Dr. Jonathan Thompson founded Standard Bariatrics in 2014 to solve key technical problems that cause variable sleeve anatomy. Standard Bariatrics is taking the existing #1 bariatric procedure and making it better by developing tools that enable surgeons to “standardize” their approach and create great sleeve anatomy every time. Our technology promises to reduce procedure cost, procedure time, improve surgeon performance, and improve outcomes for sleeve gastrectomy patients.
Executive Management Team
Dr. Thompson practices General and Bariatric Surgery at UC Health. He is an Assistant Professor at the UC College of Medicine and currently serves as Information Technology & Quality Improvement Officer – UC Health Weight Loss Center. Dr. Thompson established and became Director of The Thompson Center at the University of Cincinnati Research Institute (2013). Jon had fellowships at the University of Missouri Biodesign Program in 2009, and the Fogarty Institute for Innovation in 2013.
Mr. Sokany has 35 years of experience in the Medical Device Market. He has spent 24 years with Ethicon and Ethicon Endo-Surgery in various roles of increasing responsibility in sales and marketing, including US Board Member of Ethicon Endo-Surgery. Matt has spent eight years in the Medical Device Startup industry delivering significant investor return highlighted by the successful launch and exit of New Wave Surgical to Covidien (now Medtronic).
Adam has 15 years of medical device experience in all phases: academic research, front-end market creation and design to market. Adam managed the Johnson & Johnson metabolic research collaborative with the University of Cincinnati and Harvard to enable front-end market creation. He was the Director of Engineering at Enable Injections where he led development of high volume design and manufacturing of a drug delivery device. At Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Adam led the open mechanical (stapling) IP portfolio strategy and was a subject matter expert (SME) in staple formation technology. He holds more than 35 U.S. published patents and applications in medical devices, 30 of these in stapling technology.
Ron has 25 years experience in the medical device, wound closure, biosurgery and infection prevention industries. He has held commercial leadership positions in Marketing, Sales, Global Marketing and General Management throughout various organizations including Ethicon, Tyco Healthcare (now Medtronic), Zimmer Biomet and Baxter. Ron has extensive concept-commercialization experience having launched novel and disruptive technologies in General Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Cardiovascular Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Women’s Health and Infection Prevention.
Al has provided CFO Services/Financial Leadership to high growth/high potential organizations since 1995 including Standard Bariatrics. Notable companies previously served in this capacity include Market6 (from 2013 until its sale to Kroger in 2016) and DotLoop (from 2011 until its sale to Zillow in 2015). Al has provided this service to over 80 early stage companies since 1997 including having concluded in excess of $600 million in transactions. Prior to that, he was with U.S. Shoe Corporation as VP – Planning and with Applied Power as Director of Financial Reporting. Al started his career at Deloitte and earned his BS and MBA from Marquette University.
Board of Directors
Mr. Azarbarzin, currently serves as Chief technology Officer at CONMED Corporation, brings 35 years of experience in the medical device industry. Prior to joining CONMED, Kurt was Founder and CEO of SurgiQuest, Inc. a privately-held venture-backed company that developed, manufactured and marketed innovative access technologies for minimally invasive surgery. While at SurgiQuest, he commercialized, financed, and led a growth strategy that created significant shareholder value and resulted in the successful acquisition of the company by CONMED for $265 million in November 2015. Mr. Azarbarzin is a member of the executive board at Center for Biomedical Innovation and technology at Yale. Prior to SurgiQuest, Mr. Azarbarzin spent 21 years at United States Surgical Corporation/Tyco, most recently as Global Vice president of Research and Development. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Bridgeport and completed advanced graduate studies in mechanical design at Bridgeport Engineering Institute and manufacturing engineering at Bradley University.
Dr. Thompson practices General and Bariatric Surgery at UC Health. He is an Assistant Professor at the UC College of Medicine and currently serves as Information Technology & Quality Improvement Officer – UC Health Weight Loss Center. Dr. Thompson established and became Director of The Thompson Center at the University of Cincinnati Research Institute (2013). Jon had fellowships at the University of Missouri Biodesign Program in 2009 and the Fogarty Institute for Innovation in 2013.
Mr. Sokany has 35 years of experience in the Medical Device Market. He has spent 24 years with Ethicon and Ethicon Endo-Surgery in various roles of increasing responsibility in sales and marketing, including US Board Member of Ethicon Endo-Surgery. Matt has spent eight years in the Medical Device Startup industry delivering significant investor return highlighted by the successful launch and exit of New Wave Surgical to Covidien (now Medtronic).
Karen Spilizewski is a vice president with RiverVest Venture Partners. Karen brings a broad knowledge of the seed and early-stage life science opportunity landscape in the Midwest, and the ability to source and evaluate the most promising deals. Through her product and business development expertise, Karen can help entrepreneurs accelerate their companies toward next development milestones. She is also a vice president of BioEnterprise Corporation in Cleveland, where she directs business development for medical device and equipment companies.
Douglas Reed, MD is a General Partner with Hatteras Venture Partners based in Durham, NC. Hatteras invests in early-stage biotechnology and medical technology companies with an emphasis on new company formation in the southeastern United States. The firm currently has over $450 million under management and has invested in more than 50 companies to date. He currently serves on the board of directors of Contego Medical, Innocrin Pharmaceuticals, NeuroTronik, Standard Bariatrics, Viamet Pharmaceuticals and SEBIO (Southeastern BIO). He is Chairman of the board of Innocrin. He served on the board of Embrella Cardiovascular prior to its acquisition by Edwards Lifesciences.
Dr. Reed trained in interventional radiology and neuroradiology and held academic appointments in the Department of Radiology at the University of Washington and at Yale University School of Medicine. He earned B.A. and M.D. degrees at the University of Missouri – Kansas City and an M.B.A. in finance and healthcare administration from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed residency training in Diagnostic Radiology at the University of Washington and a fellowship in neuroradiology at the University of British Columbia.
Scientific Advisory Board
Stanford University, CA; 2015 ASMBS President
Children’s Hospital Colorado, CO
WakeMed, NC
Dignity Health, CA
University of Cincinnati, OH
