March 14, 2025 – Looped App Dr. Sam Patel, Drones for Girls Dr. La’Quata Sumter & Scarlett Howery and Gun Safety Silvia Villareal

Dr. Sam Patel – Co-Founder of Looped

Sam Patel is an Experienced Serial Entrepreneur with a demonstrated history in the healthcare industry. As an undergraduate alum from Purdue University and carrying both a Doctor of Medicine and Master in Business Administration degrees, Sam has a unique background in understanding how to optimize medical/aesthetic practices and patient care while allowing his businesses to thrive and generate high profit. As an owner of multiple practices, Sam not only has the understanding of business development in healthcare from the ground up, but also the expertise to sustain a successful business well after it is established. Sam is the Founder of LIV Wellness Lounge, an ultra-luxury medical spa with two locations specialized in aesthetics, body, skin, and wellness. Additionally, Sam is a CoFounder of Onyx Medical Partners which develops innovative solutions in medical education creating first to market Live Virtual Clinical Rotations for medical students both domestic and international for over a dozen universities. What if patient education was as engaging as TikTok? That’s the vision behind Looped, the groundbreaking app from Astra Culture founder Sam Patel, an app that turns clinic instructions into bite-sized, video-driven content tailored for today’s mobile-first audience. With patients spending over 4.5 hours a day on their devices, Looped taps into existing habits to improve compliance and build trust. Its intuitive, swipe-friendly interface ensures that critical medical guidance is as accessible and engaging as the videos patients already scroll through daily. With a soft launch in Q1, Looped will bring increased patient satisfaction, better adherence to treatment plans, and higher retention rates. By combining social media’s ease with healthcare’s rigor, Looped will redefine how clinics communicate with patients in 2025.





Dr. La’Quata Sumter – CEO of STEAM Thru Drones

Dr. La’Quata Sumter is a technology enthusiast and educator passionate about teaching about technology, drones, coding, web development, and engineering. Hailing from the small town of Red Top, SC, and now residing in Southwest Georgia, as a STEM/STEAM philanthropist, she is dedicated to encouraging careers and education in these fields for the next generation. With over 15 years of experience in teaching technology, she is the CEO and Founder of Focusing On Me, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization with a brand that focuses on supporting organizations in their goals for STEM excellence. The STEAM thru Drones mission concentrates on designing and delivering educational programs that cater to various audiences, from students to professionals. The program covers drone operation, safety, regulations, and aerial technology advancements, focusing on teaching students about Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics using drone technology. Dr. Sumter has obtained numerous technical certifications and obtained Part 107 as well. She is the author of three children’s books, one focusing on her as a computer engineer and the other being an introduction to drone technology. Her Dronology book can supplement her online Introduction to Drone Technology course. Dr. Sumter has conducted drone and engineering summer camps and shows all over the USA. Partnering with schools such as Albany State University and organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club and GearUP Doughtery.



Scarlett Howery – Vice-President of Workforce Solutions at DeVry University

Scarlett Howery leads the strategic development and implementation of innovative programs and partnerships that bridge the gap between education and employment for adult learners. With an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management, she leverages her expertise in building and maintaining relationships with employers, government agencies, and community organizations to create customized solutions that meet their workforce needs and enhance their talent pipeline. Howery has been a part of DeVry and Keller nearly 20 years, starting from admissions and progressing to campus operations and university partnerships. Throughout her career, her focus has been on providing exceptional student care and support, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence, and driving operational excellence and efficiency. As a first-generation college graduate, Howery is a passionate advocate for students who face unique challenges and barriers in pursuing higher education. Her participation in organizations that include the National Black MBA Association as a mentor and Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc. where she serves as Vice President of the Greer, South Carolina Chapter demonstrate her commitment to her community and future leaders. Where are the women?  That’s the question asked by a recent DeVry University report seeking to understand the gender gap in AI Skills training and proficiency. Despite the obvious pervasiveness of AI in the workplace, women trail men in almost every area – being less likely to claim proficiency or to even see its value as a tool. However, the AI gap identified in the report merely represents a larger chasm. While women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, they hold only about 28% of computer and mathematical occupations. Overall, only 35% of STEM employees in the U.S. are women. With career opportunities in STEM projected to outpace most sectors over the coming decade, STEM educators are working hard to close the gap and fill these new positions with as many women as possible – and they’re aiming to get girls’ attention as early as middle school. For over 90 years, DeVry University has been preparing students to pursue careers in technology and is part of a nationwide initiative to develop a new generation of female tech professionals. You are invited to join two passionate educators as they discuss some exciting programs – one of which introduces 5th – 8th-grade girls to STEM and careers in tech by building curiosity through hands-on experiences and hearing from other women in the STEM/tech fields. Dr. La’Quata Sumter is an experienced teacher, children’s author and STEM/STEAM Philanthropist who leads drone and engineering camps throughout the country, and Scarlett Howery is the Vice President of Public Workforce Solutions at DeVry University.





Silvia Villarreal – Director of Research Translation at Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions

Silvia Villarreal is the director of research translation at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Gun Violence Solutions. She aims to bridge the gap between research and policy by translating research into evidence-based reports. Villareal is also the managing director for the Consortium for Risk-Based Firearm Policy where she coordinates a group of experts to craft gun violence policy solutions from a public health perspective. She has led development of several reports on firearm policy, including “Racial Equity Impact Assessment Framework for Gun Violence Prevention” and “Alcohol Misuse and Gun Violence: An Evidence Based Approach for State Policy.”