BHI Team Members

Dr. Stephen D. Wolpe is a distinguished biotechnology executive and scientific pioneer with over 30 years of experience in therapeutic and diagnostic development, particularly renowned for his groundbreaking discoveries in immunotherapy and inflammatory mediators. As a discoverer of the chemokine superfamily of inflammatory mediators, Dr. Wolpe has fundamentally shaped our understanding of immune system regulation and hematopoiesis.

Anna Zornosa is a seasoned healthcare entrepreneur and executive with deep expertise in building, scaling, and transforming life sciences companies at the intersection of digital technologies and health. As both a successful CEO and strategic advisor, she brings a unique combination of operational excellence, fundraising acumen, and extensive industry networks to help early-stage companies navigate the complex path from innovation to market success.

Joseph DiCesare is a distinguished pharmaceutical industry executive with over 30 years of experience in health economics and outcomes research (HEOR), real-world evidence (RWE), and strategic planning. Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions at major pharmaceutical companies and consulting organizations, establishing himself as a recognized expert in demonstrating the value of pharmaceutical innovations through rigorous economic analysis and evidence generation.

Dr. Raymond "Ray" Blanchard is a seasoned life sciences executive and current Entrepreneur-in-Residence at ARPA-H, bringing over two decades of experience in the life sciences tools industry. With deep technical expertise in genomics and extensive business development experience, Ray has established himself as a skilled navigator of the complexities within the diagnostics and research tools sectors. Dr. Blanchard earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry/molecular biology from the University of California, Riverside. His academic foundation was strengthened through postdoctoral training in the Food Science & Human Nutrition Department at the University of Florida, where he later held a faculty research position and co-founded the department's Nutritional Genomics Laboratory with Dr. Robert J. Cousins. His research contributions include numerous articles and book chapters on nutritional regulation of gene expression, novel gene/biomarker discovery, and mammalian zinc physiology.

Jessica E. Foley is a dedicated senior regulatory professional with 18+ years of expertise and leadership in healthcare, due diligence, global biopharmaceutical development strategy, and regulatory submissions. As the Principal Consultant and Founder of Gaia Regulatory Sciences, LLC in Cambridge, MA, she provides strategic regulatory services and project management support for pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide. Dr. Foley holds a Master of Science in Regulatory Affairs for Drugs, Biologics, & Medical Devices from Northeastern University (2009), a Graduate Certificate in Biopharmaceutical International Regulatory Affairs (2008), and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire (2005). She is also a certified Regulatory Affairs Professional (RAC-Global) through the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS).

Marcella Garcia is a seasoned regulatory, quality, and compliance professional with extensive expertise in medical devices, Software as Medical Device (SaMD), and digital health technologies. Currently serving as a Principal Consultant working with multiple early-stage startups globally, she specializes in guiding companies through complex regulatory pathways while building robust quality management systems from the ground up. Marcella earned her Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Vanderbilt University (1997-2001) and has continued her professional development with specialized certifications including Healthcare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner (HCISPP) from (ISC)², Certified SAFe Agile Scrum Master, and Cybersecurity for Managers from MIT Professional Education. Her career is distinguished by her ability to thrive in the complex environments that startups inherently present, where rapid change, limited resources, and accelerated timelines are commonplace. She has a particular talent for guiding startups through the critical inflection point of building out their cross-functional teams, leveraging her focus on clear, direct, and honest communication to foster collaboration and drive organizations forward.

Chris Mathia is a proven medical device and digital health executive with a distinguished track record of leading turnaround efforts and delivering exceptional shareholder value. Based in Olathe, Kansas, he brings over two decades of healthcare technology leadership experience, specializing in acquisition-proven CEO tenures with deep roots in sales leadership. Chris earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Kansas and built his career foundation through progressive sales roles at leading medical device companies including Medline Industries, Aesculap/B.Braun, and Specialty Medical Systems before transitioning into healthcare technology leadership. His most notable achievement came as CEO of Innara Health, where he led the organization through a comprehensive reorganization and recapitalization process that culminated in a successful acquisition by Cardinal Health, a Fortune 15 organization, in February 2023. Innara Health's NTrainer solution holds the distinction of being the only FDA-cleared medical device clinically proven to improve feeding outcomes for newborns and infants born prematurely.

