Congresswoman Robin Kelly Visits with Healthcare Innovators at MATTER
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U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL) today visited healthcare technology incubator MATTER to discuss healthcare innovation with early-stage entrepreneurs and industry leaders.
Launched in February 2015, MATTER is a community of health technology startups and industry leaders from across the ecosystem that are working together to foster innovation in health IT, medical devices, diagnostics and biopharmaceuticals.
During the visit, the Congresswomen met with Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER; Jeff Aronin, co-chair of MATTER and CEO of Marathon Pharmaceuticals, as well as representatives from AbbVie and Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Illinois, who are among MATTER’s industry partners. The discussion focused on MATTER’s mission to unite the healthcare industry in Illinois to solve tough challenges in healthcare and introduce next-generation solutions that will improve patient lives and drive economic growth.
Congresswoman Kelly also had an opportunity to tour the MATTER facility and meet with some of the entrepreneurs working at MATTER including the founders of CancerIQ, a digital health company that helps personalize cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship plans based on a patient’s individual risk factors; doc&I, a pricing software for healthcare providers aimed at giving patients the best prices for prescription drugs; and Resonance Medical, a medical device software provider whose first solution powers cochlear implants and other neuromodulation devices.
“As chair of the Congressional Black Caucus’s Health Braintrust, I’ve worked to draw attention to the true potential of innovations in health technology, and how they affect the ways healthcare is delivered and how individuals manage their own health,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly. “To put it plainly, what the folks at MATTER are doing matters.”
“We must encourage health technology startups and increase funding for the basic sciences if we are to revolutionize healthcare policy to the benefit of vulnerable populations,” added Kelly. “From what I saw today, I’m confident that Chicago will serve as an innovation hub on the health innovation front. I will continue working in Washington to leverage the technologies that are the brainchild of MATTER’s innovators, so we can put an end to health disparities once and for all.”
Congresswoman Kelly is outspoken on the issue of healthcare disparity. She currently chairs the CBC’s Healthcare Braintrust, which works to address health disparities and improve health outcomes for all Americans. Particular areas of focus for the Congresswoman include addressing health inequality in our communities, gun safety, protecting a woman’s right to choose, keeping health care costs affordable and protecting Medicare and Medicaid for future generations.
“We’re honored to welcome Congresswoman Kelly to MATTER to emphasize the importance of how industry collaboration and early-stage innovation is driving the future of healthcare,” said MATTER CEO Steven Collens. “We’re appreciative of Congresswoman Kelly’s commitment to supporting innovation and important healthcare initiatives, and we look forward to working with her as MATTER continues to grow.”
“We’re thrilled to have had an opportunity to expose Congresswoman Kelly to the incredible entrepreneurs at MATTER, who are focused on game-changing healthcare technology solutions,” said Jeff Aronin, co-chair of MATTER and CEO of Marathon Pharmaceuticals.
About MATTER
MATTER is a community of entrepreneurs, innovators and industry leaders working together to harness technology to improve health and healthcare. MATTER connects and promotes collaboration between entrepreneurs, scientists, physicians, investors and industry partners in order to bring next-generation products and services to market that improve quality of care and save lives. MATTER was developed by a team of entrepreneurs and industry leaders with the support of the state of Illinois. MATTER began as a project of ChicagoNEXT, Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s council on technology and innovation, which is part of World Business Chicago. For more information, visit matter.health and follow @MATTERhealth.