The 2025 Webinar Series

Kathryn Zavala, MedTech Innovator & BioTools Innovator

Kathryn Zavala is COO and BioTools Innovator Managing Director at MedTech Innovator. She earned her PhD in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology from UCLA. Kathryn has been with MedTech Innovator since 2015. She was a Technology Fellow at the UCLA Office of Intellectual Property, where she assisted with the commercialization of university technologies.

Josh Yelen, CPA, Function

Josh Yelen is a seasoned finance, operations, and sales leader with 20+ years of experience operating in the trenches of corporate strategy, startup finance, and venture investing. As Founder and CEO of Function, he delivers fractional CFO support, real-time financial clarity, and tax strategy to help founders raise capital, navigate complexity, and scale with confidence. He is also the co-founder and currently a partner at Venture Forward Capital, a VC fund that is raising its second vintage. Josh is also a co-Founder and CFO of Mabloc, a biotechnology company focused on antibody development and pharmaceutical manufacturing. A licensed CPA and MBA, Josh is known for relentless execution, productivity obsession, and next-level strategic thinking, making him the person founders call when complex financial challenges need to be solved and results must be delivered on time and done right.

Kevin Sarney, Charles River CFO

Kevin leads the Life Sciences Practice at Charles River CFO where he serves in a CFO role for clients. With over 20 years of experience in public and private life science companies and professional services, he utilizes his experiences to assist companies in the preparation and completion of financial raises, public company readiness, financial controls, audits, SEC reporting and supporting financial operations from drug development through pharmaceutical product launches.

Kevin’s professional career began in Big 4 public accounting. He has held leadership positions at public biotech companies and private early-stage drug development companies. Kevin has numerous experiences in assisting companies going public at Enumeral, Tesaro, Tetraphase, Karyopharm, and Genocea. Kevin earned a B.S. in business management from the University of Hartford, an MBA from Boston University, and an M.A. in accounting from Suffolk University. Kevin is a CPA in Massachusetts.

Matthew Sigmund, Latham BioPharm Group

Matt has over 10 years of experience supporting life science organizations in securing and compliantly managing non-dilutive funding awards and sub-awards for product and technology development, and manufacturing capacity expansion. These awards have included contracts, OTA’s, cooperative agreements and grants with federal agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) as well as agreements with consortia and non-governmental organizations such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

Matt’s expertise includes helping organizations navigate the financial and contract compliance requirements of their award portfolio. He has advised clients throughout all phases of the award lifecycle including cost and price estimating, indirect cost rate development and management, award negotiation and post-award compliance and financial management. He is experienced in supporting organizations new to the federal space with development of compliant systems and processes in the areas of accounting, procurement, timekeeping, and property management; and understands the importance of minimizing the impact of these additional requirements on an organization’s overall operations. Matt also has experience supporting organizations through audits with HHS audit groups including BARDA and NIH – DFAS; as well as audits conducted by DCAA and DCMA.

Prior to moving into consulting, Matt worked for the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security focused on Defense Production Act-related defense industrial base health and security assessments. Matt holds an MA in International Trade from the George Washington University in Washington, DC and a BA in Economics and Political Science from Central College in Pella, IA.

Jim West, BioTools Innovator

Jim is an engineer turned entrepreneur. With a master’s in both Biomedical Engineering Product Development and Entrepreneurship, he blends the business with the technical. Jim previously worked in life sciences and medical devices helping to bring new products to market. He served as Co-Founder and CEO of his most recent company, Clara Biotech, which was founded in 2018 and was acquired by Innovaprep in the summer of 2023.

Matt Takahashi, Executive BioSearch

Matt Takahashi began his career in sales and marketing management at Becton Dickinson. He was later recruited by a European life science tools company establishing its presence in the United States, which was eventually acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific. Driven by a vision to help companies access top-tier talent, Matt founded Executive BioSearch. His early clients included Applied Biosystems and Dionex, and he has continued to partner with leading startups in the life sciences tools and diagnostics space. He is passionate about connecting exceptional talent with the right opportunities, helping companies hire effectively while guiding candidates toward the next step in their careers.

Scotty Vincent, Glyphic Bio

Scotty Vincent is the Senior Director of Operations at Glyphic Biotechnologies in Berkeley, California, where he has advanced from Chief of Staff to his current role, leading organizational growth and operational excellence. With a PhD in Neuroscience of Sleep from UCLA and ongoing studies in Human Resources Management at UC San Diego, Scotty combines deep scientific expertise with strategic leadership in biotech. He also serves as an advisor to the Berkeley Startup Cluster and previously contributed as a Senior Life Science Advisor at Integra Consulting Group, bringing a unique blend of scientific insight, operational rigor, and entrepreneurial vision to every initiative he undertakes.

Upma Sharma, Arsenal Medical

Upma Sharma, Ph.D., is a leader in biomaterials innovation, driving Arsenal Medical’s platform from concept to clinic, securing FDA breakthrough device designation and IDE approval for ResQFoam™, initiating a First-in-Human study with NeoCast™, and securing over $65M in non-dilutive funding from partners including DARPA, NIH, and the Department of Defense.

Upma joined Arsenal as a research scientist and now serves as the company’s CEO, leading the strategic expansion of its biomaterials platform across high-value clinical indications. Prior to Arsenal, she contributed to the development of a bioresorbable scaffold at Lyra Therapeutics, leading a Phase I study that contributed to the company’s IPO.

Upma earned her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University and B.S.E. from Purdue University, completed postdoctoral research in Bioengineering at Rice University, and is an author of 20+ publications and inventor on over 40 patents worldwide.

