Achin Bhowmik
CTO & Executive Vice President of Engineering, Starkey Hearing Technologies
Dr. Achin Bhowmik is the chief technology officer and executive vice president of engineering at Starkey Hearing Technologies, a privately-held medical devices business with 6,000 employees and operations in over 100 countries worldwide. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the company’s technology strategy, product development and engineering departments, and is leading the drive to redefine medical wearable devices with advanced sensors and artificial intelligence technologies.
David Cassak
Co-Editor-in-Chief, MedTech Strategist
David Cassak has more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Cassak co-founded Windhover Information Inc., and also served as Vice President, Content, and Managing Director, Medical Devices for Elsevier Business Intelligence, a Reed Elsevier Company which included the publications In Vivo, Startup, RPM Report, Medtech Insight, The Gray Sheet and The Pink Sheet.
Angie Conley
Founder, President & CEO, Abilitech Medical
*Bio Coming Soon*
Chris Cleary
Vice President of Corporate Development, Medtronic
Chris Cleary has been Vice President of Corporate Development for Medtronic since 2014. During this period, he has led more than 40 acquisitions with consideration of $56 billion, including notable deals like Covidien, NGC, Twelve, Smith & Nephew TruClear, HeartWare, Mazor Robotics and Epix. Chris also led the sale of portions of Medtronic’s non-strategic medical supplies business to Cardinal for $6 billion.
Andrew Danielsen
Vice Chair, Licensing, Mayo Clinic Ventures
Andrew J. Danielsen has been with Mayo Clinic Ventures (MCV) since 2002. He oversees the licensing, technology development, and business development functions of MCV. Collectively, these groups work to identify, develop, and commercialize Mayo Clinic intellectual property. In addition, MCV is also involved in co-managing a $250M venture and growth fund and a $30M seed fund. Mr. Danielsen received a B.S. in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, his M.S. degree in molecular biology from the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, and is a registered Patent Agent.
Lisa Wipperman Heine
President & CEO, PreCardia
Lisa Wipperman Heine is currently President & CEO of PreCardia, Inc., an early stage medtech company developing an innovative catheter based intervention for the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure. Prior to PreCardia, Lisa was most recently Chief Operating Officer at Mitralign, Inc., a venture backed company focused on development of transcatheter heart valve technologies. Lisa has also served in multiple leadership roles at Covidien, Inc., including Global Vice President of Medical Affairs for Vascular Therapies. During her tenure at Covidien, she helped drive the strategy in support of a $1.7B business and was also responsible for leading the strategy and operations of Clinical Affairs, Healthcare Economics, Policy and Reimbursement and Medical Education functions. Lisa also currently serves as an independent member of the Board of Directors of Surmodics Inc. (NASDAQ: SRDX) and Natus Medical (NASDAQ: BABY).
Sam Ifergam
Managing Partner & Founder, iGan Partners
Sam is the Founder and Managing Partner of iGan Partners and has over 20 years of entrepreneurial, technology and venture capital experience. Sam founded iGan Partners in 2013 and is now the largest healthcare venture capital investor in Canada. Sam is actively involved in evaluating, structuring and executing iGan’s investments. Collectively iGan has supported the creation of over 20 successful medical device and tech companies in Canada.Sam works very closely with portfolio companies and is actively involved in their commercialization. He serves as the Chairman of eSight and MolecuLight and sits on the board of seven other MedTech companies. Prior to founding iGan Partners, Sam co-founded and exited several tech companies including Visual Sonics, Tri-Link Technologies and Brighter Minds.
Catherine Jennings
Vice President Global Marketing & New Business Development Peripheral Interventions, Boston Scientific Corporation
Catherine (Cat) Jennings is the Global Vice President of Marketing and New Business Development for the Peripheral Interventions Division at Boston Scientific. In this role she leads the global marketing function of this $1B division, including portfolio planning, target acquisition assessments, and global commercialization activities. She has worked on multiple acquisitions, distribution and investment deals, as well as having served as the commercial lead for the Bayer Interventional acquisition. Cat joined Guidant/Boston Scientific in 2004. During her tenure with Boston Scientific, she has held multiple marketing roles in both the Rhythm Management and Peripheral Interventions Divisions, as well as a role managing the Corporate Portfolio Process. Previously, Cat worked at MarketBridge, a consulting firm focused on developing sales & marketing strategies for Fortune 500 clients.
