Transformative solutions require transformative leadership.
Our Executive Leadership Team, Board of Directors and Medical Advisory Board represent some of the most accomplished leaders, clinicians and investors in the healthcare industry
Leadership
Prior to co-founding Cohere, Siva was a founding partner of SCIO Health Analytics which served over fifty Fortune 500 healthcare organizations. Siva has more than 20 years of experience in utilizing technology and data to improve healthcare processes. He holds a master’s in computer science from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.
CEO & Co-Founder
After practicing orthopedic surgery for more than 25 years, Dr. Brian Covino joined Cohere in 2020 after having served as a consultant since 2018. During his years as a practicing surgeon, Dr. Covino was a partner at Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic/OrthoTennessee specializing in joint replacement surgery. He holds a bachelor’s from Harvard University as well as an M.D. from Georgetown University School of Medicine. Dr. Covino received his surgical training at the University of Virginia Graduate School of Medical Education and completed a fellowship at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Chief Medical Officer
With more than 20 years of experience as a HealthTech executive, Krishna brings a broad range of experience to Cohere. Previously, he was the Co-founder and Chief Growth Officer at SCIO Health Analytics which served clients across the payer, health systems, and life sciences segments. Krishna has held senior positions at Perot Systems, EXL Service and Abacus where he was responsible for creating go-to-market strategies and driving the commercial efforts.
Krishna holds a Masters in Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University and an MBA from Stern School of Business at New York University.
Chief Growth Officer
During her tenure at Cohere, Malissa has designed, developed, and scaled the customer success, contact center, vendor management, and production operations leadership teams moving from Senior Vice President of Operations to Executive Vice President to now the COO. Malissa’s leadership strengths include driving overall operational growth, including tactical execution of Cohere’s business objectives.
Prior to working at Cohere, Malissa held the title of Senior Vice President of Operations at both ModivCare and Circulation. She has also held senior positions at CareCentrix, JPMorgan Chase, Medco, and Express Scripts.
Chief Operating Officer
Previously, Robert Shepardson served as the Chief Financial Officer of Amwell and oversaw the financial aspects of the company. He joined Amwell in November 2021 from Morgan Stanley, where he held various leadership roles in Global Capital Markets and in Media and Communications Investment Banking. Mr. Shepardson held the position of Managing Director in Global Capital Markets with responsibility for all equity issuance in the Healthcare sector.
Currently, Mr. Shepardson serves as Treasurer on the board of The Alliance for Positive Change, an organization focused on transforming the lives of New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Princeton University and earned his Master of Business Administration from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
Chief Financial Officer
As our CXO, Elif leads all aspects of our end-to-end client delivery operations, including integrations and solutions engineering, implementation, business process consulting, customer success, and delivery quality.
Elif was a founding employee at Amwell, where she was responsible for product management, all aspects of client delivery, and customer support. She then moved on to serve as the Chief Customer Officer at Redox. Most recently, Elif held COO and CGO positions with TALON and WLT Software, respectively.
Elif holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Northeastern University.
Chief Client Experience Officer
Gus brings nearly 25 years of leadership experience in engineering, product management, data, and AI to Cohere. Before joining Cohere, he was the Senior Vice President of Engineering at Fidelity Investments, where he led a global, cross-functional team dedicated to building platforms and capabilities that scaled the use of data, analytics, and AI across Fidelity’s retail business. Prior to Fidelity, Gus was a member of Nike, Inc.’s Corporate Leadership Team as Vice President of Enterprise Data & Analytics, where he developed and executed the enterprise-wide technology and product strategy for data and analytics to maximize Nike’s use of data. Earlier in his career, Gus held senior product and engineering roles at ESPN and Microsoft.
Gus earned a B.S. degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Chief Digital & Technology Officer
Gigi has more than 20 years of experience leading cross-functional teams in data solution innovation. Prior to joining Cohere, she established the first-ever AI and Analytics function in Availity. At IBM, Gigi was recognized as a Distinguished Engineer. She became one of the first data scientists to receive this designation that is reserved for only the top 0.2% of technical staff in the global firm. Additionally, she led R&D for Watson Health’s $100M+ analytic portfolio where she drove advancements in patient care, real-world evidence research, and actuarial modeling. Gigi is an author of more than 15 peer-reviewed publications and has near 20 patents granted or pending.
Gigi holds a bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. in Engineering from the Northwestern University.
