Alumna Wins $10,000 Rothschild Innovation Award for Medical Device Startup

When Alexis Bromley, M.D. ’14 (A&S) took the stage at the CNY Biotech Accelerator (CNYBAC) on Oct. 8, she was pitching more than a product. She was pitching a solution born from personal experience. And the judges took notice: Bromley walked away with first place and the $10,000 Alan W. Rothschild Innovation Award.  


For Bromley, an emergency medicine physician, the idea for InDeazy began on the other side of the exam table. While eight months pregnant, she underwent an abscess drainage herself, and she came away convinced there had to be a better way. 


Today, she and her husband, Jayson Bromley ’14 (FALK), are making that better way a reality through Bromley Bio Med LLC. Bromley serves as the company’s CEO and Founder, while Jayson serves as Chief Operating Officer. Their device is a single-use tool built to streamline skin abscess treatment. Draining an abscess typically takes several separate instruments to make the incision, remove infected material and manage drainage. InDeazy combines those steps in one device with an integrated aspiration system, and it could shrink a procedure that often runs 30 to 60 minutes to under 10.  


Bromley’s win came against a competitive field. Eight startups pitched at the third annual Biotech Innovation Pitch Event, held during CNYBAC’s 10th anniversary celebration, and a seven-member panel of judges chose Bromley Bio Med as the winner. The panel included Robert Corona, DO, MBA, CEO of Upstate University Hospital; Brian Greven, general manager of LOTTE Biologics; and Ann and David Rothschild, the longtime Upstate Foundation donors who sponsor the award. As Upstate Medical University reported, the Rothschild Award recognizes ideas with strong commercial potential, emphasizing innovation, impact and market opportunity.  

“This honor means a lot,” Bromley told Upstate. “It’s like a stamp of approval from the medical community.” 


Whitman’s connection with Bromley runs deep. It began when she completed the second cohort of the ’CUSE Student Venture Accelerator at Whitman, and the relationship has grown with her company ever since. Bromley Bio Med remains an active startup in Whitman’s Couri Hatchery ecosystem. Last year, her husband joined the Whitman community as well, enrolling in EEE458 with Professor of Entrepreneurial Practice Ken Walsleben to help build the company’s business plan. In Spring 2026, Bromley also took part in the inaugural cycle of Whitman’s Orange Business Angel Network (OBAN), pitching to potential investors.  


Bromley also drew on Whitman’s student support network in preparing for the big day, working with D’Aniello Entrepreneurial Student Intern Manning Harper ‘28 to develop and finalize her pitch. 


“Whitman has exceeded our goals and expectations,” says Bromley. “When I started InDeazy, I prayed for support such as this. We learned how to grow and scale our business while building meaningful relationships through networking.” 


With prototype and bench testing behind them, Bromley and her team are now setting their sights on the next milestone: an FDA 510(k) submission. Whitman will continue to support her at every step, and the school is proud to celebrate her success. 

By Margaret Brown ’26 (WSM/NEW)