At the forefront of Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures’ mission to accelerate innovation stands Sha Zhan, Director of AI Innovation and Commercialization. With a decade of experience in biotech, Zhan brings a rare blend of technical expertise, regulatory insight, and entrepreneurial spirit to her role. She guides faculty and startups to transform their ideas into creative solutions.
Zhan joined JHTV in February 2025 and has quickly become a vital force within the organization. “It’s been an incredibly rewarding six months,” she shares. “I’ve had the opportunity to work across a wide range of projects. From autonomous surgical robots to AI transcription tools, each one is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in health and technology.”
Before JHTV, Zhan led product at Jona, a startup pioneering AI-driven gut microbiome testing. She also held key roles at PathAI and Kheiron, where she managed AI diagnostic tools for digital pathology and radiology. Her career began at DARMA, where she developed medical-grade wearables for sleep and chronic disease management. Across these roles, Zhan’s taken multiple AI products from concept to FDA approval—a process she describes as both rigorous and transformative.
“Getting that first FDA approval was a pivotal moment in my career,” Zhan said. “It took two years, but it gave me the confidence that the same methodologies could be applied across different disease areas. It’s about building the right team, staying patient, and learning from those who’ve walked the path before.”
Zhan’s approach to product development is deeply interdisciplinary. She believes innovation happens when diverse perspectives—clinical, technical, regulatory, and design—collide. “We’re creating something out of nothing,” she says. “The right people make all the difference.” These insights are now fueling the support ecosystem she’s building at Hopkins — empowering faculty to take the leap into entrepreneurship with confidence.
Through JHTV, Zhan has mentored early-stage entrepreneurs, helping them navigate the complexities of health tech. One common misconception she sees from these entrepreneurs: they think they have to have all the answers from day one. “In reality, successful companies pivot multiple times,” said Zhan. “It’s about maximizing what you have today to get to the next step.”
Zhan is also a key contributor to the Data Science and AI (DSAI) Center at Johns Hopkins, where she helps shape a culture that blends entrepreneurship with academic rigor, working with faculty to turn research into real-world ventures. “Hopkins is unique,” she says. “Every faculty member is essentially running their startup. It’s an environment that fosters continuous learning and collaboration. Our role is to connect the dots and lower the friction from lab to launch.”
Looking ahead, Zhan is excited about the future of AI in healthcare, from improving diagnostic accuracy to reducing systemic costs. She is equally focused on the human side of innovation. “AI should be a tool that enables people, not replaces them. Emotional intelligence and patient care will always be at the heart of healthcare.”
With her vision, versatility, and passion for impact, Zhan is not just shaping the future of AI at Johns Hopkins; she’s helping redefine what’s possible in health innovation, building the ecosystem to support the next generation of academic entrepreneurs.