Can't decide whether to go into science or business? Steven Nichtberger has made a career in both.
Nichtberger, an alumnus of both Wharton and the College and the founder of Tengion, Inc., spoke last night in Huntsman Hall about "opportunities and challenges for the scientist-business leader."
Tengion, the company Nichtberger co-founded, is developing "neo-bladders," functional replacement bladders that come from a patient's own cells.
Nichtberger said he founded Tengion because "it fulfilled [his] dream of transforming health care for some patients," a dream he has had since his brother's death.
Nichtberger gave a brief history of the relationship between science, medicine and business.
In the 1960s, scientific research was funded by the government, and there was little interaction with industry, he said.
But during the 1980s and 1990s, the two areas drew closer together.
He said this convergence created issues that "a scientist alone or a businessman alone cannot mitigate," such as potential conflicts between profits and patients.
However, Nichtberger said he found throughout his career that doing what was in the best interest of the patient often yielded profitable results.
"If you can introduce a real medical advance, the system will make it profitable," he said.
Nichtberger made three closing points, advising students to "follow your passion," "use your talents carefully," and "never lose sight of what's right for your patients."
Professor Mark Pauly, the faculty co-director of the Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management - "a happy combination of subjects," he said - spoke before Nichtberger and welcomed the audience of about 200 to the inaugural lecture in what will be an ongoing series.
Nichtberger said he wished there were a program like Vagelos when he was at Penn. Instead, he got a dual degree from Wharton and the College.
He said he ignored his freshmen adviser, who told him that if he wanted to go to medical school, "he should stay away from Wharton."
Chemistry post-doctoral student Xinjing Tang said he found the lecture helpful because "science requires business decisions."
College junior Kathryn Cunningham said that she thought Nichtberger was "inspiring" and that she wants to get an internship with his company.