Patrice H. Kloss
Partner, Fox Rothschild
Patrice advises medical technology companies, digital health care companies, other emerging businesses and venture capital investors in a broad range of business and commercial matters, including venture capital financings, private placements, venture debt and credit facilities, mergers and acquisitions and securities compliance. She also delivers sound legal counsel to lenders in commercial loan transactions, including $100 million+ loan facilities, and advises clients on equity financing structures and clinical trial agreements. In addition, she routinely provides guidance to boards of directors on fiduciary duties and corporate governance obligations. Prior to joining Fox Rothschild, Patrice was a partner at Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP, where she served as co-chair of the firm’s MedTech Practice Group and a member of the firm’s Policy Committee.
Daniel Lace
Medical Director, NAMSA
In addition to being a frequent national speaker and educator on managed care programs and technologies, consumer-driven healthcare, emerging medical technologies and trends, healthcare quality improvement, evidence-based medicine and Health Care Reform, Dr. Daniel A. Lace, MD, CPE, FAAPL has authored numerous articles and has served on the Board of Directors, Medical Advisory Boards, Editorial Boards and Expert Panels for multiple healthcare entities.
Stephen Levin
Co-Editor-in-Chief, MedTech Strategist
Stephen Levin served as Executive Editor & General Counsel at Windhover Information followed by Editor-in-Chief of Medical Devices for Elsevier Business Intelligence, where he directed the company’s editorial coverage of the medical device industry. Prior to joining Windhover, Stephen was Senior Counsel to the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations while also participating in other Senate investigations including the Whitewater inquiry.
Shaye Mandle
President & CEO, Medical Alley Association
Shaye has served as President & CEO of The Medical Alley Association since May, 2014. During this tenure, the association has undertaken significant transformation to focus on championing and facilitating an environment that enables health technology and care organizations to innovate, succeed, and influence the evolution of healthcare. Under Mr. Mandle’s leadership, the association’s vision is to elevate Minnesota’s Medical Alley as the global epicenter of health innovation and care. Mr. Mandle has more than 20 years of experience in government, the private sector and academia, leading organizations, public affairs and political activities. From 2011-2014, Mr. Mandle served as the association’s EVP & COO and its VP of Government & Affiliate Relations. Prior to joining The Medical Alley Association, Mr. Mandle served as the ED of the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis, where he launched and oversaw the University Office of Technology Transfer and led the University’s corporate partnership, entrepreneurship and economic development programming.
Kirk Nielsen
Managing Partner, Vensana Capital
Kirk Nielsen is a Managing Partner at Vensana Capital, a venture capital & growth equity investment firm dedicated to partnering with entrepreneurs who seek to transform healthcare with breakthrough innovations in medical technology. Kirk co-founded Vensana in early 2019 as a Managing Director at Versant, where he led the firm's medtech practice. He joined Versant in 2006 from Medtronic, where he worked in sales & marketing in the company’s Cardiac Rhythm Management division. Previously, he spent time at Fluidigm (a Versant portfolio company) and he also served as a consultant at Bain & Company, where he advised clients in healthcare, private equity, and other industries. Prior to his business career, Kirk was a professional hockey player. At Versant, Kirk led or co-led investments in numerous companies that have successfully exited, including Biotie Therapies, Cameron Health, CardiAQ, Ceterix Orthopedics, Lutonix, NeuWave Medical, Sequent Medical, and Zyga Technology, and he remains active with Inari Medical, Metavention, Monteris Medical, Nuvaira, Respicardia, and Veran Medical.
