What happens when a "mis-event" derails your entire career plan? Dr. Karen Cross's journey from wanting to be a plastic surgeon to revolutionizing wound care technology shows how unexpected detours can become pathways to exponential impact.

In this Contours episode, we explore Karen's evolution from a determined 8-year-old who defied her teacher's "little girls can't be doctors" to building MIMOSA Diagnostics, a handheld device that brings specialist-level wound assessment to frontline healthcare workers worldwide.

Her breakthrough insight: technology must bridge equity gaps, especially for communities historically facing higher amputation rates.

Key insights for changemakers:

• Why "give me a chance and I'll learn" opens doors that expertise alone cannot
• How clinical perspective transforms pure research into patient-relevant solutions
• The power of shrinking complex technology from 14 feet tall to pocket-sized impact
• Why leaving success at its peak can unlock exponential social change
• How the "MIMOSA Movement" emerged organically around shared purpose

Karen's approach proves that sustainable innovation requires both deep technical expertise and unwavering commitment to equity. Her framework demonstrates how personal setbacks become fuel for systemic solutions when you maintain that "watch me" determination while staying open to unexpected partnerships.

From her grandfather's diabetic wound to helping 1,000+ patients in early 2024, Karen's story shows how individual challenges can illuminate global needs—and how the right technology in the right hands saves limbs and lives.

Ready to transform your setbacks into breakthrough solutions? Visit www.pathfinders.social for Karen Cross's full story and more stories like it from everyday heroes creating positive change.