Biography
Dr. Michael L. Penn, Jr. is founder and Managing Director of Health Equity Ventures--an advisory group and emerging investment fund supporting companies leveraging technology and data to accelerate healthcare transformation for underserved populations. He is laser-focused on advancing the development of talent, technologies, and companies that enable wellbeing for all. He began his career at Genentech working in Marketing and Business Development roles for nearly ten years and was later recruited to become a Vice President at the Gladstone Institutes, responsible for strategy, diversity and mentoring; then later served as CEO of the Gladstone Foundation. He is a co-author of the book Finding Your North and co-founder of the non-profit, Building Diversity in Science—a non-profit that encouraged students of color to pursue careers in science. Dr. Penn was also appointed by former Mayor Willie Brown to serve as one of seven Commissioners responsible for governing San Francisco’s Department of Public Health. He currently sits on the Board of Trustees at St. Francis Memorial Hospital, a Dignity Health community hospital and the Bay Area Board of Summer Search.