2013 Speakers
Confirmed speakers as of January 2013
Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA
Professor and President for Society Physician Entrepreneurs
Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Presentation: The Global Practice Checklist: “How to build an International Practice”
Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA is an award-winning professor of Otolaryngology (Ear Nose and Throat Surgery) ,Dentistry and Engineering at the University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical campus and a bioentrepreneur. He is the cofounder of 3 companies, including www.medvoy.com , a healthcare information platform for those seeking information to find global quality care at an affordable price, and www.careconnectix.com a global healthcare social networking site. He is an advisor to several companies and an advisor to the healthcare group at www.headwatersmb.com, a Denver based investment bank.
Dr. Meyers is also the founding CEO and President of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs and a member of the Advisory Board of the Center for Medical Tourism Research and the International Board of Medicine and Surgery. He is a Fulbright Scholar and a former Harvard-Macy Fellow.
Book: The Life Science Innovation Roadmap: Bioscience Innovation Assessment, Planning, Strategy, Execution, and Implementation
Download Presentation
Ilan Geva, MA
Ilan Geva & Friends,Founder
Presentation: Adapting Consumer Behavior Models in Medical Tourism Marketing
Ilan is an international branding expert, who teaches, practices and implements all brand touchpoints. He joined Ogilvy & Mather as Design Head and Creative Director in Johannesburg, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Later he held senior creative positions with Leo Burnett and Frankel & Co. (now ARC Worldwide) his other positions were: VP Exec. Creative Director at Kragie/Newell (now Integer) Des Moines, and VP Creative Director Gage Marketing, Minneapolis. He currently runs Ilan Geva & Friends, a brand communications consultancy in Chicago, and serves as the U.S. Narrator of the European firm brandstory.
His specific tourism, travel and hospitality experience includes: Israel Ministry of Tourism, Turkey Tourism, South African Tourism, British Tourist Authority, Mexico Tourism Board, State of Iowa Tourism, Lisbon Convention Bureau, United Airlines, Korean Air, Alitalia, Sheraton Hotels, King David Hotel, Doubletree Hotels, Avis, American Express Travel Services, and more.
He currently teaches Branding at the University of Chicago, and Advertising, Branding, Consumer Behavior, and copywriting and advertising at DePaul University. He taught Introduction to Design at the School of Hospitality Management at Kendall College, Integrated Marketing Communications, Interactive advertising and International Advertising at Columbia College Chicago, Brand Planning & Message Strategy at Roosevelt University and Packaging Design at the School of The Art Institute of Chicago.
Nicholas P. Krut, MSEE, CNE, CSSA
Red Team USA, Senior Cyber Security Engineer
Presentation: Coming Soon
Mr. Nicholas P. Krut is the senior cyber security engineer for Colorado’s leading MSSP, Red Team USA, in Denver. He is a leading innovator in the area of cyber security for the legal and financial sectors. Mr. Krut began his Scientific & Engineering career by graduating from Youngstown State University with a BSEE (Electrical Engineering).
Upon graduation, Nick worked as an Advanced Research & Development Scientist at the Air Force Avionics Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB. One of the projects he helped to develop was the “Forward-looking Infrared System” (FLIR) technology used on today’s fighter aircraft. Additionally, he led a team of computer scientists to develop “one of the most automated electro-optical sensor evaluation facilities in the country” – the Air Force Targeting System’s Characterization Facility. Concurrently, he earned a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from Ohio State University. Nick was promoted to be the project engineer for the Instrumentation and Flight Safety System of the MX ballistic missile at the Air Force Plant Representative Office at Lockheed Martin.
Nick next turned his visionary efforts toward developing systems in the emerging office and professional computer industry. Nick formed and operated PC Systems, Inc. The firm designs and implements secure computer systems for a number of Denver’s law firms. Other clients included Blue Cross/Shield and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Mr. Krut has helped to develop proprietary procedures that his cyber security company, Red Team USA, implements in its subscription-based Cyber Protection Services. Nick’s current focus is creating secure stationary and portable data platforms for the medical industry. Nick has co-authored scores of “cyber security best-practices” videos that are viewed internationally at www.RedTeamWorldwide.com. He is a member of the FBI’s Infragard Program.
Farhan Taghizadeh, M.D.