Chief Data & AI Officer
Margo brings nearly 25 years of experience in HR, leading global teams across Talent Acquisition, Talent Management and Development, Compensation, Benefits, Compliance, and People Operations. Prior to joining Cohere, Margo founded and ran her own consulting business for over eight years. During this time, she served as a fractional Chief People Officer and provided strategic HR support to clients in healthcare tech and beyond, including virtual primary care, specialty care pharmacy, Medicare Advantage, and energy (demand response). She spent more than 15 years at athenahealth, leading and scaling the People function from startup through IPO and several years beyond– achieving over 30% year-over-year company growth, nearly $1 billion in revenue and expanding from 30 employees to 4,400 across multiple locations.
Margo received her Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Amherst College.
Chief People Officer
Matt has more than 20 years of experience designing, developing and launching healthcare-related technology solutions. Prior to joining Cohere, he was SVP of Product Development at Kyruus Health, a healthcare technology company that provides health systems with search and scheduling solutions . Previously, Matt led Product at HealthSparq, where he developed industry-leading products for health plans to help their members take more control of their healthcare. He has held senior positions at DestinationRx and DrugCompare where he led the product development teams.
Matt received his B.A. in Psychology from The Catholic University of America and his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Chief Product Officer
Currently, Kaleb serves as the Senior Vice President of Commercial Strategy and General Manager at Cohere. Prior to joining Cohere, Kaleb worked for Deloitte Consulting in Washington, D.C. He’s held positions within the product and software department at Ob Hospitalist Group, the largest dedicated OB/GYN hospitalist employer in the nation.
Kaleb holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Clemson University.
SVP, Commercial Strategy & GM
Melinda has more than 20 years of experience as in-house counsel for technology companies. Prior to joining Cohere, she was a partner with OutsideGC, a law firm that provides on-demand legal services, where she worked with a variety of software and technology companies. Previously, she served as general counsel for the Draper Laboratory, a research and development laboratory in Cambridge, MA, Sonus Networks, and Lotus Development Corporation.
Melinda received her B.A. from Wellesley College and her J.D from Suffolk University.
General Counsel
Samantha brings leadership experience in innovation and business building across the healthcare ecosystem. Previously, she led SCAN Health Plan’s I-SNP and mobile care delivery team, which ignited her passion for value-based care and drive to improve the UM experience. In prior roles, she was GM at Parsley Health, and she developed and launched digital health strategies, products, and businesses at BCG Digital Ventures, Continuum, and Medtronic Diabetes.
Sam earned two master’s degrees from Northwestern University: an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a Master of Engineering Management in Design. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania.
SVP, Clinical Transformation
Board of Directors
Dr. Gary Gottlieb most recently served as CEO of Partners in Health. From 2010 until 2015, he served as president and CEO of Partners HealthCare, the parent of the Brigham and Women’s and Massachusetts General Hospitals. Dr. Gottlieb is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. He served as president of Brigham and Women’s/Faulkner Hospitals, as president of North Shore Medical Center, and as chairman of Partners Psychiatry. As a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, he earned an M.B.A with distinction in health care administration from the Wharton Graduate School of Business Administration. Dr. Gottlieb is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and serves on the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
Chairman of the Board
- Former CEO of Partners HealthCare (now Mass General Brigham)
Michael is a Co-Founder and General Partner at Flare Capital Partners, a leading healthcare technology venture firm based in Boston, MA, focused on the transformation of the “business of healthcare.” Previously, Michael was the founding General Partner of Flybridge Capital Partners, and earlier in his career was with Polaris Partners, as well as held positions at Wasserstein Perella & Co. and Morgan Stanley & Co.
Current and prior board seats include Aspen RxHealth, Author Health, Axuall, BlueTarp Financial, Cayaba Care, Circulation, Cohere Health, Explorys, Functional Neuromodulation, HealthVerity, higi, Inbound Health, Iora Health, MicroCHIPS, Nuvesse, Oshi Health, PolyRemedy, Predictive Biosciences, Predilytics, RightMove, T2 Biosystems, TARIS Biomedical, VidSys and Welltok (observer). Additionally, Michael served on the board of International Data Group, the founding partner of IDG Capital, a leading venture capital fund in China and other important innovation centers in Asia, and is on the board of The Forsyth Institute, the leading Harvard-affiliated oral health research organization.