Nicole Black, MedTech Innovator

Nicole is the Program Director for MedTech Innovator. Nicole grew up in Michigan before attending Boston University to study Biomedical Engineering as Trustee Scholar. In 2020, Nicole completed her PhD at Harvard University, working on interdisciplinary medtech projects between the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Mass Eye and Ear hospital. After graduating, Nicole launched a startup company, Beacon Bio, based on her PhD work as a Gliklich Healthcare Innovation Scholar. Following Beacon Bio’s acquisition by Desktop Metal, Nicole served as the Vice President of Biofabrication in their Desktop Health division. Nicole’s accolades include the Collegiate Inventors Competition Graduate Winner (2018), the Baxter Young Investigator Award (2020), the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize (2021), and the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 (2023).

Brian Mulcahey, Ozlo

Brian Mulcahey is a seasoned executive, entrepreneur, and board member with over 30 years of experience driving innovation and growth in global technology companies, from pre-IPO start-ups to Fortune 100 firms. He combines passion, empathy, and grit with a proven ability to envision, start, grow, and lead new-to-the-world businesses and new-to-the-company capabilities. Brian co-founded Ozlo, a science-driven sleep and audio technology company dedicated to helping billions of people who struggle with sleep. Prior to Ozlo, he spent two decades at Bose, where he started, led, and grew the company’s sleep business after joining following two successful start-ups, ultimately serving as Managing Director of Bose Ventures, the company’s venture capital arm. His extensive experience spans end-user and OEM markets across consumer electronics, health and wellness, medtech, digital therapeutics, semiconductors, automotive, and sporting goods industries.

Jason Halac, Dexcom

Jason is the co-founder and Managing Director of Dexcom Ventures, where he leads technology scouting and strategic pipeline development. Leveraging industry expertise and technology leadership developed at Dexcom, he aims to build a Dexcom Ventures portfolio of value-added strategic investments.

Laura Yecies, Osteoboost Health

Laura Yecies is the CEO and Founder of Osteoboost Health, a seasoned entrepreneur and technology leader with over 30 years of experience driving innovation and growth across health tech, neuroscience, mobile, and cloud industries. Previously CEO at SyncThink, Catch (acquired by Apple), and SugarSync (acquired by J2), she has also led global brands at Check Point, Netscape, and Yahoo. Laura is recognized for building award-winning products, scaling organizations, and leading successful exits, combining deep expertise in product strategy, marketing, and commercialization. A frequent media spokesperson and thought leader, she excels at bridging science, technology, and business to deliver impactful solutions. Laura holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MSFS from Georgetown University.

Olivier Lauzeral, Somnics

Olivier Lauzeral is the General Manager at Somnics, leading innovation in Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment through the company’s iNAP Sleep solutions. He drives the mission to deliver patient-friendly, non-invasive medical devices that improve access and outcomes for individuals with sleep apnea. With extensive expertise in general management, strategy, and operations, Olivier has overseen significant growth across sales, marketing, logistics, and quality functions in the U.S. market. Previously, as VP of Strategy and Business Operations at Onera Health, he played a key role in launching a next-generation at-home sleep diagnostic system, navigating market access, reimbursement pathways, and building strategic distribution partnerships. His leadership is defined by a commitment to enhancing patient experiences and advancing the future of sleep medicine through technology-driven innovation. Prior to being a MedTech executive, Olivier had several Business development and engineering management roles at several companies in semiconductor, app security and aerospace.

Nicole Black, MedTech Innovator

Nicole is the Program Director for MedTech Innovator. Nicole grew up in Michigan before attending Boston University to study Biomedical Engineering as Trustee Scholar. In 2020, Nicole completed her PhD at Harvard University, working on interdisciplinary medtech projects between the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Mass Eye and Ear hospital. After graduating, Nicole launched a startup company, Beacon Bio, based on her PhD work as a Gliklich Healthcare Innovation Scholar. Following Beacon Bio’s acquisition by Desktop Metal, Nicole served as the Vice President of Biofabrication in their Desktop Health division. Nicole’s accolades include the Collegiate Inventors Competition Graduate Winner (2018), the Baxter Young Investigator Award (2020), the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize (2021), and the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 (2023).

Dan Sands, Factor 7 Medical

Dan Sands is the co-founder and Managing Director of Factor 7 Medical, where he helps medical technology companies overcome critical business challenges, including lagging sales, difficulty reaching key decision makers, loss of leadership, operational inefficiencies, or the need for engineering, regulatory, or capital-raising expertise. A proven executive with a career spanning the launch and scale of multiple medtech and technology companies, Dan has driven substantial revenue growth and delivered award-winning, first-to-market innovations. Tech-savvy, practical, and execution-focused, he is passionate about helping founders, inventors, and growth-stage companies reach the next level through strategic planning, product development, operations, and sales and marketing excellence. Dan also provides board-level and due diligence support to investors, including angels, VCs, and PE firms, leveraging his deep experience across orthopedics, spine, cardiology, pediatrics, and healthcare systems to strengthen technologies, improve financial performance, and ultimately enhance patient lives. He holds an MBA in Business Administration, Management and Operations from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering Technology from Ball State University.

John Schindler, Liquet Medical

John Schindler has a long track record of business success in the vascular disease space with product launch history ranging from open surgical products to endovascular catheter-based devices and delivery systems. He has demonstrated success in roles ranging from sales execution & management to field team strategy and training, and strategic business development with companies Atrium Medical, Maquet Medical Systems and the Getinge Group. His business development activities revolved around new market creation for emerging technology, field clinical support, and product development for best market fit and design.

