Biotech, Accelerated and Responsible

Shola Oyewole, VP of Digital Innovation at United Therapeutics, is a biotech executive with 25+ years’ experience driving transformative technologies. He pioneers breakthroughs in organ manufacturing, fosters innovation, and champions ethical practices to shape the future of biotechnology and healthcare.

In an exclusive interview with CIOReview, Shola Oyewole shared his views on the evolution of technology in community colleges.

Shaping a Career at United Therapeutics

When I look back on my professional experience of over 35 years in information technology - the most recent 25 years at United Therapeutics (UT), one theme stands out: using technology not just to make things faster or cheaper, but to help people. To me, real leadership in technology is about seeing what’s coming and building systems where bold ideas can grow in the right way. As UT’s first Chief Information Officer and now Vice President of Digital Innovation of the dept. of digital innovation (DoiT!), I’ve led projects in technology, digital transformation, GenAI, and open innovation that reflect this belief. My approach is built on curiosity, creativity, committing to responsibility, and centering purpose. That’s what guides me as I help UT work toward its mission: creating an unlimited supply of transplantable organs and developing therapies for lung disease.

Redefining Digital Innovation Leadership

I see digital innovation as part of the whole company, not just one team. That’s why I say innovation is a culture, not a department. UT’s culture of innovation emanates from Dr. Martine Rothblatt and UT’s senior leadership. It is evident in everything we do. With programs I run such as NIMBLE (New Ideas Made Bold through Learning & Experimentation) and Do-iT! Labs, my team gives employees the freedom to test creative ideas, fail quickly, and grow what works. At the same time, we make sure innovation is done responsibly. UT’s AI Management Board, (AIM), which I chair, reviews every GenAI project for not just technical success, but also ethics, compliance, intellectual property and human impact. We want new technologies to grow without losing people’s trust.

Biotech Innovation, Supercharged by AI

I believe digital twins and AI are game changers. A digital twin — whether of a patient, an organ, a therapy (drug) or a clinical trial — lets us test situations (digitally) that used to take years. Paired with AI, which can help predict outcomes and improve processes, we can go from idea to treatment much faster. This allows us to run virtual trials with simulated patients to identify viable endpoints, model a lung before printing it, test a drug digitally before it reaches a person, and design therapies that are both personalized and scalable. It’s the difference between slowly pushing boundaries and boldly moving forward.

Innovation with Integrity

With powerful tools like AI and xenotransplantation, I believe innovation must also be grounded in care. United Therapeutics, a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), embraces the guiding principles of “Do No Harm” and “Protect the House”.

For me: “Do No harm” means ensuring that every decision we make — from the design of our clinical trials to the therapies we deliver — always puts patient safety and well-being first. It also means fostering strong, transparent relationships with clinicians, researchers, and suppliers so that the therapies reaching patients are not only effective but deeply trusted. By embedding responsibility at every stage of discovery and delivery, we make sure progress in biotech never comes at the expense of those we serve. The best therapies are built not just on science, but on a steadfast commitment to humanity.

For me: “Protect the House” means protecting our reputation and compliance, and most importantly, the trust of patients and society. We bring in Legal, Compliance, HR, and Security early in every project. It’s not just about asking “Can we?” but also “Should we?” The future of biotech will be led by companies that combine breakthroughs with integrity.

Connecting Minds, Driving Discovery

Some of the best ideas come where different worlds meet — where university research, startup speed, and industry scale come together. That’s why I value partnerships with universities, startups, and research groups. These collaborations give us early access to new science while helping our partners scale in a regulated space. Do-iT! Runs a summer program (SLED – Student-Led Exploratory & Discovery) where interns are immersed in projects focused on innovating for patients. It’s a win-win: interns gain handson experience advancing research, startups de-risk through collaboration and knowledge-sharing with Do-iT!, and patients ultimately benefit from the innovations that emerge.

Balancing Breakthroughs with Values

If I had to give one piece of advice, it would be this: let humanity guide you. Technology only matters if it serves a real purpose — and in biotech, that purpose is extending and improving lives. Every decision—from applying AI to shaping clinical trials, advancing drug development to producing personalized therapies—should trace back to that core goal. Culture is just as important. Build environments where curiosity is encouraged, creativity nurtured, where failure is seen as learning, and where responsibility is shared. And lead with transparency — because in today’s world, authenticity is the most powerful form of leadership.

Looking ahead, I see the future of biotech as more than just faster R&D. It’s about changing what’s possible for patients (as Audrey Hepburn said, Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible' ). The future of healthcare won’t be shaped by technology alone, but by leaders who use it with courage, creativity, and conscience. At UT, I’m proud to be part of that journey — not just creating therapies, but building a model for how digital transformation can truly serve humanity.

Do-iT! slogans we live by:

“Innovation is not a department — it’s a culture.”

“Digital twins and AI are not incremental tools — they are accelerants.”

“Protect the House means asking not only ‘Can we?’ but ‘Should we?’”

“The future of biotech belongs to leaders who harness technology with courage, creativity, and conscience.”

“Identify the corridors of indifference and run like hell down them”, Dr. Martine Rothblatt

"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'", Audrey Hepburn.