On November 6, Suntra MedTech Solutions President Bryan Gilpin joined Paul LaViolette, Managing Partner at SV Health Investors and former COO of Boston Scientific, for a fireside chat hosted by MassMEDIC. The discussion brought together decades of experience, sharp insights, and a shared commitment to shaping the next era of medtech innovation.
Both Leaders reflected on their time at Boston Scientific when the company grew twentyfold through a blend of internal development and strategic acquisitions. For LaViolette, Boston’s success stemmed from openness; the willingness to look beyond internal walls and embrace external ideas. “Boston was never about ‘not invented here,’” he said. “We were always willing to embrace someone else’s better answer.”
Gilpin emphasized that the same philosophy now drives Suntra’s approach: collaborating across investors, strategics, and entrepreneurs to translate bold ideas into scalable, sustainable technologies. “Innovation thrives when collaboration replaces competition,” he noted.
The conversation turned to what it takes to lead during periods of rapid growth and turbulence. LaViolette shared that the “bet-the-farm” mentality of early Boston Scientific required equal parts courage and operational rigor. “We didn’t have a global ERP system or quality framework. We were building the chassis as we were driving it,” he recalled.
Gilpin related that experience to today’s environment, where medtech companies must navigate uncertainty, regulatory shifts, funding slowdowns, and AI disruption without losing speed or focus. The takeaway: bold vision must always be matched by strong systems and accountability.
The pair discussed how venture dynamics and strategic investment have evolved. LaViolette advised innovators to “take capital when you can,” recognizing the unpredictable nature of today’s markets. He also underscored the rise of AI as a true accelerant for connected, data-driven healthcare. “Other than a product that simply isn’t connected,” he said, “AI is going to penetrate everything in some way.”
Both agreed: speed and adaptability are now non-negotiable. The winners will be those who integrate technology, intelligence, and human insight early in the design process, precisely the space where Suntra operates.
Gilpin’s career has come full circle, from serving as an operator at Boston Scientific to partnering with companies like it through Suntra MedTech Solutions. That dual perspective shapes the firm’s DNA.
Suntra isn’t just an engineering consultancy; it’s a bridge between innovators, strategics, and investors. By combining deep technical expertise with commercial acumen, Suntra helps clients navigate complexity, scale efficiently, and bring transformative technologies to market.
As LaViolette put it, “We’re a big part of the solution.” The fireside chat reinforced that medtech progress depends on shared vision, transparent collaboration, and the courage to act.
At Suntra MedTech Solutions, we believe the same. Through consulting, engineering, and innovation partnerships, we help clients solve the toughest technical challenges, accelerating the right time-to-market for products that improve lives.
Read more about how Suntra partners with medtech innovators to turn possibility into progress.