Michael earned a BA with honors in chemistry from Williams College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Board Member
- General Partner, Flare Capital Partners
Board Member
Partner, Polaris Partners
Julian Harris, M.D., is a Partner on the Healthcare Services team at Deerfield and joined the Firm in 2019. Dr. Harris provides extensive research and analysis on individual companies operating in the healthcare industry. He also works with a variety of health care services and technology companies that are both current and potential investment partners. Before Deerfield, Dr. Harris was the founding President of CareAllies, Cigna’s family of multi-payer provider services and home-based care businesses. Previously, he led US Strategic Operations for Cigna and managed a $500M internal investment portfolio focused on technology and innovation. Dr. Harris was also an Adviser to Google Ventures (GV) focused on health care services. Before GV, he led the health care team in the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). As the federal government’s chief health care finance official, he oversaw a $1 trillion budget and provided management and policy oversight for a range of programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, FDA, NIH and CDC. He also served as the chief executive of the $11 billion Massachusetts Medicaid program. Dr. Harris trained in internal medicine and primary care at Harvard Medical School’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital and practiced as a hospitalist at Cambridge Health Alliance and as a clinical consultant for BestDoctors. He graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Health Policy & Medical Ethics from Duke University and holds an M.Sc. from Oxford University, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. He is also a graduate of the Wharton School of Business and the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine, where he currently serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor. Dr. Harris is a trustee of the New York Academy of Medicine and a member of the advisory boards for the Leonard Davis Institute for Health Economics at Penn and the NYU Department of Population Health.
Board Member
- Partner, Deerfield
Steve Anastos is a Principal at Deerfield and joined the Firm in 2020 to focus on early and growth stage investments in healthcare technology and services companies. Prior to Deerfield, Mr. Anastos served on the Leadership Team of Medicaid in Massachusetts (MassHealth) and led MassHealth’s Accountable Care Organization program. Representing over $5 billion of annual spend and covering approximately 900,000 members, the ACO program is Massachusetts’ largest effort to transition the Medicaid delivery system towards value-based reimbursement. Before MassHealth, Mr. Anastos was a Principal at Bain Capital Ventures, where he worked on early and growth stage investments in healthcare, B2B software and consumer technology. In 2017, he was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Venture Capital. Prior to Bain, Mr. Anastos was an Associate at Blueprint Health, an incubator of digital health companies in New York, and began his career at Altman Vilandrie & Company, a technology-focused strategy consulting firm. He holds an A.B. in History with a minor in Economics from Harvard University, where he wrote his thesis on the creation of Medicare and Medicaid.
Board Observer
Deerfield
Lynne Chou O’Keefe is the Founder and Managing Partner of Define Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm focused on investing in digital health companies redefining healthcare that will change all our lives. Lynne’s experience includes both healthcare operating, investing, and finance roles. Previously, she was a Senior Partner at Kleiner Perkins focused on digital health and connected devices early stage investing. She worked with many portfolio companies, such as Livongo Health (NASDAQ: LVGO), Lumeris, and Oculeve (Acquired by Allergan). Before joining Kleiner Perkins, Lynne worked at Abbott Vascular and Guidant in multiple roles launching over ten product families in the US and internationally. Lynne was responsible for building the global commercial strategy and therapy development as well as playing a key role in the clinical, reimbursement, and operational strategy for these therapies. Earlier in her career, Lynne worked at Apax Partners with a focus on software venture capital investing. In addition, Lynne worked at Goldman Sachs in the Mergers and Acquisitions group and worked on multiple multi-billion dollar acquisitions and sell side transactions in various industries. Lynne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Board Observer
- Founder and Managing Partner, Define Ventures
Mr. Wert is a Managing Director at Longitude Capital. Mr. Wert was previously with Longitude Capital from 2008 to 2012 and rejoined in 2016. Before that, he was a Vice President at Warburg Pincus, where he focused on healthcare investments. Prior to joining Longitude Capital, Mr. Wert worked in the Global Healthcare Investment Banking Group at Merrill Lynch. Mr. Wert currently serves on the board of Cortica, On Belay Health, and WelbeHealth, and is a board observer at Cohere Health and Murj. He previously served as a board observer at California Cryobank (acquired by GI Partners and now known as Generate Life Sciences) and Somatus, and was also actively involved in Longitude Capital’s investments in IntelyCare and NOCD. While at Warburg Pincus, Mr. Wert served as a board observer at Silk Road Medical (SILK), Outset Medical (OM), and Accriva Diagnostics (acquired by Werfen). Mr. Wert holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he was an Arbuckle Leadership Fellow and received a Certificate in Social Innovation and Public Management. He received his dual-degree BA in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology (BBMB), and Economics with honors from Whitman College, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
Board Observer
Managing Director, Longitude Capital
Medical Advisory Board
Dr. Oladapo M. Babatunde, MD, FAAOS, is a nationally recognized Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon with extensive expertise in the surgical treatment and rehabilitation of complex injuries involving the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle. As a distinguished member of Cohere Health’s Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Babatunde brings a wealth of knowledge in orthopedic surgery and patient care, ensuring that the company’s clinical strategies adhere to the highest standards of medical excellence.
