lives. Learn more at www.omcare.com. Follow on Twitter (@Omcare_Health) and on LinkedIn.
About Ecumen
Founded in 1862 and based in Shoreview, MN, Ecumen is one of the nation's largest nonprofit providers of older adult care, operating nearly 100 properties and services in more than 40 communities in 8 states - Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Idaho, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. In addition to providing a breadth of senior housing options and care resources, Ecumen provides consulting services in management, marketing and development, and has developed innovative cooperative living communities that support age-friendly living. The company's national reputation for innovative programming and its commitment to person-centered care that focuses on individual needs helps people to live in the ways that matter most to them.
About Thrifty White
Headquartered in Plymouth, MN, Thrifty White is a regional chain of 100 pharmacies and 82 associated Independent Retailers operating in the upper Midwest, with locations in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Montana, and Wisconsin. Thrifty White is one of the nation’s one hundred largest Employee Stock Ownership companies with 100% employee ownership. This unique ownership structure allows Thrifty White to focus on the long-term strength and growth of the company. Thrifty White was named the 2016 national “Pharmacy Innovator of the Year” by Drug Store News for the company’s efforts to continually move the practice of pharmacy forward. The company is one of the nation’s leaders in developing a Medication Synchronization program which allows patients to have all of their maintenance prescriptions filled on one day each month. This service dramatically improves medication adherence and lowers overall medical costs.
Ōmcare to preview new Telemed System at Leading Age Expo
Burnsville, MN (October 9, 2019) – Ōmcare announced today that it will provide previews of its soon-to-be-released Ōmcare Telemed System at the upcoming Leading Age Annual Meeting + Expo, October 27-30 in San Diego. Ōmcare will offer a first look into its web-enabled, audiovisual, medication-dispensing telemedicine system designed for caregivers in the Leading Age Start-Up Garage at booth A3435, a section of the exhibit dedicated to promising early and late-stage start-ups.
The secure, interactive Ōmcare Telemed System gives caregivers of all types – from physicians, pharmacists, and home care providers or family members – the ability to see and speak to elderly or disabled dependents and to visually confirm compliance with medication treatment plans from anywhere. Once pre-loaded with pouched, multi-dose medications based on an individual patient’s prescription schedule, the Ōmcare system dispenses medications as scheduled and facilitates remote visual confirmation of a patient’s actions. In essence, Ōmcare is a conduit for telehealth and virtual care services and ultimately provides family members greater peace of mind.
According to Lisa Lavin, the two-way video capabilities of the Ōmcare system can be used by individual caregivers or senior living facilities to ensure proper medication adherence which can significantly impact quality of life and clinical outcomes.
“Sticking to a medication plan can be difficult if our health and mental capacity is compromised. This aspect of caregiving is not only stressful, but it can have significant negative side effects if not done properly,” said Lisa Lavin, founder and CEO of Ōmcare. “The Ōmcare Telemed System fosters care from anywhere and creates a connection between patients, family caregivers, and medical care teams and promises visual confirmation of medication adherence. This level of care and collaboration has been shown to improve outcomes and reduce costs for patients, while creating a more positive experience for all.”
According to Lavin, the company will begin piloting the Ōmcare Telemed System with pharmacy and assisted living partners starting in first quarter 2020 and anticipates direct-to-consumer sales to begin next year, as well.
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For more information:
Barbara Tabor, APR / (651) 230-9192 / barbara@taborpr.com
About Ōmcare
Ōmcare is a health technology company focused on extending the reach of caregivers, increasing medication adherence, and improving treatment outcomes by harnessing the power of remote care and two-way video technology. By partnering with pharmacies, payers, providers, and family caregivers, Ōmcare strives to help people live healthier, more vibrant, independent lives. Learn more at www.omcare.com. Follow on Twitter (@Omcare_Health) and on LinkedIn.
Jeannine Rivet named to Anser Innovation Board of Directors in preparation for Ōmcare launch
BURNSVILLE, MN (SEPTEMBER 19, 2019) – Anser Innovation and Ōmcare announced today that Jeannine Rivet has joined its Board of Directors. Rivet is a recognized leader in health care, serving top executive roles at UnitedHealth Group and currently serving as an active board member, corporate advisor, mentor, and coach.
Ōmcare, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anser Innovation, is a Minnesota-based health technology company that aims to extend the reach of caregivers and improve medication adherence and outcomes through its Ōmcare Telemed System, which gives caregivers of all types – from physicians and pharmacists to home care providers or family members – the ability to see and speak to elderly or disabled dependents and confirm compliance with medication treatment plans from anywhere. The easy-to-use Ōmcare system is designed to facilitate remote monitoring and interaction via visual confirmation of a patient’s actions, which supports telehealth and virtual care services, and gives family members greater peace of mind.
According to Lisa Lavin, founder and CEO of Ōmcare, the company recently earned its third patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (U.S. Patent No. 10,347,377) for the company’s web-enabled, audiovisual, medication-dispensing telemedicine system for the home.