Lifestyle Lift, Medical Director
Presentation: Telesthetics The future of “Cosmetic Medicine”
Dr. Taghizadeh earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University, and a medical degree from the Penn State College of Medicine. He completed an intensive residency in Otolaryngology (head and neck surgery) at the University of Rochester (New York), and then a fellowship at the University of Bern, Switzerland, through the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He is double board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the American Board of Otolaryngology, which includes a Facial Plastic Surgery specialty.
Dr. Taghizadeh currently serves as Medical Director for Innovation for Lifestyle Lift.
Dr. David G. Vequist IV,PhD
Director, Center for Medical Tourism Research
Presentation: Applying Academic Principles for Medical Tourism Marketing Research
Dr. Vequist was one of the first academic researchers to focus on Medical Tourism and now boasts a robust slate of research on the business and markets of Medical Tourism. His experience includes: keynote speaker at conferences worldwide; a featured author with many papers and articles about medical tourism trends; interviews in a variety of media around the world; founder and co-Editor of the first academic journal devoted to Medical Tourism (starting this year); Chair of the first ever Medical Tourism Research conferences; and leading researcher on several projects for countries, regions, facilities, and providers. In the past, Dr. Vequist was an executive with HCA managing the human resources for a large subsidiary (Methodist Healthcare) in San Antonio, Texas, USA and prior to that was a consultant with Ernst & Young LLP. Dr. Vequist is currently expanding his research on the impact of Health, Wellness, Dental, Medical and Retirement Tourism.
Dwight M. Mazzone, CDHC
Dwight M. Mazzone, CDHC is the President of Mazzone & Associates a Health Insurance and Employee Benefits Agency, located in Las Vegas, NV., where the primary focus of the agency is individual and small group health sales and service. He has been active in the sales and service of health insurance and employee benefit plans for over 25 years. Dwight is also a Member of State of NV Task Force for the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange, President Nevada State Association of Health Underwriters, NVAHU – PAC Chair – Clark County Association of Health and Underwriters and Founder of The Health Care Summit, where he produced a white paper on Healthcare Reform; which was used by the Administration and Members of Congress as resource material for healthcare reform.
Georgia Casciato
Founder FACHE
Presentation: Medical Tourism American Style – Inbound & Intrabound Medical travel USA
Georgia Casciato has more than 30 years Success in Helping Health Organizations Strategize, Conceptualize and Actualize Effective Growth and Business Development Strategies. Through her company, Georgia Casciato Healthcare Consulting Inc., she directs multidisciplinary teams of healthcare experts with backgrounds in strategic planning, management, sales and business development, marketing/ market research; traditional advertising/ ecommerce; community outreach; new product development; physician relations, physician and consumer referral development, customer service, team development and technologies. Clients include health systems, stand-alone specialty hospitals, physician groups, EMR & health technology companies, wellness organizations, employers and organizations promoting self-pay health services.
Her understanding of the American Healthcare Industry is vast and includes the diverse perspectives of Community Healthcare, Large Regional Health Systems; Professional Healthcare Associations; Global Benefits Consulting; Self-pay healthcare , Employer Cost Containment and Destination Healthcare Business Development. She has participated in and authored articles on international medical tourism events.
Ms. Casciato’s background includes Board Positions on numerous national and international health associations . She is a past president of the largest chapter of the American College of Health Executives and is a well-published healthcare business strategist and author; also currently serving on editorial boards of healthcare publications. She was the recipient of a General’s coin for her role in assisting the Air Force in Developing an Executive outreach program entitled: “Running an ICU at 30,00 Feet.” Most recently, she authored a white paper on Interoperability in Healthcare: the ability of EMRs and other health technologies to communicate effectively to support seamless healthcare delivery.
Dr Vasiliki Moragianni
Director of the International Patient Program at Boston IVF
Presentation: IVF Concierge Services for Medical Tourism
Dr. Vasiliki A. Moragianni, Director of the International Patient Program at Boston IVF, is a native of Greece and graduated from Cornell University with a B.Sc. in Human Biology and Health & Society. She also obtained an M.Sc. degree in Physiology & Biophysics from Georgetown University and then completed 8 years of extensive training from Drexel University College of Medicine, where she received a Medical Humanities Scholar Award and served as Chief Resident in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Abington Memorial Hospital (Temple University School of Medicine) in Philadelphia. She also completed the Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility fellowship at Harvard Medical School and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
Dr. Moragianni has published numerous peer-reviewed articles, has written eight book chapters and continues to be involved in several clinical and translational research projects. She has been invited to present her research in conferences both in the United States and around the world. Her significant contribution to the fields of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility is illustrated by the many prestigious awards she has received, including the Endocrine Society Outstanding Abstract Award, the ACOG 2nd Prize in Current Clinical and Basic Investigation, the Eleanor Widener Dixon Research Award, the Frobese Scholar Award, the Outstanding Laparoendoscopic Resident Surgeon Award and Teaching Resident Awards.
