Fun Facts About New Staff: October 2023

We’re excited to welcome our newest hires to UPMC Enterprises. Get to know your new coworkers through their answers to fun questions.


Ketki Karanam

VP, Ventures, Translational Sciences

Q: How did you get into the industry?

A: While finishing up my PhD in life sciences, a chance networking interaction led to an internship at a venture creation firm focused on spinning out new companies based on cutting edge academic research. I was instantly hooked to the biotech startup world and have not looked back since!

Q: Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere?

A: I grew up in South Asia and Boston.

Q: If any musician or band could give you a personal concert, who would it be?

A: Ah, hard to pick a single favorite! A few years ago, I founded a music-health start-up, and we were fortunate to engage Peter Gabriel on our board of advisors. The advisory meetings may or may not have involved some impromptu singing 😉

Sergei Izvorean

Solutions Architect, Technology Solutions

Q: Where are you from?

A: My family moved to Pittsburgh in 2001 from Moldova.

Q: How did you get into the industry?

A: After graduating from Penn State, I was lucky to get into the health care industry and was immediately captivated by the number of challenges as well as endless opportunities to improve.

Q: What is another fun fact about you?

A: Despite speaking Russian at home, I somehow got rid of the characteristic Russian accent.

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