05/04/2026
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”
— Pablo Picasso
"Earlier this month, I took my daughter to tour the University of Colorado Boulder. We’re nearing decision day and were squeezing in a few final campus visits to get a better feel for the environment, student ethos, and other intangibles that might help her determine whether this is a place where she will learn, be happy, and thrive.
She is interested in law, so we attended a session with the academic advisor for pre-law students and graduates. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this man—deep into his 80s, with a wild fringe of gray hair and a matching mustache. He told us that he had reached the pinnacle of a criminal justice career before being recruited to academia. He spent the next 34 years channeling his competitiveness and drive into guiding students.
Then he tried to retire but discovered that he was miserable.
“The reason is you,” he said, gesturing at the assembly of young people. “I love my students. I love helping them reach their dreams and succeed in life.”
He went back to work and has been at CU Boulder since 2013.
Thinking about his words, I realized that I share the same motivation. The reason I’m at Fogarty Innovation—not just playing endless rounds of golf—is that I, like the rest of our senior team, find deep fulfillment in helping people succeed. Not in the abstract, but one individual at a time—our CEOs and their teams, Lefteroff interns, international innovators, DxD students, university researchers—all of the people who come through our doors motivated by a desire to improve healthcare and the patient experience.
Like that advisor, we are still fiercely competitive. It’s why we have built an organization that integrates hands-on coaching from a multidisciplinary team, practical education, and strategic alliances to drive a 5x greater likelihood of startup success.
But the bottom line is this: everyone at Fogarty Innovation is here because we have chosen to give back. We love what we do, and the energy and joy it creates are palpable to everyone who spends time with us. The best part is that, by helping individuals succeed, we strengthen the broader medtech ecosystem and ultimately improve outcomes for patients. In this way, it lifts everyone. This is our sphere of impact.
And speaking of impact, I am delighted to announce that nominations for the 2026 Thomas J. Fogarty Prize are now open. Please don’t miss this opportunity to nominate an innovator or team whose pioneering medical technology is transforming lives around the world.”
Link: bit.ly/Fogarty_Prize_2026
The above is an excerpt from Andrew Cleeland's CEO column in our April newsletter. To receive it in your inbox directly, you can sign up here: https://www.fogartyinnovation.org/get-involved/