As chief operations officer of the portable solar power system startup Solar Stik, Stephanie Hollis, MD ’00, has followed a different path than most physicians.

Hollis’ story began as a medical student in 1996. After graduating from the UF College of Medicine, she completed an anesthesiology residency at UF Health Shands Hospital. While training in Gainesville, she met her husband, Brian Bosley, who would later become co-founder and chief executive and technology officer of Solar Stik.

In February, Hollis and her husband were honored at the University of Florida’s Gator100, which ranks the 100 fastest growing Gator-owned or Gator-led businesses each year.
 

Solar Stik officially made its debut in 2005, as the only portable solar power generator of its kind. The hybrid power system is used by diverse organizations, from the U.S. Army in Iraq and Afghanistan for efficient energy sources, to rural clinics in Africa, powering refrigerators and other portable devices to keep medications safe.

But Solar Stik wasn’t an immediate success.

“It was an overnight success that was 10 years in the making,” said Hollis, who splits her time between the company and her anesthesiology practice.

Changing hats from anesthesiologist to entrepreneur came with its own set of challenges, but Hollis’ personal mantras of living up to her potential and continually working to “become a better me every day” helped shape the company.

Hollis translates her personal mantra into business culture, reminding her staff that each is expected to lead in his or her individual role.

“We work very hard every day to maintain a positive culture and build leaders within the company,” she said.

Hollis, who credits the UF College of Medicine with helping to foster her drive and ambition, was inspired to help future medical students find their own paths to success. Through a private gift to the college, she recently established the Stephanie D. Hollis, MD, Endowed Scholarship.

“I didn’t get here in a vacuum; I had to work hard and be challenged,” she said. “I was thinking, ‘What can I do to make my contributions matter?’”

The newly endowed scholarship has already helped recruit a new student for the 2016–17 academic year. New student Anthony Pollizzi began his first year of medical school in July.

“I wanted to make an immediate impact,” she said. “I want this scholarship to make that difference for a student, for them to realize their own pivotal moment.”