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.
Ronald has 30 years of extensive experience in the Medical Device and Life Science Industries developing and leading global commercial organizations. He has held senior commercial leadership positions in Sales, Marketing and General Management throughout various organizations including Ethicon, a Johnson & Johnson company, Tyco Healthcare (now Medtronic), Zimmer Biomet, Baxter, and Steris. Ron has extensive global concept-commercialization experience having launched numerous novel and disruptive technologies in General Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Cardiovascular Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Women’s Health and Infection Prevention.
Peter joined us as our CFO in May 2020. Peter has nearly three decades of experience including over 17 years of senior experience in healthcare. Notable companies where Peter served include: Genetesis as President and as board director leading early financing, reimbursement, and commercialization efforts. Peter was CFO at Assurex and co-led its sale to Myriad, and while CFO at Neuronetics, led its initial public offering. Other experience includes: Bovie, Cyberonics, and Iris after starting his career at Ernst & Young, General Motors, and Scotts-Miracle-Gro. Peter earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from The Fisher School of Business at The Ohio State University. He received his MBA from the University of Akron. Mr. Donato is a licensed CPA.
Board of Directors
Kurt currently is the Chief Executive Officer at ColubrisMX, the pioneering developer of Endoluminal and Single-Port robotic platforms. Kurt has a highly experienced background over 38 years in advanced surgical technology companies.
More recently, Kurt was head Global Head of Digital Science/Robotics at Ethicon following his appointment as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Verb Surgical Robotics, Inc., the Joint Venture between Google and Johnson & Johnson (“J&J”) acquired by J&J in late 2019. Mr. Azarbarzin was previously Founder and Chief Executive Officer of venture backed SurgiQuest, Inc., a medical device company focused on minimally invasive surgery that was acquired for $265 million by CONMED Corporation in January 2016. Prior to SurgiQuest, he spent 21 years at U.S. Surgical Corporation/Tyco Healthcare, most recently as Global Vice President of Research and Development.
Mr. Azarbarzin currently serves a member of the board at TELA Bio, Inc., and is a member of the Executive Board at the Center for Biomedical Innovation and Technology at Yale 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