Jon Behm, Behm Solutions LLC

Jon Behm is the Principal Consultant at Behm Solutions LLC, where he transforms procurement and sourcing into strategic drivers of business growth. With extensive experience optimizing supply chains, enhancing supplier performance, and leading multi-billion-dollar global sourcing initiatives, Jon has delivered measurable cost savings and operational improvements across medical devices, consumer goods, nutrition, and industrial sectors. He leverages Lean methodologies, data analytics, and innovative procurement strategies to streamline supplier networks, mitigate risks, and implement best-in-class practices across North America, Asia, and Europe. Jon also supports Private Equity portfolio companies and executive teams in driving procurement transformation, ERP integrations, and scalable supply chain solutions. He holds an MBA in Marketing from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Bradley University.

Nicole Black, MedTech Innovator

Nicole is the Program Director for MedTech Innovator. Nicole grew up in Michigan before attending Boston University to study Biomedical Engineering as Trustee Scholar. In 2020, Nicole completed her PhD at Harvard University, working on interdisciplinary medtech projects between the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Mass Eye and Ear hospital. After graduating, Nicole launched a startup company, Beacon Bio, based on her PhD work as a Gliklich Healthcare Innovation Scholar. Following Beacon Bio’s acquisition by Desktop Metal, Nicole served as the Vice President of Biofabrication in their Desktop Health division. Nicole’s accolades include the Collegiate Inventors Competition Graduate Winner (2018), the Baxter Young Investigator Award (2020), the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize (2021), and the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 (2023).

Jeff Christian, PDV MedTech

Jeffrey Christian (Jeff) is founder and CEO of Phoenix DeVentures Inc. (PDV). With over 40 years’ experience in the medical devices industry, Jeff is dedicated to working with creative medical professionals, entrepreneurs, and established medical device companies to invent and develop solutions for the evolving medical device market. Collaborating with clients, he is experienced in creating new concepts, tackling regulatory hurdles, developing products for emerging device markets and manufacturing for small to medium size markets.

Representative medical products that Jeff has invented/developed include heart valve implants, bone implants, implant delivery systems, dental devices, cardiac catheters, urinary catheters, blood analyzers, fatigue cycle testers, and disposable ophthalmic devices as well as many others.

Prior to founding Phoenix DeVentures Inc., Jeff had been with several startup companies, growing them from the garage through IPO and acquisition. With over 60 patents (inventor and co-inventor) to his credit, he is experienced in the process of generating and developing new products for improving healthcare.

Jeff earned a BS in engineering from Brigham Young University and completed the Stanford Executive Program in the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Liz Pennell, Olympus Surgical - OSTA

Liz Pennell is an accomplished business development and supply chain leader with extensive experience driving growth and integration in the medical device industry. Currently serving as Director of Business Development at Olympus Surgical (OSTA), she brings nearly two decades of expertise across procurement, sourcing, fulfillment, and global project management. Prior to her current role, Liz held leadership positions at GE Aerospace, The HydraFacial Company, and Johnson & Johnson, where she managed complex supply chain strategies and supplier partnerships across diverse product categories. She earned her bachelor’s degree in supply chain management from Michigan State University, where she was an active member of the Supply Chain Management Association. Known for her ability to navigate global integration projects and foster cross-functional collaboration, Liz is passionate about advancing innovation and operational excellence in healthcare and medical technology.

Saahil Mehta, Plexāā

Saahil Mehta is the founder of Plexāā, creators of BLOOM⁴³, where he leads innovation to transform the surgical experience and make surgery better through technology. A 2024 MedTech Innovator Alumni, he combines his entrepreneurial vision with deep clinical expertise to bridge the gap between healthcare and innovation. Alongside his role at Plexāā, Saahil is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and an NHS Clinical Entrepreneur, building on more than a decade of experience within the UK healthcare system. His career includes specialist training in plastic surgery and a BAAPS/BAPRAS aesthetic fellowship at The Cadogan Clinic. Saahil earned his MD in Plastic Surgery from the University of Basel and his MBBS in Medicine from Newcastle University, and he remains passionate about advancing patient-centered surgical care through technology and innovation.

Travis Hintz, Minnetronix Medical

Travis joined Minnetronix in 2022. He is responsible for driving operational excellence and leading and implementing the company’s supply chain strategy.

Travis brings significant experience in operations and supply chain leadership across several industries to Minnetronix. Prior to joining the company, he served as 3M’s Global Supply Chain Director for the Personal Safety Division. Before joining 3M, Travis held several leadership positions at Ecolab including Vice President of Planning for North America Supply Chain, North American Procurement Director and Production and Planning Manager. He began his career with Delphi Automotive Systems as Operations Manager.

Travis earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Hanover College and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Nicole Black, MedTech Innovator

Nicole is the Program Director for MedTech Innovator. Nicole grew up in Michigan before attending Boston University to study Biomedical Engineering as Trustee Scholar. In 2020, Nicole completed her PhD at Harvard University, working on interdisciplinary medtech projects between the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Mass Eye and Ear hospital. After graduating, Nicole launched a startup company, Beacon Bio, based on her PhD work as a Gliklich Healthcare Innovation Scholar. Following Beacon Bio’s acquisition by Desktop Metal, Nicole served as the Vice President of Biofabrication in their Desktop Health division. Nicole’s accolades include the Collegiate Inventors Competition Graduate Winner (2018), the Baxter Young Investigator Award (2020), the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize (2021), and the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 (2023).

