Meet Manju Dawkins | CEO and Founder of Thimble & Dermatologist

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

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

Thimble aims to save lives. Much of the healthcare industry has ignored the problem of needle pain, however, this can no longer be afforded, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Thimble will increase immunizations, blood draws, medication use, and blood donations. We will give those who are needle averse the chance to protect themselves and their loved ones. We aim to build a healthier community and drive down costs in the healthcare system.

The catalyst for Thimble’s inception was a deeply personal experience: the palpable fear and sense of betrayal I felt as I held my daughter during her  first vaccination appointment. As a doctor and a parent, I was struck by how widespread needle fear was and how few options there were to address it. Currently, 25% of adults and 66% of children grapple with needle-induced fear. This pervasive fear unfortunately deters millions from availing themselves of essential healthcare services including preventative immunizations, early disease detection, and life-saving treatments.

Thimble aims to bring compassion to healthcare by alleviating pain and stress from needle procedures. Thimble’s mission is to leave a positive, lasting impact on public health by creating a new standard of care.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Thimble is pioneering the needle care market with innovative solutions and products designed to create better health outcomes and improve experiences with needle procedures. With a focus on compassion and a commitment to reducing needle pain and stress, Thimble is on a mission to change the way healthcare feels.
I am most excited about the positive responses we have received from healthcare professionals, parents, and adults who deal with this issue. I am eager to provide patients with a more positive and comfortable experience by creating safe, effective, and accessible solutions.

One of the lessons I have learned is the importance of discovering a guiding star that serves as the core of your business. Compassion is at the core of Thimble. This value shapes the way we build solutions, approach challenges, and make decisions. This north star has ignited a passion within our team to provide innovative and impactful solutions that empower individuals when it comes to healthcare.

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 go grab some burritos (Brother’s Burritos on 11th in Hermosa is the best!) and head to the beach!. Of course, being a Dermatologist, I would take some sunblock, a rash guard, and a hat. We’d then head over to Palos Verdes which rivals the French Riviera, for a hike and maybe end on some whale watching at Point Vicente Interpretive Center. To end the day, oysters in the corner booth of Fishing with Dynamite at sunset. Glorious. Honestly, LA is such a vast and vibrant city, I am discovering new gems every day.

If they are staying for a longer trip, we would eat our way through LA! Baran’s in Hermosa is super delicious. One of my most cherished memories is going up to Ojai for a farm stay. The scent of orange blossoms permeates the air and creates a heavenly atmosphere. It is a place near LA that rejuvenates me.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I would like to dedicate my shoutout to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, an organization that has pledged to discover innovative methods to assist startups in enhancing the lives of individuals battling pain. Thimble has won the Grand Prize in the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) + MIT Hacking Medicine Innovation Challenge at the recent AAPM 2023 Annual Meeting. This solidified our team’s dedication to improving lives by taking the pain, fear, and anxiety out of needles.

A person I would like to shoutout to would be Dr. Anna Taddio, who is a Canadian Pharmacist and Researcher. She has inspired me through her research on how to best treat needle pain and the changes she has been able to enact in Canada. She has dedicated herself to improving the vaccination experience which aligns with our vision of creating a stress and pain-free needle care system here in the United States.

Website: https://thimblehealth.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thimble.health/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thimblehealth/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thimble.health/