Jessica is an IP portfolio development expert with over ten years of experience serving early-stage technology companies. She provides high-touch, strategic portfolio management expertise by connecting the business, technology and IP strategy for each client as Founder and President of Aurora Consulting Group.

Jessica’s unique ability to simultaneously understand both the in-house needs of each client and the needs of outside counsel results in streamlined processes, expanded IP portfolios and significant cost savings. While working as a patent agent for ShayGlenn LLP, her practice focused on medical device technology in multiple clinical areas for early stage companies. Jessica has also served as Schox Patent Group's Senior Patent Agent, with a focus on software platforms and APIs. After several years in law firms, Jessica moved  in-house to serve as Sr. Intellectual Property Manager for Baxano, Inc. (now Baxano Surgical, Inc. (BAXS)). While at Baxano, Jessica reduced the yearly spend on patent related activities by over 40% leading to a projected total cost savings of almost $1M, while at the same time expanding the portfolio to 25 issued patents and enabling treatments for over 1000 patients. 

An early experience with medical technologies left a dramatic impression on Jessica. She watched a child’s face light up as he heard sound for the first time after receiving cochlear implants in her mother’s University of Michigan otolaryngology lab. This unusual childhood experience continues to this day to fuel Jessica’s passion for medical technologies that can so substantially improve quality of life. 

As a named inventor on medical device patents, Jessica has a long history of designing and bringing new inventions to market. Among other inventions, she has designed, prototyped and tested mechanisms for a medical device drug injection system; designed a key component of an applier utensil for a gastric band port; and designed a manufacturing process for surgical drills. 

Jessica was selected for and then graduated from the Stanford Biodesign Innovation Fellowship Program, a unique and highly competitive program. During her time as a fellow, Jessica mastered the complete process of bringing a new medical device to market, including the IP, technology and business elements. Jessica and her team filed three patents, received an NCIIA Advanced E-Team grant, won second place in the Stanford Business Plan competition, and were semi-finalists for the USF and the MIT 100K.

As the President (2011-2013) of The Biodesign Alumni Association, Jessica transformed the association into a financially independent organization. She is currently serving on their Board of Directors. Jessica has also been the Program Manager for MedTech Women and the MedTech VisionConference.  She is a published author, editor and guest lecturer at Stanford University on a variety of topics relating to patent law, intellectual property, and biodesign. 

Jessica is completing her J.D. from Stanford Law School, received her M.S. in Biomechanical Engineering from Stanford University, and is a registered patent agent. Jessica received her B.S. (Magna Cum Laude) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan. As a mechanical engineer, Jessica worked for the IDEO Health Practice, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, and for Stryker Instruments.