Peter Sheehan, MD was an internationally well-respected specialist in the field of diabetes. He focused his practice on the lower extremity complications of diabetes. Dr. Sheehan had a particular research interest in peripheral neuropathy, wound healing, Charcot osteoarthropathy, and peripheral arterial disease, and brought his expertise to numerous trials dealing with these areas. Dr. Sheehan graduated from SUNY-Downstate School of Medicine, where he also completed his residency in internal medicine. He continued his training at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, where he completed a fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism. Dr. Sheehan was actively involved with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for nearly thirty years, both, on the local and national levels. He served as Chairman of the Council on Foot Care of the ADA and led a consensus panel on peripheral arterial disease and diabetes sponsored by the ADA and the American College of Cardiology (ACC). He was on the Editorial Boards of ‘Wounds’ and ‘Vascular Disease Management’ and served on the Boards of Directors of the ADA, the PAD Coalition, the American Heart Association, the Wound Healing Society, and the Wound Healing Foundation where he served as President. At the time of his passing, Dr. Sheehan was Chair of the Cardiometabolic Risk Initiative of the ADA, as well as President of the NYC Leadership Council of the ADA. Dr. Sheehan is missed but not forgotten, as his name and legacy in diabetes and the complications are memorialized through the Non-Profit Peter Sheehan Diabetes Care Foundation, Inc. Dr. Sheehan designed an effective system for the comprehensive care of patients with diabetes, known as ‘The Sheehan Model’. He envisioned and founded the Wound Healing: Science and Industry conference in 1999.

Professor and Director Program in Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology Center for Innovations in Wound Healing Research Tufts University School of Medicine Ira Herman is tenured professor and director, Center for Innovations in Wound Healing Research, Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Herman holds appointments in the departments of developmental, molecular & chemical biology, ophthalmology and biomedical engineering. Professor Herman is founding member and director emeritus, Integrated Studies Program, and is currently director, Cell Molecular and Developmental Biology Program, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, where he has received the Distinguished Faculty Award. Throughout his professional career, and since the time of his graduate and post-graduate studies at Tulane University, Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, professor Herman’s research interests have been focused on revealing the mechanisms controlling cellular and tissue responses to injury and tissue regeneration, including the vascular remodeling and angiogenesis of wound healing. These basic studies have given rise to several fundamental insights and a deepened understanding of many physiologic and pathologic processes, including the molecular mechanisms regulating the cellular responses to injury and tissue repair. Furthermore, several of these discoveries have fostered the development of novel technologies for therapeutics and device development, which are described in several issued and pending US and international patents and focus on the promotion of wound healing, scar-less healing, inhibition of ocular or tumor-induced angiogenesis, the etiology of essential hypertension and the abrogation of cancer cell invasion. During his three-decade tenure at Tufts University, professor Herman has published scores of scholarly reviews and book chapters, and over 80 primary research papers. He serves as editor and scientific reviewer for many scientific journals and is regularly invited as a speaker at scientific meetings, worldwide. Fulfilling his commitment to the scientific community, Professor Herman continues to serve as scientific reviewer and expert consultant for pharma and the biotechnology sectors while having chaired and continuing to participate on grant advisory panels for the National Institutes of Health, Medical Research Council, National Science Foundation, American Heart Association and NASA.

Professor of Surgery Director of Clinical Research, Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy Director of Interdisciplinary Consortium on Advanced Motion Performance (iCAMP) Baylor College of Medicine Bijan Najafi currently serves with the Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Surgery as a tenured Professor, Director of Clinical Research in the Division of Vascular Surgery, and Director of Interdisciplinary Consortium on Advanced Motion Performance (iCAMP). Prof. Najafi completed his Ph.D. in Bioengineering followed by a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biomechanics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Tech and in Neuroscience at Harvard University. He has almost two decades of experience in designing bio-inspired sensors for objective evaluation of healthy state of patients with locomotor dysfunctions, over 200 scientific publications in peer reviewed journals or conference proceeding, seven issued patents and 10+ pending patents, and has been Principal or a key investigator on over 50 industrial, national and international grants. Prof. Najafi received multiple prestigious award, including the Influential Health and Medical Leaders award in the category of achievement in designing medical devices.

