Gail Page
Austin's healthcare visionary on tenacity and the importance of balance
Healthcare visionary Gail Page understands the importance of the convergence in the health and technology sectors — in Austin and beyond. Fueled by a passion for emerging technologies, Page’s career has been focused on leading-edge healthcare, and for that she has been recognized by the likes of Forbes Woman and Business Week.
In 2004, she joined Vermillion Inc., an Austin-based company focused on novel diagnostic blood tests. With Page’s passion for women’s health as a driving force, Vermillion became the first company to develop and launch an FDA-approved, blood-screening test to diagnose ovarian cancer, OVA1.
"A lot of people said, 'You’ll never be able to do it,'" Page says. But Vermillion was successful, and its test "created a new class of products with the FDA."
Page attributes her success to "tenacity and the ability to keep your head down and not give up." Of utmost importance, she says, is "surrounding yourself with a team who shares the vision."
After successfully building Vermillion — and raising $100 million for the company in just six years — Page stepped down from her position as president and CEO at the end of 2012 to pursue other community and healthcare opportunities. One question she hopes to explore in this new chapter: "How does biotech becomes its own mecca in Austin?"
Later this summer, she joins the MD Anderson Cancer Center Office of Innovation and Technology as an entrepreneur in residence. Though the position requires commuting to Houston, Page will remain connected to Austin's burgeoning healthcare landscape. She is actively involved with several Austin-based tech, finance and healthcare organizations, including the Austin Technology Council, Austin Chamber of Commerce and BBVA Compass Bank.
"What I’m very focused on is giving back to the community and working on the next generation of healthcare products and services," she says.
Below, just a few things that keep this innovator's wheels turning.
