Lee A. Tafoya is a versatile healthcare and business development professional with a career spanning clinical research, nursing leadership, and strategic growth initiatives. With dual degrees in Nursing from The George Washington University and Philosophy & Psychology from the University of Colorado Denver, Lee blends scientific rigor with human insight to deliver exceptional results across healthcare sectors.
Currently serving as a Business Development Executive at Midwest Innovation Laboratory, Lee drives laboratory profitability by forging strategic partnerships with private practices and large healthcare networks. His role involves identifying market opportunities, executing service recovery initiatives, and optimizing client acquisition strategies through root cause analysis and tailored logistics solutions.
Lee began his career in clinical nursing and swiftly advanced into high-stakes research environments, where he gained recognition as a subject matter expert in immunology. Notably, he achieved a 100% success rate in stem cell apheresis procedures while working on Dendreon cancer trials. His clinical expertise extends to pulmonology, hematology, nephrology, and rare immunologic conditions, where he has coordinated complex clinical trials and delivered direct patient care.
In leadership roles, including as Clinical Director for Advance Home Health and Hospice, Lee enhanced agency performance by reducing rehospitalization rates, streamlining processes, and elevating patient care quality. He is deeply committed to continuous learning, embracing challenges across disciplines to foster innovation and adaptability.
A dedicated volunteer with International Medical Relief, Lee is lauded for his cultural competence, compassion, and professionalism. He believes in holistic, patient-centered care and sees adversity as an essential driver of personal and professional growth. His strategic mindset and integrity make him a valuable asset in any healthcare or business development setting.
How did you get started in this business? What inspired you?
I started my career as a nurse, working in clinical research on advanced therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Over time, I noticed systemic inefficiencies: issues in communication, logistics, and patient access. That inspired me to shift from bedside care to strategic roles where I could influence change on a broader scale. The goal wasn’t just to heal individuals, but to help heal broken systems. That purpose still drives me every day as I build more responsive, patient-centered healthcare solutions.
How do you make money in your current role?
As a Business Development Executive, my role is to grow revenue and improve operational sustainability for laboratories. I generate value by building partnerships with clinics, nursing facilities, and other providers who need reliable diagnostic support. This includes contract negotiation, solving logistics issues, and implementing service recovery strategies. When our labs run more efficiently and keep clients satisfied, profitability follows. I also look at long-term retention strategies, which provide compounding revenue over time. The goal is mutual value, business success rooted in solving real healthcare challenges.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
In terms of organizational impact, we saw results within six months: streamlined workflows, better client retention, and more efficient service models. Personally, the shift from clinical roles to business development wasn’t instantly lucrative, but the long-term value far outweighed the slow start. It took patience and a lot of failure early on. I had to unlearn some habits and rebuild my workflow with strategy and structure. Once that foundation was set, profitability followed naturally through better performance and stronger partnerships.
When did you first feel like a success?
I felt a true sense of success when I helped a struggling diagnostic lab recover from repeated service failures. By diving deep into the logistics and root causes, we turned things around and retained a client they were at risk of losing. That wasn’t just a financial win. It restored trust between patients, providers, and the lab. Seeing how operational improvements could directly impact human lives gave me real fulfillment. That was the moment I knew I had transitioned from working in healthcare to truly shaping it.
What was your biggest failure, and how did you learn from it?
One of my biggest failures was losing a research contract because I wasn’t organized. I let myself get overwhelmed and didn’t follow through on key deliverables. It was a painful lesson. I learned that success isn’t about working harder. It’s about working smarter. Since then, I’ve adopted tools like OneNote to stay structured and have been more intentional with my workflow. Simplifying my responsibilities allowed me to stay present, proactive, and accountable, which made a significant difference in how I operate.
What is one marketing strategy that works well for you?
The most effective strategy has been relationship-building through integrity. I don’t just pitch services. I solve problems. Clients can sense when you care about their actual needs rather than just closing a deal. I also study local market dynamics and tailor my messaging to address real-time pain points in service delivery, turnaround time, and diagnostic access. Leveraging a lab’s strengths in the context of a client’s operational challenges is far more powerful than generic outreach. Authenticity opens more doors than any scripted strategy ever could.
What is one habit that makes you more productive?
Continual learning. I make it a priority to explore disciplines outside my comfort zone, philosophy, psychology, logistics, and healthcare policy. It sharpens my thinking and helps me see patterns and solutions that others might miss. I also reflect regularly on mistakes and try to extract practical lessons from them. Staying curious keeps me agile, and in a constantly evolving healthcare landscape, that agility is a major asset. Knowledge isn’t just power. It’s clarity, direction, and long-term leverage.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Be more decisive and keep moving forward. I used to overanalyze and dwell on mistakes, which often led to stagnation. Reflection is useful, but too much can become paralyzing. Take the lesson and act. Progress doesn’t come from waiting until you’re ready. It comes from stepping forward even when you’re uncertain. Also, embrace discomfort. Growth never happens in your comfort zone. If it feels too safe, you’re probably not evolving fast enough.
What’s one trend in healthcare that excites you?
I’m incredibly excited about developments in biologics and immunomodulation therapies. These treatments are changing the landscape for patients with rare or complex conditions. My background in immunology trials gave me early exposure to this space, and I see huge potential. But with innovation comes responsibility. We need to improve how these therapies are delivered and accessed. If progress is only available to a privileged few, it isn’t real progress. Equity in access is the next frontier, and I want to be part of shaping that.
What do you think makes you stand out as a leader?
I bridge disciplines; clinical, ethical, logistical, and strategic. My philosophy background helps me weigh tough decisions, while my clinical experience gives me credibility and empathy. I’m also open about my failures. That vulnerability helps me connect with others and build trust. I believe leadership is about service, not ego, and that mindset shapes how I work with clients, teams, and partners. I stay focused on long-term impact, not just quick wins. Doing what’s right is always good for business, and people remember how you made them feel.