Julie Henry, Mayo Clinic

Julie is a chair in the Department of Business Development where her responsibilities involve collaborating with internal and external customers as a resource for guidance, oversight, coordination, and execution of unique and complex legal and contract agreement work related to agreements/opportunities emanating from Mayo Clinic Executive leadership and Mayo Clinic’s respective governing boards. Julie has been with Mayo Clinic for more than thirty years and has experience in all facets of the commercialization process including drafting, negotiating and management of agreements. She received her BA in Biomedical Science from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota and her MBA from University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Maria Artunduaga, Samay

Maria Artunduaga, MD, MPH, MTM, is a Harvard- and UC Berkeley–trained scientist and translational physician who left a surgical career to become the founder and CEO of Samay, inspired by her grandmother Sylvia’s battle with COPD. A Colombia Presidential and National Merit Scholar, she began college at 16, graduated at the top of her class from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, and later trained at Harvard, UChicago, UW, UC Berkeley, and UCSF. Maria has co-led NIH–Gates-funded projects, published in leading journals including NEJM, Nature, and PNAS, raised $2.3M from investors, secured $3M in awards, and earned an “Extraordinary Abilities” green card just four years after moving to the U.S. At Samay (“to breathe deeply” in Quechua), she leads development of an AI-powered wearable that combines lung physiology, IoT sensors, and machine learning to transform COPD care. A passionate advocate for social justice and diversity in STEM, Maria is dedicated to building a fearless, mission-driven culture where innovation improves health equity and ensures no patient suffers from misdiagnosis.

Paul Hayre, Harvard GRID

As the inaugural Executive Director of Harvard Grid, Paul Hayre leads the creation of new programs to accelerate the pace of startup formation in Harvard science and engineering. Appointed in 2022, Paul oversees a fast-growing initiative that includes educational outreach, innovation development, mentoring programs, alumni engagement, physical space, and de-risking seed grants for emerging ventures.

Paul is a transformational leader with a record of turning early- to growth-stage concepts into world-class businesses. He has founded technology and medical device start-ups with two exits; designed and founded high-growth divisions in multi-nationals; and bought and sold lower middle market industrial companies. He most recently focused on medical devices and novel healthcare delivery models, and previously founded or grew businesses in the solar, specialty chemicals, and corporate food solution sectors. Early in his career, Paul spent a decade in technology and strategic advisory firms Accenture, EY-Parthenon, and Eastwing Group. His expertise spans global strategy, M&A, long-term value creation, data analytics, and executive development in a wide range of sectors and stages.

Raised by two lifelong educators, Paul invests generously in people and communities, serving as advisor or director at numerous start-ups, private companies, non-profits, incubators, and student organizations. He is also deeply committed and engaged as an advisor to students, alumni, and leaders in higher-education.

Sandra Powell-Elliott, Hackensack Meridian Health

Sandra Powell-Elliott is the Chief Innovation and Commercialization Officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, where she leads the development and execution of enterprise-wide innovation strategies that drive new care processes, foster internal creativity, and leverage external partnerships to improve outcomes. Over her nine years with Hackensack Meridian Health, she has held senior leadership roles including Vice President of Life Sciences and Innovation and Vice President of Consumer Products and Innovation, spearheading initiatives at the Center for Discovery and Innovation and building a strong portfolio of intellectual property. Known as an innovator, problem-solver, and implementation leader, Sandra is dedicated to transforming healthcare through the strategic integration of life sciences research, commercialization pathways, and scalable innovation that enhances patient care and advances the future of health. She holds an MBA from Monmouth University and a Bachelor’s degree in Health Information Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina, combining business expertise with healthcare knowledge to bridge innovation and real-world impact.

Nicole Black, MedTech Innovator

Nicole is the Program Director for MedTech Innovator. Nicole grew up in Michigan before attending Boston University to study Biomedical Engineering as Trustee Scholar. In 2020, Nicole completed her PhD at Harvard University, working on interdisciplinary medtech projects between the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Mass Eye and Ear hospital. After graduating, Nicole launched a startup company, Beacon Bio, based on her PhD work as a Gliklich Healthcare Innovation Scholar. Following Beacon Bio’s acquisition by Desktop Metal, Nicole served as the Vice President of Biofabrication in their Desktop Health division. Nicole’s accolades include the Collegiate Inventors Competition Graduate Winner (2018), the Baxter Young Investigator Award (2020), the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize (2021), and the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 (2023).

AJ Baumel, FDA Contractor (CDRH, TAP)

Alan Baumel is the acting Associate Director for the FDA’s Total Product Life Cycle Advisory Program (TAP). Alan joined the FDA after two decades of successfully developing and delivering novel medical devices to patients.

Before joining the FDA, Alan was the COO at HeartBeam, where he was integral in taking the company public (Nasdaq) and securing the company’s initial round of funding. Before HeartBeam, he was the Program Director for the Case for Quality (CfQ) program at the Medical Device Innovation Consortium (MDIC), where he collaborated with industry and the FDA and led the transition of CfQ to a Collaborative Community. Alan was also the COO & Sr. VP at Bardy Technologies (acquired by HillRom, $375M), a Professional Associate at W. L. Gore & Associates, serving as an operational excellence champion and coach, and risk management expert, a Director at Ablation Frontiers (acquired by Medtronic, $450M), and a Director at Cameron Health (acquired by Boston Scientific for $1.3B).

Before moving into MedTech, Alan was a researcher and developer in the advanced semiconductor industry, where he collaborated with industry, universities, and government agencies to develop and advance semiconductor design and manufacturing in the U.S.

In a parallel life, Alan is a poet and professor. In a past life, he served in the U.S. Navy, supporting search, rescue, and salvage operations.

Scott Schorer, FDA Contractor (CDRH, TAP)

Scott Schorer is an experienced healthcare and life sciences executive with a career spanning start-up to large-scale commercial turnarounds across medical devices, biologics, biotech, and healthcare IT. He currently serves as an FDA Contractor with CDRH/TAP. In addition, he is CEO of ACUITION, where since 2010 he has advised and led companies backed by top venture capital and private equity firms on strategic growth, capital raising, commercialization, and R&D optimization. Most recently, he was President & CEO of Gila Therapeutics, advancing novel treatments for metabolic disorders through pioneering neuroendocrine pathways. Scott holds a BE in Mechanical Engineering and a BA in Engineering Sciences from Dartmouth College, as well as an ME/EE from Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering.

