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Katelin Cherry
Co-Founder and CTO at Koda Health (UHC Techstars '20)
Katelin Cherry is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Koda Health, Inc., a healthcare technology company she helped establish in 2020.2 With a background in biomedical engineering and a passion for social justice, Cherry has combined her technical expertise with a commitment to empowering women and addressing healthcare challenges.
Professional Background
Cherry's career path includes several notable positions:
- Research Specialist at Rice University (2018-2019): She designed medical devices for low-resource settings.1
- Biodesign Fellow at TMC Innovation (2019-2020): Cherry worked in interdisciplinary teams to create digital health solutions for unmet healthcare needs.2
- Co-Founder of LilySpec (2018-2019): She helped develop an improved vaginal speculum, winning several entrepreneurship competitions.2
Education and Achievements
Cherry holds a Master of Bioengineering (MBE) from Rice University, where she was recognized as an Outstanding MBE Student by the Department of Bioengineering in May 2019.2 Her educational background also includes experience at the University of Arkansas, where she conducted biomedical engineering research.23
Leadership and Technical Expertise
As CTO of Koda Health, Cherry is responsible for:
- Navigating complex industry requirements around security, HIPAA compliance, and SOC-2.1
- Leading the product and development teams with a combination of technical knowledge and approachable leadership.1
- Analyzing data to create innovative solutions for patient care planning.1
Social Impact and Advocacy
Cherry has demonstrated a strong commitment to social causes:
- She worked as a Program Coordinator for The Community Cloth, supporting refugee women in Houston.2
- Cherry has been vocal about the challenges faced by women in leadership positions and the importance of overcoming imposter syndrome.1
Colleagues describe Cherry as having "unwavering dedication to lead, background in product wizardry, and super cool, approachable demeanor," highlighting her as a driving force behind the company's progress.1