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Suelin Chen, PhD

CEO & Founder, Cake

Suelin Chen, PhD is a notable entrepreneur and healthcare technology executive. She is the founder and CEO of Cake, a platform that helps people navigate end-of-life planning and mortality.13 Some key points about Suelin Chen:

Professional Background

  • Founder and CEO of Cake, the largest platform for navigating mortality and honoring life, serving over 2 million people monthly1
  • Named to Fortune's 40 Under 40 list and recognized as one of the most influential people in care13
  • Previously advised life science companies on strategy at IMS Health1
  • Served as Director of The Laboratory at Harvard, mentoring students on startup ideas1
  • Holds a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT, where she developed medical imaging technologies for cancer prognosis1

Board Positions and Advisory Roles

  • Board Member at Cambridge Insight Meditation Center (CIMC)2
  • Board Member of Hospice & Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts3
  • Advisory Board Member for MIT List Visual Arts Center13
  • Advisory Board Member for Mass Fintech Hub3

Personal

  • Lives in Somerville, MA with her husband and two children1
  • Enjoys dancing, eating, writing music, and contributing to the arts community1
  • Started practicing meditation at CIMC in 2004 while in graduate school2

Education

  • PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT13
  • BS in Biology from MIT, with minors in Biomedical Engineering and Music3
  • Studied at École Polytechnique in France13

Suelin Chen's work with Cake reflects her interest in helping people think about their preferences for medical treatments, particularly near the end of life, which was influenced by her experiences in healthcare and technology.12

Highlights

Jan 24 · linkedin

I was interviewed for this article about the cost of dying. Unsurprisingly, it's going up. There's such a gap today between what people say they would want and what they end up actually buying, and part of that gap is due to pressure during an emotional time, and information asymmetry between the buyer and seller. The article ends with a sad but true quote from me, that people end up going into debt while also trying to grieve. We at Cake (joincake.com) are committed to empowering families to make the best decisions for themselves and their loved ones by providing honest information about every option.

https://lnkd.in/eJUCB9PQ

Oct 6 · linkedin

Helping people find meaningful ways to honor life has been such a rewarding way to spend my finite time here on this planet (yes I'm always this dramatic). Whether it's working with brands that offer forest burials or shiny purple caskets or memorial diamonds or grief support, I am so grateful to get to do this important work with the best team of people! If you want to work with us we have a new job opening for a senior account manager who has digital marketing/advertising/media experience. Grateful for folks to share with candidates they think would be a fit.

Related Questions

How did Suelin Chen's work at Harvard influence her career path?
What inspired Suelin Chen to start Cake?
How does Suelin Chen balance her roles as CEO of Cake and Board Member at CIMC?
What are some of the medical imaging technologies Suelin Chen developed at MIT?
How has Suelin Chen's spiritual journey impacted her professional life?
Suelin Chen, PhD
Suelin Chen, PhD, photo 1
Suelin Chen, PhD, photo 2
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Location

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States