COMPANY
ABOUT STANDARD BARIATRICS®
WHO WE ARE
Standard Bariatrics, Inc., is a rapidly expanding medical device company focused on the development and commercialization of products for the surgical treatment of obesity. Driven by a passionate group of surgical innovators, the Cincinnati-based organization works hand in hand with bariatric surgeons to develop and release novel solutions designed to address the growing global epidemic of obesity. The Standard Bariatrics team offers extensive experience in creating and bringing to market bariatric-related medical device technologies. They have a demonstrated record of achieving clinical excellence with economically responsible solutions for providers and their patients.
OUR APPROACH
Our Mission
Member, ASMBS Corporate Council
Standard Bariatrics has been a proud participant in the ASMBS Corporate Council since 2021. We actively support the council’s mission to develop and enhance the joint strategies and efforts of bariatric surgeons, healthcare and industry professionals in a proactive approach to addressing the challenges of obesity.
Career Opportunities
If you are passionate about addressing the growing epidemic of obesity through advancements in bariatric surgery in an entrepreneurial environment, review our open positions and discover a rewarding career at Standard Bariatrics.
Career Opportunities
If you are passionate about addressing the growing epidemic of obesity through advancements in bariatric surgery in an entrepreneurial environment, review our open positions and discover a rewarding career at Standard Bariatrics.
Leadership
JONATHAN THOMPSON, MD
Founder & Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Thompson practices general and bariatric surgery at University of Cincinnati (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. In 2013, Dr. Thompson established and became director of The Thompson Center at the University of Cincinnati Research Institute. He also had fellowships at the University of Missouri Biodesign and Innovation Program (MUBIP) in 2009 and at the Fogarty Institute for Innovation in 2013.
MATT SOKANY
President & Chief Executive Officer
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 serving as a US Board Member of Ethicon Endo-Surgery. Mr. Sokany 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 DUNKI-JACOBS
Chief of Operations
Chief Technology Officer
RONALD GALOVICH
Chief Commercial Officer
Mr. Galovich holds 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 within organizations such as Ethicon, a Johnson & Johnson company, Tyco Healthcare (now Medtronic), Zimmer Biomet, Baxter, and Steris. Mr. Galovich 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 DONATO
Senior Vice President of Administration
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Donato joined Standard Bariatrics as CFO in May 2020, bringing nearly three decades of experience including more than 17 years of senior leadership in healthcare. Notable companies where he served include Genetesis, where he was president and board director leading early financing, reimbursement, and commercialization efforts. As CFO at Assurex Global, Mr. Donato co-led its sale to Myriad, and while CFO at Neuronetics, led its initial public offering. Having started his career with Ernst & Young, General Motors, and Scott’s Miracle Gro, he moved on to Bovie Medical, Cyberonics and Iris. Mr. Donato earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from The Fisher School of Business at The Ohio State University and his MBA from the University of Akron. Mr. Donato is a licensed CPA.
JOHN MCLAUGHLIN
Vice President of Sales
John’s medical device career spans over 20 years with various sales and leadership roles with start-up and well-established businesses. His passion is building and leading high-performing teams to deliver new innovations and disruptive technologies into the operating room. In the past 15 years, John has had the pleasure of developing markets and teams with companies Davol, SurgRx, Ethicon, SurgiQuest, and ConMed. Throughout his career, John and his teams have been the recipients of numerous accolades.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
KAREN SPILIZEWSKI
Board Member
Audit Committee Chairwoman
Karen Spilizewski is a vice president with RiverVest Venture Partners. Ms Spilizewski brings 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, she helps entrepreneurs accelerate their companies toward next development milestones. Ms Spilizewski is also a vice president of BioEnterprise Corporation in Cleveland, where she directs business development for medical device and equipment companies.
DOUGLAS REED, MD
Board Member
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 and 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.
CASEY TANSEY
Board Member
KURT AZARBARZIN
Chairman
Mr. Azarbarzin brings a highly experienced background including nearly 40 years in advanced surgical technology companies to the board. He currently serves as CEO at ColubrisMX, the pioneering developer of endoluminal and single-port robotic platforms. Previously, Mr. Azarbarzin was the 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 which was acquired by J&J in late 2019. Mr. Azarbarzin was 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 US Surgical Corporation/Tyco Healthcare, most recently as global vice president of research and development. Mr. Azarbarzin also 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.
JONATHAN THOMPSON, MD
Founder & Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Thompson practices general and bariatric surgery at UC Health. He is an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and currently serves as information technology and quality improvement officer at the UC Health Weight Loss Center. In 2013 Dr. Thompson established and became director of The Thompson Center at the University of Cincinnati Research Institute. He had fellowships at the University of Missouri Biodesign and Innovation Program (MUBIP) in 2009 and the Fogarty Institute for Innovation in 2013.
MATT SOKANY
Board Member
Mr. Sokany holds 35 years of experience in the medical device market. He spent 24 years with Ethicon and Ethicon Endo-Surgery in various roles of increasing responsibility in sales and marketing, including serving as US board member of Ethicon Endo-Surgery. Mr. Sokany 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).
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
John Morton, MD, MPH, FACS, FASMBS
Yale School of Medicine
Past-President, American Society for Metabolic
and Bariatric Surgery 2014-2015
Helmuth Billy, MD
Dignity Health
Thomas Inge, MD, PhD
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
BRAD WATKINS, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Overlake Medical Center & Clinic, Bellevue, WA
Paul Enochs, MD, FACS, FASMBS
WakeMed
INVESTORS
