Tackling concussions head on
Rosina Samadani, named to Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business list, discusses the medtech solution supplanting the standard methodology for identifying mild traumatic brain injuries.
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Rosina Samadani (NYO 97-04) knows there's room for improvement in how concussions are assessed and diagnosed. She and her company, Oculogica, have developed EyeBox, the first FDA-approved solution that analyzes eye movement and generates an objective and personalized assessment of cranial nerve function. Determined by an analysis of over 100,000 data points, Rosina and her team apply a more scientific approach to identifying brain injuries than the standard baseline questionnaire.
Rosina, who was recently named to Fast Company's annual list of the Most Creative People in Business , talks about EyeBox, its impact, and her vision for Oculogica's future.
You developed EyeBox with your sister. How did you move from being a developer of the product to signing on to be the CEO of Oculogica?
My sister, Dr. Uzma Samadani, is a full-time neurosurgeon and discovered the technology. I developed it into a product by taking her research version of the device, stabilizing the software, and taking it through the FDA's paces. Becoming CEO wasn't a huge transition for me. This is my fourth stint leading a startup at the intersection of healthcare and technology.
Describe a typical day.
There is no typical! Besides a daily run, I have two constants in my day. I start my workday with an update call with my head of regulatory and quality. We also have daily scrum meetings where everyone gives an update on what they're working on that day. The rest of the day varies. On unusual days we may decide on a pivot - like when the Covid-19 related lockdown occurred. When we're preparing for an FDA submission, request, or a large grant, it can be all hands on deck. But no day is the same, and everything we do makes a difference to the company. That's very energizing.
What do you find most rewarding about what you do?
We're making an impact on patients who deserve better tools than what they've had available. When I hear a story from a physician, or sometimes even directly from a patient, saying, "I wish we had had this before. It makes such a difference," that is everything.
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EyeBox, the first FDA-approved solution that analyzes eye movement and generates an objective and personalized assessment of cranial nerve function
How do you see Oculogica developing over the next few years?
We'll have a higher-performing and shorter test that will be the new standard for concussion diagnosis. We also plan to add at least one more indication to our solution. We've been a very clinically focused company to date, so we'll also need to focus more on our marketing.
What's an example of a situation where an EyeBox diagnosis was particularly impactful?
We had a young hockey player come in with his coach during our pivotal FDA study. He insisted he was okay, but his coach knew he was not. He answered "no" to all of the standard concussion symptom questions, such as if he were feeling dizzy or nauseous. We then administered our test and he came out just about as high on the “concussed” scale as you could get. He insisted on retaking the test because he said he wasn't paying attention. You can guess what happened: this kid got the same score within a few decimal points. He didn't get to play in a game that weekend, and that was the right decision.
What did you learn at McKinsey that you use in what you do today?
I learned how to present, manage teams and external partners, and be end-product focused. I'm able to get up to speed quickly on anything and understand that identifying what is critical, or the long pole in the tent, will help you prioritize. I learned how to work with a range of people and understand what motivates others. It instilled confidence that I can do anything in business. I was at McKinsey for almost seven years and it laid the foundation for my business skills.