Dr. Babatunde has consistently been honored as one of the top orthopaedic surgeons in the nation, earning accolades such as Jersey Best Magazine Top Doctor and New York Magazine Top Doctor over multiple years. His approach to patient care is both innovative and compassionate, combining cutting-edge surgical techniques with personalized treatment plans to optimize patient outcomes.
Dr. Babatunde’s academic credentials are equally impressive, including an undergraduate degree from Yale University and a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his residency at Columbia University and further specialized through a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Stanford University. Additionally, Dr. Babatunde has completed executive training at Harvard Business School, enhancing his leadership and strategic capabilities in the healthcare sector.
ORTHOPEDIC SPORTS MEDICINE
- Duke University Hospital, Internal Medicine
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School – Cardiovascular Disease
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School – Critical Care Medicine
- Master of Science in Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Cardiology Critical Care
Dr. Alex Ding is the Associate Vice President for Physician Strategy and Medical Affairs at Humana. He leads a team focused on physician engagement and empowerment, clinician experience; advancement of value-based care; and enterprise strategy for clinician recruitment and retention. He is a board-certified diagnostic and interventional radiologist, and practices clinically as a clinical associate professor at the University of Louisville. He was previously managing partner at California Advanced Imaging, and the Chief of Radiology and Medical Director of Imaging at Sutter Health on the San Francisco Peninsula.
He is an elected Board member of the American Medical Association, and recently served as the Chair of the AMA’s Council on Science and Public Health, during the height of the COVID pandemic. He previously held a gubernatorial appointment on California’s healthcare workforce commission, and has been an adviser to multiple health technology companies including Google, Eko, and Doximity, in addition to health venture funds.
Alex holds a BA in Economics and MS in Public Health from the University of California Berkeley, an MBA in finance from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and an MD from the University of California San Francisco. He completed his residency and fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and is a US Navy veteran.
Radiology
Renee is a highly skilled professionally licensed Physical Therapist. She obtained her undergraduate, master’s, and Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Tennessee.
Renee has done multiple national and local presentations on clinical and operational topics. She has served on multiple committees for OrthoForum, a national specialty physician network that was established to meet the unique challenges that integrated orthopaedic group practices face in today’s healthcare environment.
Renee is a seasoned healthcare executive with over two decades of experience in physical therapy and healthcare management. Currently serving as the Chief Operations Officer at OrthoTennessee, she has held various leadership roles since joining the organization in 2001.
PHYSICAL THERAPY
- Medical Director, Rhythm Management at Boston Scientific
- NYU Langone Medical Center, Fellowship in Cardiology and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
- Executive Master of Science in Health Economics, Outcomes and Management in Cardiovascular Sciences, London School of Economics and Political Science
Cardiac Electrophysiologist
Casey Henritz, DO is the Executive Medical Director at Accompany Health and was formerly the Senior Medical Director of Value Based Care Education and Performance for One Medical. At Accompany Health she focuses on supporting clinical leaders in their mission to provide complete dignified care to every person they serve.
Casey, a family medicine doctor, joined Iora Primary Care in 2015 and again in 2018. She had multiple roles including team physician, clinic medical director, as well as regional medical director of both the Georgia and North Carolina markets. In 2022 she transitioned to the Medicare Population Health Programs team and led work nationally to develop high value networks, integrated specialty care programs and provider education and support for practicing value based care.
Casey serves on the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians legislative committee as vice chair as well as alternate on the board of directors. She also recently completed health equity and advocacy training with the HEART program.
