“There’s nothing worse than interviewing for a job and never hearing anything back. It builds distrust, and it breaks the process.”
In this episode, I talked with Dr. Ilya Gipp, Chief Medical Officer at GE Healthcare, where he shares lessons from a career spent at the intersection of clinical medicine and medtech leadership. He talks about his journey from practicing radiologist to leading GE’s oncology strategy, the emotional highs of building impactful programs, and the frustrations of pushing forward ideas when teams aren't aligned. Ilya also reflects on the evolving role of imaging in cancer care, and why true innovation means making technology not just better, but more accessible.
He also discussed hiring and leadership: how to time a hire before it’s too late, the danger of relying on org charts, and why horizontal communication matters more than hierarchy. Ilya opens up about culture, team building, and what it really means to feel valued at work. He closes with a look ahead, sharing his excitement for global initiatives aimed at expanding cancer care in underserved regions.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why being both a doctor and an innovator became Ilya’s calling.
- How imaging is evolving beyond diagnostics, and what that means for oncology.
- One moment that made him feel like all the effort was worth it.
- A candid story of hiring too late, and what it cost him.
- Why rushing a hire is “the first step to failure”.
- How to balance frontline expansion with back-end support.
- What happens when you believe in a solution but the team pushes back.
- The key cultural trait Ilya looks for, and the red flag he avoids.
- Why “escalation” is a sign something’s already broken.
- The worst thing you can do to a candidate (and how to avoid it).
Timestamps:
00:54 Travel and Work-Life Balance
02:08 Career Journey and Passion for Technology
04:22 Highs and Lows in the Medical Field
08:38 The Role of GE Healthcare in Oncology
16:46 Company Culture, Hiring Insights, and Strategies
30:40 Quickfire Questions
About Ilya
- Dr. Ilya Gipp is a distinguished medical professional with over two decades of experience in diagnostic imaging and oncology.
- As the Oncology Chief Medical Officer at GE HealthCare, he has helped shape the company's cancer care strategy, fostering partnerships with health systems worldwide.
- Ilya’s academic journey began with a Doctor of Medicine with a PhD in diagnostic radiology and diagnostic imaging.
- Prior to his tenure at GE HealthCare, Dr. Gipp held multiple roles at Royal Philips, culminating as Chief Medical Officer for Imaging and Oncology until 2023.
- Throughout his career, he has collaborated with leading health systems and governmental bodies globally to advance medicine and improve access to quality care.
Connect with Ilya:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilyagipp/
About GE Healthcare
- GE HealthCare is a global health technology company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It became an independent entity in January 2023 after being spun off from General Electric
- Business Divisions:
- Medical Imaging: Includes molecular imaging, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR), women’s health screening, and X-ray systems.
- Ultrasound: Offers real-time, portable, and non-invasive imaging solutions.
- Patient Care Solutions: Focuses on remote patient monitoring, anesthesia, respiratory care, diagnostic cardiology, and infant care.
- Pharmaceutical Diagnostics: Produces contrast agents and radiopharmaceuticals for imaging.
- In 2023, 42% of its revenue came from the U.S., while 13% came from China. The company faces growing competition in China
Website: https://www.gehealthcare.com/
About me
My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.
In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
Website: https://www.discera-search.com/
Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.