Filip Peters, Acorai

Filip Peters is the CEO of Acorai, where he has led the development of a groundbreaking non-invasive cardiac and pulmonary pressure sensing device to advance heart failure patient management since 2019. He has also served on the boards of CSW Therapeutics, a company pioneering ultrasonic therapies for refractory angina, and Cognes, which focuses on digital health tools for the early detection of dementia. Filip holds an MA in Economics from the University of Edinburgh and a BSc in Economics from the University of Queensland, bringing together a strong foundation in economics with a deep commitment to healthcare innovation.

Nicole Black, MedTech Innovator

Nicole is the Program Director for MedTech Innovator. Nicole grew up in Michigan before attending Boston University to study Biomedical Engineering as Trustee Scholar. In 2020, Nicole completed her PhD at Harvard University, working on interdisciplinary medtech projects between the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Mass Eye and Ear hospital. After graduating, Nicole launched a startup company, Beacon Bio, based on her PhD work as a Gliklich Healthcare Innovation Scholar. Following Beacon Bio’s acquisition by Desktop Metal, Nicole served as the Vice President of Biofabrication in their Desktop Health division. Nicole’s accolades include the Collegiate Inventors Competition Graduate Winner (2018), the Baxter Young Investigator Award (2020), the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize (2021), and the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 (2023).

Arezou Azar, Cardiosense

Arezou Azar is a global regulatory, quality, and program management executive with deep expertise in AI/ML-driven digital health, SaMD, and medical devices. She currently serves as VP of Compliance and Program Management (PMO) at Cardiosense, where she leads FDA Breakthrough, De Novo, and 510(k) submissions, global regulatory strategy, AI/ML best practices, quality systems, and company-wide program governance. Previously, she was Chief Compliance Officer and VP of Regulatory, Quality, and Program Management at Cardiologs, where she spearheaded the successful FDA clearance and global launch of its AI-powered cardiac algorithms, and served as Quality and Regulatory Advisor at AppliedVR. Arezou holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins and Drexel University and completed executive education in Product Management at the University of California, Berkeley. With proven leadership in FDA and international approvals, QMS development, risk management, and executive-level program delivery, she is recognized for driving complex, high-impact product launches in fast-paced, global environments.

Carmen Brown, Proxima CRO

Carmen Brown is a Regulatory Affairs Manager at Proxima Clinical Research, Inc., where she leads regulatory strategy for drug products, medical devices, and complex combination products. With a Master’s in Public Health and a Bachelor’s in Chemistry, she brings deep expertise across oncology, in vitro diagnostics (IVDs), and diverse therapeutic areas. Her career began in quality control as a QC Analyst and Stability Coordinator, where she gained hands-on experience with solid oral dosage forms, injectables, antineoplastics, and biologicsm, building a strong scientific foundation that now informs her regulatory guidance.

Cody Simmons, DermaSensor

Cody is the Co-Founder and CEO of DermaSensor, a health technology company that has raised $27 million and in May 2024 launched America’s first automated skin cancer detection device for use by all one million physicians. As a bioengineer and entrepreneur, Cody has spent all of his career bringing new health technologies to physicians and patients. He is a frequent speaker at health technology and entrepreneurship events, and Cody was included on the Forbes 30 Under 30 in healthcare.

Prior to joining DermaSensor, Cody led commercial efforts for a Silicon Valley medical device screening and monitoring startup. His first industry role was in a leadership development program at Genentech, after which he stayed at Genentech to lead commercial strategy efforts in the US oncology pricing strategy group. During his graduate work at Stanford, he co-founded a health technology startup with two other graduate students, raising an angel round, participating in the StartX program, and completing a licensing deal with Stanford.

Cody earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics as well as entrepreneurship in the engineering track (bioengineering focus) from Brown University. He then completed a Masters of Science in Bioengineering, for which he completed his graduate research at Stanford University.

Susan Alpert, SFADC LLC

Dr. Susan Alpert has served as a consultant and in the management of a number of start-up medical technology companies as well as a consultant to several investment groups in the medical technology space. She is the principal of SFADC LLC, a consulting firm to companies seeking FDA authorization for their products. In her eight-year career with Medtronic, she held many positions, including six years as Senior Vice President, Chief Regulatory Officer of Medtronic. In that role, Dr. Alpert was responsible for all Medtronic’s global regulatory efforts. Prior to joining Medtronic, Dr. Alpert served as Vice President of Regulatory Sciences for C.R. Bard, Inc. She also previously worked at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) where she held a variety of positions in the centers dealing with drugs, devices, and radiological health and foods, including six years as the Director of the Office of Device Evaluation.

Dr. Alpert is a Microbiologist and Pediatrician with a specialty in infectious diseases and has practical experience in laboratory research and clinical trials.

Dr. Alpert completed her undergraduate degree at Barnard College, Columbia University, and holds a Master’s degree and PhD in Biomedical Sciences from New York University. She received her Medical Degree from the University of Miami and completed her clinical training at Montefiore Medical Center and at Children’s National Medical Center.

Nicole Black, MedTech Innovator

Nicole is the Program Director for MedTech Innovator. Nicole grew up in Michigan before attending Boston University to study Biomedical Engineering as Trustee Scholar. In 2020, Nicole completed her PhD at Harvard University, working on interdisciplinary medtech projects between the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Mass Eye and Ear hospital. After graduating, Nicole launched a startup company, Beacon Bio, based on her PhD work as a Gliklich Healthcare Innovation Scholar. Following Beacon Bio’s acquisition by Desktop Metal, Nicole served as the Vice President of Biofabrication in their Desktop Health division. Nicole’s accolades include the Collegiate Inventors Competition Graduate Winner (2018), the Baxter Young Investigator Award (2020), the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize (2021), and the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 (2023).