ImageDr. Moragianni speaks Greek, French, Italian (basic) and Albanian (basic) and is personally available to all her patients via email and cell phone, to help answer their questions and guide their treatment in a highly compassionate and professional manner.
In her spare time, Dr. Moragianni enjoys Greek folk dancing, traveling and spending time with her family.
She sees local patients at the Waltham Center and performs Skype and telephone consultations for long-distance and international patients.
Irving L. Stackpole, RRT, MED
President of Stackpole & Associates, Inc.
Presentation: TBD
With forty years of experience in healthcare, senior living and human services, Irving Stackpole is the President of Stackpole & Associates, Inc., marketing, market research, customer service and sales training firm. Founded in 1991, Stackpole & Associates applies scientific marketing principles to develop practical solutions to clients’ challenges. Using the most rigorous psychological and behavioral science research, Stackpole & Associates develops methods and designs that produce unimpeachable data yielding reliable, actionable recommendations. Stackpole & Associates works collaboratively with clients to create innovative and practical solutions to the challenges facing organizations in rapidly changing markets.
Following his graduation from Stonehill College, Irving began his career as a respiratory therapist for New England Baptist and Massachusetts General Hospitals where he rapidly established himself as an early pioneer in field as a contributing author to the seminal text, “The Principles and Practice of Respiratory Therapy”. As President of the American Respiratory Therapy Foundation and an industry representative in Washington DC, he helped to write national respiratory therapist licensing guidelines. Irving also directed NCME, the largest national network of Category 3 medical educational, and he founded Amcare Medical Services, which became the largest home healthcare company in New England. Mr. Stackpole was the CEO of home health for Northeast Health Systems and then the Director of Marketing for Greenery Rehabilitation Group, winning two national awards for marketing campaigns. After working as National Vice President for Kimberly Quality Care, the largest home health care company in the United States, Irving established Stackpole & Associates in 1991, applying his skills for the direct benefit of client organizations.
Stackpole & Associates’ consulting assignments include: strategic planning & marketing, business and marketing planning, research, customer satisfaction measurement, training, analysis & feasibility studies, sales audits & skills training, sales management, and business development.
Stackpole & Associates has conducted groundbreaking projects in the US and internationally for private clients, associations, governments and non-governmental organizations. These include the Assisted Living Federation of America, the Drug Information Association, American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, American College of Healthcare Administrators, American Health Care Association, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, American Society of Radiological Technologists, International Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, National Care Forum (UK), European Medical Travel Conference, US Department of Education (Rehabilitation Services Administration), National Health Service (UK), the Korean Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), the Foreign Trade Corporation of Costa Rica (PROCOMER), The Economic Development Commission for the Caribbean and Latin American Countries (ECLAC / United Nations), Healthcare City Medical Cluster, Medellin, Colombia and ProExport Colombia . This work has resulted in the publication of many articles in national and international publications. Irving and his colleagues recently published Medical Tourism Marketing, the 1st book on the subject in the international health and wellness travel sector. Mr. Stackpole also serves as an Adviser to the Center for Medial Tourism Research.
Irving holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Stonehill College, a Master’s degree from Northeastern University, and Certificate in Advanced Statistical Process Control from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Holding US and EU passports, Irving enjoys traveling to experience and learn about different cultures, history and music. As a lifelong student, Irving is an avid reader exploring business issues with a focus on statistics as well as philosophical topics.
Amy B. Scher
Book author of “This is How I Save My Life – A True Story of Embryonic Stem Cells, Indian Adventures, and Ultimate Self-Healing“
Presentation: How Medical Tourism Saved My Life
Amy B. Scher is the author of This is How I Save My Life – A True Story of Embryonic Stem Cells, Indian Adventures, and Ultimate Self-Healing (January 2013). With a history of chronic illness, Amy set out to discover the foundation of healing. She is an expert in mind-body-spirit healing with offices in Los Angeles and Monterey, California. She uses energy therapy techniques to help those with chronic illness and those in need of emotional healing to identify, release and move on. Amy is an Ordained Minister of Holistic Healing. She is a frequent contributor to healthcare blogs and has presented to groups including the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University.
