Join us for an exciting event featuring thought leaders at the intersection of AI, technology, and innovation. Our distinguished speakers will delve into their cutting-edge research and explore the most pressing questions in their fields. These experts are at the forefront of shaping the future of AI and its transformative impact across various industries, including healthcare and education. Attendees will have the chance to explore critical issues surrounding AI ethics, robotics, healthcare innovation, and the future of education.

The panel will be introduced by Donna MacPhee, President of the Columbia Alumni Association, who is coming to join us from New York, and moderated by Barnet Sherman

Program Schedule : 
Check-in: 5-6 pm (doors close at 6 pm)
Talk:6-6:45 pm 
Networking: 6:45-7:30 pm

Appetizers will be provided and non-alcoholic beverages available.

Diana Mojahed, PhD
Founder & CEO of Lightfinder | MIT Spinout
Dr. Diana Mojahed is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lightfinder, an MIT spinout pioneering AI-driven imaging and sensing technologies. Holding a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University, Dr. Mojahed is dedicated to the integration of optics, photonics, and artificial intelligence to develop advanced tools addressing critical challenges in medicine.

Micah Smith, PhD
ML Engineer & Open-Source Developer | Xyla
Micah Smith is the Technical Lead of Core Engineering at OpenEvidence, a healthcare tech startup. He leads the deployment of AI technology, including large language models, used by U.S. physicians to enhance clinical decision-making. OpenEvidence, valued at $1 billion, received a $75 million investment from Sequoia. Dr. Smith holds a PhD from MIT's Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department and a B.A. in Economics-Mathematics from Columbia University.

David Watkins, PhD
AI Researcher | The AI Institute
Dr. David Watkins is a robotics researcher who earned his PhD from Columbia University, where he specialized in mobile manipulation. Currently affiliated with The AI Institute, he co-founded the foundation models research team and now leads a team of 26 researchers focused on acquiring high-quality robotic manipulation data. His work aims to refine AI models by leveraging extensive datasets to enhance robotic learning and adaptability.

Barnet Sherman
Professor & Forbes Senior Contributor
Barnet Sherman is a former Wall Street executive with 30+ years of experience managing multibillion-dollar fixed-income portfolios. He is now an Adjunct Professor at Boston University and leads The Tenbar Group, a consultancy for mission-driven companies. A Senior Contributor to Forbes.com, he has written over 100 articles, including a series on AI’s impact on the municipal bond market. He holds degrees from Syracuse University and Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Outside of finance, he is a Screen Actors Guild member, co-chairman of The Sherman Family Art Trust dedicated to helping families affected by cancer, and an Eagle Scout with a lifetime membership in the Eagle Scout Association.

Dan Rippy
Executive Director of Business Development | UMass Chan Medical School
Mr. Dan Rippy holds an S.M. in Science from Harvard-MIT and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He has served in executive leadership roles across both startup enterprises and publicly traded corporations. Currently, he is the Executive Director of Business Development at UMass Chan Medical School, where he focuses on fostering innovation at the intersection of science and business.

Natalia Dorogi
Engagement Manager | McKinsey
Natalia Dorogi, is an Engagement Manager at McKinsey in the Digital and Technology Media & Telecom practices. She works closely with leading companies on their AI strategy across technology, sales, client success functions and has contributed to several publications on the impact of AI on Corporates (Stanford AI Index Report 2023 & 2024), Scaling gen AI in the life sciences industry. Before McKinsey, she worked extensively in Venture Capital / Growth Equity identifying and working closely with leading startups. She finished her masters in Computer Science (Machine Learning) and bachelors in Operations Research both at Columbia Engineering and serves as the President of the Columbia Engineering Young Alumni Board.

Learn more about the speakers here