Justin Noznesky
Senior Vice President, Marketing and Business Development, AtriCure
Justin Noznesky joined the AtriCure in January 2014. He is responsible for global marketing activities, health economics, mergers, acquisitions and business partnerships. Prior to joining AtriCure, Mr. Noznesky served as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Vital Images, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation. Prior to Vital Images, Mr. Noznesky worked at UnitedHealth Group in Corporate Finance, and at Arthur Andersen as a senior auditor. Mr. Noznesky earned a B.A. from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Wayne Paterson
President & CEO, Admedus
Wayne has held numerous, senior positions in multi-national companies and has lived in seven countries during the past 25 years. Through his career, he has been responsible for building and managing multibillion dollar businesses throughout the world, including mergers, integrations, acquisitions and major restructures as President and CEO. From 2005 to 2013 he held senior positions at Merck KGaA, most recently as President of Europe, Canada and Australia. Prior to this, he was President of Emerging Markets, President of Japan and Global Head of Cardiovascular medicine. Between 1999 and 2005, Wayne served at Roche Pharmaceuticals where he was Head of Pharmaceuticals in Roche’s South Korean operation, following his role as Head of Commercial Operations for Roche China based in Shanghai. From April 2015 until November 2016, Wayne served as a Non-Executive Director of Cepheid (NASDAQ: CHPD), a molecular diagnostics company based in California.
Tim Petersen
Managing Partner, Arboretum Ventures
Tim Petersen is a Managing Partner at Arboretum Ventures, a healthcare venture capital firm that he co-founded in 2002. Tim focuses on transformative opportunities that disrupt healthcare sectors starved of technology or business model innovation. His investments span a variety of healthcare sectors, including healthcare information technology, medical device, and research instrumentation companies.
Sara Russick
Managing Director, Gopher Angels
Sara is Managing Director of Gopher Angels and General Partner of Capita3. She launched Gopher Angels in 2012 to increase angel investing in Minnesota. Gopher Angels has invested in over 50 startups across the Midwest, with the majority of companies in healthcare and medical innovation. Sara also cofounded Capita3, a venture capital group investing in women-led companies innovating in health. Prior to her work in early stage investing, Sara cofounded and led 2 companies to exit.
Aly Talen
Co-Founder & Sr Vice President Business Development, genae
Aly is a thoroughbred clinical researcher with a distinct focus on medical devices. She started her research career as a Clinical Advisor at the Spectranetics Corporation (now Royal Philips, NYSE: PHG) in 1998. She founded the CRO ‘Talen Clinical Trial Management’ in 2001 which led to genae in 2005. The latter transformed to a recognized global services provider for the medical industries, with offices in the US, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific.
Dennis Wahr
President & CEO, Nuvaira
Dennis Wahr, M.D. is the CEO of Nuvaira which is developing a unique minimally invasive bronchoscopic treatment for patients with chronic obstructive lung disease called Targeted Lung Denervation (TLD). Prior to joining Nuvaira, Dr. Wahr co-founded Lutonix in 2007 and served as its President and CEO until CR Bard acquired the company in December 2011. Prior to Lutonix, Dr. Wahr co-founded Velocimed in 2001, and served as its President and CEO until its acquisition by St. Jude Medical in 2005. Dr. Wahr has served on the board of directors of several medical device companies including Accumetrics, IDev, Velocimed, and Lutonix, and he currently serves as chairman of the board for Intact Vascular. Additionally, Dr. Wahr spent two years as a Managing Director with RiverVest Ventures focusing on capital investments in emerging medical technology companies. Dr. Wahr was an active board-certified interventional cardiologist prior to launching his entrepreneurial career in 2001.
Dan Wolf
Vice President, Strategy & Business Development Medtronic Spine
Dan Wolf is Vice President of Strategy & Business Development for Medtronic’s Spine business, where he leads the team responsible for global strategic planning, portfolio management, business development and healthcare economics & reimbursement activities. During his ten years with Medtronic, Dan has led multiple transactions including the acquisitions of Titan Spine and Mazor Robotics, and the sale of Medtronic’s medical supplies business to Cardinal. Previously Dan served in leadership roles in strategy, corporate development, sales, and commercial operations.
Andrew Zinkel
Associate Medical Director of Quality, HealthPartners
Dr. Andrew Zinkel, MD, MBA, CPE, FACEP, has served in many roles for HealthPartners integrated healthcare delivery system. As the Medical Director of Quality for HealthPartners health plan he oversees the quality of care provided to two million plan members, including involvement in medical device coverage policy creation, utilization review, quality case review, provider monitoring, credentialing, population health quality metrics and accreditation of the health plan. He is a past Medical Director for virtuwell, HealthPartners online telemedicine service, and is a practicing academic emergency physician.
