Irina Erenburg, PhD, MSSM ‘98 is the CEO and President of Blossom Innovations, a company focused on developing early stage medical devices in the area of dermatology. After earning her degree, she transitioned from molecular biology to business executive, becoming a start-up entrepreneur.
Dr. Erenburg initially thought she was going to apply for medical school at Mount Sinai until she took a gap year after her bachelor’s degree, and worked as a lab technician in the cell biology lab at Mount Sinai Hospital. She was attracted to the Graduate School because it was based inside of a hospital environment, allowing her to do basic science in close proximity to clinical care.
Non-Traditional Graduate
Dr. Erenburg did not follow a traditional path after graduation, but she credits her graduate degree for a robust and well-rounded education. The medical device and biotech field requires critical and creative thinking; the PhD program at Mount Sinai gives students a firm foundation in these skills. Asking the right questions is crucial in research, and habits and skills Dr. Erenburg picked up in the lab are directly applicable to her work in business.
Most Challenging Issue
Dr. Erenburg believes one of the biggest challenges faced by entrepreneurs in her field is learning to speak the language of science with both scientists and non-scientists. She stresses the importance of communicating the value of early stage science to the greater financial and medical communities, and facilitating productive dialogue between these worlds.
Advice for Students
Dr. Erenburg invites students to follow their curiosity beyond their immediate research. It is important for students to not be afraid to jump into something they may know absolutely nothing about and in their ability to adapt and to learn what is necessary. She also advises students never to decline opportunities for public speaking. Everyone tries to avoid preparing for talks, but communication is fundamental to almost any career path.