“Our society is aging, and the number of seniors who need health care assistance is rapidly outpacing the population of potential caregivers. At the same time, the cost of non-adherence to medication plans exceeds $300 billion,” said Lavin. “Jeannine has a unique perspective as both a former clinician and managed care executive that is essential to helping us change this dynamic and achieve our mission of enabling care from anywhere.”
Rivet served as executive vice president of UnitedHealth Group, working with and on behalf of all business segments in areas focused on strategic relationships, clinician advancement, culture, and social responsibility. Previous roles at UnitedHealth Group include CEO of UnitedHealthcare, CEO of Ingenix, and CEO of Optum. Rivet currently serves on the Board of Directors for ABIOMED, Inc. and Solutran.
Rivet received a Master’s in Public Health from Boston University. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Boston College and practiced as a Registered Nurse for several years prior to entering the managed care industry. She has been recognized by the American Association of Health Plans, Boston University School of Public Health, Fortune magazine, Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys, Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal, Minnesota’s City Business, Minnesota Women’s Health Leadership TRUST, Twin Cities Business magazine, Women Business Leaders in Healthcare, Linkage, and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. She also is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.
“I am excited to join the Anser Innovation Board of Directors and to be engaged for the launch of Ōmcare,” said Rivet. “Extending the reach of caregivers while maintaining quality and reducing cost is critical for our healthcare system today, and technology like the Ōmcare system will support this aim.”
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For more information:
Barbara Tabor, APR / (651) 450-1342 / barbara@taborpr.com
About Ōmcare
Ōmcare is a health technology company aspiring to extend the reach of the caregiver, increase medication adherence, and to improve treatment outcomes by harnessing the power of remote care. We aim to achieve this through our proprietary interactive technologies - promising right pill, right time, right person. By partnering with pharmacies, payers, providers, and family caregivers, our vision is to help people live healthier, more vibrant, independent lives.
Startups that are disrupting Healthcare in 2019 (5 companies to watch)
It’s no secret that the healthcare industry has become a formidable presence in the startup arena, garnering hundreds of millions of dollars in investing this year. In fact, according to a Forbes article, all signs point to 2018 being a record breaking year for healthcare VC investing.
Because of this hyperactive market, there has been an increase in the amount of healthcare startups looking to capitalize on this interest from investors. This means that it’s getting harder to separate the contenders from the pretenders when it comes to these new companies. To help identify the cream of the crop, here is the definitive list of the top five healthcare startups to keep an eye on in 2019.
Virta
Virta is doing great work in helping those with diabetes, and they’ll continue to do more great things in 2019. Virta Health has delivered the first clinically-proven treatment to safely and sustainably reverse type 2 diabetes without the use medications or surgery. In there first year of treatments, 60% of their patients achieved diabetes reversal, 94% of insulin users reduced or eliminated their usage, and 83% of patients remained active in the trial. This is one healthcare startup we’ll for sure keep our eye on in the coming year.
Ōmcare
Ōmcare is an innovative healthy technology company and startup that address medication non-adherence through the use of their Ōmcare Telemed System. The product, which features video chat interface, 3-way calling capabilities, medication dispensing and consumption assistance, and adherence confirmation will be available mid-2019. The Ōmcare Telemed System offers caregivers of all types – physicians, pharmacists. and family – the ability to see, speak to, and confirm appropriate medication from anywhere. Ōmcare also addresses the growing twin problems of social isolation and the shortage of paid and unpaid caregivers in the senior market. The real costs of medication non-adherence and loneliness are more than just dollars and cents, and Ōmcare understands that.
Helix
Helix is a startup that is working towards “democratizing DNA” with their genetic testing marketplace. What makes Helix an exciting company to pay close attention to is their business model. They differentiate themselves from other genomics testing companies like 23andMe by requesting a single one time donation that allows their customers access to their marketplace of testing options. Everyone has a right to know about their ancestral history, and Helix is making it accessible to all.
PEAR Therapeutics
PEAR is actually the first company to receive an FDA clearance for a prescription digital therapeutic that works towards improving clinical outcomes in a disease. PEAR uses software applications that have been clinically-validated with pharmaceutical and treatment paradigms to provide results for their patients, which includes those with diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer’s, asthma, ADHD, depression, anxiety, and more.
Sensely
Sensely is a digital health company that uses an avatar-based, empathy-driven application that helps clinicians and their patients keep track and manage their health. The platform, highlighted by the virtual assistant “Molly,” includes data integration, images and videos, text to speech capabilities, and speech recognition. Sensely provides access to high quality medicine by utilizing artificial intelligence, a trend we’ll likely see continue in the healthcare startup sector.
Why Investing in Healthcare is Smart
More-so than any other industry, healthcare is an essential part of our everyday lives. Not just certain people, but everyone is affected by healthcare technology. Startups in this industry are working diligently to change the world by weaving new technology, drug and genetic advances, analytics and AI into solutions that impact our health, quality of life, and wallet.
While there have been many groundbreaking achievements in healthcare over the years, there is still so much opportunity to produce better, faster, and more efficient diagnoses, treatments, and management. Not only are there large returns to be had for investing in these companies, but you’ll lend a hand in the next big healthcare breakthrough.