Meet Our Innovation Leaders

Our interdisciplinary team has collectively shared responsibility for awarding $40.3 million across 42 distinct innovation funding programs.

  • Patrick Diamond, MPA

    Founder and CEO

    Patrick builds strategies aimed at solving problems for people and the planet. Laurel is the culmination of his experience as a founding team member of MIT Solve and learning in the areas of health innovation, impact measurement, social entrepreneurship, and public policy.

    He is working to democratize surgical training in low- and middle-income countries, scale biomedical engineering training across 30 health facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa, and equitably administer grants to experimental career-connected learning organizations in the United States.

    Patrick is based in Portland, Maine, USA.

  • Megan Kern, PhD

    Program Leader and Science Advisor

    Megan develops relationships with medical and educational leaders for the SELF Program. A practiced scientific communicator, Megan has engaged with leaders at several global educational conferences in Chicago, Montréal, Addis Ababa, and Glasgow.

    She is managing a collaborative project to draft and publish a suite of academic papers on the potential of self-directed training to expand access to surgical care.

    Megan is based in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

  • Ian Mulholland, MIMS

    Data Practice Leader

    Ian establishes data science as an indispensable element of our innovation strategies. He guides clients through Laurel’s data value chain—surfacing knowledge and insights to drive more effective, inclusive, and efficient funding decisions.

    He is working to design and implement tools to measure the effects of investments in early stage learning innovations.

    Ian is based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

  • Mitch Corwin, MS

    Learning Advisor

    Mitch is a seasoned educator and instructional designer, and he serves as Laurel’s in-house expert on training and workforce development.

    He has developed a far-reaching edX course relating to social innovation and impact measurement. More recently, Mitch designed and coordinated apprenticeship and workforce development programming in use at two clean energy organizations in New England.

    Mitch is based in Portland, Maine, USA.

Want to talk with our team about your priorities?

Our Extended Team

  • Abdelah Nasir, MBA

    Abdelah supports our programs in East Africa. He coordinates logistics and serves as a regional advisor for our team and clients. Abdelah is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

  • Philip Alpha

    Philip recently coordinated logistics for the SELF program in West Africa. Philip is based in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

  • Ryan Wallace

    Ryan supports multiple projects across Laurel’s innovation programs, including on research, data practice, and organizational support, among other areas. Ryan is based in Boston, USA.

  • Clara Lyra

    Clara recently designed extensive user journeys and technical support resources for grantees within the SELF program. Clara is based in London, United Kingdom.

  • Juliana Trujillo Mesa

    Juliana recently co-produced the SELF Symposium—a gathering of global health care and educational leaders aimed at scaling clinical training. She led key components of the three-day event, taking on event production responsibilities with precision and energy. Juliana is based in Bar Harbor, Maine, USA.

  • Michael Lenihan, MA

    Michael recently produced event experiences, gatherings, and exhibits for the SELF program. He managed production logistics in Togo, Montréal, and California—providing engaging experiences for global health care and education leaders. Michael is based in New York, USA.

  • Genesis Garcia

    Genesis recently managed projects for the SELF program, including in East and West Africa. Genesis is based in Massachusetts, USA.