SCbio 2025 will feature four female CEOs whose technologies and medical devices are creating breakthroughs in women’s health. These panelists have led teams at Fortune 500 companies, built successful startups, achieved successful exits and have over 60 years of combined industry experience.
Learn more about this panel, then register for South Carolina’s largest life sciences event at The Gaillard Center in Charleston, S.C., February 18-20, 2025.
Jennifer West, Ph.D. (c), CNM
Founder & CEO, LucieMed
Jennifer is the CEO and co-founder of Lucie, a women’s healthcare company focused on reducing maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. A Certified Nurse Midwife by training, Jennifer has spent the last 19 years in the medical device industry focused on bringing novel products from concept to commercialization. Prior to founding Lucie, she was instrumental to the Alydia Health commercialization team that brought Jada – a postpartum hemorrhage treatment to market. Alydia Health exited to Organon for $240M, nine months after launch. Prior to Alydia, Jennifer worked with nVision Medical to bring a novel fallopian tube cell collection catheter through a pivotal trial. The company was acquired by Boston Scientific for $275M. Jennifer started her career as a labor and delivery nurse in the United States Air Force and served in Operation Southern Watch.
Lindsey Calcutt, Ph.D.
Co-Founder & CEO, Incora Health
Dr. Lindsey Calcutt is the CEO and Co-Founder at Incora, which offers innovative smart earrings that give women comprehensive, personalized health-tracking insights tailored specifically to women’s unique menstrual cycle. With a Doctorate in Biomedical Engineering focused on technology innovation and over 20 years in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries, Lindsey has led teams at Fortune 500 companies and steered multiple startup successes, achieving two exits. Her expertise spans strategic business and operational development, visionary team leadership and IP management as a USPTO Registered Patent Agent. Lindsey is a mother of three and enjoys playing tennis.
Kim Smith, FACHE
Founder & CEO, Health Evolve Technologies, LLC
Kim A. Smith is a sought-after speaker, author, and health tech Founder/CEO. She’s spent 18 years mastering executive leadership skills within some of the top hospital systems in the industry – including Duke Medicine, Tenet Healthcare and MUSC Health. Kim’s corporate experience includes leadership development, hospital and large medical group operations, business development and acquisitions, global business expansion and health equity.
Most recently, Kim launched Health Evolve Technologies in 2023 to build innovative solutions at the intersection of care and culture. Her team of physicians, biobehavioral researchers and engineers have built Lauren. Lauren is a digital care navigator designed to help women manage their heart health and stress from pre-conception to beyond postpartum care. Kim went from a sketchpad idea to piloting an MVP with clinical and community-based organizations in less than 18 months. Health Evolve is a member organization of the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA). Kim and her team have been awarded several grants, sponsorships, and awards for their work in the deployment of Lauren. Their goal is to reach at least 2.5 million women in the US alone. Kim also has her eyes set on a global impact – having established a global subsidiary and nurtured research relationships in England and Africa. Her passion for transforming health equity and culture is a result of her own experience in losing a child due to HELLP Syndrome. She uses her voice at local and global tables of influence to transform how the voices of BIPOC communities are amplified. She is the past Board Chair for the Preeclampsia Foundation, and she is the current 2024/2025 Board President for the South Carolina Midlands Chapter of the American Heart Association. Kim was also selected recently as a Non-Voting Member of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Maternal Mental Health Task Force Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee for Women’s Services (ACWS) in 2023.
Kim earned her master’s degree in health administration from the University of South Carolina and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wake Forest University. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Global Health Equity at Meharry Medical College’s Global School of Health. She is applying her passion for global maternal health and innovation as a current Liberty Fellow – one of over 1500 global leaders connected to the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Kristine Kring
Founder & CEO, Female Founder House
With over a decade of experience as an advisor, executive, and investor, Kristine helps ambitious female founders and investors achieve their boldest goals without compromising their health. After experiencing burnout in the corporate world, Kristine focused on reclaiming her health while building multiple streams of income. She now empowers women to lead with strength and vision, integrating wellness into their journey to success. Kristine’s NYC-based community, Female Founder House, has supported 1,000+ women in building sustainable and thriving businesses, and her portfolio includes Aavia.io, Tia Health and Incora Health.