Speakers

Greg Gdowski is an Associate Professor at the University of Rochester in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Neurobiology and Anatomy. He earned his Bachelor of Science (1985), Master of Science (1989) and PhD (1996) in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University. He was employed as a post-doctoral research fellow (1997-1999) and Research Associate (1999-2001) at the University of Chicago prior to relocating to the University of Rochester in 2001. He currently teaches in both the Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience curriculum.

Dr. Gdowski is an active member and volunteer within both the EMBS and BMES communities. He has served as the Chair of the Rochester Chapter of EMBS since 2008. He also currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the IEEE Rochester Section. He established the Biomedical Engineering Honor Society (AEMB) at the University of Rochester and has served as the faculty mentor since 2004.

His NIH-funded research is focused on the neural mechanisms underlying the sensorimotor control of postural reflexes that regulate head and neck movements. His lab combines biomechanical modeling with electrophysiological techniques to determine how the brain adaptively regulates vestibular-evoked postural reflexes. He has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students in Biomedical Engineering.

Anna Varlese graduated from the University of Rochester with a Bachelors of Science in 2004 and from Cornell University with a Masters of Engineering in 2005. She began working at ConMed Corporation as a Biomedical Engineering Manager in 2007.

Anna is part of an experimental and dynamic New Product Realization team, whose role is to bring new products through the entire process from conception to shelf in the hospital. The team consists of four people who work on the design control process. They facilitate project completion through the areas of R&D, regulatory, purchasing/procurement, quality, engineering, graphic design, drafting, clinical, marketing, and manufacturing.

ConMed Corporation follows the pattern of many large companies. It started in the early 1973’s with two men working out of a garage, and the creation of the first disposable ECG electrode. The company has expanded its products through development and went public in 1987 allowing it to grow through acquisition as well. ConMed is now an $800 million company with 8 main divisions focusing on Arthroscopy, ElectroSurgery, Endoscopy, Endoscopic Technologies, EndoSurgery, Integrated Systems, Patient Care, and Powered Surgical Instruments. Anna is in the Patient Care division which encompasses a lot of commodity items, such as suction tubing and ECG electrodes, and also has some new minimally-invasive technologies which have the potential to change the future of heath care.

David Thomas, Manager Global Regulatory Affairs

David Thomas graduated from Arizona State University with a Master of Science in Materials Science in 1989 after completing his B.S.E. in Bioengineering in 1986. He was then employed in Rockville, MD with the Office of Device Evaluation for the Food & Drug Administration where he was a scientific reviewer for the Orthopedic and Physical Medicine Device Branch. He entered into private industry in 1995 and has worked for several upstart medical device companies before joining Bausch & Lomb Incorporated in 2001. He currently works with the research & development teams in the development of intraocular lenses and viscoelastic products in ensuring the proper testing and documentation is in place to gain marketing approvals in the U.S. and in other markets around the world.

He is currently a member of the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society and has his Regulatory Affairs Certification.

Kaveh Noorbakhsh received his B.S.E. in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University in 2003. During his undergraduate at Case, Kaveh helped found the Alpha Delta chapter of the Phi Kappa Tau social fraternity.

After graduating, Mr. Noorbakhsh went to work for Hitachi Medical Systems America (HMSA) as a Product coordinator. In this role, Mr. Noorbakhsh was responsible for coordinating efforts for investigations and projects between HMSA and their corporate partner Hitachi Medical Corporation (HMC) in Kashiwa, Japan.

Mr. Noorbakhsh was promoted with HMSA to lead a team in technicians who install capital medical imaging equipment throughout the North America. His work in developing streamlined processes and procedures for his team was instrumental in providing a smooth roll out for a new MRI product from HMSA.

Due to his excellent work with the installations group, Mr. Noorbakhsh was tapped to start and head HMSA's first ever national technical support (NTS) call center. The NTS call center was the lynch pin in a reorganization of HMSA's service department. The NTS call center served as a central hub for all internal support provided to the HMSA field service staff. During his tenure at NTS call center, Mr. Noorbakhsh developed several tools and practices which are still in use at the center to this day.

Following his call center work, Mr. Noorbakhsh returned to the installations group and helped spearhead the roll out of a 1.3 Tesla Open MRI. In addition to his duties as head of the installation team, Mr. Noorbakhsh travels several times throughout the year to fill vacant positions in the HMSA service department.

In his personal time, Kaveh enjoys spending time with his family.

Bachelor Engineering in Biomedical Engineering from Osmania University, India, 2000

Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University. 2002

Kishore has over 8 years of experience working in the Medical device Industry. Worked about 4 and half years at Cimex Biotech LC, Covington, LA, developing cryo surgical devices, 2 years at Icon Interventional systems, as a Senior R&D Engineer ( New technologies), Atlanta, GA, in developing Bio-absorbable polymeric stents using advanced Micro fabrication techniques, and drug coated stents. Presently, He is working as a Senior Scientist at Greatbatch Medical, Clarence, NY, in researching new technologies for medical devices (cardiac & neurology) to address unmet medical needs.

Rhiannon has 10 years experience in Molecular Biology in a variety of life science areas. She is currently working on the development of Diffinity core technology for the initial product line for nucleic acid purification. She is also responsible for identifying and developing future products and applications for the core technology within the life sciences market. She holds a BS in Biological Engineering from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY and an MS in BioMedical Engineering, from the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.

Thomas E Ferari, President/Owner, Adirondack Machine Corporation

Tom is a Biomedical Engineering graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and currently provides contract engineering services to the medical device industry. He began his career with the FDA evaluating medical device safety and effectiveness then moved into private industry as an R&D engineer. Tom worked for small start up companies and large multi-national firms until he started his own consulting company in 1994. Tom is currently contracting with CR Bard in Glens Falls, NY developing nitinol vena cava filters.