Casey completed her medical school training at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in her home state of West Virginia and her residency training in Cabarrus Family Medicine in Concord, NC. She has lived in Atlanta since 2012 and recently purchased a home near her favorite surf spot in Costa Rica.
Family Medicine
American Medical Association (AMA),
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP),
Georgia Academy of Family Physicians (GAFP)
Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD, is a practicing cardiologist at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. A TED speaker and best-selling author, Dr. Jauhar earned a PhD in experimental physics at the University of California, Berkeley, before studying medicine at Washington University in St Louis.
Jauhar’s best-selling books include Heart: A History; Intern: A Doctor’s Initiation; and Doctored: The Disillusionment of an American Physician. His newest book, My Father’s Brain: Life in the Shadow of Alzheimer’s, tells the story of his father’s descent into dementia, providing personal and professional insight into the moral and psychological concerns that arise when family members must become caregivers and how all of us in an aging society can better understand and cope with this increasingly prevalent disease. It was named one of the best books of 2023 by The New Yorker.
Jauhar is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, and has appeared frequently on National Public Radio, CNN, and MSNBC to discuss issues related to medicine. His essays have been published in The Wall Street Journal, Stat, Time and Slate. He also serves as an associate professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.
Dr. Jauhar is board-certified in cardiovascular disease and in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology.
Heart Failure Cardiology
Dr. Kagan is a board-certified vascular surgeon who completed his vascular surgery fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN after completing his 5 year general surgery residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston MA. Dr. Kagan has practiced vascular surgery in both the academic and private practice settings and is still in the active clinical practice of vascular surgery. He is currently a clinical assistant professor of surgery at the West Virginia University School of Medicine.
Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
Dr. Alison Kole stands at the forefront of sleep medicine as the visionary behind the Oak Health Sleep telemedicine program. With board certifications in Sleep, Pulmonary, and Critical Care medicine, she leverages over ten years of experience to enrich her role. Her academic foundation was laid at Barnard College, leading to an MD/MPH from Tufts University School of Medicine, and honed through specialized training at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center/UCLA.
Acknowledged for her comprehensive understanding of sleep disorders, Dr. Kole has been instrumental in propelling sleep health forward. Her telemedicine consultations embody an integrative approach, blending traditional medical practices with holistic methods. Dr. Kole champions the concept of sleep as essential to health, advocating for the use of evidence-based interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) to combat sleep deprivation.
Central to Dr. Kole’s endeavors is the belief that sleep is not merely a luxury but a fundamental component of overall health. Beyond her direct patient care, she extends her influence through the “Sleep Is My Waking Passion” podcast and as a public speaker. Here, she emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in maximizing sleep health, connecting with a broad spectrum of professionals from various fields.
Dr. Kole’s pioneering efforts in sleep medicine are driving a shift toward a more holistic and enlightened understanding of the critical role sleep plays in our well-being, inspiring many to reevaluate and prioritize their sleep health.
PULMONOLOGY AND SLEEP MEDICINE
Dr. Kwon is a Board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon committed to treating adult spine disorders, using the latest minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery techniques. His practice is anchored at New England Baptist Hospital, where he is known for his expertise in cutting-edge spinal procedures that emphasize minimal patient discomfort and swift recovery.
Dr. Kwon’s academic foundation was established at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, followed by a residency and internship at University Hospitals of Cleveland/Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He further advanced his specialization through a fellowship at New England Baptist Hospital, enhancing his skills in spine surgery
Dr. Kwon serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Tufts University School of Medicine and is an active member of several esteemed medical societies, including the North American Spine Society (NASS), American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), and the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS).
Through his clinical excellence, academic contributions, and professional engagement, Dr. Kwon plays a pivotal role in the advancement of spine surgery, offering patients innovative treatment options that improve their quality of life while minimizing the impact of surgery.
Orthopaedic Surgery
Dr. Narayani is a Gastroenterologist in Knoxville, Tennessee with expertise in video capsule endoscopy of the small bowel, advanced endoscopic treatment of Barrett’s esophagus, and healthcare informatics. He attended obtained undergraduate degrees from Vanderbilt University in chemistry and computer science and then remained at Vanderbilt to attend medical school. He then began active-duty military service in the U.S. Air Force to complete internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship training. He served as an academic gastroenterologist at David Grant USAF Medical Center in California and then joined Gastrointestinal Associates (GIA) in Tennessee where he has practiced since 2005. He is a fellow of the ACG and ASGE. At GIA, he has championed the organization’s effort with electronic health record integration and optimization for nearly 20 years.
