In this episode, I talked with Dr. Ilya Gipp, Chief Medical Officer at GE Healthcare, where he shares lessons from a career spent at the intersection of clinical medicine and medtech leadership. He talks about his journey from practicing radiologist to leading GE’s oncology strategy, the emotional highs of building impactful programs, and the frustrations of pushing forward ideas when teams aren't aligned. Ilya also reflects on the evolving role of imaging in cancer care, and why true innovation means making technology not just better, but more accessible.

He also discussed hiring and leadership: how to time a hire before it’s too late, the danger of relying on org charts, and why horizontal communication matters more than hierarchy. Ilya opens up about culture, team building, and what it really means to feel valued at work. He closes with a look ahead, sharing his excitement for global initiatives aimed at expanding cancer care in underserved regions.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why being both a doctor and an innovator became Ilya’s calling.
• A candid story of hiring too late—and what it costs him.
• Why “escalation” is a sign something’s already broken.

Timestamps:

00:54 Travel and Work-Life Balance

02:08 Career Journey and Passion for Technology

04:22 Highs and Lows in the Medical Field

08:38 The Role of GE Healthcare in Oncology

16:46 Company Culture, Hiring Insights, and Strategies

30:40 Quickfire Questions

About Ilya

Dr. Ilya Gipp is a distinguished medical professional with over two decades of experience in diagnostic imaging and oncology. As the Oncology Chief Medical Officer at GE HealthCare, he has helped shaped the company's cancer care strategy, fostering partnerships with health systems worldwide. Ilya’s academic journey began with a Doctor of Medicine with a PhD in diagnostic radiology and diagnostic imaging.

Prior to his tenure at GE HealthCare, Dr. Gipp held multiple roles at Royal Philips, culminating as Chief Medical Officer for Imaging and Oncology until 2023. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with leading health systems and governmental bodies globally to advance medicine and improve access to quality care.

Connect with Ilya:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilyagipp/
• Website: https://www.gehealthcare.com/

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

In this conversation, I talked with Michael Lahn, Chief Medical Officer of Ionctura, a clinical-stage biotech focusing on therapies for neglected and hard-to-treat cancers,

where he shared his insights on drug development, leadership, and the importance of listening in building a successful team culture. He talked about his journey in the biotech industry, discussing the highs and lows of drug development, the lessons learned from his experiences with Osimertinib, and the common mistakes companies make. Michael emphasizes the significance of curiosity, collaboration, and a strong team dynamic in achieving success in the field of oncology.

Here's what you're in:

• How did Michael get into drug development and what were some of the drivers that still push him today?
• What were some of the highest or proudest moments of his career?
• What are the key traits for success according to Michael?

Timestamps:

01:25 Michael's Journey into Drug Development

03:28 Highest and Lowest Moments in Michael’s Career

05:50 Lessons from Osimertinib Development

07:50 Mistakes Companies Are Still Making Today

10:26 The Importance of Listening in Leadership

13:02 Ionctura's Mission and Achievements

22:51 Recruitment and Working with Recruiters

29:37 Final Reflections and Gratitude

About Michael

Michael Lahn, the current Chief Medical Officer of iOnctura, a clinical-stage biotech focusing on therapies for neglected and hard-to-treat cancers.

Michael completed training in Hematology-Oncology at the University of Freiburg in Germany and served as an Instructor in Immunology at the National Jewish Department of Immunology. He spent 14 years at Eli Lilly, became part of AstraZeneca's Osi-mertinib registration team, and later joined Incyte as the Head of the Geneva Office.

Connect with Michael

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-l-4a06519/
• Company Website: https://www.ionctura.com/

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

In this episode, I talked with Johan Baeck, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Promontory Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech focused on developing novel small molecule immunogenic anti-cancer therapies.

Johan shares insights from a career spanning large pharma (Novartis, Abbott) and biotech startups, with contributions to therapies like Vidaza, Kisqali, Zykadia, and PT-112. He also discusses why cultural fit is non-negotiable in hiring, how small molecules can trigger anti-tumor immune responses, and the personal journey of shifting from commercial to clinical focus.

In this episode, we cover:

• How small molecules like PT-112 can trigger immune responses against cancer, and why this approach stands apart from traditional immunotherapies.
• Why cultural fit is a critical success factor for biotech hiring, and how the wrong hire can break a small company's momentum.
• How CMOs in biotech balance hands-on clinical work with C-suite leadership and constant fundraising challenges.

Timestamps:

01:26 Johan’s Journey: From practicing physician to entering pharma

04:38 Lessons from a difficult career moment

04:49 PT-112 and a novel approach to cancer treatment

08:43 A culture of curiosity, openness, and diverse backgrounds

10:15 Hiring the right fit: why technical skill isn’t enough

18:46 Challenges facing CMOs in biotech

23:46 What defines a high-performing clinical team

26:03 Best and worst practices in recruitment

About Johan

Johan Baeck is EVP and Chief Medical Officer at Promontory Therapeutics. His experience spans clinical development, medical affairs, and commercial operations across large pharma and biotech. He has contributed to the development of therapies like Vidaza, Kisqali, Zykadia, and PT-112, and has lived and worked across three continents, bringing a global perspective to clinical innovation.

Connect with Johan:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanbaeck/
• Website: https://promontorytx.com/

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.