2021 Awards Hall of Fame

Ibraheem Badejo, Ph.D. Senior Director – External Front End innovation, Ethicon R & D; is a prolific inventor, entrepreneur, and early-stage healthcare investor whose career spans many years in different roles in the Medtech ecosystem. Ib in his current role at Ethicon (a Johnson & Johnson company) supports Ethicon R&D – in providing external innovation support and counsel to all platforms across the Ethicon Franchise, including identification and advancing early-stage external opportunities aligned Ethicon growth strategy. Prior to his current role, from Nov 2013 to June 2021, Ib was a Medtech new venture leader at Johnson & Johnson Innovation, identifying and investing in early-stage assets of strategic alignment to Johnson & Johnson Medtech sector.

From 2010 to 2013. lb was a Research Fellow at the Global Surgery Group of Johnson & Johnson, responsible for innovations and intellectual property for Ethicon Biosurgery. From 2006 to 2010, he was the Director of Applied Research & New Technology Assessment of novel biomaterials Prior to that, he was the Chief Scientist of Closure Medical Corp (acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2005). lb was the lead inventor of DERMABOIND Advanced – currently commercialized by Ethicon and market leader in the Topical Skin Adhesive platform.

During his career, Ib has led teams in the development of commercialized biomaterials-based products and new technolo-gy/products licensed or acquired. Ib received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Toledo, where he was the Robert Whiteford Memorial Scholar for Outstanding Graduate Research and a Petroleum Research Fund Fellow. Ib received the Science Alumni Award, Avila University in 2014. Ib received the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award (College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics) from the University of Toledo in 2021. Ib is the recipient of 24 US patents, he’s also well published in many peer-review journals.

 Ib spends some of his spare time meeting the needs of others and giving back to the world. He has participated and led mission trips in rural North Carolina, Mexico, Kenya, Haiti, Trinidad, and Tobago. He currently serves on the board of trustees of Avila University, board member of MedShare – a not-for-profit medical mission organization.

Visiola Foundation, member of the executive committee, and on the board of Southeast Life Sciences (SELS). Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2). He also supports Coulter Foundation Programs at Georgia Tech / Emory Univ, Drexel Univ. Unn of Michigan, Univ of Pittsburgh, and the Science Center – QED Program, John Hopkins Thalheimer Fund Investment on advisory board role. Ib has held various positions at Bayer, North Carolina State University. and the College of Charleston. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Drexel University.

As a member of this esteemed advisory board, Ib will leverage his expertise to support and guide NPG Fundraising and Vision & Strategy. Specifically, he will provide guidance and assistance with the organization’s fundraising campaigns to benefit the 2026 vision; also provide guidance, education and advice as the organization’s leaders execute the 2026 vision.