Gastroenterology
My professional journey in medicine began at Stanford University, earning Baccalaureate degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Biology. I attended UCLA School of Medicine, receiving my MD, followed by subspecialty training in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases.
Returning to Los Angeles, I started in cardiology private practice, grew the practice and ultimately joined the 18-person Pacific Heart Institute in Santa Monica. All partners were faculty at UCLA Hospital in West LA. By 2000, after 20 years in practice, I grew weary of the demands of ICU medicine and the cardiac cath lab. I had a passion for desktop computing and saw the potential for computers to revolutionize medical care. I resigned my partnership and pivoted my career to non-invasive coronary artery visualization via CT, an emerging technology building on the foundation of coronary artery calcium scoring.
I began a one and a half year fellowship with Siemens Medical and TeraRecon Inc., spending many months with Siemens in Erlangen, Germany, and Malvern, PA acquiring the core knowledge of radiation physics, high-velocity gantry physics, and image manipulation tools. I became a founding member of the Society of Cardiovascular CT and was designated a Luminary by TeraRecon Inc. They provided a 10-workstation teaching lab, which I established in Tucson, where I trained over 1,000 radiologists and cardiologists through my consultancy.
CT angiography imagery is evolving similarly to smartphone cameras, where getting high-quality images has become easy. Scanners are now widely available, producing excellent low radiation images. Artificial intelligence is enhancing CT information, including insights into plaque inflammation and danger. Now large multi-center prospective trials have affirmed CTA value in improving outcomes for the vast population of patients with coronary artery disease. My focus has shifted to teaching not just how to interpret these studies, but when to order them wisely, particularly given the cost constraints in our healthcare economy. This is the aspect of my work that I enjoy the most.
Clinical Professor of Radiology and Cardiology
Mary I. O’Connor, MD is co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Vori Health, a virtual-first company focused on transforming the delivery of musculoskeletal care. She is a nationally recognized leader in health equity and Chair of the Board of Directors of Movement is Life, nonprofit organization committed to eliminating health disparities. Her book, “Taking Care of You: The Empowered Woman’s Guide to Better Health” (Mayo Clinic Press 2022), supports women advocating for better healthcare. An Olympian (US Women’s Rowing), she is passionate in her promotion of the power of sports for girls and women.
Dr. O’Connor is Professor Emerita of Orthopedics at Mayo Clinic and past Professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at Yale School of Medicine. She received her MD from Drexel University and completed her orthopedic surgery residency and fellowship in orthopedic oncology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Her leadership roles at Mayo Clinic included Enterprise-wide Medical Director of the Office of Integrity and Compliance; Chair, Orthopedic Surgery Department (Florida); Medical Director for Development (Florida); and member of the Executive Operations Team (Florida). In 2015, she became the inaugural Director of the Center for Musculoskeletal Care at Yale School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Health. Dr. O’Connor co-founded Vori Health in 2021 and serves at Chief Medical Officer.
Dr. O’Connor is the Past President of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeon, the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS), the International Society of Limb Salvage, the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, and the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society.
Dr. O’Connor has received numerous awards and honors, including the AAOS Diversity Award, AAHKS Diversity Award, Mayo Clinic Distinguished Clinician Award, and the Corinne Farrell Award from the International Skeletal Society. She received the Congressional Gold Medal as a 1980 Olympian (Women’s Rowing).
Orthopedic Surgery
Dr. Christopher Parham, M.D., Ph.D is board certified, fellowship trained radiologist specializing in body imaging and cardiothoracic/cardiovascular imaging. Dr. Parham completed medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an internal medicine internship at UC San Diego, radiology residency at UCSF and UNC-Chapel Hill, and completed a body imaging fellowship at Stanford University. He also completed a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering with a focus in the development of new and novel medical imaging devices and holds four US Patents. Dr. Parham is currently a radiologist at VA Palo Alto and is a clinical assistant professor (affiliated) at Stanford University.
Radiology
Dr. Ellen W. K. Rosenquist obtained her MD from the Roy J. And Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa. She completed her anesthesiology residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, followed by a fellowship in Pain Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania. After beginning her career, she became certified in Medical Acupuncture and Frequency Specific Microcurrent therapy. She is currently a staff physician in the Center for Spine Health and Pain Management at Cleveland Clinic and serves as an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology in the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western University.
