Leading with Purpose: A Letter from the HBA San Diego Chapter President
Dear HBA San Diego Community,
I’m honored to serve as your Chapter President for 2025.
HBA San Diego is a thriving chapter of passionate, dedicated professionals committed to advancing HBA’s mission—furthering the impact and advancement of women in the business of healthcare.
As part of the dynamic Pacific region, we are surrounded by hundreds of healthcare-focused organizations—ranging from biotech start-ups and global pharmaceutical companies to medical device firms, diagnostics innovators, and top universities. This rich ecosystem provides unparalleled opportunities for connection, collaboration, and professional development.
We are proud to introduce the 2025 HBA San Diego Chapter Board—an accomplished, cross-functional team of leaders representing diverse sectors within the healthcare industry:
- President: Kinneri Shah (Kite Pharma, a Gilead company) - LinkedIn
- Vice President: Nicole Ventrone (Beghou Consulting) - LinkedIn
- Director of Operations: Payal Doshi (Doximity) - LinkedIn
- Director of Programming and Events: Meghan Muniz (Pfizer) - LinkedIn
- Director of Membership and Engagement: Lucy Horton (Pfizer) - LinkedIn
- Director of Marketing and Communications: Samantha Ahern (Quidel Ortho) - LinkedIn
We are also privileged to be supported by an esteemed Advisory Board of senior leaders from across San Diego’s active life sciences community. Together with our dedicated committee members in Programming, Membership, Marketing, Mentorship, and Corporate Relations, we remain committed to creating meaningful opportunities for leadership, learning, and community engagement.
San Diego Chapter Milestones at a Glance
- 321 active members — reflecting 218% growth since our inception in 2018
- Experienced board leadership — with long-serving members across multiple HBA roles
- Nine Advisory Board members — senior executives from leading life sciences companies
- Growing group mentorship program — with returning mentors and mentees year after year
- Flagship annual summer networking event — co-hosted with Women in Bio and Athena, supporting the local performing arts community, now entering its 4th year
- 8-10 speaker programs annually — focused on leadership, communication, career development, and skill-based learning
- Ongoing community engagement — including Coffee Chats, Happy Hours, Supper Clubs, Hikes, Wellness, and Give-Back events
- Strategic partnerships — with Women’s ERGs at corporate partners such as BMS, Pfizer, Hologic, BD, Jazz, Quidel Ortho, Dexcom, and more
- Innovative and collaborative programming — including community events like Beach Walk, Connect, the Alzheimer’s Walk, and standout programs with other HBA chapters that foster connection, wellness, and regional collaboration
In 2025, we are excited to offer a robust lineup of high-impact programming, networking opportunities, and give-back events. We will continue to engage our community through thoughtful and intentional content on topics that matter—such as authentic leadership, cultural intelligence, women’s health, and effective communication.
Whether you are a longstanding member or new to the HBA community, we invite you to join us at one of our upcoming programs. Our chapter is committed to cultivating an inclusive and welcoming environment for professionals of all genders and career stages, and we encourage you to get involved in a way that is meaningful to you. If you are interested in volunteering or contributing to our chapter initiatives, please reach out—we would love to connect with you.
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to an inspiring and successful year together!
Warm regards,
Kinneri Shah
President, HBA San Diego