Chief Operating Officer NewYorkBIO Derek Brand is an entrepreneur, executive, and networkbuilder with nearly 20 years of experience at the intersection of groundbreaking science and commercial development; he is the Chief Operating Officer of NewYorkBIO, which represents nearly 200 members and includes the state’s leading bioscience companies, universities, research institutions and others dedicated to advancing life science research and commercialization. He is also the founder and principal behind ECHO NYC, an organization fostering connectivity between key stakeholders in the NYC biomedical ecosystem, including entrepreneurs, capital providers, clinicians, and healthcare operators, which has run monthly “Bioentrepreneurship in NYC” events since 2009 and co-founded the Foundation conferences in 2016. Derek has a deep background in startup biomedical companies. He is a co-founder and board member of Marvel Genomics and a Bio-entrepreneur in Residence for the Long Island Bioscience Hub. His previous ventures include multiple start-up companies, a commercial role at GE, and business development at the NY Academy of Sciences. Derek received his BS in biology from Hamilton College and his MBA from Babson College.

Chief Medical Officer Healogics Corporation Scott Covington, Executive Vice President of Medical Affairs and Medical Advisory Board member for Healogics™, oversees medical affairs and assists the staff for over 560 Wound Care Centers. Dr. Covington is the Course Director for the Introduction to Hyperbaric Medicine and Problem Wound Management Course. A general surgeon with over 20 years of wound care experience, Dr. Covington lectures throughout the U.S. and internationally on wound care and hyperbaric medicine. Certified by the American Board of Surgery and a fellow in the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Covington completed his undergraduate and medical education at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He trained at the University of Texas, Houston in General Surgery; he was a Thomas G. Cronin Fellow in Wound Healing Research. Dr. Covington is a Certified Hyperbaric and Wound Specialist by the American College of Hyperbaric Medicine and a Wound Healing Society member.

Board of Director President and CEO, PAC Consulting, LLC Paulita LaPlante, a former CEO of Vasämed, has thirty years of executive, sales & marketing, new business and training experience in numerous and progressively responsible positions in the medical device industry and strategic planning for women-owned real estate and management services industry. Her broad multifunctional business perspective encompasses critical care medicine, urology, cardiology, vascular medicine and organ transplant while medical educational background enables rapid adaptation to all medical industry segments.

Professor, Plastic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Lawrence Lavery, is a board-certified podiatrist and Professor of Plastic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at UT Southwestern. He also is medical director of UT Southwestern’s Comprehensive Wound Care Center and director of the amputation prevention program at Parkland Memorial Hospital. Dr. Lavery completed undergraduate studies at Indiana University and then earned his medical degree from the Dr. William School College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago. He completed a residency in podiatric medicine and surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, where he also earned a Master’s in Public Health. Prior to joining UT Southwestern in 2010, Dr. Lavery held academic appointments at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine in Temple; the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio; and Loyola University Medical Center in the Chicago area. He has also served as a staff podiatrist at VA hospitals in San Antonio and Illinois. Dr. Lavery is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, American Diabetes Association, and Texas Podiatric Medical Association. He has been invited to lecture on podiatric medicine, diabetic ulcers, and wound care at medical conferences around the world and has published a dozen book chapters and more than 150 research articles on these topics. His research group has published 208 peer-reviewed papers and has received extramural funding from the VA, NIH, AHRQ, American Diabetes Association, and two American Colleges of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Assistant Professor of Surgery Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy Baylor College of Medicine Brian Lepow is a board-certified podiatric surgeon practicing in Houston, Texas specializing in Diabetic Foot Amputation Prevention and Limb Salvage. He maintains staff privileges at all major medical institutions in the Houston area. Dr. Lepow holds dual academic appointments in the departments of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Surgery at McGovern School of Medicine in Houston Texas as well as at the Baylor College of Medicine in the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. Dr. Lepow is a native Houstonian. He graduated from Westbury High School and attended the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. He earned his medical degree from Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine in Miami, Florida. Dr. Lepow completed his surgical residency training at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, where he served as chief resident in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery. Following completion of his residency program, he served as Fellow in Diabetic Limb Salvage and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Arizona. In addition, Dr. Lepow held an academic appointment in the department of surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.It was during his fellowship that Dr. Lepow became acutely aware of the need for early diagnosis and formation of aggressive treatment plans in diabetics with lower extremity complications. He plans to dedicate his participation at the Baylor College of Medicine towards improving patient outcomes in our immediate and extended communities. Dr. Rhodes holds a Masters Degree with a major in Technology Management from the University of Miami and graduated with honors in Chemistry from Hull University, England, as well as completing research for her PhD in Computational Stereochemistry before relocating to the US.

