Occupation
Strategy partner and air traffic controller for social impact organizations and initiatives:
- Founder & President at Innovation Strategies Inc.
- Principal & Partnerships Lead at Health Equity Innovation Partners
Education
- PhD in Microbiology & Immunology – Stanford University School of Medicine
- BA with Departmental Honors in Biology – Northwestern University
- Diploma – Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Notable Accomplishments
Dr. Margolis has dedicated his career to creating economic and community impact from science and technology. His work has spanned STEM education, research, technology commercialization, and entrepreneurship initiatives. He currently focuses on harnessing tech innovation to improve healthcare access and outcomes in underserved and rural communities across Illinois and the U.S., supporting a network of 800+ healthcare facilities.
Throughout his career, Dr. Margolis has been a catalyst for over $300 million in innovation partnerships. As Managing Director of the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition, he served as the state of Illinois-designated lead for public-private partnerships such as the federal MxD digital manufacturing institute and the mHUB hardware technology innovation center.
Dr. Margolis started his post-academic research career at the U.S. Department of State as a prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellow. He created and grew a $13 million portfolio of global innovation initiatives. His impact included launching a flagship White House global entrepreneurship program that supported over 3,000 technology startups, building a virtual community that engaged over 2 million innovators, and driving a global network of 23 universities and innovation organizations.
Inspired by his mother’s 35+-year teaching career at Chicago Public Schools and other Illinois districts, Dr. Margolis has always sought out ways to improve educational opportunities. At Stanford, he helped launch CollegeSpring, a national nonprofit focused on college preparation for kids in low-resourced schools. And, as Vice President of External Engagement at IMSA he supported the Academy’s sustainability and growth, including overseeing a successful $7 million capital campaign and the launch of the IN2 innovation center.
Dr. Margolis brings more than a decade of Illinois civic community leadership experience to the IMSA Board of Trustees. His current and past service includes the mHUB board of directors, the Chicagoland Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s economic development committee, and World Business Chicago’s Advisory Council for Chicagoland Manufacturing.