Biren Mehta, Johnson & Johnson

Based in Irvine, California, Biren Mehta is the Vice President, Venture Investments – MedTech, where he initiates and manages equity investments to drive business innovation and deliver new and sustainable business for the MedTech sector. He is responsible for JJDC MedTech in the Western half of the North America. Previously, Biren was Vice President of Business Development for the Cardiovascular & Specialty Solutions (CSS) Group and J&J Vision, representing a ~$10 billion portfolio of six diverse, high-growth businesses within MedTech. During his 14 years in Business Development, he was closely involved in over $20 billion of transactions. Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, Biren was a medical device analyst at Roth Capital Partners, where he focused on the MedTech sector. He began his career with software engineer stints at Computer Motion and Intralase Corp. Biren completed his bachelor’s degree in Cybernetics at UCLA. He earned master’s degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Southern California. He also earned his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Jennifer Fried, Flow Medical

Jennifer Fried is the CEO and Co-Founder of Flow Medical, where she is leading the development of a next-generation thrombolysis catheter to treat pulmonary embolism. She previously co-founded and served as CEO of Explorer Surgical, a digital playbook for operating rooms and procedure suites that originated from a University of Chicago Department of Surgery research lab in 2015. Under her leadership, Explorer Surgical raised $10 million in funding, commercialized its software to a global customer base of medtech companies and hospitals, and was acquired by GHX in 2021.

Matthew Schopp, Zimmer Biomet

Matthew Schopp is a collaborative leader recognized for his results-driven, hands-on approach to business partnership and problem solving. A strategic thinker with a passion for leveraging analytical skills to challenge and improve the status quo, he has a proven track record of delivering results with integrity and attention to detail. His professional experience spans business development and M&A, corporate finance, valuation and modeling, market strategy, tax strategy and planning, and equity research, with a focus on driving strategic top-line growth and profitability.

Virginia Giddings, Edwards Lifesciences

Virginia is an accomplished innovation executive with experience spanning Fortune 500 companies to start-ups. She is focused on accelerating disruptive, early stage innovation in healthcare. She works collaboratively, fostering partnerships to access external innovation, as well as to drive internal innovation by setting and aligning strategy, inspiring team and addressing internal barriers to innovation. She believes in the importance of customer- and patient-centric innovation, and to that end, looks for opportunities to be immersed with clinicians in hospital and other healthcare settings. She has achieved outstanding results, across a spectrum of R&D leadership roles, resulting in launch of clinically impactful medical device products in the orthopaedic, cardiology, ENT and neurology spaces. She is an accomplished scientist, having authored numerous peer reviewed publications and been a frequent presenter at global healthcare conferences. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, the prestigious honorary society for Medtech Engineers. Virginia also has significant management experience, having managed a variety of technical teams and projects with significant annual budgetary responsibility. She is sought after for her professional guidance and serves on several Advisory Boards.

Nicole Black, MedTech Innovator

Nicole is the Program Director for MedTech Innovator. Nicole grew up in Michigan before attending Boston University to study Biomedical Engineering as Trustee Scholar. In 2020, Nicole completed her PhD at Harvard University, working on interdisciplinary medtech projects between the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Mass Eye and Ear hospital. After graduating, Nicole launched a startup company, Beacon Bio, based on her PhD work as a Gliklich Healthcare Innovation Scholar. Following Beacon Bio’s acquisition by Desktop Metal, Nicole served as the Vice President of Biofabrication in their Desktop Health division. Nicole’s accolades include the Collegiate Inventors Competition Graduate Winner (2018), the Baxter Young Investigator Award (2020), the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize (2021), and the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 (2023).

Jim West, BioTools Innovator

Jim is an engineer turned entrepreneur. With a master’s in both Biomedical Engineering Product Development and Entrepreneurship, he blends the business with the technical. Jim previously worked in life sciences and medical devices helping to bring new products to market. He served as Co-Founder and CEO of his most recent company, Clara Biotech, which was founded in 2018 and was acquired by Innovaprep in the summer of 2023.

Kirk Macolini, InteliSpark

Kirk Macolini is the Founder, President, & Principal Consultant of InteliSpark. Kirk has over 25 years of experience with the SBIR and STTR programs and been a key contributor to proposals that have resulted in >750 funded projects worth ~$500 million from all SBIR granting federal agencies. His work assisting start-ups in competing for SBIR/STTR funding has been featured in the journal Nature. Many of his clients’ projects are based on University generated technologies – including technologies from well-respected research institutions such as Cornell University, Princeton University, University of North Carolina, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of California Berkeley. Mr. Macolini earned a Masters of Science and Bachelors of Science in the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He has eight-years of military experience in military intelligence and combat engineering roles.

Ricky Spero, Redbud Labs

Ricky Spero is co-founder and CEO of Redbud Labs. Since stepping into the CEO role in 2015, Redbud Labs launched its category-defining microfluidic components, MXR and STR. Under Dr. Spero’s leadership, Redbud established its RTP manufacturing operations and attracted more than $9 million in funding. Previously, Dr. Spero served as Redbud’s Vice President of Product Development. He received his PhD and MS in Physics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his BS in Physics at Middlebury College.

