Our Founding Team
PROGRAM DIRECTOR: DAVID S. WILLIAMS III
Entrepreneur, thought leader, and visionary, David Williams has shaped the foundations of digital health innovation helping more than 3.5 million people use health information to drive better care and outcomes. With multiple exits, David has demonstrated the ability to overcome the obstacles to starting and growing successful companies in healthcare.
Co-Founder of 3 digital health companies, PatientsLikeMe (acquired by Optum), InvolveCare (funded and acquired by Aetna), carethree
Raised more than $40 million in venture funding (angels, VC, and private equity)
Featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Wired, Fast Company, Black Enterprise, and more
Mentored hundreds of startup companies as a Techstars Accelerator Mentor and advisor for the Price Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Published author in two peer-reviewed healthcare journals, Nature Biotechnology and Journal of Communication in Healthcare
Serve on two corporate boards, AdaptHealth (NASDAQ: AHCO) and Lifespace Communities with combined annual revenues exceeding $4.5 billion
2013 Henry Crown Fellow and 2018 Braddock Fellow of The Aspen Institute and member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network
Wharton/Penn undergrad BS in entrepreneurial management and UCLA Anderson MBA in digital strategy
Vanessa Villaverde - Program Lead & Sponsor (CHCF)
During her time with California Health Care Foundation Innovation Fund, Vanessa created the concept that has become OVERLAB and drove the initial sponsorship effort. Without Vanessa, there would be no OVERLAB. Her interview on the OVERcast is a MUST.
Vanessa is currently Managing Director of Sparrow Fund.
Elaine Hagan - Program Executive Director (UCLA)
As Executive Director of The Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at UCLA Anderson, Elaine has been instrumental in providing the home for OVERLAB. Her leadership continues to drive connections between California Health Care Foundation, UCLA, and the greater Los Angeles entrepreneurial and healthcare ecosystems.
Olav Sorenson, PhD - Principal Investigator (UCLA)
Dr. Sorenson is the Joseph Jacobs Chair in Entrepreneurial Studies and Professor of Strategy at the UCLA Anderson School of Management and Faculty Director of The Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at UCLA Anderson. In his role as PI for OVERLAB, Olav oversees curriculum development. His webinar, OVERcoming Myths, sets the tone for OVERLAB by dispelling many media myths on the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs.
Kenna Chic, Program Policy & Operations (CHCF)
During her tenure at California Health Care Foundation, Kenna operated at the nexus of policy, philanthropy, tech, and venture capital. Her expertise helped define OVERLAB operations and policy objectives given the dynamic nature of the healthcare industry and political environment. Her webinar, OVERcoming Regulations, teaches entrepreneurs how to see regulations as a competitive advantage, not a burden.
Kenna currently serves as a policy fellow in the United States Senate.