Running an Industry-Driven Network that Encourages and Supports Entrepreneurs and Innovators in Healthcare

Ann Van Gysel has always been passionate about innovation in healthcare. She started out as a biologist, received her PhD in Molecular Biology from Ghent University and went on to acquire post-graduate degrees in Business Management and Marketing & Communications. Subsequently, Van Gysel joined VIB as communication manager – establishing the institution's communications department.

In 2009, she joined flanders.bio as managing director and doubled the number of members during her three-year tenure, all the while restructuring flanders.bio into a financially healthy and self-sustaining organization. In 2011, Van Gysel founded Turnstone Communications, a consultancy agency providing communications and marketing services to healthcare, life sciences and pharmaceutical organizations in both Belgium and abroad. She is also the founder of the digital life sciences news platform BioVox.eu – sharing biotech innovations with some fifteen thousand national and international professionals.

Since 2022, Ann Van Gysel has been CEO of MEDVIA, an industry-driven network that encourages and supports entrepreneurs and innovators in healthcare. MEDVIA is a public-private partnership with the Flemish government and has more than 150 members. Those members (companies, hospitals, research and healthcare organizations, etc.) also all have one thing in common: they are all medical innovators.