CLEVELAND—We have all heard about or experienced a medical miracle that saved someone's life. Whether this experience personally affected us or was just an interesting story, it is an incredible topic to speak and/or hear about.
I personally have a few stories about myself and my loved ones, but those are for a different day. Today I had the opportunity to listen and observe what is coming in the health care profession. And, more importantly, how much of what is to come is directly related to our industry.
Francis Papay of the Cleveland Clinic, Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Institute served as a speaker at the Third Advanced Materials in Healthcare Conference at the International Elastomer Conference on Oct. 12 at the Cleveland Convention Center .
Papay spoke about polymers in health care, and while I will be writing a formal story about many of the topics he discussed, I wanted to hit three points that really got me thinking.
I should first say that to get me thinking on a Monday morning before drinking my Starbucks is a feat in itself. These are the topics still rattling around in my brain today:
The key is the end user.
Papay and Tom Graham, chief innovation officer, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, who introduced Papay, suggested to audience members to go speak to surgeons and the other end users of the products they are making. While a company may think end users don't need or want to know the process, it could be a great benefit to both sides to have that contact and networking opportunity.
“People were surprised when we reached out to, say Parker Hannifin or Lubrizol,” Graham said. “Frankly, they're natural partners. They have perspectives and resources and relationships and capabilities that we simply wouldn't have.”
Having these conversations can open dialogue for different sides of a process to understand the other parts.