In 2024, Becker’s Hospital Review recognized 36 chief innovation officers who are leading transformative initiatives in healthcare. Among them is Dr. Kiran Avancha, the inaugural Chief Innovation Officer at HonorHealth in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Dr. Avancha has been with HonorHealth for over seven years, assuming the role of Chief Innovation Officer in June 2021. Under his leadership, HonorHealth has established an Innovation Fund that has invested in approximately 16 companies, positioning the organization as a leader in innovation both locally and nationally. Notably, HonorHealth has achieved first-in-human breakthroughs, demonstrating its commitment to advancing medical science and patient care. 

Before his current role, Dr. Avancha served as the Chief Operating Officer at the HonorHealth Research Institute, where he led a threefold revenue growth and built collaborations with over 300 biotech, pharma, and life sciences companies. He is also a co-founder of Prizm Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing novel therapies for pediatric rare diseases. (GPEC)

Dr. Avancha’s extensive experience in biotech, healthcare innovation, and clinical development has been instrumental in driving HonorHealth’s innovation strategies, fostering strategic collaborations, and guiding investment processes across new and emerging modalities in therapeutics, devices, digital health, and healthcare solutions. (Arizona Bioindustry Association)

His leadership continues to propel HonorHealth toward new frontiers in healthcare innovation, enhancing patient care and contributing to the advancement of medical research and technology.