Ashley is a physical therapist turned medtech brand and marketing strategist. For the past 18-plus years, she has been launching game-changing medical devices and developing innovative brand and marketing strategies for companies like DePuy Synthes, Smith & Nephew Endoscopy, MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Spine Wave, Materialise OrthoView, OrthoGrid, Simplify Medical, NuVasive, NeuraMedica, and Virtual Incision. Ashley is passionate about driving technology adoption in the OR and currently runs her own consultancy, where she serves as brand and marketing strategist to medtech companies launching game-changing devices and digital technologies. Ashley is a regular Forbes contributor and co-chair of the MedtechWomen Marketing Committee and Digital Orthopedic Conference San Francisco (DOCSF) Venture. She is chair of the board of Cancer Support Community Southwest Colorado and a member of the board of directors of the BRAVE (Breast Restoration Advocacy and Education) Coalition. Ashley is a certified executive, leadership, and team coach and holds an MBA from the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business in Ann Arbor, MI and a BS in Physical Therapy from the University of Vermont School of Allied Health in Burlington, VT.

Jamie White acts as the Health Science Strategy and Relations Lead at the NIH Office of Research on Women’ Health (ORWH). In this position, she provides strategic guidance and consults with leadership concerning policy and programmatic challenges in science, health, and the biomedical workforce that are of significance to the agency. In addition, Jamie conducts a wide range of staff functions involving strategy, visioning, and process planning, as well as creating and maintaining external and internal partnerships through strategic engagement. Ms. White began her career at NIH as a Presidential Management Fellow (PMF) – (STEM track), serving as the Special Assistant to the Director of ORWH. She has expertise in multiple disciplines, including women’s health, instrumentational analysis, analytical chemistry, behavioral neuroendocrinology, and policy, among a few others. She attained her graduate degree in neuroscience at Tulane University. Ms. White is a proud alumna of Spelman College and the Gates Millennium Scholars Program because of their commitment to promoting the academic excellence of diverse students. She understands the importance of diversity in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) and is passionate about diverse groups in biomedical careers succeeding. In her role at ORWH, Ms. White is grateful to have the opportunity to work on advancing science for the health of women and toward the advancement of women in biomedical careers, carrying on the mission and legacy of the office’s many programs and leaders that played such an important role in her own journey.

Diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer in 2013, Kristin Crosland became a patient in perpetual treatment, a breast cancer advocate and a hands-on mentor to newly diagnosed women. Kristin formed the “abreast” community as a vehicle for fundraising events that benefit organizations delivering patient care, research and education while also offering patients participatory experiences to advance collective knowledge and hope. She has been a TedX presenter, an Avon Walk SF keynote speaker, and a guest presenter to several medical device and pharmaceutical companies working to better understand the patient experience. She has been featured in two films and multiple campaigns for the Stanford Women’s Cancer Center. Kristin earned a BS from Duke University and an MS from the University of Utah. She continued her graduate studies at Harvard Law School, UCLA, and Stanford. After a decade in academia and the public policy sector, she transitioned to medical devices and digital health. She was the Chief Operating Officer of the regulatory consulting firm Experien Group, then stepped away from corporate life for health reasons. Kristin now serves as the Vice President of the Board of Governors for the non-profit Horse Park at Woodside.

Niyati Tamaskar immigrated to the United States from India as a teenager to pursue a degree in electrical and computer engineering. From India to Indiana, Niyati and her husband currently live in Columbus with their two children. She has 17 years of work experience and currently is a Product Development Engineering Manager for a Fortune 150 company. In 2018, Niyati was diagnosed with breast cancer while breastfeeding her daughter. While going through the grueling treatment planned for her, Niyati started to journal. The writing was cathartic and she published a memoir of her breast cancer journey called Unafraid: A Survivor’s Quest for Human Connection. Her book was featured in Forbes magazine as a book that will help spark human connections. Niyati donates all proceeds to the American Cancer Society. In 2020 Niyati took to the TED stage to talk about the cultural bias and stigma associated with cancer. She then went on to write a second book, Unabashed: Self-Advocacy and the Quest to Foster Empathy which talks about the challenges of being a young cancer survivor. In the past few years, Niyati has had several media appearances. She was featured in a video for breastcancer.org, recognized as one of 10 women engineers you should know by the Society of Women Engineers, featured in Columbus magazine front page and the Republic newspaper, and did a fireside chat with Estee Lauder Companies for breast cancer awareness which was widely appreciated. Niyati will be talking to SIO about her experience as a patient and an advocate.

Swapna Ghanta, M.D. FACS, is a board-certified general surgeon and a fellowship trained breast surgical oncologist . She is on faculty at NYU Grossman School of Medicine as an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Surgery. She attended the New Jersey Medical School at Rutgers University (formerly UMDNJ). She completed her general surgery residency at the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and a research fellowship at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York studying lymphatic biology and lymphedema during which time she presented her research at several national meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals. She also has completed a clinical fellowship in breast surgical oncology at the University of Miami in Florida where she became proficient in advanced breast techniques including partial breast reconstruction, oncoplastic lumpectomies and S-LYMPHA, an innovative procedure which drastically reduces post axillary dissection lymphedema. Dr. Ghanta’s clinical interests are axillary management, lymphedema, high risk patients and the management of locally advanced breast cancer. She has been very involved in clinical research and collaborates with the multidisciplinary team to provide optimal care for breast cancer patients. She previously served on the breast leadership committee at John Muir Medical Center where she was the clinical lead investigator for several clinical trials. She has recently joined the faculty practice at NYU to help expanding the growing breast program and bring cutting edge care to Brooklyn.