![Avatar for What's the Buzz?! [Podcast]](https://images.lumacdn.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,fit=cover,dpr=2,anim=false,background=white,quality=75,width=32,height=32/calendars/s8/3b6c5ce0-85f7-444d-8e16-98882b677c7c.png "Avatar for What's the Buzz?! [Podcast]"){kind=small}
Connecting the Future of Medicine with Joy Polefrone, PhD, Regional Innovation Officer at Alliance for Building Better Medicine
EPISODE 54 [LIVE]
What’s the Buzz?! |Connecting the Future of Medicine
In this episode of What's the Buzz?!, we're joined by Joy Polefrone, Regional Innovation Officer at Alliance for Building Better Medicine, for a conversation around what the Alliance for Building Better Medicine is - the nation's only end-to-end ecosystem linking innovation to production at scale.
This session will give you a behind-the-scenes look at how the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing is being rebuilt in the United States, and why it matters for public health, economic growth, workforce development, and national security.
This episode is a must-listen for life science professionals, workforce development leaders, and anyone interested in medicine supply chains, U.S. manufacturing, and the future of healthcare innovation.
Streamed on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook.
About the Guest
Joy Polefrone, PhD.
Having recently led the Alliance for Building Better Medicine, a U.S.-based cluster of advanced pharmaceutical manufacturers, researchers and economic developers in the Richmond-Petersburg region, Joy continues to integrate her work in people development and career pathing with strategy and marketing to design teams and programs to deliver innovation and impact. Prior to her work at the Alliance, Joy worked on healthcare innovations for VCU and VCU Health, Joy led HR (People) Strategy for the Global Ultrasound Business of Philips HealthTech, where she drove a customer-centric leadership and culture change in one of the most mature businesses in Philips. Early in her career at Philips she held global leadership and managerial roles in clinical marketing, product management, and strategic marketing, growing a global team from five to one-hundred and fifty employees in under 2 years. Additionally, Joy was instrumental in the early scientific and strategic development of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation (www.fusfoundation.org), where she also launched and led a patient support organization for women with uterine fibroids (www.fibroidrelief.org).
Joy earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Chemistry, earning her PhD from the University of Virginia in 2007, with research focusing on cancer immunotherapy applications of proteomics. Additionally, and maybe most importantly, Joy has been a meditation and yoga teacher for more than 20 years, where the blending of the personal and professional continues to be a lifelong intention to bring her work on the cushion and mat into every other area of her life.
About the Host
Chris Frew
Chris is the Founder of BioBuzz Networks, Inc, a life science talent community and hiring platform, and CEO of Workforce Genetics, LLC (WGx), a prominent life science recruitment firm. He has been supporting companies in the regional life sciences industry with recruiting and marketing solutions for 20+ years.
Previously serving as the Vice President of Sales at Breezio, a leading innovator in cloud-based online communities, and the Vice President of Tech USA’s Scientific Division, which he founded and grew into a national practice. Chris has almost two decades of experience successfully leading teams, projects and fostering engaged communities within the Life Science industry.
He is a Maryland native and a graduate of Towson University.
About the Program
What's the Buzz?!
This weekly podcast, broadcast live, features life sciences leaders and regional ecosystem builders who share bold ideas, real stories, and what’s ahead for our industry.
Hosted by our CEO, Chris Frew, and powered by Heffron, this 30-minute virtual series is streamed across LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook — reaching thousands of professionals every episode.
The show highlights one-on-one conversations with founders, executives, strategists, and ecosystem builders. While focusing on the biohubs where we are most active, What’s the Buzz?! also explores emerging regions, trends, and innovations shaping the future of life sciences.
Topics include:
➡️ Biotech growth & investment trends
➡️ Workforce development & talent strategies
➡️ Emerging tools & technologies
➡️ Policy & ecosystem influence
➡️ Public-private collaboration
About the Sponsor
Heffron
Founded in 1922, Heffron Company is a fourth-generation, family-owned firm in the Washington, D.C. region redefining construction and service for complex, highly regulated environments.
With deep expertise in plumbing and HVAC, design-build, renovation and tenant services, and complex systems installation, Heffron supports mission-critical life sciences and biotech facilities alongside education, government, and commercial projects. Their work includes university research labs, federal research buildings, corporate R&D headquarters, and GMP-compliant biotech spaces.
Known for integrity, collaboration, and technical excellence, Heffron delivers reliable, high-performance systems through clear communication and consistent on-time, on-budget execution.