Mark J. Ahn, Ph.D.
President & Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Galena Biopharma (Nasdaq: GALE) and Professor (adjunct), Biosciences, Creighton University
Presentation: TBD
Mark J. Ahn, Ph.D. is President & Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Galena Biopharma (Nasdaq: GALE) and Professor (adjunct), Biosciences, Creighton University. Prior to Galena, Dr. Ahn was Principal at Pukana Partners, Ltd. that provides strategic consulting to life science companies; and served as Chair, Science & Technology Management, Victoria University at Wellington, New Zealand. Dr. Ahn was also founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Hana Biosciences. He also served as Vice President, Hematology and corporate officer at Genentech, Inc., as well as held positions of increasing responsibility at Amgen and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; and served in the US Army. Dr. Ahn also serves on public and venture capital-backed Board of Directors for Access Pharmaceuticals, Mesynthes and Scribes STAT. Dr. Ahn is the author of over 50 peer reviewed journal articles and books including Making the Case for Biotechnology (Logos Press). Dr. Ahn received a BA and MBA from Chaminade University; and MA from Victoria University. He was a graduate fellow in Economics at Essex University, and obtained a Ph.D. from the University of South Australia. Dr. Ahn is a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute.
Lauri Berger de Brito and Kathryn Kaycoff-Manos,
Co-Founders, Global IVF
Presentation: TBD
Kathryn became a mother of identical twins boys after suffering through four years of infertility. This included 6 fresh IVFs. 3 frozen embryos transfers, more than 100 embryos, 2 Gestational Surrogates and 1 Egg Donor. Soon after her sons’ births, Kathryn took her unwitting education in infertility, combined it with her organizational acumen & researching finesse, threw in a touch of her television writing, directing and producing skills and turned it into a successful surrogacy agency and fertility consulting business – Agency for Surrogacy Solutions, Inc. & Agency for Fertility Solutions. Working with clients from all over the world, the companies have been thriving since 2004.
With her business partner, Lauri Berger de Brito, Kathryn recognized the need for a global fertility informational hub. Many of their clients would lament that they could not afford to do various third party procedures in various countries and yet they didn’t know where to turn for reliable information. In response, Kathryn and Lauri created GlobalIVF.com, the one and only informational website for fertility patients searching for answers about traveling abroad for IVF related treatments. The website has grown in leaps and bounds and the two are now recognized as international Fertility Travel experts – with speaking engagements all over the world. Kathryn has also traveled to Ukraine, The Czech Republic and Spain to personally meet with top fertility practitioners to find the best fertility option for Fertility Travelers. Next trips – India and Mexico in 2013.
Kathryn has been quoted as a fertility/surrogacy expert in newspapers, magazines – including The Wall Street Journal and The Los Angeles Times, and together with Lauri, has appeared on numerous radio and television programs. She is a member of numerous fertility-related organizations including ASRM, AFA, RESOLVE, PVED and ESHRE.
David W. Traylor
Senior Managing Director Golden Eagle Partners
Presentation: TBD
David Traylor founded Golden Eagle Partners after leading Headwaters’ Life Science group. David joined Headwaters after serving as a Senior Vice President at Caris & Company where he was focused on advising biopharmaceutical companies. He also previously worked with Wedbush Pacific Growth. During his banking tenures he has advised private and public biotechnology and medical device companies in various transactions including IPOs, public offerings, private offerings, mergers and acquisitions.
David began his career in manufacturing at Synergen, then moved into R&D and process development positions at Somatogen, a company pursuing a recombinant blood substitute. After Somatogen, he led the management of programs and development initiatives at Affymetrix, the leading innovator in microarray technology. David began his business development career at Deltagen then moved over the lead the U.S. operations for atugen AG, a Berlin-based functional genomics company. At Bioseek, David led the business development efforts for one of the first systems biology companies.
David received B.A. degrees from the University of Colorado – Boulder in Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology and an M.B.A. from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado-Boulder. He is also the inventor on two issued U.S. patents.