International Womens Day 2024 an interview with Grace Park

In this interview, we speak with Grace Park (DocDoc; Singapore) about her work in creating transformative solutions in healthcare to ensure that no family faces healthcare uncertainties without the necessary information and resources. In her journey creating DocDoc, Grace explains that her mission is grounded in the belief that every patient deserves access to transparent, data-driven and relevant information.

Please could you provide a brief overview of your career to date?

As the Co-Founder and President of DocDoc (Central Business District, Singapore), I bring over 25 years of diverse professional experience to the table. My journey began as a military officer, after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point (NY, USA). Afterwards, I transitioned to the corporate sector where I held various roles for a decade at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NY, USA) and Medtronic, including Managing Director for its ASEAN operations, where I focused on expanding medical technology markets across emerging economies. As a Fulbright Fellow, I arrived in Singapore nearly 20 years ago after graduating from Harvard Business School with an MBA and from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government with an MPA (both MA, USA). I am deeply dedicated to DocDoc's mission of transforming healthcare by decreasing costs, improving quality, and enhancing patient experience, with a vision of making a positive impact on society.

What motivated you to lead at DocDoc and how have you overcome challenges along the way?

My motivation to lead at DocDoc stems from a deeply personal experience involving my daughter's healthcare journey. Throughout her ordeal, I realized the critical importance of having relevant data available to make informed decisions. Witnessing firsthand the challenges of navigating a system where essential information was scarce and where the price tag often bore no relation to the quality of care received deeply impacted me. It became clear that transformative solutions were needed in the healthcare industry. Driven by this personal experience, my husband, who is also DocDoc’s co-founder, and I were compelled to create a solution that tackled this pain point head-on. Our mission is grounded in the belief that every patient deserves access to transparent, data-driven and relevant information. Despite challenges, including regulatory complexities and technological barriers, our determination to address systemic shortcomings in healthcare remains unwavering. Through DocDoc, my team and I are committed to driving innovation and reshaping the healthcare landscape to ensure that no family faces healthcare uncertainties without the necessary information and resources. My daughter's journey serves as a constant reminder of the urgent need for change, propelling us forward in our mission to empower patients where quality and value are paramount.

Are there specific areas within your field where you see opportunities for more women to make significant contributions?

In healthcare, women wield significant influence, making about 80% of healthcare decisions. This underscores the vast opportunities for women to contribute meaningfully across various domains. With their prominent role in making health decisions, women are uniquely positioned to utilize first-principles thinking to find solutions. Specifically within healthcare technology, leadership roles, and initiatives addressing disparities and health equality, women bring diverse perspectives and expertise. By leveraging these strengths, women can drive innovation, improve patient outcomes, and shape the trajectory of healthcare for the better.

How important has mentorship been in your career, and have you had any notable mentors or role models who influenced your journey?

Mentorship has played a crucial role in my career journey, offering invaluable guidance and inspiration. One notable mentor who significantly influenced my professional development is Robert MacDonald, the former Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the United States government. Robert MacDonald's leadership at one of the world's largest health systems was distinguished by his wealth of experience and expertise. While Robert MacDonald's guidance was instrumental, I have also been fortunate to have other mentors who provided valuable support and direction. However, the influence of mentors like him has left a lasting impact. Overall, mentorship from individuals like Robert MacDonald, rooted in their extensive experience and knowledge, has been instrumental in shaping my path in the healthcare industry, reinforcing the importance of learning from seasoned professionals.

Are there specific policies or initiatives that you believe could enhance and support the work of women in scientific careers?

Specific policies and initiatives are location-dependent but generally, I believe supporting women in science involves implementing programs such as flexible work arrangements, including telecommuting and flexible hours, to accommodate personal responsibilities. In addition, I recall from my corporate experience, that family-friendly initiatives like on-site childcare facilities had certainly helped ease the burden for many working parents. Mentorship and networking programs provide guidance and connections, while leadership development initiatives empower women to pursue leadership roles. These measures create an environment where women can thrive in scientific careers.

If you could pick one thing, what would you most like to achieve in the next 5 years at DocDoc?

The one thing to achieve in the next 5 years would be to continue scaling our operations and impact. My primary goal is to expand our platform's reach and capabilities to serve a larger population of patients and healthcare providers. By scaling our operations, we can make DocDoc's innovative solutions accessible to a broader audience, ensuring that more individuals have access to high-quality healthcare services. Furthermore, I aspire to enhance our technological infrastructure and capabilities to support our growth trajectory effectively. This includes investing in research and development to continually improve our offerings. Ultimately, my objective is to position DocDoc as a global leader in healthcare technology, driving positive change and improving patient outcomes on a large scale. Through strategic scaling and innovation, I am confident that we can achieve significant milestones and make a lasting impact in the next 5 years and beyond. Interviewee profile:

Grace Park is a professional with over 25 years of experience, 19 of which have been spent in the Asia Pacific region leading pharmaceutical, medical device and digital health companies. She began her career as a Military Intelligence Officer after graduating with Honors from the US Military Academy at West Point (NY, USA) and held various posts over her 5 years of military service. She completed her Army service with the rank of Captain. Following her military career, Grace embarked on her corporate journey working in Fortune 500 companies such as Bristol-Myers Squibb (NY, USA) and her most recent being the Managing Director of Medtronic in ASEAN. The purpose behind her entrepreneurial endeavor, DocDoc (Central Business District, Singapore), originated from a deeply personal story involving her own daughter. Since its inception, DocDoc has grown into Asia's largest healthcare network and continues to empower patients to make data-informed decisions. Grace has dual master degrees from Harvard Business School and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government (both MA, USA) and arrived in Singapore nearly 20 years ago on a Fulbright Fellowship. She is also a globally recognized thought leader and an accomplished speaker who has been invited to share insights at renowned conferences including: TEDx, Web Summit, Collision, Economist Asia Innovation Summit, Financial Times Asia Insurance Summit, Frontiers Health, HBS Singapore Women in Leadership, Asia Impact Summit by Milken Institute, South China Morning Post and many others. Grace believes in nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders through mentorship programs and workshops such as Girl Scouts, Startup Grind Malaysia, and student programs including Beyond Health Hackathon at National University Singapore (NUS) and #TechforGood by Developers Student Club NUS. Grace has been recently named one of the 'Forbes 52 women-led startups in healthtech and femtech, has featured in the 'Singapore: 40-over-40' inaugural list, and has been selected as a Prestige Singapore Power Woman (2023) and a Robb Report Thought Leader (2023). Disclaimers:The opinions expressed in this feature are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of Future Medicine AI Hub or Future Science Group.