Stacy Chin, Scout Climate

Stacy Chin is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Scout Climate, a company dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs working on the world’s most impactful problems by unlocking non-dilutive capital. An expert in federal grants and contracts, Stacy has successfully secured over $40 million in non-dilutive funding and serves as a SBIR/STTR advisor and reviewer. Stacy holds a Ph.D. in polymer chemistry, and she brings both scientific depth and entrepreneurial acumen to her leadership role at Scout

Vinit Nijhawan, MassVentures

Vinit Nijhawan is a strategic visionary and seasoned entrepreneur who has conceived and built technology organizations acquired by global leaders including Boeing, Motorola, and Qualcomm. Vinit has made contributions across diverse industries such as computing, aerospace, telecom, logistics, supply chain, manufacturing, telecommunications, medical devices, biopharma, synthetic biology, and advanced materials. An admired leader and mentor, he is recognized for building and managing high-performance teams while also serving as an empathetic and collaborative team member. After intentionally pivoting from technology entrepreneur and CEO to supporting the next generation of innovators, Vinit began teaching Entrepreneurship at Boston University and went on to lead the Office of Technology Development from 2010 to 2016, publishing the peer-reviewed paper Maximize Collisions, Minimize Friction on that experience. Building on the success of launching eight VC-backed spinouts from BU, he extended this impact statewide as Managing Director of MassVentures, the Commonwealth’s venture organization, where he continues to help entrepreneurs translate bold ideas into transformative enterprises.

Nicole Black, MedTech Innovator

Nicole is the Program Director for MedTech Innovator. Nicole grew up in Michigan before attending Boston University to study Biomedical Engineering as Trustee Scholar. In 2020, Nicole completed her PhD at Harvard University, working on interdisciplinary medtech projects between the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Mass Eye and Ear hospital. After graduating, Nicole launched a startup company, Beacon Bio, based on her PhD work as a Gliklich Healthcare Innovation Scholar. Following Beacon Bio’s acquisition by Desktop Metal, Nicole served as the Vice President of Biofabrication in their Desktop Health division. Nicole’s accolades include the Collegiate Inventors Competition Graduate Winner (2018), the Baxter Young Investigator Award (2020), the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize (2021), and the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 (2023).

Albert Baker, Hackensack Meridian Health

Albert Baker is the Corporate Director of Innovation and Commercialization at Hackensack Meridian Health. He has been driving innovation system-wide and building an investment portfolio. He has worked and lived in Europe for several years, as well as Silicon Valley. He attended the University of Iowa graduate program in Physics. Prior to Hackensack Meridian Health, Al has worked on the cutting edge of building Wi-Fi technology and markets for international companies like Phillips BV, where he spearheaded investment and strategic deals with several startup companies based in the United States. He has also been involved in the creation of internet of things market and med-tech start-ups with successful exits.

Justin Klein, Vensana Capital

Justin Klein is a co-founder and Managing Partner at Vensana Capital, a leading venture capital and growth equity firm dedicated to medtech innovation. Justin graduated with an AB in Economics, a BS in Biological Anthropology & Anatomy, and a Minor in Chemistry from Duke University. He also concurrently earned an MD from the Duke University School of Medicine and a JD from Harvard Law School. Justin currently serves as a member of the board of directors of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association and AdvaMed Accel, where he is the Vice Chair of the Investor Advisory Committee of AdvaMed’s board. He is also a member of the board of directors of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, one of the country’s largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations that serves over 3.5 million patients in the greater Washington, DC, region. Prior to Vensana, Justin was a partner and leader of the medical technology investing practice at NEA, one of the largest and most active venture capital firms in the world. Justin also worked at the Duke University Health System where his experience included roles in strategy, finance, and operations as Duke built one of the nation’s first integrated healthcare delivery systems.

Lisa Suennen, AHA Ventures

Lisa Suennen is the Managing Partner at American Heart Association (AHA) Ventures, bringing more than 35 years of experience spanning entrepreneurship, operating executive roles, strategy consulting, and corporate venture investing. At AHA Ventures, Lisa is spearheading multi-fund investments in cardiovascular, brain, women’s, and social-determinants health innovations. Previously, she held General Partner positions at Manatt Ventures, Psilos Group, and GE Ventures (where she led the healthcare venture fund) and held senior operating roles at Merit Behavioral Care, Canary Medical, and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. Lisa also holds faculty status at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, is a Fellow of the Aspen Institute Health Innovators Fellowship, and serves as a Chairperson of the Investment Advisory Committee for the ANDHealth Digital Health Fund. Formerly, she chaired the NASA-funded Translational Research Institute for Space Health. In addition to her investment work, she maintains a blog, Venture Valkyrie blog, which has been featured on recommendation lists published by Forbes, MedCity News, and Health IT. Importantly, Lisa was named to the 2025 Forbes 50 Over 50 List in the “Investment” category.

Susan Stimson, KCK Group

Susan is an accomplished executive in development and commercialization of new medical technologies with over 25 years of experience in both start-up and large public companies. She currently serves as Managing Director at KCK, a leading venture capital and growth equity investment firm and serves on the Board of Directors for several medical device companies. Prior to KCK, Susan served as CEO of Zenflow and remains on the company’s Board of Directors. Her unique expertise includes serving as Chief Strategy Officer for Intersect ENT, building the company from its inception into a high growth public company. There she devised and executed its product, commercial and long-term strategies to result in a portfolio of products with over $120M in sales and an eventual sale to Medtronic for over $1B. She is a proud Guidant alumna, is a frequent speaker on the medtech industry and is a founding Member of MedtechWomen, a not-for profit dedicated to developing and promoting female executives. Susan holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Nicole Black, MedTech Innovator

Nicole is the Program Director for MedTech Innovator. Nicole grew up in Michigan before attending Boston University to study Biomedical Engineering as Trustee Scholar. In 2020, Nicole completed her PhD at Harvard University, working on interdisciplinary medtech projects between the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Mass Eye and Ear hospital. After graduating, Nicole launched a startup company, Beacon Bio, based on her PhD work as a Gliklich Healthcare Innovation Scholar. Following Beacon Bio’s acquisition by Desktop Metal, Nicole served as the Vice President of Biofabrication in their Desktop Health division. Nicole’s accolades include the Collegiate Inventors Competition Graduate Winner (2018), the Baxter Young Investigator Award (2020), the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize (2021), and the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 (2023).

