Meet Lauren Hill | Founder and CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Hill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?

We are a for-profit company with a social mission. We believe that empowering people to understand their bodies will help inform their healthcare decisions, allowing them to be active participants rather than passive bystanders. Our larger-than-life, inflatable, walk-through body parts are designed by physicians to educate, engage, and entertain all ages. We have traveled throughout the world with the exhibits, think 50’ long walk-through human body, heart, brain, lungs, COVID, and now the MEGA Breasts.

We have developed various programs inside schools, including our popular “Substance Abuse” program for young adults. Through this program, we have been to over 25 schools in the US and have toured over 15,000 students through the MEGA Brain and MEGA Lungs teaching about neuroscience and the science behind addiction and vaping. We are currently in development with Baylor developing a mental-health-focused school program to address the growing need for the undertreated health crisis.

With local community partners, our MEGA Lungs have been to over 50 nationwide events with a focus on early detection of lung cancer for those that fit the criteria.
We hope to continue to partner with organizations with a similar health-minded mission and expand our current programs and continue to create new ones.

What should our readers know about your business?

My business provides large-scale, inflatable, walk-through human anatomy to educate the public about common diseases, treatment options, and prevention. I started this business at the end of 2008 when I was unhappy with my position at a hospital as an event planner.

I am most proud when I see people’s faces light up when I, or one of my staff, explain something on our tours through the exhibit, because I know that they get it. Most people, including myself, are visual learners. We need to see and experience things to truly understand them. I think this is what my exhibits provide:  an opportunity to learn, where we bring the experience right to you. I’ve heard it referred to as the OG of VR.

I’ve gotten to where I am because I’ve had great support from family, friends, and mentors. I haven’t been shy to go after what I want, and I’m able to see opportunities and possibilities where others might not. I am a big dreamer, and I regularly brainstorm about how to improve things that aren’t working. In fact, one of my favorite ways to pass time is to daydream about and vet new ideas.

Starting and growing the business has not been without challenges. I think I met my first challenge when someone I knew in my community actually copied my idea. I had told their family members at a dinner one night about my business, and I guess they liked the idea, so much so that their son actually designed an almost identical walk-through heart exhibit. Luckily, my creation eventually received multiple patents, and now that competing company shit down after going bankrupt. At first, I felt personally violated, unable to understand how someone you know could steal your idea. However, the situation made me a stronger businesswoman and drove me to innovate and improve my company. Now I am a little less “wet behind the ears” through that painful lesson, but I know I can overcome much more than I ever thought, and I get to show my kids that honesty and integrity will always win in the end.

I want people to know that behind my brand are caring people who believe in what they do, and who truly want to make the world a better place. We won’t solve the world’s problems; however, if we cause one person to go get a mammogram or colonoscopy they’ve been putting off, or help kids understand that mental illness is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain, then we are moving in the right direction.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would first say, don’t come in the summer, because that really limits what we can do. My favorite spots are usually in nature. I love to take my dogs for walks along Buffalo Bayou, and maybe stop at Flora restaurant and admire the beautiful surroundings. I would also take them to the arboretum and around Memorial Park. We’d probably go to Coltivare for some delicious pizza and wine. My husband has a custom pit and makes the best BBQ, so we would have our friends over for swimming and BBQ. My kids are 9 and 11 so, most of my current free time revolves around taking them to their activities.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shoutout is to my dad. He has been my support and champion from the inception of my company. It began when he and my mom spent countless hours of their time and efforts helping me start my business in 2008. My father was an engineer by profession and had obtained tons of patents. He had the foresight for me to apply and eventually I received 3 patents. Not only did he help me with the patents, but he is also always available to help with whatever I needed over the years including hauling and setting up the exhibits across the country (don’t worry, I don’t ask him to do this anymore). Lately, it’s been mundane tasks like filling out forms, lots of forms. He never complains and seems always happy to help. Thanks, Dad, I love you.

Website: medicalinflatables.com

Instagram: @MEGAInflatables

Linkedin: Medical Inflatable Exhibits

Twitter: @MEGAInflatables

Facebook: @MedicalInflatableExhibits

Youtube: @MEGAInflatables