On Tuesday evening, July 8, during the 2025 AIM-AHEAD Annual Meeting, attendees gathered in the Crystal Ballroom for a special keynote event titled, "An Entrepreneur's Journey to Navigating the Bio Frontier" featuring entrepreneur and author Michael Gorton. Gorton took the stage and shared the story of his journey, from being the “poor kid next door” to launching more than a dozen companies, including Teladoc, which is now one of the largest telemedicine providers in the world.

With degrees in physics, engineering, and law, Gorton spoke about how his background shaped his approach to innovation. He reflected on the early days of telemedicine, the challenges of disrupting the healthcare system, and his current work focused on integrating AI into medicine to expand access and lower costs.

Also a published author of both fiction and nonfiction, Gorton brought humor, insight, and inspiration to the evening. The talk offered key takeaways that can be applied to team-building in any professional setting. One central idea was the notion that “love is the opposite of fear”, a concept which encouraged attendees to engage in meaningful work and collaborate with individuals they genuinely care about and love. His keynote left attendees with a renewed sense of what's possible when curiosity, resilience, and purpose come together.