Medical Rising Star Award Winner 2024: Asha Parekh

Asha Parekh
CEO and Cofounder
Front Line Medical Technologies
Ontario, Canada

EDUCATION

PhD, Biomedical Engineering

EXPERIENCE

Dr. Asha Parekh is a PhD biomedical engineer and the cofounder and chief executive officer of Front Line Medical Technologies Inc., a leader in innovative medical devices for bleeding control and resuscitation. Her career began with the distinct desire to improve the lives of those in need, which drove her to explore engineering and medical device innovation, with the ultimate goal of translating new technologies into the real world to create impact.

What’s the most exciting part of your work?

The most exciting part of my work is the true realization of the impact that we make. That is my passion, and it’s what keeps me motivated to keep doing what we’re doing with the team. Hearing patient and family stories is always so meaningful, and it’s quite breathtaking to be a part of those stories. The more we advance, the more patients we help save, so it’s truly a compounding effect — that is super exciting to me!

What is one major challenge you’ve faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?

I’ve had a lot of tremendous support along my journey, but not from everyone and not always. Being doubted for the ability to successfully start and run a medtech company was a major challenge, and I’m not sure a male counterpart would have faced the same scrutiny. I overcame it by standing up for myself and rising to the challenge. Our reaction is everything — and actions scream over words, so I did what I had to do and continue to do so.

What advice do you have for young women engineers aspiring to be leaders?

Be passionate about what you do and be disgustingly true to yourself while doing it. By doing so you’ll shine your true light so bright that it will attract the right people with the same values as you, and that will catapult your growth.
Find good partners that you work well with and a couple of reliable advisors who have been where you are.
Every experience may not be positive but turn it into a positive and keep going on your path!

How do you stay motivated and continue to grow in the medtech field?

By keeping the impact at the top of my mind. With every task, even the little ones that may seem unimportant or tedious, they all move us forward and allow us to help save lives and make that impact on patients, their family, and society. That’s what keeps me driven.

Can you describe a pivotal moment in your career that significantly impacted your trajectory?

When we started Front Line Medical Technologies, it was pivotal for my career trajectory in terms of embarking on an unexpected entrepreneurial journey, and it was also a leap of faith. We didn’t know how far this would really go, as the risks with medtech are high with high investments of time and money. Thankfully, I didn’t have to look back on that leap of faith. High risk, high-reward situation.

How do you balance technical expertise with leadership responsibilities in your role?

As we are still in fairly early-stage, I can’t focus only on one aspect; e.g., technical. It’s really a balance of every aspect, including technical, and leadership is an overarching role. We have a great team, and I wear whatever hat is needed at any given point in time to keep us going.

What role has mentorship played in your career, and how do you pay it forward?

It has played a very big role. I’ve had amazing mentors, including two who are now on our board of directors. I’m a strong believer in learning, and I’ve never been afraid to ask for help or advice. People who can mentor and advise us (properly) are so valuable. Because I know how valuable it can be and to pay forward, I give talks and give my time to whoever may need it. It’s rare that I turn down an event — only if I have a scheduling conflict. I also do 1:1 mentoring with students, virtually and in-person for people who are local. One of my mentors said to me once that all we can do is share our stories; people will take what they want or need from it. You’ll serve a different purpose to different people with the same information. So that’s what I do. I share as much as possible!