Outside of work, Dr. Rosenquist enjoys an active lifestyle. She is an avid cyclist and fly fisherwoman. She and her husband enjoy exploring the world together through travel. She also loves all things crafty and enjoys crocheting and knitting!
PAIN MANAGEMENT
Dr. F. Joseph Simeone is a radiologist specializing in musculoskeletal imaging and intervention. He serves as an Assistant Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he is the Director of Musculoskeletal Computed Tomography and Musculoskeletal Education. Dr. Simeone is also the Co-Division Head of Musculoskeletal Radiology at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.
Dr. Simeone earned his B.A. in Chemistry from Dartmouth College and his M.D. from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He completed his residency in Radiology and a fellowship in Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention at Massachusetts General Hospital. His clinical expertise includes the diagnosis and treatment of sports injuries, bone and soft tissue tumors, and the application of advanced imaging techniques such as dual-energy CT and MRI. His research focuses on improving imaging of musculoskeletal conditions, and he has published in leading radiology journals.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Simeone is actively involved in teaching and mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows. Dr. Simeone is a consultant for the local professional and college sports teams, providing expert imaging services for advanced athletes.
Radiology
American College of Radiology (ACR), Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), Society of Skeletal Radiology (SSR)
Dr. Thomas is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon at New Hampshire NeuroSpine Institute in Bedford, NH. He has been in practice since 2010. He completed his undergraduate degree in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University. He attended medical school at Stanford University School of Medicine. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City and an adult spine fellowship at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston. Once in practice, he obtained his MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. Dr. Thomas is an active member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and North American Spine Society.
Dr Thomas sits on the Board the Yale Club of New Hampshire, and previously served on the Board of Granite State Children’s Alliance. He is the Medical Director for the Minimally Invasive Surgery Center of New England, the only all spine and pain ambulatory surgery center in New England. Dr. Thomas is also an advisor for several health-related tech start-ups, including Osso VR. In the Utilization Management (UM) space, Dr. Thomas served as a physician reviewer for Magellan Health on their spine team from 2016-2020. He left Magellan and became one of the first Associate Medical Directors for Cohere Health. Dr Thomas also serves as an advisor, educator, and consultant for various health tech startups and medical device companies.
Dr Thomas also has three teenage daughters…so not much scares him.
Orthopedic Surgery
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), North American Spine Society (NASS)
Dr. Vijay Yanamadala is a dual-fellowship trained, board-certified spinal neurosurgeon. He currently serves as the Systemwide Medical Director of Spine Quality and Surgical Optimization at Hartford Healthcare in Connecticut and is also an Associate Professor of Surgery at the Quinnipiac University Frank H. Netter School of Medicine. Dr. Yanamadala is also a pioneering surgeon who was among the first surgeons in the tristate area and New England to offer awake spinal fusion surgery. He was also the second surgeon in the world to offer patient specific spine fusion surgery. He has done international spine surgery missions in Kenya, India, Mongolia and Sri Lanka, performing countless free surgeries during these trips. Dr. Yanamadala did his undergraduate studies at Harvard University and then studied at Harvard Medical School, where he received his Medical Doctorate. He completed his residency training in neurosurgery and fellowship in spine surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Yanamadala also serves as Chief Medical Officer at Sword Health, which has introduced the first AI Care platform, combining AI with clinical expertise to provide personalized care – from MSK to pelvic care and healthy movement habits – anytime, anywhere. Dr. Yanamadala leads the Clinical Affairs team in support of Sword’s mission to free two billion people from pain. Dr. Yanamadala has extensive experience in treating medical conditions including scoliosis, spine trauma, spinal vascular diseases, and spinal deformities. He has published over 65 scientific papers and received numerous awards on the safe and effective treatment of complex spinal conditions through advanced and innovative techniques paired with the use of multidisciplinary teams. As CMO, Dr. Yanamadala’s clinical and medical expertise ensures that Sword delivers the highest quality MSK care. He spreads awareness of Sword’s innovative approach for treating MSK conditions and will be responsible for engaging the medical community in deeper discussions around MSK pain and the importance of alternatives to risky and ineffective surgeries or dangerous prescription medications.
NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY
Something striking a chord?
