Before he was a Temple Made physician and pioneering neurosurgeon, Sean Salehi, MD ’96 was an engineer. He studied electrical engineering as an undergraduate, drawn to the logic of systems and the precision of problem-solving. But when considering a career, something was missing. “Engineering was cerebral,” he says. “But I wanted connection. I wanted to work directly with people.” He wanted to solve problems with real human impact, and at Temple he found the perfect place to bring both pieces together.
“Temple gave me the chance to connect what I knew as an engineer to what I was learning as a physician,” he says. “It helped me see that by marrying my talents and training with my passion, I could create real change.”
That dual mindset became a hallmark of his approach to medicine. One formative moment came in a neuroscience lab, when his mentor and longtime faculty member Dr. Ron Tuma handed him a nonfunctioning circuit box meant to measure brain activity in animal models. Fixing it was a puzzle that required rewiring and new programming, and by the end of the summer, Dr. Salehi had made it operational. “That was the moment I realized this wasn’t just about me having an engineering degree,” he says. “I could use that skill set to make meaningful advancements in medicine.”
Years later, in the operating room, he saw the same kinds of challenges: tools that didn’t work efficiently, and procedures slowed down by clunky or unreliable equipment. Rather than wait for someone else to fix the problem, he created solutions himself. That approach led to seven patents, three of which have been commercialized and are in use in the U.S. and internationally. His flagship product, a suction device designed to prevent clogging during surgery, has changed how neurosurgeons operate across the globe.
But for Dr. Salehi, innovation is about more than the tools you build, or the leaps forward you make possible. An essential element is creating opportunities for others to make discoveries of their own. Today, in addition to mentoring the next generation of neurosurgeon-innovators, he gives back as a scholarship donor to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine (Katz). “It wasn’t a question of if I would give back,” he says. “It was a question of how soon I could.” He views philanthropy not as an extra, but as a responsibility: a way to open doors for future students the same way Temple opened doors for him. “Temple and North Philly were good to me,” he adds. “Supporting scholarships is just the beginning.”
Dr. Salehi’s story is one of persistence, purpose, and the power of designing your own path. Below, he shares what he’s learned along the way, and what aspiring physician-innovators need to know to make their own mark.
Q&A with Dr. Sean Salehi
Q: Your path into medicine began with engineering. How did that background shape your approach to innovation?
Dr. Salehi: It gave me a different lens. Engineering teaches you to solve problems systematically: to identify inefficiencies and design better systems. That mindset carried over into medicine. When I encountered equipment or procedures that didn’t work as well as they should, I didn’t just accept it. I looked for a solution.
Q: What were some of the first innovations you brought to life?
Dr. Salehi: Early in my career, I developed a prototype to automate cerebral spinal fluid drainage. It was a promising idea, but I quickly learned how hard it is to commercialize a new medical device without outside funding. That experience taught me to focus on innovations I could validate and refine on a more manageable scale. I ended up designing a series of instruments that solve everyday challenges in surgery, like suction devices that don’t clog mid-procedure. That’s how our flagship tool, the Chicago Tip, was born.
Q: You were also an early adopter of minimally invasive spine surgery. What made you embrace that approach before it was mainstream?
Dr. Salehi: As a young faculty member at Northwestern, I had a mentor who had trained in these new techniques and brought them back to our team, so I was fortunate for the opportunity to embrace them early and stay on the leading edge. Once we started using them, the benefits were obvious: less post-op pain, fewer infections, faster recoveries. It was a true paradigm shift, and along with recognizing where the field was headed, I wanted to develop tools that supported those procedures and made them even more accessible. It goes back to the problem-solving mindset and being willing to explore new solutions while recognizing that there are always improvements to be made.
Q: What’s your process for bringing an idea from concept to commercialization?
Dr. Salehi: First, find a novel solution to a real problem. Iterating on what already exists is important in continuous improvement, but don’t be afraid to come at it from an entirely new angle. Then, you prototype fast and test, refine, repeat, understanding that you will have multiple versions before you have something viable. You also need the right partners like manufacturers and distributors, and you have to be ready for setbacks. It’s not cheap. A successful product can cost upwards of $100,000 to bring to market. And even then, adoption takes time. You have to be resilient, and stay focused on the ‘why’ behind the original problem.
Q: That’s a lot of trial and error. What kept you going through the challenges?
Dr. Salehi: Honestly, the impact. When a product I created helps surgeons work more effectively or improves outcomes for patients, that’s incredibly rewarding. And I don’t forget where it all started with that box of circuitry from Dr. Tuma’s lab at Temple. It was a small project, but it showed me I could contribute something valuable. That motivation has never really left me.
Q: You mentioned mentorship. What advice do you give to aspiring physician-innovators?
Dr. Salehi: Don’t shy away from innovation, but be smart about it. You wouldn’t sit for a board exam unprepared. Innovation is the same. Prepare. Learn the process. And most importantly, find a mentor. It will save you time, money, and mistakes. Now, I try to be that person for others.
Q: Beyond your career, you're a Katz donor. What inspired your philanthropy?
Dr. Salehi: Giving back isn’t optional; it’s essential. I received so much from Temple: training, mentorship, opportunity. Supporting scholarships is my way of helping the next generation. Some students just need that one door to open. If I can help open it, that’s the least I can do.
Q: Any final thoughts for current students or alumni looking to lead in medicine?
Dr. Salehi: Medicine isn’t easy. Innovation isn’t easy. But if you have a vision, something that will make care better, don’t let the questions or the inevitable challenges stop you. Be prepared. Find your people. Take the leap. Your impact might be bigger than you think.