Dr. Amy Hester, Chairwoman and CEO of HD Nursing, shares the story of how her work as a nurse and administrator at UAMS led to the creation of a highly effective fall prevention program. As regulatory and financial pressures around fall-related injuries increased, the program expanded hospital-wide, significantly reducing injury rates. With encouragement from BioVentures and the UAMS Patent and Copyright Committee, Hester and her team protected their work and eventually founded HD Nursing in 2012. Though initially hesitant about commercialization, the company has grown to serve over 50,000 hospital beds daily, with its model even licensed by Epic Systems as their standard fall risk tool. She credits strong support from UAMS leadership and BioVentures with helping turn a nurse-led solution into a nationally impactful healthcare innovation.

Hester reflects on the early challenges of starting a company, admitting she and her co-founder didn’t fully understand equity structures or corporate forms when they began. She emphasizes the importance of understanding company types, equity, and governance from the outset, ideally with guidance from others who’ve been through the process. BioVentures is a great place to start asking questions—something they didn’t do early enough simply because they didn’t know what to ask. She advises new innovators to take the time to learn, talk to experienced peers, and avoid rushing into formalizing a business too quickly. Making a big impact doesn’t require a flashy or complex idea. Her work has saved lives and resonated deeply with people. She encourages others not to underestimate the value of their ideas—especially those rooted in real, human needs.