S4 E7, Devasena Gnanashanmugam- VP of Medical Affairs at Cepheid,

Closing the Diagnostic Gap: Leadership, Equity, and Global Health with Devasena GnanashanmugamIn this episode of She Leads Biotech, I sit down with Devasena Gnanashanmugam, VP of Medical Affairs at Cepheid, for a deeply thoughtful conversation about diagnostics, equity, and what it really means to lead in global healthcare.Devasena’s journey spans medical training in India, pediatric infectious disease at Stanford, work at the NIH, and now industry leadership in molecular diagnostics. But at the center of it all is one consistent mission: improving access to timely, accurate diagnosis for the patients who need it most.We talk about tuberculosis, HIV, COVID, and the persistent global diagnostic gap — and why identifying the problem correctly is often the most powerful intervention of all.This episode is about science, yes. But it is also about humility, collaboration, and the responsibility that comes with leadership.📌 Chapters / Timestamps00:00 – Meet Devasena Gnanashanmugam03:10 – From India to Stanford: early influences and medical training07:45 – Why infectious disease and global health became her focus11:20 – Tuberculosis as a medical and social justice issue15:05 – “Find the bug so you can get the drug” – the power of diagnostics18:40 – The global diagnostic gap and access challenges22:15 – Lessons from COVID and what changed in molecular testing26:30 – Transitioning from academia and NIH to industry30:05 – The evolving role of physicians in biotech and diagnostics33:50 – Leading from the front and from behind37:10 – Collaboration, resilience, and staying grounded in purpose🎙 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.#SheLeadsBiotech #DevasenaGnanashanmugam #Cepheid #GlobalHealth #Diagnostics #MedicalAffairs #WomenInSTEM #LifeSciencesLeadership #CNAUSAExecutiveSearch #SharronCoxStudio