Santiago Madriñán is Global Director, Sales Effectiveness at Sirtex Medical, Inc. Sirtex Medical is a global medical device company specializing in liver cancer therapy but aspiring to be the leader in intertumoral therapy by 2028. He is excited to represent Sirtex Medical at the AdvaMed PRIDE Leadership Network to help foster an even stronger LGBTQI+ support system within the organization. Santiago has been in the biotech and medical device industry for over 20 years in different roles, including sales, marketing, sales operations, and training. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University Santiago de Cali. Santiago joined us to answer a few questions about himself:
Tell us about your hometown.
I grew up in Colombia, South America in the third largest city named “Cali”. The origin of the word “Cali” comes from the local Amerindians the “Calima Tribe.” After graduating, I relocated to Miami, FL where I started early on my career in the healthcare environment. After a few years I relocated to Arlington, Texas where my brother and sister lived allowing me to be closer to my family. While in Texas, I had the pleasure to work for Caremark Therapeutic Services and Genentech. From Texas, I relocated to San Francisco to work at the Genentech headquarters for several years in different roles. I then relocated once again back to Florida where I decided to settle and plant my roots. Here I met my husband Chuck and we have been together for over 12 years.
What does PRIDE mean to you?
PRIDE to me is more than feeling proud, it is to express authentically who you are without restrictions or fear during our life’s journey. PRIDE represents a state of mind, a heartfelt position that nobody can take away. PRIDE allows us to overcome challenges and negativity and turn them into educational moments to help ourselves and others grow intellectually and learn to respect differences we all have and the commonalities of all humans.
Why the medtech industry?
Since I was a young man, I wanted to be in the healthcare industry, caring and helping people live a better life. However, I never wanted to be a healthcare provider, so it took me a while to find my calling. I was blessed enough to find it when I worked for a small pharmacy in north Miami in the finance department. I had an amazing mentor who taught me the importance of always thinking about the “patient” as the essence of everything I do. I have carried that teaching ever since.
What advice do you have for other LGBTQ people in the medtech industry?
You are not alone! You have to be involved to make things better for everyone. I have seen in my life the positive evolution of the LGBTQI+ movement, but the change is happening because we are speaking, we are showing up, we are living authentically. Everything starts from you, not all changes happen immediately, small but solid steps are the beginning of huge changes. Be a part of the change.