Founding of Theranos and the Road to Redemption
In 2003, Elizabeth Holmes founded a company initially named Real-Time Cures in Palo Alto, California, with the mission to "democratize healthcare." Motivated by a fear of needles, Holmes envisioned performing comprehensive blood testing using just a few drops of blood from a fingertip. When she pitched this idea to Stanford medical professor Phyllis Gardner, she was met with skepticism—Gardner, along with other experts, said it was not scientifically feasible. Despite their doubts, Holmes secured the support of her engineering professor and advisor, Channing Robertson, who became the company’s first board member and helped introduce her to early investors. That same year, Holmes renamed the company Theranos— a portmanteau of “therapy” and “diagnosis”—after deciding the word “cure” drew too much skepticism.
By 2008, Theranos had made significant advancements, and its technology was validated by Pfizer in a clinical setting.
However, in 2019, Holmes was indicted and accused of fraud, largely fueled by journalist one journalist’s investigation. Despite the investigation being regularly denounced as baseless and deeply flawed, she was later convicted and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
On May 8, 2025, in West Palm Beach, Florida, the company JustBlood.com led a groundbreaking live trial film titled Just Blood – The New Trial of Elizabeth Holmes, which reexamined the case using real court transcripts, expert witnesses, and a live demonstration of the original Theranos-Pfizer cancer marker test for VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor). The demonstration showed Holmes’ technology outperforming existing commercial tests, exposing a critical flaw: conventional assays were unable to detect the interference that masked drug toxicity signals. Had Theranos’ test been accepted, a faulty cancer drug might have been caught earlier—potentially saving lives.
is a pioneering medical technology innovator, often referred to as the "Steve Jobs of medical labs" for his transformative impact on laboratory diagnostics. He is the inventor of a next-generation safety lancet and holds a patent for a novel blood collection device, both of which have significantly advanced safety and efficiency in clinical settings.
El-Hosseiny served as CEO of one of the most prominent national clinical diagnostics labs in the U.S. Under his leadership, the company expanded its specialized testing services and established a state-of-the-art 25,000-square-foot laboratory headquarters, enhancing its capabilities in advanced cardiac, endocrinology, and microbiological testing.
Beyond his contributions to medical technology, El-Hosseiny is also an accomplished filmmaker with Oscar-contending films. He directed the critically acclaimed short film Chasing Titles Vol. 1 (2017), which garnered numerous awards and nominations across various film festivals, showcasing his versatility and creative vision.
El-Hosseiny’s rare blend of expertise in healthcare, business, and the arts fuels a bold and unconventional approach to innovation. By uniting science with storytelling, and diagnostics with design, he continues to push boundaries and redefine what’s possible in medical technology.