Espresso Chats: Why Our Newest CCDHI Event Has Become One of My Favorites
This semester, we launched something new at the Center for Computational and Digital Health Innovation called Espresso Chats, and I can already say they have become one of my favorite events we offer.
When we first imagined Espresso Chats, the goal was simple. We wanted to create an intimate and informal space where students could have genuine conversations with leaders in computational science, digital health, and entrepreneurship. These are not seminars or panels. They are small group discussions designed as an ask me anything opportunity where students can explore career paths, technical challenges, and big picture questions in a way that is simply not possible in a traditional lecture setting.
What I did not anticipate was just how quickly these conversations would take off. Every session so far has generated enormous excitement and long waitlists (so I will say it plainly, apply early!).
Conversations That Stay With You
Our first Espresso Chat featured Jeff Hammond, whose career has taken him from Argonne National Laboratory to Intel and now NVIDIA. Hearing Jeff talk candidly about that trajectory and how he has stayed current as the field evolved, how he identifies the next big inflection point, and how he thinks about long-term impact was incredibly valuable. What stood out most to me was how engaged the students were. Nearly everyone in the room asked a question, and the discussion went far deeper than what you typically see at the end of a seminar.
We followed that with an Espresso Chat with Ankit Gupta from Y Combinator, which brought a different but equally energizing perspective. Ankit offered candid insight into what Y Combinator looks for in early-stage startups and how they evaluate founding teams. Duke students who are actively building companies were able to ask direct questions about their ideas, their teams, and their next steps, and receive honest, constructive feedback in real time.
What Students Are Really Learning
One of the most rewarding parts for me has been hearing what students say they learned after these sessions. From our conversation with Ankit in particular several themes resonated strongly. Students walked away thinking more carefully about how to manage legal risk early when building a startup. They reflected on the importance of founding teams that not only get along but also share strong technical backgrounds. Perhaps most strikingly they heard firsthand that at the earliest stages technical depth and execution often matter more than having a perfectly polished business model.
These are nuanced lessons that are hard to convey in a classroom or formal talk but they land powerfully when they come from someone who has seen hundreds of startups succeed and fail.
Why These Moments Matter
As someone who attends many seminars, I deeply value traditional academic talks, but Espresso Chats offer something different. They create space for connection. Students are not just listening — they are participating, probing, and building confidence in their own questions and ideas. The conversations are memorable, personal, and often transformative in ways that a few questions at the end of a large lecture simply cannot be.
For me these events capture the spirit of what we are building at CCDHI. They bring people together across disciplines lower barriers to access and give students meaningful exposure to the broader ecosystem shaping the future of computational and digital health.
Looking Ahead
Given the success of this first semester we are excited to continue Espresso Chats in the spring with an equally compelling lineup of speakers. I cannot wait to see how these conversations evolve and to watch more students take advantage of this opportunity to engage ask bold questions and connect in a truly meaningful way.
If you are interested in attending keep an eye out for upcoming announcements — and remember spots fill quickly.