“Hope is the pillar that holds up the world.”
– Plato (att.)
Last month, while speaking on a state-of-the-industry panel at the Medtech Strategist conference in San Diego, I shared a belief that has only deepened with time: working in medtech innovation requires an inherent optimism. Not a naïve optimism, but a resilient one. The truth is that while these times may feel harder than normal, this work has never been easy.
As we speed toward the end of a year marked by rapid, often tumultuous change, I am struck by the way our industry mirrors the broader human experience. We strive to create and contribute: to bring our unique gifts into the world through the work we do and the lives we touch. And we do so on a journey that inevitably includes obstacles–large and small, expected and unforeseen.
The unspoken mindset that powers this journey–like a spark that brings an engine roaring to life–is hope. Hope is the expectation, grounded in trust, that progress is possible. Not on its own–as is often said, hope is not a strategy–but as a catalyst. Hope fuels the daily belief that there is a way through complexity and challenge because the work we are doing to save and improve lives is worthwhile.
Hope is also what gets us excited about what comes next. Earlier this month, at the Annual Pulse of the City Gala, I took the stage with Marty Leon and Juan Granada to discuss the merger between Fogarty Innovation and the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF). By combining our strength in early-stage innovation with CRF’s world-class clinical research, global reach, and platform for education, we can push boundaries and move medical innovation forward. I look forward to sharing more in the year ahead.
In the meantime, I hope the holidays give you the chance to rest, reflect, and take stock of the gifts found in the journey itself: the joy of working alongside a committed and passionate team; the privilege of doing meaningful work; and the opportunity to learn, grow, and persevere together. I trust that time with family and friends renews your sense of hope and deepens gratitude for what we have built–and for one another.
From all of us at Fogarty Innovation, we wish you a joyous holiday season. We’re grateful for your partnership, your trust, and the work we’ve been able to do together. It’s because of this shared commitment that progress is possible.
Cheers,
–Andrew
(The above is an excerpt from Andrew Cleeland’s column in Fogarty’s December 2025 newsletter.)