How He Left Academia to Help Innovate Commercial Cancer Solutions

I have a tendency to get excited by the billion dollar stories when discussing topics related to health tech. But most of us need to hear about successes that are a lot more tangible and relatable.

In fact, a lot of people interested in opportunities in health tech may not be motivated by having an outsized impact or chasing big money. Many of us just want meaningful work, better balance, and career growth.

Not only are there plenty of industry roles that fulfill that, but you still get access to outsized impact and big money possibilities with them. And the sky is the limit for a career in industry.

I want to share the journey and advice of a close friend, Dr. Osama Khan.

Osama made the leap from academia to industry and is now advancing cancer diagnostics at Natera, a Bay Area genomics company. His journey is packed with lessons anyone can follow.

A few years ago, I was very fortunate to learn that my friend who I hadn’t seen in over a decade had landed Fellowship at my institution, Stanford.

We quickly reconnected like we hadn’t lost a day, and began meeting up for basketball and gym multiple times a week. People on the basketball court always thought we were trolling when we introduced ourselves as Osama and Mohammed.

Over these gym discussions, I laid on the dream of tech and industry work pretty heavy. But Osama was already buying into it. He made the decision to make it his primary pursuit coming out of Fellowship.

Here’s How He Did It

1. Early Exposure to Industry:

“Being involved in a fellowship at Stanford really helped because people were talking about industry, medicine, and tech, and exposure was early.” Surrounding himself with people thinking beyond academia opened new doors.

This highlights the concept of high-value networks. It’s a principle I strongly believe in. Your network is one of the most powerful determinants of where you end up. Whether it’s your workplace, school, city, or neighborhood, the networks you choose shape the opportunities, norms, and values you’re exposed to.

The data is clear: high-value networks drive better outcomes in nearly every area of life. Be deliberate in choosing environments that align with your current goals and future ambitions.

2. Strategic Personal Branding:

“I developed a personalized LinkedIn profile highlighting my strengths in digitizing workflows in pathology and artificial intelligence.”

Through this branding, numerous tech industry recruiters reached out to him for potential opportunities. Additionally, Osama regularly posted on LinkedIn about key tech industry topics, allowing him to gain a following and establish expertise in pathology and AI. This consistent engagement positioned him as a thought leader and opened doors he didn’t even know existed.

3. Networking Like a Pro:

“Casting a wide network really helps. A tech recruiter reached out and discussed a cool opportunity about working as a pathologist at a new genomics lab in the Bay Area.” By putting himself out there, Osama ensured the right opportunity found him.

4. Bold Moves at Conferences:

“Fortune favors the bold” and Osama is bold. At conferences, he approached booth reps and pitched how he could help take their products to the next level. These fearless conversations led to unique opportunities like advisor roles, speaking gigs, and offers that cover travel.

The Results?

• Better Work-Life Balance: “Industry has way better balance, and you avoid a lot of the politics at an academic institution.” Osama has a nice office with a view instead of a basement lab at a ‘prestigious academic hospital.’ He also has a lot more work flexibility so he can enjoy his life.

• Competitive Compensation: “The salary is competitive, and you get different forms of income such as stock options.”

• Career Growth: Industry rewards innovation with clear paths for upward mobility—unlike the slow climb in academia.

• Exciting Challenges: Working on cutting-edge cancer diagnostics lets Osama make a real-world impact.

• Entrepreneurial Spark: Exposure to industry inspired him to explore his own startup and business ideas. Something he is better positioned to do with his industry experience.

Osama’s journey shows that stepping into industry doesn’t require a moonshot idea. Just bold moves and strategic steps. If you’re ready to explore what’s beyond hospital medicine, the path might be closer than you think.

Want to learn more?

Connect with Osama on LinkedIn and let him know what you think of his journey. Share your own questions or ideas. He’d love to hear from you.