Catherine earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Following her academic training, Dr. Leasure spearheaded the commercialization of a technology developed at Vanderbilt, gaining experience in technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and business strategy. With over 7 years of grant writing experience, she brings a unique blend of scientific expertise in infectious disease research and practical knowledge in translating innovations to market. Catherine’s diverse skill set allows her to effectively support clients in developing compelling grant proposals and strategic business plans, bridging the gap between groundbreaking research and commercial opportunities.

Deanne Randolph has a long record of success in strategic marketing for leading biotech, pharmaceutical, and consumer-driven healthcare brands. From early development through launch, Deanne has led multiple US, European, and global initiatives along with several major pharmaceutical and biotechnology product launches. Deanne’s ability to integrate professional, payer, and patient needs to identify growth-driving market strategies is particularly relevant in today’s competitive healthcare environment. She provides Sante Group clients expertise in strategic pre-launch planning, positioning, and targeting; life cycle management and clinical development strategy; global branding; medical education; and direct-to-consumer marketing. Deanne has worked in both primary and secondary care across a broad range of therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology, rheumatology, neurology, pain and rare diseases. Prior to consulting, Deanne held brand management and commercial development positions at Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Bayer. She holds both an MBA and a BA from Wake Forest University.

Maureen Richard is an accomplished medical device software professional with extensive expertise in providing software development lifecycle processes, system engineering, and documentation services to medical device startups and established companies. Based in Longmont, Colorado, she specializes in ensuring compliance with IEC 62304 and FDA regulations in regulated healthcare environments. Maureen holds a Master of Science in Medical Informatics from Northwestern University, Chicago, a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from the University of Texas, Austin, and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Texas A&M University, College Station. This unique combination of technical, medical, and scientific education provides her with a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between healthcare technology and regulatory requirements.

Susan Solinsky is an Entrepreneur in Residence at BHI, where she leverages her expertise in commercialization, go-to-market strategy, and fundraising to help healthcare organizations successfully navigate market entry. With a track record of scaling technology-driven healthcare startups, Susan specializes in revenue growth, payer and provider relationships, operational efficiency, and building world-class teams. Her leadership has propelled companies from early-stage development to over $120 million in revenue, particularly ones pioneering new care models. She is passionate about harnessing AI, machine learning, and innovative health technologies to expand access, improve outcomes, and drive systemic change—especially in behavioral and women’s health. As a Strategic Operator with Kayne Anderson and Composition Capital, Susan supports the growth and innovation of healthcare-focused portfolio companies. She serves on the boards of TeleMed2U, Carium, and MDisrupt, organizations advancing virtual care and healthtech validation, and advises women’s health startups, including LunaJoy and Lovu. Previously, Susan was Co-Founder of Ellipsis Health (Series A+), where she played a pivotal role in commercializing AI-powered voice technology that established a clinically validated vital sign for mental health. She also led enterprise sales at Phreesia (IPO 2019) and co-founded Vital Score, a behavioral health technology company acquired by Phreesia. Her experience includes serving as Managing Partner at Reditus Revenue Solutions, scaling revenue cycle strategies, and holding key leadership roles as part of the founding team at The Advisory Board Company (IPO) and The Corporate Executive Board (IPO). A champion for female entrepreneurs, Susan has directed the Women’s Health Tech Initiative at HITLAB for five years, connecting startups with funders and industry leaders to drive innovation. She is a founding LP of the How Women Invest Fund, an investor in venture funds such as Swizzle Ventures, Emmeline Ventures, Scrub Capital, and DigitalDx, and also an angel investor in women-led healthcare disruptors, including Avanlee Care, Gabbi, C-Plan.ai and MDisrupt. Recognized as one of Becker’s Hospital Review’s “Women in Health IT to Know” for the past four years, Susan frequently speaks at industry events and serves on the board of Synapse School, fostering the next generation of changemakers. She holds an A.B. from Princeton University and remains committed to advancing healthcare, technology, and education through leadership and innovation.

Michael J. Thomas is a distinguished healthcare executive and venture capital investor with over three decades of experience achieving remarkable successes in strategic and corporate venture capital investments, turnarounds, IPOs, startup operations, and commercialization of innovative healthcare products and services. As an operating executive, he has achieved investor returns ranging from 3x to 80x, establishing himself as a proven value creator in the healthcare technology sector. Michael earned his Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology from Cornell University in 1989, where he was a varsity baseball player and served as House Manager for the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. His career began in pharmaceutical sales at Merck & Co. (1989-1992) and Glaxo Inc. (now GlaxoSmithKline, 1992-1995), where he demonstrated exceptional performance, earning President's Club Awards and transforming underperforming territories into top revenue generators.