Associate Professor, Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy Baylor College of Medicine, USA Associate Clinical Chief, Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA Miguel Montero-Baker is an associate professor in the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy in Houston, Texas, specializing in Diabetic Foot Amputation Prevention and Limb Salvage. Dr. Montero-Baker graduated with honors both from medical school and his residency in Vascular Surgery at the University of Costa Rica. After his residency training, he was awarded a DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) scholarship to further pursue his interest in interventional therapies in Leipzig, Germany, and completed a peripheral vascular ultrasound fellowship, as well as an advanced peripheral endovascular interventions fellowship. Driven by his passion for research and development of new diagnostic techniques for ischemic limbs, Dr. Montero-Baker completed an Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency at the University of Arizona and went on to join the faculty as an assistant professor. Dr. Montero-Baker is author of numerous journal publications, has co-authored several textbook chapters and is a well-recognized opinion leader for the Latin American medical community. His main clinical interests are critical limb ischemia, implantable micro-technology and endovascular carotid disease management. Dr. Montero-Baker is an active member of the Society for Vascular Surgery, the International Society for Vascular Surgery, the International Society of Endovascular Surgeons, Endovascular Surgeons of Latin America and the Latin America Society of Vascular Surgeons.

CEO Rhodes and Associates, Inc. Tanya Rhodes is President and CEO of Rhodes & Associates, a consulting firm founded in 2004 that provides strategic business consulting services from concept through commercialization. Dr. Rhodes serves on a number of boards in the medical sector including non-profit foundations and for profit start-up and incubator companies. Dr. Rhodes’ previous roles include CEO of a global medical device company that develops, manufactures and commercializes products for wound healing, repair and regeneration and Chief Technology Officer for a start-up pharmaceutical company specializing in novel drug and biotech compounds. In addition, she has held President and General Management positions in both the Professional and Retail market sectors of wound care bringing forward new innovations and drug device combinations from concept to commercialization. Earlier in her career, Dr. Rhodes was Vice President of Innovation for Smith & Nephew both in the US and UK. During her tenure, Smith and Nephew US grew from $27 million to over $150 million. Dr. Rhodes holds a Masters Degree with a major in Technology Management from the University of Miami and graduated with honors in Chemistry from Hull University, England, as well as completing research for her PhD in Computational Stereochemistry before relocating to the US.

Associate Dean of Research Professor of Podiatric Surgery and Applied Biomechanics Professor, Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Director, Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research (CLEAR) Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Stephanie Wu is the Associate Dean of Research, Professor of Podiatric Surgery and Applied Biomechanics, Professor, Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, and Director, Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research (CLEAR) for the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. Dr. Wu has more than 150 book chapters and peer reviewed publications and has served as Principal Investigator in more than 40 clinical research trials. Dr. Wu is also a highly sought after lecturer at national and international forums and has given over 400 presentations in over 40 countries. Dr. Rhodes holds a Masters Degree with a major in Technology Management from the University of Miami and graduated with honors in Chemistry from Hull University, England, as well as completing research for her PhD in Computational Stereochemistry before relocating to the US.

Director, WoundHSI Co-Founder & President, PSDCF Nadège Sheehan is Co-Founder and President of the Peter Sheehan Diabetes Care Foundation (PSDCF) and Director of WoundHSI. She seats on the PSDCF Board of Directors. Dr. Sheehan holds a doctorate degree in Economics, specialized in International Security and Defense. She authored many articles on peacebuilding and peacekeeping, including a scholarly book on the Economics of UN Peacekeeping. Aside from managing the day-to-day operation of PSDCF, Dr. Sheehan leads education activities and public outreach at PSDCF. Along with a team of scientific advisory members, Dr. Sheehan seeks to create environments for scientific exchanges to advance innovation and research in all aspects of diabetes. Dr. Sheehan also leads a program in peacebuilding through health. Her goal is to bring communities together to more effectively prevent and manage diabetes, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, and culture. She is currently developing a lifestyle modification program for Arab-Israeli women in the Galilea area of Israel, creating peaceful exchanges between Jewish and Arab populations within the country.