March 4, 2025

Deborah Kilpatrick, alumna of the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, has received the John B. Carter, Jr. Spirit of Georgia Tech Award as part of the 2025 Gold & White Honors. Kilpatrick, who serves as a venture partner at Sonder Capital and is the former CEO and executive chair of Evidation Health, was formally recognized by the Georgia Tech Alumni Association at the Gold & White Honors Gala on February 13 at Flourish in Atlanta.

The John B. Carter, Jr. Spirit of Georgia Tech Award celebrates the dedicated alumni of Georgia Tech who demonstrate extraordinary passion and commitment to the Institute. These Jackets unapologetically live out Tech's values and embody the Georgia Tech spirit. 

Deborah Kilpatrick, ESM 1989, M.S. ME 1994, Ph.D. ME 1996

Georgia Tech’s mission is to develop leaders who improve the human condition, and a prime example of this mission in action is Deborah Kilpatrick. A triple Jacket, Kilpatrick’s doctoral research at Georgia Tech on the biomechanics of human tissue inspired her remarkable career in bioengineering, medtech, and digital health.

Her pioneering work in the healthcare industry has led to multiple U.S. patents in medical devices, and her roles have spanned early-stage research to commercialization in both Fortune 500 and startup companies.

“It really starts with staying grateful for the opportunities I was given at Georgia Tech, as well as the ones that followed in my professional career. In so many cases, those things happened because people believed in me or gave me a chance to work on a problem or a cause where I had conviction,” Kilpatrick says. “In turn, I have always been drawn to organizations committed to directing their energy and resources towards tackling society’s toughest problems.”

Kilpatrick began her medtech career at Guidant Corporation, leading the research and development of medical devices for cardiac and vascular diseases. She held several leadership roles at Guidant, including Research Fellow, director of R&D, and director of New Ventures in Guidant’s Vascular Intervention Division, before the company was acquired by Boston Scientific. She would later become CEO of Evidation Health, a technology company that pioneered the use of person-generated health data in clinical research for the biopharma sector, becoming executive chair of their board in 2020. Currently, she is an early stage medtech investor at Sonder Capital in Silicon Valley while serving on the board of multiple organizations, including Sleep Number and Sutter Health—one of the nation’s largest and most innovative healthcare delivery systems providing care to millions in California.

Even more impressive than Kilpatrick’s professional achievements might be her steadfast commitment to uplifting those around her. In 2010, she co-founded MedtechWOMEN and hosted an inaugural conference to connect and spotlight women voices in the industry called MedtechVISION, now held annually in Silicon Valley. She is an ongoing advisor to many startup founders as well as a business coach for the renowned Biodesign Innovation Fellows program at Stanford University.

Through her mentorship and support, Kilpatrick’s impact has rippled through the healthcare industry. In turn, her focus on uplifting underrepresented communities is shaping the industry for the better. Her approach was greatly influenced by her time at Georgia Tech.

“I grew up in Georgia, dreamed of attending Georgia Tech and being a Ramblin’ Wreck, then spent almost a decade of my life pursuing three degrees in the College of Engineering. My time there was truly formative for developing my own approach to leading innovation—in particular, leveraging diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas as a means to champion it.”

Kilpatrick and her wife, Kacey Fitzpatrick, are deeply committed to supporting Georgia Tech. The couple are members of The Hill Society, which recognizes Tech’s major philanthropists, with their family's support focused on diverse graduate students and faculty in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, the Women in Engineering (WIE) program, and the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems. Kilpatrick formerly chaired and serves on the College of Engineering Advisory Board and has previously served on the GT Advisory Board, the Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience Advisory Board, and the Woodruff School Advisory Board. She was inducted into the College of Engineering’s Council of Outstanding Young Engineering Alumni in 1999, the Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni in 2016 and the Engineering Hall of Fame in 2023.

Given her deep connection to the Institute, Kilpatrick says that receiving any honor from the Alumni Association would be incredibly meaningful. However, this award is particularly special because of what it represents. “To receive this award in the context of embodying the spirit and values of Georgia Tech is very, very special for me.”