Jessica Lam, Kaiser Permanente

Dr. Lam is an experienced evidence-based medicine researcher and consultant. She is interested in the future of medicine and EBM: AI and ML applications in healthcare, pharmacogenomics, digital health, medical devices and health tech.

Lee Fleisher, Rubrum Advising

Dr. Fleisher is a distinguished national healthcare leader with experience as a senior clinician, scientist, educator, and regulator.

He is an expert on the adoption, diffusion, and reimbursement of innovative solutions to improve patient outcomes and reduce total healthcare costs while meeting complex regulatory, safety, quality, and clinical standards. This includes driving operational business decisions for current and expected healthcare policy.

He served as the Former Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, was a leader at the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association Technology Evaluation Center, and brings over 30 years of ongoing clinical and operational experience in major academic medical centers.

In addition to his current leadership at Rubrum Advising, Dr. Fleisher develops ongoing policy work for several prominent policy centers and is an actively practicing senior clinician and emeritus professor.

William Jones, CHI St. Vincent

Dr. Jones is President and Chief Medical Officer at CHI St. Vincent Infirmary.

Dr. Jones brings more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Before his roles with CHI St. Vincent, Dr. Jones practiced Cardiothoracic Surgery in Dallas for 27 years. While practicing, Dr. Jones served as a Chief Medical Officer for Tenet Healthcare and Baylor Scott & White. During this time, he was named multiple times among the Best Doctors in Dallas, Texas Super Doctors and Best Doctors in America. Dr. Jones has also served in various leadership roles, including Managing Physician Partner at Texas Regional Medical Center and President of Texas Cardiothoracic Surgery Associates.

A native of El Dorado and a graduate of UAMS School of Medicine, Dr. Jones completed his training in Cardiothoracic Surgery at New York Presbyterian and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospitals in New York City, where he was also a member of the faculty of the Cornell University School of Medicine.

Sam Black, MedTech Innovator

As a scientist, a strategist, and a creative, Sam is the sum of her expertise cultivated across diverse domains. From scientific inquiry to strategic leadership, She’s honed a skill set uniquely tailored to tackle multifaceted challenges.

Her approach blends analytical rigor with creative flair, delivering solutions that surpass expectations. Her work ethic and intuitive understanding drive tangible results, leaving a lasting impact.

Jim West, BioTools Innovator

Jim is an engineer turned entrepreneur. With a master’s in both Biomedical Engineering Product Development and Entrepreneurship, he blends the business with the technical. Jim previously worked in life sciences and medical devices helping to bring new products to market. He served as Co-Founder and CEO of his most recent company, Clara Biotech, which was founded in 2018 and was acquired by Innovaprep in the summer of 2023.

Brian Mulcahey, Ozlo Sleep

Entrepreneur, strategy/marketing/product-oriented general manager and board member with passion, empathy and grit. Proven ability to envision, start, grow and lead new-to-the-world businesses and new-to-the-company capabilities; strategize and plan in the midst of uncertainty; and recruit, coach, motivate and retain world-class teams. Extensive track record of growth and achievement in global technology companies, from pre-IPO start-up through Fortune 100 firms. End-user and OEM expertise with hardware and software products and services in consumer electronics, consumer health & wellness, medtech, digital therapeutics, semiconductor, automotive and sporting goods industries.

Max Rousseau, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering

Max Rousseau graduated UCF with a Digital Entrepreneurial Cinema MFA in Summer 2013. There, he produced his feature film, Pembroke Circle. In 2017, Rousseau moved to Boston where he currently works as Science Multimedia Coordinator at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard. “My job is to tell the stories behind the cutting-edge science and innovations through short documentaries, narratives and photos.”

Rousseau has worked on projects that celebrate the extraordinary women at the Wyss Institute and that capture the Institute’s creative and innovative spirit as faculty discuss how disruptive technology solutions can positively impact the world.

Neil Israel, In-Range Animation

Neil is a master of animation marketing. Animated videos are a powerful tool that can have wonderful results when mixed with the right script. His focus is on the tech section, specifically biotech, because these clients’ stories are literally changing the world.

He leverages the power of animation to help get the word out on diverse topics, such as new alternative energy options and programs, inequality in high schools, business growth and development, and (as an example of his growing biotech work) new disease management programs to help teens with Type 1 Diabetes.

Through a detailed discovery process, he guides clients to identify visual analogies that simplify their stories. For example, a descending, under-the-water theme was used to illustrate the “deep dive” necessary for background checks.

He has the skills necessary to execute entire animation projects from 20+ years in professional project management and marshal his creativity to tell clients’ stories in a fun and interesting way.

Tech companies spend a considerable amount of time explaining their products — to investors, prospects, and to employees. Neil starts by identifying your aspirational goals for the video, then guiding you through the scripting and storyboarding process. He produces animated stories that will achieve that goal through visual analogies and crisp scripting. This is critical because your audience must believe your product will benefit them before taking action.

Richard Spero, Redbud Labs

Richard is a physicist and entrepreneur in the Triangle. He moved to North Carolina to complete a PhD in biophysics at UNC Chapel Hill. In 2010 he co-founded Redbud Labs with two UNC professors. Building on a MEMS invention incubated at UNC, they’ve commercialized a technology platform called Redbud Posts, and they’re using it to build cartridge-ready components that will advance science and improve care. Redbud Labs was the BioTools Innovator Best Video winner in 2024.