JaBaris Swain is committed to improving outcomes for the Black community through his work as a cardiothoracic transplant surgeon.

Swain is a Wharton (MBA) and Harvard graduate. In an interview with the Thoracic Surgery Medical Association, he mentioned that his work as a surgeon has been guided by principles such as advocacy, access, mentorship, representation, community health education, and diversity in research and innovation.

“In my view, representation matters. Not just in the operating room, but in policy, research, and patient advocacy,” he said in the interview.

Swain works at Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System. He has also scaled within Johnson & Johnson, starting as associate director and clinical lead physician in cardiovascular & metabolism TA (August 2020–April 2022), and moving to director-innovation, MedTech (October 2024–Present), according to his LinkedIn.

“I trained as a cardiothoracic transplant surgeon and later moved into medical affairs and product strategy. Flowing between the OR, the boardroom, and the community made me a translator and a builder. I lead at the intersections — where science, business, and culture meet — so solutions aren’t just elegant; they’re adopted. I design for outcomes, not optics, and measure success by lives extended and access expanded,” he told AFROTECH™.

He also adds that being able to navigate through various arenas has served him well, contrary to traditional industry advice that encourages staying in one’s lane.

“I crossed lanes — surgery, global health, venture, and MedTech — and it became an unfair advantage. It surfaced non‑obvious partnerships, unlocked new capital paths, and produced human‑centered solutions that work where Wi‑Fi and wallets are thin,” he detailed to AFROTECH™.

AFROTECH™  Conference

You can hear more from Swain at the upcoming AFROTECH™  Conference, which will be held from Oct. 27-31 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX.

“At AFROTECH™, I’ll be sharing insights on how we can bridge the gap between innovation and impact — ensuring that the future of health, tech, and entrepreneurship reflects the brilliance and diversity of those who will inherit it,” he said in a LinkedIn post. “This is more than a talk — it’s a call to action. The future isn’t waiting. Neither should we.”

Purchase your ticket for the conference today.