Chelsea Isaac: Where Strategy Meets Empathy in MedTech

Randy Horton

Published on: July 18th, 2025

At Orthogonal, we celebrate the unique journeys and values that fuel our work in MedTech. This month, we’re spotlighting Chelsea Isaac, a Client Principal whose strategic insight and people-first mindset are helping bridge the gap between innovation and real-world impact. With a background spanning psychology, clinical care, and business strategy, Chelsea brings deep industry experience and a rare ability to connect purpose with execution. Her story reflects what we value most, empathy, clarity, and a relentless focus on delivering meaningful outcomes for patients and the teams who serve them.

From Purpose to Practice: Chelsea’s Career Path

Chelsea Isaac brings more than a decade of experience in business strategy and marketing, with a strong focus on healthcare and medical technology. Her early exposure to caregiving, along with a background in psychology and time spent in nursing school, shaped a lasting interest in the healthcare field. Over time, she discovered that her greatest impact could be made not at the bedside, but through helping innovative products navigate the complexities of regulated markets.

Her decision to join Orthogonal stemmed from both practical research and a strong personal alignment with the company’s mission. She sought an organization that prioritized patients and valued purpose as much as performance. Orthogonal’s reputation in the industry, along with its clear emphasis on patient-centered thinking, made it the right fit for her next chapter.

Making Innovation Work in Real World

Chelsea sees MedTech entering a transformative period, where traditional definitions of medical devices are being reimagined. The rapid advancement of software, continuous monitoring, and AI/ML functionality is reshaping how care is delivered, often beyond the walls of hospitals or clinics. These innovations bring great potential, but also demand a reevaluation of regulatory, technical, and operational frameworks.

She believes the industry’s ongoing challenge lies in narrowing the gap between what’s being built and what systems are equipped to support. From post-market integration to real-world usability, many teams underestimate the effort required to scale innovation effectively. Staying connected with clinicians, founders, regulatory experts, and other strategic minds is essential for how she stays current and helps clients anticipate and navigate complex changes.

Beyond the Office: What Fuels the Mind

Chelsea’s approach to work is deeply informed by her personal interests and values. She grew up playing sports and now plays in an adult softball league, an outlet that keeps her connected to teamwork, discipline, and friendly competition. She also finds joy in reading nonfiction, particularly books on psychology and philosophy, and exploring complex ideas that mirror the type of problem-solving she brings to her professional work.

Dog training has become another personal passion, sparked by her relationship with a rescue dog and deepened through working with her current German shepherd. These experiences have sharpened her sensitivity to communication and behavior, skills that extend well beyond canine companions. She is also passionate about supporting women-led startups, particularly in the FemTech sector, providing mentorship and working to improve equity and access in healthcare.

Solving Hard Problems with Integrity and Impact

Chelsea is motivated by the opportunity to create lasting value for patients, teams, and organizations. She approaches her work with a balance of strategic thinking and empathy, always seeking to bridge the gap between intention and real-world results. Her focus is on execution, making sure that good ideas not only sound convincing but also work in practice.

At Orthogonal, she finds a culture that aligns with her values. The leadership’s focus on patient impact, along with the team’s collaborative approach, has reinforced her belief that healthcare innovation works best when purpose and quality are aligned. Looking forward, she aims to stay close to hard problems and work alongside others who share a deep commitment to solving them thoughtfully. Whether that path leads to leadership, venture building, or a new model entirely, she’s focused on delivering value with integrity.